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

[bagsmom]

Remember me popping on here and saying that I was using Disney as incentive to take down all my Christmas decorations?

Well.... I have 4 of the 6 trees down. However, I have been sneaking on here and reading. Going to the blog at Touring Plans.com and reading there.... thinking about all the questions I need to ponder and answer.

I'm not doing too well with my resolution to hold off on WDW Dreaming...

OH WELL!!!!!

 

[tea pot]

That's odd you were escorted out. First, it's not marked KEEP OUT unless I've missed it, and second, I've run that back way perhaps a dozen times and sailed right on through to the FW stables without nary a word said to me. Perhaps they're having pity on me since I seem so out of breath.

They didn't escort us out, they just didn't make us turn around and go back.
I think we did read that it was CM area, but I don't think it said to keep out.
I was just grateful we could walk thru it! I was afraid we would run into the thing that made the Big Foot!

I should explain.... The first security car I came across gave me directions to go through to the stables ...I tried but somehow I missed them
so I must have been wandering and looked like I may never find my way back
(forgot the bread crumbs) so they probably didn't want to find this crazy lady lost in the woods
Who Know Muushka maybe I could of found that Big Foot

Remember me popping on here and saying that I was using Disney as incentive to take down all my Christmas decorations?

Well.... I have 4 of the 6 trees down. However, I have been sneaking on here and reading. Going to the blog at Touring Plans.com and reading there.... thinking about all the questions I need to ponder and answer.

I'm not doing too well with my resolution to hold off on WDW Dreaming...OH WELL!!!!!

Why Oh Why would you do that?????

I'm Always WDW Dreaming and I don't thing I'm alone

In fact I just booked online the first 5 nights of our Dec 2013 vac
Dec 1-6 at VWL studio.

I have to wait for the 7 month window to book the Family Weekend
Friday 6th -Tuesday 10th reservations because
I need to book multiple rooms.
I was thinking of trying to get a tree house now but the kids want to stay at either VWL or BWV

 

[Muushka]

I should explain.... The first security car I came across gave me directions to go through to the stables ...I tried but somehow I missed them
so I must have been wandering and looked like I may never find my way back
(forgot the bread crumbs) so they probably didn't want to find this crazy lady lost in the woods
Who Know Muushka maybe I could of found that Big Foot






Why Oh Why would you do that?????

I'm Always WDW Dreaming and I don't thing I'm alone

In fact I just booked online the first 5 nights of our Dec 2013 vac
Dec 1-6 at VWL studio.

I have to wait for the 7 month window to book the Family Weekend
Friday 6th -Tuesday 10th reservations because
I need to book multiple rooms.
I was thinking of trying to get a tree house now but the kids want to stay at either VWL or BWV

I have a picture of that big foot! I'm going to email it to you (still can't post pictures).
Got to get it off of my phone.......

 

[Inkmahm]

DDad's father passed away a few days after Christmas so we're currently in the process of finalizing arrangements for his memorial service to be held later in the week. He was 90 and lived a full life. We'll miss him but know that he is in a far better place.

Wishing all my Groupie pals Peace, Health and Prosperity in 2013. Happy New Year!

So sorry to hear about DDad's father. My dad only made it to 69 before pancreas cancer got him. That was almost 9 years ago and it still seems like yesterday. I miss him. You're right though, 90 is a full life. At that age it is a little easier to feel the joy of knowing he is home with loved ones who went before him and have been waiting for him. Still, I know ddad will miss him as it is impossible to not miss a parent. You are in my prayers for comfort from our Father.

 

[Inkmahm]

I'll be staying at your beloved Lodge for one night pre cruise in March. No parks, just enjoying the resort. I know it's not enough time but at least we'll get a taste of the place.

Congrats on your reservation- you will LOVE the place as the rest of us groupies do. There is just something about the peacefulness of the lodge and the villas. There is no better theme in all of WDW as far as I'm concerned. Part of my heart lives at VWL all year long.

 

[Inkmahm]

Wow! I'm honored!!Thank you for all of the wishes! This is my Medicare +1 birthday!!!

We visited the lodge & Villa building on Sunday when we arrived. Played a few games of Chinese Checkers while we waited for our BWV room to be ready. Our next VWL stay is in April! We only had time for that short visit, but I'm glad we got there on this trip!

Looking forward to meeting some Groupies on the MC!

Bobbi

Happy birthday, Bobbi! Have you done the MC before? I'm curious if it is "worth it." Sometime Dynaguy and I would like to try it but we've just never done it yet as my impression is that the cost is even higher than the normally high DCL cost. Still, the MC is on our bucket list.

 

[Linda67]

Looks like you picked the exact same days that Kati and I chose.
I just finished booking online for our first 7 nights and will call for the final nights to add to the current reservation.
That gives us 3 countdowns for this year, but only 1 is for WDW!!

Same here - three countdowns for 2013

You can just wait for 4 days to call back and book all the additional nights at once.

Thanks for the info, I only have to wait until Monday before I can call again

 

[eliza61]

Bobbi, I'm late to the party as usual!! I hope your day was

superfragillisticexpialidocious!​

Happy Belated Birthday

 

[Pinkocto]

Welcome to the groupies Pinkocto!!!!

You can pack a lot in at the Lodge in one night, and relax all the while doing so. Just pull up a rocker, soak in the ambiance of it all, the music, the lanterns flickering, the crickets chirping. Great way to prepare for a cruise!

Stroll the grounds and listen to the wonderfully-themed music as it perfectly enhances the architectural theming of the Lodge. If you want to walk, there is a paved trail that leads out beside the bus stop and heads over to Fort Wilderness--about a mile one way. Or, if you prefer (as I do), take the nature trail that starts out behind the bicycle rental shop. At two places along the trail, their is a choice to go straight or head right. If you choose either right fork off the trail, you'll wind up on the main path mentioned above. If you continue straight, you'll come out at the CM parking area for FW--about 3/4 of a mile one way.

At night, you can sit on the beach and watch EWP or even catch the higher blasts from Wishes over the Contemporary. Most evenings, there is a movie played outdoors on an inflatable screen, preceded by a campfire with sumores. The pool bar at the main pool serves up pretty much anything you could want in a very casual atmosphere, or you can slip over to the Territory Lounge for drinks (and a bar menu) in a little nicer, cozier atmosphere. The Hidden Springs pool usually isn't too crowded, though the attached hot tub often has quite a few people in it--still, it's a fairly large hot tub. And, as others have said, just sit in a rocker on the porch to the Villas and listen to the crickets (real and imagined) while the lamps flicker and the majestic music gently plays.

Enjoy your one night stay at our beloved Lodge. I'm envious! (And of you, too, bluecastle!)

Pinkocto
Try taking some time to watch the world go by from one of the small
balconies that over look the main lobby or find one of the cozy fireplace
nooks

Congrats on your reservation- you will LOVE the place as the rest of us groupies do. There is just something about the peacefulness of the lodge and the villas. There is no better theme in all of WDW as far as I'm concerned. Part of my heart lives at VWL all year long.

Thank you all so much! I own at AKV and Aulani so there's so doubt I'll love it. I've been planning for a while on December 2013 so am really excited to stay here before that.

For my last three trips I've been trying to catch a movie by the pool so this might be the perfect opportunity. And of course do some exploring and try for some relaxing.

 

[eliza61]

I stole this from another poster on the theme park boards but I thought it was fun.

So what is the one thing (big or small) you find yourself purchasing every trip to wdw.

For us it's two things.

1) Sundae's at Ghiradelli's. more often than that we have more than 1 but without fail we end up here.

2) popcorn to eat during illuminations. Maybe it's because we stand near the American pavillion and they always have that shop that sells buckets of popcorn.

So anyone else have some thing that they always end of getting? resort tee shirt, mickey ears, mickey ice cream bars

 

[horselover]

I stole this from another poster on the theme park boards but I thought it was fun.

So what is the one thing (big or small) you find yourself purchasing every trip to wdw.

For us it's two things.

1) Sundae's at Ghiradelli's. more often than that we have more than 1 but without fail we end up here.

2) popcorn to eat during illuminations. Maybe it's because we stand near the American pavillion and they always have that shop that sells buckets of popcorn.

So anyone else have some thing that they always end of getting? resort tee shirt, mickey ears, mickey ice cream bars

I'm not sure I should post mine. It's going to make me sound bad!

Blood Orange Margarita & a Lapu Lapu! I used to always make a point of having a cinnamon roll at the MK bakery too. Guess I won't be doing that anymore. I did manage to get there twice while we were there over Christmas though.

 

[Pinkocto]

I stole this from another poster on the theme park boards but I thought it was fun.

So what is the one thing (big or small) you find yourself purchasing every trip to wdw.

For us it's two things.

1) Sundae's at Ghiradelli's. more often than that we have more than 1 but without fail we end up here.

2) popcorn to eat during illuminations. Maybe it's because we stand near the American pavillion and they always have that shop that sells buckets of popcorn.

So anyone else have some thing that they always end of getting? resort tee shirt, mickey ears, mickey ice cream bars

I'll play! I always buy a souvenir bucket of popcorn. Doesn't matter where or when but I must get one. And a new pair of Mickey earrings. I purposefully don't wear any down so I remember to get them

 

[gmi3804]

Are there pictures, or a floor plan, of the unit that's at the corner above the pool, XX19? It's a 2BR on floors 2-4, and a 1BR (with Studio next door) on 5.

 

[Kathymford]

I stole this from another poster on the theme park boards but I thought it was fun.

So what is the one thing (big or small) you find yourself purchasing every trip to wdw.

For us it's two things.

1) Sundae's at Ghiradelli's. more often than that we have more than 1 but without fail we end up here.

2) popcorn to eat during illuminations. Maybe it's because we stand near the American pavillion and they always have that shop that sells buckets of popcorn.

So anyone else have some thing that they always end of getting? resort tee shirt, mickey ears, mickey ice cream bars

Food: Dole whip float. Souvenirs: magnet for the new resort I'm staying at (we haven't doubled yet!)

 

[tea pot]

Thanks eliza

Must haves

Sugar cookie from resort or the little shop at the Studios
can't remember the name but it is also a book store/coffee shop
a great place to stop during the Osborn Lights

Dole Whip at Magic Kingdom

Usually buy

Christmas Ornament

1 or 2 Pins (usually holiday or special event)

We would always buy a set of coffee/tea mugs
but we have stopped because over the past few years
the print / logos have completely faded
We have old mugs that look great but the last three sets
we ended up throwing away

 

[jimmytammy]

Great game Eliza!

Usually we must have popcorn at any and all parks, this past trip it was pretzels. We love those jalapeno cheese stuffed pretzels and we were seeking out all the spots at every park that had them

We must have a PB&J milkshake from 50s PTC every trip as well.

We dont tend to buy souvenirs much anymore, but we do like to buy one Christmas ornament every year.

 

[bagsmom]

Teapot -- "why oh why would you do that?" Well, it was supposed to encourage me to put all of my Christmas decorations away. I thought if I told myself "no Disney planning till all this stuff is put back in the attic" it would make me do the Christmas cleanup more quickly. Well, it's the 5th and I've only got one more tree to take down. So I can begin trip planning soooooon!

I have a friend who says I'm just nuts. But really, financially, June isn't that far away when you are paying for your trip with grocery money! I need to know exactly what we hope to do and how much money we will need.

The VWL studio will be paid for by mid-March. (Well, it's been paid for, but I mean REALLY paid for, as in, paying the credit card!) The room is my grocery contribution. Our tickets will come out of "vacation money" -- all other costs will come from the magical money genie that will hopefully fly out of my purse someday soon! Ha ha!

Here's a question for you guys to weigh in on. You may recall that hubby wants a RELAXING vacation which means days without a theme park. If I want 2 days at the Magic Kingdom, this will mean skipping one of the parks. My sons will be 10 and 13 when we go. We could skip Epcot, but the younger one really likes it. We could skip Hollywood Studios, but I think all the menfolk would love the stunt shows, which we didn't see last trip. We could skip Animal Kingdom, but my oldest is pretty determined to ride Everest this time.

If you had to skip one of the parks, which one would it be -- and why?

Happy New Year, all! PS -- I didn't get to have a Dole Whip last trip. I've never had one. Since I love soft serve and I love pineapple, I think this will be my thing that I have to buy on our Disney trip!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So what is the one thing (big or small) you find yourself purchasing every trip to wdw.

For Me:
Box of popcorn (anytime!)
If I can work in a trip to the lodge then a Magic Bar or if near BCV then they have a bar that is semi-acceptable substitute.

For DH:
Turkey Leg!!! At least once and usually more.
Mickey Bar.

If you had to skip one of the parks, which one would it be -- and why?

Wow - that's a tough question!! When exactly are you going? And no hopping? That's what I'd do on the second MK day - do a hop to DHS. Otherwise if I had to skip a park I guess it would be DHS. I love Toy Story but the other attractions I'm ok either way. I guess more so it's about the parks I can't skip. MK - it's a must. AK - we love seeing all the animals, FOTLK and Everest. I guess Epcot would be the other possibility to skip. One trip I only had 2 days and chose MK and AK so I guess that says it all.

 

[bagsmom]

Hey Kathy! Mid-June with no hopping. This is going to be the budget trip. One of the big reasons for choosing the VWL was the little kitchenette. We are going to try to eat in our room from the little microwave and frig as much as possible! (Also I know DH will love the atmosphere.) Yes, the skipping thing does seem to come down to which one can you not live without!

 

[jimmytammy]

bagsmom
If you can pack it all in one day at MK, then you could do all 4 parks. AK to me is not a full day park. We ride EE, KS, Dino, maybe Tough to be a Bug. MK, if you do rope drop, stay til close, is possible to cover most things you want to do. This way all, are taken care of. Im with your DH, a few days at the resort sounds like the way to goI cant think of a better place to hang out than WL/VWL!!