VWL Groupies...yes, we love the Lodge, a lot!!

[Inkmahm]

I've been glued to the TV since late this afternoon watching the coverage of the Moore OK tornado and sending prayers for all of those poor people, especially the families of the children lost in the school. That brought tears to my eyes when the announced the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders were in the part of the school that had completely disappeared in the tornado. How sad. I'm hoping we don't have any groupies that live in OK! Does anyone know?

If we do have any OK groupies of the lodge, I hope they are okay. I only know one family personally who lives in Enid, OK. They are probably 50 to 75 miles away from Moore so I hope they are all safe (haven't heard yet.)

 

[Inkmahm]

Here's my celebrity sighting story! I hope I haven't told it here before...

We had my niece from Msp staying with us about 6 or 7 years ago when she was in Milwaukee for the Harlem Globetrotters basketball camp. I guess that makes the first celebrities in this story the various members of the Globetrotters team who were in town to run the camps.

My niece loves Japanese food so we took her to dinner at Benihana's. We normally don't go to this restaurant but our regular favorite Japanese restaurant was closed at the time. It was raining cats and dogs so there weren't many people at the restaurant. We were a group of three (me, Haley and Dynaguy, aka Douglas) and we were seated with a group of 3 really rough looking guys and a well dressed young woman. I put Haley in the seat at the end of the table, farthest away from the other party as possible. If they were going to be rowdy and loud, I wanted to protect her as much as I could.

The group was very polite both to us and to the waitress. They ordered dinner and started talking so that it was obvious that the guys were musicians in a band and the woman was the daughter of the oldest guy. I couldn't for the life of me place who it was though. I whispered to Douglas that I thought it was Keith Richards (we had just seen a Pirates movie) and he assured me I was wrong. He finally whispered to me that we were having dinner with Alice Cooper. They were playing a concert in town the next day and were on their way to see another band play at the local Indian casino that night. As I said, they were very polite. There wasn't a single bad word out of any of them and they were genuinely nice people! At the end of dinner, I wanted to take a picture of Haley with Alice to be able to show my sister what Haley had been up to while she stayed with us. Of course, I never took pictures with my little flip phone and had no idea really how to do it. Alice told me to hand the phone to his daughter because she was young and only young people understand the technology of things like phones.

A guy at another table came over to ask Alice for his autograph. He also stopped to tell my niece how lucky she was to be having dinner with such a famous man. When we left the restaurant, Haley wanted to know who it was that she had had her picture taken with. We said he was a famous musician and she wanted to know if it was Elvis! Haley was only about 8 or 9 years old at the time and I'm sure she had never heard of Alice Cooper.

I've told many people since that night that if there was ever an example of not judging a book by its cover, it was Alice Cooper and his band. They looked like they would be loud and obnoxious with bad language, and they were exactly the opposite.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think I'm just too far behind.....had some emergency medical issues with my daughter's future father-in-law. He collapsed and needed emergent pacemaker surgery this past week. He is fine, but it was rough for a couple days as he aspirated on the operating room table and needed to be put on a ventilator. He was in the ICU for 4-5 days. He's better now.

Anyway...is eliza in Paris now ??? If so, have a TRES BELLE trip girl !!!!

JT....loved your pics and the mini meet one with Jill !

No celebrity sightings for me ---which is odd considering how many times I've been to WDW. One trip I was staying at the BC and I heard Johnny Depp was staying at the Yacht Club with his children and their mother. I never saw him though. I know...boring story....it's all I got right now but I'm enjoy reading about all of your encounters

 

[bagsmom]

Maria -- I'm behind, too. I feel bad not being able to respond to everyone directly -- I'm not good at doing that thing where you can include little quoted snippets of other people's comments. Too high tech! Sorry about the scare with the pacemaker! Medical stuff is so freaky.

Can I ask for some groupie prayers? My very dear friend Jill has had some setbacks in battling cancer. I'm very afraid for her, but I keep on praying for a miracle! She is young and has young children. The world really needs her to be in it!

Oklahoma -- tornadoes scare the poo right out of me. I thought this year was going to be sort of mild in terms of tornadoes, but I guess once the warm weather started, the bad weather started, too. This is so sad.... In the midst of all the tragedy, though, it is inspiring to see all the people out there acting as God's hands....

On a much lighter note -- I LOVE your Alice Cooper story! You usually hear this sort of story in the reverse -- a celebrity who seems really nice acting like a jerk.... I think this is such a nice story!

 

[sleepydog25]

Lets see, celebrity sightings, most have been in WDW, as where I live, no celebrity hangs out there, though one time, DS and me saw Chris Daughtry in our local grocery store, spoke to him, got his autograph. One cool thing, Tom Hanks sneaks into our town every so often, stays with a family we know, but I have never seen him.

1st sighting, Robert Urich and his wife(she was a Von Trapp child in Sound of Music)at Country Bear Jamboree. Saw Trisha Yearwood in AK walking by, Whoopi Goldberg at MK, Chipper Jones at MK, Bobby Cox at AKL(spoke to him), David Thompson(1974 NCAA Champion team)Juice Newton at WL(DD spoke to her, got autograph) and Brian Giles(MLB player)

I know I will think of more that I remember seeing, but those are the ones that come to mind right now, and I can add Gary Sinise now

You're a veritable star-attractor, JT! Luv would loved to have met Daughtry (I'm not a fan), whereas I'd be more of a wanting to meet Whoopi person.

Lovely story, Inkmahm. So true about not judging a book by its cover. Reminds me of the FedEx commercial where the manager of a rock band chides them for not looking scary as they schlepp their golf clubs through the airport. He's upset and yelling, and they're all very calm.

 

[Muushka]

Prior to DVC, DDad and I had the 'kids' at the Yacht Club. While enjoying Stormalong Bay, DDad spoke briefly with Maclean Stevenson (M*A*S*H).

As a teenager visiting Sea World - when it was still in Ohio - I was fortunate enough to get the autograph of LLoyd Bridges. Dear mom still has the photo.

Also at Sea World with our kids, we spoke with Greg Louganis.

Perry King is from my hometown. He will occasionally come back to do parades.

Martin Sheen married a women from a neighboring town. While employed at the local bank, he walked in. Prettiest blue eyes ever!

As I read a post like this I realize that my sightings are like shooting fish in a barrel!
You Groupies have seen some wonderful stars!

Maria -- I'm behind, too. I feel bad not being able to respond to everyone directly -- I'm not good at doing that thing where you can include little quoted snippets of other people's comments. Too high tech! Sorry about the scare with the pacemaker! Medical stuff is so freaky.

Can I ask for some groupie prayers? My very dear friend Jill has had some setbacks in battling cancer. I'm very afraid for her, but I keep on praying for a miracle! She is young and has young children. The world really needs her to be in it!

Oklahoma -- tornadoes scare the poo right out of me. I thought this year was going to be sort of mild in terms of tornadoes, but I guess once the warm weather started, the bad weather started, too. This is so sad.... In the midst of all the tragedy, though, it is inspiring to see all the people out there acting as God's hands....

On a much lighter note -- I LOVE your Alice Cooper story! You usually hear this sort of story in the reverse -- a celebrity who seems really nice acting like a jerk.... I think this is such a nice story!

I am sorry your friend is having such difficult health problems. She and the great state of OK are in my prayers.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Can I ask for some groupie prayers? My very dear friend Jill has had some setbacks in battling cancer. I'm very afraid for her, but I keep on praying for a miracle! She is young and has young children. The world really needs her to be in it!

Your friend has my prayers as well bagsmom. I truly hope she gets that miracle.

 

[bagsmom]

Thanks, everyone! I believe in prayer, and she does too, so I know it will help!

 

[Nicoal13]

I will pray for your friend bagsmom.



On a lighter note, no pics of DH and his celebrity bathroom buddies.

 

[jimmytammy]

MK today, still raining, so back again to try tomorrow, Epcot at night with a Biergarten dinner, Ate at Boatwrights with friends, very good, dessert amazing.

Bagsmom, prayers coming your friends way.

Inkmahm, Alice became a Christian a few yrs back, still doing his thing in the music world, but deep down, is a good guy, not my cup o tea musically, but a good guy all the same

Ink, your story reminds me, I saw Richard Petty and his DW at a japanese restaurant a few yrs back, sadly, she has had some major health issues to stricken her. Being in middle of Nascar country, we see a lot of those kind of guys around, but talk about class act, Richard is called King for more than his driving.

DD has a friend who has friends with a student missing in OK tornado ravaged school. Its sad and really hits home, prayere needed in a major way for those folks.

 

[jimmytammy]

Recognize this place
Took this shot after eating at Kona
Told you I would get some WL photos
This one is a teaser, more coming soon!!

 

[blossomz]

Hi all. I've been lurking rather than talking but ill chime in for the celeb discussion! I saw coby Bryant et al in MK. And there was a Washington bullets player in Tony's once. (His name escapes me!). Not very exciting stories! Lol

 

[sleepydog25]

Seeing as I'm stuck at the car dealership for minor service, I'll mention my celeb sightings. I lived in So Cal for a time and while there, I saw Bill Russell and Pat Sajak (which is a story unto itself) at LAX. When I was a kid, our town was on the national rodeo circuit, and one year Robert Conrad was the entertainment during breaks (he sang--not well--and did stunt fights). As I sold refreshments, I got up and close a few times. I met a few celebs at one time for a game show though most names escape me now: Stuart Pankin, Ian ? (he was on a soap), Pam Postema (COACH), and the voice of Ursula from THE LITTLE MERMAID (Pat ?). I even ran into Neil Patrick Harris (he was in DOOGIENHOWSER MD then). I have one more sighting to mention later.

 

[rusafee1183]

Hey all! We made it home safe and sound from Alaska! It was hands down the most incredible place I have ever seen.

It was so beautiful, there is no way my pictures can convey how amazing it is there. I will definitely post a few pics once I catch up on a few things at home. Today is my first day back to work, and I am EXHAUSTED. The time changes really messed with me, I never had any clue what time it was because we went from Eastern to Central to Pacific, up into Canada, then Alaska, back to Canada, back to Central, back to Eastern. I am so wiped out..... I will be lucky if I don't fall asleep at my desk

I need to go back and catch up on a few pages, so I hope all is well with everyone.

 

[wildernessDad]

, and the voice of Ursula from THE LITTLE MERMAID (Pat ?).

Carroll http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Carroll_(actress)

 

[bagsmom]

Hey all! We made it home safe and sound from Alaska! It was hands down the most incredible place I have ever seen.

It was so beautiful, there is no way my pictures can convey how amazing it is there. I will definitely post a few pics once I catch up on a few things at home. Today is my first day back to work, and I am EXHAUSTED. The time changes really messed with me, I never had any clue what time it was because we went from Eastern to Central to Pacific, up into Canada, then Alaska, back to Canada, back to Central, back to Eastern. I am so wiped out..... I will be lucky if I don't fall asleep at my desk

I need to go back and catch up on a few pages, so I hope all is well with everyone.

Welcome back! Now you can take a little nap and then start planning your next Disney trip!

 

[bagsmom]

15 Days

 

[twokats]

DD has a friend who has friends with a student missing in OK tornado ravaged school. Its sad and really hits home, prayere needed in a major way for those folks.

Monday, I had lunch with a friend/client who also owns a house in Oklahoma City. She was down taking care of some business at her Texas home and stopped to have lunch with me. She drove down Sunday about 30 minutes ahead of all the storms that hit that day and I called her after I got home and saw the pictures from Moore and she was in tears. The storm at that time it left Moore was headed for her house. Her father, son and granddaughter were all in the path. As far as I know they were missed that afternoon, but I have really been thinking of her.

I also have a niece and her family in Lawton, Ok and cousins and great aunt in Broken Bow, OK.

I had doctors appts yesterday and was out and missed everything during the day until we headed for the house and from Mesquite to home which is usually a 45 minute drive, took us 2 hours with the wind and rain we ran into. It was nerve racking, but we made it. It is a beautiful sunshiny day today. Absolutely gorgeous.

Hope all groupies are doing well.

 

[sleepydog25]

It was hands down the most incredible place I have ever seen. It was so beautiful, there is no way my pictures can convey how amazing it is there.

Told ya.

wildernessDad: Yes! Pat Carroll! And the Ian in question is Ian Buchanan who has been on many soaps in his day.

 

[jimmytammy]

Happy Birthday MiaSRN62!!!!