My DVC Points

My DVC Points


029 How does a DVC guide use their points? Meet Andy Berry - Former Guide - Current Resale Agent

August 01, 2019

Have you ever wondered how a DVC guide spends their points? Realistically, DVC is their job. What do they do to get away from work yet create magical vacation memories for their own families? Shortly after Andy Berry joined DVC as a member, he joined the DVC sales team as a guide. Earlier this year, he transitioned over to DVC Resale Market. In episode 029, Andy shares his DVC story and we get a glimpse of how a DVC guide's family utilized their DVC points. Join in to learn about RCI, cruises, and Adventures by Disney.

Andy and his wife, Jolie, have been Disney Vacation Club members since September 2010. They joined on a cruise aboard the Disney Magic.

Andy and Jolie decided to buy into DVC after she had booked a Disney cruise to Alaska. Andy and Joelee knew that they wanted to continue making trips with Disney in the future with their family. He says it was simple economics that led them to the decision to purchase their Vacation Club membership. Wanting to share the legacy of Disney with their four kids and being able to pass it down to their grandkids was a significant selling point for them, too. They chose Bay Lake as their home resort, although they have yet to stay at Bay Lake.

Becoming a Disney Vacation Club Cast Member

Photo when Andy was a Direct Guide at Disneyland

After going through the process of buying into DVC, Andy's guide suggested he look into joining the DVC sales team. Andy decided to become a Disney Cast Member as a guide. Before joining the Walt Disney Company, Andy had spent many years as a CFO, which provided him with a background in finance. Andy discussed the qualities he believes Disney looks for in a DVC Guide Member, including loving the Disney brand and embodying Walt's legacy. He says he likes to treat every tour he does as if Walt is sitting with them during the conversation. After working as a Direct Guide for DVC for eight years, Andy transitioned over to DVC Resale Market to have more time to spend with his family. This also allows Andy to serve buyers and sellers.

As someone who has worked in the direct market and resale market of Disney Vacation Club sales, Andy recommends purchasing through the resale market.

Adventures by Disney

When Andy's family began planning their first Adventures by Disney vacation, the company was coming up on their tenth anniversary. Andy's wife suggested they take one of the first trips offered when Adventures by Disney was first established. Her idea led them to the “Quest for the West” trip to Wyoming. While in the airport returning home from that trip, the family was looking over the brochure for ABD and chose where their next trip would be: South Africa.

You have to love the Camel Selfie!

Among the seven trips that Andy and his family have taken with Adventures by Disney are destinations to Peru, Norway, and Costa Rica. “Disney thinks of everything so thoroughly,” Andy says. He feels their experiences in those places were so complete that they don't feel a need to return there because of Disney's attention to detail in planning the trips. Another point Andy makes about Adventures by Disney is their dedication to the first-class service. He says while traveling in Peru with Adventures by Disney, he became ill. Within a half-hour of letting their Guides know he was sick, they had brought him medicine to help him overcome his illness.

Andy says they had a first-class experience on their trip to South Africa thanks to ABD. He especially loved learning about and engaging in the culture there and being immersed in the Sahara & Savannah areas.