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

[yaksack]

We liked the Ellen ride. RIP

 

[sarahk0204]

Are you headed to VWL this Christmas season?



I am the overall coordinator for the 14th Annual Christmas Tree Exchange at the DVC resorts. At each resort, someone donates a Christmas tree for the room, and someone organizes the exchange so that several families can share the tree.

The link to the tree exchange page with more info can be found here:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/14th-annual-dvc-christmas-tree-exchange.3525901/

We are always looking for more people to share in the fun.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Boarding for Dallas in a few then off to Aulani! Will try to post some pics once settled in. I am a bit more savvy with the new IPhone with pictures and such so will do my best to share

Have a great trip Jimmy, Tammy and Casey!

 

[sleepydog25]

JT, by the time you read this, you may very well be in the far off "Land" of Hawai'i. Have a great trip! I visited once years ago on TDY status (military types will know what that means ), and it was a welcome relief from the February chill in Alaska.

Kathy, personally I don't see anything wrong with Jasmine's old top nor the hip-hugging bottom. Luv knows this about me. Truly, my biggest gripe (aside from this personal one) is that it seems cheaply-made. Perhaps I'll change my mind in person. . .

And a warm welcome to our possibly new Groupies, DisneyDad61, yaksack, sarahk0204, and Starwind (again). If you posted before without me noticing (I am feeble of mind on occasion), then consider this a welcome back; if this is, indeed, your first time posting here, all of us hope you'll pull up a rocker and join in our merry band. If you'd rather just lurk a little, that's fine, too. We love new Groupies, and we think you'll find us to the friendliest group on the DIS--no drama, stress-free, and more like family than friends in many instances. If you'd like to let us know of your trip plans (we keep them on Page 1), please drop me a PM. Same goes with birthdays/anniversaries except let KAT4DISNEY know. Or you can just opt to drop in from time to time. Either way, welcome aboard!

 

[Granny]

yaksack, Starwind and DisneyDad61...welcome and thanks for dropping in! Feel free to stick around or just come back and visit any time you like!

sarahk0204...welcome to you as well, and thank you for your undertaking with the tree sharing for this year. We appreciate your efforts!

 

[Granny]

I totally get that some may feel that Jasmine's previous top was a bit revealing. It was basically a bikini top after all.

I suppose this is true, but more like a 1960's Annette Funicello top than the miniscule ones of today! It just didn't seem very immodest in today's world, especially when you look around at what some of the WDW guests are wearing!

Apparently there were complaints.

I could see some complaints from inhabitants/descendants of that region, especially on religious grounds. But general population complaints? Geez, I guess they're going to tell Disney that they want the Aladdin movie updated with the new Jasmine outfit and re-released?

But talking about going overboard on the re-design. There are plenty of levels between bikini top and long sleeves. And in FL heat? Odd, odd choice ...

I agree with this. Like I said before, I think they are going for the faux-Elsa look!

 

[Granny]

Okay, here's another video from youtube ostensibly taken on 9/3/16...though it shows our Mickey topiary back in place? In any event, it gives some new views of the construction.

And for those who just want a couple of quick views, these were from this video.

First the pool...




And then the cabins...




This picture of the cabins shows the considerable overhand in the back which suggests a nice back porch area. Also, looking at the cabins it just doesn't look like they are big enough to be 3BR unless they do a THV type of third room.

Anyway, we all need our construction fixes, so hopefully these will add to the ones we've already recently seen.

 

[yaksack]

I just found this thread, but have always loved the WL. Our next trip begins 2/4/17. I cannot wait.
We are hoping for small crowds, short lines and mild weather. We usally go in August, but the heat and crowds were killer last year (2015). I am getting cranky in my old age.

 

[Dean Marino]

The other danger of gas fireplaces is they get hot. If you thought the exterior of the door of an oven was hot, it has NOTHING on the sealed glass front of the natural gas fireplace we have in our home. We are fortunate we don't have kids, but if we did that would be a serious concern. Even when just the pilot is on it gets pretty hot to the touch. The mantle around the thing also gets hot (thought not burn-hot) when the fireplace is actively on.

Between something that could leak or go kaboom to the burn danger, I am thinking if they do put a fireplace in it will be some electric thing that perhaps won't even generate much or any heat but be more for the look and feel. Besides, most of the year there wouldn't be a functional use for something with heat.

Whatever they do, we are hoping they are finished by our December 2017 trip. We haven't decided if we will be in the hotel or the villas yet, but I was thinking if the presumed-villas in the current hotel are finished and available we would like to try one of those WL is our favourite resort and we stay there every trip we take to WDW (sometimes in a split stay so we can try another resort).

Sleepydog25: thanks for the welcome

SW

Very true. So I must point out....we don't HAVE these in the classic VWL As time goes by, my wife and I are reminded (constantly), that we "homed" in the right place. And gotta ask.... FLORIDA? GAS FIREPLACE? Seriously - what were you thinking? .

 

[Starwind]

Very true. So I must point out....we don't HAVE these in the classic VWL As time goes by, my wife and I are reminded (constantly), that we "homed" in the right place. And gotta ask.... FLORIDA? GAS FIREPLACE? Seriously - what were you thinking? .

Oh I have seen crazy things: gas fireplaces in Texas. Actually, wood fireplaces too.

 

[Starwind]

Thanks for all the welcomes. I have lurked here for a very long time... just didn't have anything to say 'til now.

And yep, you guys are definitely much nicer and friendlier and no drama

SW

 

[DisneyDad61]

Yes..and I as well am a lurker for years now. Mostly read but respond every now and then. Since I am a VWL DVC member, I do lurk here alot...
Anyways you all are great and glad to get an official intro to you fine folks.

I will do my best to brave more thoughtful interaction with you guys from now on.

 

[twokats]

Starwind and DisneyDad61, glad you and the others have come out of lurkdom and joined us. Hope all the groupies have a good weekend.
Jimmie, hope you arrived safely and enjoy your trip.

 

[Corinne]

Cannot wait to live vicariously through you Jimmy & Tammy! Have a great trip!!!!!

 

[Dizny Dad]

WELCOME DisneyDad61 & Starwind !

 

[Granny]

I just found this thread, but have always loved the WL. Our next trip begins 2/4/17. I cannot wait.
We are hoping for small crowds, short lines and mild weather. We usally go in August, but the heat and crowds were killer last year (2015). I am getting cranky in my old age.

I think you will find that time to be about as low of crowds as any time at WDW. It may be a bit cool but that's not a problem after you've dealt with the summer heat! I'm not aware of any events that would make WDW crowded at that time. There may be some attractions down since they like to refurb things during the slower months. And the park hours are less...some parks close pretty early at that time of the year and we found ourselves at the villas at a relatively early part of the evening figuring out what we wanted to do. But I'm sure you'll have a great time. Glad you found the thread, and feel free to drop in any time!

Thanks for all the welcomes. I have lurked here for a very long time... just didn't have anything to say 'til now.

And yep, you guys are definitely much nicer and friendlier and no drama

SW

I guess I don't think that many people lurk on the DIS Boards but of course it makes total sense. As you have seen, we try to focus on WL and VWL (and now CCV ) but we do stray a bit and the moderators have given us a pretty free hand as long as we come back to the topic of the thread at some point. Thanks for popping in.

Yes..and I as well am a lurker for years now. Mostly read but respond every now and then. Since I am a VWL DVC member, I do lurk here alot...
Anyways you all are great and glad to get an official intro to you fine folks.

I will do my best to brave more thoughtful interaction with you guys from now on.

Glad you joined in! And I'm not sure all of our interaction is all that thoughtful!

And if you really get brave, you can give Sleepy your vacation dates and he'll post it on the first page. Many of us have gotten together at WDW over the years and it's always been great to meet people. Thanks for "uncloaking" (Star Trek reference).

 

[jimmytammy]

A great big welcome to all the new groupies live from Aulani!!!! In other words, Aloha!!!!

 

[jimmytammy]

View from our room
Good ol Mickey lighting the way

Tired but we made it, and let me say, from what we have seen just of Aulani, it was worth it!
Just after sunrise this AM.
Crazy thing this AM, T set her alarm on IPad for 9am, only problem, I Pad still on Eastern time, so at 3am, we are awake, but able to go back asleep, so all is good

Aulani is beautiful!!! We are having a bit of trouble navigating our way around but gradually learning. We are headed down to a character breakfast in a few mins. KAT, we were not able to secure a room in suggested locale, but I think we were all so tired by the time we got here, anything would do. As all can see from our view, no complaints. We see about half the lagoon, and we are just above where the Starlit Hui show takes place, saw it from balcony last night in fact. The lagoon is where Lipoa who is the entertainer at Ohana told us she used to go when she was a little girl with her family.

 

[Flossbolna]

@jimmytammy we did the alarm thing, too one trip at WDW? Coming from Germany with a 6 hours time difference, my sister forgot to adjust the time on her mobile and set it for an alarm for our first morning for rope drop. So, we got up at 7am an showered. Since it was winter we were not surprised that it was dark outside. We felt horribly jet lagged though and when I went to fill our refillable mugs and looked at my clock to see how we were doing for time I realised that it was 1:45 am EST and 7:45am German time! No wonder we felt like hell! But we were able to get back to sleep and got up 6 hours later feeling much less jet lagged!

Have a great stay in Aulani, can't wait to get there myself!

 

[jimmytammy]

Floss, thats too funny!! Not at that moment, Im sure, but funny nonetheless