VWL Lovers & Groupies thread: It all started with a Moose

[eliza61]

Do a lot of Groupies just pay their dues in Jan like we do or does everyone receive the dues regardless of whether they have it deducted monthly or just pay them at one lump sum?

I pay monthly and I get mine in January.

I've done both. This year I'll probably pay monthly.

 

[eliza61]

And before I forget, I should mention that the Christmas decorations are still up, and Christmas music is played in many places still (including WL). I was excited to see the decorations when we got here on January 3 since we thought we had missed them, but now I think it's about time for them to go. I think that's because we've seen so many decorations and heard the music at retail locations since early November...as much as I love the season it is getting a little too drawn out for me.
See, I'm back to being grouchy again. So to end on a positive note, the cast members seem to be doing their best. Not a grouch among them!

LOL, I got to see one of my little cousins who lives in South Carolina this holiday, Jasmine is 7 years old and she did not believe me when I told her that when I was growing up Santa did not come out until the Macys thanksgiving day parade....

It can be a bit much when you hear holiday tunes the day after holloween.

 

[wildernessDad]

Poor Mickey! He must have froze this year.

I hope they can recreate it in all its glory.

 

[horselover]

Do a lot of Groupies just pay their dues in Jan like we do or does everyone receive the dues regardless of whether they have it deducted monthly or just pay them at one lump sum?

Last year we paid monthly. I looked at my dues statement online a few weeks ago & couldn't figure out why 3 of my contracts were combined & listed as monthly payments & 1 was just a lump sum. Then it dawned on me. VWL add-on last year. D'oh! I had forgotten that add-on was mid-year so it wasn't included in the monthly plan & paid all at once at closing. It wasn't a huge amount of money so I went ahead & paid that one in full & the bulk of the dues will continue to be paid monthly. I'll probably group them all together next year. Our monthly payments went up a little over $2.00/mo. this year. Not too bad.

VWL NEWSFLASH!!!

Okay Groupies, I'm almost through this latest trip but wanted to make sure I updated everyone on the latest VWL development. I don't think I've seen it posted here.

You know our buddy Mickey the topiary who greets us as we enter the walkway to VWL, right?

Well, last I heard he was cold and had been covered up like a ghost during the latest cold spell.

Well, the sheet is off and oh my!!!!

Mickey is now Minnie????

Well, no bow on top but unless Mickey is cross-dressing these days, it looks like Minnie is now our official welcomer to VWL.

I just knew you guys would like to be informed to emotionally prepare yourselves.

No offense to Minnie because I do like Minnie, but I want Mickey back!

Granny - sorry you had to deal with giant crowds. Hope you had a good time anyway. And I agree on the split stays. I'm not a fan. Just when you start to settle in you have to get up & move. I think for longer stays it would be fine, but for less than a week it's more trouble than it's worth.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes, it does look like Minnie.

I had a 4 and 3 night vacation in December, and I think taking a cab from VWL to AKV Jambo helped the transition.

Thanks for the warning.

Bobbi

 

[Muushka]

Good morning Groupies

I had a very special morning today. I volunteer with ESL classes and occasionally become friends with some. Well, this morning my friend from Taiwan was sworn in as a US citizen. And I went to the ceremony. I am so glad I did!

 

[DVCGeek]

I do monthly dues payments; smoother & easier on the monthly budget that way!

 

[eliza61]

Good morning Groupies

I had a very special morning today. I volunteer with ESL classes and occasionally become friends with some. Well, this morning my friend from Taiwan was sworn in as a US citizen. And I went to the ceremony. I am so glad I did!

congratulations to a new countrymen. The ceremony is great.

 

[Granny]

Granny - sorry you had to deal with giant crowds. Hope you had a good time anyway. And I agree on the split stays. I'm not a fan. Just when you start to settle in you have to get up & move. I think for longer stays it would be fine, but for less than a week it's more trouble than it's worth.

Yes, we had a really good time despite the crowds. Went to EPCOT today and I've never seen a line wrap around both sides of Space Ship Earth with a 40 minute line! But still, we had a great trip and the CM's were doing a great job under a lot of stress. I tried to tell a lot of them how well they were doing with such large crowds.

Yes, it does look like Minnie.

I had a 4 and 3 night vacation in December, and I think taking a cab from VWL to AKV Jambo helped the transition.

Thanks for the warning.

Bobbi

Bobbi...we had our vehicle so that made it much easier. Still, we checked in at 10:00 in the morning and no text that the room was ready when we got back to SSR at 6:30 p.m.. They checked and said the room had been ready for a while and apologized for no text. Not a huge deal but it followed an even worse check-in at AKV a few nights prior, so I was a little tired of the check-in process by then.

All in all, not a big issue but it did take a considerable amount of our day and enough to convince me that no split stays for anything under 5 days at each resort.

Good morning Groupies

I had a very special morning today. I volunteer with ESL classes and occasionally become friends with some. Well, this morning my friend from Taiwan was sworn in as a US citizen. And I went to the ceremony. I am so glad I did!

Muush...great experience and a wonderful volunteer effort by you. I'm sure you found it to be a moving experience.

 

[jimmytammy]

Hey folks

Just wanted to share my enthusiasm for being a DVC member.

This morning, Tammy and I are getting ready to purchase tickets for Braves spring training(they play home games at WDW) and we are juggling(as always) adding 2 nights to our trip for the weekend. We typically try to get All Star Sports, but being Spring Break will be in full swing(what were we thinking)the prices are crazy, $379 for 2 nights. Even with AP discount, it is still too high!

So, with serious thoughts of a combined Aulani 1 bed for a week, and Grand Calif. 1 bed for 5 nights in 2013, pts. juggling is going on. With a quick add up of current pts. and the upcoming 2 yrs., we can swing pts. for a studio for upcoming Mar. trip, still get the 2013 trip, and work in a HH next year. Sadly, we will miss WDW for 2011, but it will be back on horizon Im sure

My enthusiasm comes from knowing we have the instant flexibility to make these rash decisions. My thoughts were when we bought in that eventually, prices of resorts would soon equal value of DVC. Though not entirely there, and it somewhat being based on emotions, I feel we are fast approaching that reality. I feel blessed that we are DVC members.

 

[Muushka]

Granny, it was a moving ceremony (except for the man conducting it. A very wordy man who doesn't realize that the people he was lecturing to didn't understand half of what he said! At least my friend (whose English is pretty good)didn't.)

One of the songs included was Lee Greenwood's Proud to be an American. Oh yeah, it was very moving at that point. And watching the faces of the people just sworn in with their little American flags and big grins. I was so glad that I went with her.

Good job JT! It sounds like you have your vacation plans all set. And I am jealous!

 

[helenk]

Just got off the phone with MS and I am booked at the VWL in a studio for 12/8, 12/9 and 12/10. 3 nights is better than not staying there at all. On the 11th I'll call and book 2 or 3 nights at the AKV, but for now I know I've got my nights at the VWL.

 

[Muushka]

Today is a a birthday!! 2 in fact!

Happy Birthday SantaRay and Elvis!!.

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . I feel blessed that we are DVC members.

As much as I like to read all the threads that evaluate the $, pay back, etc., I also feel it is just an emotional thing. We, too, feel blessed to be involved.

And look at all of the cool new freinds we have that we would never have crossed paths with without the Mouse!

 

[blossomz]

Happy Birthday SantaRay and Elvis!

Well, Minnie is cool too, but I always felt kind of "privileged" because Mickey was always there to welcome us home!

 

[ladytink75]

Hello everyone... I just wanted to post that my DH and I just bought into DVC and we have VWL as our home resort... I get to plan our very first Christmas at the MK and our very first Christmas as a DVC member... I'm so stoked...

 

[jimmytammy]

Happy B'Day Santa Ray!!(Had to do the rhyme thing)Happy B'Day Elvis!!

Welcome Home ladytink!!

 

[Muushka]

As much as I like to read all the threads that evaluate the $, pay back, etc., I also feel it is just an emotional thing. We, too, feel blessed to be involved.

And look at all of the cool new freinds we have that we would never have crossed paths with without the Mouse!

You can say that again DD. I love my Groupie buds!

Happy Birthday SantaRay and Elvis!

Well, Minnie is cool too, but I always felt kind of "privileged" because Mickey was always there to welcome us home!

I'm right there with you Bloss, Minnie is cool, but Mickey is THE MAN.

Hello everyone... I just wanted to post that my DH and I just bought into DVC and we have VWL as our home resort... I get to plan our very first Christmas at the MK and our very first Christmas as a DVC member... I'm so stoked...

Wow ladytink, as JT said, welcome home! You have come to a very special place (well 2 actually, VWL and this thread).

Please visit us often, questions, complaints or just to say hi. The people here are really special. A lot of us gathered at our very own piece of heaven on Earth this past Dec and for most, met for the first time face to face. But because of this thread, we were old friends very fast.

So grab yourself one of those rockers on the porch and sit with us a while. Grab yourself a Moosie for your very own (my guess: he would look very handsome on you). And again, welcome home.

 

[Inkmahm]

Cinderella is here!!! The breeder brought the 6 remaining litter mates (one was sent home earlier today) so we were able to see 5 of of Cindy's 6 brothers and sisters, too. They were SO cute!

My brother and his family are here with everyone taking turns holding Cindy. She is going to be the most spoiled poochie ever.

Cindy is the dark cream second from the left looking down in the picture below. My brother wanted a picture of all six puppies in his lap.

Haven't been around for a couple days- happy birthday to all of you and welcome to the newbies!

 

[stopher1]

Good morning Groupies

I had a very special morning today. I volunteer with ESL classes and occasionally become friends with some. Well, this morning my friend from Taiwan was sworn in as a US citizen. And I went to the ceremony. I am so glad I did!

I have witnessed a ceremony once before, and it is definitely a very cool, emoitional experience... especially when you know someone going through. That's so cool for you Muush!

Hey folks

Just wanted to share my enthusiasm for being a DVC member.

This morning, Tammy and I are getting ready to purchase tickets for Braves spring training(they play home games at WDW) and we are juggling(as always) adding 2 nights to our trip for the weekend. We typically try to get All Star Sports, but being Spring Break will be in full swing(what were we thinking)the prices are crazy, $379 for 2 nights. Even with AP discount, it is still too high!

So, with serious thoughts of a combined Aulani 1 bed for a week, and Grand Calif. 1 bed for 5 nights in 2013, pts. juggling is going on. With a quick add up of current pts. and the upcoming 2 yrs., we can swing pts. for a studio for upcoming Mar. trip, still get the 2013 trip, and work in a HH next year. Sadly, we will miss WDW for 2011, but it will be back on horizon Im sure

My enthusiasm comes from knowing we have the instant flexibility to make these rash decisions. My thoughts were when we bought in that eventually, prices of resorts would soon equal value of DVC. Though not entirely there, and it somewhat being based on emotions, I feel we are fast approaching that reality. I feel blessed that we are DVC members.

Very, very nice Jimmy!!

Just got off the phone with MS and I am booked at the VWL in a studio for 12/8, 12/9 and 12/10. 3 nights is better than not staying there at all. On the 11th I'll call and book 2 or 3 nights at the AKV, but for now I know I've got my nights at the VWL.

I will get you on the list!

Today is a a birthday!! 2 in fact!

Happy Birthday SantaRay and Elvis!!.

Happy Birthday Santa Ray & Elvis!!

As much as I like to read all the threads that evaluate the $, pay back, etc., I also feel it is just an emotional thing. We, too, feel blessed to be involved.

And look at all of the cool new freinds we have that we would never have crossed paths with without the Mouse!

Exactly Dad, exactly! I agree and feel the same way.

Hello everyone... I just wanted to post that my DH and I just bought into DVC and we have VWL as our home resort... I get to plan our very first Christmas at the MK and our very first Christmas as a DVC member... I'm so stoked...

Congrats! That's awesome.