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

[Disney loving Iowan]

Well, things happened and my plan for loaning out my reservation to my uncle fell through.
So I sold the reservation as I really needed the funds anyway.
It seems to have gone off to a wonderful person & it makes me very happy to share in the excitement of a special Disney trip. Maybe my calling is to be a travel agent after all. Still have no idea how to break into this. Anyone with the 411, please let me know!

My first memories of Disney world were from the 70s when my parents took us camping in Fort Wilderness. The campground was amazing, paved roads, incredible playground, a train IN the campground, swimming in the lake (never had an issue with amebas or gators), paddle-boats, rental boats and THEN... after several days of this we were taken over to the MK. I had no idea there was an entire theme park accessible by boat!

The feeling the place evokes still to this day is indescribable... it's one of warmth and calm. My dad loved Disney and is now gone. Mom is slipping that way too. Disney always has and always will be my happy place, the memories made with my parents, siblings and my own kids aren't going anywhere and staying there via DVC means we're still in some of the most amazing resorts you will find anywhere with the most amazing staff.

By the way, while my heart is bruised from letting our march trip go I'm still planning on a December trip this year... who's going to be there the first week?

If Stopher was still on here he could help you with that. He seems to be doing pretty well with his travel agency.

 

[jimmytammy]

If Stopher was still on here he could help you with that. He seems to be doing pretty well with his travel agency.

A friend and fellow DISer, sechem32, works with Stopher PT and loves it! His business seems to be doing really well

 

[sleepydog25]

Morning, Groupies! Though not VWL, or even the Lodge, specific, here is some news from HHI for those of you who travel there. The coffee service in the lobby has returned. It's been revamped as a Keurig-style service with regular coffee and hot chocolate pods currently. There are also individually wrapped wafers (biscuits as Brits would say). The service is in Murggie's Den and the hours (subject to change) are 0600-1000 then again from 1400-1800. Below is a picture, though it's sideways. Still, you should be able to get the idea.

 

[jimmytammy]

Morning, Groupies! Though not VWL, or even the Lodge, specific, here is some news from HHI for those of you who travel there. The coffee service in the lobby has returned. It's been revamped as a Keurig-style service with regular coffee and hot chocolate pods currently. There are also individually wrapped wafers (biscuits as Brits would say). The service is in Murggie's Den and the hours (subject to change) are 0600-1000 then again from 1400-1800. Below is a picture, though it's sideways. Still, you should be able to get the idea.
View attachment 647579

Looking forward to checking it out! Are they allowing folks to play pool in there?

 

[sleepydog25]

Looking forward to checking it out! Are they allowing folks to play pool in there?

Oh, yes! The pool table in Murggie's Den has been open for a few months now. There are also games in a closet near the pool table which you can borrow by asking someone at the front desk to unlock said closet door. A second pool table is located at the Beach House, along with ping-pong, foosball, and corn hole. Yard games at the main resort also include corn hole, horseshoes (2 locations), a putting green, giant checkers, a basketball court (w/balls), and bocci ball.

Also, I forgot to mention this earlier, but there are two new picnic tables located on the deck next to Tide Me Over.

 

[Corinne]

Thanks Sleepy! We are sooooo looking forward to our very first stay there in April….here’s a segue…I need major pixie dust! the airfare for flights on our dates have remained exorbitant. I’m beginning to worry! Please, if any Groupies are so inclined, send somehaha! TIA

 

[sleepydog25]

Thanks Sleepy! We are sooooo looking forward to our very first stay there in April….here’s a segue…I need major pixie dust! the airfare for flights on our dates have remained exorbitant. I’m beginning to worry! Please, if any Groupies are so inclined, send somehaha! TIA

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks Sleepy! We are sooooo looking forward to our very first stay there in April….here’s a segue…I need major pixie dust! the airfare for flights on our dates have remained exorbitant. I’m beginning to worry! Please, if any Groupies are so inclined, send somehaha! TIA

 

[bobbiwoz]

Corinne, we expect to be in HHI 4/10-4/13. Do we overlap?

We have had some health issues, so for now, I say “expect,” these are not serious things, but let’s say we are happy for no change policies on flights!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Thanks Sleepy! We are sooooo looking forward to our very first stay there in April….here’s a segue…I need major pixie dust! the airfare for flights on our dates have remained exorbitant. I’m beginning to worry! Please, if any Groupies are so inclined, send somehaha! TIA

 

[Corinne]

Hi Bobbi,

Sadly, no, our dates do not overlap. We have a quick weekend planned. 4/1-4/4. Our DIL a will be 9 months pregnant in June so we decided to make this trip (what I hope to be the first of) my milestone birthday vacation.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi Bobbi,

Sadly, no, our dates do not overlap. We have a quick weekend planned. 4/1-4/4. Our DIL a will be 9 months pregnant in June so we decided to make this trip (what I hope to be the first of) my milestone birthday vacation.

Oh my! You have good reasons to enjoy your trip! That’s wonderful

 

[Suzabella]

We're 81 days out on our DHHIR trip. Can't wait!

Sadlly, I did move our September reservation from BRV. But, because Disney is playing with APs, we decided we would only do one trip next use year instead of many so I had a ton of covid points to use. I booked us in a cabin at CCV for some of our trip. We've always wanted to stay there and we're still at our beloved VWL.

I also decided to upgrade our Boardwalk stay to a 2 bedroom since we had points to burn. We really wanted the short walk to Epcot during food and wine. I've been looking and found a unicorn - a 2 bedroom at Beach Club. We've always wanted to stay there too. Checking 2 new resorts off the bucket list.

We're traveling with friends who have never been to WDW before. Might as well make the trip a special one. I'm more excited about the resorts we'll be staying in than the parks and that makes me sad. Hoping that seeing it all through their eyes for the first time will make for a great visit.

 

[ErinC]

Well, things happened and my plan for loaning out my reservation to my uncle fell through.
So I sold the reservation as I really needed the funds anyway.
It seems to have gone off to a wonderful person & it makes me very happy to share in the excitement of a special Disney trip. Maybe my calling is to be a travel agent after all. Still have no idea how to break into this. Anyone with the 411, please let me know!

My first memories of Disney world were from the 70s when my parents took us camping in Fort Wilderness. The campground was amazing, paved roads, incredible playground, a train IN the campground, swimming in the lake (never had an issue with amebas or gators), paddle-boats, rental boats and THEN... after several days of this we were taken over to the MK. I had no idea there was an entire theme park accessible by boat!

The feeling the place evokes still to this day is indescribable... it's one of warmth and calm. My dad loved Disney and is now gone. Mom is slipping that way too. Disney always has and always will be my happy place, the memories made with my parents, siblings and my own kids aren't going anywhere and staying there via DVC means we're still in some of the most amazing resorts you will find anywhere with the most amazing staff.

Twinklebug, I could of written this post! Maybe we met in the 70's? We camped at Fort Wilderness when I was a kid. We lived in Florida, so we would at times spend weekends at the Fort. I remember the train (I have a picture of it somewhere that I actually think I posted on here once). Funny thing is that as a child, I don't think I realized that we were even on the same property with the Magic Kingdom! We had a pop up camper and camping was a way for us to travel cheaply. We bought an RV last year, and we have our first Fort Wilderness reservations in November. I'm probably more excited about that trip, than the one we have at the end of March. I regret that my kids will never get to experience it. I keep hoping that they might get to show up for a few days, but they all have other places to be at this age. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I've contemplated doing the Disney travel agent thing. Let me know if you find out anything worth looking into.

Granny, I sure hope that next trip works out for you and your wife. I know several groupies have had to cancel, but your input here is still what makes this thread a great place to come back to. Sleepy, I guess I was MIA when you left teaching and went to work for Disney. I always love to read your input. The current state of Disney makes me sad for the future, but I sure hope there are brighter days ahead. I do wonder if the younger generation will ever feel about Disney like we do? A friend posted the other day on Facebook that they were surprising their teenage child with a day at a theme park in Orlando. She wanted recommendations for which park to choose. Overwhelmingly the people's vote on the thread was Universal. I put HS, and so did a few others, but I just don't think Disney is where it's at for the older teenage, young adult age group.

 

[sleepydog25]

Granny, I sure hope that next trip works out for you and your wife. I know several groupies have had to cancel, but your input here is still what makes this thread a great place to come back to. Sleepy, I guess I was MIA when you left teaching and went to work for Disney. I always love to read your input. The current state of Disney makes me sad for the future, but I sure hope there are brighter days ahead. I do wonder if the younger generation will ever feel about Disney like we do? A friend posted the other day on Facebook that they were surprising their teenage child with a day at a theme park in Orlando. She wanted recommendations for which park to choose. Overwhelmingly the people's vote on the thread was Universal. I put HS, and so did a few others, but I just don't think Disney is where it's at for the older teenage, young adult age group.

Covid put an end to my teaching as I was 1) a temp certified teacher on a 3-year contract, and 2) I taught all non-core classes (military science, theater, elective writing course). I was nearing the end of my second contracted year when classes were halted, and we finished out the year online as best as possible. The last year, I was going to only be contracted to teach a single class as they were focusing mostly on the core, and the pay was going to be based on just that class. Understandable, but I wasn't going to drive 20 minutes one way every day to teach one class.

And, yes, this is a great place to come to, find some normalcy (well, other than maybe JT--I mean that guy's elevator just doesn't go to the top floor if you know what I mean ), and to share our stories.

 

[twinklebug]

Twinklebug, I could of written this post! Maybe we met in the 70's? We camped at Fort Wilderness when I was a kid. We lived in Florida, so we would at times spend weekends at the Fort. I remember the train (I have a picture of it somewhere that I actually think I posted on here once). Funny thing is that as a child, I don't think I realized that we were even on the same property with the Magic Kingdom! We had a pop up camper and camping was a way for us to travel cheaply. We bought an RV last year, and we have our first Fort Wilderness reservations in November. I'm probably more excited about that trip, than the one we have at the end of March. I regret that my kids will never get to experience it. I keep hoping that they might get to show up for a few days, but they all have other places to be at this age. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I've contemplated doing the Disney travel agent thing. Let me know if you find out anything worth looking into.

FW was much smaller back then, If you ever vacationed there in April, there's an excellent chance we crossed paths!

I forgot to mention I loved the internal trams. Parking lot trams are boring... add in the twists and turns of a campground and we had a blast sliding across the seats and the drivers were hysterical (to a 7 year old)

Have fun with your RV!
If I discover any info on breaking into the TA business I'll be sure to share.

 

[TCRAIG]

Y’all see that DVC Moonlight Magic is back? Various dates March-Sept…

 

[UrsulaTime]

I forgot to mention I loved the internal trams.

Ha! So I'm not the only one. We camped at the Fort a couple times in the early 90's (maybe 90 and 91?) and I've never forgotten how much I loved the internal busses.

 

[Corinne]

Y’all see that DVC Moonlight Magic is back? Various dates March-Sept…

Yes, unfortunately none of the dates coincide with our current plans. That could certainly change! Are you hoping to attend any of the events Tricia?

 

[TCRAIG]

Yes, unfortunately none of the dates coincide with our current plans. That could certainly change! Are you hoping to attend any of the events Tricia?

I wasn’t - and then some little bedeviled mouse sitting on my shoulder whispered in my ear and said - ‘go ahead and look for availability- what have you got to lose’…and dang if I wasn’t able to grab 5 nights in July that’ll allow us to attend the HS event…