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

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Funny thing about the moss on the rocks - in my experience, moss grows under a tree canopy in dark wet conditions. Now, I also see moss like stuff just below the surface of the water in spots, but I don't think that is called moss. I certainly don't think it grows in direct sunlight at the top of a pile of rock at an abandoned rock quarry -- where would the moisture come from? So, either this is a theming oops, or trees are on the way back?

We have a pond that is in direct sunlight and the rocks by the waterfall do get moss on them some years. Shade isn't necessary but it definitely needs moisture. If they plant a nice big tree, even better!!

Hey everybody. Y'all might recall that a couple weeks ago i posted that we purchased resale VWL 175 point contract. We were waiting o Disney's ROFR, and...we PASSED! We now officially own a little piece of our Lodge. We are so excited! We close in three weeks.

Seth

Congrats!!

 

[Dean Marino]

OK - we get letters.....

Simple reply: DO NOT SCREW WITH THE CONTRACT - WE WILL HIRE LAWYERS, AND SUE.

Beyond that? no issues.

 

[ErinC]

Ron, only been to California once, really want to try it again soon. Loved reading your reports.

Interesting about the moss, but would love to see more trees. Although the theme is pacific northwest the for real Florida weather is not, it's going to be hot by the pool with not much shade if they don't add some additional shade features.

Spent my afternoon today watching Avatar. I had never seen it, so I ordered it off eBay a few weeks ago. Finally got around to watching it today. I felt like I had to see it before Pandora opens. Can't really say I liked it. I'm not a sci-fi kind of movie personality. I thought it was about an hour too long. It was okay, but can't really see why it won so many awards. DH fell asleep. oh well, at least I can say I've seen it. Maybe I'll "get" a little more out of my AK experience because of it.

Just found out school is cancelled tomorrow due to impending bad weather. Turning the alarm clock off now...

 

[Starwind]

I agree, I have seen moss on rocks a lot too -- just never at the top of a rock pile in direct sunlight with no shade. But, I agree it looks pretty cool...

Apparently moss can grow in such places, per a few of the images on this page: https://suwalls.com/moss/ OTOH most of them are traditional under trees and/or near water....

SW

 

[rkstocke5609]

One last thing from California that I forgot to mention. The reimagination of TOT into Guardians at least on the exterior is nearly complete. They removed quite a bit of the shielding while we were there and revealed a very nicely done job.

BTW, even those that aren't fans of SCIFI should take the time to see Guardians of the Galaxy -- really good, and Volume 2 comes out in like a month. I for one can't wait!

And yes, I love TOT -- but, the investment being made into the Guardians franchise is very interesting to me.

 

[sleepydog25]

Top o' the morning to the Groupies! First, I'm not sure how well Pandora will come off, but AK certainly needed to be beefed up. We enjoyed AVATAR when it first opened in the theaters; in fact, we liked it a lot. Then again, it was on a big screen format in 3D, and it's one of the rare movies where the 3D aspect enhanced the story as you felt transported to the lush jungles of Pandora and actually felt as if you were, ahem, "soarin" through the skies on the backs of the creatures. I can't imagine the new Pandora can recreate that feeling; however, I'm interested to see it.

Headed back to the world at the end of the month. First time I will have been there in nearly 15 months!

 

[princesslayla]

Hello!

We will be at VWL during July 4th. Does anyone know when the new Boulder Ridge pool opens? Thanks!!!!!

 

[Dizny Dad]

WELCOME HOME SETH & COMPANY!!

 

[Corinne]

Hi Groupies,
A bit off topic but I'm hoping someone can help me. We are driving to WDW in May from my sisters place in Sarasota. I want to drop the car off at the WDW Care Center once we arrive on property. We will take DME back to airport. Anyone have any tips, i.e. discount codes and/or how it all works (shuttle back to resort). It appears only Alamo and National are available at the car care center. Any comments and suggestions are most appreciated!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hi Groupies,
A bit off topic but I'm hoping someone can help me. We are driving to WDW in May from my sisters place in Sarasota. I want to drop the car off at the WDW Care Center once we arrive on property. We will take DME back to airport. Anyone have any tips, i.e. discount codes and/or how it all works (shuttle back to resort). It appears only Alamo and National are available at the car care center. Any comments and suggestions are most appreciated!

I haven't personally used it but am 99.9% certain they run a shuttle from the Car care center to whatever resort you need to get to. It is Alamo and National there and they are also at Swan/Dolphin and Shades of Green. Hotels close to DTD have a couple other care rental companies.

 

[Starwind]

Hi Groupies,
A bit off topic but I'm hoping someone can help me. We are driving to WDW in May from my sisters place in Sarasota. I want to drop the car off at the WDW Care Center once we arrive on property. We will take DME back to airport. Anyone have any tips, i.e. discount codes and/or how it all works (shuttle back to resort). It appears only Alamo and National are available at the car care center. Any comments and suggestions are most appreciated!

I have rented a couple times from National at the Car Care Center and returning it there (never a one way to there, so can't help with that). Once you drop off and process the return their shuttle will take you to whichever WDW resort you want and is free. The last time I did it it was a minibus.

There is another thread on the forums with car rental discount code info that may help you with that. I find when I rent vehicles a few things help: being a member of the car rental company loyalty program and being subscribed to their email list so I get things like coupon codes and discount offers by email; scouring their website for discount offers; scouring the web for offers.

I will do an initial booking at a price I am willing to pay with the company I want to be with. Then, I check regularly to see if the price for the same rental has gone down (i.e. price it again and see if it is lower!), almost always the price will drop at some point, at which point I book the cheaper price and cancel the original (or modify to the cheaper price, though that sometimes doesnt work).

But by booking the initial I always have that as my fallback. Kind of like booking WDW hotels, hoping for a room discount or free dining, but always having the reservation at the resort I want at a (*cough* rack rate) price I am willing to pay if necessary.

Also, since you will be staying at a WDW resort: do you plan to keep the car during your stay or return it when you arrive ? Because if return when you arrive, another option could be to drop it at the airport and take Disney's Magical Express to the resort. Check the rental and drop fees involved with both drop locations, as there can be a substantial difference (not sure which is better usually). Also, there are other rental sites around Disney, e.g. Swan/Dolfin has a rental agency there as do some other hotels. You may not be limited to just Alamo and National.

SW

 

[Granny]

Hello!

We will be at VWL during July 4th. Does anyone know when the new Boulder Ridge pool opens? Thanks!!!!!

PrincessL...I believe the pool is scheduled to be opened next month. And Copper Creek Villas are available for booking starting on July 17. So July 4 should be a pretty safe bet. Good luck, and enjoy your trip planning!

 

[Corinne]

Thanks so much Kathy and Starwind!

 

[ArielSRL]

Quick question about Bell Services. So we are driving to WL. When we get there, I had planned to use Bell Services to get the luggage from the car then have them bring it to the room. I do plan to stop in the lobby (bc, like I mentioned before, who wouldn't?), stop at the desk to ask a question about late checkout, then head to the room. Is it customary to tip twice in that situation, when they get the bags AND when the deliver? Seems like a lot, if so, but since I rarely use those services, I wouldn't really know.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Quick question about Bell Services. So we are driving to WL. When we get there, I had planned to use Bell Services to get the luggage from the car then have them bring it to the room. I do plan to stop in the lobby (bc, like I mentioned before, who wouldn't?), stop at the desk to ask a question about late checkout, then head to the room. Is it customary to tip twice in that situation, when they get the bags AND when the deliver? Seems like a lot, if so, but since I rarely use those services, I wouldn't really know.

Customary with hotels is to tip when they bring the luggage to the room.

 

[twinklebug]

Hi Groupies,
A bit off topic but I'm hoping someone can help me. We are driving to WDW in May from my sisters place in Sarasota. I want to drop the car off at the WDW Care Center once we arrive on property. We will take DME back to airport. Anyone have any tips, i.e. discount codes and/or how it all works (shuttle back to resort). It appears only Alamo and National are available at the car care center. Any comments and suggestions are most appreciated!

I did this last summer. Picked up an Alamo car at MCO and dropped it off at the Dolphin. (Just as easily could have said the Car care center, but Dolphin was closer and had fantastic reviews.)
From what I read, the CCC shuttle is available almost all the time, and will take off to your destination as soon as you get in. Only on occasion have folks had to share.
My experience dropping off at the Dolphin was I pulled up to the Valet, they took the car, wrote out my receipt and I was on my way to the boat to Epcot for our dinner. It was a bit too easy

 

[ArielSRL]

Customary with hotels is to tip when they bring the luggage to the room.

Thank you!

 

[jimmytammy]

Hi Groupies,
A bit off topic but I'm hoping someone can help me. We are driving to WDW in May from my sisters place in Sarasota. I want to drop the car off at the WDW Care Center once we arrive on property. We will take DME back to airport. Anyone have any tips, i.e. discount codes and/or how it all works (shuttle back to resort). It appears only Alamo and National are available at the car care center. Any comments and suggestions are most appreciated!

Hey Corinne!
We have rented from Alamo a couple times and had good experiences. As for the Auto Care Center, we have never picked/dropped off a car there,but we did use them once to have an AC installed on our van. Sounds crazy, but riding more than half way down on I95 with the windows down,well, it was more than Tammy could bear
But they did a great job, and a shuttle took me back to resort and took me back to the garage as well too pick upas part of their service.
The way we find Alamo works best for us, if we are 100% certain we are needing that car, they give you a pay now vs pay later price, and pay now is better priced. Also, they don't hassle you about insurance, etc. at time of pickup. We have had very quick turnaround every time.

 

[jimmytammy]

Quick question about Bell Services. So we are driving to WL. When we get there, I had planned to use Bell Services to get the luggage from the car then have them bring it to the room. I do plan to stop in the lobby (bc, like I mentioned before, who wouldn't?), stop at the desk to ask a question about late checkout, then head to the room. Is it customary to tip twice in that situation, when they get the bags AND when the deliver? Seems like a lot, if so, but since I rarely use those services, I wouldn't really know.

Hey Ariel!
We tip when we drop bags and also when they deliver as it is very seldom the same person, but thats just us

 

[ArielSRL]

Hey Ariel!
We tip when we drop bags and also when they deliver as it is very seldom the same person, but thats just us

Good to know. I was kind of wondering about that. I wonder if they pool tips.