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

[horselover]

That bridge will allow us to sneak over at night and harass the newbies

Maybe there will be bushes over by the cabins. They won't mind a few unexpected guests I'm sure.

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

No mystery - we were in the Villas as this was being built. It is a poured concrete building. with large chemical holding tanks internal. It's main purpose is pool chlorination, possibly heating. It MAY also serve the cabins. We SAW and PHOTOGRAPHED the tanks. Concrete has since been resurfaced for aesthetics.

Just when we thought we had a new Community Hall we're back to square one and speculation of being a "mechanical" building again. Thanks for the insight Dean! I think many of our initial thoughts centered around mechanical, but the building design, lack of roof vent pipes (only two), and the location of building had me second guessing myself. I'm still not convinced either way at this point

Although I'm not at all familiar with pools, the size and design of the building certainly seems overkill for a chlorine gas injection system that could have easily been incorporated into the hollow boulders they built all around the pool. And I can't recall a trench being run from that building to the pool. However, I'm sure there is much more to it than I'm capable of understanding and if it is mechanical, it must have additional purposes maybe tied to the cabins as you and I think Denise (@DenLo) suggested!

Also, and although both could easily serve the same purpose, this is NOT a poured concrete building; it's a cement block building. A poured concrete wall is solid and poured into forms directly from a truck while a block building is laid in courses by masons and is hollow, although depending on the engineering specifications, it can often have rebar added and concrete poured into the hollows of the block. I thought I recalled watching the masons lay the last couple courses of block on one of corners of the building and sure enough I did get a photo of the walls that I've attached. You'll notice the mortar joints. The only thing poured are the headers above the openings and of course the pad the building sits on. The headers appear to have been pre-cast to exact specifications and installed accordingly. There were no tanks present at that time; that I saw anyway. Are you able to post the photo you took of the tanks?

 

[Flossbolna]

Just when we thought we had a new Community Hall

There will definitely be a new Community Hall. This was one of the features that were talked about at the Members Annual Meeting in December. I was there. The only question that is up to debate is WHERE will the Community Hall be.

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

That bridge will allow us to sneak over at night and harass the newbies

That's the spirit....the possibilities here are endless!! Toilet paper, soap, eggs, forks, maybe some syrup and flour or flaming bags of "you know what". While some of us make our way over on foot, others can provide cover from the back with water balloon slingshots that we can set up on the VWL balconies. I like our chances. It's on!

 

[Starwind]

That bridge will allow us to sneak over at night and harass the newbies

*recruit* the newbies !

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

There will definitely be a new Community Hall. This was one of the features that were talked about at the Members Annual Meeting in December. I was there. The only question that is up to debate is WHERE will the Community Hall be.

Yea, it's gotta go somewhere Flossy. I'm now wondering if maybe it will be on the first floor of the main lodge similar to how the community hall is at Kidani Village instead of being a stand-alone building.

 

[Starwind]

Although I'm not at all familiar with pools, the size and design of the building certainly seems overkill for a chlorine gas injection system that could have easily been incorporated into the hollow boulders they built all around the pool. And I can't recall a trench being run from that building to the pool. However, I'm sure there is much more to it than I'm capable of understanding and if it is mechanical, it must have additional purposes maybe tied to the cabins as you and I think Denise (@DenLo) suggested!

Think volumes of powdered and liquid pool chemicals: both for ongoing normal treatment as well as storage for "shock" and other one time or scheduled "problem" treatments. With a large, and public, pool, lots more than needed for a home pool. Also, there is going to be a filtration system as the water gets pulled out of the pool, filtered and chemically treated, and then sent back into the pool. And Disney heats their pool water, so there will also be a heating system.

We had a 25' bromine pool growing up, the filter and chemical treatment equipment easily took up a space about 4' x 8' in the back of the garage. That did not include chemical storage. Chambers, pipes, pumps, etc. Think bulky. A large pool is going to require quite a setup, and it will all need to be hidden from sight and secure.

SW

 

[Granny]

That bridge will allow us to sneak over at night and harass the newbies

Sounds good! And Jimmy, you can wear the same outfit that you use for your Boston Tea Party re-enactment!

There will definitely be a new Community Hall. This was one of the features that were talked about at the Members Annual Meeting in December. I was there. The only question that is up to debate is WHERE will the Community Hall be.

Maybe that's what they will re-purpose Roaring Fork space for?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Although I'm not at all familiar with pools, the size and design of the building certainly seems overkill for a chlorine gas injection system that could have easily been incorporated into the hollow boulders they built all around the pool. And I can't recall a trench being run from that building to the pool. However, I'm sure there is much more to it than I'm capable of understanding and if it is mechanical, it must have additional purposes maybe tied to the cabins as you and I think Denise (@DenLo) suggested!

However Disney hasn't in the habit of putting a huge pool treatment building right in the middle of everything. Where is it for the main pool? Where is it for SAB? Where is it for BCV quiet pool? For the pool by VGF? etc etc If they do it's a multi purpose building.

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

However Disney hasn't in the habit of putting a huge pool treatment building right in the middle of everything. Where is it for the main pool? Where is it for SAB? Where is it for BCV quiet pool? For the pool by VGF? etc etc If they do it's a multi purpose building.

Completely agree Kathy. I didn't want to get too far off-topic with the pool debate, but every pool on property has a large chlorine/filtration/heating system. This pool really isn't that large, especially from a water volume standpoint. The design of the building has to be a multi purpose unit and the evidence we've seen so far just hasn't convinced me yet of what all/any of those purposes are. I definitely admit I very well could be completely wrong......time will tell.

If I was designing the pool and needed a place to hide the large filtration/heating system, I think I'd try to fit it inside the hollow boulders they've made. Like inside the boulder-based, rusty water tower/feature that's being erected right next to the pool to maximize efficiency, to constantly circulate and filter the water, and be closer to the main water line.....this rectangular-based tower here in the picture below (a bit blurry, sorry) just to the left of the ice machine, to the right of the orange cherry-picker, in front of the orange mule, and with the white filtration pipe laying in front of it is the one I'm thinking of. Then again, maybe that's why I'm not a pool designer; but it is fun to speculate!

 

[bjbw]

Disney just waived ROFR for our resale WL contract - I am SOOOOO excited! First time DVC owners - so pumped to begin this adventure 212 points, April use yr, $77/point - full 2017 points.

 

[horselover]

Disney just waived ROFR for our resale WL contract - I am SOOOOO excited! First time DVC owners - so pumped to begin this adventure 212 points, April use yr, $77/point - full 2017 points.

Congratulations & welcome home!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Disney just waived ROFR for our resale WL contract - I am SOOOOO excited! First time DVC owners - so pumped to begin this adventure 212 points, April use yr, $77/point - full 2017 points.

Nice! Congratulations!!!

 

[DVC Jen]

That's the spirit....the possibilities here are endless!! Toilet paper, soap, eggs, forks, maybe some syrup and flour or flaming bags of "you know what". While some of us make our way over on foot, others can provide cover from the back with water balloon slingshots that we can set up on the VWL balconies. I like our chances. It's on!

ooohhhhh I want in on this!

 

[DVC Jen]

Disney just waived ROFR for our resale WL contract - I am SOOOOO excited! First time DVC owners - so pumped to begin this adventure 212 points, April use yr, $77/point - full 2017 points.

Welcome home!!!

 

[TCRAIG]

Disney just waived ROFR for our resale WL contract - I am SOOOOO excited! First time DVC owners - so pumped to begin this adventure 212 points, April use yr, $77/point - full 2017 points.

SWEET!

 

[Dean Marino]

Just when we thought we had a new Community Hall we're back to square one and speculation of being a "mechanical" building again. Thanks for the insight Dean! I think many of our initial thoughts centered around mechanical, but the building design, lack of roof vent pipes (only two), and the location of building had me second guessing myself. I'm still not convinced either way at this point

Although I'm not at all familiar with pools, the size and design of the building certainly seems overkill for a chlorine gas injection system that could have easily been incorporated into the hollow boulders they built all around the pool. And I can't recall a trench being run from that building to the pool. However, I'm sure there is much more to it than I'm capable of understanding and if it is mechanical, it must have additional purposes maybe tied to the cabins as you and I think Denise (@DenLo) suggested!

Also, and although both could easily serve the same purpose, this is NOT a poured concrete building; it's a cement block building. A poured concrete wall is solid and poured into forms directly from a truck while a block building is laid in courses by masons and is hollow, although depending on the engineering specifications, it can often have rebar added and concrete poured into the hollows of the block. I thought I recalled watching the masons lay the last couple courses of block on one of corners of the building and sure enough I did get a photo of the walls that I've attached. You'll notice the mortar joints. The only thing poured are the headers above the openings and of course the pad the building sits on. The headers appear to have been pre-cast to exact specifications and installed accordingly. There were no tanks present at that time; that I saw anyway. Are you able to post the photo you took of the tanks?

You are correct - they were laying blocks. I mis-spoke. Rebar was installed within the blocks.

However, that building DOES contain large chemical holding tanks. You see, I sort of know a chemical holding tank..... worked for Dow for 27 years . The building sort of HAD to be concrete, of one form or another.... do not panic: this is blast protection. When one builds a building of this ilk, there are requirements for catastrophic failure of the chemical holding tanks. Nothing new - wherever the MAIN pool treatment facility is? It is/has been constructed with blast protection, in the event of catastrophic failure.

Here is a construction photo - tanks can easily be seen....

 

[sleepydog25]

Here is a construction photo - tanks can easily be seen....

Those aren't tanks; they're porta-potties! Ok, just kidding, just kidding. I see them in the middle of the half-formed building. . .gonna be fun (exasperating?) to see how the use of the buildings work out. . .

AND, Home, bjbw! Sounds like a wonderful contract, and we're glad you shared with us.

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

You are correct - they were laying blocks. I mis-spoke. Rebar was installed within the blocks.

However, that building DOES contain large chemical holding tanks. You see, I sort of know a chemical holding tank..... worked for Dow for 27 years . The building sort of HAD to be concrete, of one form or another.... do not panic: this is blast protection. When one builds a building of this ilk, there are requirements for catastrophic failure of the chemical holding tanks. Nothing new - wherever the MAIN pool treatment facility is? It is/has been constructed with blast protection, in the event of catastrophic failure.

Here is a construction photo - tanks can easily be seen....

Awesome photo Dean, thanks for posting! Now from my days of chemistry I believe that chlorine is not flammable, so are the blast precautions in case the chlorine mixes with some other chemical and causes a reaction?

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

ooohhhhh I want in on this!

Absolutely.....strength in numbers!!