We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Chad Pennycuff, the “curator of magical stories” at MyDVCPoints.com.  After 15 years of staying on the fence about joining DVC, Chad and his wife were able to speak with Sue, a 20-year DVC veteran, and ask numerous questions.  Sue’s insights and advice were incredibly helpful to the point where she became the couple’s DVC mentor.  After joining DVC and joining several online community groups, Chad realized that he and his wife were not alone in their curiosity about DVC.  The forums are filled with people seeking information about DVC from a member-to-member perspective.   It could be seeking advice from a mentor, soliciting opinions about booking Savanah vs. Standard view rooms, Boardwalk vs. Beach Club, or a desire to vicariously live through other member’s magical memories and bring some pixie dust to your commute, chores, or workout.  Chad had been thinking about creating a Disney podcast but wanted a unique perspective – something that went beyond news and rumors of what Disney is doing next.  MyDVCPoints.com was designed to bring the member-to-member conversations from the forums to other forms of social media.  What soon developed was the My DVC Points podcast, Facebook live, and #mydvcpoints was born.  The show has been incredibly well received, is only 6 months old to date and already getting 2,000 views a week.

The helpful and informative video/audio interviews and blog posts feature actual Disney Vacation Club members sharing their favorite aspects of membership and tips on how to use the points program to the maximum benefit.  Sometimes the members just share their own magical memories of a particular Disney park or resort.

The primary focus is utilizing seasoned DVC members to help “newbies” and sometimes, not so new members, navigate the ins and outs of the Disney Vacation Club points program and benefits.

Chad shared with us his most important guiding principles that continue to drive him to be the most unique DVC blog and podcast network in the industry.

Community Driven – Most of My DVC Points website and blog/podcast content is from “real” people who are DVC members looking to share their experience to help other members on the broader community. The format is an open platform for positive and unique DVC ownership stories and helpful recommendations.

Respect for All Members Opinions – The goal is to respect all viewpoints and experiences and create a safe environment in which to share those views.  Everyone has a story to tell, and the idea is to learn from other members stories and mistakes and to create a safe venue where the many joys of ownership may be celebrated.

Authenticity – Members are able to share personal stories about their vacation experiences at DVC properties and discuss the reasons for their particular choices and preferences. The member-to-member nature of the show content creates a “mentoring” relationship that is designed to serve the listeners.

Independently Produced – Chad curates DVC members stories and presents them in a podcast, blog posts, and Facebook live.  He personally conducts the interviews and takes care of all the production work and costs.  He utilizes the most up-to-date internet recording technology to yield high-quality podcasts.  The conversations are then shared via social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook, and more.

          

Here is a link to the seventeenth and most recent podcast: http://www.mydvcpoints.com/017.  In this conversation, Chad is interviewing original Old Key West owners and following their 25 years of magical memories.  We meet the Quicksell Family and follow their journey from bringing their 6-year-old son to Walt Disney World to becoming empty nesters, retired, and still regularly traveling to WDW with other Disney couples.

The ideal “match” for a prospective interview candidate is a DVC member who has at least 5 years of ownership experience and knowledge of helpful tips.  Their unique and personal stories are more detailed and comprehensive as they have utilized their points on several trips. Most DVC members will eventually have something unique to contribute as they enjoy years of ownership experience.

Listen to a few of the engaging podcasts and see if you pick up great suggestions or learn something new to help you on your next DVC adventure!

You can find the podcast in Apple Podcasts  Google Play  Stitcher  TuneIn  Spotify  and every primary podcast platform or listen from MyDVCPoints.com   Chad also hosts a weekly Facebook live on Monday nights at 9PM Eastern at facebook.com/mydvcpoints.

If you are a seasoned DVC owner with something special to share or a story to tell about DVC history and enjoy speaking and sharing or know someone that you might recommend for a segment, contact Chad, the curator of magical stories, at www.mydvcpoints.com/contact/.   Don’t forget to tune in regularly and hear a variety of DVC podcasts!

Debbie Ely, an owner of Vacation Club Loans, will be featured very soon so listen in!

•  contributed by Chris Golden