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

[Dean Marino]

I'm sure most of the groupies have seen, but I thought I would post it anyway. DVC has finally officially announced (acknowledged?) the cabin expansion at WL.

http://dvcnews.com/index.php/resort...3091-wilderness-lodge-cabins-villas-confirmed

My favorite posting this week. All? "Sounds like" is not in the equation. WDW has announced a SEPARATE ENTITY, publicly. They NAMED it, and NUMBERED it.

What this means for us: not one PENNY of our dues, or upkeep budget, should be directed toward this SEPARATE PROJECT.
If the Quiet pool is modified as a part of this separate project? Not one penny of our upkeep/maintenance costs should be mis-directed toward it.
When completed? THREE separate entities should pay into the Quiet pool maintenance - Main Lodge, Villa's #1, Villas #2. Same should hold true for any documented facilities assigned to the original "Villa's at WL" contract.

I guess I am relieved. Purely personal - but Sandy and I won't likely live beyond our REAL contract end date. We didn't need any of this.
VERY pleased by the public announcement.... being public? It really will be hard to get around it.

 

[Granny]

Dean...you make some good points, but the key word in your comments is "should". We know what Disney should do. But honestly, I don't think there is any real oversight to see how three Disney owned entities will split up common costs. I guess the only thing we can do is monitor our dues to make sure they don't take a big jump.

And now that it's public, those DVC kiosk CM's are fair game for Agent Granny!

 

[Kathymford]

Go get 'em Granny!

 

[sleepydog25]

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. . .

Yeah, leave that to me, why don't ya?

 

[jimmytammy]

Seeing the news this am gives me a little relief that hope is we(current owners)wont be subjected to paying dues on the pricier properties that we dont want to be placed there to begin with. I agree with Granny, we shall remain vigilant in viewing our dues.

Granny, you are now our official "go get em guy", you have our permission to do so. I know you well enough, you will be tactful, handle with integrity and grace, but as you go "into the ring"... go with the wrath of ALL GROUPIES through the years

Now, lets get ready to rumble!!

 

[DiznyDi]

...

Granny, you are now our official "go get em guy", you have our permission to do so. I know you well enough, you will be tactful, handle with integrity and grace, but as you go "into the ring"... go with the wrath of ALL GROUPIES through the years

Now, lets get ready to rumble!!

G-O-O-O-O-O GRANNY

 

[LCoulter]

We currently have one night booked at AKV to go to the Halloween Party but VWL now has an opening. How is the boat ride to MK? Are there long lines for the boat? How long is the ride? I assume there isn't a bus to MK?

What is the construction going on in October?

Thanks.

 

[Dizny Dad]

OK, back from Calvert Alabama . . . with a slide thru Mobile, Pensacola, and Charlotte. Arrived in my office, turned on the computer, and immediately opened this thread; haven't checked it since last Friday since DiznyDi and I did the Kellys Island thing for the weekend and then off to Alabama hunting bear. We were successful in our final negotiations, and did bring back to the village a bear for all to skin, prep, and make a living from. Lost a few arrows while there, and got tricked by that ol' bear a few times, but finally was able to conquer the beast and get back home. and wow, what did I find!?! Granny mining for history! Cool! Thanks for the work! and of course, I want to join in on the GO Get'em Granny theme . . . . . . . . Grannny, Grannny, Grannny, Grannny . . . . .

BTW, for those wondering, Kellys Island is in Lake Erie. I am always amazed that no matter where an island is located, it always has a slow pace, an party feel, and no one ever seems to want to leave (until winter comes in this case). Our dear friends with whom we have raised our families have a summer home on the island and open it to us as we feel the need. Island living is good.

 

[Granny]

Granny, you are now our official "go get em guy", you have our permission to do so. I know you well enough, you will be tactful, handle with integrity and grace, but as you go "into the ring"... go with the wrath of ALL GROUPIES through the years

Now, lets get ready to rumble!!

G-O-O-O-O-O GRANNY

Thanks for the work! and of course, I want to join in on the GO Get'em Granny theme . . . . . . . . Grannny, Grannny, Grannny, Grannny . . . . .

Agent Granny here, with no decent intell at this time. As I already assumed, the DVC Kiosk CM's are completely out of the loop. I talked to three of them today and only one acknowledged that he was aware of the announcement. The other two seemed genuinely surprised. The guy who was aware still claimed to have no details of the plans. And I believe them all...after all their job is to wrangle potential customers for the current DVC offerings. And a quick talk to one of the guys working on the current outside refurbishing was not fruitful...he actually was aware that there was some construction coming but he said his company didn't win the job.

We have enjoyed soaking in the atmosphere and current feel of VWL. We are in day 8 of our 14 night stay, and my daughters fly in tomorrow to join us. So our peaceful, relaxing pace will be interrupted by a couple of youths in their 20's.

In the mean time, we are truly enjoying the setting, the music, the boat horns, the EWP coming through every night and the serenity of the surroundings. It still has that AAAAHHHHHH feel.

 

[ottawagreg]

We currently have one night booked at AKV to go to the Halloween Party but VWL now has an opening. How is the boat ride to MK? Are there long lines for the boat? How long is the ride? I assume there isn't a bus to MK?

What is the construction going on in October?

Thanks.

The boat ride to the castle fantabulous, you will love it. Lines are not long at all. Sometimes at peak hours the boats are full. But even if you do not make it onto the smaller boat another is coming very soon. The ride is no more than fifteen minutes and affords many wonderful views that you cannot get anywhere else but on the water in seven seas lagoon. Plus the approach to the magic kingdom is great and it lets you out directly in front of the train station. There are buses coming and going between the lodge at all hours of the day, with no other stops between the two. They are pretty quick service as well. Our family prefers the boat though. It is a very nice ride, especially returning "home" after an evening at the park. Enjoy.

 

[ottawagreg]

Okay boys and girls...I was doing a search for something on the DISBoards and came up with a link to the ORIGINAL VWL Groupie thread. I thought I had searched for it in the past but had no luck.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/the-vwl-groupies-trivia-thread.1283264/

It was started on November 22, 2006 by diznyfanatic. Yes, almost 9 years ago! And the funny thing is that diznyfanatic really never stuck around very long and is still on the DIS Boards but less than 1,000 total posts. Come on back DizFan...we'd love to thank you for starting this group on its way.

It is also interesting to note that the first person to respond to the initiation of the thread was our own Muushka...we miss you Barb!

Fun to read through some of those pages. And to see some of the names who have come in and out throughout the years like DVC Mike and magicalmcwho. And Maistre Gracey who was as eloquent defender of WL/VWL as any I've seen.

You guys are always so supportive and friendly, in good times and bad. Thanks to all the Groupies out there!

I'm just now closing in on three years on the DIS and only 160 some posts. Granny has fifteen years and almost 12K posts. Now I feel bad if I've been shooting my mouth off, and that looks pretty lame with you heavy hitters.

When I got going in the DVC thing, I was on the other board. I still go there and lurk once in awhile, but rarely post anything. I found my way over here. I noticed VWL Groupie and Lovers name and started camping out here. Don't stray to far away as everyone really is very pleasant to talk to. I've learned quite a lot from everyone the short time I have been here.

 

[Granny]

We currently have one night booked at AKV to go to the Halloween Party but VWL now has an opening. How is the boat ride to MK? Are there long lines for the boat? How long is the ride? I assume there isn't a bus to MK?

What is the construction going on in October?

Thanks.

ottawagreg gave you some great answers. I'll add my two cents. Boat ride to MK is fine, usually no more than a 20 minute wait for the boat. The ride itself is probably about 15 minutes? Lines can be long if you are coming back to WL right after Wishes, for instance. Otherwise no big deal.

There is a bus to MK and probably is the fastest way to get there from WL. We've never taken it since we love the boat ride, but the bus is very fast since I don't believe it is shared with any other resort.

The construction starting in October? A major renovation/expansion to the WL/VWL complex. In October they will be tearing up the quiet pool at the Villas and possibly other construction...they are steering people away from booking at VWL in October and if you don't care for construction noise you may want to do the same. It will be a two year expansion so it will be a long time before we see the finished product.

Good luck with your decision, but I think I'd stick with the AKV reservation. Just give yourself plenty of time to get to MK from there.

 

[Granny]

I'm just now closing in on three years on the DIS and only 160 some posts. Granny has fifteen years and almost 12K posts. Now I feel bad if I've been shooting my mouth off, and that looks pretty lame with you heavy hitters.

When I got going in the DVC thing, I was on the other board. I still go there and lurk once in awhile, but rarely post anything. I found my way over here. I noticed VWL Groupie and Lovers name and started camping out here. Don't stray to far away as everyone really is very pleasant to talk to. I've learned quite a lot from everyone the short time I have been here.

One of the many things I love about this thread is that it is truly open to all, newcomber or grizzled veteran. I have to admit, I've not spent much time at any other discussion boards. And my posts are somewhat high since I used to hang out on several threads on the boards. Now I relegate myself almost exclusively to the DVC Resorts board.

I haven't noticed you shooting your mouth off ... I think we like opinions of all sorts as long as we avoid any personal attacks which frankly I don't recall at all on this thread in the past 8 years. Considering it is such a small resort, it is amazing that this thread has more versions and posts than any other resort lovers thread. We are small in number but mighty in passion!!

We're glad you joined in, and others who come and go, and often come back again. I think it's not surprising how well we get along since we all love the peaceful haven that is Wilderness Lodge.

 

[sleepydog25]

One of the many things I love about this thread is that it is truly open to all, newcomber or grizzled veteran. I have to admit, I've not spent much time at any other discussion boards. And my posts are somewhat high since I used to hang out on several threads on the boards. Now I relegate myself almost exclusively to the DVC Resorts board.

I haven't noticed you shooting your mouth off ... I think we like opinions of all sorts as long as we avoid any personal attacks which frankly I don't recall at all on this thread in the past 8 years. Considering it is such a small resort, it is amazing that this thread has more versions and posts than any other resort lovers thread. We are small in number but mighty in passion!!

We're glad you joined in, and others who come and go, and often come back again. I think it's not surprising how well we get along since we all love the peaceful haven that is Wilderness Lodge.

I couldn't have said it better, Granny. I got my start on another thread on the DIS years ago (it's how I was first acquainted with luv)--said thread is now extinct. While a good group, there was an underlying level of drama there among several which hasn't been present here at all. Of all the places I've posted, this thread has been and remains the most welcoming, encouraging, supportive, yet still passionate group of folks I've run across. Our unofficial motto is "the friendliest group on the DIS." Self-appreciation? Yep. But, when it's true, you run with it.

 

[jimmytammy]

Granny and Sleepy, you guys have explained our group the best way possible!

I too find myself, only hanging out here. I do navigate to the Restaurant Forum every so often, only to offer advice where needed(I feel like some eats in WDW get a bad rap, so I like to interject my thoughts)esp. when folks like critiques on their ADRs and such.

But the groupies have been my safe haven for a long time. I have been a part of it from the 1st, sliding in shortly after Muushka, magicalmcwho, Granny, Eliza and Mia. I was welcomed with open arms and quickly felt like family. And this group has been a huge part of my life since. FB is fun but I tend to avoid posting much, lurk and like more, but before my day starts most days, I come to catch up with trips, family matters, health concerns, whatever is the case going on in the groupies. What other place can we truly do that these days without being blasted. We all have differing opinions, but we respectfully accept them, share our own and move on. And we can share safely.

In other words...you folks are the best!!

 

[Dizny Dad]

One of the many things I love about this thread is that it is truly open to all, newcomber or grizzled veteran. . . . . . . .

OK, OK . . . . grizzled veterans . . . . . . . grizzled veterans . . . . . . hummmmmmmm . . . . . grizzled?!?!?!?!?!?! OK, all those GRIZZLED VETERANS out there, raise your hands.

Granny, you might have som' 'splainin' to do . . .

 

[eliza61]

OK, OK . . . . grizzled veterans . . . . . . . grizzled veterans . . . . . . hummmmmmmm . . . . . grizzled?!?!?!?!?!?! OK, all those GRIZZLED VETERANS out there, raise your hands.

Granny, you might have som' 'splainin' to do . . .

Me, me, me.

lol

 

[eliza61]

On Thursday morning Trivia

September Anniversaries

​

Happy Birthday Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad took it's first wild ride in Disneyland on September 2 1979. A little over a year later on September 23rd 1980 it opened at WDW in Orlando, Florida. It's also a featured ride in Tokyo Disneyland (opening July 4, 1987) and lastly on April 12, 1992 it opened in Disneyland Paris.

Happy Birthday to Morocco

On September 9th 1984 Epcot's Morocco opens. It is the first new pavilion to be added to World Showcase.


Happy Birthday Jim Henson

The Muppets are back on TV , their creator and the original voice of Kermit the frog (aka, Husband #2, lol) was born James Maury Henson. He was in the process of selling his company to Disney in May of 1990 when he unexpectedly passed away. He was named a Disney legend in 2011

 

[Granny]

OK, OK . . . . grizzled veterans . . . . . . . grizzled veterans . . . . . . hummmmmmmm . . . . . grizzled?!?!?!?!?!?! OK, all those GRIZZLED VETERANS out there, raise your hands.

Granny, you might have som' 'splainin' to do . . .

Well, it is just an expression you know. None of the lovely ladies of the Groupies could ever be described as grizzled! But as for you DDad...yep, I'm afraid you're in my camp of grizzliness. Keep in mind, the grizzly is a bear which is one of the key symbols of The Lodge.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Well, it is just an expression you know. None of the lovely ladies of the Groupies could ever be described as grizzled! But as for you DDad...yep, I'm afraid you're in my camp of grizzliness. Keep in mind, the grizzly is a bear which is one of the key symbols of The Lodge.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr . . . . .