Bunnies and mooses and groupies, Oh my!!! The Wilderness Lodge groupies thread. 4.0

[jimmytammy]

Happy Dinks

Thanks so much for sharing that picture.

I am trying to get Stan on here since he is officially a groupie. Carolyn asked me a few ??s about it but I dont feel like I verbally got enough info to her so I am hoping to speak with them soon and get them both on here.

 

[figmentfan0724]

good evening everyone, just took the long snowy walk down to my mail box and guess what was in there? my confirmation of my reservation at the lodge! I am sooo excited

 

[blossomz]

Teapot!! I love that photo!!
Thanks for sharing!

 

[Granny]

Dinks...thanks so much for sharing the picture of Stan. What a nice gesture his fellow employees did for him on his retirement.

And I forgot to share something with you Groupies. Two nights ago my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas present from my daughters...a night with the St. Louis Symphony. And their program was called "The Magical Music of Disney". It was excellent!!

Here's the program line-up from that evening:

Disney Classics Overture
Disney’s Tarzan Orchestral Suite
Disney’s The Little Mermaid Orchestral Suite
Disney’s Hercules Orchestral Suite
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Orchestral Suite
Disney’s The Rescuers Down Under Theme
Disney’s Aladdin Orchestral Suite
Suite from Disney’s Mulan
Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame Orchestral Suite
Disney’s The Lion King Orchestral Suite



There was a huge screen dropped behind the orchestra showing clips and photos from the various movies being played. And there was a narrator between each suite of songs that talked a little about the movie. The overall all theme was "around the world with Disney" and the narrator talked about each of the locations and a little back story on the characters.

Outside of WDW, I've never seen so many Mickey antenna heads as I did in that parking lot!

All in all, it was a fantastic evening. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a "Wilderness Lodge Music" suite too!

I knew you Groupies would appreciate how cool this Christmas present was for me and my wife!

 

[DiznyDi]

to our new Groupies!

Best of luck to those of you participating in the marathon over the week-end. It looks like it may be a little on the c-o-l-d side for you.

Thanks DisneyNutzy for posting your pics. Ah to be at the Lodge...

Happydinks thanks for the photo of Stan. Sure hope he's enjoying his retirement with his Sweetie. - pretend this is a fishing thingy here.

Nice hearing from you Dory!

horselover that the interview went well.

 

[DVCGeek]

Hi all! Hope Christmas and the start to the Year are treating you well. Our trip to IL to visit DW's family went well and was a nice & mostly quiet break from the real world. Not Disney to be sure, but mostly pleasant just the same.

Thanks for all the well wishes for DW & my jobs. She returned the company property she had in her home office today. Hopefully it won't take too long to get her final check... So far the changes with my job don't sound too bad.

My parents decided they wanted to use more DVC points and after I told them about Unwrapping the Magic discounts, they decided to bankroll purchase and dues for me to do a 75 point add-on at our sister AKV so they could stay there since I was out of points! So now I own 285 points total and I already booked a ressie Sat. for 3 nights in a AKV std. Jambo studio for them Feb. 8-11th (3 nights). I don't even have the contracts to me yet though; I didn't talk to me guide until New Year's Eve! Kinda' surreal... Even weirder, they will be in a BLT studio with us Feb. 1 - 4th (3 nights), fly home for 4 nights, then back to the World again. I think that is a record even for them.

When can I retire? Seems like it'd be nice... Hope I didn't miss too much; I had to skim 10+ pages trying to catch up!!!

 

[claire_ont]

horselover - major pixie dust for your husband's interview.

Claire

 

[Inkmahm]

horselover - major pixie dust for your husband's interview.

Claire

Ditto!

I officially started my job search today now that it is "after the holidays." The networking group at the outplacement office was pretty good so I'll be there every Monday morning from now on. I also had lunch with an audit partner friend of mine and she knew about a job (3 miles from my home!) that sounds really good. We'll see if it's a fit for me... fingers crossed.

 

[Inkmahm]

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year! I have just been catching up on the last part of this thread. Welcome to all the new groupies!

We got some very good news just before Christmas - my husband got a new job!!! It is at about half pay of his old job, but after 1 year with no job, we will take it. He starts mid January. My job had me on the road over 50% of the time last year, but I should be able to reduce that to about 30% this year. I am keeping my fingers crossed. The commute between Ottawa and Nova Scotia is a little long.

I missed this the first time around... congratulations to your DH on the new job!

 

[DVC Mike]

This year, we're doing VWL twice!

We're checking in on Saturday for 8 nights, and then again in October for 8 nights, both in a 1-BR.

 

[eliza61]

Dinks...thanks so much for sharing the picture of Stan. What a nice gesture his fellow employees did for him on his retirement.

And I forgot to share something with you Groupies. Two nights ago my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas present from my daughters...a night with the St. Louis Symphony. And their program was called "The Magical Music of Disney". It was excellent!!

Here's the program line-up from that evening:

Disney Classics Overture
Disney’s Tarzan Orchestral Suite
Disney’s The Little Mermaid Orchestral Suite
Disney’s Hercules Orchestral Suite
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Orchestral Suite
Disney’s The Rescuers Down Under Theme
Disney’s Aladdin Orchestral Suite
Suite from Disney’s Mulan
Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame Orchestral Suite
Disney’s The Lion King Orchestral Suite



There was a huge screen dropped behind the orchestra showing clips and photos from the various movies being played. And there was a narrator between each suite of songs that talked a little about the movie. The overall all theme was "around the world with Disney" and the narrator talked about each of the locations and a little back story on the characters.

Outside of WDW, I've never seen so many Mickey antenna heads as I did in that parking lot!

All in all, it was a fantastic evening. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a "Wilderness Lodge Music" suite too!

I knew you Groupies would appreciate how cool this Christmas present was for me and my wife!

Granny, that is soooo absolutely cool!!!
Your daughters are my hero for the day.

 

[horselover]

Dinks...thanks so much for sharing the picture of Stan. What a nice gesture his fellow employees did for him on his retirement.

And I forgot to share something with you Groupies. Two nights ago my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas present from my daughters...a night with the St. Louis Symphony. And their program was called "The Magical Music of Disney". It was excellent!!

Here's the program line-up from that evening:

Disney Classics Overture
Disney’s Tarzan Orchestral Suite
Disney’s The Little Mermaid Orchestral Suite
Disney’s Hercules Orchestral Suite
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Orchestral Suite
Disney’s The Rescuers Down Under Theme
Disney’s Aladdin Orchestral Suite
Suite from Disney’s Mulan
Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame Orchestral Suite
Disney’s The Lion King Orchestral Suite



There was a huge screen dropped behind the orchestra showing clips and photos from the various movies being played. And there was a narrator between each suite of songs that talked a little about the movie. The overall all theme was "around the world with Disney" and the narrator talked about each of the locations and a little back story on the characters.

Outside of WDW, I've never seen so many Mickey antenna heads as I did in that parking lot!

All in all, it was a fantastic evening. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a "Wilderness Lodge Music" suite too!

I knew you Groupies would appreciate how cool this Christmas present was for me and my wife!

Wow what a fantastic gift! If the BSO ever put on that performance in Boston I'd be there in a heartbeat.

My parents decided they wanted to use more DVC points and after I told them about Unwrapping the Magic discounts, they decided to bankroll purchase and dues for me to do a 75 point add-on at our sister AKV so they could stay there since I was out of points! So now I own 285 points total and I already booked a ressie Sat. for 3 nights in a AKV std. Jambo studio for them Feb. 8-11th (3 nights). I don't even have the contracts to me yet though; I didn't talk to me guide until New Year's Eve! Kinda' surreal... Even weirder, they will be in a BLT studio with us Feb. 1 - 4th (3 nights), fly home for 4 nights, then back to the World again. I think that is a record even for them.

When can I retire? Seems like it'd be nice... Hope I didn't miss too much; I had to skim 10+ pages trying to catch up!!!

Sweet! What wonderful parents you have. Congrats on you add-on!

I officially started my job search today now that it is "after the holidays." The networking group at the outplacement office was pretty good so I'll be there every Monday morning from now on. I also had lunch with an audit partner friend of mine and she knew about a job (3 miles from my home!) that sounds really good. We'll see if it's a fit for me... fingers crossed.

Inkmahm - are you in the finance field? That's what my DH does. He's a CMA & has done just about everything from Controller to SEC reporting to auditing. Things are pretty slow around here in the finance world. Hopefully things will be picking up in the new year. Best of luck with that job 3 miles from home. The commute would be fantastic.

Thanks for all the pixie dust for DH's phone interview yesterday. He said he thought it went well. The interviewer said he had a couple more people to talk to but he really appreciated DH's candor & knowledge & said he was very articulate. He said he'd get back to him tomorrow. We've heard that before but hopefully this time it will be true!

 

[horselover]

Forgot to put this in my last post. Decisions, decisions & I need some help making it! I mentioned in a previous post that my w/l for an extra night in March had come through. What I didn't mention was my real reason for wanting an extra day. Ok here goes I am about to reveal something deeply personal. I am a Harry Potter geek. I have just recently read the entire series & I must say I don't know when I have been so impressed with a story. Absolutely fantastic story telling. Naturally I soon as I finished reading them I started hearing about the Harry Potter's Wizarding World attraction set to open over at the Dark Side in the Spring. I have never been to the Dark Side, but would be willing to risk it to see this attraction, hence the extra day needed. Now I have been hoping against hope that it will be open in time for our trip, but from what I've been reading that doesn't seem likely. So my question is should I go an extra day anyway? It would be $50 cheaper for us to fly home on Tue. instead of Mon., but then you do have the extra food expenses. I don't know why I can't seem to make up my mind. DS9 said he wants to go for the extra day anyway, but honestly I don't think he'd be very upset if we kept the trip arrangements the same as they are now. Of course if the HP attraction does open early & we don't get to see it I'll be kicking myself in the butt forever. DS11 absolutely hates all things HP (for no particular reason) so it would be great if I could go alone with DS9. What to do, what to do?

 

[Granny]

Forgot to put this in my last post. Decisions, decisions & I need some help making it! I mentioned in a previous post that my w/l for an extra night in March had come through. What I didn't mention was my real reason for wanting an extra day. Ok here goes I am about to reveal something deeply personal. I am a Harry Potter geek. I have just recently read the entire series & I must say I don't know when I have been so impressed with a story. Absolutely fantastic story telling. Naturally I soon as I finished reading them I started hearing about the Harry Potter's Wizarding World attraction set to open over at the Dark Side in the Spring. I have never been to the Dark Side, but would be willing to risk it to see this attraction, hence the extra day needed. Now I have been hoping against hope that it will be open in time for our trip, but from what I've been reading that doesn't seem likely. So my question is should I go an extra day anyway? It would be $50 cheaper for us to fly home on Tue. instead of Mon., but then you do have the extra food expenses. I don't know why I can't seem to make up my mind. DS9 said he wants to go for the extra day anyway, but honestly I don't think he'd be very upset if we kept the trip arrangements the same as they are now. Of course if the HP attraction does open early & we don't get to see it I'll be kicking myself in the butt forever. DS11 absolutely hates all things HP (for no particular reason) so it would be great if I could go alone with DS9. What to do, what to do?

Since the $50 airfare savings will help offset the extra food expenses, I'd say go ahead and keep the extra day. They just might finish the HP section at The-Park-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named in time for you to visit. If not, you have an extra day at WDW, which isn't all that bad.

If it doesn't stress your points, I vote for staying an extra day. But then again, I pretty much vote that way every time!

 

[horselover]

They just might finish the HP section at The-Park-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named in time for you to visit.

Love how you worked in an HP reference Granny!

And no the extra points would not affect us at all. In fact we're thinking of renting a bunch out because 1). we know we won't use them this yr. & 2). the $$ would help to offset the expense of our summer vacation to Colorado (assuming of course DH has a job by then).

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Morning groupies! I have a few comments.

Hi Granny. What a magical present from your daughters. So glad you were able to go.

Oshawa & MM - Safe travels & good luck in the marathons you are running. Impressive! Stay warm!

Muushka - hope you are having a great ski trip.

Claire - congrats on the job news and so totally understand your reasoning for buying at VWL--don’t think you’ll regret it!

Inkmahm - ixiedust on the job search. Who else is still looking for work?

teapot - right back at ya

blossomz - thanks for the info about deep discounts at the DVC meets on a cruise.

jimmytammy - that is funny about MT. Years ago we had a different waitress do that to our oldest son when he was celebrating his 13th birthday and he was like in shock with embarrassment. We still tease him about his “girlfriend” at WC.

happydinks - good to hear from you and sorry to hear you’ve been sick. Hope your 2010 is off to a good start. And that you find work soon (unless I missed you getting a job) And thanks for sharing the Ranger Stan picture. Awwwww :hugs:

horselover - ixiedust on the job for DH and hope today started out better than yesterday. What an awful way to start the day back. Waking up late + no coffee = grumpy Dory. And for staying an extra day? I’m with Granny--I always vote yes.

jrsmom- Welcome and how exciting to have your son playing at MK!

stopher1 - How fun! So excited for you and fun that your kids don’t even know about the lodge. Can’t wait to see pictures. We need pictures!

figmentfan0724 - on getting your magical mail. Honeymoon at the lodge!

DiznyDi - thanks - I’ve been reading but not posting much so I’m trying to come back out of lurkdom. This loooong post should be a good start. LOL Oh and thanks for the review a few pages back from you & Dad about Fultons. DH really enjoyed that years ago and I think we need to put it on the list for next trip!

DVCGeek - on the new points

DVCMike - Looking forward to those trip reports!

 

[Inkmahm]

Inkmahm - are you in the finance field? That's what my DH does. He's a CMA & has done just about everything from Controller to SEC reporting to auditing. Things are pretty slow around here in the finance world. Hopefully things will be picking up in the new year. Best of luck with that job 3 miles from home. The commute would be fantastic.

Thanks for all the pixie dust for DH's phone interview yesterday. He said he thought it went well. The interviewer said he had a couple more people to talk to but he really appreciated DH's candor & knowledge & said he was very articulate. He said he'd get back to him tomorrow. We've heard that before but hopefully this time it will be true!

Yes, I'm a CPA and former VP Finance and Chief Accounting officer for a large company.
I have a Big 8 accounting backgound for the first 9 years of my career when I was in auditing. Then I left public accounting for industry and never looked back. I've also done the SEC route with taking a company public (THAT was a lot of work) and the regular reporting that goes with being a public company. I've worked for an international company so I also have background in IFRS (your husband will know what that is.)

I know about at least 4 or 5 CFO jobs in my area although I had a guy at our meeting at the outplacement center yesterday INSIST that there weren't any such jobs in our area, that I'd have to leave to find a good CFO spot elsewhere in the country. Nope. I'm sure I'll find something here and won't have to move. My resume probably doesn't fit 3 or 4 of the jobs I know about as employers are being very picky about exact background and experience that they are looking for. But I'm sure I will fit something eventually. That job that is 3 miles from home has already interviewed 10 people and not been happy with any of them. We'll see if I have the magic whatever it is they are looking for. If not, I'll try not to be too disappointed (although it DOES look like a great job) and I'll move on.

How long has your husband been looking?

 

[Inkmahm]

...What to do, what to do?

That's an easy one! If you can afford the extra day of vacation, DO IT. An extra day at Disney is always better than an extra day at work. And if HP comes through early for you, so much the better.

My oldest niece is a huge HP fan, too. I'm still struggling to get through all of the books because they take so long. I haven't even mentioned the new HP at the DarkSide since I don't want her to get any ideas for our trip to take away from Disney time! We're doing Sea World for a day. That's enough time away from Disney for me.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So my question is should I go an extra day anyway? It would be $50 cheaper for us to fly home on Tue. instead of Mon., but then you do have the extra food expenses. I don't know why I can't seem to make up my mind.

I also vote to keep the extra day. (I'm an HP fan too! ) Our trip in Nov I booked with the hope that many of the Christmas decorations would be up (and they were in all the parks) and that they'd start soft-openings for Space Mt. (which they did). Maybe you'll get lucky like we did so here's pixie dust for HP!

We did visit The-Park-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named (nice one Granny!) and saw all of the work going. It looked like it will be fantastic! I hadn't realized they were going to be opening so soon. I may have to plan another visit on our next trip.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

He plays the cello. I am really looking forward to it!

Cool! My DD has played violin for 7 years and this year just started playing cello too and really likes it.

Happy Dinks

Thanks so much for sharing that picture.

I am trying to get Stan on here since he is officially a groupie. Carolyn asked me a few ??s about it but I dont feel like I verbally got enough info to her so I am hoping to speak with them soon and get them both on here.

That would be so cool to have them on here!

And I forgot to share something with you Groupies. Two nights ago my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas present from my daughters...a night with the St. Louis Symphony. And their program was called "The Magical Music of Disney". It was excellent!!

I knew you Groupies would appreciate how cool this Christmas present was for me and my wife!

What a great gift! Glad you enjoyed it.

Forgot to put this in my last post. Decisions, decisions & I need some help making it! I mentioned in a previous post that my w/l for an extra night in March had come through. What I didn't mention was my real reason for wanting an extra day. Ok here goes I am about to reveal something deeply personal. I am a Harry Potter geek. I have just recently read the entire series & I must say I don't know when I have been so impressed with a story. Absolutely fantastic story telling. Naturally I soon as I finished reading them I started hearing about the Harry Potter's Wizarding World attraction set to open over at the Dark Side in the Spring. I have never been to the Dark Side, but would be willing to risk it to see this attraction, hence the extra day needed. Now I have been hoping against hope that it will be open in time for our trip, but from what I've been reading that doesn't seem likely. So my question is should I go an extra day anyway? It would be $50 cheaper for us to fly home on Tue. instead of Mon., but then you do have the extra food expenses. I don't know why I can't seem to make up my mind. DS9 said he wants to go for the extra day anyway, but honestly I don't think he'd be very upset if we kept the trip arrangements the same as they are now. Of course if the HP attraction does open early & we don't get to see it I'll be kicking myself in the butt forever. DS11 absolutely hates all things HP (for no particular reason) so it would be great if I could go alone with DS9. What to do, what to do?

Well from another Harry Potter geek I say go for it! I am seriously thinking that I would like to go when we will be there in June especially since it may be awhile till we get back to Florida. Plus I watched one of the movies this past week and it has me excited for it. My only reservation is how crowded it will be.

They just might finish the HP section at The-Park-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named in time for you to visit. If not, you have an extra day at WDW, which isn't all that bad.

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