{"id":1265,"date":"2007-08-13T07:59:47","date_gmt":"2007-08-13T11:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_ms_news\/?p=1265"},"modified":"2016-02-29T16:14:00","modified_gmt":"2016-02-29T21:14:00","slug":"doorway-to-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themouseforless.com\/blog_ms_news\/news\/featured-article\/doorway-to-dreams\/","title":{"rendered":"Doorway to Dreams"},"content":{"rendered":"

Doorway to Dreams <\/span><\/strong>
\nBy Erica Colmenares<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Here in the\u00a0wilds<\/em> of Wisconsin, there’s not much Disney. We’re over 1300 miles from Lake Buena Vista, and almost 2000 miles from Anaheim. Our Disney Store closed earlier this year (without letting me know, by the way). There\u00a0was<\/em> that time that\u00a0Disney on Ice<\/em><\/strong> came to town. That was big! But otherwise, we make do with Disney fan email lists, Disney podcasts and trip planning- that’s what sustains us between Disney vacations.<\/p>\n

But recently, the Midwest got its own dose of Magic. On March 1 of this year, Disney Vacation Club announced it was opening up a storefront in Chicagoland. “Woo hoo, that’s practically in Wisconsin,” I says, and anxiously await details. Seemed like the plan was to locate this new DVC sales center in the Woodfield Mall, in Schaumburg, IL. The Village of Schaumburg is a straight shot from my hometown. Sure, a 130-mile straight shot, but beggars can’t be choosers. The preview center would be 6300 square feet, and have a two-bedroom villa unit as well as a supervised children’s play area and interactive information area. Coming this summer. But\u00a0when<\/em> this summer?\u00a0When?<\/em><\/p>\n

Finally, things get concrete. Disney Vacation Club announced the Grand Opening of Disney’s Doorway to Dreams for August 4, with three DVC member preview days on August 1-3. “I’m<\/em> a member,” I shouted with glee. It was clearly time for a road trip. And Carol Garcia (senior editor for Magically Speaking) is also in the neighborhood (or at least the state), so we planned a rendezvous at this great Midwest Disney Event.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\nWelcome Home DVC Members – that’s us!<\/em><\/p>\n

Friday, August 3 arrives. It’s hot. It’s humid. We\u2019re standing in a parking lot at the Woodfield Mall, looking around for the Improv Comedy Club, which is where our official confirmation postcard tells us to go. Ah, there it is. We enter, and a very nice woman smiles and asks “Are you here for the noon tour?” Yes indeed, we are! We (patiently) wait a bit, since it’s before noon, then are ushered down a set of stairs to the club rooms.<\/p>\n

Here we get checked in, assigned a group (we are henceforth known as Group Five), an entry form for a sweepstakes (still waiting for the news that we won!) and a cool, light-up ‘Doorway to Dreams’ pin. There are drinks by the bar- soda and water \u2013 and display areas set up with drawings of Animal Kingdom Villas. I learned on the internet that the lucky later time slots actually got wine and beer. Guess Disney’s trying to adhere to the “no drinking before 5 pm” social norm.<\/p>\n

\"\"The sweepstakes, by the way, is a pretty nice one: all expenses paid trip for four, five nights in a two-bedroom Saratoga Springs villa and one night in the\u00a0Cinderella Castle Suite<\/strong>! With tickets and the dining plan. If you’re bummed you didn’t get to enter, they are still taking entries at the Doorway to Dreams store, or you can\u00a0enter by mail . Keep in mind that I just decreased my chances of winning by telling you about this, so if you win, at the very least take me along, I mean, send me a postcard.
\n
\nOK, now back to Schaumburg. It’s time for the main event. By now about 150 people have arrived. We’re invited into the theater area, where there’s lots of stadium seating with tables. Then it’s off to the buffet for deli selections, chips, sub sandwiches, meatballs, chicken wings, and fruit and pasta salads. There\u00a0is<\/em> such thing as a free lunch!<\/p>\n

\"\"Just as we’re digging into the chow, the lights lower and who should come out but Miss Dee Vee Cee. Now, I know she’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I, personally,\u00a0love<\/em> Miss Dee Vee Cee! She’s the first lady of the Disney Vacation Club- did you know that? For those of you have been to\u00a0Welcome Home Wednesdays<\/em>, she’s the star attraction there. And now she’s in my own little Midwest! Sigh. Doesn’t get much better than that. She does her high-voiced schtick, gets a few laughs, does a little trivia contest, then introduces the actual DVC salespeople.<\/p>\n

There are three of them, and they’re polished. They walk us through the special incentive offers available only at these preview events. These incentive offers are now expired, defunct, kaput, invalid, obsolete. Gone. But in the interest of complete disclosure, these were the full offers:<\/p>\n