Live from VWL

[WolfpackFan]

Well we're here. Arrived yesterday morning around 10:00. Went to check in and asked for a non-1st floor room. I couldn't believe it, they had one available and it was ready. Wow!!! Then we started the long walk down the 3rd floor corridor. I kept thinking - oh no, oh no, oh no. Sure enough reached the end of the corridor and sure enough we got the dreaded dumpster view. What a bummer. I'm sitting out on the balcony now and have a lovely view of dirty linens. DD28 says get over it, we won't be in room that long anyway. Plus we move to AKV tomorrow (do they have dumpster views??). Anyway, spent most of yesterday at MK and Epcot. I had no idea Flower and Garden Festival was going on now. That was a very pleasant surprise. As far as crowds - it's crowded - no surprises there.

It's kind of cold today, planning to head out shortly for Polynesian for Tonga Toast. Then to Studios. Ending up today at Epcot, were we have ADR's at Marrakesh tonight.

Well that's about it for right now. I'll try to check back in tomorrow if there are any questions.

PS - We have regular glasses and cups PLUS paper cups.

 

[DVC Mike]

I wish I were there...

Have a great trip!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hey, a dumpster view beats a desk view any day. Enjoy your trip.

 

[VrBchJ]

AKV has the people pen view.

 

[jekjones1558]

I'll take dumpster view over my view of the piles of snow I have shoveled the last 2 days. Enjoy!

 

[AKV707]

Thanks for the report. Sorry to hear that you got the dumpster view. Sounds like you are having fun, though.

Keep us posted. I look forward to hearing your AKV report.

Glad to hear the mugs and glasses are there.

 

[alldiz]

At least you didn't have to wait for the dumpster view

How is the sofabed....is it the bar break your back kind.
Have a great trip
Kerri

 

[lisareniff]

Sorry you got the dreaded dumpster view. I guess we all have to get those once in a while.

Hey how about taking a picture of it for us. Having another one of those floating around could be handy.

 

[Peepster]

Hey, there! Yes, I'm very familiar with the dumpster view, but yes, it's better than bein' here!

Couple of questions if you don't mind answering. I had posted yesterday with no responses asking if housekeeping had gotten back to good again. We were there at Christmas and it was the worst we've ever seen. Of course, we were probably spoiled by how good it has been in the past.

The other question was whether or not the sofa beds were comfy enough for an adult, as we're bringing a friend in June who will sleep on one. Have they changed the sofas to the new ones yet?

Any help you could give would be appreciated. Thanks and have a great rest of your stay!

(Doesn't that hallway remind you of "The Shining"?

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Oh, I've been there...

Last August we had the dreaded dumpster view. And to make it even better, we were there shortly after they changed the smoking policy last year and many of the hotel staff were hiding out by the dumpster to smoke cigarettes (and other things we also noticed, one more than one occassion). I am uncertain if this has remained their hideout but during our stay, it ceratinly was...

So think of it this way, you may get a double bonus - the dumpster view and a view of the unofficial staff smoking lounge! Not bad for 50 points a night !

 

[dsneygirl]

I'll take dumpster view over my view of the piles of snow I have shoveled the last 2 days. Enjoy!

Amen to that. Hope you have a great trip.

 

[RichieGraciemom]

Oh, I've been there...

Last August we had the dreaded dumpster view. And to make it even better, we were there shortly after they changed the smoking policy last year and many of the hotel staff were hiding out by the dumpster to smoke cigarettes (and other things we also noticed, one more than one occassion). I am uncertain if this has remained their hideout but during our stay, it ceratinly was...

So think of it this way, you may get a double bonus - the dumpster view and a view of the unofficial staff smoking lounge! Not bad for 50 points a night !

Last august we also had the view and they were doing work so they had a crane and a spot a Johnny. It did amuse my six year old son to watch the crane and I personally loved being on the last room, nice and quiet and no neighbors on one side, enjoy your stay.

 

[eliza61]

Hey, you are now officially a dvc owner. You got the dumpster view!
Have fun with it, Sit on your balcony, enjoy an adult beverage and Laugh. You're at the World.

Have a great vacation.

 

[wildernessDad]

Who cares about the dumpster view? Just close the curtains and take a walk into the lobby. Have a great time at our beloved lodge!

 

[nzdisneymom]

What a nice surprise for you with the Flower Festival going on! Hope your new room will be nice for you.

 

[LUVDISNEE1974]

This may be a dumb question, but why not a first floor room?

 

[WolfpackFan]

Sorry it has taken so long to get back, we've just been going non-stop since my first post. We moved to AKV on our third night (planned - I didn't have enough points at either resort to stay the entire time). Our room location at AKV more than made up for the dumpster view we had at VWL. We have a great location on Zebra trail real close to the lobby. We've had all kinds of animal friends to watch. Our studio is really nice (except for the shortage of storage that has been mentioned many times).

I think someone asked about housekeeping. Both our VWL and AKV rooms were in great shape when we arrived. Nothing to complain about at all. Kidani construction looks like it is progressing just fine. I hope we can stay there next year.

Now for other stuff. The crowds have been huge at all the parks. We've been here at Easter before, but I don't remember it being this crowded then. You just have to go with the flow and hopefully get a fast pass here and there. I joked with a CM this morning at Soaring. The line was so long to just get a fast pass, I asked if you could get a fast pass for the fast pass line. We've been basically going non-stop until this afternoon, when we came back from Epcot to just chill some here at AKV. Plan to head back to Epcot shortly for the evening. As far as food - the only full service restaurants we've eaten at was Marrakesh and Le Cellier. Both were delicious. Other than that we've basically just done counter service. We've done no cooking in our unit, except I've made coffee most mornings.

I will post some pictures when we get back home on Saturday.

 

[WolfpackFan]

This may be a dumb question, but why not a first floor room?

I just don't like them from a security standpoint. We had a bad experience once when three men tried to get into our room at 2 in the morning from an outside entrance. Every since then I don't like rooms with outside access.

 

[WolfpackFan]

The other question was whether or not the sofa beds were comfy enough for an adult, as we're bringing a friend in June who will sleep on one. Have they changed the sofas to the new ones yet?

DD28 has been sleeping on the sofa bed and hasn't had any complaints. The only real complaint I've had is when you open up the sofa bed at AKV, it sure is an involved process plus you have all kinds of large pillows and cushions you have to do something with and this is in a room that has a shortage of storage. It really makes for an obstacle course for sure.

 

[WolfpackFan]

One final note. DD and DW have gone somewhere and I'm sitting here typing this and sharing a cold beer with four of the coolest looking zebras I've ever seen. It is amazing how close they are. I just love AKV.