The villas are a short walk to the launch but to cut down on walking I would request a room near the pool. If you are at the end of the villas, farthest from the pool, that would be a significant walk to the boat launch. So request a villa overlooking the pool or close to the pool. Dining at WL can be an adventure, if your crowd if lively and doesn't mind being made fun of I highly recommen dining at the Whispering Canyons Cafe at the WL. We always make a PS and when checking in we inquire at the restr. when Jeffro-Bodean will be working . If we have a PS for a night he is off we re-schedule our PS. He is HILARIOUS!!!!! The food is good but not great however we go for the fun not the food. Many rave about Artist Point but the menu doesn't click with me so we've never tried it. Roaring Forks, the fast food place, is actually decent for a quick bite.
We own at the BWV but love WL during the holidays!!!! We have spent the last 2 dec trips at the bwv but this year we are hoping for the WLV if not I have my BWV ressies to fall back on. Tips as far as what we bring, we always bring more washing detergent. They only supply a little box, so I pack those tide cubes, they aren't nearly as messy as liquid or powders. We tend not to cook alot at all, we bring breakfast items and sandwich stuff and generally only have 1 snake a day at the parks and one nice dinner.
Try signing up for flag family when you check in!!! We always take a no park day and rent water mice, surrey bike, we bury the kids in the sand down on the beach while we wait for the electric water parade, there are alot of hidden Mickeys at the Lodge, ...........I could go on and on.