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

Granny · Mar 26, 2015

benjyt said:
We're tentatively planning to visit in October, during the kids' Fall Break. We have one in 6th grade, another in 3rd, so missing school time isn't a good option for us. The timing isn't bad - early enough in October to benefit from warmer temperatures, but not so close to Halloween that crowds are too big. We've visited often in October, which we enjoy, but not quite as much as the Christmas Holiday season. We're planning to rent DVC points, but our first choice, a VWL Studio, isn't available. We're pondering other options now - a 1 BR Villa, which is very expensive for our budget, or perhaps another DVC studio or off-site. I know we need to make our accommodations plans soon. We also are spending a lot of time with my mother, who is battling a severe medical condition right now that may delay our trip.

Regardless, there is something warm and soothing about thinking of VWL, our memories there, and the possibilities of returning soon. I'll spend a lot of time on this thread over the next several days as I spend time with Mom, and will get a lot of comfort here. Thanks for letting me join the group.

benjyt....Welcome to the VWL Groupies thread!

First of all, prayers and best wishes for your mother and your family as you deal with her medical condition.

As for October...it is a great time to visit WDW. The only thing that is making it challenging for you is that your trip will be during the Food & Wine Festival, which has proven to be a DVC member favorite. Traditionally, DVC accommodations are hard to get during this time of the year. Studios tend to be the very first type of accommodation to be fully booked for the reason you cite...points per night are very attractive. You are now within the 7 month window for booking your trip so that means that any DVC member can book any resort for that time period without having to own points there. That just makes it that much harder to book.

I just looked at the resort availability tool and see that only Saratoga Springs Resort has a lot of dates open during October. That is one option, or of course off-site is another one where you can get some really nice accommodations for much less.

Good luck to you in your planning, and feel free to hang around here as long as you like!

Corinne · Mar 26, 2015

Happy Birthday Julie!!!! Hope you had a great day!

Corinne · Mar 26, 2015

Well, I booked our airfare today....more than I have ever paid! :faint:

But On a positive note, the flight down was much cheaper the day before so we decided to go a day early!

Di- I think we wil still miss each other unless you are leaving late? Right now I could only get Saratoga, but hoping our waitlist comes through for the BCV! pixiedust:

MiaSRN62 · Mar 26, 2015

twinklebug said:
I'm standing by Eliza. No monorail at WL!!! Now, what WL could use is a steam train that can loop down to EPCOT and back through the outer rim of the campground, then back to WL.
Along these lines, I've felt AK lodge is sorely missing options, and a themed Safari vehicle (an upgraded bus in an AK wrap that also plays select loops from the jungle cruise waiting queue) would be appropriate for bringing guests to/from AK at that resort.

While we're on transportation:Here's a little bit of trivia I learned from a boat skipper: The boat crews on Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon are paid at a much higher rate than those operating on the waterways of the EPCOT resorts. Reason being is classification. At WL, our boats are considered "transportation" whereas the the EPCOT resort area where the boats are classified as "attractions" and allows Disney to pay much lower rates. Just food for thought for those who are planning on retiring to Disney and becoming a boat Skipper

Very cool idea on the steam train! That would be awesome Twinklebug. And thanks for the info on the differences in the boat transportation/attraction classification. Never would have thought.

MiaSRN62 · Mar 26, 2015

benjyt said:
We also are spending a lot of time with my mother, who is battling a severe medical condition right now that may delay our trip.

Very sorry to hear this benjyt. Sending prayers and wishes that your mother will be ok.
We look forward to hearing about your plans. I think nearly every WDW/DVC resort has rooms that require LONG walks to main areas. I've stayed in every WDW resort except GF and Poly. Some rooms I felt I had to pack a lunch for to make it to the lobby :rotfl:

MiaSRN62 · Mar 26, 2015

Corinne said:
Well, I booked our airfare today....more than I have ever paid!
But On a positive note, the flight down was much cheaper the day before so we decided to go a day early!

Di- I think we wil still miss each other unless you are leaving late? Right now I could only get Saratoga, but hoping our waitlist comes through for the BCV!

Whooo hooo Corinne! When do you arrive at SSR? Wonder why the fare is so high? Booking too close to the date maybe?? Keep us posted on your plans! I am still on a leave-of-absence from my work for required eye surgery. Should be back to work by mid April. This break however is giving me a bit of time to catch up with the DIS (though it's a bit tough to see clearly sometimes).

KAT4DISNEY · Mar 26, 2015

Happy Birthday Julie! :bday:

I have to be a contrary vote on the monorail. I think it would be great! I'm not quite as entranced with it as I used to be but I do still like it as a transportation option. But I love train stations and would want the station to be themed as a grand, old west style - ala Frontierland. Keep it dark kind of like the Poly station and the monorail might blend a bit. OR - build one way glass screens that have a sort of projection or western scenes to "hide" the monorail from those at the station and just have openings at the door areas. A half wood wall would also work to mask the "newness" of the monorail - maybe with some old national park or western themed travel posters on it.

jimmytammy · Mar 27, 2015

Happy Birthday LeslieLou!!!!

jimmytammy · Mar 27, 2015

Welcome to the groupies benjyt!!!!
You met the main requirement to be in this group, you love the Lodge :cloud9:

Prayers for your Mom and you folks as well. WDW and DVC make sharing with family special and its great that you are able to take your Mom with you. I love DVC for allowing the space for that to happen.

SSR as Granny mentioned is a great resort. Its big, but has a lot of amenities and great things to offer. If it is your only option, go for it I say. DiznyDi gave us good insight to an area to ask for, and we were able to get that, The Grandstand, Its quiet there, with a pool, nearby. Not too far a walk to main area. If you have a car, big plus there.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

DiznyDi · Mar 27, 2015

Good Morning Groupies!

WELCOME benjyt! So nice to have you here! I too hope your mother is able to resolve her health issues and the family can enjoy a magical vacation. Saratoga Springs is our 2nd favorite resort - trailing closely behind VWL

. We enjoy the openness and the bright airy feel. The Artists Pallette - their counter service restaurant - is excellent, but does get busy/crowded during peak times. We like the walk to Downtown Disney or the boat over. Either is very pleasurable. You don't generally wait too long for a bus, but there are 5 stops within the resort. You could be on the bus for 15 minutes before you ever leave the resort so plan accordingly if you have a reservation to meet.

Corinne, we leave on the 16th. We do have a later flight but will still be leaving the Lodge around 4:30. Traditionally we spend our last day at MK. Usually sitting at the train station and watching all the activity on Main St.

Maria, it's so nice to see you here! I know you've been really busy. Is your school finished now? I hope you take time to rest and relax and let your body heal.

Wishing LeslieLou a very Happy Birthday!
Enjoy your weekend! DDad and I are off to Cleveland for the Quilt Expo. He found my birthday present there last year. I wonder what this year will bring.....

twinklebug · Mar 27, 2015

Happy Birthday LeslieLou! :cake:

horselover · Mar 27, 2015

eliza61 said:
repeat after me,, You like the lodge just like it is
you never want a monorail stop there....

I like the lodge just like it is. I never want a monorail to stop there.

Dizny Dad said:
Yeah, I'm in with that . .a STEAM TRAIN that loops from VWL to Epcot. Oh, I love it! OK, let's get that petition going . . Maybe Brett can lead the way since he is young (smile Brett; comments like that will come far and few between in the coming years).

I do like this idea!

twinklebug said:
I'm going to jump the gun here a little bit and shout out an early

Happy Birthday Horselover!

May the snow be melting away and dreams of WL fill the day

jimmytammy said:
Happy Birthday Horselover!!!!

Granny said:
Happy Birthday Horselover!!!

Dizny Dad said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE!

sleepydog25 said:
I agree (just too lazy to do my own graphics ). Hope it was/is a great one!!!

Monorail vote: no. Of course, luv would tell you I'm quite resistant to change when it comes to the World, in general, and the Lodge, in particular.

eliza61 said:
Happy Birthday Julie.

DiznyDi said:
Wishing Julie a most spectacular birthday! Happy Birthday!

MiaSRN62 said:
Happy birthday Julie!!! Couldn't resist to post this pic of Julie, Christopher and I taken in late January of this year when we all were lucky enough to meet up in Epcot. I snazz'd the pic up in honor of your birthday Julie!!! Happy day to ya!

Corinne said:
Happy Birthday Julie!!!! Hope you had a great day!

KAT4DISNEY said:
Happy Birthday Julie!

Thanks all for the birthday wishes!

Maria - can you post that picture on FB & tag Christopher? That's hysterical! Love it!

DiznyDi said:
Corinne, we leave on the 16th. We do have a later flight but will still be leaving the Lodge around 4:30. Traditionally we spend our last day at MK. Usually sitting at the train station and watching all the activity on Main St.

We're going to overlap again? That would be wonderful! Somehow I missed you had a May trip planned. I'm there 13-17 at BCV.

MiaSRN62 · Mar 27, 2015

DiznyDi said:
Good Morning Groupies!

Maria, it's so nice to see you here! I know you've been really busy. Is your school finished now? I hope you take time to rest and relax and let your body heal.
...

Hi Di.....
No, I am on a possibly 6-7 week leave of absence from work because I've need eye surgeries (3 to be exact). I am still in the middle of Spring semester which ends May 1. I am enjoying the time away from work but not necessarily in this way. LOL I am getting to check the DIS more often which is always good

MiaSRN62 · Mar 27, 2015

Yes I will tag it on Facebook Julie! Glad you liked it!!!!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY LeslieLou!!!!

Corinne · Mar 27, 2015

MiaSRN62 said:
Whooo hooo Corinne! When do you arrive at SSR? Wonder why the fare is so high? Booking too close to the date maybe?? Keep us posted on your plans! I am still on a leave-of-absence from my work for required eye surgery. Should be back to work by mid April. This break however is giving me a bit of time to catch up with the DIS (though it's a bit tough to see clearly sometimes).

Lol, yes, Maria! I totally waited too long.....not like me at al! Hope you have a speedy recovery! :flower3:

MiaSRN62 · Mar 27, 2015

Thank you Corinne!!!! Better late than never!

brettcw23 · Mar 27, 2015

Happy Friday, peeps! OK, it seem the nays have the vote regarding the monorail. I sent an e-mail to Bob Iger and Ken Potrock about this and the potential for a steam train. :rotfl2:

My fam and I are rapidly approaching the 180 day mark and are reviewing and refining our dining list at this juncture. We have already unanimously voted on both Whispering Canyon (mostly for our 7 yo DD) and Artist Point.

Also, I'm sure someone here can answer this one with some certainty...do most of the 2BR villas have 2 queens in the 2nd bedroom? Since we are likely to have my DW dad\stepmom on this trip, and FIL doesn't sleep well, we wanted to let them take the BR with the King and then we'll have DDs sleep in our BR. We were cautiously optimistic our kiddos would get to sleep in a real bed rather than a sleeper sofa. I assure you though that no one will lose any sleep (pun intended) over the sleeper sofa.

twokats · Mar 28, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LeslieLou!!!!

Hope it is the best.

jimmytammy · Mar 28, 2015

All excited this AM :flower:

Planning on calling DVC this AM for a pre cruise 2 bed stay at VWL. Ts mom is supposed to let her know if she plans to go to WDW before cruise this AM. Uber excited as its been forever since we have stayed at our beloved home :love:

sleepydog25 · Mar 28, 2015

brettcw23 said:
Happy Friday, peeps! OK, it seem the nays have the vote regarding the monorail. I sent an e-mail to Bob Iger and Ken Potrock about this and the potential for a steam train.

My fam and I are rapidly approaching the 180 day mark and are reviewing and refining our dining list at this juncture. We have already unanimously voted on both Whispering Canyon (mostly for our 7 yo DD) and Artist Point.

Also, I'm sure someone here can answer this one with some certainty...do most of the 2BR villas have 2 queens in the 2nd bedroom? Since we are likely to have my DW dad\stepmom on this trip, and FIL doesn't sleep well, we wanted to let them take the BR with the King and then we'll have DDs sleep in our BR. We were cautiously optimistic our kiddos would get to sleep in a real bed rather than a sleeper sofa. I assure you though that no one will lose any sleep (pun intended) over the sleeper sofa.

I do vote "Aye!" for the steam train, but don't mess up my nature trail to FW.

As for the 2BRs, only the dedicated ones have the two queens in the second bedroom. The 2BRs that have a lock-off will only have a queen and the sofa bed. Now, I don't know the number of dedicated 2BRs vs 2BRs w/lock-offs, so I can't tell you the odds of one over the other. I suspect someone will know.

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

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