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

[Nicoal13]

I've been avoiding the boards for months now. However, I wanted to pop in today as I was reflecting on today and thinking about Eliza. Dizny Di and Dad have said it better than I could have. Just know I'm thinking of you and all of the others affected by this day. Never forget.

 

[ottawagreg]

Proverbs 10:25 "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever."

God help us to be faithful in these troubled times.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Remembering and thinking of you today Eliza.

 

[Granny]

Like so many, my thoughts on this day are somewhat somber and reserved. Just a brutal time to think back on, and it always makes me wonder if we have progressed much in the past 14 years. I appreciate all that so many people do every day without being thanked...including our armed forces, emergency first responders, doctors and nurses and the hundreds of thousands of Americans who work in non-profit situations to better our world. I pray for all of them, and for each of my Groupie friends. God bless you all.

 

[Minniesgal]

I'm from the UK but temporarily in Brisbane and even here people are remembering and it has been a somber and reserved week.

On another note I've decided I'm well impressed with the BWV. We have recently booked our first stay and I'm currently sitting enjoying the Saturday morning quiet watching youtube videos of BWV. One gentleman was giving a tour of his room and it looked lovely but what shocked me was it seemed really quiet. However, when he went to the Balcony and penned the door his room actually overlooked the clown pool and the noise was unbelievable. They must have done a good job on the sound proofing.

 

[deedisneydream97]

I went thru the lodge earlie. It is still a beautiful place.r this week. They are treating the logs on one side of the lodge and there is a lot of Cain saw activity by the main boat dock. I was told the dvc pool is closed and being 'revamped".

 

[Lakegirl]

Does anybody have a guess on how long the pool will be closed?

 

[momtwoboys]

3 days left before we decide to either stay with WLV for April or jump ship! I am so on the fence on whether to keep our reservation or move. At this point I can't even make up my mind on what to pick for a backup. I love the looks of the Lodge and the feel and all the amenities it offers, but not willing to risk the money on a 7 night stay to have it all ripped up. Don't want to waste my weekend worrying, but that 7month mark on Tuesday will be a relief!

 

[Lakegirl]

3 days left before we decide to either stay with WLV for April or jump ship! I am so on the fence on whether to keep our reservation or move. At this point I can't even make up my mind on what to pick for a backup. I love the looks of the Lodge and the feel and all the amenities it offers, but not willing to risk the money on a 7 night stay to have it all ripped up. Don't want to waste my weekend worrying, but that 7month mark on Tuesday will be a relief!

We are in the same boat as you!!!! It is such a hard decision because I had had my heart set on a Lodge vacation and now I don't know what to. Are you from MA and going school vacation?

 

[momtwoboys]

Yes we are from Mass! We go yearly and this was to be our first time at WLV, and as a family of 4 before our oldest goes off to college. We wanted to be close to MK, and try someplace we havent before so we booked this reservation back in May! I would never have picked it if we knew about the project. NO idea what to do

 

[Lakegirl]

Yes we are from Mass! We go yearly and this was to be our first time at WLV, and as a family of 4 before our oldest goes off to college. We wanted to be close to MK, and try someplace we havent before so we booked this reservation back in May! I would never have picked it if we knew about the project. NO idea what to do

Ughgh same thing here. I have no idea what to do. My DD loves to swim and I as well love to close to MK. How are the crowds that week?

 

[sleepydog25]

Does anybody have a guess on how long the pool will be closed?

It is supposed to be finished by late February was the original date I heard which is why folks staying there in February (like us) have not received any calls from anyone associated with DVC about switching rooms. That, however, may be erroneous information.

On another note, I am now with eliza about the whole DVC and Disney experience for the future. In the past couple of years, Disney (as a single entity) has made too many decisions with which I vehemently disagree or with which I've been dissatisfied. From the cheap refurbishment at the Lodge (I know some like it, and while not awful, it's no longer as thematic or inviting as it once was), to the destruction of the Poly beach for bungalows which few owners can afford, to canning Maelstrom, to the planned build at the Lodge (I am not convinced serenity will return), to the continued bald-faced grab for money with all these dessert/meet-and-greet events, to the final straw announced yesterday: the Osborne Lights are going away this Christmas, reportedly not to be seen again. For me, that's the final straw. I understand progress is necessary, but Disney built its reputation on retaining history, appealing to the sentimentality in us all. Now, they're apparently on the fast track to creating bigger and better while eschewing what made them a worldwide icon. Bring on Universal. There, I said it.

 

[momtwoboys]

we have been going over April vacation for years now and it seems great to us! The days we hit a park we are always there before opening, hit the big rides, have lunch early then head back to resort. then we return late afternoon and have never had a problem with crowds. its been AWESOME!!! I just hate this not knowing where to stay and what to pick. The choices may be slimmer too at 7 months so this sucks

 

[momtwoboys]

hmm if the villa pool is supposed to be completed by Feb, should we stay put? that was the pool we were planning on spending lots of time at, NOT the main pool.

 

[sleepydog25]

hmm if the villa pool is supposed to be completed by Feb, should we stay put? that was the pool we were planning on spending lots of time at, NOT the main pool.

If they start on 26 October as detailed in numerous announcements, then they should be done by April, certainly. However, at that time I'm guessing they will be full bore on the rest of the build. Where exactly? Unknown. Despite my misgivings about how this project turns out, I likely would still stay at VWL. . .just for curiosity if nothing else.

 

[momtwoboys]

its so risky to keep the reservation and then have it be unbearably torn up everywhere. Listening to construction while by the pool is not sounding fun. Thanks for everyone advice though! Tuesday will be the deciding day!

 

[Dean Marino]

Does anybody have a guess on how long the pool will be closed?

Welllll - you said GUESS. And that's all I have. If they start in Jan 2015, just after the Holidays?... It will be finished by about Nov 2016 - just before the NEXT Holiday - late, behind the wild projections of success.... really, all one has to do is to look at the POLY for REAL, TRUE construction timelines. Disney will claim otherwise - I look at performance DATA.

 

[Dean Marino]

3 days left before we decide to either stay with WLV for April or jump ship! I am so on the fence on whether to keep our reservation or move. At this point I can't even make up my mind on what to pick for a backup. I love the looks of the Lodge and the feel and all the amenities it offers, but not willing to risk the money on a 7 night stay to have it all ripped up. Don't want to waste my weekend worrying, but that 7month mark on Tuesday will be a relief!

Again - just a personal opinion.... Sandy and I are BOOKED at the WL in April, 2016. And we are sticking. We don't WANT any stinking compensation. A less than perfect day at the WL is better than the BEST day someplace else... .

 

[momtwoboys]

for a family vacation that was to be a fun "new to us" place to stay this may not be how we want it to go though. I understand the need for improvements and such in these resorts, I just want to be able to decide if we want to stay in the midst of it and we were not aware of this when we booked in May. We would have picked something else. I understand for those who have stayed there many times and have a true love for it I can see staying put no matter what. If it was just me and DH I may think differently about moving.

 

[Corinne]

Good Morning Groupies from our beloved WL!!

We have a lovely courtyard view