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

[Dizny Dad]

Found this article . . . .

Yeah, if all had gone according to plan, Epcot's Soviet pavilion would have been a fitting finale for the Disney Decade. Given the thousands of people who have asked -- ever since EPCOT originally opened back in 1982 -- why World Showcase didn't have a Soviet pavilion ... For the Imagineers to finally deliver the goods here would have been one hell of an accomplishment.

 

[jimmytammy]

Good Friday Morning Groupies!
DDad and I are headed to Kelleys Island in Lake Erie for the week-end. It promises to be a beautiful week-end with just a little rain expected in the wee hours of the morning. What's everyone else up to?

Sounds like fun!
We are headed to Badin Lake, NC(near SC line, 50 miles southeast of Charlotte). My folks bought a cabin there in 1972 and we have been going ever since. Sadly, in the past few years, we haven't used it near as much as we did when I was a kid. But trying to make up for lost timeCasey and I will hit the jet ski and T will hang back and read and relax.

 

[jimmytammy]

Dad I have read about the Russian pavilion through the years though we were not going to WDW until late 90s. T tried her best to get us to go on our honeymoon in 90 but alas, money won over and we went to a less pricey place. I could now kick myself for not going back then, but, it is what it is. But we sure are making up for lost time!!

 

[sleepydog25]

Found this article . . . .

Yeah, if all had gone according to plan, Epcot's Soviet pavilion would have been a fitting finale for the Disney Decade. Given the thousands of people who have asked -- ever since EPCOT originally opened back in 1982 -- why World Showcase didn't have a Soviet pavilion ... For the Imagineers to finally deliver the goods here would have been one hell of an accomplishment.

Now, that would have been such a cool place! THIS is the type of expansion in Epcot that I would love to see, not that sister duo nor, if the rumors are to be believed, a re-imagined venue starring Groot, Drax, Ronan, and Star-Lord. I pleasantly submit that veering to the well-worn, profitable path of imaginary characters in Epcot will further contribute to the dumbing-down of America. Other than that, I have no opinion on the matter.

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . . . I pleasantly submit that veering to the well-worn, profitable path of imaginary characters in Epcot will further contribute to the dumbing-down of America. . . . . .

Einstein said that the sum of human intelligence is a constant, it is only the population that is getting bigger. . . . . . .

 

[Granny]

Good morning Groupies! I hope everyone is doing fine through the dog days of summer.

Wow; as usual I attended the morning groupie meet here on our thread, and was surprised to find us, again, way under the fold! Wow, this will never keep us ahead as the longest and most active thread on the DIS!

So does anybody remember way back in the early '90s when it was announced at EPCOT that "The Russians were coming"? There were plans to build a Russian World Showcase facility where the Trading Post is located, just left of Germany. Obviously that fell thru. Anybody remember?

DDad...sorry, I wasn't following WDW news that closely back in the 90's. I think that would be an interesting addition to World Showcase. I can imagine the Blini and Borscht stand out front now!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Disney Parks Blog is giving us a view of the Star Wars fireworks at DHS on Monday.

http://www.wesh.com/orlandomyway/or...eam-star-wars-a-galactic-spectacular/40707278

 

[jimmytammy]

Disney Parks Blog is giving us a view of the Star Wars fireworks at DHS on Monday.

http://www.wesh.com/orlandomyway/or...eam-star-wars-a-galactic-spectacular/40707278

Thanks for the heads up KAT!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Good Friday Morning Groupies!
DDad and I are headed to Kelleys Island in Lake Erie for the week-end. It promises to be a beautiful week-end with just a little rain expected in the wee hours of the morning. What's everyone else up to?

Enjoy your weekend. It took us nearly 23 years in Ohio to go and appreciate the Lake Erie islands.

 

[Corinne]

Hey, Di, I added you to the PAGE 1 list, and as you can see, there will be a few of us there at the same time next May. Perhaps a mini-meet is called for? And you were in VA to pack up your son? Which part?

We will be there at our usual time next May too, (waiting for 7 month window) looks like it could be shaping up to be another BHGM

But I have a question for all who have already booked. Do you all book at 11 months then switch over to the resort day by day as the 7 month window opens?

 

[Granny]

We will be there at our usual time next May too, (waiting for 7 month window) looks like it could be shaping up to be another BHGM

But I have a question for all who have already booked. Do you all book at 11 months then switch over to the resort day by day as the 7 month window opens?

We always book a home resort at 11 months, but when we switch at 7 months we just call on that first day and we don't walk reservations. Funny, day-by-day was the old system name when we had to call 7 months from the check-out date. Now you just call 7 months from the check-in date and book the whole thing.

Even though it shouldn't be hard to book somewhere at that time of year, we always want to have a reservation in hand in case availability at 7 months is an issue. We are always happy to stay at our home resorts so they work out great as a back-up plan if we can't get somewhere else. Good luck, and yes it looks like another BHGM shaping up!

 

[Corinne]

We always book a home resort at 11 months, but when we switch at 7 months we just call on that first day and we don't walk reservations. Funny, day-by-day was the old system name when we had to call 7 months from the check-out date. Now you just call 7 months from the check-in date and book the whole thing.

Even though it shouldn't be hard to book somewhere at that time of year, we always want to have a reservation in hand in case availability at 7 months is an issue. We are always happy to stay at our home resorts so they work out great as a back-up plan if we can't get somewhere else. Good luck, and yes it looks like another BHGM shaping up!

Hi Granny thanks for the response. The reason I asked was when I booked our September trip (at exactly 7 months!) for the first time in a long time, I was unable to get our first choice (BCV). She explained people are now booking a week ahead of their arrival date, then adding each day. I was like, uhm, ya, too much work, and it reminded me of the "old" days as you just referred to. Perhaps it was harder to secure because we are going a week later than we normally do and it is during Food and Wine duh that must be it!

 

[jimmytammy]

We will be there at our usual time next May too, (waiting for 7 month window) looks like it could be shaping up to be another BHGM

But I have a question for all who have already booked. Do you all book at 11 months then switch over to the resort day by day as the 7 month window opens?

We used to always do this back in the day when there wasn't as many available places to stay. But as time went on, we began to realize the larger DVC resorts tended to have availibilty more often at 7 mos.
We would still book at 11 mostly for more crowded times. As Granny says, perfectly happy if we get "stuck" at the Lodge in case 7 mos. doesn't pan out

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We will be there at our usual time next May too, (waiting for 7 month window) looks like it could be shaping up to be another BHGM

But I have a question for all who have already booked. Do you all book at 11 months then switch over to the resort day by day as the 7 month window opens?

If I plan on trying somewhere else then it depends on the time of year. May? I often just wait but keep on eye on availability and if I were to see indicators of things booking abnormally then I'd make a home resort reservation.

Food and Wine anything? Yeah, I'd almost certainly book a home resort. Just prior to something big? If I don't get it right at 7 months I keep watching for a week as the walkers walk their reservations. Then I book once they've moved on. Often though I'm just looking at availability and booking something that looks like it would be good that year as we have flexibility for when we travel. That or catching cancellations and deciding to go, so I think I'm not a normal owner that way as we book 11 months, 7 months and then whatever pops up. We also done have any resorts on our list that we either absolutely have to stay at or absolutely won't stay at. There's good things at all of them!

 

[sleepydog25]

We will be there at our usual time next May too, (waiting for 7 month window) looks like it could be shaping up to be another BHGM

But I have a question for all who have already booked. Do you all book at 11 months then switch over to the resort day by day as the 7 month window opens?

As with others, we book at 11 months then when we hit the 7-month point, we try to get the entire reservation switched and if not we waitlist. Walking a reservation is too much work since we're more than happy to "have" to stay at the Lodge if something doesn't pan out. So, shall we now call May the BHGM Part Deux?

 

[Granny]

So, shall we now call May the BHGM Part Deux?

I think the meet below was the original BHGM...not the first one but I think maybe the biggest one. December may eclipse this quantity.





Seems to me that one was in 2012 or 2013. Would have loved to have been there.

I did attend a Groupie Meet with about 10-12 Groupies once in the Iron Spike room. I can't seem to find a picture of that group, but it was great!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Happy Birthday deebits!!!

Hope you have a great day!

 

[Corinne]

As with others, we book at 11 months then when we hit the 7-month point, we try to get the entire reservation switched and if not we waitlist. Walking a reservation is too much work since we're more than happy to "have" to stay at the Lodge if something doesn't pan out. So, shall we now call May the BHGM Part Deux?

YES!!!!!! i haven't finalized dates yet...but we will be there!

 

[Corinne]

We added a night to our December stay, but rather than have to call CRO (I hate it!!!) to modify our existing reservation, I decided to book a night on points, so we are staying in a Poly Studio. I am going to check out other threads, but was wondering if anyone here has experienced it? I recall Jimmy & Tammy stayed there but not sure if it was a DVC stay? We've never stayed at any of the monorail resorts so I am really looking forward to it.

 

[jimmytammy]

We added a night to our December stay, but rather than have to call CRO (I hate it!!!) to modify our existing reservation, I decided to book a night on points, so we are staying in a Poly Studio. I am going to check out other threads, but was wondering if anyone here has experienced it? I recall Jimmy & Tammy stayed there but not sure if it was a DVC stay? We've never stayed at any of the monorail resorts so I am really looking forward to it.

We did stay at Poly but they were still in dvc bldg faze so we stated in the main area. We were in concierge which made it all the better! We really enjoyed our stay there.