Help for our upcoming WLV stay

[katmittens]

We are staying at WLV in january and we usually stay at OKW. Does WL have video rentals, bingo by the pool, or any of the things like OKW. I am second guessing my decision to stay at WL over OKW. Help did I make the right decision. I like the quiet pool at WL and the food court and close proximity to MK. Also what area is good for a 2 bedroom. What should I request for a quiet location, with a balcony. Thanks for any help.

[kim532]

Our trip a couple of years ago we watched the water parade from the beach. :thumbsup2 And we rented videos from the gift shop. DOn't know about the other things.

Kim

[disneynutz]

VWL has the same amenities and events as the other DVC resorts. As far as we are concerned, all of the rooms are quiet.

[Dizny Dad]

Ask for a 2 bedroom - lake view - as high up as possible. A lake view on the first or second floor allows you to see the trees with a glimse of the lake when the wind blows. Not that a view of the trees is bad, just if you thought you wanted to sit your morning coffee on the balcony looking at the early activity on the lake, you may be disappointed.

Note - looking out accross the lake, you are staring directly at the old Discovery Island - the only themed park Disney has ever closed. It was replaced with Animal Kingdom.

[DiznyDi]

Oh.... don't second guess your decision to stay at VWL! You will love it!

Even the boat transportation is an attraction in and of itself. One evening our boat Capt. stopped in the middle of the lake so we could watch the electric light display. I'm certain there was a 'reason' why we stopped, but it was something totally unexpected and we did enjoy it!

The proximity to Fort Wilderness and the activities available there are a definite plus.

Our two favorite resorts are VWL and SSR and we own at both. If you're there in early January they may still have the Christmas decorations up. I hope you get to see them!

Stop worrying, start reading and planning, and look forward with anticipation to your stay at VWL.

[dr&momto2boys]

No one has mentioned the campfire (make s'mores), sing-along with Chip and Dale, and Movies in the evenings at Fort Wilderness which is so close. Don't forget yummy food and fun at Whispering Canyon Cafe and easy access to Mickey's Backyard BBQ and Hoop Dee Doo Review both at FW if you're interested.

We're excited to be staying at VWL for the first time in September! :woohoo:

[bobbiwoz]

January is a great time to rent bikes and ride to FW. We often see deer on the connecting trail between the two resorts.

I've seen kids playing bingo by the pool, and there are lots of activities. Just be sure to read the list, so you don't miss what you're interested in.

We'll be there Jan. 6-11 for marathon weekend.

Bobbi:goodvibes

[Deb & Bill]

One big difference between VWL and OKW is the Community Hall. OKW has one, VWL does not. So any of the activities that they have at Community Halls won't happen at VWL.

[katmittens]

We will be there Jan 2 to the 8th. I am waitlisted for the last nite in a 2 bedroom dedicated, if I don't get that we will have to move from the dedicated 2 bedroom to a 2 bedroom lock off. Wish me luck.

[BostonDisneyKid]

I am an OKW owner and I absolutely LOVE the WLV. WLV is a very quiet and relaxing resort and has some great ammenties as others have mentioned similar to OKW (great pool, bingo, movies, good restaurants, nice gift shop, great CM's, etc) but it also has some very unique offerings not found at any other DVC location (camp fires, ELP, access to FW, best holiday decorations, petting zoo at FW, Segway tours, etc). I think you will find, as did I, that WLV is a very well themed resort with great attention to detail. If I were doing a resort only stay, no parks, this is where I would pick as my first choice. My best advice to the OP is to go in to with an open mind and dont compare it to OKW as it is a totally different style resort but yet has many of the appealing things you noted (quiet, calming, etc). I think you will really enjoy it so relax and start planning your trip with a positive attitude knowing that it is a great resort with lots of things to do.

One side note - There is a "dumpster view" category which is not published or known to most (joking, it is not a category, but it does exist). I have received this in the past as have many other DIS'ers. Should you get that view, know that you"ll be in some fine company as many of us here on the DIS have gotten this in the past.

[GILL-WDW]

We are at VWL right now and requested a Pool View (which we got) but the trees are getting thicker and you can't see much. Not that i'm complaining at all.... We love the view (Room 3509 Studio).
They are showing movies on the Beach here every night which was a nice surprise (last time we stayed they were not doing that).

[wulfekamp]

The ribs at wispering canyon ROCK.

[Dawn16]

I am an OKW owner and I absolutely LOVE the WLV. WLV is a very quiet and relaxing resort and has some great ammenties as others have mentioned similar to OKW (great pool, bingo, movies, good restaurants, nice gift shop, great CM's, etc) but it also has some very unique offerings not found at any other DVC location (camp fires, ELP, access to FW, best holiday decorations, petting zoo at FW, Segway tours, etc). I think you will find, as did I, that WLV is a very well themed resort with great attention to detail. If I were doing a resort only stay, no parks, this is where I would pick as my first choice. My best advice to the OP is to go in to with an open mind and dont compare it to OKW as it is a totally different style resort but yet has many of the appealing things you noted (quiet, calming, etc). I think you will really enjoy it so relax and start planning your trip with a positive attitude knowing that it is a great resort with lots of things to do.

One side note - There is a "dumpster view" category which is not published or known to most (joking, it is not a category, but it does exist). I have received this in the past as have many other DIS'ers. Should you get that view, know that you"ll be in some fine company as many of us here on the DIS have gotten this in the past.


Ah, yes, the dumpster view. I've heard of this. Out of curiosity, where exactly are the dumpster view rooms? We're staying in November for the first time so I have no idea. I suppose I'll know if we get one if I look down and see a dumpster ;)

[Dawn16]

I am an OKW owner and I absolutely LOVE the WLV. WLV is a very quiet and relaxing resort and has some great ammenties as others have mentioned similar to OKW (great pool, bingo, movies, good restaurants, nice gift shop, great CM's, etc) but it also has some very unique offerings not found at any other DVC location (camp fires, ELP, access to FW, best holiday decorations, petting zoo at FW, Segway tours, etc). I think you will find, as did I, that WLV is a very well themed resort with great attention to detail. If I were doing a resort only stay, no parks, this is where I would pick as my first choice. My best advice to the OP is to go in to with an open mind and dont compare it to OKW as it is a totally different style resort but yet has many of the appealing things you noted (quiet, calming, etc). I think you will really enjoy it so relax and start planning your trip with a positive attitude knowing that it is a great resort with lots of things to do.

One side note - There is a "dumpster view" category which is not published or known to most (joking, it is not a category, but it does exist). I have received this in the past as have many other DIS'ers. Should you get that view, know that you"ll be in some fine company as many of us here on the DIS have gotten this in the past.


Ah, yes, the dumpster view. I've heard of this. Out of curiosity, where exactly are the dumpster view rooms? We're staying in November for the first time so I have no idea. I suppose I'll know if we get one if I look down and see a dumpster ;)

[bobbiwoz]

Ah, yes, the dumpster view. I've heard of this. Out of curiosity, where exactly are the dumpster view rooms? We're staying in November for the first time so I have no idea. I suppose I'll know if we get one if I look down and see a dumpster ;)

They are at the end of the long hall, on the right going down. I think they are dedicated studios.

Bobbi:goodvibes

[kim532]

I am a proud veteran of the dumpster view. I was in a studio and it is the rooms at the very end of the hall.

[katmittens]

I called MS today to change my Oct Vero stay for a two nite stay at Disney and the great guy at MS told me my wait list came through. I am so happy:woohoo::banana: Now I don't have to move from one room to the other for one nite. I am now looking forward to WL. Since I have a 2 bedroom dedicated will I have a chance of getting a dumpster view. Otherwise I am excited to go to VWL in January.

[KAT4DISNEY]

They are at the end of the long hall, on the right going down. I think they are dedicated studios.

Bobbi:goodvibes

Lakeside or parking lot side?

[BostonDisneyKid]

I had the "dumpster view" while being in a 2 BRV I believe on the 5th floor (could be mistaken). Also as an added bonus, when we had this room it was just after the new smoking policy went into affect and this became the employee smoking area next to the dumster (uncertain if it still is or not). As a smoker I found this quite ironic and even commical as we would go to the smoking area while the employees smoked below our room. I dont recall the room number but it was down the end of the hallway, the 2nd to the last room on the left hand side of the the hallway.

[bobbiwoz]

Lakeside or parking lot side?

Parking lot side. The next poster is indicating something on the lake side (left) as well. I've not had that experience. When we've been on the left, it's more of a tree/maybe glimpses of the lake view.

Bobbi:goodvibes

[KAT4DISNEY]

Parking lot side. The next poster is indicating something on the lake side (left) as well. I've not had that experience. When we've been on the left, it's more of a tree/maybe glimpses of the lake view.

Bobbi:goodvibes

Thanks Bobbi and BostonDisneyKid! I think we'll hope to not have the long walk down the hall for either side! :rotfl:

[BWV Dreamin]

Lakeside or parking lot side?
To avoid the dreaded dumpster view and have a private wooded view, I requested " Close to the elevator, 3rd floor or higher, woods/pool view." I got exactly what I requested. I emailed this request thru dvcmember.com.

[dkellumw]

We were there last week and had a 2br on the 3rd floor just around the corner from the elevator. We had a nice quiet wood view and you could see just a little bit of the lake. You would need to be on the 5th floor to have a open view of the lake.

The boat ride is a great way to get to MK. One night we had a slow ride back from MK because we were following the light parade.

[Good Ol Gal]

We just got back from VWL and had the "dreaded" dumpster view.... have had it before.

But you know what... we don't care about it anymore. We still sit on the balcony, the kids can see the buses drive by through the trees, count wildlife down below and we got a glimpse of the MK fireworks over the Lodge roof everynight.

We stayed in room 5548 this time. We've had room 5556 before which DH and I call "the shining" room because it is the last room down the hall and that walk reminds of us the movie The Shining. :scared1:

My kids love Roaring Fork. They make an activity out of just going down there for an ice cream :rotfl:

[theww228]

DUMPSTER VIEW!!! :scared1::scared1::scared1:

You have to be kidding. Walt never would have allowed a "dumpster view".

Can I call MS and say, "Hey, I realize I might get a dumpster view over the next 32 years of my contract, but please don't give me one during my first stay as a DVC member."

[Granny]

DUMPSTER VIEW!!! :scared1::scared1::scared1:

You have to be kidding. Walt never would have allowed a "dumpster view".

Can I call MS and say, "Hey, I realize I might get a dumpster view over the next 32 years of my contract, but please don't give me one during my first stay as a DVC member."

As others have pointed out in other threads, there is the equivalent of the "Dreaded Dumpster View" at pretty much every DVC resort. I haven't gotten the DDV at VWL yet, but know that it's probably a matter of time.

I wouldn't sweat it too much...the odds are in your favor on any given trip. :)

[theww228]

Does anyone have any pix of the dumpster view?

[desmar9]

I think you will love VWL, especially during the winter months as it just gives you that warm and cozy feeling. Now I do know it's difficult to request a certain room number, but if you're in a 2 bedroom - last December we had Room #2529? I think it was. Or #1525? Can't remember exactly but it was the 2 bedroom corner rooms that face the quiet pool. (When you look on the DVC website and they show the picture of the villas by the quiet pool - it's the ones on the corner that have the rock siding.) Anyway - best 2 bedroom! It's set up completely different - more room, full dining room area - it was great! We had a nice view of the trees AND the pool! Close to everything. See if you can put a request in for one of those rooms!:thumbsup2

[BostonDisneyKid]

Does anyone have any pix of the dumpster view?

Grannys Picture (hope you dont mind linking, granny) from another thread/post on the infamous "Dumpster View":
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u282/VWL_Granny/VWL---view-room-4562.jpg

[theww228]

That is not a very "Disneyish" view, but it is better than a view of the clown at BWV. I would have to sleep with one eye open if that clown was outside!:eek: :rotfl2: