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

[horselover]

It sounds like you take the 6. I remember seeing the Nick Hotel which is on Intl. Dr. The DTD area comes up on your left as you approach Apopka Vineland Rd. This area, if you turn left puts you onto Hotel Plaza Blvd. which are the Hotels near DTD. After forgetting a few times, getting excited cause Im so close to WDW I have turned off on exit 6, then remember I should have gone a short ways more and a lot less traffic.

Maybe I'm in excitement mode too because I don't remember seeing Hotel Plaza Blvd. & the traffic has really never been that bad. Maybe we've just hit it at the right time. I will remember to try exit 3 when we're there next month. Although not that I'm thinking of it we'll be at BCV not the Lodge. Is exit 3 still the best exit to take for BCV?

 

[Muushka]

I like it a lot better. It may be 4-5 mins longer than I-4 but the hassle is a lot less, less nerves frazzled. If I-4 is running smooth, not much traffic, that is great, but you never know.

We catch 417 around the Sanford area. Then its maybe 45 mins more to WDW, including toll stops. Not much traffic, never seen an accident on it, never bumper to bumper. If you follow GPS, dont let it talk you back off 417, just stay the course to exit 3. Trust me

A good comparison, I-4 around Orlando like I-40 around Raleigh rush hr.
417 like I-40 between Smithfield and Wilmington on a lazy Sunday drive

Another little trick we like, take exit 9A just before Jacksonville FL. It will take you due south around Jacksonville, avoiding downtown backup, doesnt take any more time, and lots less stressful. It is 4 and 6 lanes most all the way. We literally sat in dead traffic 3 times in Jacksonville, once on a bridge for 1 solid hr. I said never again! Learned 9A and havent looked back since.

Thanks JT. For those times that we arrive after and before 7, 417 it will be.

The exit 9A, is that 295? We took that for several years, but have found 95 to be pretty good the past few years. But a great choice if passing through Jax during rush hour. I will propose all these changes to Mr Muush....wish me luck!

K4!! You animal!!! Have a great time at BWV. Spontaneous is fun.

 

[twinklebug]

Guess where I am?!??! Sitting in my comfortable BWV studio! ... I have the scary clown looking right at my room over the construction fence!
Tomorrow I move over to BLT for my first stay there.

You were at BWV - how cool!
I'm with you on the scary clown And At night it only gets worse

Imagineer1 to Imagineer2: "Hey - lets add a clown to the pool"
Imag2: (sarcastically) "Yeah, great idea, everyone loves clowns."
Imag1: "We could have the kids slide down a rollercoaster made out of the clown's tongue and come out his mouth"
Imag2: (again, sarcastically) "...yeah... and the eyes could light up at night, make him look like he's watching ~always watching~"
Imag1: Awesome! They're going to love this!
Imag2: Or we'll get fired.​

Let us know how your BLT check in & stay goes! I love spontaneous stays

 

[Muushka]

you are right!

clowns =

 

[Granny]

Folks afraid of clowns?

I know there's a lot of you out there so there must be something to it. I just never understood it. Doesn't mean it's not a valid feeling though.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Imagineer1 to Imagineer2: "Hey - lets add a clown to the pool"
Imag2: (sarcastically) "Yeah, great idea, everyone loves clowns."
Imag1: "We could have the kids slide down a rollercoaster made out of the clown's tongue and come out his mouth"
Imag2: (again, sarcastically) "...yeah... and the eyes could light up at night, make him look like he's watching ~always watching~"
Imag1: Awesome! They're going to love this!
Imag2: Or we'll get fired.

This must have been how it all went down Twinklebug !


Maria

 

[Muushka]

Folks afraid of clowns?

I know there's a lot of you out there so there must be something to it. I just never understood it. Doesn't mean it's not a valid feeling though.

It's not all clowns, just some clowns. I think Poltergeist did it for me.

 

[twinklebug]

It's not all clowns, just some clowns. I think Poltergeist did it for me.

Pretty much all clowns for me. Ever since I realized there was an adult man hiding behind that makeup they just give off a creepy feeling... like what else are they hiding?

 

[DisneyNutzy]

Afternoon Groupies!

Hi Everybody! Back from sunny California! What a great trip. My DH surprised me even more with booking the Grand Californian!!!! I just about lost it when we walked in. It is magnificent. The lobby is smaller than WL and I think the WL is the most beautiful resort but GC sure isn't far behind! It definatly has the wow factor. It was also so great to be able to walk right out of the resort to either DTD or Calif. Adventure. It was very hard to leave it!
I will be posting a TR and will post the link.
Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes! Loved the birthday moose Maria!
Better get back to work. More later! Hope everyone is having a good Wednesday!

DLI - Very Cool! GC is on our wish list in the next few years. We have never been to DL and after looking at pictures of GC it is now near the top of our must do's!

Good evening Groupies!

Guess where I am?!??! Sitting in my comfortable BWV studio! My conference in Tampa was over except for the banquet and I've had more than my share of those so I called up MS this afternoon and got a room! Woo Hoo! (VWL was not available - I did ask.) Went over to Epcot this evening to eat, do a few rides and watch Illuminations. A very nice way to start a mini trip. Tomorrow I move over to BLT for my first stay there.

Only thing - my room is ground floor (which is fine) but I have the scary clown looking right at my room over the construction fence! I guess he scared someone else too much b/c when I got in the room there was a Welcome Home packet for a different guest who was staying thru Sunday. I called the front desk and they said that person hadn't wanted to room and had been moved. They also told me that person hadn't even been in the room which is why the packet was here - huh? I think they had been here long enough to use the bathroom and leave the patio door unlocked. I found a strap with keys on it in the safe as well. Not exactly a preferred start to my stay but oh well. Actually, I kind of like the room - nice location not too far from the elevators and the walkway to the boardwalk. If there just wasn't that clown.........

Kathy - That is fantastic you were able to score a BWV room last minute even if it means having the clown stare you down..lol. I'm with Granny on this one..I don't get it..lol.

Speaking of Granny - Have a Great time in Ireland. Very jealous. That is a bucket list item for myself.

JT - Thanks for Sunpass tip. I will have to look into that.

 

[eliza61]

Too funny Kathy ! So cool you were able to get a room at such short notice.

Have fun at BLT....can't wait to hear about it.

Bracing for a big storm here in Philly.......I'm hoping it blows out to sea !!!


Maria

looking for 12 inches Maria, wouldcha know it Friday evenings are when I do my usual food shopping. No way I'm going anywhere near a supermarket today or tomorrow.

It's not all clowns, just some clowns. I think Poltergeist did it for me.

Stephen King had a television miniseries that did me in with clowns. I can't remember the name of it. Although the "old guy" is a huge B movie/science fiction fan. He loves them from his youth when they made the corniest b movies. Probably why he loves sci-fi diner so much. Anyway he has a vhs tape of a movie called "killer klowns from outer space" that every one with a clown phobia should rent.

 

[tea pot]

Folks afraid of clowns?

I know there's a lot of you out there so there must be something to it. I just never understood it. Doesn't mean it's not a valid feeling though.

Oh No Didn't you read Stephen King's "IT"
I don't even trust this guy

 

[MiaSRN62]

looking for 12 inches Maria, wouldcha know it Friday evenings are when I do my usual food shopping. No way I'm going anywhere near a supermarket today or tomorrow.

I'll go but late.....like after 8:30 or 9 pm. Usually that's the best time. Heard D.C. got 31 inches from this one !


Maria

 

[Muushka]

Yeah Eliza, that sounds like a movie I want to rent!

Speaking of bucket lists, anyone got one they care to share?

I loved that movie.

I think most of mine have to do with travel. I think I'm probably shallow.

 

[Granny]

It's not all clowns, just some clowns. I think Poltergeist did it for me.

Yes, that clown scene was scary. I forgot about that part of the movie!

Pretty much all clowns for me. Ever since I realized there was an adult man hiding behind that makeup they just give off a creepy feeling... like what else are they hiding?

Hmmm...I guess the characters at WDW creep you out too?

Stephen King had a television miniseries that did me in with clowns. I can't remember the name of it. Although the "old guy" is a huge B movie/science fiction fan. He loves them from his youth when they made the corniest b movies. Probably why he loves sci-fi diner so much. Anyway he has a vhs tape of a movie called "killer klowns from outer space" that every one with a clown phobia should rent.

Oh No Didn't you read Stephen King's "IT"
I don't even trust this guy

Eliza...TeaPot gave you your answer to the name of the movie. Many have compared the clown slide at BWV to that movie. Here's a look at that bad boy whose name, I believe, was Pennywise.

Fellow Groupies, I was just ribbing you a bit about the clown thing. Evidently, it is one of the most common phobias around so I understand that it really creeps out a lot of people. I guess I am a bit sensitive to the BWV clown since I've seen so many people post that they would NEVER accept a room with a view of the main pool because of that.

Anyway, back on topic. Here's the trivia for today:

What is the name of the street that WL/VWL is located on?

 

[horselover]

Anyway, back on topic. Here's the trivia for today:

What is the name of the street that WL/VWL is located on?

That would be Timberline Drive!

 

[blossomz]

Hi everyone! We are preparing for a major snowstorm up here in south central PA. We may be stuck inside for awhile. All groupies at WDW..please send photos!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Maybe I'm in excitement mode too because I don't remember seeing Hotel Plaza Blvd. & the traffic has really never been that bad. Maybe we've just hit it at the right time. I will remember to try exit 3 when we're there next month. Although not that I'm thinking of it we'll be at BCV not the Lodge. Is exit 3 still the best exit to take for BCV?

I think so, because you approach Epcot area first from this direction as opposed to approaching MK area.

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks JT. For those times that we arrive after and before 7, 417 it will be.

The exit 9A, is that 295? We took that for several years, but have found 95 to be pretty good the past few years. But a great choice if passing through Jax during rush hour. I will propose all these changes to Mr Muush....wish me luck!

K4!! You animal!!! Have a great time at BWV. Spontaneous is fun.

It is 295 I believe but you are going off to the left of Jacksonville vs. the 295 that goes right of JVille. Sounds crazy, but our van rerads pretty accurate and it keeps you due south the whole time around the bypass. I did 295 the other direction a couple times and it took along time it seemed like.

The only reason I found out about the 2 roads(9A and 417) was because a fellow DISer FL resident shared it. Cant say they are tremendous timesavers, but stress savers, which is great in my book!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

I'm so glad you loved your stay at my west coast home! The Grand really is GRAND, isn't it? I love it there - and felt the same kind of way you did, just in the opposite direction, when I first stepped inside the Lodge last month. WOW. I just love sitting in the lobby in the evening listening to the pianist, or sitting by the fireplace. And that private entrance into DCA sure is cool - and just wait til the private viewing platform for World of Color opens up this spring. I'm getting all giddy about our return trip out there this fall already...

Can't wait to see your TR...

Oh I didn't know about the viewing platform! That will be so cool! Looks like we will have to make another trip out there! The TR is in progress!

DLI is back Can't wait for TR report
??? is there transportation from LAX to DL

Take Care Groupies..

There isn't anything like Magical Express but there are different shuttle services. We actually flew through John Wayne airport.

Good evening Groupies!

Guess where I am?!??! Sitting in my comfortable BWV studio! If there just wasn't that clown.........

Love BWV!!! Have a great trip!!!

Folks afraid of clowns?

I know there's a lot of you out there so there must be something to it. I just never understood it. Doesn't mean it's not a valid feeling though.

What did it for me was riding on the subway in NYC when a guy came through dressed as a clown and asking for money. When everyone ignored him he flew into a profanity filled tirade!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Well folks I may make the ultimate groupie Mom sacrifice. My DD enjoys the Lodge but her favorite resort is BWV. When we visit in June we will be celebrating her birthday and she will have her BFF with which will be he first time she will be able to share Disney with a friend. Well since I got to stay at our Lodge's sister resort for my birthday I decided that I would make the sacrifice and get on a waitlist so DD can spend her birthday at her favorite resort. Oh what we do for our kids! It isn't a total sacrifice cause I do love BWV but I was really looking forward to VWL. Not sure if it will even happen since there isn't anything available right now.