Hi Katy,
I'm a Disney Vacation Club member as well - so when they started talking about offering S.S. Member Cruises I was listening! After doing a bit of research, I found that this would not be an ideal time for my family to cruise (upcoming SS. Member cruise is September 12-16, 2010), and I feel we have better opportunities to maximize our point usage. Considering that September is value season, we could cruise "relatively" inexpensive during this month using cash, and hang on to our points for later use.
So although I decided it wasn't right for my family, as you know, membership is magical - and it certainly lives up to it's name on these special voyages. They include special offerings and perks such as guest appearances, special shows and activities as well as unique surprises and limited-edition merchandise. Personally, I enjoyed doing a lot of research from other DVC members on fan sites such as www.disboards.com to see what is in store for these voyages.
Of course Disney Cruise Line is expanding and making some big changes in 2011, so it is unclear as to whether or not they will continue offering the S.S. Member Cruises in the future.
What I do know is that if this is something you would want to take advantage of - you need to be prepared to book as soon as the opportunity is available. The 2010 S.S. Member Cruise
sold out in
one day, nearly 10 months prior to sailing. I suggest that you check in to
www.dvcmember.com frequently to see if there is any mention of a future offering. As I recall they gave ample warning as to the booking date so you could check your calendars and make your decision prior the day they accepted reservations.
Good luck!