VWL Groupies...yes, we love the Lodge!!

[twinmom108]

Originally Posted by KAT4DISNEY

DL installed a new track for their SM. A couple of years ago when SM went down for the long rehab the pretty well confirmed story is that they were going to do the same and then got worried over the expense and decided to just repair the existing track instead of replacing. This one is a good case of you get what you pay for IMO. My lingering love of SM still hangs on but everytime I get off it at WDW it's leaving a longer impression that it's not so great anymore.

Thanks Kathy. that explains alot. I love your wiggly backside corgi in your sig line. Looks just like my 1 y/o red & white pup. lol Would you mind sharing how I could put that in my sig line too?

[KAT4DISNEY]

Originally Posted by twinmom108

Thanks Kathy. that explains alot. I love your wiggly backside corgi in your sig line. Looks just like my 1 y/o red & white pup. lol Would you mind sharing how I could put that in my sig line too?

Oooooo - a Corgi puppy!!! You must post a picture!

Let's see if I can get the directions correct to add the wiggling corgi to your signature -

First - right click on the picture in my signature line and copy the location of the .gif file.

Second - click on the UserCP link located above to the left then click on the Edit Signature link on the left side of the page.

Third - click on the little yellow mountain looking icon above the area to post in which is the insert image icon, paste the link you copied into the box that pops up, hit OK to close the box and then when you save or preview the signature you should have the Corgi bottom wiggling at you!

[MiaSRN62]

Teapot :March 11-15 BLT with another good friend from home

Oh Joy ! Gonna miss ya here----spending a quickie trip to WDW with my daughter who is meeting with a Disney Wedding consultant Mar 3-6 ! Not sure if she'll choose Disney---she is also considering the FL Aquarium in Tampa. Your WDW stays schedule looks STUNNING ! WOOT !

Inkmaham: So I'm doing better at getting back to the DIS boards about once each week but still not as regular as I once was. My life still consists of knee rehab and a lot of extra sleep from the pain pills. I fall asleep at the computer, watching tv, even eating breakfast with my yogurt container in hand. (insert sleeping person icon here)

Oh Ink....please hang in there ! Feel better !!!


Nicoal...I would be a little nervous to cancel and rebook the "HH" option at OKW this close to your trip. I have done it....but not without experiencing major heart palpatations and sweaty palms !!! Good luck !!!!


Bagsmom...heartfelt PRAYERS for your friend !

I send my sympathies to those of you who have been getting snow. My one focus and goal for the winter is to survive it as warmly and SNOWLESS as possible !!!

Happy WEEKEND everyone ! I get every other weekend off and I savor the ones I'm not working

[Granny]

Originally Posted by eliza61

According to Disney legend, Pleasure Island is a living monument to it's purchaser "the wise fool, the mad visonary, the scoundrel, the scalawag and the seeker of enjoyment"... Merriweather Adam Pleasure, who brought the island in 1911 and disappeared 30 years later during a circumnavigation of the Antartic. Destroyed by Hurricane Connie in 1955, the island was uncovered by archaeologist in 1987. Two years later, the "new" pleasure Island opened with hopes of being "fun for all and all for fun!"

Only Disney could give an attraction a history.

Loved this clip Eliza. You're right, there are back stories to most locations at WDW. Part of the fun and detail that makes it great to return over and over. Thanks for sharing.


And, to bring us back to VWL for a bit, here's a nice view of "the bear".

[bagsmom]

Originally Posted by Granny

Loved this clip Eliza. You're right, there are back stories to most locations at WDW. Part of the fun and detail that makes it great to return over and over. Thanks for sharing.


And, to bring us back to VWL for a bit, here's a nice view of "the bear".

Hey Granny -- so, is it supposed to be the face and head of a bear, with the windows as the eyes? If so, I see it! That's neat!

We are soon to be four months away from our trip!

[bagsmom]

OK lodge lovers! Here is a chance to give me some opinions!

Our trip is still 4+ months away, but I'm gathering all my ideas.

Our 15th anniversary will be during our trip. It will be on a Thursday, which is a morning extra magic hours day at the MK. After looking at all the information (best day, worst day) on the Unofficial Guide calendar, it looks like MK is one of the better parks. (Not the best, but during that week, the MK isn't listed as a best park at all.)

OK -- getting up way early is no problem for us. We can do our touring in the am and will go back to the lodge to relax.

The big question comes in the evening.

Option One -- return to the MK with a little picnic. Return 2 hours before the electrical parade and go up to the second floor of the train depot. Sit on our neat sheet and have a picnic. Stay here and people watch. Watch the parade and Wishes from here.
Will the MK be stupidly crowded because it's an EMH day? Or will it even matter?

Option Two -- invest in the park hopper thingie. Tour MK in the morning, taking advantage of the EMH. Return to lodge after lunch and relax. Hop over to Epcot to see Illuminations. Could potentially make a reservation at the Rose and Crown for this and watch from the UK. Or from Mexico.

Option One has us taking the boat to and from the MK in the evening. Will this be the best way to get home after the parade and Wishes? Will the picnic from the depot be really neat and a great anniversary night with the kids?

Option Two has us driving back to Epcot and walking way across Future World to get to World showcase.

What would you guys do? My husband is a fairly low energy type and my kids are not used to staying up really late. We are also planning to get up early the next day and go to Hollywood Studios.

I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts on this! Thanks a lot!

[bagsmom]

Thanks to all of you for the prayers! My friend got a great report! Not exactly a miracle, but a remarkable improvement! She was previously on the "very little hope" list. Now after intense chemo, the tumors and liver lesions are almost invisible! She's not out of the woods, but this is great news! Thank you all for the help! And please keep it up!

[Deb & Bill]

Originally Posted by bagsmom

...Option One -- return to the MK with a little picnic. Return 2 hours before the electrical parade and go up to the second floor of the train depot. Sit on our neat sheet and have a picnic. Stay here and people watch. Watch the parade and Wishes from here.
Will the MK be stupidly crowded because it's an EMH day? Or will it even matter?...Option One has us taking the boat to and from the MK in the evening. Will this be the best way to get home after the parade and Wishes? Will the picnic from the depot be really neat and a great anniversary night with the kids?...

Expect to be crowded on the train station and not having a nice little isolated picnic space. Lots of guests park up there to watch the parade and fireworks. People will ignore the boundaries of your neat sheet and walk over and around your picnic area.

Personally, I found New Fantasyland the best place to watch Wishes Fireworks last week. Right in the middle of the fireworks.

[MiaSRN62]

Option One -- return to the MK with a little picnic. Return 2 hours before the electrical parade and go up to the second floor of the train depot. Sit on our neat sheet and have a picnic. Stay here and people watch. Watch the parade and Wishes from here.
Will the MK be stupidly crowded because it's an EMH day? Or will it even matter?

Option Two -- invest in the park hopper thingie. Tour MK in the morning, taking advantage of the EMH. Return to lodge after lunch and relax. Hop over to Epcot to see Illuminations. Could potentially make a reservation at the Rose and Crown for this and watch from the UK. Or from Mexico.

Option One has us taking the boat to and from the MK in the evening. Will this be the best way to get home after the parade and Wishes? Will the picnic from the depot be really neat and a great anniversary night with the kids?

Option Two has us driving back to Epcot and walking way across Future World to get to World showcase.

bagsmom,
If this is going to be your only opportunity to see Wishes and MS Electric Parade, I'd go with #1. However, they were chasing guests off the train depot parade viewing area in October when we were there ? Not sure why. It was pretty crowded up there. And the boat ride going back to the VWL/WL after the parade is pretty---it was mobbed in December. We probably waiting for at least 5-6 boats before we got to ride over (so close to a 45 min wait). So my advice is to linger for at least 45 min to an hour after the fireworks before heading back. I think with EMH being at the MK park that morning, this park will be crowded. I know you said your family is not used to staying up late---but it will be a cattle call after the fireworks. Have fun.
Option #2 if you want lower crowds ?

[MiaSRN62]

Originally Posted by bagsmom

Thanks to all of you for the prayers! My friend got a great report! Not exactly a miracle, but a remarkable improvement! She was previously on the "very little hope" list. Now after intense chemo, the tumors and liver lesions are almost invisible! She's not out of the woods, but this is great news! Thank you all for the help! And please keep it up!

Very hopeful news !

[Deb & Bill]

It looked like they were just doing a two bedroom lockoff on the fourth floor. Carpet outside the villas in that section was replaced, wallpaper in the corridor was replaced, corridor in the area was repainted (but paint was about the same). The two villas were pretty much gutted with laminate flooring put down to replace carpet in the villas.

Not sure if it was just a trial to show someone what it would look like or what.


The current carpet in the corridor.


The new carpet in the corridor.


The area right outside the renovated villas.


Inside the one bedroom villa under renovation.


Current wallpaper in the corridor.


New wallpaper in the corridor outside the two renovated villas. It looks like a feather pattern.

[bumbershoot]

Space Mountain.....

The DL closure was from April 2003 to July 2005 (and that was actually earlier than anticipated).

The WDW closure was scheduled in terms of months (april to november of the same year), not years.

So I'm not sure how they, or anyone, could have thought they would have the time to totally redo it like DLR did.

If we just think about the rides as having the same concept and name, but WDW's version being more similar to the Matterhorn at DL, it gives a much better expectation for the experience.

[jimmytammy]

Originally Posted by bagsmom

Our news media folks were all excited that snow was headed our way! They did say it was an unpredictable situation... but everyone got excited anyway. But everything just fizzled out when it got near us. Lots of bummed out kids! You stay warm!!!!! Put baggies with rubber bands over your shoes!

DS and I went out Fri., in the snow to do an outside job. Worked out OK as it was comfortable, though a bit slushy That need of Disney money will make you do some things!

Glad to hear your friend got a better than expected report. Still sending up prayers

[jimmytammy]

Originally Posted by Deb & Bill

It looked like they were just doing a two bedroom lockoff on the fourth floor. Carpet outside the villas in that section was replaced, wallpaper in the corridor was replaced, corridor in the area was repainted (but paint was about the same). The two villas were pretty much gutted with laminate flooring put down to replace carpet in the villas.

Not sure if it was just a trial to show someone what it would look like or what.


The current carpet in the corridor.


The new carpet in the corridor.


The area right outside the renovated villas.


Inside the one bedroom villa under renovation.


Current wallpaper in the corridor.


New wallpaper in the corridor outside the two renovated villas. It looks like a feather pattern.

The changes dont look generic as I was hoping they wouldnt do, rather it seems they stayed with the theme

[Linda67]

I really like the look of the renovations

Not a huge change, more of a freshen up than a complete overhaul - seems to be keeping the same kind of theme and colors