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

[KAT4DISNEY]

What a treat!!! Enjoy !!!

NPR On Point
A wonderful interview with Richard Sherman Disney songwriter
"The Songs We Remember"
from Small World, to Mary Poppins talks about working with Walt
..... Walt's favorite song etc.
Great a trip down Memory Lane
You won't believe how many songs he and his brother wrote!

http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/09/17/songwriter-richard-sherman

I'll enjoy listening to this a little later on - thanks for the link!! I really developed a huge appreciation for the Sherman brothers over the years as it began to sink in how much music they contributed over the years and the music and scores in pictures are a huge thing for me. (I will watch How the West was Won every time I run across it on TV in large part for the score and also the ending photography!)

If you haven't seen the documentary that was done by two of their sons a few years ago you should try and catch it. It is called "The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story".

 

[jimmytammy]

teapot Thanks for sharing the story. The Sherman Bros were amazing team!! Always loved their music, way back from childhood(which these days was way back)

sleepy Great detail on the signs!! Thats some tedious work there
Your comment about the lake reminds me of a Arnold Palmer story shared with me...a fellow from Twin Lakes Retirement Community(where we do a lot of renovations)showed me a pic of himself with Arnie on the course. This fellow worked for GE during Arnies glory days, so he played with him during a pro am. Anywho, these 2 other fellows in the 4some were in the mix, Arnie tees up, skips one across a lake, and rolls it to green. One of the other guys says I bet he cant do that again. Well, Arnie hits exact same shot, other fellow says he just got lucky, Arnie tees it up, shoots exact same shot again, turns and just smiles at the guyas if too say, you wanna bet!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Today is the day...
Happy Birthday princesskat!!!!
Hope you and your mom, twokats are having a great cruising time!!

 

[sleepydog25]

teapot Thanks for sharing the story. The Sherman Bros were amazing team!! Always loved their music, way back from childhood(which these days was way back)

sleepy Great detail on the signs!! Thats some tedious work there
Your comment about the lake reminds me of a Arnold Palmer story shared with me...a fellow from Twin Lakes Retirement Community(where we do a lot of renovations)showed me a pic of himself with Arnie on the course. This fellow worked for GE during Arnies glory days, so he played with him during a pro am. Anywho, these 2 other fellows in the 4some were in the mix, Arnie tees up, skips one across a lake, and rolls it to green. One of the other guys says I bet he cant do that again. Well, Arnie hits exact same shot, other fellow says he just got lucky, Arnie tees it up, shoots exact same shot again, turns and just smiles at the guyas if too say, you wanna bet!!

As incredulous as the story sounds, I suspect it's true. The pros have amazing control over their shots, and they do it with just a slight turn of the wrist, or angle of the club approach, or deftness of touch. Yeah, the work is tedious but in some weird way, relaxing. I do most of the signs at the sign itself (vice removing the sign and painting it at home), so I'm out in the sun, have the occasional chat with a golfer, and I'm able to enjoy nature: rabbits munching clover nearby, a red-tail hawk gliding effortlessly a few hundred feet above my head (watch out, bunny!), and deer trotting across a nearby fairway. It's a muni course open to the public, so there isn't big money behind the operation. This painting is my small contribution to the community of homeowners living around the course as well as the golf club itself. For the record, I am the last person who I ever envisioned being able to paint with such precision. I'm more of a slap it on kinda guy.

 

[tea pot]

Happy Birthday Princesskat

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . And don't I feel like I'm back earning my ears!

So the 11 month tour of duty is about over; ten months at 12 to 14 hrs per day with a 1 hour drive each way, ending with a one month broken ribs reduced hours fiasco; didn't miss a day, but probably should have (says DiznyDi!).

I have been reading topics from time to time, but just have not been able to keep up the toe tappin' pace of "the before time". But now being back in the office with somewhat normal hours, I'll just try to jump back in and keep up as well as I can.

Hope all are well. DiznyDi has kept me in the know pretty well, but it is just not the same. Looking to see a few of you in the next few months during our Oct. and Dec. trips to the Happiest Place on Earth! (the Lodge, of course!)

 

[Corinne]

hi Dizny Dad good to see u!

Tonight is the last sleep before WDW! I really hope to see Granny, Eliza and Maria this weekend! I will be checking in. See you real soon!

 

[DiznyDi]

Yea Corinne! Have great fun! Make sure someone gets a picture.

Hi Muush! Yes, our December trip is a little later this year. So sorry we'll miss you! Mr Muush too! Looking ahead we'll be back May 2-10. Does that fit into your schedule?

 

[jimmytammy]

Dad
No problem about being MIA, just glad you are back And we look forward to seeing you folks soon!!

Corinne
Have a great trip and hope you catch up with everyone, tell em HEY for us!!

 

[Granny]

Hey Groupies!

It's been a very nice trip, but unfortunately drawing to a close WAY too soon as we leave tomorrow. We are definitely looking forward to meeting up with Eliza and Corinne later on today, and yes there will be photos at some point.

The wifi here has been its usual challenging self, so it has not been easy to get pictures uploaded to Photobucket. But after several attempts, I have at least been able to get a few loaded.


Here's our room location on the South outside end of the "C" that is Bay Lake Tower. Room 8134.



Entering our 1BR, this is the view we immediately saw:





But when we got on our balcony, we had a much broader view. Looking left, we have a very nice view of the south end of Bay Lake. Looking straight out, we see:




And looking right, we see:

 

[Granny]

And some views of our favorite place. This one from our balcony:



And zoomed in a bit:




From a boat...gotta love that "bear"!!








And from a little farther out in Bay Lake:




Sorry I don't have more pictures right now. I really haven't taken all that many this trip, and it took me over an hour just to upload these.

Hope everyone enjoyed this little reminder of home.

 

[DiznyDi]

WOW Granny! Many thanks for taking the time to upload and post the pictures! What a pleasant surprise as I sit here on this cool dark and damp Friday. Enjoy your last day. Let your 'group' know just how envious we all are of your meet.

Wishing all Groupies, whether in the World or out to sea, a restful and relaxing week-end!

 

[Muushka]

Oh Granny, I love that view. Thank you for posting the pictures.

. . . . . . And don't I feel like I'm back earning my ears!

So the 11 month tour of duty is about over; ten months at 12 to 14 hrs per day with a 1 hour drive each way, ending with a one month broken ribs reduced hours fiasco; didn't miss a day, but probably should have (says DiznyDi!).

I have been reading topics from time to time, but just have not been able to keep up the toe tappin' pace of "the before time". But now being back in the office with somewhat normal hours, I'll just try to jump back in and keep up as well as I can.

Hope all are well. DiznyDi has kept me in the know pretty well, but it is just not the same. Looking to see a few of you in the next few months during our Oct. and Dec. trips to the Happiest Place on Earth! (the Lodge, of course!)

Wow Dad, you are one dedicated employee. Good to see you

hi Dizny Dad good to see u!

Tonight is the last sleep before WDW! I really hope to see Granny, Eliza and Maria this weekend! I will be checking in. See you real soon!

What an awesome meet that will be! Hugs to some of my favorite groupies.

Yea Corinne! Have great fun! Make sure someone gets a picture.

Hi Muush! Yes, our December trip is a little later this year. So sorry we'll miss you! Mr Muush too! Looking ahead we'll be back May 2-10. Does that fit into your schedule?

May 2 we board the beautiful Wonder in Miami for a Panama Canal cruise. Come cruise with us instead!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks for the pictures Granny!

Isn't it strange how it takes so long for the start of a trip to arrive and then it's over in a blink of the eye!?!?!

 

[Andrew015]

By the way, rumors state that the refurb to the Poly will demolish the large fountain/planter in the center of the lobby. I'm against this as it's linked to memories of being there with my Nana when I was small.

I am against this also, 100%. If we end up with another giant giftshop in its place - much like the cheesy one in the center of the Grand Canyon Concourse @ Contemporary -I will truly be disgusted. Heck, I was bummed out when they removed the Macaws. I loved sitting on the benches watching them play around - could literally just sit there for hours.

I know Disney is in business to make money. But someone within the upper echelon of the Disney organization must know that a giftshop every 25 feet is NOT what we want to see. Especially when there is very little differentiation amongst the shops. In the "old days", you could at least find unique items at the various stores around the property. Now, not only can they be found around every corner, but they seem to have the same "junk" found in every other store on property. There are dollar stores and Walmarts every 500 feet in real life, I don't expect the same atmosphere on Main Street USA, or the Polynesian for that matter.

If this does, in fact happen, I hope the Tiki gods of the South Pacific join forces with the 999 Happy Haunts of the H.M. to strike fear in the hearts of WDW management.

 

[jimmytammy]

Granny
Loving the pics!! Cant wait til we can stay there, But I have to get through the Oct trip 1st

 

[sleepydog25]

I am against this also, 100%. If we end up with another giant giftshop in its place - much like the cheesy one in the center of the Grand Canyon Concourse @ Contemporary -I will truly be disgusted. Heck, I was bummed out when they removed the Macaws. I loved sitting on the benches watching them play around - could literally just sit there for hours.

I know Disney is in business to make money. But someone within the upper echelon of the Disney organization must know that a giftshop every 25 feet is NOT what we want to see. Especially when there is very little differentiation amongst the shops. In the "old days", you could at least find unique items at the various stores around the property. Now, not only can they be found around every corner, but they seem to have the same "junk" found in every other store on property. There are dollar stores and Walmarts every 500 feet in real life, I don't expect the same atmosphere on Main Street USA, or the Polynesian for that matter.

If this does, in fact happen, I hope the Tiki gods of the South Pacific join forces with the 999 Happy Haunts of the H.M. to strike fear in the hearts of WDW management.

Amen!

Granny: Great pics! Thanks!

 

[jimmytammy]

Even though we need to work to stay caught up on things before our WDW trip, (in 21 days!!!!!)we are headed to the NC Mts. for a day to take my folks to an apple orchard on the Blue Ridge Parkway, then to the Mast Store(for those who have never been there, think Ike Godseys store on the Waltons)then to Daniel Boone Inn, a wonderful family style eats with really good down home cooking. Hoping rain will subside so we can see some fall colors in the high elevs. near Grandftaher Mt.

 

[sleepydog25]

Even though we need to work to stay caught up on things before our WDW trip, (in 21 days!!!!!)we are headed to the NC Mts. for a day to take my folks to an apple orchard on the Blue Ridge Parkway, then to the Mast Store(for those who have never been there, think Ike Godseys store on the Waltons)then to Daniel Boone Inn, a wonderful family style eats with really good down home cooking. Hoping rain will subside so we can see some fall colors in the high elevs. near Grandftaher Mt.

Good luck, but it's foggy as can be up here on the Parkway, at least in our segment--about 150-200 feet visibility. I can barely see our street at the end of the driveway. Be careful!

 

[jimmytammy]

Sleepy
Fog was like pea soup, but my folks enjoyed the trip, so it made it worth it