Live from VWL - until 3/9 then a trip report

[tksbaskets]

First may I say the resort is stunning! All 5 1/2 miles of hallway to get to our room We are the absolutely last room down the hallway.

We arrived around noon on Tuesday and our room was ready when we checked in. Very nice experience at the desk. Off to our room after having Valet take our rental "Munster Mobile " (Some Chevy car that looks like something Herman would drive) away.

Room 3562 - studio. I think I know why it was ready - no one wants this room. Once you get aLLLLllll the way down here the room is quite nice. No need to purchase the refillable mug - you'd never be able to get enough use out of it. Once you leave this room you return only when you are staying put for the night. Plenty of room for my sister and I.

Haven't gone out on the balcony to relax. We have a stunning view of the shed where they store clean and soiled towels and the service drive leading up to it. We've basically kept the shears closed. Had a yummy meal at Whispering Canyon Cafe tonight. I had the spicy chicken pasta and Dsis had the meatloaf. Very good.

Miss having a food court. The only counter service meals were pretty unappetizing at the Roaring Fork. Only pizza, chicken strips, and burgers.

Took the bus to EPCOT once...many stops there, we were the first stop on the way back. We've explored with our car since.

I must say the crowds this trip have been super! We've walked on most rides at EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. HS was a bit more crowded today but NO WHERE what I've experienced at prime time. Too busy to really explore WL. Will do a bit of that on Saturday.

Internet is 9.95 for 24 contiguous hours....my non-DVC sister is stunned (putting it mildly) that we have to pay for this service when almost every other resort in the United States offers high speed internet free to their guests. Although it hurts my Mickey heart - I must agree on this count.

We are having a blast! I'll post pics when I return. DS marches at MK on Friday. Keep us in your thoughts and pray for good weather.

 

[DebbieB]

Internet is 9.95 for 24 contiguous hours....my non-DVC sister is stunned (putting it mildly) that we have to pay for this service when every other resort in the United States offers high speed internet free to their guests. Although it hurts my Mickey heart - I must agree on this count.

That's not really true. I've stayed at Hilton and Marriott hotels recently that charged $9.95 per 24 hours.

Come on, it can't be farther than the BWV rooms. According to some on these boards, people have almost passed out getting to their rooms.

 

[tksbaskets]

That's not really true. I've stayed at Hilton and Marriott hotels recently that charged $9.95 per 24 hours.

Come on, it can't be farther than the BWV rooms. According to some on these boards, people have almost passed out getting to their rooms.

Our home resort is BWV. This is just as far away

 

[Lady V]

We stayed there and yes it was a longer than expected walk to the room but nothing bad. After walking in the parks all day it is nothing.

 

[tgropp]

The rooms at the end of the hallway are far away but you are close to the pool in the afternoon, the hot tub at night and the boat for the MK. There is always good with the bad and bad with the good.

 

[tink4ever]

It seems like everytime we stay at VWL our room is very far away also but I love, love, love that resort and it is my all time favorite place to stay so I don't let it bother me. Last time we stayed at the BWV my DD and I counted the steps to the elevator from our room and it was 276 steps. Our room was the last in the hallway and faced TOT!! That walk bothered me more.

 

[DVCLiz]

When we stay at VWL we make sure and use the "back door" by the quiet pool as our entrance and exit much closer to the boat and easier to get to Roaring Forks and the pool.

I adore the Wilderness Lodge!!!!

 

[Granny]

Our home resort is BWV. This is just as far away

Sorry, I have to pretty strongly disagree with this. I tried the search but couldn't find a thread I did about a year ago on this very topic.

Count the doors on your way from your room to the elevators. You'll find that it's not many...maybe 12? There are a lot more rooms to pass if you're at either end of BWV than that!

Here's VWL (red roof) from the air. It just isn't that big of a resort.

Compare that to BWV:

I also am an owner at each of these resorts. I agree that it's a bit of a walk to the end of the VWL hall. But I can't agree that it's the same length as BWV. Maybe it just seems longer because you're in the last room? Or because the BWV walk is broken up by some turns and hallway openings?

 

[tor]

Miss having a food court. The only counter service meals were pretty unappetizing at the Roaring Fork. Only pizza, chicken strips, and burgers.

Internet is 9.95 for 24 contiguous hours....my non-DVC sister is stunned (putting it mildly) that we have to pay for this service when almost every other resort in the United States offers high speed internet free to their guests. Although it hurts my Mickey heart - I must agree on this count.

Roaring Fork is one of the best counter services the ham and Tillamook cheddar is my favorite and my wife loves the Grilled Chicken Salad with Apple Vinagrette but most importantly the BEST cupcake in all of Disney is at roaring fork.

The internet is a throwback to the start of internet service in hotels the best hotels contracted outside companies to wire and provide high speed internet. A few years later cheap wifi came about and all the cheaper business hotels started providing free wifi unfortunately the hotels that entered into contracts with third parties are stuck with them until they run out or buy out of them. DVC will soon have free wifi but who knows if it will reach all the way to your room (wich I have stayed in) wait til the garbage truck comes at 3am there is a benefit if you need to drop off groceries you can pull down the access road and go in the back door.

 

[disney dumbo]

... All 5 1/2 miles of hallway to get to our room We are the absolutely last room down the hallway... Room 3562 - studio. I think I know why it was ready - no one wants this room. Once you get aLLLLllll the way down here the room is quite nice. No need to purchase the refillable mug - you'd never be able to get enough use out of it. Once you leave this room you return only when you are staying put for the night... We have a stunning view of the shed where they store clean and soiled towels and the service drive leading up to it. We've basically kept the shears closed... Miss having a food court. The only counter service meals were pretty unappetizing at the Roaring Fork... Took the bus to EPCOT once...many stops there... We've explored with our car since.

Hoping many folks can focus on these thoughts...
and my waitlist would clear!!!

 

[TAKitty]

Have a nice trip! I live in Stockbridge and it is snowing today...and Friday...and Saturday.

 

[Merylj]

Try the sandwiches at Roarin Forks - the beef and blue is great. DH loved the pepperoni pizza`.

Sorry you got the dumpster view, did you see if you could change it?

 

[BEASLYBOO]

First may I say the resort is stunning! All 5 1/2 miles of hallway to get to our room We are the absolutely last room down the hallway.

Haven't gone out on the balcony to relax. We have a stunning view of the shed where they store clean and soiled towels and the service drive leading up to it. We've basically kept the shears closed.

We are having a blast! I'll post pics when I return. DS marches at MK on Friday. Keep us in your thoughts and pray for good weather.

IT'S ALL GOOD!

I love the way you express yourself! I've never had really poor accomodations, but I have had the room at the end, thrudging my kids and the luggage down the "Twilight Zone" corridor. Yet , here you are on vacation having a wonderful time with your sister and in the end it doesn't matter, you're not sweating the small stuff, you're at Disney, Yeah! Enjoy!

 

[Peepster]

Okay, now you all can laugh at us...we (who are admitedly prejudiced about VWL as it's our "home") request the studios at the end of the hall. We have stayed in your room several times and while we'd rather be across the hall looking at the woods and a peek of the lake, it is blessedly quiet down at 3562 and vicinity. The hallway does, however, remind us a bit of "The Shining"

Hope you enjoy your vacation in spite of the bads. At least you're in WDW while I'm home sick staring at the remaining two feet of snow in my backyard. See, I did inherit my mother's guilt trips, eh?

 

[sssteele]

My wife and i have "enjoyed" the dumpster view the last 3 times we had a studio at VWL. Very last room at the end of the hall. What are the chances of that? Not the same floor however. Our next trip we requested a pool view (never requested any "view" before). We'll see what happens in December. It really doesn't matter that much, we love VWL - it's our Christmas "home"

 

[Granny]

Miss having a food court. The only counter service meals were pretty unappetizing at the Roaring Fork. Only pizza, chicken strips, and burgers.

Go back down to Roaring Fork.

Look at the counter where you order that pizza, chicken strips and burgers.


Now turn left 90 degrees and look up a bit.

We haven't stayed at all the DVC resorts but Roaring Fork is one of the better counter food places in our experience at the various resorts.

 

[DeeCee735]

We own at BW, yes there are longgggg hallways. I never understood what difference it makes? Walking from an elevator in an air-conditioned hallway to a room at the end of a long hall is NOTHING compared to walking the entire length (and circumference) of EPCOT in the heat. We walk these parks day in and day out regardless of the time of year/heat/crowd levels and don't mention it......but a long hallway - yikes
How can that be?

JMHO, and speaking for ourselves

 

[Inkmahm]

Our home resort is BWV. This is just as far away

I own at those two AND AKV. I still say no walk is longer than the ends of the trails at AKV.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

The rooms at the end of the hallway are far away but you are close to the pool in the afternoon, the hot tub at night and the boat for the MK. There is always good with the bad and bad with the good.

I can't resist. Where is does the pool and the hot tub go the rest of the day?

 

[ramkam]

REDRUM anyone? Oh sorry wrong hotel. We stayed at the end of the hall once too. The walk was not bad. We just did not like being so close to the service area. It ruins the feeling.