Have You Tried These Unique DVC Resort Experiences

Once you’ve visited Disney Vacation Club resorts for a while, you may think you’ve checked off every available box. Somehow, I doubt that, though. 

DVC hotels pride themselves on creating vibrant campuses bustling with activities. Most properties even offer daily and monthly calendars to underscore everything you can do during your visit. Here are some unique DVC experiences you should try.

Stamp an ‘Ohana T-Shirt at Aulani

Something to keep in mind is that a handful of the activities will cost money. So, you can take fishing or archery lessons for a modest fee. Similarly, several DVC resorts offer aquatic entertainment options like boat rents if that’s your cup of tea.

For today’s purposes, I’ll highlight activities that are either free or relatively inexpensive, such as this one. At Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, you can participate in an amazing group activity that children adore.

Cast Members hand out white t-shirts and then empower children to create their own designs. The participants choose between countless stamps, each of which leaves an indelible imprint on the shirt. You can pick as many as you want. So, most kids ignore the minimalist approach and stamp the whole thing. It’s utterly charming.

This activity costs the price of the shirt, which is around $15 these days. You can perform a quick internet search to uncover a slew of images of smiling children happily displaying their creations. This activity embodies the best of Disney: family bonding. 

Create a Nautical Necklace at Beach Club 

Here’s another modest paid activity. The last time I checked, it cost $10, but that’s dirt cheap considering you’ll take home a memento from the experience. 

At Disney’s Beach Club Villas, the Shipwreck Beach area hosts an activity several days a week. Note that some of the activities listed here are daily, while others are more sporadic. Thus, I strongly encourage you to get in the habit of asking for a schedule when you check into the hotel. You’ll know which days you can find the various activities.

The opportunity to Create Your Own Nautical Necklace costs $10. Cast Members will hand you an unadorned necklace and then push an unholy amount of charms and beads your way. You can filter the ones you want and add them to your necklace, thereby creating a one-of-a-kind vacation trinket. Keep it for yourself or give it to someone you love when you return home!

Follow the White Rabbit at the Grand Floridian 

Sometimes, you just want to sit by the pool, sunbathe, and maybe nurture an adult beverage. Your kids rarely cooperate since they’re on a thrilling Disney vacation and expect maximum entertainment at all times. 

Fortunately, Disney officials think of everything. They will happily offer some de facto babysitting for your child in the form of a grand adventure. At The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the feature pool hosts an event known as the White Rabbit’s Pocket Watch Hunt. 

The mysterious White Rabbit is missing several Pocket Watches. Kids will find them carefully hidden around the pool grounds. So, they’ll spend time searching while you luxuriate in the sun, savoring your vacation and DVC membership. Plus, the kids lucky enough to find the watches earn a prize, which often becomes a personal keepsake.

Make a Mickey Tie-Dye at Vero Beach 

Much of what I said about Aulani applies to this activity as well. Several DVC resorts offer variants of this same premise. Cast Members provide white shirts and allow kids to let loose with their imaginations.

At Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, the children use these garments as blank canvases for tie-dye creations that would be the envy of Bob Ross and Bill Walton. Plus, the shirts have Mickey Mouse on them, which virtually guarantees they’ll become the first choice after every laundry day. 

Name That Tune at Hilton Head 

Sometimes, you just want to do something silly, relaxing, and fun during your trip. At Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort, you’ll find the perfect activity at the hotel pool.

At least once a day, Cast Members will host Name That Tune, an activity that hearkens back to television’s game show era. Kids today know it as Shazam, but the idea’s the same.

Someone plays a small snippet of music. Then, the players attempt to guess the song after hearing a minimal number of notes. Obviously, many of the answers are Disney titles, which is part of the fun. 

Tour the Disneyland Hotel 

I love everything I’m suggesting here, but some options appeal to me more than others. As a Disney historian, I read everything that I can about the fascinating process of constructing Disneyland Resort. 

Hotel management understands that there are many Disney fans like me cycling through the property each week. So, it offers us something special: a guided Disneyland Hotel tour! You’ll even find it listed on the official website. 

This walking tour will take you through the various expansion areas at the property. Please be aware that few of the original elements from 1955 remain since it was a glorified motel then. Cast Members are reverential about everything that has lasted from that era, though. For fans, this is a seminal experience.