Every week Disney Vacation Club hosts a Welcome Home Wednesdays event at the BoardWalk's Atlantic Dance hall. The session is a combination sales pitch--in typical low-key Disney fashion--informational event and fun get-together for DVC members.
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Members stream into the Atlantic Dance Hall
The Atlantic Dance Hall is located at the western end of the BoardWalk near the bridge leading to the Dolphin and Swan resorts.
The event is open to all current Disney Vacation Club members plus accompanying friends and family.
Deevy See chats with some fans
Upon arrival, all attendees are presented with a registration card and a snack coupon. The registration cards are used to select the winners of various door prizes. The coupon is redeemable one of a variety of snacks including popcorn and caramel corn. Beverages are also available including lemonade, coffee and water.
Registration card (for drawings) and snack coupon
Several hundred seats are available. Individual chairs line the floor while small tables and chairs are placed further from the stage. Approximately 80% of the available seats had been claimed by the start of the meeting on this particular Wednesday.
Two levels of seating provide space for around 300 attendees
The meeting itself is built around a game show format. Here host James gives instructions to the four contestants chosen from the audience. Note that the participants are volunteers rather than chosen via drawing or other random method. Those interested in playing on stage should arrive early, sit near the front and show some enthusiasm during the selection process!
Host James with contestants
Co-hosting with James is the self-proclaimed "first lady of the Disney Vacation Club", Deevy See.
Deevy See
The trivia contest allows contestants to select from four categories and four point values. With categories such as "Perks" and "Aulani", most questions were aimed specifically at Disney Vacation Club and its members. Examples include:
- This Comapny--offering a Member Discount--stores your vacation items for you when you go back home and delivers them right to your Hotel room. (Answer: Owner's Locker)
- What Disney-Themed activity center allows kids to play games, create artwork and learn about Hawaiian culture? (Answer: Aunty's Beach House)
Jeopardy-style game board
John Van Meter from Owner's Locker (not pictured) was on hand to greet attendees. Check out what Deevy See keeps in her Owner's Locker.
What do we find in Deevy See's Owner's Locker?
Scoring of the trivia is more than a bit generous. The hosts often assist guests with their answers. And paying compliments to Miss Deevy See often yields a few bonus points.
In typical Disney fashion, the trivia contest ends in a 4-way tie.
It's a four-way tie!
Volunteers for the trivia contest receive gift bags featuring a flash drive, license plate and frame, luggage tag, photo frame, beverage coozy and more.
Throughout the meeting door prizes are awarded to other attendees via random drawing. Among the prizes handed out are a free one year membership with Owner's Locker and a $50 gift certificate to Sammy Duvall's Watersports Center at Disney's Contemporary Resort.
Goody bag for game show participants
All attendees go home with a black baseball cap sporting the new Disney Vacation Club logo.
Black and turquoise caps for all attendees
Welcome Home Wednesdays is held most Wednesdays (check schedule) from 2-3pm at the BoardWalk's Atlantic Dance Hall. It is free to all Disney Vacation Club members.
Direct transportation is not provided for those staying at more distant resorts. However, the location is accessible via Walt Disney World's trasnportation system (bus or boat to BoardWalk from any theme park.) The venue is approximately a 10-15 minute walk from Epcot's International Gateway.
