Disney Vacation Club has some fun new giveaway items and other perks for its members when sailing aboard a Disney Cruise Line voyage.
Many people have come to appreciate the benefits of traveling on Disney Cruise Line ships. Disney-themed entertainment, comfortable accommodations, personalized service and all-you-can-eat dining are just a small part of what attracts customers to this vacation at sea.
But the Disney marketing machine raises it to another level for Disney Vacation Club owners. DVC is a timeshare program, allowing guests to purchase points and use them toward discounted vacations for decades to come. Technically DVC points can be used to pay for a Disney cruise. However, it's not necessarily the best value for those points.
These on-board perks apply to all DVC members, regardless of how they paid for the voyage or even how they acquired their ownership. The exact makeup and structure of these perks can vary from one voyage to the next. There is more time for member meetings and promotional giveaways on a 13-day transatlantic cruise compared to a 3-night jaunt to the Bahamas. Every Disney Cruise takes advantage of opportunities to recognize current DVC owners while attempting to engage new buyers.
Stateroom Door Magnet
Recognition of current DVC owners begins when you arrive at your cabin. This clever Disney Vacation Club magnet will already be waiting to wish a hearty "Welcome Home." After all, that cabin will be your home for the next several days...or the next several weeks.
Member Gatherings
Every trip, DVC cast members will host at least one member gathering, sometimes two or more. The first is dubbed a "Disney Vacation Club Member Celebration." In recent years, this is typically structured around a Family Feud-style game show with several audience members answering questions to win prizes. But even if you don't want to get up on the stage, everyone who attends is treated to complimentary cocktails or bottled water. Sales Guides on board will review some recent changes within the program including new resorts, and remind everyone to visit the DVC information desk each day for a free gift.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a Disney character typically appears for a members-only meet and greet.
On longer cruises, a second "Welcome Home Update" may also be scheduled. This session is more sales oriented. Guides will dive into more detail regarding resorts that are currently available for purchase. Few specifics are offered during the open session. Instead, they'll encourage attendees to schedule a private meeting with one of the sales guides to review offers.
When leaving either of these member meetings, it's not uncommon to receive a small "thank you" gift like a DVC pin or a refrigerator magnet.
The Welcome Home Update is specifically for current owners. A separate "Disney Vacation Club Group Preview" session is aimed at non-members to explain the basics of the program and encourage a private meeting. It's not uncommon for non-owners to receive an offer for a $50-75 stateroom credit just for attending an informational meeting.
Those who agree to purchase points on a Disney Cruise may save a little extra money. But promotions vary greatly from one voyage to the next, and may even be limited to specific resorts with a stated minimum purchase required. Or, the on-board perk may simply be a fancy Disney Vacation Club tote bag, as pictured here.
All of these meeting opportunities will be listed in the Disney Cruise Line navigator app. Guests may also receive invites outside their stateroom door, and they're often mentioned by cast members working the DVC information desk.
Promotional Giveaways (aka SWAG)
Every day of a Disney Cruise, current DVC owners can receive some sort of promotional giveaway item. Most of them tend to be surprisingly clever and useful. Things like baseball caps and beach bags, which may come in handy if you're visiting a tropical climate and forgot to pack such items. MagicBand siders are also popular, particularly now that Disney cruise ships support the touch-based DisneyBands. On a recent 7-night European cruise, members received the following daily gifts:
- Disney Vacation Club lanyard with card pouch
- MagicBand sliders reading "Member at Sea"
- Luggage tag
- Lip balm
- Collapsable metal straw
- "Welcome Home" print featuring Mickey Mouse
- Baseball cap
Exact items are always subject to change, and may differ from ship-to-ship and itinerary-to-itinerary. Past giveaway items including things like beach bags, cell phone pop sockets, temporary tattoos, stickers and buttons.
Members must stop by the DVC information desk to claim their daily item. (Tip: If you miss a day, don't hesitate to ask later in the cruise. They're usually pretty good about helping you catch up if you simply forgot to stop by one day!)
Discounts
The discounts for buying points are likely to be the most substantial, potentially saving $1000 or more for buying on board the ship. But there are also a handful of on-board perks which can benefit all owners. As of this writing, the following on-board perks are available on all cruises for all dates:
- 10% discount on purchases of $50 or more from most on-board gift shops
- 20% discount on all massage and facial spa services on days when the ship is in port
- 10% savings on digital photo packages purchased on board
Other more limited-time perks may apply. For instance, during Welcome Home Weeks in the summer of 2025, members can claim free popcorn at counters outside the movie theaters.
Over the course of a 3-7 day (or longer) cruise, all of these little touches contribute to making the voyage a little more "magical" for Disney Vacation Club owners.
For more than a decade, DVCNews has trusted travel agent Sandy Nussbaum to manage our non-DVC travels. Book your Adventures by Disney trip, Disney Cruise Line voyage or anywhere on your bucket list and save so much money today! For details, contact Sandy at ezdisez.com or by calling 877-ezdis-ez (877-393-4739.) Be sure to ask about special stateroom credits offered on select Disney Cruise Line voyages!
