Disney Vacation Club has been on a roll lately, improving its Membership Extras perks at Walt Disney World and Disneyland to a degree that we haven’t seen in a long time. (Maybe ever? It really depends upon what you value and have been able to take advantage of.) This post details the latest freebies that are coming later in 2024 along with our commentary about this news and why it has us hopeful for the future.
Just last week, DVC announced the new lounge coming to Frontierland in Magic Kingdom. While that’s been controversial among non-members because it’ll replace the opening day Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade, it’s largely been met favorably with DVC owners. Before that, DVC released a new Friends & Family Discount of 40% Off Select Deluxe Villas at Walt Disney World.
This is in addition to the growing list of Disney Vacation Club Membership Extras, which currently lists 305 Member Benefits according to Disney. Don’t get too excited–at least half of that list is either nothing special or not even real right now (“temporarily unavailable”)–but there are a lot of valuable perks. See our List of the Top 10 Disney Vacation Club Member Perks for the ones that are worthwhile.
The latest news is that Disney Vacation Club is introducing the first-ever Welcome Home Weeks—a limited-time celebration from July 22 through August 24, 2024 featuring special events, tasty treats and exciting experiences just for eligible Disney Vacation Club Members.
First up is FREE ICE CREAM! This is not a drill!!! Treat yourself to a refreshing, complimentary Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bar, ice cream sandwich or fruit bar at select Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort locations.
Walt Disney World Resort:
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Location: Tower of Terror Courtyard
- Dates: Mondays and Tuesdays, starting July 22, 2024
- Times: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Location: Upper Bradley Falls
- Dates: Thursdays and Fridays, starting July 25, 2024
- Times: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Disneyland Resort:
- Disneyland
- Location: Star View Station – a Member Lounge
- Dates: July 23, August 6 and August 20, 2024
- Times: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Disney California Adventure
- Location: Golden Vine House, a Disney Vacation Club Welcome Home Center (Blue Sky Cellar)
- Dates: July 30 and August 13, 2024
- Times: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Members who are eligible for Membership Extras, plus 4 Guests, may enjoy this benefit. Valid park admission and park reservation required. Limit of one ice cream bar, ice cream sandwich or fruit bar per person per week, per location. A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Welcome Home Wakeup
Mingle with fellow Members for coffee and a morning treat at select hotels at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.
Walt Disney World Resort:
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Location: Top of the World Lounge
- Dates & Times: Coming soon!
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with a Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Location: Reunion Station
- Dates & Times: Coming soon!
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with a Resort reservation at Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge or Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Disneyland Resort:
- The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
- Location: Discovery Den
- Dates: July 25, August 8 and August 22, 2024
- Times: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with a Disneyland Resort hotel reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Limit of one Welcome Home Wakeup per week, per Membership; while supplies last.
Welcome Home Wednesday Wine Mixer
Enjoy the company of fellow Members as you indulge in wine and appetizers at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the Disneyland Resort.
- Location: Wedding Garden
- Dates: July 31 and August 14, 2024
- Times: 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with a Disneyland Resort hotel reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Disney Character Closeups
Meet beloved Disney Characters at fun events at Walt Disney World Resort, the Disneyland Resort and beyond
Walt Disney World Resort – Delight in an immersive Character meet & greet experience, themed to the beloved story from the fan-favorite film, Frozen.
- Location: Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Ballroom Fantasia J)
- Dates: July 22, July 23, July 29, July 30, August 12 and August 13, 2024
- Times: Coming soon!
- Parking: There is no Resort parking for this event. Members are strongly encouraged to use Walt Disney World Resort transportation.
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with a Walt Disney World Resort hotel reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Disneyland Resort – Don’t miss a Character experience featuring a sketch artist and a rockin’ dance party!
- Location: Sleeping Beauty Pavilion in the Disneyland Hotel
- Dates: July 22 and August 19, 2024
- Times: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Parking: There is no Resort parking for this event.
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with a Disneyland Resort hotel reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Disney’s Vero Beach Resort – Join a pirate-themed experience that boasts some favorite Disney pals.
- Location: Resort Lobby
- Dates: Thursdays, starting July 25, 2024
- Times: Coming soon!
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with a Disney’s Vero Beach Resort reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort – Get ready for visits from beloved Disney friends and a pool party at the Resort, plus fireworks at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina.
- Location: Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort and Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina (located across from the Resort)
- Dates: Tuesdays, starting July 23, 2024
- Times: Coming soon!
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with a Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Ice Cream Parlor
Take advantage of complimentary ice cream served up at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa at Walt Disney World Resort.
- Location: Disney Vacation Club Preview Center
- Dates: Coming soon!
- Times: Coming soon!
- Parking: There is no Resort parking for this event. Members are strongly encouraged to use Walt Disney World Resort transportation.
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with a Walt Disney World Resort hotel reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Limit of one ice cream serving per person, per week.
WDW Mobile Order Discount
Receive a 20% one-time-use discount on a mobile order
- Location: Select quick-service dining at Walt Disney World Resort
- Dates: From July 22, 2024 through August 24, 2024. Please check back here for the offer code and instructions
- Times: Dining Operating Hours
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras (one discount per eligible Member)
Finally, a couple of free things to do at Aulani Resort in Hawaii. First, you can explore Hawaiʻian traditions with complimentary lei-making and hula lessons.
- Location: Hālāwai Lawn
- Dates: July 25, August 1 and August 15, 2024
- Times: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM to noon
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with an Aulani Resort reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- Pre-registration for this complimentary event is encouraged and available at Hoku Hideaway upon arrival.
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Second, try your hand at a complimentary tote stamping and ʻukulele lessons at Aulani Resort in Hawaiʻi.
- Location: Kīpuka Lawn and Kaiona Ballroom
- Dates: July 23, July 30, August 13, August 20, 2024 (at Kīpuka Lawn) and August 8, 2024 (in Kaiona Ballroom)
- Times: 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM to noon
- Eligibility: Members eligible for Membership Extras with an Aulani Resort reservation, plus 4 Guests (or the number of additional Guests on the reservation)
- Pre-registration for this complimentary event is encouraged and available at Hoku Hideaway upon arrival.
- A valid Disney Vacation Club Digital Membership Card and photo ID are required at event check-in. The Member listed on the Digital Membership Card must be in attendance.
Turning to commentary, what’s most fascinating to me about this is that there’s no clear motivation on the part of the respective resorts or Disney Vacation Club. Take the V.I.PASSHOLDER Days at Walt Disney World, for example. Although this is a play to generate guest goodwill, it very clearly serves the dual purpose of being offered as a “perk” to entice people to visit the parks during a slower and hotter time of year. It gives guests something, but it’s fairly minimal and likely doesn’t cost much, while also increasing the likelihood that they’ll spend money on souvenirs, food, and so forth.
The motive here is less clear. Welcome Home Weeks are being offered from late July through late August 2024. Sure, pretty much all of the dates in August are among the slowest of the year for the parks. However, that’s not really true for Disney Vacation Club, which operates around the same sky-high occupancy levels (give or take) regardless of the week or month. By its very nature, DVC is basically insulated from the occupancy roller coaster that ‘plagues’ the rest of the resorts. (Well, barring a global pandemic.)
Meaning that this isn’t really a move to increase bookings–and it wouldn’t work even if it were. No one is making a decision to book during this time of year for a limited amount of ice cream. It’s the same story with getting people to the parks. While some people will travel for the Annual Passholder Days, they’re primarily aimed at locals. Although there’s undoubtedly some overlap, Disney Vacation Club Members are a different demo–they’re more out of state and, again, aren’t going to get on a plane for Welcome Home Weeks.
So why is Disney Vacation Club doing this? My best guess is generalized goodwill is reason number one. Disney used to do a lot more little things that they call “surprise and delight,” which are little unexpected things that both surprise guests and delight them. Many of these were on an individual level, and have largely vanished over the years (you can thank social media and people finding ways to hack or exploit these moments). Some also happened at a larger scale. Welcome Home Weeks are arguably an instance of that. Members visiting during these dates didn’t expect free ice cream or coffee, but it delights them in a way that’s disproportionate to the cost for Disney.
The benefits of happy DVC Members should be fairly obvious, but nevertheless, it’s something that Disney “forgot” to an extent from mid-2020 to early 2023 (roughly). In the couple of years since, we’ve seen the pendulum start to swing back in the other direction, with Disney Vacation Club “realizing” that a happy membership base is important.
Perhaps they had this epiphany when deciding that they wanted to simultaneously sell like 5 resorts or whatever, and that maybe it would be beneficial to that endeavour if existing owners felt good about their membership and had a desire to buy more points. So yeah, this too is actually a mutually advantageous kinda scenario and probably benefits Disney Vacation Club more than the individual members in the bigger picture. Especially given the money at stake when it comes to add-ons.
Another benefit for Disney Vacation Club when it comes to stuff like this, or even Moonlight Magic or the Member Lounges, is that it creates FOMO. That’s another driver for sales. When non-Members see some of the things they could have if they “just” joined DVC, it helps push them off the fence. Especially if they’re diehard fans or regulars who might as well take the plunge.
Likewise, Membership Extras are a good way of moving the needle on resales vs. direct sales, and could incentivize those on the fence to pay more to buy direct so they don’t miss out on any perks. Suffice to say, it’s a solid sales strategy from a holistic perspective–even if no one is going to buy more DVC because of free ice cream or whatever they get from Welcome Home Weeks, specifically.
To be abundantly clear, this is not tinged with even the slightest bit of cynicism or criticism on my part. Of course Disney has ulterior motives (loaded term, but not meant in the derogatory sense) with “surprise and delight” offerings. That’s nothing new! They weren’t acting as a charity back in the 1970s through mid-aughts when this type of thing was done regularly. It was always done with business motivations in mind.
The company was just so much better at not making itself feel like, well, a company back in the day. This is a big reason so many old-timers fell in love with Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Vacation Club, etc., in the first place. Because it felt like Disney truly cared. And that was in large part because higher-ups felt like they were upholding Walt’s legacy. Which also made them treat frontline Cast Members well, who felt cared about in turn cared about guests. It was a “vicious cycle” of caring. It was great. But I digress.
In actuality, I love that Disney Vacation Club is doing Welcome Home Weeks and think it bodes well for the future. It could mean an expansion and restoration of other perks, as Disney aims to both sell a ton more points and also entice fans to visit now that pent-up demand has faded.
The company recognizing that going above and beyond and making guests feel warm and fuzzy about their visits is a good thing that’s mutually advantageous and, hopefully, will be a philosophy that’s extended beyond just Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members. If there are any doubts about this internally, perhaps leadership should read one of the many books written about delivering exemplary Disney guest service and follow their own advice.
If you’re thinking about joining DVC, be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Disney Vacation Club. This covers the pros & cons, resale v. direct, how much money you’ll save, and other important things to know before taking the plunge. If you still can’t decide whether membership is right for you, “try before you buy” with the recommendations in How to Save BIG on Deluxe Disney Accommodations Renting DVC Points.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about the new Welcome Home Weeks? Excited this will be happening during your trip, disappointed that you’ll miss it, or do you not really care? Longer term, are you optimistic that this bodes well for Disney heading in the right direction with more “surprise and delight” offerings and trying to exceed expectations, or think this is just a one-off? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
