VWL Groupies & Lovers Thread (Special Collectors Edition 2.5) updated 2 February 2025

[Disney loving Iowan]

I had an interesting experience on Chat today when I was adding names on a reservation. I actually was chided that they were no longer using personal titles or anything gender specific so I shouldn't provide that in the future. I hated to tell them that the web reservation system still wanted them. When did that become a thing for DVC?

I have been sitting here typing stuff and then removing it because I have so many thoughts but don't think I should express them. I will just say that you shouldn't be chided by them if you are ok with giving that information.

 

[Lass70]

Hi all! Long time listener, first time caller.
Just had an offer on a resale contract accepted. Now comes the wait for ROFR and then I can join the ranks of VWL Groupies!! Been looking for the perfect contract for a while. I LOVE the separation of the building so much more than that other side. We have a direct contract at Riviera and have been looking at other properties since we took that gateway drug. I fell in love with the VWL atmosphere. Can't wait!

UPDTAE: Found a great contract last month and passed ROFR today!!!!

 

[wildernessDad]

Hello fellow groupies of our most wonderful Lodge! I apologize for not being on more often. I will try to get on more from now on. I'll be all over the place with my comments. I'm still retired and trying to adjust to it. Covid really put a dent in our vacation plans. Had to cancel our Southwest vacation. That hurt. And the wife was none too happy about it either. We still live a stone's throw away from our wonderful Lodge. I hope that we can get together over the holidays. I'll keep looking in to see if anything is planned for it. We are staying at VWL from Dec 5 - Dec 10 this year, but we can pop over at other times if something is planned outside our vacation window. Just keep me informed. We hope to see you this holiday period.

 

[twinklebug]

I had an interesting experience on Chat today when I was adding names on a reservation. I actually was chided that they were no longer using personal titles or anything gender specific so I shouldn't provide that in the future. I hated to tell them that the web reservation system still wanted them. When did that become a thing for DVC?

We all know the right hand has no clue what the left hand (IT) is doing... maybe some day they'll get it together, the sooner, the better.

 

[ErinC]

Just popping in. Been way too long for me to not check this thread. Probably a year too long. 2021 has been crazy in our family. I retired from teaching in May, my youngest graduated high school in May, my oldest got married in May, and it's taken me way too long to recover! DH and I are starting to figure out this empty nest thing. We bought a fifth wheel and have been doing some traveling and camping. We did have a stay at the Lodge back in April. It was okay. Still very heavy Covid protocols in place then. My DD and her new DH stayed on our points at SSR this past weekend. They had standard studio that has been recently refurbished (I think all of them have been now). I just made some reservations for DH and I this week for the Springtime Surprise runs. All that was available was SSR. I think I'm okay with that because we've only stayed at VWL the last several times we've gone, so a change is fine with me. Since we got the camper, I've got cash reservations at Fort Wilderness next November, hoping the dates I've chosen will coincide with the Wine and Dine run. I didn't take too much time to go back and get updated on all the posts I've missed. I did see there have been some recent health issues for some groupies. I'll be sure to add those to my prayers. This time, I should be back for good, no more long hiatus from the groupie thread!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hello fellow groupies of our most wonderful Lodge! I apologize for not being on more often. I will try to get on more from now on. I'll be all over the place with my comments. I'm still retired and trying to adjust to it. Covid really put a dent in our vacation plans. Had to cancel our Southwest vacation. That hurt. And the wife was none too happy about it either. We still live a stone's throw away from our wonderful Lodge. I hope that we can get together over the holidays. I'll keep looking in to see if anything is planned for it. We are staying at VWL from Dec 5 - Dec 10 this year, but we can pop over at other times if something is planned outside our vacation window. Just keep me informed. We hope to see you this holiday period.

Shucks, we leave on DCL cruse on December 3, that’s Tom and I.

I will be with girlfriends December 6-10, so, if theres a meet, I will try to come. We have Candlelight Processional on December 7, and I do intend to go to the Condo meet on the 9th.

 

[Granny]

I have been sitting here typing stuff and then removing it because I have so many thoughts but don't think I should express them. I will just say that you shouldn't be chided by them if you are ok with giving that information.

DLI...I completely understand your post. I had the same experience recently on this thread and in the end I just erased everything I wrote and put in a comment similar to yours. I know that neither of us want to bring controversy on this thread, and that's a good thing. But my guess is that neither of our comments should really be controversial. Oh well.

UPDTAE: Found a great contract last month and passed ROFR today!!!!

Lass...don't want this wonderful news to get lost in the weeds here. That's fantastic news, and let us know when you are official so we can welcome you home properly!

We hope to see you this holiday period.

WDad...great to hear from you. Not sure if any groupie meets are planned but if so this is the place we'll find out. Our trips are so iffy at this point that I hate to plan anything so we don't even have ADRs for our upcoming trip.

Just popping in. Been way too long for me to not check this thread.

Erin...wonderful to see you popping in again. I know what you mean about life getting crazy and it's easy to drift away from things like this thread. But you know that you are always welcome back, and we are glad to hear that you are doing well.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have been sitting here typing stuff and then removing it because I have so many thoughts but don't think I should express them. I will just say that you shouldn't be chided by them if you are ok with giving that information.

I understand and had almost not posted but it was just such a crazy interaction. I figured it was "safe" to at least ask here if this was a known thing because the instructions I was given were quite clear! I think it was maybe the 3rd time I tried chat. I think I'll go back to calling.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We all know the right hand has no clue what the left hand (IT) is doing... maybe some day they'll get it together, the sooner, the better.

Oh so true!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hello fellow groupies of our most wonderful Lodge! I apologize for not being on more often. I will try to get on more from now on. I'll be all over the place with my comments. I'm still retired and trying to adjust to it. Covid really put a dent in our vacation plans. Had to cancel our Southwest vacation. That hurt. And the wife was none too happy about it either. We still live a stone's throw away from our wonderful Lodge. I hope that we can get together over the holidays. I'll keep looking in to see if anything is planned for it. We are staying at VWL from Dec 5 - Dec 10 this year, but we can pop over at other times if something is planned outside our vacation window. Just keep me informed. We hope to see you this holiday period.

Darn - we realized we still can't make it to WDW otherwise would have been at the lodge from Dec 4-12th!

 

[TCRAIG]

Hello fellow groupies of our most wonderful Lodge! I apologize for not being on more often. I will try to get on more from now on. I'll be all over the place with my comments. I'm still retired and trying to adjust to it. Covid really put a dent in our vacation plans. Had to cancel our Southwest vacation. That hurt. And the wife was none too happy about it either. We still live a stone's throw away from our wonderful Lodge. I hope that we can get together over the holidays. I'll keep looking in to see if anything is planned for it. We are staying at VWL from Dec 5 - Dec 10 this year, but we can pop over at other times if something is planned outside our vacation window. Just keep me informed. We hope to see you this holiday period.

Hey WDad! We’ll be there 12/5 thru 12/12 - hope to see you! And BIG NEWS Groupies…I’ve finally retired!!!!! Yes - after working since I was 9 years old - I finally get to own my own time…no more being on call 24/7/365, no more working holidays, no more working around the clock doing installs, no more lugging my laptop to WDW and working on vacation!!! I’m FREE!!!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Hey WDad! We’ll be there 12/5 thru 12/12 - hope to see you! And BIG NEWS Groupies…I’ve finally retired!!!!! Yes - after working since I was 9 years old - I finally get to own my own time…no more being on call 24/7/365, no more working holidays, no more working around the clock doing installs, no more lugging my laptop to WDW and working on vacation!!! I’m FREE!!!

Congratulations! What a great feeling that must be.

 

[Granny]

Hey WDad! We’ll be there 12/5 thru 12/12 - hope to see you! And BIG NEWS Groupies…I’ve finally retired!!!!! Yes - after working since I was 9 years old - I finally get to own my own time…no more being on call 24/7/365, no more working holidays, no more working around the clock doing installs, no more lugging my laptop to WDW and working on vacation!!! I’m FREE!!!

Congratulations! Throwing away the alarm clock and getting ride of the commute were the best parts of retiring for me. I'm sure you'll have much more time to smell the roses without dragging work along!

 

[wildernessDad]

I'd like to take on the task of planning a groupie meet for this December. My vacation is from 12/5 - 12/10, but we live close to VWL and so we can pop over at a different date. I'll first look for folks going to VWL within my vacation window, unless someone objects. My first thoughts is location, location, location. In the recent past, we've had the meetup at Top of the World, but that is currently down for the count. Some of my thoughts include Territory Lounge, Geyser Point or the Carolwood Pacific Room (Iron Spike Room for you oldsters). Let me know what you think. Thanks. I am very open to your ideas including whether you want to be in charge.

 

[badeacon]

I had an interesting experience on Chat today when I was adding names on a reservation. I actually was chided that they were no longer using personal titles or anything gender specific so I shouldn't provide that in the future. I hated to tell them that the web reservation system still wanted them. When did that become a thing for DVC?

How did you know you were being chided in chat? I find it hard to detect tone in online typing? Did they use certain words to sound like chiding? Could they just have been explaining that they no longer need the information?

 

[wildernessDad]

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is returning to DHS on December 19. That's a nice show to sit, enjoy the breeze and perhaps doze a bit.

 

[wildernessDad]

Question: How long does the Condo meeting last at the Contemporary Convention Center? The board meeting is 10 minutes, but what about the member's meeting?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Question: How long does the Condo meeting last at the Contemporary Convention Center? The board meeting is 10 minutes, but what about the member's meeting?

I will guess about an hour, but that’s just my memory. One year it ended, but they were willing to bus you to Riviera for quite awhile.

 

[Aussie RJ]

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is returning to DHS on December 19. That's a nice show to sit, enjoy the breeze and perhaps doze a bit.

I had my first funnel cake sitting there watching that show. To me it will always be “funnel cake” time!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

How did you know you were being chided in chat? I find it hard to detect tone in online typing? Did they use certain words to sound like chiding? Could they just have been explaining that they no longer need the information?

I agree it's difficult to interpret online and tried to explain it off in my head with various scenarios and could not. However I think it's best to let it fade away from the thread.