VWL Lovers & Groupies Thread: Meese-ka, Mice-ka MOOSE-kateers

[blossomz]

Thanks so much for sharing your amazing trip with us! That butterfly pic is beautiful!

 

[MiaSRN62]

LOVED your TR and photos Julie ! Looked like you all had a blast. My dd was there the week prior (she left on 12/22).
I agree about some of your dining comments. Was not at all impressed with the hype of the CA Grill and I've heard other comments similar to yours about Le Cellier. We had a pretty bad meal at Biergarten in Oct (had ADR's for Rose n Crown but they turned us all away when we got there due to a problem ? Security was there ?). Also had a lackluster lunch at 50s Prime Time in Aug. Kona has always been a staple for us and we haven't had anything really disappointing there yet.
Of course you were so lucky to be able to stay at the VWL !!! So beautiful Would love....one day....to spend actual Christmas Day in WDW. Being a nurse, that just could not be until I retire since we're mandated to work holidays But loved the tree and decorations in your room. Very enjoyable reading---thanks so much for sharing with us

 

[jimmytammy]

Julie
Love your trip report and pics!!

 

[horselover]

PS now I want a Duffy!

It is hard to resist the power of Duffy!

Eliza - sorry I missed your question about the boys & Duffy. I mentioned I fell in love with Duffy after seeing my friend's wonderful Duffy TRs. So everywhere we went I was ohhhhing & ahhhhhing over him & what did my lovely children do? Make fun of me of course! That is until DH gave me one in my stocking. Then they couldn't keep their hands off it, especially DS11. The next day he went to the Mercantile & bought a Duffy for himself with some of his Christmas money. The power of the Duffy! We didn't do the meet & greet in Epcot. He wasn't there when we were. But in Oct his booth was quite busy.

Wonderful trip report and pictures Julie! Glad you had such a great time. And it's one of those that tempts me to try going over Christmas.

Do it! Just remember what I said. Get there a few days before & high tail it out of there on the 27th.

OK, now I need some advice from the experts. We plan to go again this year for the same time period (20-27). I don't have enough points to book all the days @ 11 months so I have no choice but to book some now & the rest later. I'm trying to work out the best strategy to get what I want. I have 129 points to work with right now. I need a 1 BR. I could book the 20th-24th & then try for the 24th-27th later or I can book the 25th-27th & try for the early dates later. What should I do? I should mention that I hope to book my missing days before the 7 month window but it will be past the 11 month window. Any guesses which might be more difficult to get? My feeling is the Christmas dates but if I should be unable to get the days proceeding it we'll have to move on Christmas. Definitely don't want to do that. Any input would be appreciated!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Do it! Just remember what I said. Get there a few days before & high tail it out of there on the 27th.

I told DH I was making Dec reservations and he thought I was going for the Christmas trip! I think we may have a few years before that although my pet sitter might be willing. I don't see DH realistically being able to leave work at one of the busiest times though (restaurant). I'm going to keep it in mind and if I could get it to work I think we'll give it a try!

OK, now I need some advice from the experts. We plan to go again this year for the same time period (20-27). I don't have enough points to book all the days @ 11 months so I have no choice but to book some now & the rest later. I'm trying to work out the best strategy to get what I want. I have 129 points to work with right now. I need a 1 BR. I could book the 20th-24th & then try for the 24th-27th later or I can book the 25th-27th & try for the early dates later. What should I do? I should mention that I hope to book my missing days before the 7 month window but it will be past the 11 month window. Any guesses which might be more difficult to get? My feeling is the Christmas dates but if I should be unable to get the days proceeding it we'll have to move on Christmas. Definitely don't want to do that. Any input would be appreciated!

Uggg - I hate those reservations that don't have an obvious split. Before 7 but after 11...... I think then I'd book the 25th-27th and wait on the 20th-24th. Partly b/c my best guess is that would be slightly easier to get (although I'd like it better if it was the 24th to 27th) and mostly b/c I wouldn't want to move on Christmas day. Good luck!!!!!!

 

[Dizny Dad]

So sorry to be so late in posting any pictures from our December trip, but life can sometimes get in the way, along with "Dial Up" services. I know a number of pictures were posted in this thread in mid December, but I wanted to add just a few more . . .

Our Groupie Meet in the Carolwood Pacific room was a good time for all:

Granny (& Mrs. Granny)

Dynaguy, Inkmahm, Disney Lovin Iowan, Mr. Iowan, & Granny

The group at our favorite fireplace . . . (Twokats in front with Stopher behind)

At the Groupie breakfast, although Stopher would have you think (12-12-11 post) that I wanted ketchup, here is proof that it was really him . . .

 

[Dizny Dad]

During our stay at VWL we had the opportunity to once again be the Flag Family. A few pictures I wanted to share:

A view over our Villas . . .

Ranger Jack and DiznyDi taking a moment with Ranger Stan on the way to the roof . . .

Ready to hoist the colors . . .

When you take the opportunity to be Flag Family, or when you meet Ranger Jack at the Lodge, help to make his new position his. Filling big shoes can be difficult; let's help.

 

[Dizny Dad]

What Santa brought DiznyDi for Christmas for her Moose Room . . .

 

[blossomz]

Thank you for sharing those wonderful photos of our lodge family!

 

[horselover]

Uggg - I hate those reservations that don't have an obvious split. Before 7 but after 11...... I think then I'd book the 25th-27th and wait on the 20th-24th. Partly b/c my best guess is that would be slightly easier to get (although I'd like it better if it was the 24th to 27th) and mostly b/c I wouldn't want to move on Christmas day. Good luck!!!!!!

I called MS yesterday to add ME for my March trip & asked the CM for her opinion on the best way to book it. She advised me to book 12/20-24 1st & try for 24-27 later. She said this past year she definitely noticed very limited availability before Christmas & more during the actual holiday. I hope she's right.

During our stay at VWL we had the opportunity to once again be the Flag Family. A few pictures I wanted to share:

A view over our Villas . . .

Ranger Jack and DiznyDi taking a moment with Ranger Stan on the way to the roof . . .

Love these 2. When you see the Villas from this vantage point you can really appreciate what a great job they did building it into the woods.

The 2nd shot made me teary eyed. Still have not had the opportunity to be flag family. We tried again this past trip but the 1st opening they had was the 28th. We checked out on the 27th.

What Santa brought DiznyDi for Christmas for her Moose Room . . .

Love this!

 

[Granny]

DDad...great pix! Thanks for bringing back the memories of the Groupie meet as well as those super roof top pix.

Mind if I steal the shot of VWL? It's a great visual to answer the "what room view" questions.

 

[Dizny Dad]

DDad...great pix! Thanks for bringing back the memories of the Groupie meet as well as those super roof top pix.

Mind if I steal the shot of VWL? It's a great visual to answer the "what room view" questions.

Steal away!

 

[tea pot]

Hi Groupies

Hope all is Well

Horeselover I LOVED your TR and pictures
I'm so glad you had such a Magical Christmas visit to our Happy Place
And that butterfly pic was the best.

Welcome New Groupies
and Belated Birthday Wishes Eliza

Hi Groupies:
I posted yesterday after wishing you a Happy New Year and it didn't appear...

OK maybe it's not just me
I had a couple of posts I couldn't find

Sorry guys will try again
I'm off to catch up

 

[Muushka]

Thank you D Dad for the pictures. Ranger Jack is a very nice man. We spent quite a bit of time with him on our last visit. I think he has an affection for our group like Ranger Stan had. He knows that we all love our Lodge, and he is willing to share his love of it too.

HL, I hope you get up there this Christmas!

 

[stopher1]

At the Groupie breakfast, although Stopher would have you think (12-12-11 post) that I wanted ketchup, here is proof that it was really him . . .

Now now Dad... I never specifically ASKED for ketchup.


Sure I agreed that they could be delivered to our table when that rogue server volunteered to have some delivered to us... but I NEVER asked for it.



I DID have fun building the ketchup pyramid though...

 

[jimmytammy]

Dad
Love the pic with Ranger Jack standing by Stans pic. Carolyn told me how Jack came by and saw Stan a few days before his passing. Stan told him it was his now, so take it and make it his own. I agree, we need to help Jack along his new path. I am planning to see him in Mar and speak with him.

Stopher
Thats a 10 on the bldg. skills

 

[Inkmahm]

Steal away!

I'm going to steal it, too! Great picture.
It shows the dormer windows in the roof line of the villa we had in December-5517. We loved that one bedroom.

Thanks for all the pictures! That breakfast at WC was a lot of fun, in particular. Did you get the picture of Stopher singing his "happy" song?

 

[Inkmahm]

Inkmahm ~ I can imagine how popular Inky is with the family. She'll be a very loved cat! Looking at her face makes you melt. I hope you can catch "daddy cat" soon. How's "momma cat" doing?

Thanks! Inky is definitely loved already. Doesn't take long for a critter to worm her way into my heart.

Inky was declawed yesterday so now I have a chance at keeping my eyesight. She scratched both my eyelid and Dynaguy's eyelid while we were sleeping. I meant to declaw her next week but she had to go in early to save our skin, literally. She's up to 2.8 lbs already.

Momma Cat was spayed on Monday and released back into our yard on Tuesday afternoon. Haven't seen her since! I think she is mad at us and is boycotting the food I have out for her.

We didn't catch Daddy Cat yet, although we almost got a racoon last night. We extended our appointment with the Humane Society into next week so we have another week to try to catch him. There have been no cats near the trap since Monday when we caught Momma Cat. This may take a lot longer than I thought.

The good news is that we are having unbelievable warm weather here in Wisconsin in January. We were in the low 50's today which is more like April weather. No snow on the ground at all. It's good weather for cats to be outside moving around so I'm still hopeful we'll be successful at trapping Daddy Cat.

 

[Inkmahm]

What Santa brought DiznyDi for Christmas for her Moose Room . . .

Love it! Where did Santa find such a thing? It's perfect for a Moose lover.

 

[stopher1]

Thanks for all the pictures! That breakfast at WC was a lot of fun, in particular. Did you get the picture of Stopher singing his "happy" song?

Oh yeah! I remember Dad taking a picture while I was "performing"...

Dad - you should post it. It's okay to embarrass me more. I don't mind. (I do it enough myself anyway... why not do it here amongst our other Groupie friends who couldn't see it first hand for themselves.)