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

[Suzabella]

We're staying Marriott this trip. We own there HHI also. Our goal was to go every other year alternating. We recently added on enough points to go every year at DHHIR and may sell the Marriott. Undecided until the maintenance fee bill comes....

 

[Dizny Dad]

Sleepy - so sorry that the Flip-Flop Bandit struck so early in the morning. but loosing the Flip-Flops is NOT your fault, as you mentioned. Your weakness was having faith in others. Never let go of your trust in other. Most folks, just like the CMs, are great folks. Hey, pics, too! We have never been to the resort, and have local friends that have it as there Home resort, but just have never been motivated to try it. Ahhhhhh, , , , retirement and more free time is coming! We'll keep it on the list!

 

[DVC Jen]

We have never been to the resort, and have local friends that have it as there Home resort, but just have never been motivated to try it. Ahhhhhh, , , , retirement and more free time is coming! We'll keep it on the list!

You will love it. We went a few years ago. Were lucky enough to get a one bedroom for early June at the 7 month window. We spent a week there and really enjoyed it. The themeing/decor has a rustic feel to it that strongly reminded me of our beloved lodge rooms before they homogenized them. I also have to agree the CMs are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Prior to our trip I thought the CMs at Vero Beach (our 2nd home resort) were the best. But HHI CMs blow them away. They are so friendly and warm. Our last day was a complete washout as a tropical storm hit. Torrential downpours. We got a phone call telling us if we needed to go anywhere just call and they would send a golf cart or someone with umbrellas to walk us where we needed/wanted to go.

As we were packing up our car we had the trolley filled with our luggage not 2 feet from the trunk when female CM came over and offered to help us pack our car. Blew me away! She said she hoped we enjoyed our stay, was sad to see us go. She said she hoped we would be back and had a safe trip home. She was just one of many that went out of their way to see if we needed anything.

HHI is definitely on my must return list. We are even considering buying points there at some point.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

No grounds crew on the flip-flops, just our stupidity in leaving them visible or, even better, not leaving them in the car and walking barefoot from the parking lot. We suspect someone came along--most likely on the way out--saw them, took them. It's our own fault, truly, but annoying nonetheless. We actually tucked them up into the bushes so they wouldn't be immediately visible. Obviously, they weren't as hidden as we thought!

Might have been as simple as a local or anyone going past who thought they had been accidently left and was cleaning up. Having lived around Lake Tahoe for many years you couldn't imagine the things that get left by visitors. You see that long enough and you start deciding to clean things up the first time you see it rather than walking past it a few days before doing so. When I read you left your shoes under a bush I did a little . It would never occur to me to do that and I probably would be a person who would assume they were forgotten. Such a bummer for Luv. Doesn't crocs still make the Disney sandals?

I've always heard such nice things about HHI - still have to figure out a trip to visit there!

 

[sleepydog25]

We're staying Marriott this trip. We own there HHI also. Our goal was to go every other year alternating. We recently added on enough points to go every year at DHHIR and may sell the Marriott. Undecided until the maintenance fee bill comes....

We loved the Marriott the first time a few years ago--ocean front, high floor. Two years after that, we went back, and it wasn't quite as lovely an experience. They had added a band playing in the afternoons, and with another ocean front room, it was nonstop, loud partying from noon until evening. Even with the sliding doors closed, it was too loud, and sitting on the balcony or at the pool was worse. So, the next trip we stayed at Palmetto Dunes in a rental unit. Really enjoyed that until we got a ticket the last day because we had failed to put our pass back in the windshield from dinner the night before (I don't like to advertise we're tourists). All that to say, we were very happy staying at DHHIR this time around.

Sleepy - so sorry that the Flip-Flop Bandit struck so early in the morning. but loosing the Flip-Flops is NOT your fault, as you mentioned. Your weakness was having faith in others. Never let go of your trust in other. Most folks, just like the CMs, are great folks. Hey, pics, too! We have never been to the resort, and have local friends that have it as there Home resort, but just have never been motivated to try it. Ahhhhhh, , , , retirement and more free time is coming! We'll keep it on the list!

No, having them taken wasn't our fault; still, we take some blame for being stupid enough to leave them lying around when we thought better of it for a split second. You really should visit HHI--so very relaxing, and as DVC Jen says (and as Suzabella and I would agree), the theming is superb and reminiscent of how the main areas of the Lodge still are. Even the rooms have a definite cozy feel to them which is wonderful to still see at a Disney resort.

Might have been as simple as a local or anyone going past who thought they had been accidently left and was cleaning up. Having lived around Lake Tahoe for many years you couldn't imagine the things that get left by visitors. You see that long enough and you start deciding to clean things up the first time you see it rather than walking past it a few days before doing so. When I read you left your shoes under a bush I did a little . It would never occur to me to do that and I probably would be a person who would assume they were forgotten. Such a bummer for Luv. Doesn't crocs still make the Disney sandals?

I've always heard such nice things about HHI - still have to figure out a trip to visit there!

We thought of that, and it's certainly possible, but other folks' accoutrement nearby was untouched. I checked the garbage cans, and we spoke to a Disney CM who was cleaning in and around the garage, but to no avail. They're just flip-flops, so not a big deal in the larger scheme of the world. They don't make this particular pair any longer nor that color scheme nor decorative pattern, so I guess "no" is the short answer.

You will love it. We went a few years ago. Were lucky enough to get a one bedroom for early June at the 7 month window. We spent a week there and really enjoyed it. The themeing/decor has a rustic feel to it that strongly reminded me of our beloved lodge rooms before they homogenized them. I also have to agree the CMs are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Prior to our trip I thought the CMs at Vero Beach (our 2nd home resort) were the best. But HHI CMs blow them away. They are so friendly and warm. Our last day was a complete washout as a tropical storm hit. Torrential downpours. We got a phone call telling us if we needed to go anywhere just call and they would send a golf cart or someone with umbrellas to walk us where we needed/wanted to go.

As we were packing up our car we had the trolley filled with our luggage not 2 feet from the trunk when female CM came over and offered to help us pack our car. Blew me away! She said she hoped we enjoyed our stay, was sad to see us go. She said she hoped we would be back and had a safe trip home. She was just one of many that went out of their way to see if we needed anything.

HHI is definitely on my must return list. We are even considering buying points there at some point.

Yep, your examples seem just about right. They're all so darn friendly and helpful! We, too, are considering buying points there; however, given we may be moving farther south in the not-too-distant future, that possibility has dimmed slightly.

 

[Granny]

Sleepy...thank you for the recap of your trip and the beautiful pictures! Those views of the marsh are wonderful, aren't they? And I couldn't agree more about the HH cast members. I'm glad to hear that they haven't changed things up much there since Disney seems to love to tinker with success. Sorry to hear about your trip glitches, but glad that you were able to piece together a reservation at the resort. Great persistence on achieving that!


As for other posts, I am enjoying everyone planning their December trips...though it does make me a little wistful. This will be the first December trip we will miss since 2015. And I know I will be missing the Christmas decorations, the music and general Christmas ambiance. But what I will miss most will be Candlelight Processional. It is such a wonderful production, and the smiling, singing CMs do a great job. And I am thankful that they don't water down CP by trying to make it non-religious. And we will be missing our many Groupie friends on our next trip, I'm sure. It has been a while since we did a WDW trip without any Groupie meets!

But it is good to mix things up now and again, and I'm sure we will enjoy October at WDW.

 

[ErinC]

Sounds like you had a great trip Sleepy! Sorry about the flip flops. I can not stand a thief!
I had to “work” today. Went to school for a meeting. Summer is passing so quickly. School will be back before I even get close to finishing my summer to do list.
Just curious if anyone has seen/bought this issue of Time? I saw it the other day when I was checking out at Barnes and Noble. Not sure how long it’s been out. It had a $13.99 price tag on it, so I didn’t pick it up. Online it says it’s $8.99 with free shipping. Just curious if I “need” it or not?
https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/life...MI0_2inMmm4wIVlsDICh1d8gVfEAQYASABEgKJBvD_BwE

 

[Starwind]

Sounds like you had a great trip Sleepy! Sorry about the flip flops. I can not stand a thief!
I had to “work” today. Went to school for a meeting. Summer is passing so quickly. School will be back before I even get close to finishing my summer to do list.
Just curious if anyone has seen/bought this issue of Time? I saw it the other day when I was checking out at Barnes and Noble. Not sure how long it’s been out. It had a $13.99 price tag on it, so I didn’t pick it up. Online it says it’s $8.99 with free shipping. Just curious if I “need” it or not?
https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/life...MI0_2inMmm4wIVlsDICh1d8gVfEAQYASABEgKJBvD_BwE

See if your local library has free access to electronic magazines through their website. Ours does and most magazines I am interested in are included. Time is on their list. Saves $ in subscriptions !

SW

 

[Suzabella]

Hi all!! There's no place else I'd rather share this....our points are in our account today! We are officially VWL/BRV owners!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi all!! There's no place else I'd rather share this....our points are in our account today! We are officially VWL/BRV owners!!

 

[sleepydog25]

@Suzabella Home! And,

 

[sleepydog25]

A few more shots from our time at HHI. . .

Luv is holding the bucket with the crab she caught but it looks as though he's coming after her!


A chilled seafood throw down at our favorite joint, Skull Creek Boathouse


There's a place called the Social Bakery that sits right across the bridge at the marina. Darn good eats! Top left is a peach and mango tart; to its immediate right is a salted caramel tart; and the bottom item is a raspberry macaron. It bills itself as a French bakery, and the man running around trying to fill orders sounded European. The woman actually checking us out was not and was a bit snooty--I was taping the items in the four large display cases (everything from pastries to quiches), and she asked that we not film because "it doesn't make the food look good unless displayed properly." Ironically, she then proceeded to call the raspberry macaron a "macarOOn." Anyway, each was quite good. . .and expensive, as in about $8 each.


They do this at HHI! (On the resort TV channel)

 

[Granny]

Hi all!! There's no place else I'd rather share this....our points are in our account today! We are officially VWL/BRV owners!!

And a Happy Moose Dust dance for you!!!!

​

 

[Granny]

They do this at HHI! (On the resort TV channel)
View attachment 415864

That is very cool....what a nice touch!

 

[ErinC]

Hi all!! There's no place else I'd rather share this....our points are in our account today! We are officially VWL/BRV owners!!

So... now that they are there, have you made a reservation yet?

 

[Suzabella]

So... now that they are there, have you made a reservation yet?

Not yet. We're heading to DHHIR in May so trying to figure out when to head to VWL/BRV. Likely a year from this fall....if we can wait that long.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Hey . . Suzabella . . . . Happy Days!!!

 

[DVC Jen]

Hi all!! There's no place else I'd rather share this....our points are in our account today! We are officially VWL/BRV owners!!

Sooooo exciting! Welcome Home!

 

[jimmytammy]

Sleepy, great trip report! We have had HH on the agenda twice, and in both instances had to cancel because of illness in the family. One day soon we hope

Suza, that's great news! We are glad that you thought of us 1st, you came to the right place, as we are excited for you

Wanted to share with yall, one of the below is full of a cup o Joe every morning at home for me. Its how every day starts for me

 

[Suzabella]

I love those! I need to get one for DH. We just purchased a Mickey Waffle maker so these would be a terrific addition to our mornings.