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

[jimmytammy]

Is that inside Nine Dragons Restaurant at EPCOT?

You are correct!




That's a great audience interaction! Sounds like you had a good time.

The kid was having a blast, it was so cool to be there when it happened

 

[jimmytammy]

The Springhill I mentioned, if you are interested in staying here, if you happen to be driving in from the I75 area, just catch 429. The way we travel in, we are on I4, then we catch 417 to exit 3(Osceola Parkway). This dumps you onto WDW property, head over like you are going to Coronado Springs Resort, then take a left onto Western Way just before reaching CSR, and Springhill is just past bridge at 429. There is also a Towneplace connected to same resort. They share amenities, but both are so big, you don't really feel the crowds.

 

[jimmytammy]

View from our room

 

[sleepydog25]

Got wait listed for December 15-18 at VWL for a studio, and got on the wait list for CCV. What are y'alls experiences with the wait list? Do you ever get the room or is a waste of time?

First, welcome to the Groupies! Second, a waitlist of that length during that time frame will be extremely difficult to fill--not impossible but I'd say the odds aren't in your favor. We once got our waitlist filled for the first week of December (made reservation in May) by piecing together here and there. We started with 2 days out of the five we had booked in between two other resorts, so it would have been a split stay times three. Two of our days came through in July, I believe, so we were down to the single split stay. It stayed that way until October when the final day at VWL came through. Thus, it CAN happen, but we were a) fortunate and b) had a little less busy week we were shooting for. I wouldn't call waitlisting a waste of time, regardless, because it's simple to do and it costs you nothing. . .and it might actually work. Good luck!

 

[horselover]

JT - I've been meaning to ask. How's DD feeling? Everything going well?

 

[Granny]

View attachment 238641 View from our room

Nice view! Great that you were able to snag a lower level room...it sure makes the animal viewing better. Hope you are enjoying your trip!

 

[jimmytammy]

Julie thanks for asking. Kristian is doing good now. Her 1st 3 months were a bit tough lots of sickness but she feels great now. Only issue, with her small stature the little bugger is kicking her ribs out of place so she has to go to chiropractor to help get them back in place.

Granny we were hoping for a high floor but the lower floor does allow for great views of the savannah so it's a blessing in disguise that none of our requests were met

 

[jimmytammy]

 

[DiznyDi]

JT: DDad and I did the Sunset Safari one year. It was really a nice thing to do. Concluded with a fabulous dinner at Jiko. We were introduced to Mary - a rather cantankerous ostrich with only one eye. I wonder if that's her in your photo?
DDaughter and I will be staying AKL in Oct. So I should request a lower floor room?

Thanks for your report and your photos!

 

[jimmytammy]

AnnieT is staying here with her DH Alan, and they are on floor above us, just off to our left. We went to Epcot yesterday with Annie, rode Soarin, JIYI and SE. Capt D had our car talking in spanish, that made for a different take on the ride and actually made me pay more attention to the props. Then we ate at San Angel. Good as always.
Today we ate at Sanaa, our 1st and definitely not last time. Annie and her friend who is a current DVC CM had lunch with us and she got us a CM discount of 40%...sweeeettt!!
Headed over to AK in a few minutes to meet wfc4life and sechem32 and catch a couple FPs. Then off to Epcot/Via Napoli

 

[jimmytammy]

JT: DDad and I did the Sunset Safari one year. It was really a nice thing to do. Concluded with a fabulous dinner at Jiko. We were introduced to Mary - a rather cantankerous ostrich with only one eye. I wonder if that's her in your photo?
DDaughter and I will be staying AKL in Oct. So I should request a lower floor room?

Thanks for your report and your photos!

We will have to check that out. We love this place and want to take advantage of all it offers

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

JT: DDad and I did the Sunset Safari one year. It was really a nice thing to do. Concluded with a fabulous dinner at Jiko. We were introduced to Mary - a rather cantankerous ostrich with only one eye. I wonder if that's her in your photo?
DDaughter and I will be staying AKL in Oct. So I should request a lower floor room?

Thanks for your report and your photos!

I was wondering the same thing Di when I saw Jimmy's picture! We also did the Sunset Safari a few years ago and old One Eye came over and stared us down for quite awhile! Nobody was sticking their hands our or leaning forward that's for sure!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Happy Birthday @MiaSRN62!!!
Hope you're doing well and have a wonderful day!
​

 

[twinklebug]

Happy Birthday Maria! (MiaSRN62)

 

[sleepydog25]

Today we ate at Sanaa, our 1st and definitely not last time.

Sanaa is one of our favorite places to eat. The bread service alone is worth going! In fact, we usually just order the bread service and another small side of soup or salad. Perfect for lunch.

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIA!!

 

[twokats]

Happy Birthday, Maria!!!!!!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Got wait listed for December 15-18 at VWL for a studio, and got on the wait list for CCV. What are y'alls experiences with the wait list? Do you ever get the room or is a waste of time?

I think you have a very decent chance for the waitlist.

I'm a changer and a waitlister and have some pretty good experience in having them filled. My longest was a 6 nights for a BWV 1BR last Feb that filled a few days after the 30 day mark but I've had other waitlists of 5 days fill. This morning around 9am PDT I put in a waitlist for a single day at VGC for June 25th and when I checked at 4PM PDT it had been filled! lol

 

[ArielSRL]

Sanaa is one of our favorite places to eat. The bread service alone is worth going! In fact, we usually just order the bread service and another small side of soup or salad. Perfect for lunch.

This is my plan for our first time at Sanaa in a couple weeks!

 

[TCRAIG]

A few years ago they started running 2 different kinds of boats to MK so unless something changed in the last few months he will be able to. But one is the smaller launch that can't accommodate the ECV so you could potentially end up having to wait for the next larger boat if the small one showed up first when you were there. There is also the bus to MK that could take the ECV.

Correct - THe larger boats accommodate EVCs. When we were there in Dec - the CMs running the smaller boats made sure one of the larger boats were available to take us back and forth from WL/MK and CR/BLT for TOWL.

 

[Dizny Dad]

JT: . . . . . . . . . . So I should request a lower floor room? . . . . . . .

Oh, I see how this works now. When I'm away at work, you are asking Jimmy if you should get a lower floor room for you and DD's trip in October. How come when I travel with you, you insist on "No Lower Rooms, 'cause the critters can get in"? Let's talk when I get home . . . . .