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

twinklebug said:
I've got a good piece of trivia for you: Revolutionary war. The battle at North Bridge is well known as the first place where the militia of the colonies rose up against the British and fired that shot.

A) What was the British Army were searching for?
B) What prompted the militia men to fire upon the the King's men when they arrived at the North Bridge in Concord?

I'm pretty sure you know or can find the answer to A, but the answer to B is not well known except to tour guides and those living in Concord. ;)
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I'm realizing that it's been a very very long time since I've studied either the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. I had to google so I'll leave it for someone who might know better than I did. :) But thanks for making me learn (or re-learn) something today! The part A answer seemed familiar so I think I did know that at one time. I'll have to wait and see if what I found for part B is the whole story or not. ;)
 
twinklebug said:
I've got a good piece of trivia for you: Revolutionary war. The battle at North Bridge is well known as the first place where the militia of the colonies rose up against the British and fired that infamous "shot".

A) What was it that the British Army was searching for?
B) What prompted the militia men to fire upon the the King's men when they arrived at the North Bridge in Concord?

I'm pretty sure you know or can find the answer to A, but the answer to B is not well known except to tour guides and those living in Concord. ;)
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We visited that area when we went and stayed with AnnieT(fellow DISer and an inaugural groupie)and her DH when they were still living in Mass. I am rusty on my Revolution knowledge. If I remember correctly the answer to A. is the british were looking for the regulars military supplies(seems I saw I barn or rotunda where they had been kept but removed shortly before the british arrived) and B. was because a british soldier fired a warning shot and two minutemen responded with shots of their own:tilt:
 
Thanks for the various sharing of American history and some trivia surrounding it.

Now I've got a thread related topic of sorts. With the development of VWL II and all that goes with it, I have sometimes gone back to DVC Mike's map of the development. I guess I end up with a couple of questions that are only guesswork right now but worth discussing.

1. What will the area look like between current VWL and the new bungalows/cabins? What would be your best case scenario for Disney to do there? Would you prefer they put back as many trees as possible? A few trees to leave a nice lake view on that side? Something besides just trees & bushes?

2. What are the other buildings that are on the plans near the new swimming pool? Rumors have included another restaurant and a community hall. Could they be anything else? Again, if they are putting something else in that area, what would you like to see?

Rather than discussing rumors, I guess I'm asking that if you were a Disney Imagineer and you've been told that we're building these cabins...that's a done deal...what would you like the end product to look like and still meet Disney's needs and customer experience?
 
KAT4DISNEY said:
I'm realizing that it's been a very very long time since I've studied either the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. I had to google so I'll leave it for someone who might know better than I did. :) But thanks for making me learn (or re-learn) something today! The part A answer seemed familiar so I think I did know that at one time. I'll have to wait and see if what I found for part B is the whole story or not. ;)
Click to expand...
jimmytammy said:
We visited that area when we went and stayed with AnnieT(fellow DISer and an inaugural groupie)and her DH when they were still living in Mass. I am rusty on my Revolution knowledge. If I remember correctly the answer to A. is the british were looking for the regulars military supplies(seems I saw I barn or rotunda where they had been kept but removed shortly before the british arrived) and B. was because a british soldier fired a warning shot and two minutemen responded with shots of their own:tilt:
Click to expand...

Very good Jimmy :) The British were searching for arms and ammunition rumored to being built up in the Concord area. It had mostly been redistributed to the basements of a number of homes by the time they arrived and so they did not find most of it. It was decided to burn what they found in the center of town. To their embarrassment the fire they built got a little out of control. Oops.

A group of men saw the smoke coming from the center of town and mistakenly thought the British were burning down the town. (They should have looked to see it wasn't so as the center and the battlefield are just around the corner from each other.) Tensions escalated, it didn't take much for them to fire upon the guards at the old North Bridge and turn a bad situation between the groups into a full blown battle as more and more militiamen arrived. I can imagine irate men approaching the guards while yelling and waiving their guns. The warning shot was never intended to hit anyone. The start of the war really happened in Lexington, but all the mistakes made from both sides up in Concord certainly fueled it.

--------
I love knowing the real stories behind what we read in text books. They make us realize these were ordinary people just like you and I. Other than technology, not that much has changed in 240 years. Go back even further and you'll see what we call ancient history is filled with ordinary folk too.
 
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Granny said:
Thanks for the various sharing of American history and some trivia surrounding it.

Now I've got a thread related topic of sorts. With the development of VWL II and all that goes with it, I have sometimes gone back to DVC Mike's map of the development. I guess I end up with a couple of questions that are only guesswork right now but worth discussing.

1. What will the area look like between current VWL and the new bungalows/cabins? What would be your best case scenario for Disney to do there? Would you prefer they put back as many trees as possible? A few trees to leave a nice lake view on that side? Something besides just trees & bushes?

2. What are the other buildings that are on the plans near the new swimming pool? Rumors have included another restaurant and a community hall. Could they be anything else? Again, if they are putting something else in that area, what would you like to see?

Rather than discussing rumors, I guess I'm asking that if you were a Disney Imagineer and you've been told that we're building these cabins...that's a done deal...what would you like the end product to look like and still meet Disney's needs and customer experience?
Click to expand...

If I were an imagineer, I would try to recapture a bit of what has been lost in the necessary tree removal to make expansion and construction possible. I would put back as many trees as practical. I hated lake view at Poly last October because I absolutely hated looking at the bungalows. And, I might add that I do not understand why well-off types that can afford a bungalow stay would want to be "on parade" whilst making their pilgrimage to their accommodations.

I am hopeful that we will see an effort to shield the original villa building from a cabin view by planting a significant tree line between the expanded pool and the cabins and their walkway. I don't care one bit about a lake view from a Villa balcony, didn't have it before this all started -- I am much more interested in being shielded from staring at the cabins (even though I expect they will look much better than over the water bungalows). I expect that Cabin dwellers would appreciate being a bit more private also-- in fact If some level of privacy could be created I bet they could be more popular than the bungalows.

I am also hopeful that we will still have tetherball when this is done. I expect we will have a nice new grill like Poly, along with a nice bar alongside the pool. I am skeptical of a community hall as I didn't see one at Poly, Does VGF or BLT have one? Of course, maybe not being on monorail we could see it.....

I wouldn't mind some of the twinkling lanterns shimmering along the cabin walkway that I could catch a glimpse of through my tree line from my balcony view...
 
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Granny said:
Thanks for the various sharing of American history and some trivia surrounding it.

Now I've got a thread related topic of sorts. With the development of VWL II and all that goes with it, I have sometimes gone back to DVC Mike's map of the development. I guess I end up with a couple of questions that are only guesswork right now but worth discussing.

1. What will the area look like between current VWL and the new bungalows/cabins? What would be your best case scenario for Disney to do there? Would you prefer they put back as many trees as possible? A few trees to leave a nice lake view on that side? Something besides just trees & bushes?

2. What are the other buildings that are on the plans near the new swimming pool? Rumors have included another restaurant and a community hall. Could they be anything else? Again, if they are putting something else in that area, what would you like to see?

Rather than discussing rumors, I guess I'm asking that if you were a Disney Imagineer and you've been told that we're building these cabins...that's a done deal...what would you like the end product to look like and still meet Disney's needs and customer experience?
Click to expand...

I'm not having much luck thinking of what I'd have added for buildings but I would have done the cabin's differently and had them staggered thru the area - some on the water, some off and sheltered in the woods, a bit more random, rather than all lined up in a row along the lake. I'd have made some of them 3 bedroom, GV type accommodations - but not as many as they have planned. They'd have bunk beds in one of the bedrooms. I'd bring back most of the trees too in the area they've taken them down.
 
twinklebug
Thank you! I too enjoy reading all the true stories rather than the fictional stuff made up to suit what others wish us to know. Walt did a great job making history exciting, but he fictionalized and glamorized it to a degree. Not that I dont enjoy it, because he brought it too life.

History and science both have been falsified through time. Not sure why, but it seems to fit into certain agendas that suit for the times. Not meaning to get preachy here, but where science is concerned, I believe God created all. Yet, when science is involved in most instances(understand, not knocking science, just making an observation)but where evolution is involved, when science throws out a theory and it cant be proven, they just change the theory, but Gods word stays the same. Just something for us to ponder. I cant take credit for this thought, credit goes to Ken Ham. But he sure made me think in a little more logical way about this. I guess it gets back to why do we constantly change history and science?

Granny
I think I would love to see some trees back in the picture to cover up and create the serenity we all enjoyed so much
 


Granny said:
Thanks for the various sharing of American history and some trivia surrounding it.

Now I've got a thread related topic of sorts. With the development of VWL II and all that goes with it, I have sometimes gone back to DVC Mike's map of the development. I guess I end up with a couple of questions that are only guesswork right now but worth discussing.

1. What will the area look like between current VWL and the new bungalows/cabins? What would be your best case scenario for Disney to do there? Would you prefer they put back as many trees as possible? A few trees to leave a nice lake view on that side? Something besides just trees & bushes? What I think they'll do and what I'd like them to do are two different things. I would like the trees replaced along with a few grills and small picnic areas with tables and to make the path to the cabins with cinder, rather like the running tracks back in the 50s/60s. What I think they'll do is plant a lot of shrubbery, plant some grass, and pave a lot of it. Definitely need to put up twinkling lanterns and piped in Lodge music along the paths. Oh, and put topiary Mickey and buffaloes back!!

2. What are the other buildings that are on the plans near the new swimming pool? Rumors have included another restaurant and a community hall. Could they be anything else? Again, if they are putting something else in that area, what would you like to see? I know nothing more than the others have said, so what I'd like to see is nothing. lol That beach was a special place for us, and to not be able to feel the warm sand between our toes as we stand arm-in-arm looking at the sunset makes me verklempt. Since they will put something there, I'd say put the bike/boat rental in the building, put an expanded Roaring Fork there with views of the water, move the Mercantile there (and make the current Mercantile space a larger coffee shop instead of being in the Territory Lounge), and where the bike/boat rental now sits make something like horseshoe pits, tennis courts or better yet, a meditation garden wiht plenty of benches upon which to sit and drink you liquid of choice.

Rather than discussing rumors, I guess I'm asking that if you were a Disney Imagineer and you've been told that we're building these cabins...that's a done deal...what would you like the end product to look like and still meet Disney's needs and customer experience? I also like the idea of interspersing cabins on the water and on the grounds rather than just lined up along the shore.
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I posted my answers inside the quoted material above. Good questions!
 
DSC08098.JPGDSC08074.JPG

The Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial is indeed impressive. Above is a photo I took while the Navy launch approached the Memorial. Many are familiar with iconic white Memorial straddling the Arizona, But I was not aware that it was open to the sky. I took the picture of the flag through the open top of the memorial as it was being lowered for a special memorial moment. And for those that didn't know, oil still leaks to the surface from the
Arizona . . .

DSC08099.JPG
 
ottawagreg said:
. . . . . . . . They say that one could walk over the entire battle field and not touch earth because of so dead many bodies. It left me speechless. . . . . . . . . .
Click to expand...

The civil war was indeed damaging to us all; it brought with it the most US casualties of any war we have chosen to fight (Civil War ~640,000+; WWII ~405,000+). Just makes Rodney King's plea ring out every time the news reports more fighting, deaths, etc.; "Can't we just all get along?".
 
OK, on a lighter note; what was the Mason-Dixon Line? (Yeah, I know, for some I should have asked what IS the Mason-Dixon Line . . . .)
 
Dizny Dad said:
OK, on a lighter note; what was the Mason-Dixon Line? (Yeah, I know, for some I should have asked what IS the Mason-Dixon Line . . . .)
Click to expand...

The Mason/Dixon line was based on a survey done by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon to settle a land dispute between the Penn and Calvert families. The survey took 4 years to complete 1763-1767 and marked most of the boundaries between Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. The line became important during the civil war as a symbolic line between free states and slave states.

I'm probably about to make myself very unpopular but
The Emancipation Proclamation for which Lincoln gets so much credit is not worth the paper it was written on - it only freed slaves in the confederate states - the very states that did not recognize his authority over them.
It wasn't until the passage of the 13th amendment that slavery was abolished.

Granny said:
Now I've got a thread related topic of sorts. With the development of VWL II and all that goes with it, I have sometimes gone back to DVC Mike's map of the development. I guess I end up with a couple of questions that are only guesswork right now but worth discussing.

1. What will the area look like between current VWL and the new bungalows/cabins? What would be your best case scenario for Disney to do there? Would you prefer they put back as many trees as possible? A few trees to leave a nice lake view on that side? Something besides just trees & bushes?

2. What are the other buildings that are on the plans near the new swimming pool? Rumors have included another restaurant and a community hall. Could they be anything else? Again, if they are putting something else in that area, what would you like to see?

Rather than discussing rumors, I guess I'm asking that if you were a Disney Imagineer and you've been told that we're building these cabins...that's a done deal...what would you like the end product to look like and still meet Disney's needs and customer experience?
Click to expand...

1. I'm hoping Disney returns trees - full grown trees not saplings that won't be large enough to provide the serenity until long after I'm gone or my DVC expires. I don't want to see the cabins from my balcony with them being on the water line it will interfere with any view of the lake that might have been.

2. I would prefer they leave those buildings out altogether it's really overdeveloping the resort - too crowded.

3. I think Kat has a good idea make some of them Grand Villas and disperse them throughout the property - not everyone wants to be on the water and it leaves some beach available to the original DVCers to enjoy.
 
jimmytammy said:
On to happier times...Booking Aulani for a Sept. trip today! We have always wanted to make a trip to Hawaii and DVC has allowed this to happen. Love our DVC:love:
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How exciting! What a great year of travel for you. :goodvibes Haven't been to Aulani yet but I have been fortunate to visit HI twice. I have no doubt you will love it!

Enjoying all your pics on FB Diane! :thumbsup2 23 days to go for me. :bored:
 
Thank you for all your great responses to my questions. I purposely didn't put my thoughts in as I was interested more in what you all were thinking about the VWL II development.

Personally, I would like to see a significant stand of trees between VWL and the cabins. And a significant hedge line or other visual blocker so that the 1st floor villas won't have to look right out at the backs of the cabins. I'm thinking also that it would be nice if they could bring the marsh/swamp area to this area similar to what the bus side of VWL looks like. Don't know if that's feasible.

I would like to see the cabins themselves blend in as much with the landscape and theming as possible. Lots of stone and wood, not so much glass and steel.

As for other additional buildings, I would prefer none but if they do have to build, then I guess a restaurant/bar with lots of outdoor seating would be nice. Though with the conversion of an entire wing of WL to DVC, it is hard to imagine a need for another restaurant.

I just ran across our certificate that Disney gave us when we were Flag Family last year. And part of it struck me, and I'm REALLY HOPING that Disney follows their own pledge:

"As is duly warranted to all those who share in the conservation and preservation of our most cherished resource the land, we bestow upon them our deepest admiration and sincere gratitude."

We all had deep admiration for the original Wilderness Lodge and VWL design and construction. Let's hope that when the dust settles on VWL II, we will see that Disney followed their own advice about cherishing the resources (land, trees, etc) that made it such a special haven to start with.


And yes, let's bring back the AWOL topiaries.
 
Dizny Dad said:
The Pearl Harbor Arizona Memorial is indeed impressive. Above is a photo I took while the Navy launch approached the Memorial. Many are familiar with iconic white Memorial straddling the Arizona, But I was not aware that it was open to the sky. I took the picture of the flag through the open top of the memorial as it was being lowered for a special memorial moment. And for those that didn't know, oil still leaks to the surface from the Arizona . . .
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great pictures, DDad! The Arizona Memorial and Vietnam Memorial in D.C. are two of the most emotionally powerful places I've ever visited. Spending a few minutes looking out over Arlington Cemetery also provides a great context for the blessings we enjoy every day as Americans.
 
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