DVC to extend member service hours on July 1

Disney Vacation Club will extend its member service hours during the week starting July1.

Member services will be open from  9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.,  it was 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The weekend hours will remain the same at 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., according to an e-mail sent out to members.

DVC recently debuted a new vacation center at  DVCMember.com,. accessible almost 24 hours a day (minus 30 minutes of scheduled maintenance from 2-2:30 a.m. Eastern daily).

The Vacation Center includes the online-booking system, which "lets members book available Disney Vacation Club Resorts using vacation points, check available vacation points for any and all contracts, create and view wait lists, access records of past trips, add Disney Dining Plans and Magical Celebrations, and use the Disney Online Check-in Service. Members also may use the Vacation Center to purchase tickets and travel insurance, add Disney's Magical Express transportation and make dining reservations," according to the e-mail.

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12 things to look for from Disney in 2012

As the New Year starts lets take a look at dozen things to look forward to in 2012 coming from Disney.

1. Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom staying open for 24 hours on Leap Day - Feb. 29, 2012 - as part of the "One More Day" campaign. The company is also giving away 60 vacation packages. 
2. The New Fantasyland opening at Walt Disney World. This is the largest expansion project in Magic Kingdom history will open in phases, featuring attractions and experiences in an area that will nearly double the size of Fantasyland. Among the novelties, guests will be able to fly high with The Great Goofini or with Dumbo the Flying Elephant, “immerse” themselves in Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid and “be our guest” at the Beast’s Castle.
3. Cars Land opens in Disneyland. Lightning McQueen, Tow Mater and other characters come to life in the new 12-acre land in Disney California Adventure Park. Attractions include Luigi's Flying Tires, whip around behind a baby tractor at Maters' Junkyard Jamboree and head out on Radiator Springs Racers which lets you race up to 40 mph through Ornament Valley's red-rock formations.
4. Beauty and the Beast in 3D." This hits theaters Jan. 13. This 1991 classic was the first animated film to ever be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
5. Launch of the Disney Fantasy. On March 31, the latest in Disney cruises shoves off with a new interactive detective game starring The Muppets and two new musical stage shows.
6. Disney/Pixar's latest movie "Brave" is released June 22. The movie is set in the mystical Scottish Highlands, where Merida is the princess of a kingdom ruled by King Fergus and Queen Elinor. An unruly daughter and an accomplished archer, Merida one day defies a sacred custom of the land and inadvertently brings turmoil to the kingdom. In an attempt to set things right, Merida seeks out an eccentric old Wise Woman and is granted an ill-fated wish. Also figuring into Merida’s quest — and serving as comic relief — are the kingdom’s three lords: the enormous Lord MacGuffin, the surly Lord Macintosh, and the disagreeable Lord Dingwall.
7. New rooms and resorts at Walt Disney World. Guests staying at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside will discover stars of favorite animated films such as “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Princess and the Frog" in their rooms. Some room guests will be able to watch “fireworks” swirl as they recline in ornate beds, curl up in custom linens. Each of the 512 Royal Guest Rooms sleeps up to four guests in two queen beds. And Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, inspired by Disney animation opens featuring 1,120 family suites themed after “The Lion King,” “Cars” and “Finding Nemo,” and 864 themed rooms in “The Little Mermaid” wings is scheduled to open.
8. "The Avengers" movie is released on May 4. This is every Marvel fan boy's and fan girl's dream come true. Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Nick Fury, the Black Widow and Hawkeye join forces.
9. DVC members making reservations online. Starting Jan. 19, Disney Vacation Club members will be able to make online reservations. This will be a slow roll out.
10. Disneyland Parks celebrates is 20th Anniversary on April 1 with the world premiere of Dreams - A Magical Immersive Nighttime Spectacular that will take over Disneyland Park each night with a dazzling visual feast of special effects, bringing to life greatest Disney characters.
11. Disney's Newsies comes to Broadway in New York for a limited engagement March 15 to June 10. Ticket go on sale Jan. 30.
12. Epic Mickey 2 the game is to be released Nov. 30. The game is the sequel to Epic Mickey with new adventures and also includes a new "old" character - Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. That's right Mickey's predecessor is part of the game.

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DVC annual mixer happening inside EPCOT for first time

For the first time the Disney Vacation Club annual mixer will be held inside a park at Walt Disney World.

According to DVC member website, the mixer will take place inside EPCOT at the World Showcase Pavilion between Canada and the United Kingdom pavilions. Usually, the mixers have been held outside of EPCOT at the International Gateway entrance.

The events are taking place on Tuesday's Nov. 29, Dec. 6., Dec. 13 and Dec. 20  between 3 and 5 p.m. Dec. 20 is a blackout date for Florida Resident Seasons and weekday selected passes.

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