We're Baaaaack!! **The WLV's groupies & Trivia Thread chapter 3

[DiznyDi]

Wow, alot has gone on since I last checked in.
Inkmahm am enjoying your TR. Sounds like you're having a great time. Someday we'll have to try the Segways...

claire_ont Welcome! Your moosie looks to be a perfect fit! Glad to have you with us. Keep us posted with your progress.

DLI So glad to hear your good news! for full-time! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

Still no Eliza Has anyone heard from our dear friend?

JT My family and I will be at the Lodge May 1 - 9. If time permits, would love to make your acquaintance!

Di

 

[claire_ont]

Wow, even though we were suppose to wait until April 1, my husband wished me a Happy Early Birthday (real birthday not until Jan 25th) and WE PUT THE DEPOSIT down on the points!!! We are so happy we are doing the happy conga dance <Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, CHA!>
My guide said the points will be in my account tomorrow!!!! I am bouncing around like a kid on a sugar high - just needed to share. Now off to find that VWL banner for my signature. <still dancing...>
Oshawa - great to have a Canadian friend in the group! Thanks for the welcome.

Claire - First trip to VWL planned March 2010 <sigh> <still dancing>

 

[Inkmahm]

We're packed and ready to leave long before dawn tomorrow for our 8 am flight home so now I have a few minutes to update for Sunday and Monday.

Yesterday we went to Epcot. No EMH so we were there for rope drop with the rest of the world from the main entrance. My DH loves coming in the back way from BWV when we stay there in October for F&W. We got our Soarin fast passes and road it once before heading to Test Track and Mission Space. The crowds really weren't that bad for the rides in the morning. Lunch was at Coral Reef. In the afternooon we returned to Soarin and were in the cue as the next group to ride when it broke down. So we got fast passes good anytime through March 31 to come back. (We gave these away tonight to people sitting next to us at dinner at Jiko.) Test track had a really long line by early afternoon so the fast pass was great to have.

We did the World Show case in the afternoon. Both of us were disappointed in the garden show this year. It seemed like there was a lot less stuff than last year. Fewer flowers, fewer booths, fewer everything. We tried the school bread in Norway after reading about it at the DIS and thought it was pretty good but not to die for as I've read about on the DIS, too.

We ate at Rose and Crown for the first time ever for dinner on Sunday. The salad was great and DH loved his salmon appetizer. The steak and fish was also good. If we go there again I'd skip the steak and just order fish and chips. There was too much food with the steak, too. Desserts were mediocre at best.

Illuminations was the same as in December other than no finale for Christmas. I missed that part. It rained all of about 10 minutes late in the afternoon and got cooler at night. DH bought yet ANOTHER Disney sweatshirt to stay warm. We came back to the VWL and crashed for the night rather than go to the hot tub as we were cold and tired by then.

 

[Inkmahm]

We woke up to rain but decided to head to Animal Kingdom for 8 am EMH anyway. It rained right up until we parked the car and then it stopped! That rain kept the crowd small all morning so it was great. We did Expedition Everest and then headed to the safari. We did the safari 3 times today at different times and there were MANY animals on all 3 trips. The critters must have liked the cooler damp weather today. I liked it because my allergies didn't bother me at AK today and usually in spring I have a rough time there. On one of our safaris, a white rhino charged the front of the truck we were in! Our guide hit the brakes and the rhino crossed the road at a run. THAT was an exciting addition to the trip!

Lunch at Tusker House was good as always. Back to downtown Disney this afternoon and then to Jiko for dinner. We love AKV as much as VWL, especially Jiko. Tonight we walked down to the beach to watch the electric light parade back at VWL. Then at Roaring Fork, I finally saw the cupcakes some of you talk about. They are huge!

We're out of here bright and early tomorrow morning so I can go directly back to work. boo. It has been a great trip!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hi groupies! It has come to my attention that I neglected to tell you all that I got my job back part time this past week.

Congratulations DLI - that's great news! I'm hoping it becomes permanent for you.

Wow, even though we were suppose to wait until April 1, my husband wished me a Happy Early Birthday (real birthday not until Jan 25th) and WE PUT THE DEPOSIT down on the points!!! We are so happy we are doing the happy conga dance <Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, CHA!>

Welcome to the newest Groupie and now owner too!


Inkmahm Thanks for all the trip updates - it's always fun to hear how things are going at "home"! I also seem to have missed the cupcakes along the way - perhaps because I like the magic bars too much. Next time I have to check them out.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Claire and CONGRATS on your VWL purchase !

DLI....so glad to hear you got your job back part-time !


BWV Dreamin.....we were in studio 1516 at VWL (ground floor and VERY close to elevator). As soon as we exited our room, we turned right and the elevator/VWL lobby was right there. So very convenient. The view was a bit over-grown though. Here are some pics :

As you know, I am booked for our first cruise in June. Have any of you booked a cruise on points and if you have...did you purchase the trip insurance. It covers the points @ $5 each. They want $165.11. I was really thinking of doing it in case something were to happen to my mom who is in a nursing home, but they said that would be considered a preexisting condition. So now I am not sure it is worth it. What advice do you have guys?

blossomz.....
We were torn with this decision in 2004. My mil was in hospice and we had a cruise scheduled 18 months prior. We were also told if we had to cancel our cruise due to a decline in her health it was considered "pre-existing" so we declined. Best of luck with whatever you decide.



I'm back from a quickie trip to FL. The main goal of our trip was to tour the FSU campus in Tallahassee. DD would like to transfer there. But we did a quick 2 night stay in WDW too. Stayed at POP. We only visited the MK since we were so short on time. It was SO crowded on Sat 3/21. Got a FP for Space Mtn at 1 pm and our ride time was 7:10 to 8:10 pm ! Nuts. I saw long lines for Small World and the Speedway....crowds everywhere. Honestly, wouldn't normally go to WDW during this time of the year due to spring breaks except for the fact we were in FL anyway for the college tour. But more than anything, I truly enjoyed the weather. Didn't even matter that the parks were crowded. What a wonderful escape from still frozen PA. I am waking up to 23 degrees and a 15 degree wind chill. Ahhhh....spring in the northeast......simply doesn't exist. The joke in this area is spring never really comes and then all of a sudden it's summer.

Hope everyone is well............

Maria

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Thanks Maria!! I'm gonna see if I can get that exact room! It's private, even if a bit overgrown. Ok, writing that room number down!!! Hope your having a great trip!!!

 

[LVSWL]

Claire ont-Welcome and Congrats!!! Our first "Home" was VWL, and it is still our favorite. Of course then my DH got a chronic case of addonitis and that was 2 "homes" ago
Maria-Welcome back! Those college visits are interesting. We are going through the same process this year. Those crowds you mention are I am heading down in 10 days, I know, I know, but it could not be helped(kid's break) and I know it will just be crazy. Oh well, good food, VWL, good friends, who cares about the crowds, right?

 

[Muushka]

Wow, even though we were suppose to wait until April 1, my husband wished me a Happy Early Birthday (real birthday not until Jan 25th) and WE PUT THE DEPOSIT down on the points!!! We are so happy we are doing the happy conga dance <Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, CHA!>
My guide said the points will be in my account tomorrow!!!! I am bouncing around like a kid on a sugar high - just needed to share. Now off to find that VWL banner for my signature. <still dancing...>
Oshawa - great to have a Canadian friend in the group! Thanks for the welcome.

Claire - First trip to VWL planned March 2010 <sigh> <still dancing>

WooHoo!! That is great news. And I see our handsome guy got the place of honor in your siggies!

As you know, I am booked for our first cruise in June. Have any of you booked a cruise on points and if you have...did you purchase the trip insurance. It covers the points @ $5 each. They want $165.11. I was really thinking of doing it in case something were to happen to my mom who is in a nursing home, but they said that would be considered a preexisting condition. So now I am not sure it is worth it. What advice do you have guys?

Can you buy trip insurance from a regular insurance company if you used points? I'll bet it would be a lot cheaper.

Inkmahm, I hope your trip home is a uneventful one. Thank you for your on-th-spot reports!

We love Rose and Crown. The food is pretty good, but their wait staff is excellent and the view of Illuminations cannot be beat.

Hey all you college-bound parents. We have 3 excellent schools here (NC State, UNC Chapel Hill and Duke). If anyone ever comes looking, be sure to look me up!

 

[LVSWL]

Muushka! I would love to look you up, you are just down the road! As far as the NC schools, my DS wanted to be "out of state" even though he could have gone to those great "in state" schools. Maybe the younger DS will stick closer to home

 

[Muushka]

PM on it's way!

 

[tea pot]

I think Ranger Stan is there Wed-Sat. He usually does the tour at around 9 AM. You can usually find him standing in the lobby looking for people who want to take the tour. Tell him I say hi!!

Thanks a bunch blossomz... We hope to take the tour on Thursday 5/7 or Friday 5/8

I looked at the resales, but even though the cost per point is over $20 less than Disney, by the time I add in the closing fees and the lack of 08 points (that I value at $10 a point) that I would have to rent or transfer for our March 2010 trip, Disney works out to virtually the same cost as resale - plus I get the number of points I want, the instant gratification of points with less wait and I can pay by credit card and get the flight points.

Doing the happy dance -

Claire - Planned upcoming trips - AKV/VWL - Mar 2010, VWL Dec 2010

Claire we did the same thing... a direct add for the same reasons. buying from Disney worked best for us... esp because we needed a specific use year and a small contract. It worked so well that we did it again and bought a small contract for BCV to take advantage of the Flower and Garden Show in May..

blossomz is right, Ranger Stan is there Wed-Sat. He will be standing by the support pole nearest guest relations at 9am. If you miss the Lodge tour, he usually hangs around in the lobby. If its warm, he likes to go just outside the main doors and greet people. He takes lunch around 1, then heads home at 4.

BTW, we will be there Apr 29-May 8.

Hey jimmytammy... thanks agian... after talking to the group/s...DD will be with us the first part of the trip and best friends from home on the second half ( DVC friends finally ) I will be able to firm up the day and time we visit the Lodge... Will keep you posted

 

[tea pot]

Still catching up...

Wow, even though we were suppose to wait until April 1, my husband wished me a Happy Early Birthday (real birthday not until Jan 25th) and WE PUT THE DEPOSIT down on the points!!! We are so happy we are doing the happy conga dance <Cha, cha, cha, cha, cha, CHA!>
My guide said the points will be in my account tomorrow!!!! I am bouncing around like a kid on a sugar high - just needed to share. Now off to find that VWL banner for my signature. <still dancing...>
Oshawa - great to have a Canadian friend in the group! Thanks for the welcome.

Claire - First trip to VWL planned March 2010 <sigh> <still dancing>

WOO HOO and CONGRATS

A Big Welcome Home
I know you and your DH will be happy


Happpy Dinks Pixie Dust for your BLT waitlist

Dizny Di another groupie in the World in May

DLI Great Job News...

Ikmahm Thanks so much for taking the time from your vacation to give us a live trip report LOve It...

Maria Don't you just love those little sneak in visits to the World.. Good luck with the college search.. my 2nd DD went to school in Florida, Eckerd college in St Pete and never came home.. but what a great place to have to visit..

Is it Spring Yet?

 

[jimmytammy]

How would you folks like to meet up in the Carolwood Pacific room one day for a groupie meet?

 

[blossomz]

Claire congratulations! Great news!


Maria..nothing like a quick trip to the MK despite the crowds! Sounds like fun anyway!

Well...I ended up checking insuremytrip.com and found a great deal just to cover medical costs for the cruise! It cost me only $28 for the 3 of us! I think that probably was the best way to go.

Tomorrow is my 90 day mark!! I'll be calling to make our ADR's!! The first milestone to our trip!!

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

We were helping my sister/brother-in-law move this weekend and I had to smile when I saw their moving truck.

DLI - Yay for the job! Hope it becomes permanent.

claire_ont - Congrats! Welcome and Woohoo!

Maria - Glad to hear you were able to fit in a VWL visit in your college trip. Enjoyed the pictures too.

Muushka - For now can you cancel my May trip and June trip/cruise. I'll let you know if we book something to replace it.

 

[blossomz]

OH!! DLI!! I meant to say congrats to you too!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks for the "welcome back's" everyone. And teapot....I'm sure my dd will permanently settle in FL. Her major is marine biology/conservation. FL is a great place to be for that sort of work. Besides, she loves the climate just as we do. We hope to eventually settle in FL as well....just waiting for our youngest (dd 15) to finish high school.

It was fun to sneak off to WDW for a couple days......there were some wild fires in Volusia County and the smoke really drifted into Orlando. Arriving in the WDW area from Tallahassee from the FL Turnpike it was really evident. Thick smoke hung in the air (this was Friday early evening March 20). We had to turn off the car AC and shut the vents because we were choking. Once inside WDW, it seemed fine.

Maria

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Thanks everybody!! I can sleep better now that I am back at work. I am actually glad to be part time. It is what I want. They forced me to go full time against my will in January. Then laid me off a month later. Go figure. Once DD graduates from high school I plan to go back to working full time semi-voluntarily!

 

[MiaSRN62]

plan to go back to working full time semi-voluntarily!

Too funny....love it DLI.....


Maria