Bunnies and mooses and groupies, Oh my!!! The Wilderness Lodge groupies thread. 4.0

[DISNEY FIX]

Anyone there now? It is alleged that SW airlies is now part of the lodges RAC program. Can someone confirm this?

 

[blossomz]

Sorry...RAC? Is that the resort check in service? I know they were trying it at Pop century..Hoping it would spread to other resorts!

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Yep the rumor is that it has. I am hunting around for some confrirmations.

 

[blossomz]

I just emailed Southwest! Will let you know if I hear anything.

 

[Muushka]

I am putting out a request here, to my fellow groupies, for a friend of mine who develops the DVC Planner app for the iPhone and iPod touch. He needs free and clear pictures of the following resorts.

Saratoga Springs Resort
Vero Beach Resort

They cannot be any official Disney pics, just pics that you have taken and are willing to donate. He will give you full credit for them on his website if he uses them. Please PM me if you are willing to donate said pictures free and clear and I will give you his email address. Thank you!

Just a bump. We have only stayed at SSR once and it was not a big photo-shoot vacation (Achilles rupture will cramp that sort of adventure!). And we have no Vero shots, sorry! But I will look through our files and if there is anything I will PM you.

S Christopher...sounds much better Eliza!!

HL and Stopher...have a wonderful trip home!

Speaking of increasing DVC prices...did anyone else get invited to the webinar? I received an invite in my email and you receive a free litho just for watching. Plus the discounts offered are at least as good as on the cruise if you are interested in AKV or BLT. If anyone is interested, PM me and I'll give you the info. It lasts about a half hour. I did the last one and it was pretty painless and the litho is really cute! Hoping for a second to make a set!

sounds like fun, how do you get an invite? Oops, I need to PM you! Sorry!

HL and Stopher, have a wonderful time at our special place.

 

[Inkmahm]

Read this on DVCnews.com (just a little FYI) :

Effective Sunday March 7, 2010, the price for points at Disney's Beach Club Villas and Disney's BoardWalk Villas will increase from $106 per point to $115 per point. Additionally points at the Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge will increase from $101 to $102 per point.

Wow, I wonder why BWV and BCV increased $9 and VWL only $1? Why would there be such a gap between $102 and $115? I can't imagine the demand for the Epcot resorts is that much greater than for VWL but maybe it is...

 

[Granny]

Wow, I wonder why BWV and BCV increased $9 and VWL only $1? Why would there be such a gap between $102 and $115? I can't imagine the demand for the Epcot resorts is that much greater than for VWL but maybe it is...

Realistically yes there is more demand for BCV and BWV reservations than for VWL. If VWL weren't the smallest on-site DVC resort it probably would have a lot more availability most times of the year.

The location next to EPCOT and HS make BWV and BCV very desirable. Also, Y & BC resorts have always been considered to be a notch up from WL. Just check the cash prices and you'll see.

While us Groupies really love the theming and ambience of WL/VWL, there are a whole bunch of people who find WL to be remote, too quiet, poor transportation and too darkly themed. I understand that not everyone likes every resort the same. For us, BCV was sort of bland and our least favorite DVC we've stayed at so far (in addition to BWV, OKW and soon to be AKV).


Still...considering I bought VWL for $75 a point, I'm feeling pretty good about that price right now.

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Christopher is a great name. Of course, anything is great compared to Seven!

I'm taking a break from job hunting although have to get back to yet another job application that I need to complete this afternoon. Last week wasn't so great so I'm hoping for better this week. So far, it's going much better. I have several calls/meetings scheduled for this week. And next week I leave on Wed for WDW so I know a break is near. 10 more days until sun and warmth!

on the job hunt

Hang in there! Your sun and fun are coming soon!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Inkmahm : , I wonder why BWV and BCV increased $9 and VWL only $1? Why would there be such a gap between $102 and $115? I can't imagine the demand for the Epcot resorts is that much greater than for VWL but maybe it is...

I was surprised as well. We would much rather stay at VWL over BWV/BCV. I'd have to say the walking distance to Epcot is a big seller ? But I'll take that lovely boat ride over to the MK any day over what BWV/BCV has to offer. Just a personal decision/preference as Granny said. I ALMOST booked VWL for our May trip. They had no 2 bedrooms available for our dates so we went with a 1 bedroom at BLT. The 1 bedroom at BLT works for us because of the extra sleeping chair. My teen girls don't like to sleep together. But if VWL would have had a 2 bedroom---probably would have chosen that for the ability for each girl to have her own "real" bed.

I dunno ....call me crazy....but we like that dark, woodsy , earthy feel at VWL/WL (and AKV/AKL).

Maria

 

[eliza61]

Wow, I wonder why BWV and BCV increased $9 and VWL only $1? Why would there be such a gap between $102 and $115? I can't imagine the demand for the Epcot resorts is that much greater than for VWL but maybe it is...

I think there probably is a big demand for Epcot area resorts Inkmahm. We own at BCV and always have a relatively easy go of it transfering over to the WL. That may be more that we don't go during High DVC renting times.

WL is dh and my favorite but the kids love BCV waaay more. probably due to the pool but also for the fact that they can walk to 2 parks. since they are teens HS & Epcot are now their favorite parks plus they can now hang out on the Broadwalk without Mom & Dad.

Also many DVC'ers will head to the world during the food/wine festival which makes those resorts the best place to be hands down.

WL is the winner in the theme department no doubt about it but Granny once said some thing that is so true. You either love the WL or you don't. I think of all the resorts it evokes the strongest feelings as far as like/dislike.

I "like" the theme of BC/BW but it's a fairly mild reaction, it may also be that I live very close to the Jersey shore/Atlantic City that is the inspiration for those two resorts. What's really weird with us is that we adore the WL but AKL which was designed by the same designer doesn't do any thing for me.

 

[stopher1]

Anyone there now? It is alleged that SW airlies is now part of the lodges RAC program. Can someone confirm this?

Yep the rumor is that it has. I am hunting around for some confrirmations.

I just emailed Southwest! Will let you know if I hear anything.

We're flying Southwest tomorrow, and then home again this weekend. If I learn anything affirmative, I'll be sure to post it - unless blossomz gets something first.

 

[wildernessDad]

Just a bump. We have only stayed at SSR once and it was not a big photo-shoot vacation (Achilles rupture will cramp that sort of adventure!). And we have no Vero shots, sorry! But I will look through our files and if there is anything I will PM you.

Thank you!

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Thank you!

I have some SSR pictures but don't really consider myself a photographer. I have a little point and shoot camera. If you don't get any other response pm me some more info of what he's looking for and I'll see if I have anything that works. I did take a lot of photos when we stayed there.

I have really enjoyed the last 4 days with my oldest son & his girlfriend home to visit. Next two weekends will be my second oldest son & his fiance but they are here to meet florists etc. so may not have as much time to see them. That may be a good thing because we leave in 17 days for our Ft. Wilderness camping trip. Much more packing to do for that trip than our DVC trips. I'm getting excited and working on buying the last of my groceries to bring.

Will try to get some pictures of the lodge while we are there to post. I leave in 17 days!

 

[Granny]

I dunno ....call me crazy....but we like that dark, woodsy , earthy feel at VWL/WL (and AKV/AKL).

Maria...I'd call you crazy, but then they'd have to have a huge padded room to hold the whole bunch of us Groupies!

I "like" the theme of BC/BW but it's a fairly mild reaction, it may also be that I live very close to the Jersey shore/Atlantic City that is the inspiration for those two resorts. What's really weird with us is that we adore the WL but AKL which was designed by the same designer doesn't do any thing for me.

I was being a bit harsh in calling BCV "bland". I actually like BWV quite a bit (we own there) and BCV is a very nice resort in its own right. It just doesn't sing to us.

Interesting about your take on AKL...we'll be staying there for the first time next month and I'm really looking forward to it. We've only walked around the resort and never stayed there but I'm hoping we'll find it to be an endearing cousin to WL for us.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

I was surprised as well. We would much rather stay at VWL over BWV/BCV. I'd have to say the walking distance to Epcot is a big seller ? But I'll take that lovely boat ride over to the MK any day over what BWV/BCV has to offer. Just a personal decision/preference as Granny said. I ALMOST booked VWL for our May trip. They had no 2 bedrooms available for our dates so we went with a 1 bedroom at BLT. The 1 bedroom at BLT works for us because of the extra sleeping chair. My teen girls don't like to sleep together. But if VWL would have had a 2 bedroom---probably would have chosen that for the ability for each girl to have her own "real" bed.

I dunno ....call me crazy....but we like that dark, woodsy , earthy feel at VWL/WL (and AKV/AKL).

Maria

I gotta say that we love BWV and the closeness to the parks is one of the reasons. I don't mind too much taking the busses and boats but it is really nice at the end of a long day to be able to take that short walk back to the resort. Especially when you have a DH that hates crowded busses and boats. Plus we spend most of our time at Epcot. So that is a plus for us but you can't beat the beauty and atmosphere of the Lodge! And that is a nice boat ride. Oh and by the way you aren't crazy!!!!

 

[DISNEY FIX]

We're flying Southwest tomorrow, and then home again this weekend. If I learn anything affirmative, I'll be sure to post it - unless blossomz gets something first.

Cool thanks, just FYI, it is up and running at BCV.

 

[DVCGeek]

A few notes:

Yup, I'm crazy and I love the WL & VWL!

AKL is neat; but I haven't stayed yet- just visited twice. True it is darker than WL, but I think the bridge in the Jambo lobby is really cool! So I think I rank the architects work: VWL, VCG, AKV, but I like 'em all. DW likes Craftsman style, so I think she'd say VGC, VWL, AKV. Maybe that's why I won some points at each of them...

As for walking to parks, I like BLT for that since it also has a boat to WL and monorail to Epcot (via TTC), Poly, and GF! Walk to MK's bus stop and you can get a bus to any other resort you want to visit, or pick up DD, AK, or DHS from Contemporary's stop. Seems more flexible to me than IG or the longer hike to DHS from BW/BC.

I have a few pics of SSR at Christmas time 2009 if those would help, but I'm guessing the PP doesn't want holiday decorations.

 

[tgropp]

I think there probably is a big demand for Epcot area resorts Inkmahm. We own at BCV and always have a relatively easy go of it transfering over to the WL. That may be more that we don't go during High DVC renting times.

WL is dh and my favorite but the kids love BCV waaay more. probably due to the pool but also for the fact that they can walk to 2 parks. since they are teens HS & Epcot are now their favorite parks plus they can now hang out on the Broadwalk without Mom & Dad.

Also many DVC'ers will head to the world during the food/wine festival which makes those resorts the best place to be hands down.

WL is the winner in the theme department no doubt about it but Granny once said some thing that is so true. You either love the WL or you don't. I think of all the resorts it evokes the strongest feelings as far as like/dislike.

I "like" the theme of BC/BW but it's a fairly mild reaction, it may also be that I live very close to the Jersey shore/Atlantic City that is the inspiration for those two resorts. What's really weird with us is that we adore the WL but AKL which was designed by the same designer doesn't do any thing for me.

The Lodge is still my #1 home away from home but I broke down and got 75 points at the Beach Club. We stayed at the villas in November and just loved the walking distance to all the good restaurants at Epcot. Since we usually go down at Christmas time, the WL is so beautiful. Every time we go there it is just like when we went there for its first Christmas in 1994. And I still cant figure out how to put a groupies emblem at the bottom of my signature. It had been explained countless times but it never seems to connect for me.......but consider me a WL groupie for life.......just love the place.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Just a disclaimer...
I certainly did not mean to come off like I was putting down the BWV/BCV in any way. Honestly EVERY DVC resort is beautiful in different ways...they all have something different to offer. So hope noone took offense.

It's just our (my dh is in agreement) personal preferences lean us towards VWL. We ALMOST bough VWL if any of you recall. Ended up going with AKV and BLT for the extra years PLUS the extra sleeper chair and extra bathroom. But we did think long and hard on purchasing VWL. For me, AKV is really beautifully themed just as VWL, but VWL has the location beat. I feel AKV is very authentic in it's decor and ambience and we love that. It all comes down to a personal preference or a feel for a certain resort.

And no doubt, BWV and BCV are very popular for their location. And gosh knows BCV has the claim to SAB. Best pool on property.

So I didn't mean to come off as a snob towards the other DVC resorts. Sorry if I did

Maria

Maria

 

[Muushka]

The Lodge is still my #1 home away from home but I broke down and got 75 points at the Beach Club. We stayed at the villas in November and just loved the walking distance to all the good restaurants at Epcot. Since we usually go down at Christmas time, the WL is so beautiful. Every time we go there it is just like when we went there for its first Christmas in 1994. And I still cant figure out how to put a groupies emblem at the bottom of my signature. It had been explained countless times but it never seems to connect for me.......but consider me a WL groupie for life.......just love the place.

Welcome aboard!!! Please visit often, there is always a rocking chair out on the front porch waiting for you.

As far as our beloved Moosie, first page post #3 on this thread has some pretty easy directions, good luck!
He will look very handsome on you!

Just a disclaimer...
I certainly did not mean to come off like I was putting down the BWV/BCV in any way. Honestly EVERY DVC resort is beautiful in different ways...they all have something different to offer. So hope noone took offense.

It's just our (my dh is in agreement) personal preferences lean us towards VWL. We ALMOST bough VWL if any of you recall. Ended up going with AKV and BLT for the extra years PLUS the extra sleeper chair and extra bathroom. But we did think long and hard on purchasing VWL. For me, AKV is really beautifully themed just as VWL, but VWL has the location beat. I feel AKV is very authentic in it's decor and ambience and we love that. It all comes down to a personal preference or a feel for a certain resort.

And no doubt, BWV and BCV are very popular for their location. And gosh knows BCV has the claim to SAB. Best pool on property.

So I didn't mean to come off as a snob towards the other DVC resorts. Sorry if I did

Maria

Maria

Maria a snob?........