My DVC Points
301 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 234 ratingsWe are a member-to-member community dedicated to helping each other maximize their DVC memberships by learning about other members' perspectives, experiences, and personal preferences. We all do Disney differently. We're a positive show with a healthy dose of realism. We are not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or their subsidaries.
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Episodes
Owning BoardWalk Villas for 20+ Years – Lynda Colby’s Story
February 22, 2023 06:00 - 33 minutes - 46.1 MBLynda Colby first learned of DVC in 1999 on an anniversary trip to Walt Disney World. They stayed at Wilderness Lodge when the Boulder Ridge Villas were first constructed. After she and her husband researched and investigated, he bought in at BoardWalk Villas. Lynda shares her experiences as a DVC mom and grandmother with over […]
From Parent’s Points to Renting On My Own – Mary DVC Coming of Age Story
February 15, 2023 06:00 - 37 minutes - 51.5 MBAt My DVC Points, we love sharing DVC member stories. At the foundation of every DVC membership is this belief in quality time with your family. The magic of DVC membership is creating quality Disney memories with your children as they grow up. Episode 235 is dedicated to sharing Mary's DVC journey from a 15-year-old new member to renting points for her independent vacations with dreams of getting her finances in order so that one day she too can become a member and create memories with her...
DVC Point Rental and Swaps Options
February 08, 2023 06:00 - 54 minutes - 74.2 MBThe DVC Point rental market is scorching hot! Paul Krieger from DVC Rental Store shares DVC Point Rental and new creative point swap options. Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Universal, Incredible Vacation Homes, beach homes, and the Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser. There's a magic triangle of point rentals; all three things must come together: room availability, a member to supply points, and a guest wanting to rent the points. Episode 234
Rope Drop or Bust: Dave and Jenelle’s DVC Journey
February 01, 2023 06:00 - 55 minutes - 76.2 MBLearn how growing up in a traditional timeshare family helped shape Dave and Jenelle's DVC journey. Even though they've been DVC members for a few years now, the family stays strong advocates for "rope-dropping the parks" and being the first family along the ropes. Tune in as we learn how the Hart family executes a Walt Disney World vacation. Episode 233
Living Your Best DVC Grandma Life with Patricia Boorom
January 11, 2023 06:00 - 25 minutes - 35.1 MBPatricia and her late husband started taking her grandchildren to Walt Disney World in 2015. After doing his research, her husband was convinced DVC was the right fit for their family because he wanted to spend quality time with his entire family. Tune into the show to hear Patty's story about using DVC for extended family time, special one-on-one time with her grandsons and even some trips with her girlfriends. Episode 232
Meet Alyse Consiglio and DVC Free Cycle
January 04, 2023 06:00 - 27 minutes - 37.2 MBJoin the conversation as Alyse shares her DVC journey and provides some insight as a moderator at the DVC Free Cycle Facebook group. The freecycle group was founded to help reduce waste and allow members to give things away to other members. As you end your vacation, you may have food or items that another […]
Families Fly Free to Disney with Lyn Mettler
December 29, 2022 12:36 - 39 minutes - 54.4 MBLyn from the Families Fly Free Podcast joins the show today to discuss travel hacks to fly free to Disney. Lyn has developed a membership program to help families maximize credit card rewards so they can fly free. We cover an overview of her program and strategies. I've researched her methodologies enough to know that flying your family free to Disney World is an achievable goal if you choose to join her program or continue your travel hacking education. The strategies work if you work th...
Derek Sasman (Rope Drop Radio) DVC Journey
December 22, 2022 06:00 - 47 minutes - 65 MBDerek from Rope Drop Radio share's his family's Disney journey. The Sasmans have been lifelong Disney fans. A significant part of their Disney journey is becoming DVC members. Derek's wife had DVC-related photos on her dream board for years. During the COVID lockdown, their businesses bloomed while spending decreased, allowing them to pay cash for their first DVC contract.
ROFR Monster Hibernates – December 2022 Market Recap
December 14, 2022 06:00 - 28 minutes - 39.8 MBROFR Monster Hibernates - Resale Prices Return to 2021 Levels - Inventory is Up!
The Worst Grand Villas in DVC
December 07, 2022 06:00 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MBLet’s keep the bougie going this week as we tackle Disney Vacation Club’s worst Grand Villas. When we say worst, we really mean we’re going to be a bit nit-picky. Is there such a thing as a “bad” DVC Grand Villa? Probably not, but there might be some DVC Grand Villas that just might not be your style or might not just be your personal favorite.
226 Best Grand Villas
November 30, 2022 18:00 - 25 minutes - 35.8 MBIt’s time to talk bougie! Have you ever dreamed of a stay in a Disney Vacation Club Grand Villa? We’re eager to dig into the creme de la creme of DVC inventory, the Grand Villa. Although these gorgeous spaces are points hogs, these villas will take your breath away.
The Worst One and Two Bedroom Villas including “The Beverly of DVC”
November 23, 2022 06:00 - 22 minutes - 30.5 MBWhat are the three worst one and two-bedroom villas in DVC? We asked our panel of studio staying experts to give us their top 3 choices. We asked them to focus exclusively on the room as we've discussed the resorts in numerous other shows. We also asked each guest to choose their own descriptive language to describe their bottom three villas. Floor plan and decor preferences were significant factors in Episode 225
The Best 1 and 2 Bedroom DVC Villas
November 16, 2022 06:00 - 25 minutes - 35.6 MBWhat are the three best studios in DVC? We asked our panel of studio staying experts to give us their top 3 studio choices. We asked them to focus exclusively on the room as we've discussed the resorts in numerous other shows. The themes that ran in our show were colors, bathrooms, and decor. Episode 224
DVC Studio’s We Love That Need Love (The Worst Deluxe Studios)
November 09, 2022 06:00 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MBThe consensus on bedding matters carries forward in the worst show. The studios that made this list all have pull-out couches at the time of recording. However, some resorts with murphy beds were included in today's show. Spoiler Alert - Bay Lake Tower had a unanimous vote across the board. Episode 223
The Best DVC Deluxe Studios
November 02, 2022 05:00 - 24 minutes - 33.3 MBWhat are the three best studios in DVC? We asked our panel of studio staying experts to give us their top 3 studio choices. We asked them to focus exclusively on the room as we've discussed the resorts in numerous other shows. Episode 222
I’m Happy as a Resale Only Member – Jen Blanchette’s Story
October 26, 2022 05:00 - 31 minutes - 43.2 MBJen Blanchette’s Disney journey began with Disney’s Magic Music Days and a handful of childhood trips. In 2014, she went back to the magic and found her joy. Ever since Jen and her now teens have gone back to Walt Disney World every 18 months like clockwork. She owns her DVC resale points at Saratoga Springs. Episode 221
DVC for Floridians – Ryan Brady’s Journey
October 19, 2022 05:00 - 32 minutes - 44.4 MBBorn and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Ryan Brady has been visiting Walt Disney World his whole life. Whether skipping school to go with friends as a teen or going on one of his first dates with his future wife, Walt Disney World has been part of Ryan’s major life milestones. Now he’s a DVC […]
Market Recap & General Disney Price Increases
October 12, 2022 05:00 - 26 minutes - 36.1 MBAndy Berry joins the show to discuss our monthly recap items: ROFR, Average Prices and inventory. Additionally, we discuss the rising costs of a Disney vacation. Episode 219
Meet Peter Scheidle from DVC Newscast
October 05, 2022 05:00 - 59 minutes - 81.9 MBWe're talking with Peter Scheidle, a servant leader within the DVC community. Pete Scheidle is a founding team member of DVC Newscast by My DVC Points. Pete also runs DVChelp.com, one of the most valuable resources for Disney Vacation Club members. Check out his website for DVC room availability charts, floor plans, and more. Episode 218
What Happens When You Get COVID on a Walt Disney World DVC Vacation?
September 28, 2022 05:00 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBWhat happens if you get COVID on your DVC stay? Listen to a real-life experience from one of our MyDVCPoints community members, Jill Creighton. Jill owns direct Disney Vacation Club points at Old Key West and resale Disney Vacation Club Points at the Villas at Grand Californian. On her August 2020 trip to Walt Disney […]
Recapping the Resale Market Q3 2022 Update
September 21, 2022 05:00 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MBJodi Gross from DVC Resale Market joins the show to discuss our quarterly recap of resale prices, inventory, and the Right of First Refusal. While the overall market is slightly down from when it peaked in November 2021 to February 2022, month over month, the unweighted prices were up $8 across all the resorts. If the market is cooling down, it’s not by much as prices are relatively stable and steady. Episode 216
Grand Californian Resort Dining and Activities Review
September 14, 2022 05:00 - 58 minutes - 80.1 MBBrian Flock from DCL Duo hosts our Villas at the Grand Californian resort and amenities and activities review show. We discuss everything from dining options to pools. Episode 214
Grand Californian DVC Villas Review
September 07, 2022 05:00 - 53 minutes - 74.2 MBGrand Californian owners review the DVC studios, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom, and Grand Villas at the Grand Californian. The studios are fairly typical DVC. The 1 and 2 Bedroom villas have an awesome kitchen with a space-efficient booth-style kitchen table, a third bathroom with a walk-in shower, and the Grand Villas include a billiards table. The general consensus is that the room's decor and design elements are slightly elevated above most DVC rooms; however, the real "star of the show" is the ...
History of Disney’s California Adventure and Grand Californian
August 31, 2022 05:00 - 41 minutes - 57.6 MBJeff Barnes, Ph.D., also known as "Dr. Disneyland," joins the podcast to discuss Disneyland history circa the 1990s and early 2000s when Disney's California Adventure and the Grand Californian Hotel opened up. Disney wanted to transform Disneyland from a single-day park to a multiple-day destination in Southern California. DCA and Grand Californian were essentially built in the parking lot for Disneyland. After Disney acquired the land for the current Mickey and Friends parking lot, the Ci...
Mouse Dining – How Disney Insiders Get Advance Dining Reservations!
August 24, 2022 05:00 - 57 minutes - 79.8 MBAdvance Dining Reservations (ADRs) stress out almost every guest visiting Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Dustin Checketts, content creator, and owner of the website MouseDining.com joins Chad Pennycuff to help you secure the dining reservations that will make your trip even more magical. Whether you’re trying to score a rare and highly coveted signature restaurant or just missed your 60-day mark and need some help, your Walt Disney World or Disneyland experience will be rocked to the core ...
Three Decades of Helping Families Create Vacation Memories with Linda Smit from DVC Resale Market
June 29, 2022 05:00 - 49 minutes - 68.1 MBLinda Smit from DVC Resale Market joins the show to share her backstory. She was an opening day guide at Vero Beach and officially retired after decades of helping families create vacation memories as a Disney Vacation Club guide. Episode 211
Wilderness Lodge Activities Review Updated for 2022
June 22, 2022 17:00 - 47 minutes - 65.8 MBCopper Creek reviews were some of our very first podcast episodes in 2018. We're updating our Wilderness Lodge resort activities review show to include Storybook Dining reviews and what's changed since we first started our podcast over four years ago. Join Chad, Gina, Caleb and Annelie as we discuss the Wilderness Lodge resort activities, and […]
Wilderness Lodge Showdown: Copper Creek vs Boulder Ridge
June 15, 2022 05:00 - 39 minutes - 53.9 MBDVC Members Roxanne Steele, Holly Austin, and Heather Knecht join Chad in this lively discussion about the key differences between Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge Villas. Both are under the Wilderness Lodge umbrella, but if booking there, which should you choose? After this episode, you'll have a much clearer idea of which would be the better fit for you. However, the gang concurs that when at Wilderness Lodge, you really can't go wrong. Topics covered include room types and vibe of the rooms,...
Highest Month Ever for ROFR and Average Prices Drop $6 a Point
June 08, 2022 05:00 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MBApril 2022 set a new record high for the number of contracts Disney Vacation Club bought back through the Right of First Refusal process. The ROFR monster was set free and gobbled up 41.61% of the contracts sold in April. Average sales prices saw a decrease of about 3.1% or $6 per point on average. Numerous sellers also offered free closing costs. Episode 208
Boulder Ridge Rooms: The Beverly of DVC?
June 01, 2022 05:00 - 37 minutes - 51 MBOur Boulder Ridge review series continues with a discussion about the rooms themselves. Boulder Ridge offers Deluxe Studios, One-Bedroom, and Two Bedroom rooms. Tune in to find out what Chad calls the Boulder Ridge floorplan, "the Beverly of DVC." Episode 207
History of the Wilderness Lodge – Part 2 (Boulder Ridge Review Series)
May 25, 2022 05:00 - 37 minutes - 51.7 MBIn Episode 206 we continue the conversation with Jim Korkis about the history and backstories of Disney’s Copper Creek Cabins and Villas at the Wilderness Lodge. This blog post is a high-level summary for show notes and photographs of things discussed in the podcast. For more information, you may want to see the articles Jim posted on MousePlanet.com. “The Wilderness Lodge Saga – Part One” and “The Wilderness Lodge Saga – Part Two.”
History of Wilderness Lodge Part 1 (Rebroadcast for Boulder Ridge Review Series)
May 18, 2022 05:00 - 55 minutes - 76.1 MBAs we kick off the Boulder Ridge review series, we're rebroadcasting a show with legendary Disney historian Jim Korkis about the history and backstories of one of my home resorts: Wilderness Lodge. Jim is a former cast member at Disney in numerous roles. At one time, Jim led tour groups for Disney at Wilderness Lodge. In part one, Jim covers the history of the resort from the original concept of Cypress Point Lodge to what became Wilderness Lodge. Episode 205
April 2022 Slowly Leaning Toward a Buyer’s Market
May 11, 2022 05:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MBJodi Gross from DVC Resale Market joins the show for our monthly recap show covering April 2022. We've started a slow shift towards a buyer's market. Prices have started to soften and motivated sellers are starting to pay for closing costs. Disney bought back significantly fewer contracts in April than in previous months. Inventory dropped slightly from last month's recording time. All of this has us keeping an eye on the market as we start to see a shift towards becoming a buyer's mark...
Grand Floridian Review: Resort Activities
May 04, 2022 05:00 - 49 minutes - 67.5 MBWhat is there to do at Disney Vacation Club's Villas at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? These VGF owners have nothing but glowing things to share. A LOT! Chad chats with Sam Schapman, Ron Schammert, and Jacki Schammert to scoop on all VGF activities. If you missed the previous mDVCPoints episodes on VGC, visit https://mydvcpoints.com/vgf to catch up on our content. Episode 203.
Grand Floridian Review Series: Food and Beverage
April 27, 2022 05:00 - 1 hour - 115 MBPSA: Do not listen to this episode hungry. It's time for the Grand Floridian dining review show. Chad chats and chews with Sam Schapmann, My DVC Points first-timers Pamela Schapmann and Christy Gerken, and DVC Resale Market's Scotty Kauffman. We'll cover everything you want to know about dining at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, from quick-service options to the finest dining at Walt Disney World. Episode 202
DVC Villas Review: The Grand Floridian
April 20, 2022 05:00 - 53 minutes - 73.9 MBThe grandest of DVC episodes starts here! Join a panel of experts to dive deep into Disney Vacation Club’s Villas at the Grand Floridian room types. From studios to the grand villas, we’ll talk about the views, the new DVC building at Big Pine Key, the value of our points, and tips for owning at the Grand Flo. Listen all the way to the end of this episode for some great tips on which rooms to request for your next Grand Floridian DVC stay. Special shout out to DVC News for their in-depth guid...
We’re Celebrating Our Community
April 13, 2022 05:00 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBJoin us for our 200th My DVC Points Podcast episode. We asked community members to answer one of three questions. How has the My DVC Points Community Benefited Your Family? What is your favorite moment or episode? What is the most useful tip you've learned from My DVC Points? The community response was overwhelming. Episode 200.
March 2022 Recap: ROFR at All-Time High, Sales Up, Market May Be Cooling
April 06, 2022 05:00 - 16 minutes - 23.4 MBAndy Berry from DVC Resale Market joins the show to discuss the March 2022 recap for the resale market. In March 2022, Disney exercised their right of first refusal at an all-time high. We don't know if this was Disney stocking up before a direct price increase; or if more people are buying direct. Resale […]
The History of the Villas at the Grand Floridian
March 30, 2022 05:00 - 32 minutes - 45.1 MBCommonly vaunted by Disney as its “flagship resort,” and “crown jewel” of the DVC Disney World resort collection … join Chad and his guests, Emily Hicks and Sam Schapmann, as they reminisce on the history of one of Disney World’s most storied resorts — The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. We explore the history of the resort all the way through the DVC addition and secondary offering of DVC points when they converted the Big Pine Key building to DVC.
Loving Disney Later in Life: Ron Schammert’s DVC Journey
March 23, 2022 17:00 - 54 minutes - 75.2 MBMeet Ron Schammert, Disney Vacation Club member and owner at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. Ron discovered his love for Walt Disney World and Disney Vacation Club as an adult. Ron was hooked after Ron’s brother-in-law, a DVC member, took the whole family to visit Kidani Village at Christmas time. Ron will share a DVC purchasing strategy that might be new to you at the end of the episode. Episode 197
Blended Families and Getting Your Spouse into Disney Vacation Club
March 16, 2022 05:00 - 56 minutes - 77.3 MBWelcome home to Mike and Amy Durn! They are a newly blended family with four children ranging from age 10 to age 23. Mike and Amy own their Disney Vacation Club points at Old Key West and Saratoga Springs. Learn how they navigate DVC as a family of 6 and prioritize their points as a way to create new memories and experiences for them and their children. Episode 196
Disney Buys Back Lots of Contracts and Grand Floridian Prices Dip
March 09, 2022 06:00 - 19 minutes - 26.4 MBJodi Gross from DVC Resale Market joins us to discuss average prices, Disney's Right of First Refusal (ROFR) buyback rates, an exceptionally high inventory, and a slight dip in Grand Floridian prices due to Disney selling new points from the Big Pine building conversion. Episode 195
Bay Lake Tower Resort Activities and Amenities Review
March 02, 2022 06:00 - 1 hour - 86.2 MBWe're wrapping up our Bay Lake review series covering resort activities and amenities. BLT has so much to offer. The Contemporary Resort is in the middle of all the action, yet you can still have a quiet room up in the tower. Tune in to hear about what we all love doing while staying at […]
Bay Lake Tower Villa Review – Best Bathrooms and Smallest Studios
February 23, 2022 06:00 - 39 minutes - 54.4 MBAs part of our Bay Lake Review series, Leigh Ann, Kristin, and Alex join Chad to discuss the studios and villas at Bay Lake Tower. We cover booking tips, room requests, a review of the various views and booking categories, and share our general love of Bay Lake Tower. Episode 193 Starting with a discussion […]
Bay Lake Tower Review Series: Our Personal Histories with Curt, Chad, and Marissa
February 16, 2022 06:00 - 30 minutes - 42.1 MBMarissa from DVC Resale Market and Curt Stone from Geekin’ on WDW Podcast joined Chad to talk about our personal histories with the Bay Lake Tower Resort. Episode 192
When Your Friends Suggests Buying DVC: Nich Anderson’s & Steve Peterson’s DVC Journey
February 09, 2022 06:00 - 20 minutes - 28.9 MBWelcome, Nich Anderson and Steve Peterson, two of our regular MyDVCPoints Mouse Quiz players. Both grew up as Disney fans even though going to the Disney parks wasn’t always an option. They have a friend who owns Disney Vacation Club and helped to nudge them towards a DVC purchase. They own DVC points at both Disney’s Grand Californian and Riviera Resort.
From Disney Honeymoon to DVC to YouTube: Music in the Magic
February 02, 2022 06:00 - 39 minutes - 53.8 MBMeet Jennifer and Randal Ferguson, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) owners and YouTube stars on their Disney and DVC-inspired channel, The Magic in the Music. Jennifer and Randall share their Disney backstory and what inspired them to create their YouTube channel. They own DVC points at the Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Animal Kingdom Villas, and Riviera Resort. They’ve been to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Shanghai Disneyland Park and dream of getting to Tokyo and Hong Kon...
Rebroadcast – Meet the Magic Maker Rob A. Lott Theme Park Entertainer
January 26, 2022 06:00 - 55 minutes - 76.7 MBAs a DVC-based interview-based podcast, we normally ask members to share their stories and their personal opinions. However, there are countless unsung heroes behind scenes and some on center stage who also have a unique and interesting perspective they can share. Disney calls these people cast members, I call them the magic makers. Episode 189
Talking DVC with Zoologist DVC Member Amy Meeker-Taylor
January 19, 2022 18:00 - 33 minutes - 45.8 MBg-time contributor, a producer in the MyDVCPoints community, and environmental educator Amy Meeker Taylor. She fell in love with Disney as a high school student and started bringing her own family to Disney World in 2012. After discovering Run Disney and frequenting Disney World more and more, she went all-in on Disney Vacation Club (DVC) in 2018. Amy’s original Disney Vacation Club home resort is the Polynesian Villas with additional DVC home resorts at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Saratoga Springs...
December 2021 DVC Market Recap Report
January 12, 2022 06:00 - 17 minutes - 24.2 MBDisney held steady with ROFR in December. They bought back 40+ contracts in the month. December's buyback rake was consistent with the 2021 average. Episode 187 Prices held steady. Previously, Chad predicted the market to shift slightly toward buyers; however, the rate of sellers and buyers stayed even. Prices remained high with very few resorts […]