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

[sleepydog25]

Happy Birthday WDWRR_ENGINEER!!!!

I second (or is it fourth?) this salutation!! Hope you have had/are having a great day!

 

[twokats]

Happy Birthday WDWRR_ENGINEER

 

[eliza61]

Happy Birthday WDWR_ ENGINEER!!​

Hope your day was magical.​

 

[eliza61]

TUESDAY MORNING TRIVIA.
​

1971:
An amazing 69,458 guests visit Disney World on this day!

1974:
Attendance at Walt Disney World in Florida hits a record 74,597...
forcing the Magic Kingdom to close to outside visitors for 4 hours.

lol, wonder what they would think of the size of crowds nowadays.

I thought this next one was so cool.

It is widely believed that John Lennon signs the paperwork that officially dissolves The Beatles
while staying at Disney World's Polynesian Village Resort. He, along with his son Julian and family friends are spending Christmas Holiday in south Florida.

The event was remember by cast members

"I met John Lennon at Disney World while working as a monorail operator. He, Julian and May Pang
rode in the front of the monorail on two different occasions with me. I allowed him and Julian to operate the train. The second day John
came out to the station and actually ask if I was working. He and Julian waited until I arrived in the train and again rode with me and
drove the train. May Pang took a lot of pictures that day. As they left the train that day John ask if I would like to take some pictures and
waited while I retrieved a camera. I have a great 8×10 of John Lennon and I together." -Cast Member Hal East

 

[npcougar]

Got back from a wonderful trip at VWL. I wanted to give you a heads up to a not so magical experience. We made a couple of trips to Disney Springs to eat lunch. On our way back, the buses were standing room only. Since we share a bus with the contemporary, lots of people were taking advantage of the parking at Disney Springs to avoid paying the $22 parking fee at the Magic Kingdom. I know this has gone on in the past but I've never seen it like this before. Based on their conversations, well over half of the people on the bus were doing this. If I had to guess, 80% were going to the Magic Kingdom. We were the only people to get off at the lodge one time. The rest of the full bus went on to the contemporary. Not a big deal but certainly an issue for people who don't like crowds or standing on buses. Just wanted people to be aware.

 

[Kathymford]

Hi groupies! Going back home for marathon weekend in 6 days! So excited! We haven't been to the lodge sine Dec '13, so I can't wait to see her. Even in its alterered state.

I've never taken or walked any of the trails at the lodge, foolish, I know. I understand that at least one of them is closed due to construction, but is there still something open to have a nice jog to FW? Need to keep our training up!! I know this has been asked and answered, but it's getting close for us now!!

 

[rkstocke5609]

Got back from a wonderful trip at VWL. I wanted to give you a heads up to a not so magical experience. We made a couple of trips to Disney Springs to eat lunch. On our way back, the buses were standing room only. Since we share a bus with the contemporary, lots of people were taking advantage of the parking at Disney Springs to avoid paying the $22 parking fee at the Magic Kingdom. I know this has gone on in the past but I've never seen it like this before. Based on their conversations, well over half of the people on the bus were doing this. If I had to guess, 80% were going to the Magic Kingdom. We were the only people to get off at the lodge one time. The rest of the full bus went on to the contemporary. Not a big deal but certainly an issue for people who don't like crowds or standing on buses. Just wanted people to be aware.

I wonder if we can get to the point of having to show or scan a magic band to get on a bus, at least from Disney Springs where I can see a bunch of people filling the parking ramp and hopping a bus all just to save $20. Reminds me of people that don't ever tip the pizza delivery guy.....

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Packing tonight for a very early flight tomorrow! Heading to VGC for New Years at DL and a trip to watch the Rose Parade.

Hi groupies! Going back home for marathon weekend in 6 days! So excited! We haven't been to the lodge sine Dec '13, so I can't wait to see her. Even in its alterered state.

I've never taken or walked any of the trails at the lodge, foolish, I know. I understand that at least one of them is closed due to construction, but is there still something open to have a nice jog to FW? Need to keep our training up!! I know this has been asked and answered, but it's getting close for us now!!

The paved path to FW should still be open. The dirt path along Bay Lake is the one that is closed off although partway to FW you were directed to the paved path.

 

[jimmytammy]

TUESDAY MORNING TRIVIA.
​

1971:
An amazing 69,458 guests visit Disney World on this day!

1974:
Attendance at Walt Disney World in Florida hits a record 74,597...
forcing the Magic Kingdom to close to outside visitors for 4 hours.

lol, wonder what they would think of the size of crowds nowadays.

I thought this next one was so cool.

It is widely believed that John Lennon signs the paperwork that officially dissolves The Beatles
while staying at Disney World's Polynesian Village Resort. He, along with his son Julian and family friends are spending Christmas Holiday in south Florida.

The event was remember by cast members

"I met John Lennon at Disney World while working as a monorail operator. He, Julian and May Pang
rode in the front of the monorail on two different occasions with me. I allowed him and Julian to operate the train. The second day John
came out to the station and actually ask if I was working. He and Julian waited until I arrived in the train and again rode with me and
drove the train. May Pang took a lot of pictures that day. As they left the train that day John ask if I would like to take some pictures and
waited while I retrieved a camera. I have a great 8×10 of John Lennon and I together." -Cast Member Hal East

I have heard this before about him dissolving the Beatles, and I think the story has some merit in reading about it over the years.
Very cool that Mr. East met him and still has a picture with him.

In a somewhat related story, President Richard Nixon, during the Watergate scandal spoke these words in the Convention Center at The Contemporary during a press conference, "let me repeat myself, I am not a crook." I asked a young CM there at the desk once about it, he had never heard this so he asked a bit older CM who confirmed it. Lots of cool stories surround all of WDW

 

[jimmytammy]

I wonder if we can get to the point of having to show or scan a magic band to get on a bus, at least from Disney Springs where I can see a bunch of people filling the parking ramp and hopping a bus all just to save $20. Reminds me of people that don't ever tip the pizza delivery guy.....

I like this idea

 

[Kathymford]

Packing tonight for a very early flight tomorrow! Heading to VGC for New Years at DL and a trip to watch the Rose Parade.



The paved path to FW should still be open. The dirt path along Bay Lake is the one that is closed off although partway to FW you were directed to the paved path.

Thanks Kat! And your trip sounds great! I live here and I've never done the Rose Parade thing. Very fun!

 

[jimmytammy]

Packing tonight for a very early flight tomorrow! Heading to VGC for New Years at DL and a trip to watch the Rose Parade.
Have a great time!!

We are in planning mode with the 11 mos mark approaching for Dec. Our DD and her DH(who is hopefully OTW home in mid spring from deploy)are going with us and it will be his 1st trip to WDW. Excited I am!! ALso, Fantasy cruise is round the corner early Mar with a 2 night layover at OKW in a 2 bed. Just glad to be anywhere near the World

 

[wildernessDad]

This is unofficial, so don't post it yet, but it looks like we'll be making reservations for this December for Dec 11 - Dec 18 with Dec 14 - Dec 18 at VWL and Dec 11 - Dec 14 at AKV, either concierge at Jambo, if we can get it, or Kidani.

This is subject to change as the little woman is objecting a bit. But it will be close to those dates.

 

[wildernessDad]

I think refurbishments follow me around. You might want to find out where I'm staying and avoid that place. We stayed at VWL in December, 2015 and we'll be at AKV Jambo Club in May. However, our studio will be under refurbishment at that time, so they're moving us to a Savannah view studio, giving us club level access and refunding 21 points back into our account.

 

[Granny]

And to all Groupies everywhere....
​

 

[circhead]

Happy New Year all.

This trip has been a work in process the whole time. Can't believe we were able to pull it together.

Staying off property tonight at poly starting tomorrow. Dinner reservations for 9:40 tonight that I was able to get on Monday. Changed my plans completely. Was supposed to spend the 1st 2 days at Sea World - had dinner reservations at the underwater grill for tonight that they changed to a New Year's Eve dinner party for only 200 per person on Dec 13th - told them if I wanted to pay a thousand dollars for New Year's Eve dinner I would do it at the Waldorf Astoria not Sea World.

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas or whichever holiday you celebrate. I wish you all a happy, healthy and blessed 2016.

 

[Corinne]

Happy New Year Groupies. Wishing you all a blessed and peaceful 2016.

 

[twinklebug]

 

[jimmytammy]

Happy Birthday Eliza61!!!!

 

[jimmytammy]

so they're moving us to a Savannah view studio, giving us club level access and refunding 21 points back into our account.

Nice!! I would love access to Club Level at AKL