By Bill Diercksen, Senior Vice President, Disney Vacation Club & Aulani
Attend a hockey game this winter, and you’re bound to hear cheers when a punished player emerges from the penalty box and the arena’s public address announcer proclaims that the home team is back at “full strength.” That roar from the crowd celebrates, not necessarily the individual player, but the entire team for making it through a time period in which it wasn’t able to fire on all cylinders.
I share this both because the gap between football and baseball seasons leaves me turning to indoor sports, and because, here at Disney Vacation Club, entering 2023 feels like skating at full strength at last.
Playing shorthanded, not for a few minutes, but for a few years, tested us like a frozen pond of puck-slapping Mighty Ducks missing a few of their web-footed friends (shameless plug: season two of “Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” is now streaming on Disney+!).
But the New Year brings a new mindset, one fueled by a crowded calendar of Member events (including the Feb. 1 return of Disney Vacation Club Moonlight Magic to Disneyland Resort!), a growing slate of new exchange opportunities, restored access to full borrowing options, more refurbishments to the industry-leading places you call home (not to mention the creation of new ones on the horizon!), and more.
And because we know you didn’t become Members just to relax at your resort, we’re equally thrilled by the myriad announcements of late that will bring new attractions and experiences to some of your favorite vacation destinations in the years ahead, and we’re beyond excited this year to be part of the biggest celebration in Disney history, marking the company’s first 100 years of wonder.
You’ll read more about the New Year’s Membership Extras and Disney developments in this edition of Disney Files Magazine, and I know you’re as thrilled as we are to have our magical community – and everything you love about Disney – back at full strength. We thank you for being such a special part of that community, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you in the coming year!