Calling all VWL vets...

[Questforthemouse]

DW is a teacher so we can only travel certain times of the year. We have a trip to SSR scheduled for this coming Christmas but got the DVC bug really bad this week and decided to squeeze a trip in this July. Called last night and were able to get VWL for a week in mid-July. This will be our first trip to VWL and DW is very excited. Two questions...

1) What are the "must dos" at VWL?

2) Any VWL secrets/special things we should know of before we go that would make our visit to VWL even more enjoyable?

 

[bearpele]

Register to be a Flag Family. Great experience and the view is beautiful You also get to enjoy breakfast on the Concierge Lounge afterwards.

 

[lsutigger2]

If it is just the two of you Artist Point makes a great place for dinner for two. The food is yummy and the atmosphere is really nice.

We love the VWL and hope that you do to!

 

[Muushka]

Thank you for not asking which room has the best view!

Our must do's include watching the EWP at least one evening. Ringing the bell between the Villas and the Lodge. Visit the quiet areas in both resorts (Lodge has lots of them). Take the boat to CR and catch the monorail and circle the world. Gosh I love that place. Hope you do too!

 

[ramkam]

We always enjoy renting a boat or two and running around the lake. Last time we were there you could buy an unlimited use package for the length of your stay which gave you access to boats and bikes.

 

[Granny]

Well.....

Ask for the list of Hidden Mickeys at Guest Services, and get hunting!

Watch Fire Rock Geyser erupt every hour on the hour.

Sit in the rocking chairs or one of the comfy chairs in the lobby and watch the world go by.

Take a good look at the fireplace, a 2-billion-year geological record of the earth with fossilized remains of prehistoric animal and plant life. Colorful rock strata layers are re-created in the proportions they occur in the Grand Canyon.

Spend some time exploring the resort, the paintings and artefacts on display.

Take the Wilderness Lodge Tour, to find out lots of interesting facts and see parts of the Lodge you might not normally think to explore.

You don't have to sit inside to eat your food from Roaring Forks Snack Bar, take it just outside where you'll find shaded tables to sit at.

Dine at Whispering Canyon Cafe for a fun mealtime, but don't whatever you do ask for the ketchup (don't say you weren't warned!).

If you're approaching the Lodge by ferryboat at night, see if you can make out the large bear's face on the Lodge building.

Check out the smaller totem pole, featuring some familiar faces, next to Wilderness Lodge Mercantile. You can buy a miniature version inside the shop!

Lots of unique souvenirs can be found in Wilderness Lodge Mercantile, especially the Pacific Northwest crafts and themed items on sale.

Check out the animal tracks in the cement outside of the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Pennyguy23]

Make sure you get to Whispering Canyon, My Wife and I were there last night and it was alot much fun. It would have been more fun with kids but it was just the two of us. You can't miss it. We are packing right now, We had a great week here. We are moving to BWV tomorrow. VWL is a great place. It isn't my favorite but we had a very nice time.

 

[Questforthemouse]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far everyone. They are truly appreciated. We are really looking forward to our VWL visit. Two transportation questions...

1) How long is the wait for the boat to MK on average and how long is the boat ride itself?

2) Are the buses shared with the other resorts in the area or do they go directly to the parks?

 

[LisaS]

1) How long is the wait for the boat to MK on average and how long is the boat ride itself?

2) Are the buses shared with the other resorts in the area or do they go directly to the parks?

1) Boat(s) to the MK: DH and I just returned from VWL late last night. One of the things we enjoyed was taking different routes to the MK.

There is a boat that goes directly to the MK. Up until 3pm (??) the boat goes this way: MK -> Fort Wilderness -> WL -> MK. After 3pm, it goes this way: MK -> WL -> FW -> MK. So the trip from WL to MK varies depending on whether you stop at FW on the way. Without that stop, it took about 10 minutes. We never waited more than about 10 minutes for a boat.

There is a boat from WL to the Contemporary. Once there, go up to the 4th floor and board the monorail to the MK. Another option is to walk straight through the CR's lobby and out the front door, turn right and follow the "Walkway to the Magic Kingdom". It's about a 10 minute walk. Both of these options take a little longer to get to the MK: probably more like 15 minutes with the monorail option and 20 minutes if you walk. Just as with the boats to the MK, we never waited long (10 minutes?) for the boat to the Contemporary.

2) Bus sharing: The buses we took were all shared with the GF or FW.

ETA: The boats to the MK and the Contemporary leave from the same dock. There is a sign that tells you which line to enter for each destination. For example, the left side of the dock is for the MK boat, the right side of the dock is for the Contemporary boat.

 

[Pennyguy23]

1) Boat(s) to the MK: DH and I just returned from VWL late last night. One of the things we enjoyed was taking different routes to the MK.

There is a boat that goes directly to the MK. Up until 3pm (??) the boat goes this way: MK -> Fort Wilderness -> WL -> MK. After 3pm, it goes this way: MK -> WL -> FW -> MK. So the trip from WL to MK varies depending on whether you stop at FW on the way. Without that stop, it took about 10 minutes. We never waited more than about 10 minutes for a boat.

There is a boat from WL to the Contemporary. Once there, go up to the 4th floor and board the monorail to the MK. Another option is to walk straight through the CR's lobby and out the front door, turn right and follow the "Walkway to the Magic Kingdom". It's about a 10 minute walk. Both of these options take a little longer to get to the MK: probably more like 15 minutes with the monorail option and 20 minutes if you walk. Just as with the boats to the MK, we never waited long (10 minutes?) for the boat to the Contemporary.

2) Bus sharing: The buses we took were all shared with the GF or FW.

ETA: The boats to the MK and the Contemporary leave from the same dock. There is a sign that tells you which line to enter for each destination. For example, the left side of the dock is for the MK boat, the right side of the dock is for the Contemporary boat.

We just checked out of VWL today and checked into the BWV. I wish we would have know you were there. I love to meet fellow disers.

 

[LisaS]

We just checked out of VWL today and checked into the BWV. I wish we would have know you were there. I love to meet fellow disers.

Same here! We probably crossed paths a few times because we spent quite a bit of time at the resort this trip: lots of pool time this trip and we walked along the nature trail to FW and back, rented a boat and did a tour of the lakes, etc. I enjoy just hanging out at WL/VWL -- very relaxing. Sorry we missed the chance to say hello!

 

[OurDogCisco]

We stayed at VWL last Dec/January and loved it. Make sure you save some days for resort days only. We had so much fun hanging out and enjoying everything the resort has to offer. Have FUN!!! Oh, and I highly recommend Artist Point especially if you like Salmon. The salmon the cedar plank was to die for!

 

[Questforthemouse]

Thank you for not asking which room has the best view!

Our must do's include watching the EWP at least one evening. Ringing the bell between the Villas and the Lodge. Visit the quiet areas in both resorts (Lodge has lots of them). Take the boat to CR and catch the monorail and circle the world. Gosh I love that place. Hope you do too!

Where do you watch the EWP from? I didn't think it came past the WL. Thought it only stayed on the Lagoon...

 

[LisaS]

Where do you watch the EWP from? I didn't think it came past the WL. Thought it only stayed on the Lagoon...

You get a good view from the beach areas at WL/VWL. We didn't want to get sand in our shoes so we watched from the walkway leading to the marina dock. You can't get on to the marina dock at that time of night (it's roped off) but you can see the EWP very well from the walkway leading up to the dock.

We watched it a couple of times last week. It passed by VWL around 9:35.

 

[tiggercrew]

You get a good view from the beach areas at WL/VWL. We didn't want to get sand in our shoes so we watched from the walkway leading to the marina dock. You can't get on to the marina dock at that time of night (it's roped off) but you can see the EWP very well from the walkway leading up to the dock.

We watched it a couple of times last week. It passed by VWL around 9:35.

Thanks for that info. We have stayed there numerous times and never have seen the EWP. I think this year we are going to hang out at the resort more and enjoy the things we've missed out on.

 

[jimmytammy]

Be sure to listen for the background music. Also, at night, walk around by the quiet pool area and check out the flickering lanterns and the chirping grasshoppers. Sounds like trivial stuff, but all plays into the ambiance of the Lodge.

 

[lisareniff]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far everyone. They are truly appreciated. We are really looking forward to our VWL visit. Two transportation questions...

1) How long is the wait for the boat to MK on average and how long is the boat ride itself?

2) Are the buses shared with the other resorts in the area or do they go directly to the parks?

Beckie posted a excellent description of WL transportation on this thread..

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=18672742#post18672742