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

[Grumpy Grandma]

Tomorrow is my 7 month window to book a studio at VWL. I already have my first 9 nights booked at AKV. Wish me luck .....

 

[Inkmahm]

Grrrr, I hate it when people do not respect handicap parking signs.

Me, too! I try not to judge others using handicap because not everyone looks like they need it. I walk uneven enough that I don't get too many stares. My niece says I walk like Daisy Duck. But my legs were really really hurting that night that the van was in the spot and I had to walk to a far spot. When I didn't see a window tag and the minivan was backed into the parking space, I couldn't resist having my DH walk around to check for a handicap plate. There was none. It felt like the person was hiding their plate on purpose to not get caught. I might have let it go otherwise.

 

[Granny]

Tomorrow is my 7 month window to book a studio at VWL. I already have my first 9 nights booked at AKV. Wish me luck .....

Good luck! Sounds like a great, long visit to WDW!

 

[Muushka]

Tomorrow is my 7 month window to book a studio at VWL. I already have my first 9 nights booked at AKV. Wish me luck .....

Good luck to you! Wish me luck tomorrow also. We are going to give Vero Beach a try in 7 months, hopefully.

 

[MiaSRN62]

One thing I've notice being reported many, many times on these boards is that Disney won't enforce hardly any rules. I guess it goes back to "satisfying the customer" but whether it is occupancy, smoking on balconies, etc it seems that Disney has always been unwilling to make sure that people follow the rules. In the case of handicap parking, it makes no sense at all.

I agree....and don't agree with this. Because they are, in effect, not satisfying the customer who has been wronged or who has a problem (i.e. Inkmahm). I used to work (as a second job) at the Disney Store in my local mall. This was like 10 years ago so not sure if they still have this policy. But if we ever saw anyone shoplifting, we were told to just let them go. No confrontation.

 

[Granny]

I agree....and don't agree with this. Because they are, in effect, not satisfying the customer who has been wronged or who has a problem (i.e. Inkmahm). I used to work (as a second job) at the Disney Store in my local mall. This was like 10 years ago so not sure if they still have this policy. But if we ever saw anyone shoplifting, we were told to just let them go. No confrontation.

I agree with you, Maria. Disney obviously chooses to look the other way on guest actions. I was just trying to point out that it's challenging for Disney to figure out who's right and who's wrong on some things. I'm not surprised that they didn't want to confront the offending van owner regarding whether they should have parked there.

I guess I've just witnessed too many brow beatings of CM's at WDW by guests. I tend to defend CM's even if I think they should have done more.

 

[eliza61]

I guess I've just witnessed too many brow beatings of CM's at WDW by guests. I tend to defend CM's even if I think they should have done more.

Wanted to say hello to all. School and work have made life a zoo so computer time is short. So, I'm taking a class only a groupie could love. I'm taking "introduction to knives, butchering & dressing'. I have seen parts of a cow and a deer that no mortal should ever see.

Granny, like you I pretty much always defend the poor cm's.

My next door neighbor's kid is a mousekeeper at the contemporary. She absolutely refuses to make towel animals anymore simply because of the number of times so called "happy moms" accost her in the hallway and literally threaten her if their ray of sunshine does not have towel animals left for them. She has been called every thing from "black ^$&tch", told to "go back to Africa" if she doesn't want to do the job right (the closet that kids been to Africa is the movie "out of Africa" with Meryl streep") and told that they (the parents) would be waiting for her the next day if they didn't get towel animals. all the poor kid wants to do is graduate from college

Disney truly is in a hard spot. How many times do we see post where people want to know if they can throw precious a bday party at the pool and invite 20 non guest? Heck, I've been told a number of times by guest staying at Ft wilderness that with the money they kick out for disney, they should be allowed to swim anywhere.
That's a hard attitude to combat and unfortunately for disney, I think it's a very common attitude.

 

[Dizny Dad]

eliza61 - How sad we still find attitudes such as you describe!

One of my favorite FARSIDE cartoons titled GOD MAKES THE EARTH is below. I think God has allowed such jerks to continue to be in our midst to indeed "keep things interesting" and to allow each of us to be energized to rise above such nonsense.

Let your neighbor's DD know that we all are praying for her to complete her tasks and to obtain her goals!

 

[jimmytammy]

Yeah, WELCOME HOME! I'm not too far from you. . .

Sounds like a mini meet could be in the works...Muushka, are you in?

 

[jimmytammy]

Eliza
As my DW says, thats crazy. I understand some folks get really stressed during a WDW vacation, but still, this gives no reason to act with this kind of attitude. Those people are already like this in their lives outside of the vacation realm. Im not sure if there is a cure for ignorance.

 

[horselover]

Hello groupie friends! I'm back. The trip was much too short & we lost a full day on Monday to torrential rain so that was kind of a bummer. Trip had it's highs & lows. Dsis had lots of trouble getting around so it dramatically affected the way I had envisioned the trip going. Never even set foot in SAB because she wanted to use the BCV quiet pool because it was closer so that's what we did. I was secretly really bummed about that but I went with it. Didn't get to do many of the things I wanted to because of the full day lost due to the rain & Dsis's lack of mobility. I did make it to Ecpot for a couple of hours in the afternoon on Sun. & a mad dash 2 hrs. rope drop trip to MK on check out day. I'm thrilled to report that Dsis loved our beloved Lodge! She thought it was amazing & said she'd like to stay there. I took her to visit GF, CR, Poly & AK too. She also loved AK but the day we visited was the rainy day so she didn't get to enjoy it as much as she could have on a nice day. She had to move to a studio at SSR on Sun for the last 2 nights because I could only get her a studio at BCV for the 1st night. Waitlist never came through. 2nd time at SSR & again had issues with the room. I don't know what's going on at that place with maintenance but they really need to fix it. I had requested Grandstand section. She got that & was given a 1st floor studio right by the pool. She was really happy about that because sitting in the hot tub was basically all she wanted to do. When we walked into the room the patio door was wide open. I figured the maid had forgotten to close it, but no. I tried to lock it but it had no locking mechanism on it at all. You would pull the door closed but it was very windy out so it would blow open. Back to the front desk we go for another room. I told the CM at the desk & she looked at me like I was crazy. Finally she said fine I'll get maintenance right over there & we'll see if we can find another room. It took awhile but they ended up giving her a studio 2 floors above the room she was originally assigned. No issues with that room thankfully. Later in the night when we returned from dinner she wanted to use the hot tub so I went down to sit with her before heading back to BCV. On the way back to the room we walked by her 1st room. I was curious if maintenance had been called to fix it so I went over & tried to open the patio door. Pulled it right open. I really hope they pulled that room from their inventory until it's fixed.

Anyway on to the good stuff. Pics of our beloved Lodge! I was on a light fixture kick this time. Don't know why but always trying to take pics that I don't already have. Can't wait to get back here in Dec. Enjoy!

 

[stopher1]

Granny, like you I pretty much always defend the poor cm's.


My next door neighbor's kid is a mousekeeper at the contemporary. She absolutely refuses to make towel animals anymore simply because of the number of times so called "happy moms" accost her in the hallway and literally threaten her if their ray of sunshine does not have towel animals left for them. She has been called every thing from "black ^$&tch", told to "go back to Africa" if she doesn't want to do the job right (the closet that kids been to Africa is the movie "out of Africa" with Meryl streep") and told that they (the parents) would be waiting for her the next day if they didn't get towel animals. all the poor kid wants to do is graduate from college

And it is good people like you, Granny & others, who make things a bit better for those poor CM's, despite the rest of the wretched humanity frequenting the Disney universe. I was yelled at, looked down upon, snapped fingers at and all kinds of other rude behavior back in the day myself. It is never fun to be on the receiving end of such nonsense.

Disney truly is in a hard spot. How many times do we see post where people want to know if they can throw precious a bday party at the pool and invite 20 non guest? Heck, I've been told a number of times by guest staying at Ft wilderness that with the money they kick out for disney, they should be allowed to swim anywhere.
That's a hard attitude to combat and unfortunately for disney, I think it's a very common attitude.

Yes they are in a hard spot, but at the same time they have helped create it too. The training, at least back in my day, was filled with such platitudes as
"we work while others play"
"we make magic happen for our guests"
"we give 110%, but if the guest isn't happy, we'll do more"
"if there's time to lean, there's time to clean...guests should not see any kind of mess"
"guests are our number one priority"

Now granted, each of these are fine ideals, and I have used them throughout my working career in a vareity of ways, introducing several of them to my staff when I ran a food establishment augmenting the policies and plans already in place - but together these and the many other stringent standards that the CM's have to live under - coupled with guests demanding perfection based on the premium pricing that Disney charges ... coupled with the extremely prevelant "me first" / entitlement mentality so common in the past what 40 years, and yeah, it's kind of a recipe for trouble, and how!

I hope your neighbor's daughter makes it through alright, and isn't scarred for life. Working there seems like such a dream for so many - but then reality sets in. Kind of like scooping ice cream at Baskin-Robbins... 31 wonderful choices, but after so many scoops, you don't want to see ice cream again.

 

[stopher1]

Hello groupie friends! I'm back. The trip was much too short & we lost a full day on Monday to torrential rain so that was kind of a bummer. Trip had it's highs & lows. Dsis had lots of trouble getting around so it dramatically affected the way I had envisioned the trip going. Never even set foot in SAB because she wanted to use the BCV quiet pool because it was closer so that's what we did. I was secretly really bummed about that but I went with it. Didn't get to do many of the things I wanted to because of the full day lost due to the rain & Dsis's lack of mobility. I did make it to Ecpot for a couple of hours in the afternoon on Sun. & a mad dash 2 hrs. rope drop trip to MK on check out day. I'm thrilled to report that Dsis loved our beloved Lodge! She thought it was amazing & said she'd like to stay there. I took her to visit GF, CR, Poly & AK too. She also loved AK but the day we visited was the rainy day so she didn't get to enjoy it as much as she could have on a nice day. She had to move to a studio at SSR on Sun for the last 2 nights because I could only get her a studio at BCV for the 1st night. Waitlist never came through. 2nd time at SSR & again had issues with the room. I don't know what's going on at that place with maintenance but they really need to fix it. I had requested Grandstand section. She got that & was given a 1st floor studio right by the pool. She was really happy about that because sitting in the hot tub was basically all she wanted to do. When we walked into the room the patio door was wide open. I figured the maid had forgotten to close it, but no. I tried to lock it but it had no locking mechanism on it at all. You would pull the door closed but it was very windy out so it would blow open. Back to the front desk we go for another room. I told the CM at the desk & she looked at me like I was crazy. Finally she said fine I'll get maintenance right over there & we'll see if we can find another room. It took awhile but they ended up giving her a studio 2 floors above the room she was originally assigned. No issues with that room thankfully. Later in the night when we returned from dinner she wanted to use the hot tub so I went down to sit with her before heading back to BCV. On the way back to the room we walked by her 1st room. I was curious if maintenance had been called to fix it so I went over & tried to open the patio door. Pulled it right open. I really hope they pulled that room from their inventory until it's fixed.

Anyway on to the good stuff. Pics of our beloved Lodge! I was on a light fixture kick this time. Don't know why but always trying to take pics that I don't already have. Can't wait to get back here in Dec. Enjoy!

What wonderful pictures! Thank you for sharing them.

Sorry to hear about the troubles you had, and that the trip was too short...but glad you were able to enjoy parts of it at least - and be there.

Very nice.

 

[sleepydog25]

Yeah, WELCOME HOME! I'm not too far from you. . .

Sounds like a mini meet could be in the works...Muushka, are you in?

Just make it near a Starbucks!

 

[Muushka]

Sounds like a mini meet could be in the works...Muushka, are you in?

Just let us know when!

Stopher, what an eloquent explanation of CM training. I need a 2nd cup to digest it all, just got up!

I miss The Far Side My cats don't appreciate him like we do:

 

[stopher1]

I miss The Far Side My cats don't appreciate him like we do:

I miss it too.

This one in particular is one of my all-time favorites!

Pardon me oh cat lovers out there... but our stupid feline loves to climb inside the dryer anytime my wife or I are there with the door open to get the clean clothes out, there she is. Oy and UGH. Every day I continually question WHY I ever agreed to let that little creature come in to our house. SORRY cat lovers - but I am NOT one of you. Give me a dog and I'd be much happier. We are on the search for the right dog for us... both in size and temperament. I love so many different kinds, but want just the right one so I'm not just settling on this decision just for the sake of having one again. Just as DW finally wore me down over the first 14 years of our marriage to allow that feline in to our home... I've finally worn her down enough to allow a wonderful critter to come live with us.

 

[eliza61]

Here is a future groupie trying to convince his brother why the lodge is the best place to stay at WDW. Sam, the one holding the fridge is trying to convince his brother Ren (mismatched socks) to go with the lodge.

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/momentsofmotherhood/twin-baby-boys-have-a-conversation-2469953

I love the head shake, Sam gives ole Ren

 

[Granny]

Eliza...too funny! Thanks for sharing the video. I saw a lot of "talk to the hand" going on there too.

Muush & DDad...thanks for the Far Side comics. Gary Larson was genius with that, wasn't he!

Horselover...glad you had a good overall trip, and thanks so much for the Lodge pictures. Just beautiful!

 

[DiznyDi]

Hi Julie!
Nice to have you back and a Happy Belated Birthday to you!
I enjoyed your pictures this morning as I sit and look out at all of the new fallen SNOW in our back yard. Even though we have similar shots, it's always uplifting to see current pictures posted. Thanks too for your report.

Muushka: Is your remodeling project finished yet? I haven't seen any pictures....

 

[Muushka]

Stopher, say it isn't so, not a cat lover???? Oh well, how about a Corgi??

HL, great pictures, I forgot to say thank you!

Hi Julie!
Nice to have you back and a Happy Belated Birthday to you!
I enjoyed your pictures this morning as I sit and look out at all of the new fallen SNOW in our back yard. Even though we have similar shots, it's always uplifting to see current pictures posted. Thanks too for your report.

Muushka: Is your remodeling project finished yet? I haven't seen any pictures....

Actually the contractor was just here a few minutes ago. They didn't hook up the dishwasher correctly and had to fix it. But other than a couple of cabinet doors that need replacing and an area of the granite that needs a little TLC, it is done! My problem is that I no longer have my internet that allowed me to post pictures and I am a tad lazy to get hooked up with another.
Any pic-posting Groupies out there that I could email them to?