VWL is one of my homes and I love it, but... - The DIS Discussion Forums

Deb & Bill · 08-16-2009, 03:29 PM

We're going to the Granddaddy of VWL, Yellowstone, for Christmas. We'll fly into Billings MT, drive to Gardiner and stay one night at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Then snow coach to Old Faithful for three nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge, then back to Mammoth for three more nights. We were lucky to get one of the last rooms at Mammoth with a bathroom in the room. Otherwise, it would be down the hall to the community showers and toilet.

We did this 17 years ago when I was pregnant with our son and had a wonderful time. Now he gets to go back with us and see what he missed the last time.

This is going to be great.

castleri · 08-16-2009, 06:48 PM

Sounds like a marvelous trip - hope it is everything you anticiipate.

CarolMN · 08-16-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by castleri

Sounds like a marvelous trip - hope it is everything you anticiipate.

Ditto!

Mich Mouse · 08-16-2009, 09:55 PM

We absolutely loved our trip to Yellowstone!!! The natural beauty there is incredible.....We stayed at Old Faithful Lodge in an orginal room...We had a bathtub with claws on the feet....big wooden shutters on the windows. The whole expereince was incredible! I think the lodge is closed for the winter to guests though (no heat?)....but winter in Yellowstone will be beautiful..... like Narnia!

DiznyDi · 08-16-2009, 10:10 PM

Sounds like a great trip!

JimMIA · 08-16-2009, 10:16 PM

Boy, am I jealous! The only park I get to go to in the winter is Everglades!

I'd love to visit Yellowstone in the winter, and also Grand Canyon and Yosemite. They're all spectacular in the winter.

Have a great trip!

jamie@dvcstore · 08-16-2009, 11:21 PM

Hi Deb & Bill,
That sounds like a fantastic trip. I think it is great that you are taking your son back 17 years later so he can experience what you did years earlier.

Have a great trip and be sure to post pictures when you get back!

bobbiwoz · 08-17-2009, 07:21 AM

That sounds like a great trip! I thought that the Mammoth Hot Springs area was such a "find." It was definitely worth the ride up there for us and the pictures we took of that area are some of the most special of our whole Yellowstone/Grand Teton trip.

How great that you get to do your special trip again! Enjoy!!!

Bobbi

dianeschlicht · 08-17-2009, 07:29 AM

Sounds like fun, Deb! WE have always done "driving through" trips to Yellowstone, so we spend a day there, but have not stayed multiple days like that.

DisneyFreaks · 08-17-2009, 09:48 AM

What an awesome way to spend Christmas! I have always wanted to see Yellowstone. Have a safe journey and a fabulous trip.

5forDiz · 08-18-2009, 11:14 AM

Wow that sounds like an awesome trip Deb ! Lots of wonderful family time and sharing memories with your son of your earlier trip as you create new ones altogether

skylynx · 08-18-2009, 12:03 PM

We loved visiting "the real deal" a couple weeks before we stayed at VWL. One of the most magical things we did indoors (the outdoors is just one miracle after another) was sit on the second or third floor balconies writing love notes to each other at the old fashioned writing desks, listening to Aaron Copeland music. WOW!

This picture was an early snowfall in September which frosted the backs of the bison herd outside our window!

We own land just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park and plan to move there in a couple years, but there is just NOTHING like Yellowstone! Enjoy! Take tons of pictures!

eliza61 · 08-18-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb & Bill

We're going to the Granddaddy of VWL, Yellowstone, for Christmas. We'll fly into Billings MT, drive to Gardiner and stay one night at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Then snow coach to Old Faithful for three nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge, then back to Mammoth for three more nights. We were lucky to get one of the last rooms at Mammoth with a bathroom in the room. Otherwise, it would be down the hall to the community showers and toilet.

We did this 17 years ago when I was pregnant with our son and had a wonderful time. Now he gets to go back with us and see what he missed the last time.

This is going to be great.

Ahhh Deb & Bill Help!!! We want to visit yellowstone next summer and I'm on information overload. Do you have a site you would recommend? guide book? hotel recommendation?

I'm going to apologize in advance for any and all future harrassment from me. Yellowstone is a new trip for us, one that we have been wanting to do for a couple of years now. I've been latching myself like a leech onto anyone and everyone who says they've been.

Deb & Bill · 08-18-2009, 01:37 PM

Try this site:

http://www.travelyellowstone.com/

That's where you get lodging, find out about what is open and closed, etc. Xanterra runs all the concessions at the National Parks.

We've stayed at the new lodges at Canyon (not Dunraven, but the other newer lodge, Cascade, maybe?). We even stayed in the old cabins at Canyon many, many years ago. We've stayed at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel (twice), Old Faithful Inn (some rooms have no bathrooms and you go down the hall for that). We've done Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel once before. We did the Old Faithful Snow Lodge Cabins 17 years ago.

The geyer basins are so neat - Norris is great for walking around. We like the Lamar Valley for animal watching (we'll be looking for wolves at Christmas time on a tour). I have a photo of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone that looks almost exactly like the one they have on the Xanterra site, complete with rainbow.

You really need a few days at Yellowstone just for driving around and walking around. And if you stay in the park, it makes it very easy.

Simba's Mom · 08-18-2009, 02:03 PM

Double post

08-16-2009, 03:29 PM	#1
Deb & Bill DVC-Trivia Contest, Apr-2006: Honorable Mention Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: USA Posts: 25,394	VWL is one of my homes and I love it, but... We're going to the Granddaddy of VWL, Yellowstone, for Christmas. We'll fly into Billings MT, drive to Gardiner and stay one night at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Then snow coach to Old Faithful for three nights at Old Faithful Snow Lodge, then back to Mammoth for three more nights. We were lucky to get one of the last rooms at Mammoth with a bathroom in the room. Otherwise, it would be down the hall to the community showers and toilet. We did this 17 years ago when I was pregnant with our son and had a wonderful time. Now he gets to go back with us and see what he missed the last time. This is going to be great. __________________ Deb - DVC Member since '97 OKW and VWL Homes Yellowstone was amazing and is a lot more inviting than Disney right now. Could we be selling it all in the near future? Maybe.

08-16-2009, 06:48 PM	#2
castleri DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Ashaway, RI Posts: 2,972	Sounds like a marvelous trip - hope it is everything you anticiipate. __________________

08-16-2009, 09:55 PM	#4
Mich Mouse Poly Loving Disney Bride Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Where you take only pictures, leave only footprints Posts: 1,725	We absolutely loved our trip to Yellowstone!!! The natural beauty there is incredible.....We stayed at Old Faithful Lodge in an orginal room...We had a bathtub with claws on the feet....big wooden shutters on the windows. The whole expereince was incredible! I think the lodge is closed for the winter to guests though (no heat?)....but winter in Yellowstone will be beautiful..... like Narnia! __________________ After a dozen trips, and a Disney wedding .... We are finally DVC Members

08-16-2009, 10:10 PM	#5
DiznyDi DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeastern Ohio Posts: 962	Sounds like a great trip! __________________

08-16-2009, 10:16 PM	#6
JimMIA FACTOID: The new MIAMI Marlins ballpark's retractable roof will contain 8,300 tons of steel -- exactly the amount of steel in the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Miami, OKW, SSR and EVER (Everglades National Park) Posts: 7,479	Boy, am I jealous! The only park I get to go to in the winter is Everglades! I'd love to visit Yellowstone in the winter, and also Grand Canyon and Yosemite. They're all spectacular in the winter. Have a great trip! __________________ I've been boo'd by BCV23 - Thanks Barb!

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08-16-2009, 11:21 PM	#7
jamie@dvcstore Mouseketeer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Orlando,FL Posts: 332	Hi Deb & Bill, That sounds like a fantastic trip. I think it is great that you are taking your son back 17 years later so he can experience what you did years earlier. Have a great trip and be sure to post pictures when you get back! __________________

08-17-2009, 07:21 AM	#8
bobbiwoz I'm happy to dance with you I have 2 opinions We had tried usual things to keep them away, including something like coyote urine, it is sold in hardware stores by us Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Washington Township OH and Cape May NJ Posts: 27,819	That sounds like a great trip! I thought that the Mammoth Hot Springs area was such a "find." It was definitely worth the ride up there for us and the pictures we took of that area are some of the most special of our whole Yellowstone/Grand Teton trip. How great that you get to do your special trip again! Enjoy!!! Bobbi __________________ Thanks Meriweather! Thank you Kitty 34!

08-17-2009, 07:29 AM	#9
dianeschlicht DVC-Trivia Contest, Apr-2006: Honorable Mention DIS Earth Angel :) I promise not to plot against the showering today I can only think of bubbles :o Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Lakeville, Minnesota Posts: 34,067	Sounds like fun, Deb! WE have always done "driving through" trips to Yellowstone, so we spend a day there, but have not stayed multiple days like that. __________________

08-17-2009, 09:48 AM	#10
DisneyFreaks Don't get me started about those darn busses! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,841	What an awesome way to spend Christmas! I have always wanted to see Yellowstone. Have a safe journey and a fabulous trip. __________________

08-18-2009, 11:14 AM	#11
5forDiz DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NY Posts: 2,328	Wow that sounds like an awesome trip Deb ! Lots of wonderful family time and sharing memories with your son of your earlier trip as you create new ones altogether

08-18-2009, 12:03 PM	#12
skylynx Mouseketeer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicagoland and Storm Mountain, Colorado Posts: 625	We loved visiting "the real deal" a couple weeks before we stayed at VWL. One of the most magical things we did indoors (the outdoors is just one miracle after another) was sit on the second or third floor balconies writing love notes to each other at the old fashioned writing desks, listening to Aaron Copeland music. WOW! This picture was an early snowfall in September which frosted the backs of the bison herd outside our window! We own land just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park and plan to move there in a couple years, but there is just NOTHING like Yellowstone! Enjoy! Take tons of pictures! __________________ Skylynx AKA Denise WDW too many times to count since 1973 AKL, WL, Dixie Landings, CB, VB,OKW Disney Institute Professional Programs (Five!) California Adventure/Disneyland Treehouse Villas Oct 09Disney Wonder 10/02, 3/03, 2/04, 5/06, 5/07, 6/08, 8/10 Disney Magic W 10/04, 1/07, E 2/06, 11/08 11/10 Disney Dream 6/11 DVC 2007 NCL Alaska 6/09

08-18-2009, 01:37 PM	#14
Deb & Bill DVC-Trivia Contest, Apr-2006: Honorable Mention Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: USA Posts: 25,394	Try this site: http://www.travelyellowstone.com/ That's where you get lodging, find out about what is open and closed, etc. Xanterra runs all the concessions at the National Parks. We've stayed at the new lodges at Canyon (not Dunraven, but the other newer lodge, Cascade, maybe?). We even stayed in the old cabins at Canyon many, many years ago. We've stayed at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel (twice), Old Faithful Inn (some rooms have no bathrooms and you go down the hall for that). We've done Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel once before. We did the Old Faithful Snow Lodge Cabins 17 years ago. The geyer basins are so neat - Norris is great for walking around. We like the Lamar Valley for animal watching (we'll be looking for wolves at Christmas time on a tour). I have a photo of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone that looks almost exactly like the one they have on the Xanterra site, complete with rainbow. You really need a few days at Yellowstone just for driving around and walking around. And if you stay in the park, it makes it very easy. __________________ Deb - DVC Member since '97 OKW and VWL Homes Yellowstone was amazing and is a lot more inviting than Disney right now. Could we be selling it all in the near future? Maybe. Last edited by Deb & Bill; 08-18-2009 at 01:43 PM.

08-18-2009, 02:03 PM	#15
Simba's Mom everything went to "H*** in a handbasket Keep me off the high horses! Suffers from theme park dyslexia Join Date: Aug 1999 Location: Harlingen, TX, USA Posts: 18,143	Double post __________________ Last edited by Simba's Mom; 08-18-2009 at 02:06 PM. Reason: delete

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