VWL Groupies...yes, we love the Lodge!!

[bagsmom]

This is as it stands now. We are going mid June! I'd love your thoughts!

Friday -- arrive at Contemporary about 2:00! It's a surprise! Rest a little and eat something, probably. Around 5, walk over to MK for a couple of rides and spend a couple hours people watching as we stake out our spot for parade and fireworks.

Saturday -- sleep in. Low crowd day at MK! Enjoy park from 11:00 till 2:00. Head over to the LODGE! YAY! Spend time enjoying VWL. Swim.

Sunday -- Do Epcot with a break around lunchtime at VWL. Return to Epcot 4 to 7:30. Come back to have a restful evening and decent bedtime.

Monday -- Early arrival at Blizzard Beach -- bring a lunch. Return to lodge around 1:30. Evening - go over to Animal Kingdom Lodge and be nosy. Early bed.

Tuesday -- Magic Kingdom till about 2:00. Back to Lodge for a very long break -- about 5 hours. Swim. Chill. Around 7:00, go to FW for Chip and Dale singalong and movie. Late night.

Wed -- Sleep in. Dad's day off. Bike ride, swim, explore FW, hidden Mickey hunt at lodge... etc.

Thursday -- EMH day at MK -- very early! Last day for MK -- stay till around 3:00. It's our anniversary. Do something low key, cheap, and romantic at VWL in evening. Picnic on beach?

Friday -- DHS most of the day. Return for Fantasmic if they have it.

Saturday -- sleep in and go home.

I know we are using tickets sort of wastefully on Friday and Saturday, but the cost of 6 days of tickets isn't much more than 4, so I won't mind. I've tried to make it so that we aren't completely exhausting ourselves by staying in the parks from morning till night -- trying to balance late nights with restful mornings and vice versa. I want to go nooooooowwwwww!

 

[sleepydog25]

This is as it stands now. We are going mid June! I'd love your thoughts!

Friday -- arrive at Contemporary about 2:00! It's a surprise! Rest a little and eat something, probably. Around 5, walk over to MK for a couple of rides and spend a couple hours people watching as we stake out our spot for parade and fireworks.

Saturday -- sleep in. Low crowd day at MK! Enjoy park from 11:00 till 2:00. Head over to the LODGE! YAY! Spend time enjoying VWL. Swim.

Sunday -- Do Epcot with a break around lunchtime at VWL. Return to Epcot 4 to 7:30. Come back to have a restful evening and decent bedtime.

Monday -- Early arrival at Blizzard Beach -- bring a lunch. Return to lodge around 1:30. Evening - go over to Animal Kingdom Lodge and be nosy. Early bed.

Tuesday -- Magic Kingdom till about 2:00. Back to Lodge for a very long break -- about 5 hours. Swim. Chill. Around 7:00, go to FW for Chip and Dale singalong and movie. Late night.

Wed -- Sleep in. Dad's day off. Bike ride, swim, explore FW, hidden Mickey hunt at lodge... etc.

Thursday -- EMH day at MK -- very early! Last day for MK -- stay till around 3:00. It's our anniversary. Do something low key, cheap, and romantic at VWL in evening. Picnic on beach?

Friday -- DHS most of the day. Return for Fantasmic if they have it.

Saturday -- sleep in and go home.

I know we are using tickets sort of wastefully on Friday and Saturday, but the cost of 6 days of tickets isn't much more than 4, so I won't mind. I've tried to make it so that we aren't completely exhausting ourselves by staying in the parks from morning till night -- trying to balance late nights with restful mornings and vice versa. I want to go nooooooowwwwww!

Not sure we could sleep in and hit MK "late" on the first full day we're at the World. Even a so-called low crowd day at MK is going to seem crowded by 11 a.m. As for your romantic evening at VWL on that Thursday, the beach picnic is a marvelous idea. You should be able to catch some of Wishes and the EWP from the beach to boot. Have fun!

 

[horselover]

This is as it stands now. We are going mid June! I'd love your thoughts!

Friday -- arrive at Contemporary about 2:00! It's a surprise! Rest a little and eat something, probably. Around 5, walk over to MK for a couple of rides and spend a couple hours people watching as we stake out our spot for parade and fireworks.

Saturday -- sleep in. Low crowd day at MK! Enjoy park from 11:00 till 2:00. Head over to the LODGE! YAY! Spend time enjoying VWL. Swim.

Sunday -- Do Epcot with a break around lunchtime at VWL. Return to Epcot 4 to 7:30. Come back to have a restful evening and decent bedtime.

Monday -- Early arrival at Blizzard Beach -- bring a lunch. Return to lodge around 1:30. Evening - go over to Animal Kingdom Lodge and be nosy. Early bed.

Tuesday -- Magic Kingdom till about 2:00. Back to Lodge for a very long break -- about 5 hours. Swim. Chill. Around 7:00, go to FW for Chip and Dale singalong and movie. Late night.

Wed -- Sleep in. Dad's day off. Bike ride, swim, explore FW, hidden Mickey hunt at lodge... etc.

Thursday -- EMH day at MK -- very early! Last day for MK -- stay till around 3:00. It's our anniversary. Do something low key, cheap, and romantic at VWL in evening. Picnic on beach?

Friday -- DHS most of the day. Return for Fantasmic if they have it.

Saturday -- sleep in and go home.

I know we are using tickets sort of wastefully on Friday and Saturday, but the cost of 6 days of tickets isn't much more than 4, so I won't mind. I've tried to make it so that we aren't completely exhausting ourselves by staying in the parks from morning till night -- trying to balance late nights with restful mornings and vice versa. I want to go nooooooowwwwww!

I'm curious why you're only planning 1/2 a day at BB? When we do the water parks (love!) we can hardly tear ourselves away at 3:00 or 4:00 & we get there at park opening. Have you been to BB before?

 

[bagsmom]

Well -- one of my "assignments" for this trip is to ensure that we don't overdo any of our days. No one in my group could handle a morning to night day anywhere without needing a full day of recovery! We are wimpy. AND -- silly to be going to Florida, I know -- we are not good in the heat and sun. The water park day especially will be super tiring. By the time it gets really hot, we'll all be done! We're the early in, early out type. My 7th grader is ready for bed before 8:30! (Of course, his school starts at 7 a.m.) We're not go-go-goers.

My scheduling is my attempt to make the husband happy (he would rather just be at Fort Wilderness, lolling about, skipping parks entirely!) It's the compromise thing. Also, I think we'll also be much cheerier if we don't overdo it. The Magic will only take us so far before we hit the wall. We're all a bunch of houseplants who love the a/c, so Florida in the summer will sap us! (Again, WHY are we going to WDW, you might ask!)

Sleepy -- our initial plans didn't even include any park time on Friday (bonus night) or Saturday. When I priced out the tickets, I saw that there wasn't much difference between 4 day and 6 day tickets. So these are just icing on the cake. The Unofficial Guide says that first Saturday will be a crowd level of only FOUR! Cool! So I thought I'd just get the extra ticket and burn it up for about 3 hours between check out and check in. We'll be tired from the fireworks the night before, so we'll just sleep in and walk over. Since it's just "extra", I figured we'd use the lines app and see what things we could do between check out and check in. Being able to walk over from the hotel will be a treat! I thought, "why not?" I feel like we are being so frivolous, but it will let us do all we want to do in "small bites."

Go ahead -- say it. We are just weenie wimps. But I know what will happen if we over do it. It won't be pretty!

Everything I plan revolves around keeping everyone happy -- getting park time in without doing full days. All those tips you read in guide books -- for toddlers -- those apply to me planning for my husband. Take lots of breaks -- don't do full days without restful days in between -- pack snacks... He's not a theme park sort of guy anyway, so this is my solution. I think that partial days with low key evenings will let us be there the full week without burning out too soon. This way, we'll have time to do some of the relaxing stuff too. (Also, we are doing most of our eating out of the cooler and in our room, so full days aren't as conducive to that.)

I am getting really excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a matter of fact, the anniversary night idea -- I know that after being at MK so long, we will be WAY too tired to go anywhere. I had a bunch of other ideas, but they all involved dressing up and going. I think just being able to chill out at the lodge will be really nice. We can swim -- later let the kids dig in the sand -- the next day is our really full day at DHS if we end up doing Fantasmic. We'll need to be rested.

My husband and I are ready for Senior Citizen-hood. So are my kids!!!!!!! I could give the older one Coca-Cola and keep him zooming on caffeine, I suppose. But the other two don't like it.

Where should we get our picnic food, I wonder? I am determined not to cook dinner on my anniversary!!!!!!!!

 

[wfc4life]

Thanks Liz!
BTW, Tues night is the big night
sechem32, wfc4life and the jimmytammy family are headed to see Mary Poppins show in Durham!! Cant wait!!

JT glad Bailey is getting better with each new day. Can't wait until tomorrow night. After spending today at the hospital with mom, I'll need a pick me up. Pray her procedure goes well. Luckily, it's a minor one.

 

[bagsmom]

JT glad Bailey is getting better with each new day. Can't wait until tomorrow night. After spending today at the hospital with mom, I'll need a pick me up. Pray her procedure goes well. Luckily, it's a minor one.

I'll shoot up a prayer! It's great that you can be there with your Mom to support her! Mine is 12 hours away. I know she's glad you're there!

 

[Nicoal13]

Just back from a week at OKW with my DS and my parents. Weather was wonderful!! We had mid 70s most of the week, even 80 a couple days. Nice enough to swim and relax by the pool.

DS (7) tripped on the bus one day and hit his head and got a black eye. He screamed so much I was sure he would be covered in blood when he stood up. Poor guy, but it wasn't bleeding and didn't swell up too much. Some ice and swimming afterwards made him feel better.

Crowds were much higher than other times that I've been there the same week. Dancers the first weekend, then cheerleaders. Oh and the Brazilian tour groups. They are very rude. Seemed like a lot of South American families. One person goes into a line and later, 20 more join the line. We did try to block some from getting around us a few times. They also used a lot of flash photography on dark rides.

Despite those couple of hiccups, we had a great week. Drove to Indian Rocks Beach on the gulf one day as well. Water was chilly, but it was a nice day to relax there.

I really enjoyed OKW, hadn't stayed there before.

Now figuring out how I can squeeze in another trip in December since DS and I have the DVC PAPs....I'd like to come meet some of the groupies

 

[bagsmom]

I'm curious why you're only planning 1/2 a day at BB? When we do the water parks (love!) we can hardly tear ourselves away at 3:00 or 4:00 & we get there at park opening. Have you been to BB before?

PS -- no, we've never been! As I said, we're not big sun or heat lovers, so we've never hung out at swimming pools or anything (although we love it!) But my guys aren't expert swimmers at this point. It looks like a LOT of fun! Do you have favorite things you like to do? Summit Plummet is out -- but I know there are some less crazy things to do there that are just as fun and exciting!

PPS -- re. your photos -- my oldest has a "shadow 'stache" too! Is yours extremely proud of his facial hair? Mine thinks he is VERY manly!

 

[Nicoal13]

Oh and I wanted to tell you that if you have your park tickets on your room key, you are allowed to go through the new RFID turnstiles.

DS and I have the PAP so we had to go through the regular lines. Which were longer because each park had at least half the turnstiles under construction behind walls for the switch to RFID.

Also our room at OKW used the RFID to open the door.

 

[wfc4life]

I'll shoot up a prayer! It's great that you can be there with your Mom to support her! Mine is 12 hours away. I know she's glad you're there!

Thanks Bagsmom! Prayer is always appreciated. Mom made it through her procedure with flying colors. Hopefully, we will get to leave the hospital soon.

 

[bagsmom]

Just back from a week at OKW with my DS and my parents. Weather was wonderful!! We had mid 70s most of the week, even 80 a couple days. Nice enough to swim and relax by the pool.

DS (7) tripped on the bus one day and hit his head and got a black eye. He screamed so much I was sure he would be covered in blood when he stood up. Poor guy, but it wasn't bleeding and didn't swell up too much. Some ice and swimming afterwards made him feel better.

Crowds were much higher than other times that I've been there the same week. Dancers the first weekend, then cheerleaders. Oh and the Brazilian tour groups. They are very rude. Seemed like a lot of South American families. One person goes into a line and later, 20 more join the line. We did try to block some from getting around us a few times. They also used a lot of flash photography on dark rides.

Despite those couple of hiccups, we had a great week. Drove to Indian Rocks Beach on the gulf one day as well. Water was chilly, but it was a nice day to relax there.

I really enjoyed OKW, hadn't stayed there before.

Now figuring out how I can squeeze in another trip in December since DS and I have the DVC PAPs....I'd like to come meet some of the groupies

Poor boy! What a bummer, hurting yourself on vacation!

It is so interesting that you say that about the Brazilian tour groups! The last time I was there as a teenager, probably 1981, maybe, there was a group from Brazil and they really were obnoxious. I don't mean that to be inflammatory, but they kept chanting Gooooooo BraaaaaZIL super loud in all the waiting areas -- they did the line-cutting and stuff. I don't understand it. Yikes. I hope we don't run into too much of that when we are there!

Sorry you had to deal with it. Speaking for myself, that kind of stuff makes me get really mad. And I don't "do mad" very well. Makes me uncomfortable, since I'm generally good natured. I don't like feeling angry at someone -- especially not at the most wonderful place in the whole world!!!!

 

[Nicoal13]

Poor boy! What a bummer, hurting yourself on vacation!

It is so interesting that you say that about the Brazilian tour groups! The last time I was there as a teenager, probably 1981, maybe, there was a group from Brazil and they really were obnoxious. I don't mean that to be inflammatory, but they kept chanting Gooooooo BraaaaaZIL super loud in all the waiting areas -- they did the line-cutting and stuff. I don't understand it. Yikes. I hope we don't run into too much of that when we are there!

Sorry you had to deal with it. Speaking for myself, that kind of stuff makes me get really mad. And I don't "do mad" very well. Makes me uncomfortable, since I'm generally good natured. I don't like feeling angry at someone -- especially not at the most wonderful place in the whole world!!!!

DS always seem to have something go wrong on vacation. First couple times to WDW he got a cold, ear infection. Last time he got a stomach bug towards the end. I was certain this time he would get a stomach bug again since he has a loose tooth and was constantly wiggling it the first couple days. But he stopped doing that. I'm just grateful he didn't get hurt worse.

Yea, I'm generally good natured too, but rudeness in WDW bothers me. I don't know how WDW can stop these groups from acting this way, but something needs to be done. My son was really upset about the flash photography on Haunted Mansion. Luckily since it was later at night, we could jump right back on and ride again. But if that was our only shot to ride I would have been even more bothered.

 

[twinklebug]

The last time I was there as a teenager, probably 1981, maybe, there was a group from Brazil and they really were obnoxious. I don't mean that to be inflammatory, but they kept chanting Gooooooo BraaaaaZIL super loud in all the waiting areas -- they did the line-cutting and stuff. I don't understand it. Yikes. I hope we don't run into too much of that when we are there!

From what I'm reading Disney now requires these tour groups to partake in a first day session on how to behave in Disney/America. What's acceptable from one country to the next is not always the same. The only issue we've come across in recent years with these groups is that they have no modesty as to their bodies. Twice we've walked into the ladies' room to find naked teens changing at the sinks. I perfected the 180 degree turn that trip LOL.

 

[bagsmom]

From what I'm reading Disney now requires these tour groups to partake in a first day session on how to behave in Disney/America. What's acceptable from one country to the next is not always the same. The only issue we've come across in recent years with these groups is that they have no modesty as to their bodies. Twice we've walked into the ladies' room to find naked teens changing at the sinks. I perfected the 180 degree turn that trip LOL.

That's funny!

To take some of the pressure off of the visitors from other countries, here's a story. When we went the first time with our kids, we stopped at the big Florida visitor's center. My six year old son needed some Mom help in the restroom, so he went with me. I'm sure you know how big and busy that place is. This... female person ( I don't want to say "lady") gave us both the most incredible STINK EYE, looked right at my little boy and said in a VERY mean tone, "THIS IS A LADIES' ROOM!" Ohhhhhmygosh! Don't you know that the mother wolf in me raised her hackles. I said "he is SIX!" I was so mad, I was just shaking. I was not about to send my six year old into that giant men's room alone. Of course, after the fact, I thought of all sorts of snappy come-backs. Like - so what are YOU doing in here?" But I never think of that stuff, and wouldn't have been that ugly in front of my little boy anyway. He felt so bad, like he had done something wrong.

I wanted to dunk that nasty woman right in toilet!

Of course, once we got on the road and got closer to the World, I started to feel the pixie dust in the atmosphere, so I felt better.

Re the big touring groups -- would it have worked to go to another attraction, then backtrack after they were done? Or were there just too many of them? Trying to plan a strategy!

Oh -- Nicoal - thanks for the tip about the tickets on the room key. I think I'll make an effort to do this, if possible.

 

[Kathymford]

When I was new and naive to this boards, I had seen a couple of posts about the obnoxious tour groups that happen to be from countries like Brazil And I thought, I don't see the big deal, how bad can it be. We get tour groups at DL, yes annoying and in my way, but who cares.

OH MAN. Our first trip we got "stuck" with a lot of them in the Spiderman queue at US. We someone were between them. I don't know if it was two groups, or if one half was slow and we were in the middle. It was loud, obnoxious, yelling over each other, and well, not smelling like flowers.

Let's just say this experience has made me even more wary of staying value is 13 days.....

 

[bagsmom]

When I was new and naive to this boards, I had seen a couple of posts about the obnoxious tour groups that happen to be from countries like Brazil And I thought, I don't see the big deal, how bad can it be. We get tour groups at DL, yes annoying and in my way, but who cares.

OH MAN. Our first trip we got "stuck" with a lot of them in the Spiderman queue at US. We someone were between them. I don't know if it was two groups, or if one half was slow and we were in the middle. It was loud, obnoxious, yelling over each other, and well, not smelling like flowers.

Let's just say this experience has made me even more wary of staying value is 13 days.....

I don't even mind a little stinky (a LITTLE) as long as everyone is nice and kind to other people. That's the part that gets me.

As far as the people getting changed in the bathroom, I remember being in Canada with my family. My brother was about 14. All these young teenage girls from somewhere in Europe were stripping down to bra and panties and going wading in a stream. I am SURE it was my brother's very favorite part of the whole vacation!!!!!!

 

[jimmytammy]

This is as it stands now. We are going mid June! I'd love your thoughts!

Friday -- arrive at Contemporary about 2:00! It's a surprise! Rest a little and eat something, probably. Around 5, walk over to MK for a couple of rides and spend a couple hours people watching as we stake out our spot for parade and fireworks.

Saturday -- sleep in. Low crowd day at MK! Enjoy park from 11:00 till 2:00. Head over to the LODGE! YAY! Spend time enjoying VWL. Swim.

Sunday -- Do Epcot with a break around lunchtime at VWL. Return to Epcot 4 to 7:30. Come back to have a restful evening and decent bedtime.

Monday -- Early arrival at Blizzard Beach -- bring a lunch. Return to lodge around 1:30. Evening - go over to Animal Kingdom Lodge and be nosy. Early bed.

Tuesday -- Magic Kingdom till about 2:00. Back to Lodge for a very long break -- about 5 hours. Swim. Chill. Around 7:00, go to FW for Chip and Dale singalong and movie. Late night.

Wed -- Sleep in. Dad's day off. Bike ride, swim, explore FW, hidden Mickey hunt at lodge... etc.

Thursday -- EMH day at MK -- very early! Last day for MK -- stay till around 3:00. It's our anniversary. Do something low key, cheap, and romantic at VWL in evening. Picnic on beach?

Friday -- DHS most of the day. Return for Fantasmic if they have it.

Saturday -- sleep in and go home.

I know we are using tickets sort of wastefully on Friday and Saturday, but the cost of 6 days of tickets isn't much more than 4, so I won't mind. I've tried to make it so that we aren't completely exhausting ourselves by staying in the parks from morning till night -- trying to balance late nights with restful mornings and vice versa. I want to go nooooooowwwwww!

Looks like a good schedule, and you are wise to not try to pack so much into a day. So many times, people go and they are exhausted by the 2nd day. And I love the idea of a picnic on the WL beach! You mentioned where to get picnic food, are you driving, Im assuming from Tenn. you are? If so, we like to go to Winn Dixie on Apoka Vineland Rd. which is about 10 mins from VWL if you go the back way. They have a really nice deli with good choice of meats, etc. and are glad to let you try before you buy. If you need directions, I will be glad to share.

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks William and glad to read your Mom did well at the Doctors visit. I was at White Lake so completely missed your post earlier.

Nicoal So sad about your DS. Glad it didnt mess up his trip. Feel your pain on the tour groups, we have run across our fair share of em. I went to Brazil once and found the people to be too laid back there, to the point the men dont go to work til they are in their 40s. I told one fellow I had 3 jobs(I was 20 at the time and he looked at me like I was crazy). But they are very festive and enjoy their party time, so I think WDW is party time x many people=chaos for us less than party equal USAers!

 

[bagsmom]

Looks like a good schedule, and you are wise to not try to pack so much into a day. So many times, people go and they are exhausted by the 2nd day. And I love the idea of a picnic on the WL beach! You mentioned where to get picnic food, are you driving, Im assuming from Tenn. you are? If so, we like to go to Winn Dixie on Apoka Vineland Rd. which is about 10 mins from VWL if you go the back way. They have a really nice deli with good choice of meats, etc. and are glad to let you try before you buy. If you need directions, I will be glad to share.

Thanks, JT! We're actually in GA. But I LOVE Tennessee!I have directions to the WinnDixie from my guidebook. That's a great idea! I was also thinking about the food court. They have cold sandwiches and salads, don't they? We are so excited to go there!

Can't wait -- can't wait -- can't wait!

 

[bagsmom]

Thanks William and glad to read your Mom did well at the Doctors visit. I was at White Lake so completely missed your post earlier.

Nicoal So sad about your DS. Glad it didnt mess up his trip. Feel your pain on the tour groups, we have run across our fair share of em. I went to Brazil once and found the people to be too laid back there, to the point the men dont go to work til they are in their 40s. I told one fellow I had 3 jobs(I was 20 at the time and he looked at me like I was crazy). But they are very festive and enjoy their party time, so I think WDW is party time x many people=chaos for us less than party equal USAers!

Yes, I think you are right. It's just excessive exuberance X a few too many folks.