VWL Groupies & Lovers Thread (Special Collectors Edition 2.0) updated 21 June 2023

jimmytammy · Aug 4, 2015

Hello from England! Just got back from Dover and boy we were we excited. Not only did we see the cliffs and the castle but as a added bonus, the Disney Magic was pulled up to the dock!!
We have had a great time now just chilling tomorrow then off to 2 more castles Thurs before capt d and me hit the air fri.

Corinne · Aug 4, 2015

I love DHS, always have, but there is very little to do there. We always talk about the 'old days' and wish they would bring back Super Star Television and the Foley studio demonstration with the original Chevy Chase / Martin Short film. They were both so much fun! Also really enjoyed Who wants to be a Millionaire.

Corinne · Aug 4, 2015

Jimmy, sounds like you're having a great trip!!! Safe travels!

Lakegirl · Aug 4, 2015

Unfortunately DHS is turning into a 1/2 day park and with all the crowding at the other parks you would think they would put some money into it!!! We all know they are making enough money to put back into HS!!!

eliza61 · Aug 4, 2015

ottawagreg said:
That is really cool. The buildings are about 250 years old? That is crazy, how is the air conditioning there? Leave it to the french guy to play both ends of a war. They could not decide whom to back in the civil war until that one was decided. I think Sherman was marching to the sea when they finally showed up. Well the good news is you will be in a brand new office.

LOL, they aren't known for moving quickly are they? actually the buildings are absolutely gorgeous and since many of them are on national registries they can't remodel them which means we had to move. they sit on a large stream/waterfall. you needed lots of water for gunpowder manufacturing. ac is pretty much the stick in the window a/c units.

Granny said:
Well, at least they used to. With Disney closing Backlot Tour and American Idol, we find that there just isn't a lot to do at DHS anymore. Still has some of the old stand-bys, but at that park it seems they have shut down more than they've added in the past couple of years. That's not even including the space that used to house "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" that they've had "space under construction" for a few years now.

Sorry to be bumming...it's just that with the big investments in MK and DAK it would be nice if they gave DHS some more attractions.

I do like the American Revolution trivia...didn't know DuPont was such a savvy supplier!

grrr Grany, this is one of my pet peeves. HS has such potential. they need to hurry up with Lucas land. lol

Dizny Dad · Aug 5, 2015

Kathymford said:
. . . . . For us, DHS has always been a half day park (if that), so it will be interesting to see what happens.

DiznyDi & I could not agree with you more! After the first few visits, we boiled it down to what we thought was worth the effort, but it always ended up being an early afternoon home to the Lodge (as if that is a problem).

We noted a few month ago when the first announcements of closures began that they were closing most of the things we stopped experiencing. Some of our favorites, and a few icons, are closing but we will not miss them so much anyway. A new and improved Star Wars experience should help Disney to compete with Harry, not to mention the Marvel opportunities that await us!

Eliza - love the trivia! :thumbsup2

I didn't realize DuPont had such a long history; hard to argue with success! I remember when growing up TV commercials that were sponsored by DuPont (and other highly respected chemical and process companies) had a tag line that said, Better Life through Chemistry. Wow, try to sneak that one in today, and watch the PC team go to work on you . . . .

wildernessDad · Aug 5, 2015

We are only staying 4 nights in August, and we're hitting DHS the day of checkout. I hope to interact with the street performers.

Granny · Aug 5, 2015

Dizny Dad said:
I remember when growing up TV commercials that were sponsored by DuPont (and other highly respected chemical and process companies) had a tag line that said, Better Life through Chemistry. Wow, try to sneak that one in today, and watch the PC team go to work on you . . . .

Too funny...and too true! How did we ever manage to grow up without the PC Police. :confused3

ottawagreg · Aug 5, 2015

The worst part is you can't FP TSM and RnRC on the same day. So you have to pick one and kiosk another FP (which then makes it full day) or return another day. We have been stopping at HS on way to airport to do Aerosmith ride and then dash outta town.

Kathymford · Aug 5, 2015

ottawagreg said:
The worst part is you can't FP TSM and RnRC on the same day. So you have to pick one and kiosk another FP (which then makes it full day) or return another day. We have been stopping at HS on way to airport to do Aerosmith ride and then dash outta town.

For us, since we are local to DL, RnRC is almost the only attraction we like at DHS now. Last trip it was down the whole time we were there. We had nothing to do and finally left after a few hours.

jimmytammy · Aug 6, 2015

Having a blast here in England!! Went to Englands smallest pub, located in Bury, one town over from Thetford, our home base for the stay. The pub holds 9 people, thats it. Its called The Nutshell.
Headed to 2 castles today, and amazed by the Dover Castle, just sheer size alone is massive. Really enjoyed the history there, and its relation to Englands involvement in WWII.
Home tomorrow back to the grindstone. But my next trip to England/Europe is already churning in my mind :tilt:

sleepydog25 · Aug 6, 2015

Kathymford said:
For us, since we are local to DL, RnRC is almost the only attraction we like at DHS now. Last trip it was down the whole time we were there. We had nothing to do and finally left after a few hours.

Our technique is a little more complicated, but it works for us. We most often do rope drop at the morning EMH park and hit all the rides/attractions we want in the first two hours. We shop for a bit, do lunch, then eventually head to our second park such as DHS. We have FP'd TSM (or RnRC), ToT, and maybe ST. A little more shopping, and we're done. Alternately, we may hit DHS first thing and go directly to TSM, then drift over to to RnRC and ToT, and then if it's not too busy, we'll do ST. Since Luv isn't a fan of Indy Jones and the GMR is a once in awhile ride, we're done and off we go. I'm confident Disney will pull out all the stops in the next few years in order to have a full-day park experience by 2021. pirate:

Dizny Dad · Aug 6, 2015

DiznyDi & I have our favorite spots in all of the parks (as we all do!), most of which are people watching spots. At DHS we like to sit a spell on the steps of one of the Brownstones in the alley and watch all that goes on. I have mentioned other places we like to sit in the other parks before, so we expect to see you'all real soon . . . . somewhere . . .

jimmytammy · Aug 6, 2015

Dizny Dad said:
DiznyDi & I have our favorite spots in all of the parks (as we all do!), most of which are people watching spots. At DHS we like to sit a spell on the steps of one of the Brownstones in the alley and watch all that goes on. I have mentioned other places we like to sit in the other parks before, so we expect to see you'all real soon . . . . somewhere . . .

One of our favorite spots is at the ABC Commissary just outside in the shade at the little round tables. We usually grab a jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzel and a drink and sit for a spell, listening to the old ABC TV show themes, people watching. Also, love the Writers Stop(DI and DAD told us about this place)

circhead · Aug 6, 2015

jimmytammy said:
One of our favorite spots is at the ABC Commissary just outside in the shade at the little round tables. We usually grab a jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzel and a drink and sit for a spell, listening to the old ABC TV show themes, people watching. Also, love the Writers Stop(DI and DAD told us about this place)

Love the writer's spot, good coffee and good desserts. Also it doesn't seem to be on a lot of people's radar so it's not usually too hard to get a table and get out of the heat for a bit.

My favorite place and time to people watch is at MK - when it's closing time - I sit on a wall at the hub looking down main street just enjoying the twinkling lights and the music and watch people leave. I'm usually one of the last people out of there - can't stand being in a crowd at the end of the day. Then when I leave I can get a seat on the monorail, the boat or the bus depending upon where I'm staying that trip.

Question? Did DVC remove VWL from it's reservation queue for January? There is no availability there at all for the whole month.

KAT4DISNEY · Aug 6, 2015

circhead said:
Question? Did DVC remove VWL from it's reservation queue for January? There is no availability there at all for the whole month.

A few people have commented that it seems so. I'm going in Feb and had just glanced at Feb as I was watching inventory before the 7 month mark and VWL had quite a bit. Then a few days ago poof - all gone! That was removed, not because of booking as there was too much available prior to it all going at once.

Kathymford · Aug 6, 2015

I just read on another thread that someone who opted to stay put at the villas received a call back to get them to move. I wonder if they are closing more of the resort that they planned. They are going our same week, so we shall see.

jimmytammy · Aug 7, 2015

Kathymford said:
I just read on another thread that someone who opted to stay put at the villas received a call back to get them to move. I wonder if they are closing more of the resort that they planned. They are going our same week, so we shall see.

I hope this doesnt carry over into March. Though we have 2 nights at VWL before our cruise, it was our best choice as my MIL has mobility issues and VWL made the most sense on her getting to fro for the 2 days. I may try to contact DVC once home and make sure this isnt the case for us. I hope it all works out for everyone affected.

Dizny Dad · Aug 7, 2015

jimmytammy said:
One of our favorite spots is at the ABC Commissary . . . . . . . . . Also, love the Writers Stop. . . . . . .

circhead said:
Love the writer's spot, good coffee and good desserts. . . . . . . . . . . .

Oh, the Writer's Stop . . . it used to be the number one spot at DHS that DizniDi and I looked to enjoy . . .when they had the two stools and counter in the corner looking out over the walkway . . .then they put the cream 'n sugar stuff there and removed our perfect people watching spot (good coffee, big blocks of crispy rice treats, and the best view of families and folks in the park). From time to time I visit and remind them to tell management that they need to bring back those two seats for those that loved them.

Which brings to this thread another RANT . . .the parks no longer offer the big blocks (~4" x 4" x 3") of crispy rice treats anymore; they are now smaller, commercialized and wrapped in plastic. The best replacement they have now is the bag of six balls of crispy rice treats at the Main Street Confectionary in MK. Sorry . .it is one of those Fridays where I just had to RANT. :sad:

Granny · Aug 7, 2015

jimmytammy said:
I hope this doesnt carry over into March. Though we have 2 nights at VWL before our cruise, it was our best choice as my MIL has mobility issues and VWL made the most sense on her getting to fro for the 2 days. I may try to contact DVC once home and make sure this isnt the case for us. I hope it all works out for everyone affected.

Jimmy...I think this will go on for most of 2016. Hopefully if they ask you to move you can choose to go into the main resort?

VWL Groupies & Lovers Thread (Special Collectors Edition 2.0) updated 21 June 2023

<font color=purple>Swivel, it's a hard habit to br

DIS Veteran aka DVCTink

DIS Veteran aka DVCTink

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DiznyDi Fan

DIS Veteran

Yeah, I'm a guy

Mouseketeer

A little obsessed is ok....right?

<font color=purple>Swivel, it's a hard habit to br

Been here awhile

DiznyDi Fan

<font color=purple>Swivel, it's a hard habit to br

Mouseketeer

Glad to be a test subject

A little obsessed is ok....right?

<font color=purple>Swivel, it's a hard habit to br

DiznyDi Fan

Yeah, I'm a guy

Share this page