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

[bagsmom]

Disney Di -- I have just started popping back on after being MIA for a while. I meant to add my sympathies to those of everyone else. I hope that being back on here will give you some much-needed smiles!

 

[Kathymford]

So I just had a "We're not staying DVC this time" snob moment. I was telling DBF that I wanted to watch Beauty and the Beast before we go on our Feb trip so we can be "ready" for new FL (yes, I'm THAT nerd). He tells me, why don't you just bring the DVD and we can watch it the first night. "Great idea!" I say.

And then I think about it.

Uh, honey, we're not using points. I don't think we get a DVD player.

My name is Kathy, and I'm a DVC snob.

 

[tea pot]

Hi, Groupies. Just checking in.

My youngest daughter told me over the New Year's break that she is engaged. In fact, the husband to be called the day before to "ask for her hand in marriage." Now, if a guy does that, he's got to be a great guy. I've known him for a bit. We said yes, and he popped the question the next day.

So, now I have a 2 bedroom setup at VWL from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after. I wonder how that will work out if they get married before then.

Congrats WDad
We're right there with you...
Our youngest DD got engaged over Thanksgiving weekend.
( she's my little 2nd generation DVC member)
Our future DSIL ask my husband for her hand when
she and I were down in Disney for our girls only trip in Sept.
Sounds like a couple of good guys

 

[tea pot]

So I just had a "We're not staying DVC this time" snob moment. I was telling DBF that I wanted to watch Beauty and the Beast before we go on our Feb trip so we can be "ready" for new FL (yes, I'm THAT nerd). He tells me, why don't you just bring the DVD and we can watch it the first night. "Great idea!" I say.

And then I think about it.

Uh, honey, we're not using points. I don't think we get a DVD player.

My name is Kathy, and I'm a DVC snob.

Kathy
I don't know about being a DVC snob
but We are definitely DVC Spoiled

 

[eliza61]

Happy Thursday Gang,
Nothing special going on today so to give us a little dose of magic. Here we go... Time to give our Disney Princes some love.

1) From what movie is Prince Phillip from?
2. From what movie is Prince Adam from?
3. Who are the three princesses in Mulan 2 that Mulan has to guard?
4. From what movie is Prince Eric from?
5. What is donald ducks full name?
6. From what Country was Prince Naveen from?
7. What was the name of the side kick who helped Hercules go from "zero to hero" and what was he?

Hope some thing magical happens to everyone today....

 

[bagsmom]

Here's a question for you groupies. Actually a couple of them....

Have you folks heard about the new armband i.d. that will be an all-in-one sort of thing? To replace tickets and badges and such? (Also will allow very advanced reservations of all sorts of things, including fastpasses and parade viewing spots. I think that will all be a problem when it comes down to it, but that's just me.) Anyway, since it is a new thing, I wonder how they will let people know when it's going to be available. Have you heard anything about this?

Second question, in my quest to provide relaxing, non-stressful activities for my DH I thought we would all enjoy looking around the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It would be fun to check it out to see if we would like to stay there some day. I assume it's fine to do that, right? Would there be any problem with driving there and just looking around? Or do they require restaurant reservations or something? Just wondering!

I hope you all have a fabulous day! We are expecting 70 degree days here for a few days. SO WEIRD!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Happy Thursday Gang,
Nothing special going on today so to give us a little dose of magic. Here we go... Time to give our Disney Princes some love.

1) From what movie is Prince Phillip from?
2. From what movie is Prince Adam from?
3. Who are the three princesses in Mulan 2 that Mulan has to guard?
4. From what movie is Prince Eric from?
5. What is donald ducks full name?
6. From what Country was Prince Naveen from?
7. What was the name of the side kick who helped Hercules go from "zero to hero" and what was he?

Hope some thing magical happens to everyone today....

1) From what movie is Prince Phillip from?
This is the only one (shamefully) I know without googling---it is Sleeping Beauty ! I will allow others to tackle the rest based on their knowledge. I think I might need some more coffee to tackle those----but then I go to GOOGLE !

 

[eliza61]

Here's a question for you groupies. Actually a couple of them....

Have you folks heard about the new armband i.d. that will be an all-in-one sort of thing? To replace tickets and badges and such? (Also will allow very advanced reservations of all sorts of things, including fastpasses and parade viewing spots. I think that will all be a problem when it comes down to it, but that's just me.) Anyway, since it is a new thing, I wonder how they will let people know when it's going to be available. Have you heard anything about this?

Second question, in my quest to provide relaxing, non-stressful activities for my DH I thought we would all enjoy looking around the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It would be fun to check it out to see if we would like to stay there some day. I assume it's fine to do that, right? Would there be any problem with driving there and just looking around? Or do they require restaurant reservations or something? Just wondering!

I hope you all have a fabulous day! We are expecting 70 degree days here for a few days. SO WEIRD!

1. Rumor has it that the new armbands will begin being phased in some time beginning April. I don't envision them getting rid of paper tickets this year. I haven't heard exactly how they plan on doing this.
My aversion to them is the "advance" planning. I recognize that as an "old hand" at disney I am in the minority since I rarely do lots of pre trip planning. This will basically force my hand. In a few years, I forsee them doing away with in park fast passes which will force me to use the bands and a smart phone. Now of course I'm just gazing into my crystal ball like everyone else. I maybe totally wrong and I've been told I'm an alarmist so go figure.

If you go on the theme parks forum you will find tons of discussion on it.

My second concern is for the newbie who is not a disser. Many here (on the dis) have a very poor attitude of "well if you don't research your vacation, it's your own fault". I find that so distasteful. no matter how you slice it, a vacation at the world is a sizeable investment. The thought that some one who for whatever reason did not do 9 months of planning ending up with a disastrous vacation just rubs me wrong. I do recognize the days of booking a trip and just showing up are pretty much gone but I think there should be some happy medium between just showing up and planning the allied invasion of Normandy. I really don't want to have to be Supreme allied commander Eisenhower simply to ride the teacupsl.

2. You are more than welcome to walk around the resorts and Animal kingdom is a great tour. talk about sensory overload. I've never had any issues. I drive up to the gate, usually I have my parking pass in my window so the guard does at least know I'm a guest some where and just tell the guard I'd like to look at the resort. never had an issue.

 

[eliza61]

the first post in this thread sums up the new Fast pass plus scenerio very well.

It's broken into 3 parts
1. what we know for sure
2. info from other sites
3. what we still don't know.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3042834

 

[MiaSRN62]

StanH,..thanks for your TR...sorry your Flag Family day was a bit of a disappointment though ! Hope you have a better experience with that on a future trip !

Twinklebug....your summer plans sound good---I agree about Kidani on the food. It's my only real disappointment in that resort ! They do have some good sandwiches at the pool bar--and Sanaa---but haven't quite embraced the food there yet.

Happy belated to Elvis and Santa Ray !!!!

And CONGRATS WD on your daughter's engagement !!!! Fantastic news !!!!
My daughter became engaged in in Dec 2011 and we have just begun talks on wedding planning ! So exciting !

 

[happyann79]

Love the pool! Makes me feel like i am in the mountains.

 

[bagsmom]

the first post in this thread sums up the new Fast pass plus scenerio very well.

It's broken into 3 parts
1. what we know for sure
2. info from other sites
3. what we still don't know.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3042834

Thanks for all the info, Eliza -- I will have to check out the thread. I, like you, have been called an alarmist. I prefer to say that I prepare for a variety of outcomes!

But I'm with you. It's fine to make dinner reservations, but trying to reserve fastpasses for rides months in advance is a little nuts. Even OCD me -- who LOVES to plan -- won't plan which park I go to on which day until we are a little closer to the trip. I like to check the UnOfficial Guide's crowd calendar, which changes from day to day.

Oh well. I guess when we buy tickets, we will know if it's in place or not. Maybe? If I buy tickets in March for my June trip -- and let's say they have this going in April or May, how will I know if I'm eligible to make all these advanced plans?

Goodness -- I will just have to wait and see and be EVER SO GRATEFUL to be going back to WDW at all!!!!! I am getting so excited and it's 5 months away.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

4. From what movie is Prince Eric from?

Hope some thing magical happens to everyone today....

I've never been very up on the Princes - while the poor guys were the targets (er, I mean dream endings) many also seemed to kind of be space fillers in the stories. But I think Prince Eric may have been from The Little Mermaid?

The NextGen stuff makes my head swim. I haven't been able to manage much dining at 180 days much less to now figure out what rides I want to do on a particular day 60 days or 30 days or whatever out. I'm sad to see the current fast pass system going and I'm sure will adapt but so far it all seems less appealing to me and more stressful. Not exactly what I'm looking for in a vacation! I hope it's all better than it so far appears to me.

 

[Pinkocto]

Happy Thursday Gang,
Nothing special going on today so to give us a little dose of magic. Here we go... Time to give our Disney Princes some love.

1) From what movie is Prince Phillip from?
2. From what movie is Prince Adam from?
3. Who are the three princesses in Mulan 2 that Mulan has to guard?
4. From what movie is Prince Eric from?
5. What is donald ducks full name?
6. From what Country was Prince Naveen from?
7. What was the name of the side kick who helped Hercules go from "zero to hero" and what was he?

Hope some thing magical happens to everyone today....

I think #6 is Maldovia.

#7 - I can't remember his name but it was Danny Devito as a satyr if I'm remembering correctly. It's been a while since I watched Hercules.

 

[bagsmom]

Oooooo -- the questions are coming to me more and more every day!

I was wishing and dreaming and waiting and looking at a nice youtube video from AllEars.net. It was an overview of WL and VWL.

It showed the boat pulling up to the dock and then signs for the blue flag and the red flag. The one for MK said it departs a half hour before the MK opens.

Hmmmm... If we want to BE THERE 45 mins to an hour before opening, does this mean we'll have to drive our own car? I wonder if the buses leave earlier.

Do any of you know?

 

[jimmytammy]

Welcome to the groupies happyann79!!!

 

[jimmytammy]

The next gen stuff has me a bit concerned too. We plan meals out 180 days in advance, just to get what we want,and that changes along the way. But to plan a ride time that far ahead let alone, say 10 days out cant happen for us. I am hoping they have put thought into it for us folks who like to take the parks more leisurely, and allow it to work for us as well.

 

[sechem32]

next gen stuff is even concerning me. Jimmytammy can confirm that I love to plan out every detail months before my trip, but it never usually works out like I planned!

 

[MiaSRN62]

The next gen stuff has me a bit concerned too. We plan meals out 180 days in advance, just to get what we want,and that changes along the way. But to plan a ride time that far ahead let alone, say 10 days out cant happen for us. I am hoping they have put thought into it for us folks who like to take the parks more leisurely, and allow it to work for us as well.

I couldn't agree more ! It's really sort of taking the fun out of things when I have to plan down to this sort of detail ? I go to WDW and on vacation to relax....not to feel rushed that I have to be here or there for every little thing ? Unless I'm missing something, I'm not too happy about this.

 

[bagsmom]

This is pretty bad, folks!

I came across a video of the Electrical Parade. I saw it when I was a little kid and it debuted in the 70s. I haven't seen since I was a kid.

I watched part of the video -- heard that synthesized voice "Ladies and Gentlemen..." OHMYGOSH! It took me back to my childhood, standing on Main Street.

You guys -- I felt like such a goob! TEARS came to my eyes! TEARS!

Seriously? I am such a weirdo.