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

[eliza61]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CORRINE. THE BIG 3-0!!​

 

[Granny]

[snip] But, making the announcement three months out when almost no rooms are available is just craptastic timing on Disney's part. I had no clue their 20-year contract was up this year, and I'm just as certain they did know the big plans for DHS were afoot well over a year ago, likely longer. I've determined that Disney plays the major announcement news cards close to the vest, flipping them over just weeks or months before the event in question in order to take a lot of heat in a short period and be done with it. What the bean counters, and some I'd call Can'tImagineers, fail to realize is that such actions cause far more wear and tear to their image than letting Disney fans wallow in their "grief" of lost attractions for a year or so. [snip]

[snip] But, I'll also see more behind the facade and sadly sigh and shrug at slow unwinding of the Disney magic. Okay, I'll hop off my soapbox now.

Sleepy...this may well be the best rant I've ever seen written on the DISBoards! And I mean that seriously, in that while you expressed unhappiness with how Disney is handling some things you did so in a manner which anyone with any feelings can understand. I especially love the "Can'tImagineers" coined word...it does capture the "Oh, you need to know something more than 60 days in advance?" attitude that we so often see. I feel for you and Luv since you have so many deep emotional connections in your relationship regarding WDW. While we have emotional connections to WDW and WL, they aren't quite the same level as yours.

So please, feel free to rage against The Mouse whenever you like. We're behind you all the way!

 

[Granny]

Granny - 1 more sleep! Hope you and Mrs Granny have a relaxing and enjoyable visit.

Di...thanks for the note. Down to 0 more sleeps...flight was scheduled to take off at 1:45p today but has been pushed back to 2:20p as of this point. Frustrating, but hopefully just a little glitch in our longest vacation ever. We are heading out soon to catch a quick early lunch and then off to the airport.

Hope all Groupies are having a great week! We'll try to do some snooping around VWL for any news we can share.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Have a great trip Granny!

 

[brettcw23]

Hey folks

Been away far too long!
Lots changed with my plans and here is the basics behind it...sorry for the lengthy post!


I am often solicited for advice on Disney World (sometimes I just force feed my opinion, too J ) and there is one piece that I universally present to people.

“Have a plan, but be flexible.”

Now, being candid, as much as I offer that sage piece of wisdom, I’m not always the most willing to change plans. In fact, I am more likely to stomp my feet and pout. Yes, I just indicted myself with my wife as part of the audience. Although this is nothing that she doesn’t already know and probably just had an epiphany in that our youngest inherited this trait from me.

Although the flexibility perspective has not historically been my forte, I do have a penchant for planning.

In fact, I begin planning our next trip within about 10 days of our return. I think it’s less about me being a control freak and more about the enjoyment that comes with prepping for a Disney World trip.

Much as you would expect, our resort was booked 11 months out (Bay Lake Tower) and modified (VWL) at the 7month window per our normal DVC process. Everything else fell into place….ADRs at 180 days, prepping for ourFP+ at 60 days…even booked MNSSHP the day tickets went on sale.

Then the bombshell went off….

Our school’s calendar was online and my wife saw a critical school event for our oldest. ….and it was while we were on our trip.

My daughter is flexible and reasonable enough to adjust to most situations, but this even is kind of like a rite of passage for kids in our elementary schools. The type of thing that is well known by all the lower grades and that you look forward to in 5th grade. It was the class camping trip. To outsiders, it doesn’t sound a like a big deal, but it is. And Renee and I were both beside ourselves with what to do. All of the planning just went right out the door! We talked in circles trying to figure out a variety of options and running various scenarios. Would work allow us to be able to change our vacation weeks? Could we find a resort? What about airfare? We even considered sending our daughter back early and having a family member pick her up at the airport. We finally decided, if we could change vacation per work, we’d go all in to move our plans. Anguish and anxiety abound. The next day Renee spent the ENTIRE morning on the phone with multiple cast members, conferencing me in at work and via a litany of texts. She and I each had details in our notebooks that looked like something out of the DaVinci code. After it was all said and done…we moved our trip back from Sat-Sat to Tue-Tue….saved around $100 dollars on airfare, transferred our MNSSHP tickets to another night and salvaged 98% of our ADRs. Because we moved our booking date up, it just so happened that our FP+ window opened that same night at midnight. Can you say exhausting day?

Now…the most intriguing thing about this is how you can embrace a situation that is outside of you control. I mentioned that we were booked for VWL. Well, we’re not split-stay sort of people…but when your trip is 60 days away and it’s during the Food & Wine Festival…beggars can’t be choosers!

<sarcasm font>Our plans now have us staying in 3 different rooms across 2 resorts! We will begin with a 2 BR Savannah View at Kidani Village (Oh, the humanity. I’m not sure I can handle having to sip my coffee on the balcony whilst looking at African wildlife.) Sadly we have to move from that dumpster to the Villas at Wilderness Lodge. Pickings were slim and the best that we could manage was a Club Level, Deluxe Room. At this point I’m not sure why we even bothered with joining the Disney Vacation Club! What am I supposed to do with all of that open access to snacks, desserts, various beverages, etc. And finally, moving on to a 2BR within VWL. </sarcasm font>

So…we’re definitely titling this trip “Sounds like an adventure.”

While I certainly never expected our trip planning to take this route, heeding my own advice was a cruel but worthwhile twist of fate.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Aaaarrgh! I saw the recent announcement that Flights of Wonder is going to be closed from 10/5-11/5 - during our trip! My sister is quite limited on things she can do but she is an avid, avid bird watch. (Did I mentioned avid?!) That was going to be one of the main highlights for her. Just announcing less than a month before closing? I know, I know - it isn't that uncommon but just doing a little whining.

 

[sleepydog25]

Bon Voyage!



May God bless you both and provide more excitement in the next thirty than in the last!
HAPPY ANIVERSARY!


Sleepy - We, too, will miss the Osborne Lights. But it was my understanding that the Streets of America were coming down in the next year with the Star Wars expansion to make way for Tattoine. I may be mistaken here, but if not, the lights lost their home; can't see them anywhere else to be as impressive!?!

I've wondered why they can't put them along the main boulevard in DHS. Surely, among all the talent Disney employs, someone can figure out how to have openings in the lights so that people may still shop along that street. Put the angels and twirling lights where Mickey's sorcerer's hat used to be. Can you imagine the crowds they'd attract while waiting for Star Wars Land and Toys Land to be built? Can you imagine what an opening act the lights could be once the lands were built? Walk into a magical light show and then lose yourself in Tatooine or Andy's bedroom. My primary gripe is that Disney is taking the easy road vice the reaching for the gold ring path which at one time seemed to be what guided them. Like I said, I'll get over myself.

Granny: Thanks for the kind words. Obviously, the changes coming down the pike have affected my feeble, romanticized mind, and I just speak from the heart. I've never been one to shy away from ranting, but I attempt to do so with tangible feelings, facts, and without too much actual ire. Life is too short and too precious for that. Thanks, again.

Holy cow, brett! Talk about major planning changes! You seem to have survived and been as flexible as Gumby. I'm sure you'll have a great time!
P.S. Love your pic of Jasmine, always my favorite princess!

 

[twokats]

Happy Anniversary Corrinne!

Have a great trip, Granny!

And ditto on anything else I might have missed.

I guess my email notifications got messed up for a few days, plus I was in the hospital for a planned surgery last week and I just today realized, I had missed hearing from my groupies. I just now got caught up and thought I would check in really quick. I had to have a 'little' hiatal hernia repaired and true to my past history, there was a couple of small complications, but I have the best surgeon and he took care of me with great care. Having a little pain, but am managing.

I am also bummed about the Osbourne lights. Kati and I would have been there this year if the rest of the family had not begged for a Disney cruise instead. And with a quick cruise for early January also, there is no way to work in a quick trip before my clients start calling.

 

[Granny]

Well, after a little flight delay and some bumpy weather, we made our way to Wilderness Lodge for a check in. We have settled in and are looking forward to a nice long trip. I'm still working on loving the new VWL decor. I keep telling myself that if this was the way the villa looked when we first stayed here we would have loved it. I'm sure it will grow on us...though DW tells me the new faucet on the tub is very slow with the flow, and the water is not particularly hot. We are having some issues with the sound on the television but we'll get that fixed.

Aside from that, the villa is in great shape and we are excited to be here. Thanks to all for the kind wishes.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Well, after a little flight delay and some bumpy weather, we made our way to Wilderness Lodge for a check in. We have settled in and are looking forward to a nice long trip. I'm still working on loving the new VWL decor. I keep telling myself that if this was the way the villa looked when we first stayed here we would have loved it. I'm sure it will grow on us...though DW tells me the new faucet on the tub is very slow with the flow, and the water is not particularly hot. We are having some issues with the sound on the television but we'll get that fixed.

Aside from that, the villa is in great shape and we are excited to be here. Thanks to all for the kind wishes.

Glad you made it safe and sound! Curious as to what size villas you're in? With my first studio stay a couple of weeks ago since the refurb I found that I liked that far more than what they did with the 1BR's as long as you toss aside the muphy bed/table combo. That messed up my use of the room and my dislike of it did not change. I have definitely have some of the same issues with the job done that I did with our 1BR but overall I was ok with it. I did experience much more noise from next door and also some from above which I hadn't in the past. I believe the flooring change was responsible for some of it.

 

[jimmytammy]

Brett, That is dedication to the hilt to get in a WDW vacation, more power to you. We have done a split stay several times, with most happening based on booking DVC 11/7 mos out then adding on a few days cash at a value or Mod for various reasons. Great thing is, bell services can move your luggage while you go enjoy your vacation, if you choose to do this.

Granny, Glad you folks made it OK, and looking forward to your report on our beloved "home" Hope yall have a great trip!

Sleepy, You have every right to be as passionate about WDW and the Lodge as you are, I can feel your pain. You have some strong, emotional ties to the very things that are changing so drastically and we understand. You know you wont be judged here, only loved. Stay passionate!

 

[Dizny Dad]

Well, after a little flight delay and some bumpy weather, we made our way to Wilderness Lodge for a check in. . . . . . . . . . though DW tells me the new faucet on the tub is very slow with the flow, and the water is not particularly hot. . . . .

Glad you made it. Enjoy yourselves!

DiznyDi & I have always found that there is little "really hot" water in the Villas. We spoke with "Jose" the general manager about it last year at the DVC yearly meeting. We certainly expressed our joy of being at "Home" at The Lodge, but wondered if their was a basic flaw in the hot water system. He commented that they were aware of the situation and that it was not an easy fix. Maybe the upcoming construction has a small part of the budget to get us some "really hot" water in the future.

DiznyDi has also always thought the water does not taste as nice as other Disney resorts. I can't really tell the difference. She always has a couple of cases of bottled water delivered to us so our morning coffee is at its best, plus it beats buying bottled water in the parks.

I don't want to end this morning's dissertation with nothing but complaints; We love The Lodge, wouldn't trade our VWL points for double anywhere, and are enthusiastically looking forward to being their in just a couple weeks! No better place in The World to be to relax and enjoy each other!

(I hear a little voice from across the room proclaim "24 sleeps" this morning while getting ready for work; must be so . . . )

 

[DiznyDi]

Wow, Brett, you certainly are flexible in your plans! DDad and I have previously enjoyed split stays - not so much any more. We like to stay put and get on with the vacation. You at least will have a variety of scenery and varied experiences.

We just added our son to our Oct reservation. It took me the full day to arrange, ME, order a magic band, arrange for FP and alter our weeks schedule and try to salvage dinner reservations. One restaurant couldn't accommodate 5 but could accommodate 3 + 2 ?! Worth it though as our son hasn't travelled with us to WDW since 2006 - just prior to him entering the army.

Glad you made it Granny! We stay at the Lodge often and have found the hot water never really gets h-o-t. Hopefully that will be one of the items on the list to be addressed as work is being done. I didn't shower one morning because the water was downright cold. We stopped at the front desk to report, which of course, they already knew. Sorry we're going to miss you this trip! Hello to Mrs Granny!

Kathy (twokats) I've had the hernia repair surgery myself. Hope you progress and your stomach issues are now behind you! Sorry you're going to miss the Osborne Lights Hello to Kati!

Love your rant sleepy! Heartfelt and passionate. We all feel the same.

Kathy, do you schedule Flights of Wonder often? We hadn't seen this in multiple years. Ddad and I did this on our May visit and I was very surprised how abbreviated the show was as compared to the last time we would have seen it. They do have the flight of those beautiful parrots winging through the park. Maybe that would be something your sister would enjoy.

 

[Corinne]

Thanks for all the lovely anniversary wishes! I this group!

DLI-nice to see you again!!

We are back home now....we did have a nice trip, the highlight for sure was our fantastic anniversary dinner at Artist Point --cannot believe we've waited so long to dine there. The staff, the food, the atmosphere, the service.

When I last posted it was after another irritating excursion via the WDW bus system. We've been so many times, and sometimes the transportation is great, other times not so much. I don't want to rant, but I just can't understand why they haven't mastered a more efficient system. On numerous occasions while we were waiting for ONE bus, numerous resort buses would arrive for the same resort. At one point at Epcot, there was a bus at the Port Orleans stop, it waited, no one boarded, and two PO buses were waiting to pull in to the stop! Why can't they radio to dispatch and say there are many guests waiting? Even at the WL there was a CM there and people still waited 35 minutes for the Downtown Disney/TL bus. I won't even get into the disaster of Downtown!

OK, back to the good.....the Lodge is just a beautiful as ever (even with the scaffolding) we weren't bothered at all by the construction. I enjoyed our courtyard view, caught a gorgeous sunrise one morning ahhhh. We met friends there and spent some time with them (and a lot of laughs)! I love the size of the resort, and I guess that is what worries me the most about the expansion.

The only "action" we saw on the villas side was a group of men watching another man pull a birch tree out from the front. The walking trail was closed the day we walked over to the villas, and the pool was closed as well. One evening we relaxed on the beach and viewed the parade.

 

[Corinne]

Granny, have a great trip!

We actually had a bit of bumpy weather on both flights too. Actually, it was pretty bad on the way down, and once we flew through it all, I looked at my husband and said, after THAT the ToT looks tame, and at least it's controlled!! So guess what??!! I rode the ToT again!! It's been years since I've been on it!

 

[brettcw23]

Morning folks. Hope everyone is having a great day. I'm a day closer to our October trip and getting anxious\excited at the same time!
I'm excited for our split stay (not the headaches of packing\moving) simply because we would have never done it willingly. So at least we'll know how we hold up moving between resorts\rooms. My whole family is super thankful that we were able to adjust our dates, so we all are going in with a super positive attitude. And as part of effort, my now 11 YO DD reaffirmed her lover for Disney when she went to my DW, tears in her eyes and said, "I don't want to miss Disney." Disney World is so special to me (like all of you!) and to see that my profound love for the Disney life has taken roots makes me one proud dad!

Now, I'm not always crazy about changes and at times I certainly look Disney and do question..."Are they making this better or juts making more money?" More often than not, Disney makes things better WHILE making more money! Lol.

As far as the DVC expansions...I don't feel to strongly about it either way. I'll have to wait and see how it impacts me.
The overhaul of the Parks....VERY mixed feelings. I am prob in the minority, but I LOVE the Studios. While part of me is thrilled to have a much larger Star Wars presence, part of me fears for the consumers that they will draw. I can see more of a comic-con type guest coming versus Disney World guests. Nothing wrong with comic-con folks before anyone tried to burn me at the stake! I simply mean that the Park may start pulling fans of Star Wars versus fans of Disney AND Star Wars.

Overall, I expect Disney to make changes for the better. I don't put blind faith in them, but they rarely let me down!

I would love to see the transportation logistics improved. And I do expect them to make it better, especially embracing positioning software and such. You can imagine the challenges of managing the buses. Different amounts of guest, from all of the hotels, going to different parks, at different times! I'm not sure how the routes are determined, but I suspect they are primarily route based versus demand based. That's an opinion, not a fact. It's not static is my point, so it's hard to manage it effectively.

Bummer about the lights. We got to see it and it was amazing. I'm not sure how long it's been running a the Studios, but let's keep our fingers crossed that whatever they do that it will be just as awesome!

 

[Granny]

Glad you made it safe and sound! Curious as to what size villas you're in? With my first studio stay a couple of weeks ago since the refurb I found that I liked that far more than what they did with the 1BR's as long as you toss aside the muphy bed/table combo. That messed up my use of the room and my dislike of it did not change. I have definitely have some of the same issues with the job done that I did with our 1BR but overall I was ok with it. I did experience much more noise from next door and also some from above which I hadn't in the past. I believe the flooring change was responsible for some of it.

Kathy...we are in a 1BR lock off villa. We haven't noticed any noise more than usual...it's been the usual tranquil VWL. On the other hand, we will have several turnovers of neighbors during our two week stay so we'll see how that goes.

Granny, Glad you folks made it OK, and looking forward to your report on our beloved "home" Hope yall have a great trip!

Jimmy...thanks for the note. I'm sure we'll enjoy our trip immensely!

Glad you made it. Enjoy yourselves!

DiznyDi & I have always found that there is little "really hot" water in the Villas. We spoke with "Jose" the general manager about it last year at the DVC yearly meeting. We certainly expressed our joy of being at "Home" at The Lodge, but wondered if their was a basic flaw in the hot water system. He commented that they were aware of the situation and that it was not an easy fix. Maybe the upcoming construction has a small part of the budget to get us some "really hot" water in the future.

DiznyDi has also always thought the water does not taste as nice as other Disney resorts. I can't really tell the difference. She always has a couple of cases of bottled water delivered to us so our morning coffee is at its best, plus it beats buying bottled water in the parks.

I don't want to end this morning's dissertation with nothing but complaints; We love The Lodge, wouldn't trade our VWL points for double anywhere, and are enthusiastically looking forward to being their in just a couple weeks! No better place in The World to be to relax and enjoy each other!

(I hear a little voice from across the room proclaim "24 sleeps" this morning while getting ready for work; must be so . . . )

DDad...we hadn't noticed the hot water in previous stays. Maybe we're just getting to be old curmudgeons who don't adapt as well! I made coffee this morning with the tap water and it seemed okay. But then again I tend to doctor up my coffee with sweeteners and cream so I can't tell the difference.

Glad you made it Granny! We stay at the Lodge often and have found the hot water never really gets h-o-t. Hopefully that will be one of the items on the list to be addressed as work is being done. I didn't shower one morning because the water was downright cold. We stopped at the front desk to report, which of course, they already knew. Sorry we're going to miss you this trip! Hello to Mrs Granny!

Di...I've passed along your "hello", and Cindy says hi to you and DDad as well! And your post agrees completely with DDad's...glad you got your stories straight before posting.

Granny, have a great trip!

We actually had a bit of bumpy weather on both flights too. Actually, it was pretty bad on the way down, and once we flew through it all, I looked at my husband and said, after THAT the ToT looks tame, and at least it's controlled!! So guess what??!! I rode the ToT again!! It's been years since I've been on it!

Corinne...I'll bet you had a great time on ToT! That's Mrs Granny's favorite ride at WDW so we do it several times each trip. Despite the issues you encountered, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.

 

[Granny]

As far as reports go, this one will be pretty lame. We have had a steady rain drizzle so far and haven't seen the sun yet. Forecast for the next seven days calls for all day rain each day. So we're glad to be here for a long visit this time!! I haven't seen anything as far as construction goes beyond the scaffolding you've already seen at The Lodge.

We did have one piece of good news...for the first time ever we were able to book Flag Family. It is for a week from Saturday, their first opening. That works perfectly as our two daughters will be flying down to spend next weekend with us. So we are looking forward to finally getting to do that after many trips to WL/VWL.

I'll try to snoop around a bit in the next few days. And of course, provide any information I learn. Agent Granny signing off!

 

[Corinne]

Granny, we had rain nearly every day, and one really picture perfect day, but the clouds sure kept the heat down. How wonderful you will be the Flag Family and have your family all together! I'm excited for you!

 

[sleepydog25]

Corinne: Glad you loved AP! It has improved over the past year or so. It's a must-do for us (even during its less successful moments) thanks to the role it has played in our relationship.

Granny: Long visits are good. Wish we could do one. lol One day, perhaps. Until then, 6 days is long for us.

DizDad/Di: We bring water (since we almost always fly), and we even bring coffee beans and a grinder. The new coffee shop in Territory Lounge has made that less needed, it seems. Have a great trip!

brett: I'm not as sanguine as you about the improvements, but I do hope they'll be worth all the construction over the next 3-5 years.

To all: Thanks for the kind words and support re: my rant. It warms me to know that I've friends and acquaintances (most of whom I've never met) who allow me the freedom to speak my heart and mind. Again, thank you.