The VWL Groupies & Trivia Thread

[MAGICinMYHEART]

I'm just waiting until next month so I can call for my December 2007 stay.

 

[goofyforwdw]

Just 5 More Sleeps And I To Will Be Sitting At Vwl Can't Wait

 

[diznyfanatic]

Muushka, Granny, jimmytammy or anyone else who has recently returned...

Can you tell me if there are DVD players in all of the studios? Do the lockoff 2 Bedrooms have DVD players? Also, where can you rent them?

Finally, Muushka, did you get a chance to ride Soarin' on your recent trip and notice the music?

Can't wait until the end of the month to finally be able to reserve VWL for Christmas!

 

[Muushka]

Muushka, Granny, jimmytammy or anyone else who has recently returned...

Can you tell me if there are DVD players in all of the studios? Do the lockoff 2 Bedrooms have DVD players? Also, where can you rent them?

Finally, Muushka, did you get a chance to ride Soarin' on your recent trip and notice the music?

Can't wait until the end of the month to finally be able to reserve VWL for Christmas!

We did not stay in a studio, sorry, can't help there. And the DVDs are available at the Mercantile for FREE!! AND they have finally replaced the very lame video collection to a DVD collection that actually has movies less than 5 years old!!!

My favorite evening was getting my strawberry cheese cake from (lunch at) AKL (which was the best I might add) and going to the Mercantile and picking up The Chroniles of Narnia and stopping off at Roaring Forks for a cup of Decafe in my WL mug and settling down for a snack after watching the EWP. It does not get any better than that!

Sorry, I HAD to say that, I had no choice .

Yes, I did get to ride Soarin. And yes, you are right, the music is "magestic" like WL music, inspiring!

I will be on the phone with you!! After reading a few posts (Granny and others) that it is not that bad, I am really looking forward to waking up at VWL on Christmas day!

PS Granny, did Santa leave anything on your door on Christmas day? I know they did that at WL, but wondered about VWL?

 

[Granny]

Muushka, Granny, jimmytammy or anyone else who has recently returned...

Can you tell me if there are DVD players in all of the studios? Do the lockoff 2 Bedrooms have DVD players? Also, where can you rent them?

We stayed in a dedicated 2BR so I can't speak for the studios having DVD players either...sorry. As Muushka indicated, rentals are free at the Mercantile store in the WL lobby.

PS Granny, did Santa leave anything on your door on Christmas day? I know they did that at WL, but wondered about VWL?

Nothing on our door from old Saint Nick, I'm afraid. Actually, the only "extra touch" we got from Disney on this trip was the "Mickey towel" layout on the master bed when we checked-in.

On a completely unrelated note, we finally met Ranger Stan on this trip. What a delightful gentleman who truly enjoys his job! He has been with WL since it's opening and is a fixture there.

 

[Muushka]

Wow. That makes me sad . No stocking on the door?
I guess that would be a member expense, but it still makes me sad. We have stayed at WL, DL (POR) and CBR and got stockings there. Wah.

Finally. A drawback to DVC! Well, if that is all I can complain about, DVC is doing great!

 

[loribell]

We stayed in a dedicated studio and it did have a DVD player. ALso the lockoff part of the 2 bedroom we moved in to had a DVD player. The movie collection there was great.

We moved to SSR for the last 3 days of the trip and the studio there had a DVD player as well. Unfortunately I think they must have taken the old movie collection from VWL that Muushka was talking about and transplanted it at SSR!

Have fun,
Lori

 

[coasterbob]

This looks like the perfect thread to ask you veteran VWL "groupies" about our 1st stay at VWL this coming 4/20-27 in a studio! We always enjoyed visting VWL in the past (especially the comfortable lounge off of Artist Pointe for cocktails).....

Any specific room requests, activities, etc? What type of crowds should we expect that week? This is our 1st trip in the Spring as well! Thanks,

 

[Luv2trav]

We just booked a stay at VWL too for end of May. I have a few questions.

We have 2 studios booked. Is it possible for them to be right next to each other? I know they are not connecting but I want to be close..

Is there a certain section/floor we should request? Is pool view possible?

Plus I am very nervous about the pull out bed in the studios.. Are they comfortable?

Do the studios have toasters?

How far is the walk to the main building and Pool?


Thanks for all your help. I am really looking forward to our stay here!

 

[diznyfanatic]

loribell - Thanks very much for the information! That's great news!

coasterbob - Welcome to the VWL Groupies thread! We were told here on the DIS to request a "water" view when we book, so we'll see how that turns out for our upcoming stay in April!

We stayed at VWL last April during Spring Break and found the crowds to be heavy but not nearly as bad as Christmas. Bus service was great to all of the parks during our stay! Have a wonderful time!

Luv2trav - You can request that rooms be near each other, however, requests are never guaranteed. We're facing the same situation at BWV and hope the pixie dust is working!

Pool views are possible I think and the advice we found on the DIS was to request a "Water" View. That's what we requested for our upcoming April stay so we'll find out then!

I slept on the pull out sofa during our VWL stay last April and was pleasantly surprised how well I slept. No complaints at all!

I'm pretty sure the Studios have toasters, but I honestly can't remember!

One of the reasons we love VWL is because it is such a small, intimate resort. We found the walking distances from the Villas to the Main Lodge and facilities to be a very easy walk. No more than 3-5 minutes to anthing we needed. Also, the walkway from the Villas to the Lodge is totally covered so it's an easy walk even if it's raining!

Hope that helps and enjoy your trip!

 

[TheBeadPirate]

We were there over Christmas also. Dedicated 1bdrm 3205 I think. On the end facing the Lodge. Looked one way off the balcony saw the lake the other way was the covered walkway and bus stop. I'm not much of a photo hound, but thought I'd share our Christmas.

Lori

 

[Luv2trav]

loribell - Thanks very much for the information! That's great news!

coasterbob - Welcome to the VWL Groupies thread! We were told here on the DIS to request a "water" view when we book, so we'll see how that turns out for our upcoming stay in April!

We stayed at VWL last April during Spring Break and found the crowds to be heavy but not nearly as bad as Christmas. Bus service was great to all of the parks during our stay! Have a wonderful time!

Luv2trav - You can request that rooms be near each other, however, requests are never guaranteed. We're facing the same situation at BWV and hope the pixie dust is working!

Pool views are possible I think and the advice we found on the DIS was to request a "Water" View. That's what we requested for our upcoming April stay so we'll find out then!

I slept on the pull out sofa during our VWL stay last April and was pleasantly surprised how well I slept. No complaints at all!

I'm pretty sure the Studios have toasters, but I honestly can't remember!

One of the reasons we love VWL is because it is such a small, intimate resort. We found the walking distances from the Villas to the Main Lodge and facilities to be a very easy walk. No more than 3-5 minutes to anthing we needed. Also, the walkway from the Villas to the Lodge is totally covered so it's an easy walk even if it's raining!

Hope that helps and enjoy your trip!

Thank you very much!! We orginally tried to get BCV but nothing available for our dates. I was a little disappointed but the more I research VWL I am getting excited. I have 2 young boys so the easy access to MK will be awesome... Plus I totally forgot my son loves the boat ride over to the Contemporary to catch the monorail.

 

[Granny]

Wow. That makes me sad . No stocking on the door?
I guess that would be a member expense, but it still makes me sad. We have stayed at WL, DL (POR) and CBR and got stockings there. Wah.

Finally. A drawback to DVC! Well, if that is all I can complain about, DVC is doing great!

Muushka...you can always start a "DVC Stocking Sharing" program to go with wdwstar's tree sharing!

 

[jimmytammy]

On a completely unrelated note, we finally met Ranger Stan on this trip. What a delightful gentleman who truly enjoys his job! He has been with WL since it's opening and is a fixture there.
__________________
Granny

Granny
Glad you got to meet Ranger Stan. He is a great guy. He reminds me of one of an Uncle of mine that has passed on.
Last time we went up with him on the roof, my parents were with us. He asked my kids, "you know who your best friends in the world are?" Then he pointed to me, DW and my parents and told them to always remember that, and they would have friends forever. Bout made me and my dad burst out in tears. It was a magical moment for sure!
We saw him as we were heading out the door to leave on this last trip, and he remembered us. What a great guy!

 

[Muushka]

We were there over Christmas also. Dedicated 1bdrm 3205 I think. On the end facing the Lodge. Looked one way off the balcony saw the lake the other way was the covered walkway and bus stop. I'm not much of a photo hound, but thought I'd share our Christmas.

Lori

I love that little tree! So cute!

 

[Muushka]

Muushka...you can always start a "DVC Stocking Sharing" program to go with wdwstar's tree sharing!

Funny you should mention that. I was thinking of some of the people on this thread that will be there Christmas day (myself included) and what fun that would be ........hmmmmmmmm

Snip....
Last time we went up with him on the roof, my parents were with us. He asked my kids, "you know who your best friends in the world are?" Then he pointed to me, DW and my parents and told them to always remember that, and they would have friends forever. Bout made me and my dad burst out in tears. It was a magical moment for sure!
We saw him as we were heading out the door to leave on this last trip, and he remembered us. What a great guy!

Awwww. What a nice story. Sniff sniff.....thank you for sharing that with us .

 

[TheBeadPirate]

Saved the tree. It'll be back next year! Only had 1 ornament break the whole trip. Mickey's nose broke off on the way there-fixed it with a sharpie. Look for the Christmas lights on the balcony...Anytime....It'll be us!

Lori

 

[diznyfanatic]

Wow. That makes me sad . No stocking on the door?
I guess that would be a member expense, but it still makes me sad. We have stayed at WL, DL (POR) and CBR and got stockings there. Wah.

Finally. A drawback to DVC! Well, if that is all I can complain about, DVC is doing great!

You got stockings?????!!!!! How cool is that???!!!!

We were at CSR on Christmas Day last year and didn't get any stockings on the door. Had no idea what we might have been missing!

Now to decide if we want to be at VWL for the week including Christmas Eve & Day OR for the week of New Years Eve and Day.

We were at CSR last year on Christmas Day and that was pretty cool and I can't even imagine how wonderful Christmas Day would be at our beloved VWL, BUT it was also a lot of fun in an insane, chaotic, claustrophic kind of way to be at the the Parks for New Years Eve too.

What to do, what to do????!!!

 

[Muushka]

What to do, what to do????!!!

Why, come for Christmas eve and day of course!!
We will be there then too and it will be so cool waking up at VWL on Christmas day!!!

Let's see. We got a stocking in 1988 at CBR, Dixie Landings circa 1994 and WL in 1998 or so. So it has been 8 years since we have been on property, maybe they don't do it anywhere now?

 

[diznyfanatic]

Bumping cause we can't possibly allow this to sit on page 4!!!

I just KNOW some of our fellow Lodge Groupies here have something to share so we can all get our VWL fix!!!

Also want to invite any new Lodge Groupies to join us!

Thanks Muushka for the input! Wonder how many of us might end up there for Christmas week?