The VWL Groupies & Trivia Thread

[blossomz]

It took us awhile to get around to taking the tour, but we loved it! Stan is such a "card"! Now he knows us every trip home. It just makes us feel we've arrived home even more! He is just full of stories!

 

[Granny]

From what I remember from Stan is that the 4 elements all come together where the lightening meets..and create the world!

Let's see. That would make Wilderness Lodge/VWL the equivalent of Paradise, right?


Sounds about right!

 

[Granny]

We are back from our first DVC trip at VWL... thanks for all the advice waaay back in this thread!

This was our first DVC trip as members. Our home resort is BWV.

We LOVED it. We were in room 5517, which is a dedicated one-bedroom right next to the elevator. It had vaulted ceilings, two balconies, both dormers. You could see Bay Lake and parts of the water pageant from the balcony, although you had the high wall of course so couldn't see anything sitting down.

I have to admit, I had reservations... the decor in the pictures seemed a bit dark, but in person it is just frackin' awesome. I loved the villa pool and the "geysers" in it, and the villa hot tub was much better than the main one. We ate lunch at WCC and at Roaring Forks.

All I have to say is... BW and BC will have to do a LOT to top VWL!!

I have pictures if anyone wants me to post them?

HK...great review and your enthusiasm for our favorite resort comes shining through! But sssshhhhh! Don't tell people that it's really not too dark inside the villas. Don't want to blow our "oh the decor is way too dark at VWL for our taste" cover story, do you?

 

[TheBeadPirate]

Here you go!

http://members.aol.com/InstImpres/wildernessmap.pdf

Thanks soooooo much! We were in 3501! And I hope it's ok that I saved a copy of this for future ressies too! I can never remember the numbers. Heck, I'm lucky to remember my room number while I'm there!

Lori

 

[MaryJ]

Thanks soooooo much! We were in 3501! And I hope it's ok that I saved a copy of this for future ressies too! I can never remember the numbers. Heck, I'm lucky to remember my room number while I'm there!

Lori

Not at all! That's how I was able to find it so quickly. I have it bookmarked in my "Disney" file.

 

[HockeyKat]

Okay I finally have my pics from last week's trip up. Click here here to view them. There are only the Lodge villas pictures, of our one-bed at VWL (room 5517), and the pics of the upcoming AKVL from the preview center. Some are a bit blurry as I seem to have had the wrong setting on my camera.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

 

[keliblue]

Okay I finally have my pics from last week's trip up. Click here here to view them. There are only the Lodge villas pictures, of our one-bed at VWL (room 5517), and the pics of the upcoming AKVL from the preview center. Some are a bit blurry as I seem to have had the wrong setting on my camera.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Thanks for sharing, I love the bath tub at AKV

 

[Muushka]

Thank you for posting your pics. They are great! I loved the AKL ones (you didn't use a flash, right? Great natural lighting). They all looked so beautiful. I am looking forward to a visit to AKLV one of these days.

 

[HockeyKat]

Thanks!! I didn't use a flash for any of the pics. For some reason my flash always bleaches out the photo.

My fav was the towel mickey in the master bedroom. And the view of Bay Lake. And, well, everything. DVC rocks!

The AKLV model rooms were totally awesome, and fwiw, I will honestly admit that DH and I don't like AKL or AK much, but after seeing the rooms have added it to our list of things to try.

 

[eliza61]

Thanks for sharing, I love the bath tub at AKV

I don't know Kel, the bath tubs look like regular bath tubs. They didn't get rid of the jacuzzi did they? The ones at the WL felt like those deep garden tubes. I know I could stretch out in them and I'm tall (5'8")
Eliza

 

[HockeyKat]

AKL one-bedrooms actually have two bathrooms. I think I remember the hall bath as a full bath with a regular tub, and the "master" bathroom with the deep tub. It is a jacuzzi tub and long, but not as wide as the VWL one. It has a nice tile inset, as well.

I just want them to put those flat panels in every villa!

 

[keliblue]

I don't know Kel, the bath tubs look like regular bath tubs. They didn't get rid of the jacuzzi did they? The ones at the WL felt like those deep garden tubes. I know I could stretch out in them and I'm tall (5'8")
Eliza

Hi Eliza

Well I am only 5'3" but I thought I read that they were longer and jetted. I guess they didn't have rooms for the jacuzzi's . I do like the tile work above it.

 

[blossomz]

Just received a little package from DVC today all about AKV. Yes..there is still a whirlpool tub in the master suite. It is a long shape. The video that came with it is great! Can't wait to check it out.

 

[4Pluto]

I can't believe that's it been a week since we returned from VWL and I've failed to report in, but I'm blaming it on PTDS (post traumatic Disney syndrome).

We (the crowd--DF,DM, DB, DSIL, DN(3), DN(1) and Me) spent our first DVC vacation at home at VWL and it could not have been more perfect. I wanted very badly for this first visit to make a good impression with the idea that we could make this a family tradition, and VWL exceeded every expectation I had. My parents loved the quiet of the villas and the shady wooded walks. My brother's family loved all the activities both in the lodge and in the parks.

Our Villa was immaculate, spacious, and had a beautiful view (yep, if I squinted I could see the lake through the trees and even watch the electric light parade on the lake). After an early (early) flight, I had warned everyone that we could not get into the Villa until 4, but there must have been a guardian moose looking over our shoulders because the room was ready when we arrived and the nieces could at least pretend to take their afternoon nap. Speaking of sleep, the hideabed was the old style, but still plenty comfortable enough for me (and I have a pretty hearty appetite if you read between the lines); the hall closet and the extra door to the bathroom made it very easy to use the living room as a third bedroom (provided the DNs didn't wake at the crack of dawn). DB loved the dedicated bedroom as the closet was large enough to fit the pak n play for naps (we also appreciated the high chair in the room).

The pools were great, and congratulations are in order for the ducks who were trailing a handful of ducklings across both pools (despite DN's best efforts to pet the ducklings!). I was amazed at all of the bird life early in the morning; I spent those early mornings (see note regarding DNs above) out on the balcony watching flocks of water birds soar across the woods, not to mention hearing the hawks cry.

I confess that I was surprised how hard it was to get into restaurants (up to 2 hours waits for dinner at WC); I made some advance reservations for my parents but my brother/wife wanted some flexibility in eating times and that's pretty tough given how fast the restaurants fill up (and 2 hour wait times don't work with toddlers). We had one pizza night and one long carryout dinner from RF.

Having said that, our best meal bar none was at AP. My Dad was concerned that the restaurant would be too formal for the nieces, but they brought crackers right away (and crayons for me and the 3 year old) so there really was no issue with the young ones. The food was awesome, the atmosphere was very relaxing and the service was great, but there was just something more about that dinner that everyone enjoyed and I'm not sure I can put my finger on it (dinner the next night at Portobello's really suffered by comparison).

The transportation was great. We loved the boat to MK. After a hot, crowded and overstimulating day in the park, it is amazing how quickly you can recover your senses sitting on the boat with the lake breezes blowing across the deck. We never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus and even AK was only a 15 minute ride from the lodge. We rented a car to get to SeaWorld but I'm leaning towards taxis next time.

The first day, my brother discovered (in the Tiki House--I tried to warn them), that the 3 year old was easily frightened, which they duly reinforced trying out various other rides and shows. To be honest, I think the volume of the music/speaking really triggered the response, but I'm guessing they turn up the sound to allow everyone to hear over all the screams, talking and other noises (cell phones anyone?). She was great on outdoor rides and wanted desperately to ride the big roller coasters (she needs a good growth spurt for that), but there is a limit on how many times the adults could stomach triceratops spin or spinning teacups. The "saving grace"--Typhoon Lagoon. We spent two full days playing in Ketchakiddie Creek, floating on the lazy river and splashing in the tidal pools. The 1 year old was ecstatic in the waves (to her credit, she also loved Small World and happily screamed with the crowd at the punchlines in the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor). So as you can see, we pretty much blew through nap times, but oh was it great to be a 15 minute ride by bus or boat from the Villa, the pool, the refillable soda, the balcony and the quiet cool woods.

I ran on longer than I planned, but I really did want to share how much we loved our week in wilderness.

JW

 

[Muushka]

Your writing style is so good I feel like I went with you and had a wonderful time too! Thank you for sharing your vacation with all of us. I am glad that it was as great as it could be.

 

[eliza61]

Just received a little package from DVC today all about AKV. Yes..there is still a whirlpool tub in the master suite. It is a long shape. The video that came with it is great! Can't wait to check it out.

I got the same package also. Very pretty.

 

[blossomz]

Thanks for sharing 4Pluto! We'll be there soon and your report just made me more excited!!

 

[eliza61]

I confess that I was surprised how hard it was to get into restaurants (up to 2 hours waits for dinner at WC); I made some advance reservations for my parents but my brother/wife wanted some flexibility in eating times and that's pretty tough given how fast the restaurants fill up (and 2 hour wait times don't work with toddlers). We had one pizza night and one long carryout dinner from RF.

The transportation was great. We loved the boat to MK. After a hot, crowded and overstimulating day in the park, it is amazing how quickly you can recover your senses sitting on the boat with the lake breezes blowing across the deck. We never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus and even AK was only a 15 minute ride from the lodge. We rented a car to get to SeaWorld but I'm leaning towards taxis next time.



JW

Great trip report JW and welcome to the "groupies". I'm glad you enjoyed the boat. I think this is one of my pet peeves when folks stay at the lodge and then complain the boat to MK is too "slow". It's not a speed boat.
It's supposed to be a leisurely ride to the MK, even in the morning when your anxious to get to the parks, its a lovely ride. anyway I realize that's just me.

 

[jimmytammy]

Thanks for that great trip report. Glad to hear yall had such a wonderful time.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Your pictures are great Kat....thanks for posting.

JW....loved your TR. Sounds like you had an awesome time. And I can totally relate to PTDS ! It can be horrible....and it's always the catalyst to plan the next trip for me