Back from VWL 12-12 to 12-17 Great Stay!!

[Forever a Princess]

We just got back from our stay at VWL 12-12 to 12-17.

We were in a studio room 4531 Non smoking. Boy was this a great room. Our view faced Bay Lake. This room was at the beginning of the longer hallway at the villas. The elvator was a short walk away.

We had an extra window that looked out at the pool and the side of the WL. This was so gorgeous. We bought a tree at Walgreens to place near this window. We left the curtains open at night and in the morning we could see the sun peeking over the WL.

Off the left side of our balconey we could see the boats coming in to the boat dock (mainly the Magic Kingdome-WL-FW boat). We could not actually see the boat dock. This was kind of nice because we could see the boat coming in from a distance. If we left the villas at that time we could usually get down to the dock to board.

We had a great time decorating the tree. I shipped 3 boxes of Christmas stuff to decorate the room. 300 colored lights on this small tree was so cool. We also placed candy cane lights out on the deck.

The room was clean, neat and in good repair.

Loved this room and its view. DH is loading pics on computer as I am typing this, hopefully by this afternoon I'll have pics to post.

DMIL stayed with us for 2 nights. She had room 4533. This room was a studio also. This was one of the rooms that had no balconey. Actually this was not a problem. The big picture window was huge. It brought in the sun and seemed to bring the outside in.

The VWL and the WL are so perfect for the Christmas season. We feel blessed that we got the chance to stay here.

Peace, Joy and Love to all of you this Season.
Renee

 

[dsneygirl]

Great report. We plan to be at VWL that week in '06 and can't wait.

 

[gppnj]

I'm glad that you had a good time and that you had such good things to say about VWL.

There are certain resorts where people seem to regularly report finding the room in some degree of disrepair, but this doesn't seem to be the case with VWL. However, the negative thing I do seem to hear fairly regularly about VWL is being treated as a second-class citizen when checking in. You didn't have any problems along those lines, did you?

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Glad you had a great time! Makes you love your DVC even more doesn't it??

How were crowd levels?

 

[Forever a Princess]

No, check in was very quick. About 5 minutes total. Our CM name that checked us in was great. She even phoned our rooms when they were ready and left us a voice mail welcoming us home. Shucks she's a sweet gal!!

This was our 3rd stay at the VWL. We have not had problems with any of our check ins.

Yep, makes us love DVC even more, thus we added on at BWV this trip.

Crowd levels were a bit crowded but manageable. Nothing that I would not expect for this time of year.

 

[gjw007]

I'm glad that you had a good time and that you had such good things to say about VWL.

There are certain resorts where people seem to regularly report finding the room in some degree of disrepair, but this doesn't seem to be the case with VWL. However, the negative thing I do seem to hear fairly regularly about VWL is being treated as a second-class citizen when checking in. You didn't have any problems along those lines, did you?

Currently staying at the VWL. No problems with checkins or second-rate status. A couple items; First, the lobby is impressive. I expected it to be bigger but it is still very impressive. Second, for a hotel store, it is is also very impressive. It is the largest store that I have seen in a hotel. Third, I expected more Xmas decorations. I've heard cast members say that Disney didn't put up all the decorations to save labor costs yet another cast member says it is the same amount of decorations as always. I believe the first and think the second was trying to present a positive view - after all, I am on vacation and why spoil a guest's vacation. Still the decorations were nice and tastefully done. Fourth, the theming is well done. Fifth, the hidden pool in the DVC area is way too small. On a reasonable warm day it willl reach its capacity real easily. The WL pool is nice (I still think too small for the size of the resort but it is a nice pool).

When checking, I didn't notice any pots and pans. I called both the DVC rep and the front desk explaining that I couldn't find them in the cabinets and that I'm not saying they aren't here, just I don't know where they are. Both said that I should have noticed them in the cabinets. The front desk said that they will send up a set. I never did another response or a set. I asked housekeeping the next day and they told me that it was in the oven, very bottom. Sure enough, it was there where I normally expect a spill catcher not a storage area. Boy did I feel stupid asking DVC and the front desk about the pots and pans but I am disappointed with the failure to followup by Disney.

First time that I have used Disney transportation since 1995. After taking a wrong bus, I remembered why I didn't take Disney transportation. Depending where I'm going, I use both my car and Disney transportation but I don't rely on Disney. It is nice though to have the option. In addition, I heard some booms around 9:30 PM. I"m assuming that it was from Epcot as that is when Illuminations was scheduled. It could be the electric light boat show as it is the same timeframe as well. I've only heard it the first night but I've been out of the room the other nights so I don't know if its a case of hearing sounds because I'm in a new locations or if the fireworks was really that loud. I suspect more the former than the latter.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We were in room 3531 from 12/10 to 12/14 and so it had the same configuration and I agree it was wonderful. We too had the tree in the extra window!

I do hope that we get a survey card to fill out on line. I jotted down the name of our check in person, she was very good, efficient, and pleasant. Could not ask for more from any CM we encountered on the entire trip!

Bobbi

 

[Forever a Princess]

The WL and VWL Christmas decorations are soooo gorgeous. They are the same ones that have been at the lodge for years, no less.

We so enjoy the tepee lights on the main tree, the covered wagons on the spurce sprays and the antelope (or elk?) antlers in the wreaths.

I realized for the first time that one of the stick reindeers on top of the entryway was Rudolph. Must have had something in my egg nog to see the red nose this time. We also enjoyed taking pictures (as usual) with the stick bears near the beginning of the stream/inside bridge.

 

[Forever a Princess]

bobbiwoz
We saw your tree in the window. Very pretty!

 

[hockey mom]

I seen someones tree in the window and loved it .

We were there from Dec.12th -15th in room 2530. Right off of the DVC lobby so every time I stepped out my room I was greeted with that beautiful tree.

Was anyone else asked to go to SSR when they checked in? They asked us to move and we would be given 5 one day hoppers for our trouble and I almost cried. I booked this months ago just for the decorations. When I said that I didn't want to move the CM went into the back then came out and gave us our room-forgetting that he just told me that the lodge was over booked. Kind of weird.