Mom's first trip to WDW and VWL.(report)

[Disney On The Bayou]

Well I have made my 3rd trip to VWL since joining during Aug 2001. I have stayed once in a 2 bedroom and twice in a 1 bedroom including this past trip.

A little history about this trip. Last year I left town for Mardi Gras and stayed at OKW. We had a great trip! I decided to ask my Mom to come this year for Mardi Gras to see the lodge and so we could spend a little time together. She agreed only because I owned a fraction of the "World". She told the rest of the family that she was really not interested in going to WDW and was just doing it to appease me. She had never been before, but knew she would be bored. She is not much on things of fantasy. To make a long story short she made the trip with me, just her and I.

Back to the trip report.

We checked in Sunday March 2nd around 11:30AM, room was not available until 4:00PM. Recieved a room, 2504 (1 Bedroom), its on the corner of the villas facing the lodge, pool and lake. From the bedroom you could see the pool and lake from an additional small window. I would assume only the rooms in this area of the building would have this, I haven't seen this window on my other trips. The balcony and main bedroom window faced the Wilderness Lodge. When on the balcony you could view to your right and see the lake, the pool is blocked. Some of you would complain about this view since its really of the lodge and not the woods, pool or lake area directly. However, thats good, since I really like the location of the room and its views, many of you may not request it leaving it only to me LOL.

Well it took about 6 hours to totally transform my Mom's opinion of WDW, she fell in complete love with VWL. Every afternoon we would go down to the lake side of the Trout Pass Bar and drink coffee and I would have a "lumberjack" (great drink). We would sit together till dusk and watch the ducks play in the stream by the lake. My mother is 61, and it was special to enjoy this trip with her. As long as I live, I will remember those evenings by the lake with the ducks. In the mornings (5:00AM) she would go down stairs to smoke and drink coffee. I have smoke allergies (any smoke including Bar-B-Q) so I requested a non-smoking room and I did not allow her to smoke on the balcony because it would p---- me off if someone would do that to me if I were next door. (I believe non-smoking areas are just that, non-smoking, I'm glad DVC offers both) Anyway it was a blessing, she would go down every morning and the same little rabbit would come and meet her. This is just at the front entrance to the villas in the chairs off to the right side of the door. She loved it! After about an hour she would come back for a bath in the big tub and cook breakfast! (There are real benfits traveling with your Mother!) We would then hit the parks where the crowds seemed small. It was a great trip from start to finish.

We are planning to go again next year and this time she wants to spend 5 nights instead of 3. She can't stop talking about what a nice time she had. We did visit the other DVC locations but Mom says VWL is the best. You guys know your mother is always the expert on these matters. For any of you who just enjoy a great vacation from all the day to day stress, VWL delivers more than any other location. If you are still on the WDW SWAT team (LOL) this might not be for you, but in my book its the best of all.

Well I'll fininsh this a little latter....

 

[Scrufsmom]

Sounds like you and your mother had a most "magical" time together. How wonderful! We have our homebase at the VWL and can fully understand your feelings. The Lodge has so much to offer and the tranquility of the surroundings is perfect.

Look foward to reading the rest of your trip.....

 

[littlestar]

I understand your feelings about VWL. Most of our points are at VWL.

We took my parents last October and they asked us recently what the regular rooms in the main lodge go for because they want to go back. Now, these are people that normally vacation in Panama City and sit on their balcony and look at the ocean or go to Maui and sit on their balcony and look at the ocean! They told me they enjoyed the peaceful Wilderness Lodge atmosphere as much or maybe more than their Panama City beach trips (Maui was excluded, of course)!

We stayed at the Beach Club with my parents in 2000 (regular room). They said they wouldn't go back to that area (not impressed - too busy and too uppity were my mom's words). We also own points at BCV (which would be my second choice place to stay next to the lodge).

VWL definitely has beautiful theming!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

What a great story! Thanx for sharing.
We too love VWL, and think there is no other DVC resort quite like it. For those who have not visited VWL, you must go see it, as pictures do not do it justice.

......Then again, some think this resort is "less deluxe"

 

[karebear1]

What a nice trip report. Made me feel all comfortable and homey- and like I want to take my mom now! And, I must say that I agree totally with yuo Maistre Gracey- when I first saw picks of VWL I could not stand what I was looking at! I even said, more then once I might add, that anyone that bought, let alone stayed there, was out of their minds! Well, on our last trip, we stayed at the WL and walked over to the villas just to take a look. I really didn't want to see them, but it was something to do. I was so totally surprised when I walked into them. They really are beautiful and very warm and homey! So sorry I ever thought otherwise!

 

[wdwnut]

how great you two had such a wonderful time! i've taken my mom to wdw several times-some are more magical than others-but i don't think i'd hesitate to do it again.

 

[JudithM]

What a nice trip for you & your mom! Glad to read a magical time was had by both of you. Thank you to your mom for smoking in a smoking area & not in the room or on the balcony.

 

[SheriB]

Wow. What a great story. We're taking my parents with us (to BCV) in June. They are used to the monorail resorts and I think are a little skeptical about staying near Epcot instead of Magic Kingdom. I hope they are pleasantly surprised. (I'm also hoping they'll like it so much that they'll join DVC too, since my dad will be retiring in 2 years). We're used to taking our extended family trips at the Jersey shore every summer (there are 14 of us all together). If they would join, between their points and our points, we could probably bring the family to WDW every other year. We'll see!

Sheri

 

[Regina]

What a great trip report! It's obvious that having DVC gave you the opportunity to create a memory that will last a lifetime.

I was having a hard time waiting for our June stay at VWL, now it's even worse!!