Disney Vacation Club was created in 1991 to meet the needs of families vacationing at the Walt Disney World® Resort every year or every two years. Today, Disney Vacation Club has grown beyond the Walt Disney World Resort and offers tens of thousands of Members the opportunity to vacation at over 500 destinations worldwide.
Disney Vacation Club was created by Disney Vacation Development, Inc., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.
Vacation flexibility is key to Membership in Disney Vacation Club. As a Member, you may choose from any of the multiple Disney Vacation Club Resorts, or from select Resort hotels at Walt Disney World® Resort, Disneyland® Resort in California and Disneyland® Resort Paris. In addition, you can set sail for dream destinations on Disney Cruise Line® or select from over 500 Member Getaways worldwide.
Through the Member Getaways Program, you may, for example, exchange reserved Disney Vacation Club Resort accommodations for a Hawaiian beach vacation, a Lake Tahoe ski retreat, an African safari or a Caribbean cruise aboard Disney Cruise Line. All accommodations are subject to availability.
There are many exciting benefits of being a Member. You may take advantage of special benefits such as discounts on select Theme Park Annual Passes at select Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts. You're also entitled to savings on golf, recreation, dining and merchandise at select locations throughout the Resorts. And you'll have a dedicated team of Disney experts to help you with every aspect of planning your vacation and using your Membership, a service exclusively for Disney Vacation Club Members. Travel options for Members include the Disney Vacation Club Resort network of over 500 Member Getaways worldwide through The Disney Collection, Adventurer Collection, World Passport Collection and Concierge Collection (subject to availability). Call (800) 500-3990† to learn about these and other exciting benefits.
You may vacation as often as you like until you have used your entire annual allotment of Vacation Points. For example, you can escape to the Walt Disney World® Resort in the winter, go on a cruise in the summer and still enjoy the fall foliage in Vermont. Don't have enough Vacation Points for all the places you'd love to go? As a Member, you can bank this year's Vacation Points or borrow Vacation Points from next year.
Resorts at the Walt Disney World
# Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort # Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas # Disney's Beach Club Villas # The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge # Disney's BoardWalk Villas # Disney's Old Key West Resort # Disney's Vero Beach Resort # Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort
Just as Walt Disney imagineered an amusement park into a Theme Park, Disney Vacation Club was created on the foundation of earlier time-share programs. What sets Disney Vacation Club apart from others is the "Disney Difference", gracious hospitality, Disney quality and creativity throughout. Disney Vacation Club also offers unprecedented flexibility in choosing among a wide variety of vacation experiences (subject to availability).
On average, it costs about the price of just seven family vacations* to join Disney Vacation Club. But for that same one-time purchase price and closing costs, plus annual dues, you and your family enjoy over 45 years of amazing vacations. In addition, Disney Vacation Club offers ways that can make Membership affordable. Through special incentives that may be offered and financing options for qualified buyers, you can find a plan that's just right for how you like to vacation. Simply call Disney Vacation Club at (800) 500-3990† and a representative will help you customize a Membership plan that lets you and your family start making magical memories today and for years to come. Outside the U.S. or Canada, please call (407) 566-3100.
An impromptu meet up & booksigning: Berkelouw Books, Newtown with Pia Jane BijKerk.
I am so thrilled to know this will be so close by and we are hoping to go buy a copy of Pia Jane BijKerk's new book, "Paris: Made By Hand" and have it signed by the author!
Meeting her will be such a privelge:)
If you are in Sydney next week this is a wonderful opportunity:)
The Aulani, A New Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina is scheduled to open in Fall 2011. Here is the newest video where you'll see the Concept Art, 3d model, informations and a virtual fly over.
In a nutshell, how would you describe the Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai`i?
A premier oceanfront resort on the island of O`ahu, Hawai`i, the Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina is a place for families to gather, reconnect and immerse themselves in the stories of Hawai`i. Storytelling vividly brings to life Hawaii's culture and connection to nature, so each member of the family gains from a deeper understanding, appreciation, and ultimately, enjoyment of Hawai`i. The design of the Resort honors Hawaiian tradition in its village concept, including hotel rooms, Disney Vacation Club Villas, meeting rooms and wedding facilities-spread over 21 wondrous acres. Disney's world-class service caters to your family's needs in ways unique to this destination. In a breathtaking setting-sweeping ocean views, glistening white sandy beaches, a pristine cove, lush tropical foliage, a water garden and salt-water lagoons perfect for swimming and snorkeling-this Resort & Spa is a premier vacation destination.
Lobby View
Why would I choose Ko Olina as a destination?
On the Wai`anae Coast of O`ahu, sheltered by mountains to the north, Ko Olina is a secluded paradise in a beautiful island setting, yet close enough to Waikiki to enjoy the shopping and activity there. Ko Olina is legendary as a source of inspiration to travelers. A place of breathtaking natural beauty where it's said that the goddess Pele visited to re-energize after traveling, Ko Olina was also a sacred place of renewal for Kamehameha the Great and his wife, Ka`ahumanu. Known for its sandy beaches, majestic seascapes and snorkeling, Ko Olina is home to many islanders who make their living from the rich agricultural tradition and fishing in the area.
Main Lobby
What makes this a world-class resort unlike any other?
The Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina offers you the opportunity to discover Hawai`i, while experiencing everything you want from a vacation-leisure, adventure, family time and romance. Designed with families in mind, there's so much for each member of your family to do and see that you can choose to enjoy a complete vacation here-or venture out to nearby points of interest. You can spend hours just exploring the grounds. Pathways wind throughout a wonderland of water, with a river, large pools, waterslides and sparkling lagoons. Children will particularly enjoy the resort's fish ponds and tide pools filled with bright native sea life. Symbolic of the balance and harmony of masculine and feminine elements, 2 streams join together in a waterfall that flows into the tropical garden, giving way to majestic stands of coconut palms, then sandy beach. A family Resort, the Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina calls children to adventure. To the delight of our younger Guests, the magical and mischievous menehune (mythical Hawaiian elf-like inhabitants) are playfully hidden under lobby tables and are out in full view at the water playground, offering endless entertainment. For our adult Guests, Ko Olina offers all the amenities of a world-class resort. Unwind in our extraordinary spa, surrounded by peaceful rainbow reflections of light and color, where you can experience the traditional healing arts of Hawai`i and services, such as hydrotherapy and aromatherapy.
Site Plan
What was the inspiration for the remarkable design?
Celebrating the elegance and history of Hawai`i, the architecture and interior design of the resort takes its inspiration from Hawaiian culture. Inside and out, simplicity, fine materials and attention-to-detail reflect the layers of refined thinking that characterize Hawaiian art. The unique architecture evokes Hawaiian villages in a modern, awe-inspiring interpretation. At the Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, ancient meets modern in a way that will make you marvel at the natural beauty and sophisticated elegance. A large volcanic rock passes from outside to inside the glass lobby wall. This reverence for nature is seen throughout, with volcanic stone columns that line the hallway, works of art perched in the crowns of lava rock rising from the lobby floor, and the lavish use of wood. Pools of water traverse the lobby, one tranquil and filled with lilies, the other rocky and wild, rushing out towards the sea. A dramatic, pitched-beam ceiling soars upward, enhancing the open-air ambiance created by walls of glass. Torch lights and calabash-inspired bowl lamps bring warmth to the interiors. Rooms are appointed with lustrous wood and Hawaiian elements, from the geometric patterns inspired by kapa cloth (textiles made from tree bark) to the craftsmanship you encounter at every turn.
Back of the Resort
What was the approach to creating this Resort?
Disney Imagineers teamed up with members of the local community to determine how the story of the Resort & Spa would unfold for Guests. Through this collaborative approach, the team sought to create an experience of total engagement with the land-revealed through storytelling. Examples of storytelling elements include the lobby mural depicting Hawaiian life and the pathfinding symbols on the floor, pointing makai, "towards the ocean," or mauka, "towards the mountain." Storytelling elements are woven together into an experience for each member of the family, in a journey of discovery and wonder at Ko Olina, "Fulfillment of Joy."
Kids Club
Be sure to register on this website, so we can send you communications as news is announced and our grand opening gets closer.
Dragon Fly, an Insect belonging to the order Odonata ( For my Scientist husbands benefit !)
I love Art Nouveau, this Print I designed was inspired by that time period in Art History. Dragon flies were a wonderful inspiration for Art Nouveau artists.
The gorgeous blog Dandelion Day Dreamer did a wonderful interview about me and is also running a competition to win a print of your choice from my Cafe Baudelaire shop:)
Just leave your comment on Dandelion Day Dreamer's blog and you may be the lucky one!!!
My favourite part of the traditional Christmas dinner is the plum pudding with lovely homemade custard!
I am unable to eat wheat and sugar so I have adapted a recipe from "consuming passions" to suit my special dietry requirements. I am able to tolerate spelt so that is the flour and bread I use in this recipe. Gluten free products will work equally well. My husband made the mixture for me and today they are boiling gently on the stove. Simply steam them in the basin for an hour on the day of serving. They keep well refridgerated or in a cool place for months.
Videos with subtitles. At the end of the 4th video, The Sherman Brothers are playing the theme song along with Walt E. Disney.
"Thank you for joining us at the Walt Disney's Carousel or Progress.We Hope you've enjoyed this tribute to the 1964 Carousel of Progress from the New York World's Fair. Please, gather all of your personal belongs and exit trought the doors located at the back of the theater. Have a great big beautiful day and remember: Tomorrow is just a dream away!"
I have been very busy redrawing some lovely old vintage images of ladies for valentines day.
I find the vintage images often have very crabby looking ladies with double chins and a 5 o'clock shadow ! I re draw them with pretty new faces and peaches and cream complexions. This can take hours of work but the result is worth it, I hope you agree!
Another design for Marie Antoinette fans with a Valentines day note card from Mulberry Muse
Two very talented and Quirky artisans creating amazing characters using antique door plates, old hardware,vintage casters, bobbins, crystals, whatever they can find that's fun and funky!
As part of the Main Street U.S.A. Parades at the Magic Kingdom, this is one of a kind and most guests don't even heard about that.
The parade with dancers started on February, 2003 and is performed periodically during the day. I think this is a wonderful way to start your day at the Magic Kingdom.
In this video you'll see first the main street at dusk (my favorite time) and after a minute of video, the Welcome Medley from the Trolley Parade record during 3 diferent days :)
You can find this track in the WDW Happiest Celebration on Earth CD Disk 1 [Expanded Version] and the video comes with subtitles in english!
Unfortunately I didn't add this in this video because of COPYRIGHT ISSUES but I have some amazing footages of my father dancing among then back in 2007.
The song called "Walkin' Right Down the Middle of Main Street, U.S.A." have credits to Stu Nunnery. Here is what he said on ClassicRockMusicBlog.com: "I wrote words and music to 'Main Street, U.S.A.' in 1978 while writing for a 'jingle house' in New York. Disney bought the song and there was supposed to be a rollout of the song in 1980 when Disneyland was to celebrate its 25th anniversary (1955). The song did not appear publicly until 1985 when Disneyland celebrated its 30th anniversary, and it was sung on a TV special by none other than Marie Osmond and a cast of characters. Since then, the song remains a parade theme at the parks, and is sung by the barbershop a capella groups walking down Main Street at the parks."
*This Discovery Channel HD special, Fan's Guide to Walt Disney World, shows you the ins and outs of making and spending a Disney World vacation from the fan's point of view. Two families, a young couple and three best friends show different perspectives on the Disney World property and its entertainment to give you an overview of the entire Disney vacation experience. Dining tips, utilizing FastPass, secret pathways, hidden Disney surprises, Disney at dark and much, much more are in store in the Fan's Guide to Walt Disney World. * From Disney Park Videos
Part 01 - Meet the Families
Part 02 - Starting your Day
Magic Kingdom - Cinderella's Royal Table and Adventureland
It's Tough to be a Bug
Going to Hollywood Studios and Epcot
Grand Floridian Resor
Part 03 - Fans Favorites
Animal Kingdom - Dinoland USA
Hollywood Studios - Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror and Indiana Jones.
Epcot - Test Track and Mission to Mars
Priority Seating
The Art of Disney
Soda Store - Free Coke
Part 04 - Parks & Restaurants
Hollywood Studios - Backlot Tour, Muppets 3D and Star Tours
