Making First Trip "Home"! VWL Questions

[CaliforniaDreaming]

We're booked for our first DVC stay! Wahoo! We ended up booking a 2BR at the Villas at Wilderness! We stayed at Wilderness Lodge on our first trip to Disney, so this should bring back memories.

How is VWL? Are the rooms far away from the "lobby" area? We toured a 2BR a couple years ago, and we really liked them. Are there lake views? What is the best location for a room? Anything else you like about VWL?

Thanks!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Oh, what a good choice to kick-off your DVC experience!
I would request to be on the the pool and Bay lake side of the resort. The other side (front side) gives you the chance to have a view of the bus depot, or the dumpster. Personally, I don't think either is as bad as many here do, but the pool/lake side will ensure you don't get them.
Most of the fifth floor dedicated 2brs have a beautiful vaulted ceiling in the master bedroom and living room.
Be sure to ask for a balcony that is not enclosed, as there are a few that have a 'wall' instead of railing.
Our favorite view is of Bay lake, through the gap in the trees. You truly don't see any civilation! If you are closer to the elevators, you will have a better chance to have a view of the quiet pool.

Have fun at this resort, as the themeing is incredible!

 

[spiceycat]

No - it is not far at all - some of the rooms are as close as the rooms inside WL to the WL lobby area/front desk.

It is behind the area where you caught the buses at WL.

it is beautiful - the lobby is almost as cute at the originially - has lots of little places to sit and talk.

the arcade got moved - so it is closer to VWL than most of WL - it is now on the other side of the gift shop instead of in the snack bar (roaring forks) - this area is now part of roaring forks - they made this change when they decided to built VWL here.

 

[Luv2Dream]

We just returned from 7 nights at VWL. We stayed in a 1BR on the fifth floor. It had vaulted bedroom and living rooms ceilings, but it did have an enclosed balcony (2 of them) with a nice slanted roof. As this is the top floor of the resort, we had enjoyed having the roof over the balconies as the rain was torrential at times. We did have a fully enclosed balcony however but I didn't mind. We had a view of Bay Lake but no view of the quiet pool as we were too far back into the corner. I loved this villa because it was off the normal track of rooms and was quiet as far as people passing by the door.
To get to the hotel lobby, you have to exit the villas and walk thru the covered walkway which attaches the villa building to the main hotel. Then you just take a short walk past Cub's Den and the game arcade and the Mercantile and you're in the lobby. Very easy.
I really enjoy this resort and I hope you have a wonderful stay.

 

[anniet]

If it rains and you are just hanging out at the lodge, get a hidden Mickey hint sheet from Guest services. It's a great way to explore the lodge.

Stay away from the refillable mugs, as Disney puts an add-on serum in the sodas that only effects DVC owners in the strangest way; they exhibit symptoms of extreme urges to add-on more DVC points when they return home. It was either in the soda, or those chocolate frosted brownies, I'm not sure which, but I know it was one of them!

 

[InstImpres]

Here is a link with some room reports and it will give you some view comments. http://members.aol.com/InstImpres/wildernesslodge. As others have said, asking for a specific room and getting it is slim. This will give you an idea of “sectional views”. I believe all 5th floor rooms have enclosed balconies. Also keep in mind a "far walk to elevator" at VWL is less than a moderate walk at BWV (in general)

The resort map can be viewed at http://members.aol.com/InstImpres/wildernessmap

The files are in adobe acrobat and which can be downloaded from this site for free:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Good luck and enjoy
Sandy

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Originally posted by anniet
Stay away from the refillable mugs, as Disney puts an add-on serum in the sodas that only effects DVC owners in the strangest way; they exhibit symptoms of extreme urges to add-on more DVC points when they return home. It was either in the soda, or those chocolate frosted brownies, I'm not sure which, but I know it was one of them!

LOL, *too* funny! Is that really such a bad thing?

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

Originally posted by InstImpres
The resort map can be viewed at http://members.aol.com/InstImpres/wildernessmap

Thank you so much for this!!!