is it just me or do people not talk about VWL much?

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks Cindy, that makes sense! We will be able to save about 20 mins each morning now. DH can hide in the loo while I shower!!!

Every minute counts at WDW right?

Mandy

 

[jarestel]

We've stayed there once or twice... ok, we've stayed there a dozen times or so. It's great! As was pointed out, at any point in time, there are far more members staying at the other resorts than at VWL ( due to it's small size ) so you're much more likely to see reports about OKW or SSR than VWL.

We enjoy many things about VWL.
Boating on Bay Lake.
Taking the boat over to Ft Wilderness to enjoy the Hoop Dee Doo Revue.
Taking the leisurely boat ride over to the MK.
The MK resort hotels are conveniently close by should we get the urge to dine at the Poly or GF.
As an early morning walker, I like getting up with the sun and taking a stroll over to Fort Wilderness, taking in the wildlife sightings along the way.
Sitting in the main WL lobby and watching the faces of the guests as they enter that structure for the first time.
Whispering Canyon can be very noisy, but is always fun eating there.
For those who prefer a more sedate dining experience, Artist Point fits the bill perfectly.

There are many things to like about VWL, but I'll leave some of them out of my list so you can discover them on your own when you stay there.

 

[JimC]

Has anyone done the walk along the lake from the villas to the campground? When we were there in January I did it several times. Very nice. Along the lake is dirt/sand -- don't know if you could bike it or use a wheel chair. But there is also a paved pathway all the way from the campground to the villas that wheelchairs and bikes can enjoy as well (it just does not have the lake view) but it is quite a nice way to begin or end a day.

 

[ErinC]

If I remember correctly, the bathroom in the 1 bedroom has a seperate toilet room and the door between the toilet and the bathroom is a Slide (Pocket) door. Which would be why its hiding in the pictures.

Just curious, was your one bedroom dedicated? I know that our 2 bed. lockoff did not have a seperate door for the toilet. Just trying to figure out some rhyme or reason to why some have them and some don't.

 

[ErinC]

thanks for the pictures althought I do have a question. In looking at a map of VWL pictures, the villas have pool and the lodge has a complex of pools. How far is it to walk from the villas to the complex area. Is it a hike? Also, is it just one slide? Which has a better pool slide area? SS or VWL?

Not very far at all. You are basically just walking around one wing of the lodge. There is only one slide. I asked my 2 DD's (8 & 5) which pool was their favorite, they both said SSR. But it was a difficult decision! One plus for SSR is the small handicapped slide which they allow small children to use. DD5 could land in the water without going under, which made it for her. My kids aren't at the thrill seeker age yet.

 

[ErinC]

This wasn't the exact shot I was looking for but it shows the relationship between the 2 buildings pretty well. The green roof is the WL and the red roof is the DVC portion. You can see that the 2 pools are just around the end of the wing of WL.

http://www.disneypix.com/2000ft/Roll4/Roll04_006.htm

and this one...

http://www.disneypix.com/2000ft/Roll3/Roll03_006.htm

 

[MaryJ]

Just curious, was your one bedroom dedicated? I know that our 2 bed. lockoff did not have a seperate door for the toilet. Just trying to figure out some rhyme or reason to why some have them and some don't.

I don't think there IS any rhyme or reason...we have stayed in a 2BR (always dedicated) at VWL 4 times and two had the pocket door, two did not. I would much prefer the ones with the door too, but I don't know of any way to ask for one.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Superb pictures Erin, thanks!!

Fingers crossed we get a toilet door Could mean the difference between being at MK for rope drop or not! (Just kidding)

Mandy

 

[roadtripper]

Can one of the moderators shut down this thread please???
Otherwise I'll never get VWL at the 7 month window!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

what are the pools like? Any slides or anything exciting for kids?

Ditto to all that has been written, but what I like about the VWL, you don't need anything to keep the kids excited!!! They can look out and see the Castle in the distance, see the Contemporary and Monrail, which adds to the magic, quick boat ride to the campground, fun to walk around or walk over. Plus lots going on there!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Has anyone done the walk along the lake from the villas to the campground? When we were there in January I did it several times. Very nice. Along the lake is dirt/sand -- don't know if you could bike it or use a wheel chair. But there is also a paved pathway all the way from the campground to the villas that wheelchairs and bikes can enjoy as well (it just does not have the lake view) but it is quite a nice way to begin or end a day.

ssshhhh - don't let the secret out, spent one afternoon on the boardwalk and thought I was going to go broke, popcorn, ice cream, games, games, games, that is what I got clobbered on!!! That is what I dislike about the boardwalk area, very nice, but seemed like my wallet was always open, where at VWL, not an issue! Granted, I could learn to say NO!!!

 

[dsneygirl]

I am just beginning the "looking into this" phase of buying points and I've already decided that I want to own at VWL. My parents own at OKW and I'm not interested in another DTD location in the family so that rules out SSR. And I love VWL because of it's location on Bay Lake. It reminds me of the old camping trips I took as a kid with our pop up trailer back in the eighties. It does seem to have the least walking too. For me, VWL is a no-brainer!

Those are the same reasons DH and I are buying resale at WL. We have so many wonderful memories of the Bay Lake area. There is nothing like a relaxing evening boat ride after a hectic day at the park.

Reading this thread has made me even more excited about our decision.

 

[iankh]

I have not stayed at VWL yet, but closed on a resale back in early March. August will be the first time we stay using points when we go down for my 50th birthday bash.

When I was considering buying at VWL and looked at SSR and then some other resales, I always kept coming back to VWL.

Staying and paying we always stayed at WL. We considered other resorts but kept coming back to for a number of reasons:

1. Beautiful surroundings
2. Peace and tranquility
3. Feeling remote but yet being incredibly close to MK and great transportation
4. Renting bikes and riding through the woods to FW
5. Early morning walks in the woods
6. Renting boats
7. Great hidden away nooks with rockers to sip and relax
8. Attention to detail and theming

I ultimately gave into to our preferences and bought a VWL resale, although there were slim pickings on the resale market for the property.

Next trip will be staying at VWL on our points. Can't wait! Plus the mega party I'm throwing myself down there.

 

[newholidayx2]

I think we'll be there for your 50th birthday celebration! are all invited?
woohoo a party, a party
What day is it? we'll be at VWL Aug 13-21
Happy Birthday

 

[iankh]

My birthday is on the 14th and my birthday party dinner is at AKL, Jiko's.

Friends actually agreed to fly down to celebrate. Most are flying down on the 12th and back on the 15th. We're going down on the 12th and back on the 19th.

As you can see, I'm making a BIG deal out of this. I also feel that the only way to get the birthday party one wants is to plan it yourself. And yes, I even once planned my own surprise party. I even acted surprised. However what surprised me was how everyone went along with it.

So you will see me at VWL having a grand old time being 50!

 

[Muushka]

My birthday is on the 14th and my birthday party dinner is at AKL, Jiko's.

Friends actually agreed to fly down to celebrate. Most are flying down on the 12th and back on the 15th. We're going down on the 12th and back on the 19th.

As you can see, I'm making a BIG deal out of this. I also feel that the only way to get the birthday party one wants is to plan it yourself. And yes, I even once planned my own surprise party. I even acted surprised. However what surprised me was how everyone went along with it.

So you will see me at VWL having a grand old time being 50!

Happy 50th Birthday iankh!!!

You are a person after my own heart!

I had a 50th last year and did the same thing as you. But we got a 2 bedroom and a studio at OKW (home is VWL, but needed the extra room and lower points as it was March). I had several of my good S FL friends come up to stay with us for a Hobbit birthday party for me. It was great. They all got gifts from the birthday girl (that's the way the Hobbits do it) and then dinner and cake and fireworks at MK for a splashy end!

I hope yours is as fun as mine was!

 

[new_yawka]

In answer to the OP...although others have said it, I will echo...VWL doesn't get as much attention, because there aren't as many villas/owners....NOT because it isn't another wonderful DVC property....I imagine the HHI and VB owners may feel the same way, because talks here seem to sland toward WDW resorts.

Thank you Erin for the great link. The pictures are wonderful and are getting me even more excited about my holiday trip to VWL.

as for Calypso's comment about the holidays increasing interest at VWL...well, it is comments like that which convinced me to switch from my beloved BWV for my December trip. We are really looking forward to enjoying the "warmth" of the holidays by the fireplaces of the WL.

And for those of you thinking VWL is tough to get at the 7-month window, it may be true. I did, however, get exactly what I wanted (a 2BR for 7 nights) at VWL from December 17-24th, on my first try, 2 weeks after the 7 month window opened.

 

[debbiedoo]

We stayed at VWL last week and enjoyed our stay--peaceful, have the pool/ lake view -- lobby gorgeous.. . . .

but I have to disagree with the pool thing. The quiet pool was not as crowded -- but the main theme pool -- good luck at trying to find a chair!! we stayed 4 nights at the VWL and 5 at the BCV -- at BCV we found chairs at the main them pool -- but that was always not the case at VWL. The thread that came to my mind was the one about people reserving their chairs at 8 in the AM and off to to the parks!!

 

[debloco]

We also own all of our points at VWL, and for good reason. It is soooo quiet there, and after a day in the parks, all we want is a quiet place where we can kick back and relax....either by the quiet pool (can listen to that great WL music there) or in our room.

Everything that Kenny had to say is true. Whenever I walk thru the doors at VWL and hear that "swoosh" sound, I just smile!

Same for us here. All our points are at VWL and it truly is the place we feel "at home". I do also think that it's because we are one of the smallest DVC properties.

 

[SEC]

You don't hear much about WLV because the members who own there want to keep it a secret! We own there and it has been a great experience. We love taking the boat to Magic Kindgom and from there we can take the monorail to the TTC and on to EPCOT. We bought at WLV because we liked the theming, but it is also nice because it is a small resort and you do not have to walk very far to food service, gift shop, bus stop.