DVC Offers Online Preview of Aulani Resort with Samantha Brown; Free Lithograph Incentive for Viewers
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Disney Vacation Club will soon be offering an online video-on-demand titled ‘Disney Traveler presents Behind the Magic in Hawaii with Samantha Brown,’ previewing the new Aulani Resort which will first welcome its members this summer.
According to the site, viewers will be invited to ‘join TV travel guru Samantha Brown on location to get a sneak peek of the unexpected wonders Disney is creating for the entire family at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai’i. Plus, learn about exclusive Disney Vacation Club® offers only available through this webcast.’
Viewers must register in advance at DVCWebEvent.com and select a date to watch the video between May 17 and 21. The video can be watched on-demand that day, at any time beginning at 9:00 am ET and ending at 6 pm – midnight ET, depending on the day.
As a reward, registered viewers who watch the video will receive a free character lithograph (limit to one per household) which will be mailed at a future date.
Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Internet Tags: Aulani, DVC, Events
CONFIRMED: Eleventh Hour Name Change for Aulani Spa
With just a few months to go before Aulani welcomes guests home to Ko Olina, Hawaii on August 29, 2011, Disney Parks and Resorts has made a surprising move. Despite the official Disney Parks blog reporting that Aulani would be naming its spa Ulana (and there being trademark applications to back that claim up), it may surprise you to notice that Ulana isn’t mentioned on Aulani’s official site, despite the fact that every other amenity is named on it.
Recently Disney Parks and Resorts registered additional trademark applications for ‘Laniwai,’ which more or less translates to ‘heavenly water,’ best we can tell (Ulana translates to calm or still). Other than a far more interesting name for a spa, it turns out the applications for Laniwai are for the same services that Ulana will offer, particularly day spa services in addition to clothing and cosmetics.
Update #1: 10/5/11 – Disney Parks has officially confirmed our suspicions, citing the meaning of Laniwai to be ‘freshwater heaven’
Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Resorts Tags: Aulani, DVC
Disney Vacation Club Begins Offering Members Insurance Through Travelex
Travelex Insurance Services, a trusted leader in travel insurance protection, and Disney Vacation Club, a recognized vacation ownership provider, recently joined forces to help the 475,000 individual Disney Vacation Club Members travel with peace of mind from unexpected occurrences.
Travelex provides a valuable service to Disney Vacation Club Members with a tailored travel insurance plan for vacation ownership. The protection plan provides Disney Vacation Club Members with comprehensive coverage for common travel concerns such as medical emergencies, trip cancellation or interruption and baggage loss or delay. This customized plan also covers accidental damage caused to their resort property, recreational equipment delays and roadside assistance service.
“Travelex Insurance provides our Members with peace of mind when planning their vacations to Disney destinations and beyond,” said Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis. “Families can focus instead on making memories and spending quality time together.”
“We are delighted with our relationship with Disney Vacation Club and with providing its members with a travel insurance plan that safeguards their vacation experience,” said Mike Ambrose, President, Travelex Insurance Services. “Travelex values its ability to give travelers worry-free memories of a lifetime.”
The annual plan, available to Disney Vacation Club Members through the Member website, is offered at a rate of $79.00 and covers an entire year of Disney Vacation Club vacations utilizing Member points.
Categories: Disney Vacation Club Tags: DVC, Travelex
Aulani Resort Celebrates Construction Milestone
Today, in a ceremony on the lagoon fronting the site of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai’i, local crew members from Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc., joined with Disney cast members (employees) to celebrate the completion of major structural work on the Disney resort and the beginning of Disney’s “time to add the magic.”
The event was a symbolic representation of the shared efforts of Disney and Hawaiian Dredging in building the new resort, which will welcome its first guests on Aug. 29, 2011. The construction crew and Aulani Disney team met on the beach to exchange gifts – lei from the construction workers to the Disney cast, and Mickey Mouse ears from the Disney cast to the construction workers. As part of the milestone moment, Hawaiian Dredging “handed over the keys” to the people who will add final detailing, theming, landscaping and all the other magical touches guests expect to find at a Disney resort.
Djuan Rivers, vice president of Disney Vacation Club and Resort, Hawai’i, joined with Eric Hashizume, vice president of Hawaiian Dredging and Elliot Mills, managing director of Aulani, to bring the construction workers and Disney team members together to begin “adding the magic” to Aulani. They gathered on the sand to form the image of the trademark Aulani arch and then transformed it into the familiar silhouette of Mickey Mouse. Mickey, Minnie and their Disney character pals joined in the celebration.
As Walt Disney Imagineers continue adding the magic to Aulani, they are weaving Hawaiian stories into the buildings, interiors, art and gardens of the resort with the help of local architects, artisans and historians. The celebrated Disney magic, storytelling and service will create wonderful family vacation memories at the resort, drawing on the beauty, fun, enchantment and traditions of the islands.
Built on 21 acres adjacent to a crystal blue lagoon and a white-sand beach in Ko Olina, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, will feature 359 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas upon its completion. Rooms are housed in two 15-story towers with commanding views of the ocean, mountains and magnificent grounds. On-site are two restaurants, an 18,000-square-foot spa, a wedding lawn, a conference center and extensive water activities, including a central swimming pool, 900-foot tube floating watercourse, wading pool, body slides, sunset-facing hot tubs, a quiet adult pool, a snorkel lagoon, and a conservation pool. Aulani will also include a signature kids’ club – Aunty’s Beach House – where kids can explore Hawaiian culture through fun and games, arts and crafts, and many other experiences created just for them.
The resort will also offer excursions that invite families to discover the island of Oahu. Guests can enjoy one-of-a-kind adventures that blend the wonders and excitement of Hawaii with the Disney tradition of storytelling, choosing from a variety of experiences that include surfing, rainforest hiking and learning how to prepare Hawaiian cuisine.
Reservations for Aulani are now open. Guests may visit www.disneyaulani.com or call (866) 44-DISNEY.
Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Resorts Tags: Aulani, DVC, Events
Speculation: Disney Vacation Club Planning to Make Mineral King Ski Resort Finally Happen?
Note/Warning: This article makes a lot of assumptions based on very little evidence and has little basis in reality. Should you choose to continue on, you will be obligated to take it with a grain of salt.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online (WDPRO), the business unit responsible for maintaining the websites for Walt Disney World, Disney Vacation Club and Disney Cruise Line, has recently registered DVCUTAH.COM, inspired with little doubt to fuel speculation that something is afoot. Granted the vague domain name and the fact that domain names are reasonably inexpensive to register — not to mention it’s just the one so far — so let this is your first indication that there’s nothing to be excited about quite yet.
So begging the questions, why Utah and why a ski resort? Well the two naturally go hand-in-hand and Utah is no stranger to The Walt Disney Company, being home to its Avalanche Software division of Disney Interactive Studios as well as being the primary shooting location for the upcoming film from Walt Disney Studios, John Carter of Mars. As for a ski resort, it was a well known pet project for Walt Disney himself that the company to create an entertainment-filled ski resort in California’s Mineral King. Disney worked extensively on the project, even producing what would become the Country Bear Jamboree which was originally intended for the ski resort. Unfortunately the plans fell apart after Disney’s passing, but the dream lives on.
So is it possible that with the introduction of Aulani to Hawaii, a ski resort in Utah is just a hop, skip and ski jump away from finally being coming a reality? Only time (and perhaps a D23 Expo) will tell. Hot Dog!
Update #1: Commenter Mgbrooks reminds us that the next shareholder’s meeting for TWDC is being held on March 23, 2011 in Salt Lake City, Utah, raising another eyebrow.
Categories: Business, Disney Vacation Club Tags: Disney Vacation Club, DVC, Utah
Disney’s Aulani Resort to Open August 29, 2011; Reservations Start August 2
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai’i, will begin accepting reservations for hotel rooms and vacation packages August 2, 2010, through the Walt Disney Travel Company.
Aulani is scheduled to welcome its first guests on August 29, 2011.
“Aulani will represent a new way for every member of the family to enjoy a vacation in Hawaii,” said Djuan Rivers, Vice President of Aulani. “It is designed so that parents, children and guests of any age can find their own kind of fun and relaxation. Families will experience the island in ways they might never have discovered before.”
With age specific programming planned for ages 3-10, tweens, teens, adults, and the entire family, there will be something for everybody. From pool parties with Disney characters to excursions into the rainforest and surf to learning how to prepare Hawaiian cuisine with local chefs, days and nights will be filled with the magic of Disney in the beautiful setting of Hawaii.
Introductory room rates start as low as $399 per night. Guests may choose from a variety of room options, including ocean or garden views.
The resort, built adjacent to a crystal blue lagoon and a white-sand beach, features 359 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas. Rooms are housed in two 15-story towers with commanding views of the ocean, mountains and magnificent grounds. On-site are two restaurants, a wedding lawn, a conference center and extensive water activities, including a feature pool, 900-foot tube floating watercourse, wading pool, body slides, sunset-facing hot tubs, a quiet adult pool, a snorkel lagoon, and a conservation pool. Aulani will also include a signature kids’ club – Aunty’s Beach House – where kids can explore Hawaiian culture through fun and games (including interactive touch table games) and arts and crafts. They can also enjoy the enchanted fireplace, “make it rain” in order to start movie time, and enjoy many other experiences created just for them.
Aulani is located on the western side of Oahu, upon 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development. The resort is located 17 miles from Honolulu International Airport and features convenient access to a 330-slip marina and a Ted Robinson-designed 18-hole championship golf course.
To make a reservation at Aulani, or to learn more about the resort, guests may visit www.disneyaulani.com or call (866) 44-DISNEY.
Categories: Disney Vacation Club Tags: Aulani, DVC, Hawaii
Disney Vacation Club’s Aulani Resort Accepting Sales Beginning Today
Disney Vacation Club began selling real estate interests for the company’s first family-friendly destination resort in Hawai`i today. Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai`i, is scheduled to open its first phase in fall 2011 and will mark the eleventh resort for Disney Vacation Club.
“We are thrilled to give families joining Disney Vacation Club a new resort option in one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world,” said Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis. “Once Aulani opens, families will be able to immerse themselves in the culture of Hawai`i while knowing that they will get the quality vacation experience only Disney can deliver.”
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai`i, is planned to include 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas and 360 traditional hotel rooms upon its completion. Other family friendly resort amenities are scheduled to include an 18,000 sq. ft. spa, two restaurants, a wedding lawn, a kids’ club, a conference center and a pool area complete with a feature pool, wading pool, tube slides, sunset-facing hot tubs and a snorkel lagoon.
Built adjacent to a crystal-blue lagoon and a white-sand beach, Aulani is located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development, near the existing Ko Olina Marina and a Ted Robinson-designed, 18-hole Championship Golf course. Located on the western side of O`ahu, the resort will also offer easy access to other points of interest on the island, such as the North Shore area and Pearl Harbor.
Disney Vacation Club offers families unparalleled flexibility and is designed to accommodate changing vacation needs, as families are able to determine where to go, when to visit, how long to stay and what size of accommodations best suits their needs on each trip.
To begin, Disney Vacation Club members are able to choose from among a variety of exciting vacation destinations, including a stay at any Disney Vacation Club resort, a trip on one of the Disney Cruise Line ships, a guided vacation with Adventures by Disney or a jaunt to one of more than 500 other destinations around the world. Plus, members staying at Disney Vacation Club resorts truly get “more room in the room,” as they can choose from four sizes of accommodations that sleep from four people up to 12 and range from 350 sq. ft. to more than 2,000 sq. ft. Additionally, vacations at a Disney Vacation Club resort can last any length of time, from one night to several weeks.
“Families can experience diverse destinations around the world with their Disney Vacation Club membership,” Lewis said. “Plus, Disney Vacation Club can be enjoyed by generations of family members, allowing families to continue to experience the magic of memorable Disney vacations year after year.”
Disney Vacation Club revolutionized the timeshare industry in October 1991 when it introduced a flexible, vacation points-based model. Today, more than 450,000 individual members from approximately 100 countries and all 50 states have discovered the joys of membership with Disney Vacation Club.
To learn more about Disney Vacation Club and Aulani, call 800-500-3990 or visit www.disneyvacationclub.com.
[Gallery not found]Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Resorts, Theme Parks Tags: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club, DVC
D23 to Offer Members Free Sneak Peek Event for DVC’s Aulani Resort
On June 30, D23 members will have the opportunity to get a sneak peek at the Aulani Disney Vacation Club Villas in Ko Olina, Hawaii at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim from 7 – 9 pm. Tickets, which will be available on June 23, are free but carry a $5 processing fee charge.
D23 will also offer a ‘Disney’s Hawaiian History’ exhibit as guests mingle to deejay provided entertainment, Hawaiian refreshments and a special photo-op with a Disney character. As tradition with the D23 events, guests will receive a complimentary gift, this time co-branded with DVC.
For more information and to order tickets, visit the D23 event page.
Categories: D23 Expo, Disneyland Resort, Theme Parks Tags: Aulani, D23, Disney Vacation Club, DLH, DVC, Events, Hawaii
Former Disney Cast Member to Serve Time for Stealing Credit Card Info from DVC Guests
Next month, former Walt Disney World cast member Ana Rosa will begin serving out a two year+ prison sentence as part of a plea bargain for identity theft according to a report from WFTV in Orlando. Although Rosa insists she never used the stolen credit card information, she does admit to purchasing and using a skimming device (using theme park tickets as part of payment) and to selling the information to an outside source who was known to use the information.
According to investigators, Rosa was responsible for over $80,000 in losses and was in possession of fifteen skimming devices. Rosa would hook up the device to the hotel’s check-in computer which she used for a period of four months at the Saratoga Springs and Old Key West resorts. A total of 173 guests were known to have been affected by the scam.
Walt Disney World is said to have taken increased measures in order to prevent events like these to occur again. In recent years, Disney resort guests had fallen victim to a phone scam in which the perpetrator (not a Disney cast member) would overhear the guest’s name and room number and use that information to contact the guest over the phone to gain access to credit card information. As a result of that scam, the resorts began placing warning signs inside the rooms and introduced a policy forbidding cast members to announce room numbers.
Categories: Disney Vacation Club, Legal, Resorts, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World Tags: DVC, Scam
Disney Books, Music and Videos Being Released During Week of May 9
Here’s look at some of the Disney-related books, movies and audio CDs being released this week. Please note that this list is automatically generated and information is not guaranteed by this site.
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A Dozen Fairy Dresses (Step into Reading) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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A Dozen Fairy Dresses (Step into Reading) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Deputy Mater (a Golden Go-Along Book) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Disney Princess: Cinderella: The Great Mouse Mistake (Disney Princess Early Chapter Books) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Hot Rods! (Big Coloring Book) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Lily in Full Bloom (A Stepping Stone Book(TM)) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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PassPorter’s Disney Vacation Club Guide: For Members and Members-to-Be (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Tinker Bell Fun Kit (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Tow Truck Trouble/Lights Out! (Deluxe Pictureback) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Disney: Guitar Chord Songbook (Available Friday, May 14 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Computer Wore Tennis Shoes & Strongest Man World (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Father of the Bride 1 & 2 (2pc) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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George of the Jungle 1 & 2 (2pc) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Ruthless People & Down Out Beverly & Outrageous (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Signs & Village & Sixth Sense (3pc) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Toy Story (Special Edition) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Toy Story 2 (Spanish) (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
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Toy Story 2: Special Edition – DVD (Available Tuesday, May 11 or Pre-Order from Amazon.com)
To order or for more information, click here |
Categories: DVD/Blu-Ray, Merchandise, Movies, Publishing Tags: Cars, Cars 2, Disney Fairies, DVC, Merchandise, Passporter, Tinker Bell, Tinkerbell, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, TS, TS2
‘Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23′ Unaired
‘Sword in the Stone,’ ‘Robin Hood,’
‘Once Upon A Time: Season Two’ on Blu-ray August 13 with
‘Disney’s Planes Take Flight’ Featurette Serves as
EXCLUSIVE: D23′s Steven Clark on Free Membership, New Archive
‘Disney Infinity’ Accessories by PDP Now Available for
Disney Launches Royal Ball Quinceañera Dress Collection
Golden Oak Marceline Neighborhood Now Open for Home Sales
‘Frozen’ New Concept Art of Arendelle (Ultra Hi-Res)
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