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

[KAT4DISNEY]

What?! No. No. No. Disney is shooting themselves in the foot if they do away with their most loyal consumers.

I have to believe they're going to eventually bring back something similar but then again often times things go away and never come back.

 

[DVC Jen]

Cool. How do you like them?
Since I'd be putting them on a seasonally occupied house, I'm concerned about them disconnecting from the wifi and not reconnecting without help.

We like them a lot. We may have had an issue once with them not reconnecting. It was a while ago. I honestly can't remember if I called my husband at work and told him it wasn't reconnecting and he did something - or if it did eventually reconnect on its own. They have been very reliable. It's nice when we go on vacation and have someone watching the house. We give them (someone we know) full access to our pool. I can always keep an eye on what is going on to make sure they are following our "rules." No one is allowed to have a wild party unless I am there to enjoy it as well.

 

[DVC Jen]

My vacation issue/s saga continues. I jumped on the park ticket deal they are offering right now. Bought (4) 9 day park hoppers for this summer - with the 2 extra days for a total of 11 park days. I just went to make our park reservations for each day. When I tried to make the reservation for our 10th day I was greeted with a big ole pop up window screaming NOPE at me (actually it said I had Disney Park Pass Limit Reached). So I guess I am back on the phone tomorrow to see what is going on. This trip better be AMAZ-ING with all the issues I have had booking it.

 

[jimmytammy]

DL announcing the end of AP's is making for a sad time. I know, 3rd world problems, but I feel we as fans need to be reassured by our favorite Mouse that all will be alright in this crazy world we are living in right now. I sure hope they come up with something new to address their loyal followers.

On another note, just asking, how many of you folks have cut ties with social media like FB, Twitter, etc.? As much as I like keeping up with my FB friends, all the negativity is driving me downward. And trying to decipher reality vs. non truths is useless now. I, to a certain degree, could keep up with whats going on in the world via FB, but just like media on TV, it all seems bogus. Not trying to start anything, just wondering.

 

[Corinne]

Hi Jimmy,

I actually dropped off FB several years ago, but I do still like IG, if it starts to get too much like FB, which probably will happen, since MZ also owns it I won’t have an issue dropping of that either.

 

[TCRAIG]

I’ve never been on FB or IG or been involved any social media (other than DISboards of course)...it’s just never been my thing

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

DL announcing the end of AP's is making for a sad time. I know, 3rd world problems, but I feel we as fans need to be reassured by our favorite Mouse that all will be alright in this crazy world we are living in right now. I sure hope they come up with something new to address their loyal followers.

On another note, just asking, how many of you folks have cut ties with social media like FB, Twitter, etc.? As much as I like keeping up with my FB friends, all the negativity is driving me downward. And trying to decipher reality vs. non truths is useless now. I, to a certain degree, could keep up with whats going on in the world via FB, but just like media on TV, it all seems bogus. Not trying to start anything, just wondering.

I just mostly ignore it. And it seems like if you keep ignoring it on facebook a lot of things stop showing up on your feed. I imagine if you click even once you're back in the circle. Twitter I only go to if I get a notification that family or friends posted something and I don't post there myself.

 

[twokats]

DL announcing the end of AP's is making for a sad time. I know, 3rd world problems, but I feel we as fans need to be reassured by our favorite Mouse that all will be alright in this crazy world we are living in right now. I sure hope they come up with something new to address their loyal followers.

On another note, just asking, how many of you folks have cut ties with social media like FB, Twitter, etc.? As much as I like keeping up with my FB friends, all the negativity is driving me downward. And trying to decipher reality vs. non truths is useless now. I, to a certain degree, could keep up with whats going on in the world via FB, but just like media on TV, it all seems bogus. Not trying to start anything, just wondering.

I scroll a lot. Plus I have joined so many sewing and crafting groups that they have taken over my feed and they are a lot more interesting than politics.

 

[DVC Jen]

After being on hold with Disney (first DVC then a ticket specialist) for 3 hours it is all sorted. I didn't get what I wanted - 11 days - but Disney sprinkled me with some pixie dust and sweetened the deal a bit for us. We got 10 nights which is OK. The pixie dust lessened the sting a bit. So our day at POR is our arrival day. We are usually pretty exhausted from the drive and never go to the parks that day. The next we check into BRV and that will be a non park day. Probably hang out at Disney Springs. Our youngest hasn't seen it since it was redone. Maybe play some mini golf (is it open?) and just chill so we are bright, rested and ready for the MK the next day.

 

[rkstocke5609]

DL announcing the end of AP's is making for a sad time. I know, 3rd world problems, but I feel we as fans need to be reassured by our favorite Mouse that all will be alright in this crazy world we are living in right now. I sure hope they come up with something new to address their loyal followers.

On another note, just asking, how many of you folks have cut ties with social media like FB, Twitter, etc.? As much as I like keeping up with my FB friends, all the negativity is driving me downward. And trying to decipher reality vs. non truths is useless now. I, to a certain degree, could keep up with whats going on in the world via FB, but just like media on TV, it all seems bogus. Not trying to start anything, just wondering.

So, my only friend on Facebook is The Timeshare Store - this goes back to when I was looking for a DVC contract to purchase and by making them my friend I got the newest listings quicker. I joined Twitter last March during the pandemic - followed a few for information, like one local news guy that I trust (rare, right?) . Anyways, I mostly find all the social media to be a cesspool of opinion and anger, so I’ll keep an account but only for necessities.

 

[twinklebug]

DL announcing the end of AP's is making for a sad time. I know, 3rd world problems, but I feel we as fans need to be reassured by our favorite Mouse that all will be alright in this crazy world we are living in right now. I sure hope they come up with something new to address their loyal followers.

On another note, just asking, how many of you folks have cut ties with social media like FB, Twitter, etc.? As much as I like keeping up with my FB friends, all the negativity is driving me downward. And trying to decipher reality vs. non truths is useless now. I, to a certain degree, could keep up with whats going on in the world via FB, but just like media on TV, it all seems bogus. Not trying to start anything, just wondering.

It shocked me at first too and I worried for WDW's AP program as I need to renew mine soon.
I have faith that DL APs will come back in some form. For now, with the parks closed for so long, and the inevitable run on the parks when they open it makes no sense to have AP holders demanding access: no one else will be able to get in.

I don't use social media that much and weeded what I do see down to only what my interests are. No news, I know how to research that on my own and prefer outlets known for bipartisan views. It keeps it simple and without stress.

I've found humphry's wilderness lodge page on fb to be a fun follow. I love to see pics from trips.

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks everyone for the ideas and insight where social media is concerned. As Tammy says, you set down and you get sucked into FB

I have my friends that I like too stay connected to, which is my main reason for being on there. But even then, the political jargon starts filtering through them, and wham!! Im stuck. I try very hard not to comment, either way. Maybe my mistake is hitting Like when Im really just acknowledging something they wrote or shared. If I do decide to be back on FB, I will refrain from doing that and see what happens.

Like a few of you have said, I join a lot of the things that interest me, Disney related mostly. Some music, etc. I post occasionally Dr. David Jeremiahs Turning Point daily devotions just to share the Good Word with others. And I tend to never get negative feedback from that. But I shall refrain from that as well just to keep away.

I really do appreciate your honest and sincere words shared on how you deal with it all. Its easy to say just turn it off, but hard to walk away from the friends you know and re-connected with. But its time.

So, unfortunately for y'all, you will probably be seeing even more of me around here
In all seriousness though, I really do appreciate you folks being who you are, knowing our kindred spirits connect via the Lodge. Its a safe haven, and I am glad its remained that way. You folks, each and every one of you, are special to me. I really mean that. And I hope I never take that for granted!

 

[suse66]

Popping on to say I booked a Christmas trip this morning and will be home sweet home at VWL from December 18th to the 22nd!!!

 

[DVC Jen]

@jimmytammy I sent you a message/conversation about adding our trip. Not sure if I did it right. Did you get it? (not rushing you if you did get it - just not sure I actually sent it )

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So, unfortunately for y'all, you will probably be seeing even more of me around here

Oh no. The horrors.



Sounds just fine to me Jimmy!

 

[Starwind]

Thanks everyone for the ideas and insight where social media is concerned. As Tammy says, you set down and you get sucked into FB

I have my friends that I like too stay connected to, which is my main reason for being on there. But even then, the political jargon starts filtering through them, and wham!! Im stuck. I try very hard not to comment, either way. Maybe my mistake is hitting Like when Im really just acknowledging something they wrote or shared. If I do decide to be back on FB, I will refrain from doing that and see what happens.

Like a few of you have said, I join a lot of the things that interest me, Disney related mostly. Some music, etc. I post occasionally Dr. David Jeremiahs Turning Point daily devotions just to share the Good Word with others. And I tend to never get negative feedback from that. But I shall refrain from that as well just to keep away.

I really do appreciate your honest and sincere words shared on how you deal with it all. Its easy to say just turn it off, but hard to walk away from the friends you know and re-connected with. But its time.

So, unfortunately for y'all, you will probably be seeing even more of me around here
In all seriousness though, I really do appreciate you folks being who you are, knowing our kindred spirits connect via the Lodge. Its a safe haven, and I am glad its remained that way. You folks, each and every one of you, are special to me. I really mean that. And I hope I never take that for granted!

My policy for dealing with FB [and where appropriate other social media and interactive online discussions], in case parts of it helps you and others.

I do not view FB as a way to grow my social network. I view it as a way to keep in touch with trusted friends and family who are scattered across the planet and FB is an easy and in some cases the only way to keep in touch with them.

My only "friends" are people I actually know/knew in "real life". Which for me means from high school, university, and family. I have my privacy settings set so you have to be a friend of an existing friend to be able to send me a friend request, and you can't search for me. I have accepted only two such requests and ignored a handful of others -- I am highly selective of who I decide to actually accept and each one is an intentional decision that I want to share my personal life with at this point in my life. I have 17 FB friends.

I can unfriend or block people if needed. I have not done this yet, but a couple of my close FB friends have had to do so in recent months with now-former friends of theirs. One unfriended a family member who adopted extremist political views.

FB has a feature that allows you to choose hide all posts by someone for 30 days. If you receive notifications for them you will still see that they posted something, but the post itself will NOT show in your Timeline. I have done this to one of my extended family members for the last 6 months or so. My next step will be to unfriend them but I am not quite there yet mentally, so for now the hide for 30 days at a time works. I do not engage/communicate with them in any other way, so it works ok for now.

The organizations I "Like" are businesses that sell products I am interested in or organizations/blogs of topics I am interested in, which are predominantly Disney or food allergy related. Fortunately they do not get into political or religious discussions so I have not run into those issues.

I have joined a VERY small number of private groups [all Disney related!!] and was very very selective in which ones. Most I read but do not post to or acknowledge posts in. To be honest, it took me a long time - years - to even be comfortable joining a private FB group, but in the end I am glad I did as one in particular I have learned so much from and it is such a helpful community to be part of; it is one of the few I participate in.

Finally, I do not "like" or comment on any PUBLIC posts. In the private groups I belong to that I actually post to or acknowledge posts in, I am very careful in what I say, treating it as if it is semi-public. For friends' posts that are shared with friends only I am a little freeer, but still careful in what I reply. While I may 'like" something to acknowledge it, I won't if I don't also agree with it; and there are also the care and sad and other icons to show other means of support for a poster. But I tend not to just like to acknowledge a post, even on friends' friends-only feeds; I tend to reseve the acknowledging for something of importance or when something moves me or when I feel there is a need to show support. Remember that I am reserving it only for friends' [those 17!] feeds and the few private groups. Default is "read and move on".

My privacy settings in FB are set to basically paranoid mode. My public profile is as non-existent as possible. I make no public posts; all posts are friends only. Pretty much everything that can be set to "me only" is and everything that is set to "friends" or "friends of friends" is very deliberately set that that specific setting. I review my privacy and security settings regularly.

[you may ask why I post here... well, that is because I do it as Starwind not under my real name... I have been posting online as Starwind for decades now, since before the world wide web existed, so have a different relationship with this identity and the online world]

I apply a similar principle here in this group. I read every post, but I don't like every post, and don't reply to every post. Part of that is a time thing. But a bigger part is being selective in what I acknowledge with a "like" and reply to. It doesn't mean something else isn't worthy of it, it is just a reflection of what in the moment moves me to acknowledge/reply. Most things don't because the default is "read and move on".

This little group is a wonderful community. There is very much a sense of community and family. There is a diversity of conversation, not all of it about VWL, but it always comes back around to our beloved WL. Pretty much every time I read this group I am reminded of that feeling of "home" I get when I walk i those huge front doors, that feeling that makes me cry every single time we arrive for our stay. I don't know how to really describe that feeling of home to others, but I know my fellow Groupies know what it feels like. Though we've stayed at several resorts, we only feel it at WL. We so wish we could visit more often than every couple years.

Hope this helps.

SW

 

[jimmytammy]

@jimmytammy I sent you a message/conversation about adding our trip. Not sure if I did it right. Did you get it? (not rushing you if you did get it - just not sure I actually sent it )

Hey Jen!
I haven't received anything yet. Actually, if you send it to sleepydog25, he is the official keeper of the trips page now.

 

[jimmytammy]

Starwind
Thank you for your insight. Though I have maybe 100 "friends" on FB, most are folks I went to HS with, or met along life journey and family. The list scales way back to true friends, those who you can confide in and not worry that your conversation will be shared. I belong to a lot of Disney sites, several History(though in todays environment, I found it getting political and deleted several), couple of Andy Griffith show fan sites, etc.
Last night, I deactivated my acct., in hopes days to come will improve, but I only foresee it getting worse. Optimistically pessimistic about FB

 

[Granny]

I have a FaceBook account, but honestly I rarely log onto it. For me it is similar to YouTube...I go to the both sites wanting to check on something and seem to get drawn down the rabbit hole so easily. So when I do go on FB now, I try to check on my friends and stay away from all the shiny distractions.

We have booked a couple of 4th quarter trips to WDW. Hopefully by then our world will be something close to the new normal, and restrictions will be gone. If the residual effects of the pandemic are still around and safeguards are in place (masks, social distancing, etc) then we probably won't go.

On the bright side, we had a surplus of points after skipping last year and were able to rent them all out through David's in about 48 hours. That pretty much paid our dues for 2021!

I very much appreciate the people who frequent this thread. Even though I haven't been posting all that much lately, I always enjoy "coming home" to this thread and to you all. Hopefully our world will get back on its axis and start spinning again.

 

[sleepydog25]

Don't look now, Groupies, but we're closing in on 1,000 pages of this latest edition of our thread! That number and our longevity speaks to our closeness as an extended family--thanks to each of you for making this thread a place where we come and feel at "home." I've long said it, and I believe it: this is the friendliest, most genuine group on the DIS. Period.

In other "news," this was my view this morning:

And my view going home this evening


Peace out!