help have VWL on hold how is it compared to BCV/BWV

[barbanm]

I was just able to put a hold on an RCI exchange for the VWL the week before Thanksgiving. 11/12 - 11/19. Can anyone tell me pros and cons about staying here at that time of the year. I know you can get the boat to MK, does the boat go to anywhere else? I am assuming we would need to drive or take the bus to all other parks?

The last time we stayed at BCV and LOVED that we could walk to Epcott and Hollywood and were really hoping to do this again. We can wait to see if either BVC or BWV becomes available as they have several other weeks avaialble now, just not ours.

We plan to do MVMCP and MK probably one other day. We also wanted to hit Epcott and Hollywood for the lights.

We have to decide by tomorrow whether to take this one or wait!

Thoughts from people that have stayed at these resorts would be GREAT!

Thanks for your help in advance

Barbara

PS it is me, my husband and 8 and 5 year old that will be going!

 

[disneydenisel]

That is an awesome exchange! Is it for a one bedroom or two?

The boats will take you to MK and Fort Wilderness. Everywhere else, you'd need a bus or car. We stayed there with all the decorations and love the resort and decor. The villas were very cozy. I don't think you can go wrong and what if the other resorts don't show up?

We own at BCV, so of course love the ability to walk to Illuminations or Hollywood Studios (usually we take the boat, anyhow), but for a great RCI exchange, I would go for it.

 

[drusba]

You can take boat to MK which also goes to Fort Wilderness and there is another that runs the loop of Fort Wilderness, WL and Contemporary. Busses elsewhere. Resort is divided between hotel and the stand-alone villas; lots of trees and flora. The walk is fairly short between villas and hotel. You can actually walk to Fort Wilderness but that is somewhat of a trek. The villas have a "quiet" pool. The main theme pool at WL is nice although not a long slide. Nearby is the geyser that goes off periodically. The WL lobby is one of if not the most impressive lobby of all the hotels and with Christmas decorations up at Thanskgiving you will be duly impressed. If you want to do any boating (sprites etc.) you can do it right at the beach area of WL.

The restaurants are good. Whispering Canyon is somewhat oddball; food is standard American faire but the show is the waiters and waitresses who do many things including intentionally but humorously being rude when they serve you. Artist Point is more upscale and excellent table service restaurant. Roaring Forks is decent quick service. You will not go wrong with VWL

 

[quirty30]

You should jump on this. We stayed at VWL for spring break and I was prepared to hate it. I loved it. The boat to MK was a big convenience and every bit as nice a perk as walking to Epcot from BCV. The fact that you will be there to see the WL Xmas decorations is a BIG bonus. I only wish I could get VWL at that time of year.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

We have stayed at all of the DVC resorts, with the exception of BLT, and VWL is one of my favorites. It is close to MK, it has a nice feature and quiet pool, and the grounds are just beautiful. IMHO, the bus service there was among the best, and if you don't drive, it was easy to get to MK to catch a bus to another resort if you wanted to visit or had dinner reservations. If you work out, they have a very nice workout facility, and I like the food options there. They have a pretty good quick service restaurant, and my kids really like Whispering Canyon.

BCV and BWV are nice as well, and to your point, are within walking distance of Epcot and DHS. When I vacation there, I feel like I'm in the middle of the action. VWL feels more secluded and relaxing to me. They also used to have some neat activities for kids (scavenger hunt type of activity).

Personally, if you've never stayed there, I would try it. It's a lovely resort that still takes my breath away when I walk into the main lobby! Good luck deciding!

 

[bmalonef45]

Personally VWL is the most visually pleasing resort. As other posters have mentioned it is just beautiful. Boats to MK are nice and restaurants are good. The location of BCV/BWV and walking to Epcot is hard to beat but for all of the feel of being in the middle of the action at BCV/BWV you get the feel of being in a quiet rustic setting... in the middle of WDW!!! Plus if they have it decorated for Chirstmas when you are there you will be amazed. Make sure someone gets your picture when you walk in the main lobby for the first time. Its so cool to watch the jaws drop as the doors open. We stayed there for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago and it was awesome.

 

[barbanm]

thanks everyone for your info so far.

We will have a one bedroom my kids so far love sleeping together when we are on vacation so a one bedroom works great for us!

FOr anyone who has stayed there when do the boats start running/end? If we go to MVMCP wil we be able to get it back to the resort..I am assuming yes but just want to make sure.

Will the main pool be a huge let down to the one at Bach Club? I am thinking it will be quieter.. while the kids loved the beach club pool it was pretty packed every time we used it. I am sure there is no comparison when it comes to the waterslide???

Also does anyone know about how long the commute will be to Epcott and Hollywood? The nice thing we were hoping for was the easy commute to Hollywood to see the lights (maybe more than once)

We have visited the resort once before, though a while aga for breakfast at WCC. It does sound nice that you can take the boat to FW and the Contemporary Resort. If we were going to dinner at O'hanas we could then take the monrail from there right?

Keep the information coming.. it is very helpful!

Thanks again,

Barbara

 

[bmalonef45]

The boats start really early and run really late. We had a early breakfast scheduled at Chef Mickey's when we stayed there and we were on the first boat around 6:30. We also stayed at MK until close on our last night and we didn't get back to the resort until after midnight but the boats were still running. Taking the boat to CR and getting on the monorail is how we got to our reservations at Ohana. As someone else said the busses at that resort seem to be one of the better based on timing. Only one stop at the resort. Now it is usually shared with the bus at FW but thats not much different than other resorts. We stayed in a 1bdrm as well and it was perfect for the 4 of us.

 

[Brian Noble]

I've stayed at both BWV and VWL, and have also used the pool at BCV (legally---the slide was closed at BW's feature pool and we were invited to use stormalong).

Between BWV and VWL, with kids, it's no contest. VWL is exceptionally well-themed in a way that is just about guaranteed to appeal to kids. BWV is much less obvious, and a little more grown up---not necessarily in a good way.

The pool at WL is quite nice. It's not BC/YC-nice, but it's much nicer than BW's. And, honestly, I didn't see what the fuss was about at BC/YC. Yes, it's big. Yes, there is sand on the bottom. But, it's just a Big Pool. The WL pool is made to appear to be the end of a nice waterfall, and we really enjoyed it.

It's not walking distance to anything, but the boats are reasonably convenient, and for me the theming wins for a family trip. For a couples/adult trip, I might lean to BWV/BCV instead.

 

[barbanm]

Thanks everyone for your great insights! We confirmed our week this evening at the VWL for November 12th - November 19th! We are very excited and can't wait. Let hte countdown begin!

 

[mikayla'sMom]

We own at BCV and have stayed at both resorts. IMO the BC/YC pool can't be beat, but WL has one of the nicer ones. The theming is so different! Our family loves both. We are actually just going to miss you by a few days. We are doing a split stay with 7 nights at WLV and 3 nights at BCV. Since you have stayed in the Epcot area resorts, it will be nice for you to experience something else. You could not go wrong with either choice. Also remember to take the monarail around to all the MK resorts to see the decorations! Have a magical trip.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We have stayed at WL, BWV and BCV.

I found transportation to be a bit trying at WL (that was 2005), but found the surroundings to be quite tranquil.

If work or something else is stressing you out, I mean really stressing you out

then stay at VWL...It will mellow you out!!!