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

[Muushka]

Thank you everyone for the hellos and help. I knew I could count on The Groupies! I will do as you recommend.

Yes Granny, everything is going well. I hope it is for all of you also.

I'll probably be back for the holidays, but just in case, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas Groupies!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Here it is - the 2019 proposed Annual Dues:

"2019 Estimated Annual Dues Assessment
The estimated Annual Dues for the year January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 are $7.3220 per Vacation Point, which is comprised of the estimated Annual Operating Budget ($4.5054 per Vacation Point), the estimated Annual Capital Reserves Budget ($1.3574 per Vacation Point) and the estimated ad valorem taxes ($1.4592 per Vacation Point). The total amount of Annual Dues paid by a Purchaser or Owner is determined by multiplying the total number of Vacation Points represented by the Ownership Interest purchased by $7.3220. For example, if the Ownership Interest is represented by 230 Vacation Points, the estimated Annual Dues would be $1,684.06. "

An increase of .392 (what's up with going out to the 3rd decimal point?! - how do we pay that?!) or 5.66% if my quick calculations are correct. It apparently is not the worst of the bunch. AKV might be close to 10% and BWV is almost as high.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

But on a side note - the annual notice is for.....The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge Condominium Association.

What I had never seen before is Aulani - "Ali`i Nui Villas Condominium Association, Inc"

 

[twokats]

Muushka, so good to see you on the board. Hope all is well.

Well groupies, we had a good cruise on the Disney Wonder thru the Panama canal. Very relaxing, even though the captain had to send us out of the way of the hurricane that hit Puerto Vallarta.

I am also asking for all the thoughts and prayers (dust too), for my son Clay again. We had to take him to the ER Sunday afternoon. He has sepsis again and he was sent to Baylor Dallas to be near his surgeons that we have there. He has had several procedures in the last two days and is facing some surgeries down the road, but right now they are still trying to find the source of the infection. He is thankfully not as bad as he was last year, but we are concerned since this is the third time he has had sepsis.

 

[TCRAIG]

Sending prayers to Clay for a quick recovery

 

[ArielSRL]

I saw the dues notice and thought I’d stop in. The dues are one of the highest but the percentage up is one of the lowest. Small victories...haha.

 

[jimmytammy]

twokats
I am so sorry to hear Clay is having to deal with health issues again. We will pray for his healing and for you and your family to find peace through it all and most of all, that God will hold you up and sustain all of you through it all

Muushka
So great to see and hear from you! I have all the best intentions of getting a mini groupie meet together with us locals but I keep falling short. We just got to make it happen!!

My day is this...jury duty, ugh!!!

Praying for the folks in CA dealing with wildfires

 

[Brian Noble]

Facing a hard decision. Well, technically, the decision is mostly made. The hard part is communicating it. As a friend put it: I need to be "open, willing, and a man of faith and courage."

I'll be keeping Clay in my conversation with my Higher Power this morning.

And, I'd probably call it "BRV f.k.a. VWL" for advertising purposes. Why be limited to one!

 

[Granny]

I am also asking for all the thoughts and prayers (dust too), for my son Clay again. We had to take him to the ER Sunday afternoon. He has sepsis again and he was sent to Baylor Dallas to be near his surgeons that we have there. He has had several procedures in the last two days and is facing some surgeries down the road, but right now they are still trying to find the source of the infection. He is thankfully not as bad as he was last year, but we are concerned since this is the third time he has had sepsis.

Kathy...lifting you, Clay and your family up in prayers. Hopefully the doctors will figure out what is causing the ongoing issues.

Facing a hard decision. Well, technically, the decision is mostly made. The hard part is communicating it. As a friend put it: I need to be "open, willing, and a man of faith and courage."

Brian...best wishes to you for your decision. And your friend sounds very wise. Prayers for you as well for you at this time.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Hey . . . Muush . . .WOW . . GREAT TO HEAR FORM YOU! And good to hear both you and Mr Muush are still cruising. Let us know when you come ashore and will be in The World. Maybe we can set up a quick meeting at a fine local establishment for a few laughs and talk about old times.

 

[sleepydog25]

No school today here in southwest VA due to the big winter storm moving through. We got around 1/3" of ice, though it's mostly on trees, grass, decks, etc. Still, that means hazardous travel so to be safe, nearly all the surrounding districts closed. While cozy at home, makes me want to be at Disney and WL right about now. . .

 

[Muushka]

TwoKats, Your son is in my prayers. I hope that his care is excellent and that recovery is speedy.

JT! Good to see you. Yes, if you ever round up the Groupies, let me know. We will be there if at all possible.
DDad! Hello to you too. One of these days we will return to our beloved lodge. Say Hi to DDi for me!

Sorry about the inclement weather, Sly. Dream about the Happy Place!

 

[rkstocke5609]

Hello, Groupies! I’ve caught up some and hope to catch up on everything soon! We leave on Saturday morning for our first stay at SSR returning on Thanksgiving day. While this trip was planned to get my wife’s best friend a 1st time trip (she has terminal cancer), at this late hour it is still unclear if she will be able to make the trip even though flight and scooter are booked. Her health has taken a turn for the worse, and I fear she will miss out. That will make the trip bittersweet if she has to cancel, but she will do what’s best for her situation. And, we will carry on.

I will do a live report on the crowd levels / highlights as things warrant.

 

[twokats]

I thank y'all for the thoughts and prayers.
They did a procedure on Clay this morning that removed some old childhood shunt tubing from his abdomen area that had compromised the colon. They said there was infection there and along with the UTI, it looks like those were the roots of the infection and they now have him out of ICU and in a regular room. They are still monitoring him thru the first part of next week. We still have a few more issues to deal with when he has recovered, but the doctors feel we are on the road to recovery.

The weather has really been different this year. Texas has had more rain lately than we know what to do with it and the cold temps we are experiencing this early in the year has been unusual. We are used to Indian summers for so long and it feels like we went straight from summer to winter. We are supposed to have a nice weekend so we will keep the fingers crossed.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I thank y'all for the thoughts and prayers.
They did a procedure on Clay this morning that removed some old childhood shunt tubing from his abdomen area that had compromised the colon. They said there was infection there and along with the UTI, it looks like those were the roots of the infection and they now have him out of ICU and in a regular room. They are still monitoring him thru the first part of next week. We still have a few more issues to deal with when he has recovered, but the doctors feel we are on the road to recovery.

The weather has really been different this year. Texas has had more rain lately than we know what to do with it and the cold temps we are experiencing this early in the year has been unusual. We are used to Indian summers for so long and it feels like we went straight from summer to winter. We are supposed to have a nice weekend so we will keep the fingers crossed.

Hi Kathy! Hoping that the doctors are right!

 

[jimmytammy]

Hi Kathy! Hoping that the doctors are right!

Same for me twokats! Sounds positive!! Praying will continue

 

[Dean Marino]

.

 

[ottawagreg]

Hello Groupies, I hope that some of you recall me and that you all are doing well. I do not get around to posting much anymore, although I do look in on you from time to time. My time is consumed with more pressing matters, and I keep promising that one of these days’ things will slow done for us.


The conversation about the AP closing and the remarks about MF(s) increases, and DVC savings over rack rates as drawn me out of the shadows to post this note. We are at a bit of a crossroads right now, season in life changes and all that. We have a daughter going to a university for the Jr/Sr years next fall. I must come up with cash (lots of cash), and that is in collision with the home stretch of our careers going into retirement. Thus, it is a time for choosing.


We are seriously considering reducing our position in DVC points by one third of what we hold now. I am really torn between doing so and holding onto what we currently have. I have been pretty savvy in my purchases over the last few years. My first DVC investment was for 40% below market prices and the highest that I paid is about 20% below current rates (all resale). So, I am very hesitant to give up any DVC points. I can’t begin to number all the family memories we have made over these many years and my daughter still considers MK as her happiest place on earth. However, while we still enjoy going to WDW very much, a lot of the luster has come off the castle. It really seems like the mouse continuously nudges us to give up things, accept less while paying more.


In July I spoke to whomever was managing the AP that night. We honeymooned at WL in 1997 and got a table one the glass overlooking the waterfall and have patronized AP almost every time we have been there. I shared this little story with the manager and expressed our disappointment at how that was our last meal at AP. He gave me a “meh” shrug and said good night. The list seems to always grow by a few items every year. Daily room checks, no more lodge ranger and flag raising, the wilderness is gone, fewer park hours, more blackout dates, endless construction projects. Changes to the Lodge restaurants Whispering Canyon and AP are not deal breakers, none of this stuff is. It just doesn’t feel like as much fun as it used to be, nor family friendly to me.


I realize this is probably not a big deal to many, but I am having trouble deciding what to do. I hope that I don’t regret closing down 33% of my points. I have been going there so long now it really does seem like home in some respects. We fly to Orland Christmas eve and stay until New Year’s Day. This has become a family custom too. Christmas at the Lodge.


Wishing you all the best and a blessed Christmas season.

 

[sleepydog25]

Hey, Greg! Glad to see you again, and your words ring true with us, too. We've considered giving up some of our DVC points, as well. Just a few years ago, we entertained serious thoughts about buying more points at a second resort; however, we opted to resist the temptation, due in part to what we felt was a point of diminishing returns on owning DVC. We're very glad we didn't buy then and have no desire to buy anymore now. As you aptly suggest, it's not any one thing. Yet, when you take a larger view look at all the items you mention, some of the pixie dust has drifted away. Just like you, Luv and I have eaten at AP many, many time over the years including having our wedding dinner there. Now, there is no Signature at WL, and we have no intention of ever doing the character meal. VWL is our home, and we love what's left. . .but what's left is quickly becoming a shell of what it once was.

Best of luck on your decision. I know it's a tough choice, but I'm sure when you decide, it will seem like the right thing to have done.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi Kathy! Hoping that the doctors are right!

Me too!