The VWL Groupies & Trivia Thread

[mickeymorse]

Soon Mickeymorse, soon!

Deb

Thanks Deb. I know it will come quickly but I can't wait to make that first ressie HOME. Its just me and my OCD.

 

[Muushka]

Thanks! He's so cute!

Oh, how we'd love to go each year...or even more often than that. The tricky bit is the airfare. Well over NZ$5k ($3500) just to get to LA! Imagine that the cheap part of our trip is the two weeks at the World! haha!

Oh my! I just peaked at where you lived as I read your post! You sure do come a looooooong way! You really deserve that Moose!

PS The only country in this entire world that I want to visit is yours. One of these days, I am going to do it. It will probably not include my husband (he hates to fly), but one of these days..... . For now, I dream. And seeing those airfares, it probably will remain a dream!

 

[dsquarednz]

Oh my! I just peaked at where you lived as I read your post! You sure do come a looooooong way! You really deserve that Moose!

PS The only country in this entire world that I want to visit is yours. One of these days, I am going to do it. It will probably not include my husband (he hates to fly), but one of these days..... . For now, I dream. And seeing those airfares, it probably will remain a dream!

This year will be the first year we are flying from here! We lived in Baltimore until 2006 when we moved to our little paradise in the South Pacific.

We fly on Air New Zealand, which has three classes on their planes: standard coach (i.e. "cattle class"), 'premium economy' (which is similar to US domestic First Class) and Business Class. Business class runs around NZ$7k (US$5k) roundtrip, so we won't ever fly that!!

We've tried the economy/coach, and it's ok. But the flight is 11-12 hours long! It's not as small as standard coach in on a US domestic flight,but we still pay the little extra to fly the premium economy.

If it's just you, and you come on an "off" season, you could get a roundtrip ticket for around $1500-$1600. Coach is less. Still kinda pricey, but you are literally on the other side of the world!! Plus, the US dollar is a bit stronger, so once you get here, food etc will be a bit cheaper.

Save up your airmiles!! If you fly on United or USairways (and the group they are in), you can use your miles on Air New Zealand flights. It's beautiful here and totally worth the flight. The best place in the world (outside WDW, of course).

 

[Muushka]

Thank you for all of that great info. How do you like living in NZ? I imagine it is just beautiful, in many different ways.
Something to dream about!

 

[dsquarednz]

Thank you for all of that great info. How do you like living in NZ? I imagine it is just beautiful, in many different ways.
Something to dream about!

We truly love it here! We moved due to a lot of the political stuff in the US, but also because of the constant overwhelming fear that something was going to happen. Didn't help that I passed three signs on my commute (each way) every day that were traffic signs but more often than not said "See anything suspicious? Call 1-800-blah blah". There is none of that here - the police don't even carry guns! And flying domestically is hugely different - no taking off shoes, no worries about liquids, no strip searches.

The beauty is everywhere...water, green hills, snow-capped mountains, clean air. Just gorgeous. And as there are only 4 million people here, it's not crowded anywhere! My commute is now a 15 minute walk either through the city or by the (very clean and swimable) bay. Bus transportation is really good too - we don't own a car and probably won't for at least another year.

My husband has his dream job at Weta Workshop (they worked on LOTR and King Kong, although it was before we moved) doing special effects (including Prince Caspian!)

Almost everything is more expensive, though - rent, food, gym, etc due to the low population. There are no huge stores - lots of mom and pops still - and only one mall way outside the city (there are more malls in the bigger city of Auckland I think). We don't spend nearly as much time shopping, and don't miss it at all. Salaries are a bit lower too, although we have no debt. Moving here was definitely about a lifestyle change!

The weather is temperate...never hotter than 80 or so in the summer, and never cooler than the 30s in the winter (and no snow!) We are outside way more than we were back in Maryland. Fewer bugs too! We open all the windows every weekend (it's summer now) and every now and then a fly will come in (no screens on windows/doors here) look around, and fly back out.

Social programs are good. Very few poor, and everyone has healthcare. Kids have dental until age 18. Everyone who is an employee is entitled to 4 weeks paid vacation. EVERYONE. The average workweek is 37.5 hours.

There is no tipping, because minimum wage is $11.50 and waiters etc often make even more than that.

It seems people are more fit here - I see people running or jogging at all times of the day. Even extremely large people walk! They just rest a lot on the city benches.

The nature is incredible - everything looks prehistoric to me! Huge plants,and strange looking birds (Kiwi, Pukeko). Even a lizard that is really more of a dinosaur (Tuatara), and a wicked looking cricket (Weta). No squirrels though. Most people have never even seen one!

Our dream is that when we retire, that we will spend half of our year here, and half in WDW (perhaps working?). Our two favorite places in the whole world...

 

[loribell]

dsquarednz - It sounds like you moved to heaven. Think I just might come join you.

 

[mickeymorse]

dsquarednz

I loved reading about your new home. Like Loribell said, you sure make it sound like heaven. Hope to visit that side of the world one day.

Rob

 

[blossomz]

Of course my daughter's favorite is getting the large brownie from Roaring Forks just before settling in for a swim late night after a long day at the parks. I could just go on and on!!!!!

YUMMM! Those brownies are delicious!! They are my favorite thing from RF!

 

[blossomz]

dsquarednz: Wow..I know very little of what life is like there. It sounds so peaceful and beautiful! When did you move there and from where in Maryland?

 

[Muushka]

I have an idea!! VWL Groupie meet in New Zealand!!!

Will that work for you dsquarednz??

Thank you for sharing you life down under (that's the correct term for NZ?). My husband is a huge fan of LOTR and the future fan of Prince Caspian. Wow. That sounds like a dream job and dream place to live in. Doubly blessed!

 

[WolfpackFan]

My husband is a huge fan of LOTR and the future fan of Prince Caspian. Wow. That sounds like a dream job and dream place to live in. Doubly blessed!

I love LOTR also. Heck, I've even read the books .

 

[Happydinks]

Leslie,

As for the squirrels.....we are living through the same thing. They can be quite destructive ! My husband about 2 weeks ago had to go through the roof to get to the root of the attic damage (and it is bad !).
A friend of ours, said to throw tons of moth balls up in the attic, as it helps to keep them away. We have a big bill fixing the roof now. We're just going to replace the whole thing.

Holy smokes (not my original words when I saw the picture!)! You must have MONSTER squirrels in PA! Ours just chewed through the siding, and then after we put up metal plates to cover the holes, they found a small area not covered by roof shingles, and started chewing through the plywood there. NOTHING like what happened to you guys though. We used squirrel repellant - which is nothing but mothball flakes - but it must have not been up long enough to make him/her go away - since he/she came back for another go at our place. Ever since we "caged off" half of the bay window with metal netting - it seems to have finally discouraged them. We are really sorry to see what you're going through - not fun to spend that much money fixing the roof as opposed to spending it in WDW!

 

[blossomz]

I am sooo excited! And no one else would understand but the groupies!

My waitlist for a 2 BR came through for our June trip! My boys are pretty big bruisers now..18 and 20 and no one was happy about sharing a bed with mom. Now that we have enough add ons, I decided to go for a 2 BR instead of the 1 BR. None available at booking so I waitlisted. Today I just felt the pixie dust calling so I called in at 5:25 PM ..just at the end of the day...and sure enough!!! My 2 BR was waiting to be confirmed!! Woo Hoo!!

 

[Happydinks]

YUMMM! Those brownies are delicious!! They are my favorite thing from RF!

OMG - we transported them across state lines on our last trip! We had so many snack credits left that we had some wrapped and brought them home to family who had enjoyed them on our "big family trip" in 2006.

 

[blossomz]

We did the same thing Happy Dinks!! They are decadent!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

dsquarednz - It sounds like you moved to heaven. Think I just might come join you.

I agree......I loved reading your post dsquarednz. A nurse that used to work with me, moved there about 5-7 years ago. She loves it as well. She is a nurse midwife. She sends us postcards and letters from time to time. She was originally from Ireland.....moved to PA........and now is happily living in your neck of the woods.

I'm with Muushka ! Groupie meet in NZ !

Blossomz ! That is awesome news ! Very happy for you !

I'm on a waitlist for another DVC resort (gasp ! sorry VWL !). But I'm waitlisted for a savannah view 1 bedroom at AKV (I currently have a standard view). I'm hoping mine comes through---it's for mid August. My dh wanted to stay here to get a feel for it. We'll be making a decision to add more points at either VWL or AKV. I know. I'm leaning towards VWL, but he is attracted by the longer contract and ability to sleep 5 in a one bedroom (also---the GV's there). So not sure who will win

 

[Muushka]

I am sooo excited! And no one else would understand but the groupies!
Snip....

Yay! That is good news!

We understand about AKV, Maria. It is, after all, our sister resort! I hope you get your request!
Your Moose wanted to do the pixie dust dance for you!

 

[eliza61]

I'm with Muushka ! Groupie meet in NZ !

:

Aagh. The only problem is NZ is a 24 hour plane ride from NYC. I mean I'm not unfamiliar with the childproof top of a bottle of prozaic but that's one heck of a loooong time in the air. Mia, your probably closest to me (my dh is from Ardmore PA) I'll have to fly with you, either that or Marlin Perkins is gonna have to tranqualize me like in Mutual of Omahas wild kingdom when they wanted to move the Rhinos

 

[mickeymorse]

I love LOTR also. Heck, I've even read the books .

I went to opening night for all 3. Looking forward to The Hobbit.

Don't worry about AKV ressie Marie. Here's some moose dust to get that savannah view

Oh and how I do love brownies! Is it better than main street bakery carrot cake? I could eat the whole thing.

 

[mickeymorse]

either that or Marlin Perkins is gonna have to tranqualize me like in Mutual of Omahas wild kingdom when they wanted to move the Rhinos

I used to love that show. Ah they don't make em like they used to.