VWL Groupies & Lovers Thread (Special Collectors Edition 2.0) updated 21 June 2023

[KAT4DISNEY]

A belated Happy Anniversary @jimmytammy !!!
​

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I agree completely. And I'm afraid that Thea might be a bad hire for GM of the Wilderness Lodge if she thinks that the traditional Whispering Canyon Cafe was out of place or the theming is inappropriate.

AMEN !!!

. . . WL Employees (aka: Cast Members) feel the same way.
. . . We would never say, aloud, the GM HAS TO GO
. . . but, the GM has to go

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks Kathy! Its been a wonderful 28 years, though its been a lot of rough patches for Tammy (she has put up with a lot from me)

 

[Granny]

Jimmy & Tammy....a very late Happy Anniversary. And Jimmy, you're down to 24 months to plan out that wonderful 30th anniversary! Time does fly, doesn't it?

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks Granny! Yes time gets away quickly for sure

 

[Dizny Dad]

OK - We're back. I am always impressed with those of you that can post on this thread while in The World. The one time I actually did post, I was using DiznyDi's computer and really never thought about the fact that it would post as coming from my better half. So sorry for that. But I am impressed with those that can post while busy in The World.

We had a great time, as always. We really enjoyed our evening meeting at TOWL with Tricia & Jerry and Corinne & Dana. We did all of the typical things, enjoyed the atmosphere, and ate around the World Showcase.

I really enjoyed the "Boulder Ridge Pool". Especially since there is no Cruise Ship guy there pounding out the beat all afternoon. It was the first salt water pool I have ever experienced, although I am quite aware of the trend & reduced operating costs. And I like the signs that CLEARLY indicate the direction to the "Copper Creek Poll" and the direction to the "Boulder Ridge Pool". Makes me hope that will limit cross pollination, so to speak.

Just one funny note - As I was leaving the pool to join DiznyDi at a nearby table, I overheard a woman telling her group that years ago the old rusty tank at the side of the pool was used to squirt and dump water, but Disney shut it down rather than fix it. I love overhearing Disney Experts - you can learn so much!

Again, thanks so much for all of the well wishes for my birthday. And allow me to extend my best wishes to all those celebrating anniversaries!​

 

[Dizny Dad]

OK Disney fans - Two trivia Questions I learned this past trip to The World . . .

What Historical event occurred at the Contemporary Resort?

What Historical event occurred at the Polynesian Resort?

By Historical, I mean we may be aware of the event, but the location is lost in history.

 

[rkstocke5609]

Poly— didn’t John Lennon make the breakup of the Beatles official while staying?

 

[rkstocke5609]

Oh No! I just heard about my Maleficent Dragon! Well, at least it’s still my desktop background on my computer...

 

[DenLo]

OK Disney fans - Two trivia Questions I learned this past trip to The World . . .

What Historical event occurred at the Contemporary Resort?

What Historical event occurred at the Polynesian Resort?

By Historical, I mean we may be aware of the event, but the location is lost in history.

Nixon made his famous "I am not a crook" speech at the Contemporary Resort (thanks DH, wdrl). And John Lennon signed the papers to break up the Beatles.

 

[sleepydog25]

First, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, JT!!

Second, while I rarely chose to dine at WCC (the food just isn't appealing to us and we're not huge eaters, either), losing the antics would mean yet another part of the Disney experience that so many love is gone. I don't know the real reason why this decision has been made (if it definitely pans out to have been made), but if it's due to some complaints, that would be a shame. It's part and parcel of the experience there. This action appears to be yet another move to homogenize the Disney experience. I, too, wrote to the GM at WL.

Third, and I've been watching this closely, something's up with Artist Point. Still no availability there starting on 22 Oct and extending as far as the 180-day window goes which is currently 10 Nov. Refurbishment? Perhaps. Computer glitch? Doubtful as I've been trying nearly two weeks to find an opening on any of those dates.

That's it for now! Have a good week, Groupies!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Nixon made his famous "I am not a crook" speech at the Contemporary Resort (thanks DH, wdrl). And John Lennon signed the papers to break up the Beatles.

Did not know the one about Nixon! Had run across the John Lennon a few times.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

First, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, JT!!

Second, while I rarely chose to dine at WCC (the food just isn't appealing to us and we're not huge eaters, either), losing the antics would mean yet another part of the Disney experience that so many love is gone. I don't know the real reason why this decision has been made (if it definitely pans out to have been made), but if it's due to some complaints, that would be a shame. It's part and parcel of the experience there. This action appears to be yet another move to homogenize the Disney experience. I, too, wrote to the GM at WL.

Third, and I've been watching this closely, something's up with Artist Point. Still no availability there starting on 22 Oct and extending as far as the 180-day window goes which is currently 10 Nov. Refurbishment? Perhaps. Computer glitch? Doubtful as I've been trying nearly two weeks to find an opening on any of those dates.

That's it for now! Have a good week, Groupies!

Do you know anything about the talked about recent decline at AP? It seemed to be reported that there was once again a new chef? I had almost been convinced by you and others to give it a try again but I'm back waiting for more new reports.

 

[sleepydog25]

Do you know anything about the talked about recent decline at AP? It seemed to be reported that there was once again a new chef? I had almost been convinced by you and others to give it a try again but I'm back waiting for more new reports.

No, hadn't heard there was a new chef. I also hadn't heard any particularly bad reviews of late, either.

 

[DVC Jen]

Do you know anything about the talked about recent decline at AP? It seemed to be reported that there was once again a new chef? I had almost been convinced by you and others to give it a try again but I'm back waiting for more new reports.

We had dinner there in mid December. Was the best meal we had. Service was a tad bit slow but I think that had more to do with it being a signature restaurant and maybe us not being in a take all the time in the world set of mind. We had a carriage ride over at Ft.Wilderness. Once we mentioned this to our server she got things going a bit faster.

 

[twinklebug]

In December we called an Uber (or Lyft, can't recall which). The driver at that time was currently a full time chef at WCC (I will assume he still is). On our relatively long drive from TOTWL back to Kidani he gave us lots of inside WDW trivia, some questionable trivia about products on market shelves, and lots of complaints about how the WCC kitchen has changed over the years. Seems now days they're not hiring trained chefs, but untrained folk to come in and prepare meals. The meat comes pre-cooked in a single serving bag that is dropped into boiling water to heat it up, then finished with a searing on the grill to make it look pretty. This is done so they can keep the food consistent even if the staff has no idea how to grill a steak.

I'm appalled. Plastic should never, ever be heated with food touching it. I realize we all do it at one time or another, but it really is worth it to take 20 extra seconds to transfer food to glass or ceramic to heat to keep the plastics from warming up and releasing toxins into the food. Don't believe any of those "safe plastics" reports... I have a family member who has his doctorate in chemistry, particularly in how materials break down. According to him, all plastic is nasty stuff when warmed up.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Gee . . . I got a whole 62 & 64 minutes out of the Trivia . . both RKSTOCKE5609 & DenLo were correct.

Twinklebug - Sous Vide has been used in most high end restaurants for years. Good or not? According to the latest research, the safest plastics for use with food are high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and polypropylene. Virtually all Sous Vide bags are made from these plastics, as are most brand name food bags and plastic wraps such as Saran wrap. Polyethylene is widely used in containers for biology and chemistry labs, and it has been studied extensively. It is safe, or so say the experts. I'm not saying I agree, but it is hard to get away from if you eat out at all.

 

[twinklebug]

Twinklebug - Sous Vide has been used in most high end restaurants for years. Good or not? According to the latest research, the safest plastics for use with food are high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and polypropylene. Virtually all Sous Vide bags are made from these plastics, as are most brand name food bags and plastic wraps such as Saran wrap. Polyethylene is widely used in containers for biology and chemistry labs, and it has been studied extensively. It is safe, or so say the experts. I'm not saying I agree, but it is hard to get away from if you eat out at all.

Interesting, sous vide = vacuum packed. Sounds better in french doesn't it?
LMAO. yum.

Yes, it is impossible to get away from having any plastics touch the food, they are safe to keep cooled at any rate. The problem is when they are heated. Again, per my cousin, there are no "safe" plastics. Just like in anything, there are tolerable/acceptable levels of toxins released and that is what the recommendations come out of. I will ask at each place if they use that method, and if yes will stick to a summer salad or soup.

Once again, owning DVC and having full kitchens is a blessing.

 

[Corinne]

Do you know anything about the talked about recent decline at AP? It seemed to be reported that there was once again a new chef? I had almost been convinced by you and others to give it a try again but I'm back waiting for more new reports.

Hi Kathy, not sure when the latest chef started, but Dana and I dined at AP in December and were very disappointed, I want to try again, but decided to wait a while.

 

[rkstocke5609]

Interesting, sous vide = vacuum packed. Sounds better in french doesn't it?
LMAO. yum.

Yes, it is impossible to get away from having any plastics touch the food, they are safe to keep cooled at any rate. The problem is when they are heated. Again, per my cousin, there are no "safe" plastics. Just like in anything, there are tolerable/acceptable levels of toxins released and that is what the recommendations come out of. I will ask at each place if they use that method, and if yes will stick to a summer salad or soup.

Once again, owning DVC and having full kitchens is a blessing.

Most soups come frozen in a big plastic bag and are placed in boiling water until heated — sorry, no love there. I love restaurants that hand patty their burgers or make soup from scratch, I always ask and hope for honesty. Easy to tell with burgers, harder with soup.