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

[circhead]

Congratulations and welcome home!

Sorry but I can't answer your question about the bikes. I could swear I've seen bike racks but don't know if they are for the sole use of the Disney rentals or not.

 

[twinklebug]

Hubby and I will be new VWL DVC Owners next month. I can't wait to make our first reservation!!! I have a question about bringing bikes.

We love our bikes and heard about the trails to the Campground and so forth. I was wondering if there is an appropriate place to lock our bike when not using them during our stay. I'd hate to have to leave them on the car (and probably wouldn't trust them there - not to mention once we arrive I don't want to LOOK at our car until check-out!). I know no place is 100% secure but is there at least a place that would make sense to keep a bike at the villas or nearby?

Would rather not rent when we can easily bring our own.

Hi Newfangled! There is a bike rack (the wavy bar kind) between the villa's pool and the beach. It's there for all to use, and quite frequently we'll see families from the campground with their bikes there. I would not trust my bike out there overnight though (and not sure if overnight parking is allowed) and think it would be best for you to try and store them in your room.

 

[sleepydog25]

Hubby and I will be new VWL DVC Owners next month. I can't wait to make our first reservation!!! I have a question about bringing bikes.

We love our bikes and heard about the trails to the Campground and so forth. I was wondering if there is an appropriate place to lock our bike when not using them during our stay. I'd hate to have to leave them on the car (and probably wouldn't trust them there - not to mention once we arrive I don't want to LOOK at our car until check-out!). I know no place is 100% secure but is there at least a place that would make sense to keep a bike at the villas or nearby?

Would rather not rent when we can easily bring our own.

Welcome home, new! You'll be owners of one of the most special resorts in the World, and here's hoping you have years of wonderful trips to the Lodge. While there may be bike racks, as others have said, I'd feel more confident in leaving them in my room overnight. You might have noticed we keep tabs on Groupies' birthdays, anniversaries, and future trips on page 1, so if you want, feel free to send me a PM with your trip dates, and you can contact jimmytammy with your birthday or anniversary dates. Again, it's all just voluntary. Draw up a chair, sit a spell, and enjoy the friendliest thread on the DIS!

circhead: Same to you! Glad you could join us.

 

[horselover]

Welcome to the groupies newfangled & circhead!

Nice pictures Corrine! I love Robin Roberts. Tim Tebow eh.

Just popping in to share my latest creations. I think these might be my best work yet although my first attempt at stripes might not be the best. I can see the glaring flaw on Devin's band right on the front. Why couldn't it have been on the back? I really love mine & wish I could use it all year long. You can't tell from the picture but it's very sparkly like snow.



Only 4 more sleeps!

 

[jimmytammy]

Welcome to the groupies newfangled!!!!

 

[Dizny Dad]

Wow – finally a short pause in the hub-bub here at work now that I am back from the Happiest Place on Earth. As many know, you work through a lot of things before you go, and we all have that promise that “no one will touch your stuff while you’re gone”. Unfortunately the deadlines or obvious needs didn’t stop coming at you, so when you get back lots of things need addressed, AND RIGHT NOW!

Well, as DiznyDi said, “This was a great vacation! Not only did we meet up with other groupies, but we were able to sleep in, tour the parks at our leisure, experience both the Candlelight Processional as well as the Osborne Lights, and we had a room on the lake side!” All I can add is that we did indeed get to wake up hearing the boat horns every morning, and enjoyed the Electric Water Parade music a number of evenings with DiznyDi’s success at getting us the lake side room; a few of the most important things we enjoy about The Lodge.

And as she said, we did attend the Association (Condo) Meeting. As much as the business aspect is usually always the same, with the standard “so moved and seconded” stuff, I enjoyed the meeting and hearing the questions and comments made by other owners during the Q&A time. One of the comments was addressing the feeling that the quality of the hard goods and soft goods changed during the recent year’s refirbs were not up to what was expected. Also addressed was the question of why DVC continues to include the TTY service in the rooms when the deaf community does not use that specific technology much any longer, and why they haven’t upgraded to the new and improved systems for the deaf and hearing impaired when a refirb is done. No real answers were offered for either.

The follow-up reception after the Association Meeting was nice, and we took the opportunity to speak to the general manager of The Lodge about the recent room and pool renovations. The Zero Entry option was dropped primarily due to the land-locked nature of pool; buildings on three sides and a facing a lake, along with subsurface utility issues, it was just a low priority item that had to be sacrificed.

It was wonderful to meet with Corinne and her family outside of the Carrousel of Progress. Although a short meeting, it is always wonderful to put "a face" on groupies we have yet to meet.

We ran into Jimmy, Tammy and Casey a number of times in the parks; found Wilderness Dad (Hollis) with wife Toni, and son Jesse on a few benches as we traveled the wonderful Disney Transportation System; and spend a great evening with them at the TOTWL.

So DiznyDi is once again giving me a countdown to her next visit to The Lodge each morning when I bring her morning coffee. She is looking forward to the Mother/Daughter trip with her best friend (and her daughter) at the end of January. Ok guys, we all know what that means . . . . the party will be at my house.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Only 4 more sleeps!

All very nice Julie!!! I'm sure you'll get lots of comments on them! I also really like yours. I did a light sparkly blue for our Nov trip although I misplaced some things I wanted to attach so had to get a little creative with some easy swirls. Not quite what I planned but ok and the CM at Cove Bar at BLT thought his wife might want to do something like that. Then he looked closer and saw the glitter and decided he wasn't going to say a word or she would have him wearing a sparkly bangle. Have a great trip!

 

[newfangled]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I'm digging this thread!

Love the Magic Band Makeover...great job!!!!

 

[Muushka]

Good morning Groupies and welcome home to all of the new Groupies!

I just wanted to check in and wish everyone a

Very Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year!

I'm a tad early but we will be on the blue seas for both holidays. Enjoy!​

 

[twokats]

Good morning Groupies and welcome home to all of the new Groupies!

I just wanted to check in and wish everyone a

Very Merry Christmas

and a

Happy New Year!

I'm a tad early but we will be on the blue seas for both holidays. Enjoy!​

Barb,

Hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Sounds like you will!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Hey Muushka
Merry Christmas to you folks as well!! Hope you have a great time on your trip, and let me just say, knowing what I know about cruising now, I am a tad jealous

 

[sleepydog25]

Hey Muushka
Merry Christmas to you folks as well!! Hope you have a great time on your trip, and let me just say, knowing what I know about cruising now, I am a tad jealous

Me, too. . .as in envious. You DCLing or cruising "outside the box" so to speak? Either way, enjoy!

 

[Muushka]

Barb,

Hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Sounds like you will!!

Thank you, and you too.

Hey Muushka
Merry Christmas to you folks as well!! Hope you have a great time on your trip, and let me just say, knowing what I know about cruising now, I am a tad jealous

Now you understand why we do what we do! Thanks JT.

Me, too. . .as in envious. You DCLing or cruising "outside the box" so to speak? Either way, enjoy!

We're outsiding the box.
14 days over Christmas and NY, we would need a 2nd mortgage to do that on DCL!

 

[horselover]

All very nice Julie!!! I'm sure you'll get lots of comments on them! I also really like yours. I did a light sparkly blue for our Nov trip although I misplaced some things I wanted to attach so had to get a little creative with some easy swirls. Not quite what I planned but ok and the CM at Cove Bar at BLT thought his wife might want to do something like that. Then he looked closer and saw the glitter and decided he wasn't going to say a word or she would have him wearing a sparkly bangle. Have a great trip!

Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I'm digging this thread!

Love the Magic Band Makeover...great job!!!!

Thanks!

Well this is it. One more sleep (yay right!). Not even close to being prepared. I haven't packed a single thing yet although clothes are out. Starting to stress. This is very unlike me. I'm normally a one week ahead packer.

I'll try to get photos up but don't forget Instagram if you're on it! #magicdisneychristmas

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah!

 

[jimmytammy]

Merry Christmas to you and yours Julie!! Hope yall have a great trip

 

[jimmytammy]

I shared this over on FB


A note to all my Disney loving friends(yes, those that have Disneyitis like me)Sun. night, starting at 8pm on TCM, many vintage Disney shows will be showing until around 5am Mon. This is in collaboration with TCMs new sponsorship of The Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios. Different shows will be aired quarterly.
Santas Workshop is the 1st show at 8pm, followed by, On Ice, Chip N Dale, The Disneyland Story, The Reluctant Dragon, Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier, Vanishing Prairie, Third Man On The Mountain and Walt Disney Presents.
Enjoy as we are taken back to a simpler time!

 

[jimmytammy]

But I had to share, wfc4life and sechem32 just called me for WDW and told me they had someone on the other end of the phone who wanted to say hello. Will told me I would recognize the voice and I did. It was Lou Mongello!! I got so excited and told him he made my day.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Sorry I have been a bit MIA. The semester ended Monday and I am frantically playing Christmas catch up cleaning/baking/shopping/decorating!

Thanks Dizny Dad for your updates on the Association--interesting points brought up. I also REALLY REALLY wish Disney/DVC would include more and better channels on TV. Even EconoLodge and Super 8 etc have dozens more channels to select from. It has annoyed me for years. Glad you had a great trip---loved following along with your trip experiences on FB.

Muushka.....have a FAB time on the seas!!! What destinations will you be visiting?

Jimmytammy....thanks SO much for the head's up on the movie line-up!

Julie...LOVE those Magic Bands.....following you on FB too!

 

[DiznyDi]

I see we have a few new groupies. Welcome!

Muush and Mr Mush are celebrating the holidays on the high seas - Enoy! Have a very Merry Christmas!

Very cute bands Julie! I'm following your vacation on fb, too.

Thanks, JT for heads-up on Disney movies. Unfortunately I wasn't able to take advantage of the broadcasts. Very cool about speaking with Lou Mongello! So nice to have friends that give unexpected pixie dust!

This will be a busy week, I'm sure for all of our Groupies and families. We had our first family Christmas celebration yesterday afternoon. Some family (extended) members will be headed south on Christmas day, so a pot luck buffet meal and gift exchange took place yesterday. The youngest isn't quite 2 and was just a joy to watch!

Cooking, cleaning and some gift-wrapping are on my agenda for today. I'd like to find time to get into my sewing room but it is doubtful that is going to happen.

 

[Nanajo1]

I am thinking about staying at WLV with kids and DGKS . Does the bike rental have helmets or should we bring our own? Also how many people can go on the fishing outing? TIA