Back From First Trip Home! VWL

[MBELSANTI]

HI all!

I am back from my first trip home! We stayed 2 nights at Pop and 3 nights at VWL on the DDP. I just loved the Villas! We had stayed at WL back in August and loved it so much that I waitlisted to go there for this trip. We stayed in a Studio. Requested first floor dedicated, and received first floor lock off. We were in room 1537 just a few doors from the outside door to the pool. The view out on our patio was lovely woods view.
The only cleanliness issue we had was one glass in the room looked as if someone stored their toothbrushes in it and there was dried white stuff in the bottom and sides. Other than that, the room was very clean. There were a few things that annoyed me though.

1. why is the toilet paper holder so far back that you have to reach behind you to get it? LOL
2. when I went to do some laundry, there were CM in there using both washing machines to wash clothes for people staying at the Lodge who were paying to have their laundry done. Doesn't the resort have their own machines to do this?? I had to sit there and wait 1/2 hour for one machine to open up. Also I had to run my load through the dryer cycle 5 times and it still was not dry. It was not fun to go back and forth every 20 minutes.
3. The ducks really seem to own the pools. One day we were in there and the ducks proceeded to take their daily bath in the pool. The next day feathers were all over the pool deck. Another pair of ducks tried to come into the pool and the first pair got in and they fought and one appeared to drop some doo doo in the pool. I made DS get out and lucky that was on our last day because we did not use the pool again.


I should also note that on our first day at VWL, I somehow fell down the stairs that are right outside by Roaring Fork that lead to the pool/patio. I knew they were there, but stepped out the door and down I went.
I probably should have seen a doctor, but I did not. Needless to say by the time we made it to CR for Concourse Steakhouse ressie, I was in major pain. I think I tore something in my knee. I ended up renting a EVC to get around MK that night for extra magic hours, but the rest of the trip I was done for. I tried to go to DTD the next day for a few hours and then to dinner at Kona Cafe, but the rest of the trip was spent in the room or at the Villas pool for a few hours each day. I just couldn't do the parks. It hurt to get up and down and DS was so helpful. He would get us food from Roaring Fork and rent movies from the Merchantile. He loved to rent movies! Thank God for the DVD players in the room! I think he rented about 6 movies in 2 days LOL. I felt bad for him that he really did not get to do the things we had planned. This was to be our first trip when it is not so blazing hot out and we planned on doing a lot of touring and things we couldn't do this past August.

All in all though, we had a wonderful first stay at VWL and would love to come back here again. The CM were all very nice, the buses and boat system was great. We enjoyed the food at Roaring Fork for breakfast and lunch. We ended up with 2 CS and 1 Snack credits that we did not use. I was able to change my Dinner ressies a number of times as we were no longer able to do the parks, so I was able to change to restaurants closer to our resort or DTD. Magical Express was great to use once again!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Oh my, I'm sorry to hear about your fall, and how it affected your anticipated vacation.

Some of the toilet tissue rolls in my own house are not conveniently located, and we've lived here for 14 years, it's just not on our list of "to do" things. I agree that it's in an unlikely place at VWL!

Bobbi

 

[Granny]

I'm glad that you loved the Villas, but very sorry for your fall and the bad impact it had on the rest of your trip. It sounds like you all tried to make the best of it, and your DS sounds like quite a trooper!

1. why is the toilet paper holder so far back that you have to reach behind you to get it? LOL

Well, I have to tell you that this is part of the flexibility exercise that we enjoy on our visits. It keeps us loose and limber, and keeps us from straining an arm muscle when we do something more strenuous...like holding a turkey leg!

2. when I went to do some laundry, there were CM in there using both washing machines to wash clothes for people staying at the Lodge who were paying to have their laundry done. Doesn't the resort have their own machines to do this?? I had to sit there and wait 1/2 hour for one machine to open up. Also I had to run my load through the dryer cycle 5 times and it still was not dry. It was not fun to go back and forth every 20 minutes.

This is just wrong on a lot of levels. The CM using the machines was just inappropriate, and the dryer not working is not excusable either. Personally, I would have reported both aspects since you have the right to expect the washer/dryers to be reserved for VWL guest use and to work properly.

3. The ducks really seem to own the pools. One day we were in there and the ducks proceeded to take their daily bath in the pool. The next day feathers were all over the pool deck. Another pair of ducks tried to come into the pool and the first pair got in and they fought and one appeared to drop some doo doo in the pool. I made DS get out and lucky that was on our last day because we did not use the pool again.

We've seen the ducks in the pool a lot..and actually figure they are kind of a fixture there. They haven't bothered us, but then again we swim in lakes so we probably have a higher tolerance level. Interesting though that if they detect that a kid left a little present in the pool they will shut it down.

I should also note that on our first day at VWL, I somehow fell down the stairs that are right outside by Roaring Fork that lead to the pool/patio. I knew they were there, but stepped out the door and down I went.

This sounds a lot like something I would do. It's one of the reasons I try to stay limber reaching for toilet rolls.

Seriously, I hope your leg is much better now. And it sounds like a trip that still built a lot of lovely memories for your family...and a story that will live on in family lore for years to come.

 

[DukeBombay]

Sorry to hear about your leg. I fell down my basement stairs last August, the day after we came back from 5 days at BWV. I still have not recovered, so I know what is like to not be able to move around. I hope you get better soon.

The comment about the ducks in the pool really caught my eye. Last August we pool hopped to CR and the birds there were something out of a Hitchcock movie. They actually got into DD1's diaper bag. DW almost lost it. I think the fact that Bay Lake was an existing habitat before WDW was built attracts more wildlife to the pools there. I can tolerate them in the pool, but when they start getting into your belongings and soiling the lounge chairs it is a little too much.

We are going to BCV from March 8 to 16 and are using the DDP. Any comments or tips on using it? Thanks.

 

[monetnj]

To cut down on drying times in the laundry room I usually split my load into two dryers. There are only two washers, but there are four dryers. Always wondered why that was, until I tried to dry a full load in only one dryer!

 

[MBELSANTI]

I'm glad that you loved the Villas, but very sorry for your fall and the bad impact it had on the rest of your trip. It sounds like you all tried to make the best of it, and your DS sounds like quite a trooper!

DS really was a trooper! He especially loved "paying" for everything with his room card. I don't think he has quite grasped the concept that Mom ends up with the bill.

Well, I have to tell you that this is part of the flexibility exercise that we enjoy on our visits. It keeps us loose and limber, and keeps us from straining an arm muscle when we do something more strenuous...like holding a turkey leg!

Yea that and Dole Whip floats!

This is just wrong on a lot of levels. The CM using the machines was just inappropriate, and the dryer not working is not excusable either. Personally, I would have reported both aspects since you have the right to expect the washer/dryers to be reserved for VWL guest use and to work properly.

I was going to report this, but then I thought it would mean a trip to the front desk and I just couldn't take the walk with the knee. I found it to be very odd though. There was even a supervisor in there giving the mousekeeper instructions on what she should do after she washes the clothes.

Seriously, I hope your leg is much better now. And it sounds like a trip that still built a lot of lovely memories for your family...and a story that will live on in family lore for years to come.

We did manage to make the most of things and are looking forward to going back in August. In some ways it was nice to get use of the room, seeing that normally it is only used for sleeping and showering.

 

[MBELSANTI]

Sorry to hear about your leg. I fell down my basement stairs last August, the day after we came back from 5 days at BWV. I still have not recovered, so I know what is like to not be able to move around. I hope you get better soon..

Thanks, I am going to see an orthopedic this week because it really isn't better yet.

We are going to BCV from March 8 to 16 and are using the DDP. Any comments or tips on using it? Thanks.

Yes, keep track of your credits. It is very easy to use them up fast or to end up with a lot of unused ones. Also if you are going to buy say a bottle of water and you hand them your room card, don't assume they will just charge it to your room. More chances than not, they will deduct a Snack credit. I had this happen to me a few times even when I specified that I wanted to pay for an item rather than use a Snack credit. Then I had to go through the hassle of seeing the concierge. Check your receipts before you leave the restaurant or cash register! I also recommend splitting breakfast platters that you can get from the resort food courts. DS and I did this every day. You get 2 large drinks with the adult credit, so I took OJ for myself and chocolate milk for DS. Worked great and we left the other CS credit for lunch. We were also able to order DS things off of the kids menu and we paid OOP. I have also been able to use his adult TS credit along with mine for a Signature dining and paid OOP for him and they allowed him to eat from the children's menu. Now they might not always allow a Disney "adult" (over 9 yrs) order from the kids menu, but so far not one place refused us. In August we were able to do this a few times so that we had TS left over on our last day and were able to have a nice TS breakfast when we checked out.

 

[jimmytammy]

Glad you enjoyed your stay at VWL. We love it there! Hope all gets better with your leg very soon.