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

wildernessDad said:
Here's the quote on the glasses.

"This year marks the grand finale presentation of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. And as a Passholder, you can marvel at their beauty, music and magic all season long.

PLUS, as an exclusive Passholder treat, if you visit to enjoy the lights on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can pick up special “spectacles” to wear—so the lights will sparkle and dance even more brightly!

To pick up your complimentary pair, simply stop by Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (directly to your left upon entering the park, just beyond Guest Relations). Offer valid after 5:30 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays during the final season of Spectacle of Dancing Lights, which runs from November 6, 2015 to January 3, 2016. One per Passholder while supplies last—Passholder card and photo ID required."
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Of course, we come in after a Wednesday and leave the following Monday. :scratchin However, we do have a few sets of those Lowe's spectacles which I bought last year--not sure how the Disney ones work, but the ones we have make dozens of Santas, or reindeer, or candy canes, et. al., when using them to view any lights. They'll just have to do.
 
Anyone here have any input regarding the Universal Hotels? I'm planning out a spring trip with the boy, not sure I want to spring for Hard Rock or Portafino, but the new value resort they built looks very disturbingly 50s. It would be for a quick 3 night trip before moving over to AKV. Are they worth it?

sleepydog25 said:
Of course, we come in after a Wednesday and leave the following Monday. :scratchin However, we do have a few sets of those Lowe's spectacles which I bought last year--not sure how the Disney ones work, but the ones we have make dozens of Santas, or reindeer, or candy canes, et. al., when using them to view any lights. They'll just have to do.
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I hear the DVC ones have a subliminal message in the glasses telling us to add on more points, and that $155/pt is a steal. :D
 
sleepydog25 said:
Of course, we come in after a Wednesday and leave the following Monday. :scratchin However, we do have a few sets of those Lowe's spectacles which I bought last year--not sure how the Disney ones work, but the ones we have make dozens of Santas, or reindeer, or candy canes, et. al., when using them to view any lights. They'll just have to do.
Click to expand...

I've read of a couple people that got them on other days too Sleepy. Wouldn't hurt to ask anyway. I think they are like the Lowes but do a snowflake pattern. It should be Mickey's!
 
twinklebug said:
Anyone here have any input regarding the Universal Hotels? I'm planning out a spring trip with the boy, not sure I want to spring for Hard Rock or Portafino, but the new value resort they built looks very disturbingly 50s. It would be for a quick 3 night trip before moving over to AKV. Are they worth it?


I hear the DVC ones have a subliminal message in the glasses telling us to add on more points, and that $155/pt is a steal. :D
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We LOVED Cabana Bay, but we are into that retro theme. It doesn't include front of the line pass at Universal, and has bus transportaion to the parks (which was still quick and readily available last November). But it was a great place. The theming was amazing for a "value" right down to the V05 shampoo in the shower. Disney value resorts should take note. :)
 


twinklebug said:
Anyone here have any input regarding the Universal Hotels? I'm planning out a spring trip with the boy, not sure I want to spring for Hard Rock or Portafino, but the new value resort they built looks very disturbingly 50s. It would be for a quick 3 night trip before moving over to AKV. Are they worth it?
:D
Click to expand...

To me, the Universal Hotels are worth it if you are planning on touring the Universal parks. Keep in mind that you can get front-of-the-line access at both parks for both the check-in and check-out days, so when we stayed only one night we got two days of preferred touring which was enough for us to do pretty much everything at those parks. If you stay two nights you get 3 days of touring which is good.

As for whether they are worth it, the answer is very much a yes. Universal charges for FOTL passes (hope Disney doesn't follow suit) and though they do have some free passes available for each attraction we found that they disappear very quickly in the day. So staying at their resorts is a good way to get that perk without paying the extra $40 or so per person.

The hotels at Universal are pretty pricy and we've stayed at the three main ones. I'd knock out the new budget resort since it doesn't include FOTL passes (at least it didn't the last time we stayed at Universal). Of the others, Portafino is a beautiful resort and wonderfully themed as well as a Disney resort, but it is also the most expensive. In the middle is Hard Rock which is always popular with the younger set and then the Royal Pacific is the least expensive of the three and we like that one a lot. They are all good hotels but we tend to look at Royal Pacific since it costs a little less and provides the same perks as the other two.

Good luck! And use the early entry to go directly to Harry Potter attractions...within an hour the line there is very long and I'm not sure that FOTL applies to all of those attractions.
 
twinklebug said:
Anyone here have any input regarding the Universal Hotels? I'm planning out a spring trip with the boy, not sure I want to spring for Hard Rock or Portafino, but the new value resort they built looks very disturbingly 50s. It would be for a quick 3 night trip before moving over to AKV. Are they worth it?


I hear the DVC ones have a subliminal message in the glasses telling us to add on more points, and that $155/pt is a steal. :D
Click to expand...

My 2 cents - we've only stayed at the Royal Pacific a couple of times when I've had conferences and would continue with that one as it's the least expensive of the 3 that get you the unlimited FOTL. And it's very easy to get to the parks from there. Cabana Bay, though it looks fun to me, loses most of my interest because they don't provide the FOTL pass. IMO at least Royal Pacific is worth it if you are going to spend some time at Universal. We do the Universal parks now and then but it's slow times of the year so we just use DVC and drive over. The FOTL is pretty awesome though and I suspect we may do a night or two at Royal Pacific sometime. With the hotels (all of them I think) you do get the early entry which works for HP since FOTL does not apply to either Forbidden Journey or Gringotts nor the Hogwarts Express.

Actually, when we went to Universal in Nov my niece played rock/paper/scissors with the FOTL attendant at Dragon Challenge and got us that access for that ride. Lines were so short all it really meant was we didn't have to wind our way thru the normal que but it was a fun surprise for her! It's not the first time we've gotten let into it but the previous was way back when they were still building HP and it was still Dueling Dragons that actually raced. I miss that.
 


I wanted to add regarding Universal. We were going strictly for Harry Potter. I mean, I would live there if I could. lol. And FOTL doesn't work on about 80% of the rides in those lands (at least previously). So for us it made sense to spend less at Cabana Bay, especially at an AP rate in Nov., it was a no-brainer for us.
 
sleepydog25 said:
:rotfl: And I agree with KAT--the glasses should have Mickeys! Or Santa Mickeys!!
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I just read that the glasses handed out for the Merry and Bright dessert party are Mickey's!! So I'm trying to figure out where I thought I read that the Passholder ones were not. I'd think they'd all be the same. :confused3 Santa Mickey would be the best!
 
Ok, I've kind of figured out why I'm confused on the glasses - some of the reports are saying they are Mickey's but then Allears said they were expecting them to be Mickey's but they weren't and they weren't going to say what they were so people could be surprised. :headache: @wildernessDad you'll have to let us know! :santa:
 
wildernessDad said:
Here's the quote on the glasses.

"This year marks the grand finale presentation of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. And as a Passholder, you can marvel at their beauty, music and magic all season long.

PLUS, as an exclusive Passholder treat, if you visit to enjoy the lights on Mondays and Wednesdays, you can pick up special “spectacles” to wear—so the lights will sparkle and dance even more brightly!

To pick up your complimentary pair, simply stop by Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (directly to your left upon entering the park, just beyond Guest Relations). Offer valid after 5:30 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays during the final season of Spectacle of Dancing Lights, which runs from November 6, 2015 to January 3, 2016. One per Passholder while supplies last—Passholder card and photo ID required."
Click to expand...

Thanks WD! I hadn't read this. Probably won't do us much good as we plan to hit DHS on Tue. We may or may not make it over there again for a 2nd viewing. Depends on how packed it is. I did just see them opening weekend so next time will be my 2nd visit anyway.

KAT4DISNEY said:
I've read of a couple people that got them on other days too Sleepy. Wouldn't hurt to ask anyway. I think they are like the Lowes but do a snowflake pattern. It should be Mickey's!
Click to expand...

I have a Mickey pair! They gave them to us at the private Illuminations dessert party we attended during my Disney agent ed program back in Jan. It was pretty cool to see the fireworks in the shape of Mickey heads. :laughing:

I have some big travel news to share for 2016. As if this year wasn't good enough with the fabulous river cruise next year my #1 dream trip is finally going to happen. We're going to New Zealand!! Middle Earth here we come! :dancer::dancer::dancer::dancer::jumping1:

Not sure if anyone here will know the answer but since we have some BLT owners maybe you do. Am I correct that CR/BLT charges for package deliveries because they're a conference resort? I'm debating whether or not to ship the tree down this year.
 
horselover said:
Thanks WD! I hadn't read this. Probably won't do us much good as we plan to hit DHS on Tue. We may or may not make it over there again for a 2nd viewing. Depends on how packed it is. I did just see them opening weekend so next time will be my 2nd visit anyway.



I have a Mickey pair! They gave them to us at the private Illuminations dessert party we attended during my Disney agent ed program back in Jan. It was pretty cool to see the fireworks in the shape of Mickey heads. :laughing:

I have some big travel news to share for 2016. As if this year wasn't good enough with the fabulous river cruise next year my #1 dream trip is finally going to happen. We're going to New Zealand!! Middle Earth here we come! :dancer::dancer::dancer::dancer::jumping1:

Not sure if anyone here will know the answer but since we have some BLT owners maybe you do. Am I correct that CR/BLT charges for package deliveries because they're a conference resort? I'm debating whether or not to ship the tree down this year.
Click to expand...


New Zealand - cool! It's on my bucket list. :thumbsup2

And yes, deliveries to CR go to the business center so there's a fee to pick it up.
 
KAT4DISNEY said:
New Zealand - cool! It's on my bucket list. :thumbsup2

And yes, deliveries to CR go to the business center so there's a fee to pick it up.
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Thanks Kathy! I figured you'd know the answer. I was just hoping you'd tell me my recollection of the fee was wrong! :laughing: Since I've decided we'll do a quick stop (I hope) at Super Walmart on the way to the hotel I may just pick up a cheap tabletop tree. It will probably cost less than shipping the box plus the package delivery fee. I may be able to fit it in the OL now that our Keurig died. :sad2: I left that at BCV when we were there in Oct. Same issue we had last Dec. using it I had again. Tried & tried to flush it out but to no avail. DH thinks they're probably not meant to sit with water in them for extended periods of time. He's probably right about that.

And thank you for just reminding me I need to find out if I can go riding while I'm in NZ. I see your name & think of horses. :goodvibes
 
horselover said:
Congratulations Teapot! That's fantastic news. Enjoy your first grandson! :littleangel:

Hey groupies! Remember me? I do well keep up for brief bursts then fall right off that rocker & can't get back up! I hope everyone is doing well. I kept seeing various Lodge/WDW pictures on Di's FB page so I wondering if perhaps they were there now. But it appears it's just a case of pre trip excitement unless the vacation calendar isn't updated. I'll be looking forward to seeing Lodge photos & reports on how it is staying there with the construction going on. I'm looking forward to popping over for a couple visits. I may just avoid the area behind the villas completely & pretend nothing is happening.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
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Hi Horselover!
 
Due to reasons, our December vacation is somewhat fragmented. We’re spending the first night at Kidani, the next 5 nights as SSR, and the last 6 nights at VWL. I completed online check in for each reservation. Of course, Disney wanted to give me magic bands for each reservation. I accepted the ones for Kidani and declined the ones for SSR and VWL. A couple of days ago, I received an email stating that because I completed online check in and have magic bands, I can skip the front desk resort check in at Kidani. I did not receive emails from SSR and VWL. Why? Because I had declined the magic bands for those reservations. After going around the track with Disney a few times on this, I finally got an answer that I can believe. I will be able to drop by the front desk at Kidani and check in to both SSR and VWL, so that I won’t have to physically show up at those front desks.
 
Thank you everyone for your advice and experience with the Universal hotels. After watching some videos, it seems I could like Cabana Bay if we aren't in the room as much as I'm used to with DVC, and I'd have to have foliage outside the window- the pool views seem to have a lot.

The Royal Pacific looks tempting. Reminds me of the Poly. Decisions, decisions.

KAT4DISNEY said:
@twinklebug - did you see this Black Friday Deal for Universal? Lots of the spring dates are blacked out but figured I'd post this if you were thinking more like April. https://www.universalorlando.com/vacation-packages/black-friday-vacation-deals.aspx?__source=ban.dfa.121884286;298453754;66971089
From $209 at Royal Pacific and from $225 at Hardrock.
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I missed that deal, but thankyou for posting! I'm sure to find something, even contemplating extending our stay on Disney property and buying those front of the line passes. It won't help with the HP area, but I'm not an early morning person anyway ;)
 
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horselover said:
Not sure if anyone here will know the answer but since we have some BLT owners maybe you do. Am I correct that CR/BLT charges for package deliveries because they're a conference resort? I'm debating whether or not to ship the tree down this year.
Click to expand...
According to recent reports, Disney is charging you if you don't have packages delivered. Management realized they were missing a huge revenue portal from people who bring all their stuff with them, so they've instituted new, cascading charges for those who deign not to use their delivery/hold services. It's called the Non-Use of Service Service Fee, and the more expensive the accomodations are, the higher the fee, so value resort guests pay less than someone staying at a moderate who, in turn, pay less than those staying at a deluxe. Simply good business practice, I feel. :rolleyes1
 
sleepydog25 said:
According to recent reports, Disney is charging you if you don't have packages delivered. Management realized they were missing a huge revenue portal from people who bring all their stuff with them, so they've instituted new, cascading charges for those who deign not to use their delivery/hold services. It's called the Non-Use of Service Service Fee, and the more expensive the accomodations are, the higher the fee, so value resort guests pay less than someone staying at a moderate who, in turn, pay less than those staying at a deluxe. Simply good business practice, I feel. :rolleyes1
Click to expand...

:thumbsup2 :rotfl:
 
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