Disney Vacation Club Tips

Why I love visiting Disney Vacation Club beach resorts

My husband and I often credit our happy marriage to the fact that while we enjoy many of the same things, our differences balance things out. It was my family who first introduced him to the wonder and magic of the Disney Theme Parks. When I am on vacation, I enjoy exploration and activity. I am a rope-drop to park close kind of girl. I married a man who is happiest when he can walk in the sand, listen to the ocean waves lapping on the beach, and see the line where the sky meets the sea.

 

With our Disney Vacation Club Membership, we can change up our vacation style from year to year, or even take two different kinds of vacations in a single year. Friends are often surprised to learn that our Disney Vacation Club Membership doesn’t mean we even visit the theme parks on every vacation. Disney offers three very unique beach resorts to choose from: Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, and Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai’i. For our family, I appreciate knowing that these resorts offer the same family-friendly atmosphere, quality accommodations, and fantastic guest service that we know we can trust from Disney Vacation Club.

 

Only two hours' drive from the Walt Disney World Resort, we spent several relaxing days at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort after a visit to the theme parks. This was the practically perfect way to enjoy the best of both worlds. While my husband was determined to enjoy the sun and the waves, and the kids wore themselves out each day boogie boarding in the ocean, I was happy as my usual overscheduled self, and made sure we were able to experience all the unique activities of a small town beach vacation. The kids happily stuffed themselves full of sticky s’mores around the evening campfire on our first night, and we won Mickey Premium Bars as the victors of the evening trivia game! With waterslide races, miniature golf, shady chairs by the pool, and afternoon Dole Whip breaks, everyone from the toddler to the grandparents enjoyed themselves. Unique to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort are the efforts of Disney Conservation focused on the preservation of sea turtles and their habitat through both direct efforts and public education. Throughout the year, the Conservation Team gives lectures, leads turtle walks, and marks turtle nests. True to my rope-drop style, we awoke early on our first morning to join the Conservation Team on the beach, and my boys were able to assist the team in finding and marking nests. This is a favorite memory of that trip and was a one-of-a-kind experience for my kids.

 

When it comes to memorable vacations, Aulani Resort is hard to beat. Having spent a lot of time in Hawaii as a child, being able to share the beauty and culture of Hawaii with our children was something my husband had always dreamed of doing. We loved having the large 2 Bedroom Villa we are accustomed to with Disney Vacation Club as our home base for activities both at the resort and around the island of Oahu. There is a perfect balance of unique Disney touches like Hidden Mickeys and character breakfasts, while the overall theme and decor of the resort focus on authentic Hawaiian culture and art. Each day was full of new and exciting experiences. My boys learned to snorkel, took a surfing lesson, and joined in the teen activities offered in the evenings, while my daughter begged to go to Auntie’s Beach House to make slime and play with other children. We took ukulele lessons, enjoyed shaved ice, and took too many trips to count down the waterslides and around the lazy river. Disney Vacation Club made this epic trip possible for our family, and while we thought it would be a once-in-a-lifetime visit, we are excitedly planning our return to Aulani this summer! I’m already looking forward to gorgeous Hawaiian sunsets, tropical breezes, and nightly live music from the patio of The ‘Olelo Room.

 

After twelve years as Disney Vacation Club Members, we have still not exhausted all of the options available to us with our Membership. As our family has changed from parents with 3 little kids, to parents with four, then teens, and now soon to be college students, our Membership has grown with us. We are already looking to future trips for honeymoons, bringing grandkids, and dream vacations for just us as a couple. With Disney Vacation Club, we can look forward to years of magical family memories.

 

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