Back from first DVC stay.....WOW! (warning...way too long!)

[Granny]

Just back from our first DVC stay May 25 - June 2. Stayed at our home resort, VWL.

Some may recall a thread I had about building up too much expectations for DVC. Well, you were all correct when you said don't worry. And Dizfanz was right when he talked about the guard at the WL front gate.....we got several salutes and "welcome homes" from them there. DW got mad at me for not using the gate activated by the room key....I would go through the one with the guard just to get the "welcome home"!!

I don't want this to be a trip report, but when we walked into the WL lobby to check-in, my wife poked my kids and said "look at that stupid grin on Dad's face!". Yes, even before seeing the room I was feeling great. And then when the family saw the accommodations (1BR) they loved them. We were in room 5533, very nice on the side facing the lake but mostly a tree view. From Spiceycat on this board, I knew not to tell MS just any old room (remembering that view of the garbage area) and we requested top floor, non-smoking near the elevators.

We checked in about 11:30 am and got our room at about 2:00pm. We got "Welcome Home" from several people, including a CM at the snack bar!

We did get the mystery call at 5:24 a.m. the morning we were departing. It was funny, because we had a wake-up call for 5:30 but were already up. When the phone rang, I laughed and told DW to answer the phone but warned her no one would be there. Sure enough, she said "Hello....hello?" but no one answered. I told her it was housekeeping and she said that was really rude. I reminded her that we did get our room two hours early and it was probably due to tactics like this.

Transportation system was fine except it was a little frustrating to get picked up before Fort Wilderness on the way to the parks and dropped off after FW on the way back. Seems like it should be one or the other, but not both. No big deal.

The parks were JAMMED. Of course, we were there over a busy Memorial Day weekend followed by the Gay Day crowd which was there for the better part of a week. Really only had a couple of days where the parks and pools weren't crowded.

Went pool hopping to SAB....kids had a blast and it was not crowded at all (one of those "between" days in midweek).

Sorry this was so long. Had a great time, LOVED the DVC and am looking forward to returning in two months to stay a week at BWV!!!

 

[JonHM]

That's great to hear, Granny! Thanks for the report! We've had a DVC trip but not home to VWL yet - that's not 'til October. Glad to hear you had such a great time.

 

[Simba's Mom]

LOL, Granny-thanks so much for your report. I can see myself doing a couple of those things from the "stupid grin" to going through the manned guard shack just to hear the "Welcome home". I'm going in 11 days and getting increasingly nervous-as I've said on these boards before, DH has never seen VWL, bought there from my recommendation after I took DVC tour on a solo trip. I'm sooo scared he'd better like it! Positive reports like yours are helping me!

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for sharing! Glad you had a good time on your first trip home.

 

[nisiemouse]

Thanks for the trip report Granny. I have a "stupid grin" on my face just thinking about our first trip home while reading your post. Only two months away.

 

[SamSam]

I'm glad you had a great 'first' trip home. I sit at my computer with a 'silly grin' on my face just planning our first trip, so I can imagine what I'll be looking like when I actually 'go home'.

 

[mle]

Thanks for the great report! I'm sure my DH will have a "stupid grin" when we go home to BCV the first time in August. He will be especially beaming with pride and satisfaction as we will also be treating his mother (for the first time) to a Disney vacation! I'm also excited about our first trip home to VWL (studio) at the very end of Nov. From what I have heard, it already should be decorated for Christmas. I just HAD to squeeze in a trip after visiting my parents for Thanksgiving (got to get my money's worth from those PAPs!). I've never seen the Osbourne lights, gone to MVMCP or experienced Christmas decorations at any of the resorts, so I am very excited!

 

[KarenB]

Glad to hear you had a wonderful time!!! We will be there in about 11 days!

Our kids really want to pool hop a few places. When you went to SAB, did you call first? Did you plan to go to SAB or do it spur of the momnet? Alos, did you drive?? We are trying to figure out if we should "plan" to go to SAB or simply when the moment hits us!!!!!

Thanks!

 

[PamOKW]

The report's not too long at all! I love to hear about DVC trips.

What I am surprised about is....Your first DVC trip??? Heck, I consider you a veteran on these boards by now! I'm glad your first one was a good one....with many more to follow.

 

[stlphil]

Reading your report just ratcheted my anticipation
level up another notch, and we still have to wait
seven more months before we go to our BCV home for
the first time.

You've got me really worried that I'm going to
have that same stupid grin on my face when we
finally get there.

 

[WDWguru]

Welcome back, Granny! Sounds like you had a great trip! We own at VWL and BWV but don't have anything planned at VWL for quite a while. The more I read, the more I think we better rethink our plans! We've stayed at the lodge many times and loved it. ACK!

 

[Terry S]

Welcome back Granny! Glad you had a good time! Can't wait for our first trip home September 29th!

 

[Cinderella]

Welcome back - glad u had a great trip. Glad u were already awake when u got that early morning call tho. I had heard about people being called at 8am but, 5.30am is a bit of a cheek!

 

[Lyndarella]

We've all been waiting to hear about your visit to VWL!

I'm so glad it met all your expectations. We were there mid-May for the first time, and did the same as you -- kept going to hear "Welcome Home!"

 

[Granny]

I guess I should have titled this the "stupid grin" thread!

wdwguru....you need to go back every once in a while. We loved WL but VWL just takes it to a whole new level. All the theming with all the additional space and amenities!

Pam...I know I've been pretty regular since I found this board almost a year ago, and joined DVC about 10 months ago. Actually, this was only my third trip to WDW with my family. That's why I usually stayed out of any threads that dealt with opinions of different resorts (unless they attacked VWL!).

And yes, we're heading back in less than two months for a 5 night stay at BWV....we're in the sampling mode!

KarenB...we didn't call before going to SAB, but we did plan the timing for midweek. It was last Wednesday and SAB had been closed to hopping the previous 4 days because of the Memorial Day weekend. So we just headed over and found it practically deserted at 10:30 in the morning. We stayed about 4 hours and the pool never got very crowded at all. They did check for ID's and used the wrist bands and checked swimmers often for them. To get there, we took a bus from WL to Epcot, then walked through Epcot over to SAB at the Beach Club. On the way back, we took a bus from Beach Club to MK, then the boat over to VWL. Great thing about DVC is it takes the time pressure away so doing connections like that are low pressure.

 

[nydizfan]

thanks Granny for the great trip report.?... can't wait till our first trip to BCV in 98 days..... dave

 

[Gigashadow]

We did get the mystery call at 5:24 a.m. the morning we were departing. It was funny, because we had a wake-up call for 5:30 but were already up.

That would have me at the front desk demanding the Supervisor on to stop that pratice at once !!! I was quite at ease to have Housekeeping knock on our door at 9:30am to ask us if it was our departing day. 1 1/2 hours prior to our leave time is more then reasonable to "remind" anyone who has a problem getting out of thier room when they are supposed to be. And yes I'm sure it was "reminders" like that, that allowed me to check in at 12:00am at OKW. The only people allowed to call me at ungodly times is my Job, and even then I dont want to hear from them either - LOL.

Enough bout that, We stopped by WL on Wed 29th to "look around" on our way back to OKW. And WOWOWOWOW that "stupid grin" lasted pretty much the whole day after we left! It reinforced our happy dual-purchase at VWL site unseen!
Cant WAIT to stay for our first "Home Trip" at during our first "Disney Christmas"!

 

[Regina]

GRANNY!

I can honestly say that I've been thinking about you and wondering if it was everything that you hoped that it would be.

Come to think of it, I couldn't understand why the DH kept going to the guard when we were at VWL instead of using the key gate. I should have known that it was a guy thing going on.

Welcome back!

 

[Granny]

You guys are awesome! Your expressions of happiness that we had a great trip are just like being "welcomed home" all over again. Thanks!

And it seems the "stupid grin" phrase has struck a chord! Maybe it's just another of the many symptoms of DVC-itis!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Glad to hear you had such great trip! I didn't realize you hadn't been "home" yet! It seems like a long time ago that we welcomed you home!

Now be sure to sample OKW TOO! BTW if they thought the 1 bedroom was great, wait until they see the two bedroom at OKW and can have their own room!