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

[franandaj]

Our first trip to the WL was my second trip to WDW. I was still in awe that I was allowed to pick any resort that I wanted. My first trip we had stayed at the GF and that was on my Honeymoon (the marraige ended badly so I wasn't keen to relive that experience). It was suggested that we split our stay with a moderate first (while we run around) and then move a more relaxing resort. I picked the WL and we had a Jr Suite. That was almost 15 years ago so the details are foggy.

We stayed at Dixie Landings first and then transferred halfway through our vacation. I remember being awestruck at the sight of the lobby. I loved the little bridge and insisted that we take our picture there (we still have it and I'm amazed at how skinny we were back then! ). I loved the geyser and made sure that I was near it for multiple eruptions.

Our room overlooked the boat dock and I saw deer, squirrels and an armadillo from our balcony. I remember we took the boat out to Discovery Island, and over to the Contemporary as well. It was the most serene and peaceful place and we thoroghly enjoyed our stay. When we decided to add on to our WDW DVC properties it was a no brainer that we wanted some points at the lodge to "get away from it all" in addition to our other properties to use for trips with "different purposes". I am looking so forward to coming back to the lodge in a little over two months after so long being away.

 

[Dizny Dad]

It is great to hear how the Lodge grabbed everyone's imagination and hearts on their first stays or visits. We do have points elsewhere and do enjoy them, but none call to us like The Lodge!

. . . . . . . . . .
I must admit - I am regretting that we are not staying at the Lodge in October. Staying at BLT - and I am already having withdrawls. . . . . . . . .

So do what we do when staying elsewhere; we take the boat from Magic Kingdom to The Lodge, find a great place in the lobby or on an upper floor lounge overlooking the lobby, and take a 30 minute snooze! It allows me to anchor my soul and satisfy that hankerin' that bounces around inside of me.

 

[bobbiwoz]

...So do what we do when staying elsewhere; we take the boat from Magic Kingdom to The Lodge, find a great place in the lobby or on an upper floor lounge overlooking the lobby, and take a 30 minute snooze! It allows me to anchor my soul and satisfy that hankerin' that bounces around inside of me.

I find a rocking chair facing the lake and read or just daydream. DH is fine with that too, especially on a rainy day. I've seen a bald eagle fly over the lake while I was sitting in a rocking chair.

 

[Granny]

I find a rocking chair facing the lake and read or just daydream. DH is fine with that too, especially on a rainy day. I've seen a bald eagle fly over the lake while I was sitting in a rocking chair.

We always have lunch over at Roaring Fork. Grab a salad or sandwich and enjoy it out on the patio area with the birds.

 

[Happydinks]

We stayed at BLT this past April. Wanted to complete the WDW set of DVC resorts and that was the only one we hadn't stayed at.

My expectations were fairly low...just not impressed with the CR when we went through with the monorail. All concrete and tile...seemed cold and impersonal. Just the opposite of WL.

But I have to say that we really enjoyed BLT. We had a Bay Lake view room and found the resort to be warm and lovely. Not Wilderness Lodge of course, but really nice. And the short walk to MK was pretty sweet too.

So do what we do when staying elsewhere; we take the boat from Magic Kingdom to The Lodge, find a great place in the lobby or on an upper floor lounge overlooking the lobby, and take a 30 minute snooze! It allows me to anchor my soul and satisfy that hankerin' that bounces around inside of me.

Thanks for the feedback on BLT Granny! I know that it will have some advantages over VWL (like when I'm have a melt down at MK and just want to get "home"!), and the monorail being right there. Like you, I've always felt the Contemporary to be "sterile" - so it was with reluctance that I said okay to BLT. We'll be coming off a 3 day cruise on the Wonder, and it will be weird not to make that right hand turn into the Lodge!

Hey Dad - we will be doing some time at the Lodge for dinners (Artist Point is ALWAYS our last night dinner when we visit). But now a nap - that sounds like a plan! No matter how busy the lodge is - it just never seems to be loud.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Disney loving Iowan ~ WTG to your DH! How sweet of him to surprise you/DD with tickets to the Phillies game. I can feel the excitement in your post and how much fun you all had. Creating a little baseball monster is OK.

DH is really good about surprising us like that! Our last trip to WDW he told us we were staying at Dixie Landings which would have been fine but he actually booked GF! Yikes! Must say though that as much as I enjoyed it there, when we switched over to VWL I felt so much more at home. It really made me realize how much I love our Lodge!

I have honestly been away and no lurking but I promise that will change.

Glad to hear it!

 

[Muushka]

Thanks everyone for all of the birthday wishes. Jimmy told me there were some wishes...so I had to come on and thank you!!

It has been ages since I've even gotten onto the boards, guess I need to change that.

Thanks again everyone!!

Tammy! Good to see you!

Hope your birthday was a fun one.

 

[I Book He Pays]

Hi Groupies:

I'm enjoying reading everyone's stories about the lodge, how you ended up becoming owners, etc. I envy all of you since the lodge is magical and I hope to stay there in the future. Whenever we go to WDW, we always take a day/two and visit the other resorts on property which is fun for us. VWL/WL is one of our favorites and we love so many features of the resort.

Disney loving Iowan ~ Your DH is amazing with all of his surprises. The GF is beautiful but if I had to choose one over the other... the Lodge would win in a second.

wildernessDad ~ I'm so sorry that your friends are not able to join you on vacation. If you need any volunteers to stay... I'll volunteer! Shh... don't tell DH that! LOL Put me on the balcony, sitting in a zebra chair with my camera/good book/iced tea and I'll be a happy girl. NP

Have a great afternoon everyone!

 

[wildernessDad]

100 days until I check into the lodge!

 

[jimmytammy]

OK folks, you know we are a pretty sharing bunch here, and I consider you guys as cyber family, so please enlighten me where life experiences count.

For those that have met our DD, you know her to be sharp, witty, seems like a good head on her shoulders. Well its all true, until relationships are concerned. She is dating her 1st boy, he being a rising Sr. in high school. They have been dating almost 2 years. She has just graduated HS so her whole life is ahead of her.

We have found out through family that she/he have been emailing asking questions there is serious talk about marriage, him joining air force, her following in a year. They have it all figured out, he will get 4 yr degree while in 4 yrs AF, she will start her event planning business. IMO, they are too young to be thinking this way, let alone making plans. Neither has held a full time job, he will be 17 Sun., typical teen boy. Good kid, respectful, but not ready to step out yet on his own, let alone take on a wife. We have concern his parents are all for this, us, in the dark except for emails secretly shared.

Life is tough, marriage is serious, and neither are prepared for it at this moment, nor will they be 1 year from now. If God is putting them together, we have no reason to stand in the way, but if thats the case, we wouldnt be feeling this way, would we?

We are going to speak with her frankly, but she is strong headed. It is like a speeding train that we cant seem to slow down. So any advise on how to best handle will be absorbed. Dont feel like you will be hurting, as we have considered all avenues possible, and want to approach in best possible way. So any and all advise will be wonderful.Prayers for this matter are very much appreciated!! If you prefer to PM me, thats fine as well. I know several of you have grown children, so I can appreciate your life experiences.

As my dad says, even when your kids are grown, you never stop being a parent, just different circumstances, so you never stop learning.

 

[Granny]

Jimmy...that's a rough situation to be sure. I've sent you a PM on this, but in general it seems that open communication (that you have planned) will be your best way to impart advice.

It is like a speeding train that we cant seem to slow down.

You might want to think of "guiding" the speeding train rather than "braking" it. A bit of semantics, but if you and Tammy are seen as roadblocks then your advice might not have the impact you want. I think you will want to ask more questions than providing direction, at least in the first discussion.

Good luck with this one. Your family will continue to be in our prayers.

 

[eliza61]

OK folks, you know we are a pretty sharing bunch here, and I consider you guys as cyber family, so please enlighten me where life experiences count.

For those that have met our DD, you know her to be sharp, witty, seems like a good head on her shoulders. Well its all true, until relationships are concerned. She is dating her 1st boy, he being a rising Sr. in high school. They have been dating almost 2 years. She has just graduated HS so her whole life is ahead of her.

We have found out through family that she/he have been emailing asking questions there is serious talk about marriage, him joining air force, her following in a year. They have it all figured out, he will get 4 yr degree while in 4 yrs AF, she will start her event planning business. IMO, they are too young to be thinking this way, let alone making plans. Neither has held a full time job, he will be 17 Sun., typical teen boy. Good kid, respectful, but not ready to step out yet on his own, let alone take on a wife. We have concern his parents are all for this, us, in the dark except for emails secretly shared.

Life is tough, marriage is serious, and neither are prepared for it at this moment, nor will they be 1 year from now. If God is putting them together, we have no reason to stand in the way, but if thats the case, we wouldnt be feeling this way, would we?
As my dad says, even when your kids are grown, you never stop being a parent, just different circumstances, so you never stop learning.

So my first year in college, I began dating my first serious boyfriend, who was also a student at Pitt. Long story short, Lonnie was a great guy, nice respectful and for the most part my parents were very happy with my choice.

Lonnie was also a championship wrestler who was from Knoxville, Tenns. The year after we started dating Lonnie had a chance to try out for the US Olympic team which meant training in Colorado, I believe. Like your dd, we had it all planned out we made plans to get married, move to Colorado, I would start working (while going to school part time) while Lonnie trained for the Olympics. Like your dd & her bf, we were unemployed and flat broke.

Needless to say, Mr & Mrs. Edward Sanders of Harlem NY, were not amused.

Uhmm, so what worked.

My stepmom was the queen of information waaay before the internet. She probably did what you guys will do. Girlfriend some how got the price of apartments, the cost of college and the want ads to Denver and presented some hard facts.
My dad knew a guy who coached olympic track and field who gave us a brutually honest potrayal of a training schedule.

Basically, they got me to promise to at least wait until after 1 year of training before making any major changes.

Not sure if I'm totally in line with the bolded. I think God pick you as your daughters parents exactly because you feel that way. God gave you a calling to be her parents, he trusted you with this stewardship because he knew she would need some "tough" love so to speak. Your disquiet is based on real issues. Have faith that you are feeling exactly what the Lord wants you to feel.
Remember, God gives us all unique gift and tools to be used. He gave your daughter "you and tammy". You guys come with gifts to be used. one of those is wisdom and experience. Let them be used. that's not "standing in her way". That is loving her unconditionally and isn't that the best gift?

 

[wildernessDad]

It's definitely a tough situation, JT.

My eldest daughter was head strong and somewhat wild in her ways. My youngest daughter saw all of this and had none of that. She came along fine. But the eldest one eventually figured it all out (after having a child - minus a husband). We were unable to prevent that freight train wreck.

 

[wildernessDad]

I have a question for my groupie friends.

When one has points transferred into their account, is it given a new contract number or is it appended to one of the existing contract numbers?

 

[Muushka]

JT, I know that Granny and others gave you good advice. I hope everything works the way it is supposed to .

WD, sorry, not sure of the answer.

But I do know this:

Tomorrow is another Groupie Birthday!

Happy Birthday DynaGuy!

Who, I believe, is celebrating somewhere very beautiful!​

 

[TammyNC]

Tammy! Good to see you!

Hope your birthday was a fun one.

Thanks...good to be back...I did have a great birthday but have to admit after this week, Monday feels like a month ago.

 

[jimmytammy]

Happy Birthday DynaGuy!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Tammy and I want to thank each one of you for the replies. Each has been of great help, and its good to get perspective from those who have been there, done that. I myself had exp. early on, but it led me to meet Tammy, which I truly feel God led us to each other. We want nothing less for our DD.

You folks amaze me in such a great way!! I am so fortunate to have you all as friends

 

[Granny]

I have a question for my groupie friends.

When one has points transferred into their account, is it given a new contract number or is it appended to one of the existing contract numbers?

They just toss the points into your contract. They are supposed to retain their characteristics from whence they came...if you get BWV points transferred into VWL contract, you supposedly can't use them at 11 months for a VWL reservation.

I know that Disney had a huge issue a few years ago with "morphing" points that would take on the characteristics of the contract they were going to. That was flat out illegal on Disney's part to allow that, and I am pretty sure they plugged that "loophole" that some people of course jumped right through.

I have only had one point transfer, and it was into my contract and within the 7 month booking window so it really wasn't an issue.

 

[TammyNC]

I also wanted to say thanks to everyone for the replies and PM's that you sent, we know that as parents we are still learning and growing and always welcome ideas and especially prayers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DynaGuy!!