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

[jimmytammy]

Happy Birthday princesskat!!!!
Hope you have a great one Kati!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Granny, so cool that Flag Family awaits you! Soak it all in, take your camera, and enjoy

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . . . . Di...I've passed along your "hello", and Cindy says hi to you and DDad as well! And your post agrees completely with DDad's...glad you got your stories straight before posting. . . . . . . . .

So when I arrived home after work, DiznyDi asked if I have visited the Boards since my post earlier that day; "no, why?" She pointed out that she had posted 8 minutes after mine and they pretty much said the same thing. We both laughed, as many times my stories don't always jive with her memories, and vice versa. No planning this time, but keep us on track; sometimes it may seem like we were on separate vacations . . . or maybe I like to lie . . . . . you can be the judge.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . DizDad/Di: We bring water (since we almost always fly) . . . . . . .

Not sure here; you fly with water? Wow.

 

[Granny]

Happy Birthday Kati !!!

 

[Granny]

So I took a walk along the nature trail today towards FW. I was happy to find that the nature trail was open all the way. I did veer off when I got to the sign indicating Cast Members only. Fortunate that I did because I walked up to the paved path and as I started walking down that path I came across a couple of deer.




There is no zoom on this shot...I was literally about 6 feet away from him and his partner.



Water levels are very high...Bay Lake came to about two feet from the nature trail...I don't remember seeing it that high in the past. And the pond in front of VWL (bus side) seemed to be significantly higher than we had seen in the past.

I can't say if it was the case before, but it seems that they have cleared out almost all the trees between the geyser and the main boat dock. I'll get a picture of that, but I don't see that having anything to do with construction. Honestly, I can't remember what the new bungalow layout looks like but I didn't think there was anything going there.

Overall, the Lodge and VWL are as beautiful and tranquil as ever. I'm trying to soak in all the details, especially those areas that seem destined to change. Nobody here is admitting anything (CMs that is) and pretend no knowledge of anything beyond the quiet pool construction. I'll keep digging.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

[jimmytammy]

Happy Weekend folks!!
Granny, so glad yall are having a great time and happy the tranquility is still intact. That is my one major fear, that will be lost, and I have hope in the end it wont.
Dad, you and Di are a hoot! Yall just keep on being you, its what we love about you bothFlying on water

 

[Corinne]

Oh my gosh Granny great photos. On one bus drive back we saw about 8 deer. I feel bad for them, more and more of their habitat is being taken away.

I got the same "lack of information" from CM's as well. Lol.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Happy Birthday Kati!!!

 

[Granny]

So here's what I was referring to about the tree clearing. This is shot from near the geyser looking at the boat dock.




It hasn't always been cleared out like that, has it?

 

[sleepydog25]

So here's what I was referring to about the tree clearing. This is shot from near the geyser looking at the boat dock.

View attachment 124660


It hasn't always been cleared out like that, has it?

No. No, you couldn't. Before, you couldn't see the dock from the geyser at all. Didn't think they were putting cabins in there, either. Likely clearing just to make it a more attractive walkway. Frankly, that clearing doesn't bother me much as it's not a place we can walk, anyway. Imagine those cabins with boat horns early in the morning.

 

[Granny]

Patrick...thanks for confirming that I'm not going nuts. I seemed to remember the boarded walkway all the way from the pool to the dock was pretty much trees with Spanish moss hanging from them. Now there are still some of those trees but once you get to the path that intersects coming from the geyser, it is all pretty much cleared out. It doesn't really bother me either...I just hope they weren't practicing tree demolition before the next phase!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Now I need to see if I have any picture showing that area! I didn't really notice any difference in early September but perhaps I was just completely unobservant. Or Mickey can sometimes be a tricky mouse and maybe he snuck it in between then and now?

 

[Kathymford]

... I actually kind of like being able to see the boat dock ... but that's one of my favorite things about our home is taking those boats.

 

[Granny]

One last picture about the clearing by the dock...





This is walking up the path from the geyser to closer to the dock. It is not easy to see in this picture, but there were definitely some stumps there that appeared to be newly cut...less than 4 months I'd say. You can see that some of the area is wet marshland and it is not offensive at all. Just wondering why they went to the expense of clearing it out?


We are getting ready to head to Trails End for a late breakfast. The weather has been much better the past couple of days...still overcast but not much rain.

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks for the pics Granny, enjoying! Have a great meal at Trails End, we love breakfast there. If you havent tried yet, another really good buffet breakfast is The Wave. Yall keep on having fun and thanks for letting us live vicariously through you folks

 

[sleepydog25]

One last picture about the clearing by the dock...

View attachment 124746



This is walking up the path from the geyser to closer to the dock. It is not easy to see in this picture, but there were definitely some stumps there that appeared to be newly cut...less than 4 months I'd say. You can see that some of the area is wet marshland and it is not offensive at all. Just wondering why they went to the expense of clearing it out?


We are getting ready to head to Trails End for a late breakfast. The weather has been much better the past couple of days...still overcast but not much rain.

Wow. That was definitely not the look when we were there in July.

 

[twinklebug]

Love the pics Special Agent Grannie! Did you recruit the couple of locals you met to keep an eye on the changes and report back? (I wonder if they make go-pro cams for deer)

That area near the docs looks to have about 2/3 or more of its vegetation removed. I don't care for this change as I loved having the reveal of the boat dock as we turned that corner, not being able to see all the way down to it. Perhaps the clearing was for safety reasons, you never did know who was hanging out around the bend and it did make me nervous to have my kids run ahead to the dock when they were younger. I'm inclined to think this was done simply to match what they're about to do on the villas side.

More than likely, what we see in your pic there is similar to the way the woods between VWL and the cabins will look when it's completed. Don't think there will be a need for raised wooden walkways though (but it could be a nice touch.)

A couple pics of that area, but from the doc side, back in July:

I'm looking back at a large version of my photo and noticed the geyser was overgrown. Clearing back was a good thing for that.

-----------------------------------
one more note, sorry I'm a bit late ...


Happy Birthday Kati!


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[eliza61]

Thanks for the pics guys. brightened up my day. I'm in the middle of "pope-appolaz" here in Philly.

 

[Dean Marino]

We see those photos.... and believe it or not? We're encouraged .

We don't see a war zone . We DO see change. The change will take quite a while.... but I don't think anyone is out to firebomb the Lodge .

 

[Granny]

We see those photos.... and believe it or not? We're encouraged .

We don't see a war zone . We DO see change. The change will take quite a while.... but I don't think anyone is out to firebomb the Lodge .

Dean...I agree that this is not a big deal. The question really is what will the Villas view be when the smoke clears? Will it be the bungalows and this "Sherman through Georgia" look, or will it be a decent number of trees and a nice walking path to the bungalows? I'm not agonizing about this, I am just curious as to what they will do.