The VWL Groupies & Trivia Thread

[mickeymorse]

Okay, I see it now. It must have been the thread god warning me not to mess with the moose.

 

[Camster0307]

I don't want to hijack your thread, but I hope I'm in the right place. I posted elsewhere and was kindly directed here by one of your fellow groupies. Thanks keliblue!

I'm surprising my 12yr.old daughter with a trip at the end of June. Our home resort in the BWV and we stay there every year - already have our Nov.trip booked there. I wanted our June trip to be different so I figured I'd give the VWL a try.

I'm excited about being so close to MK - think we may actually make it to an MK am EMH! How long is the boat ride to MK? Also, I've read you can watch the water parade from the beach? Is this nightly? We really love Epcot and usually end many nights at that park. One of the reasons we love the BW is for how convenient it is to exit through IG while the crowds are heading to the main exit. How crazy is it getting back to WL from Epcot?

How is the main pool area? Do they have a slide? I've made a dinner ADR for Artist Point -looking forward to that. Also nice to see the CS option of Roaring Forks.

Sorry for all the questions. I really want this trip to be special for my daughter and I and I feel at a slight disadvantage because I just don't know this resort. Any inside scoop you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated!

 

[wildernessDad]

I don't want to hijack your thread, but I hope I'm in the right place. I posted elsewhere and was kindly directed here by one of your fellow groupies. Thanks keliblue!

I'm surprising my 12yr.old daughter with a trip at the end of June. Our home resort in the BWV and we stay there every year - already have our Nov.trip booked there. I wanted our June trip to be different so I figured I'd give the VWL a try.

I'm excited about being so close to MK - think we may actually make it to an MK am EMH! How long is the boat ride to MK? Also, I've read you can watch the water parade from the beach? Is this nightly? We really love Epcot and usually end many nights at that park. One of the reasons we love the BW is for how convenient it is to exit through IG while the crowds are heading to the main exit. How crazy is it getting back to WL from Epcot?

How is the main pool area? Do they have a slide? I've made a dinner ADR for Artist Point -looking forward to that. Also nice to see the CS option of Roaring Forks.

Sorry for all the questions. I really want this trip to be special for my daughter and I and I feel at a slight disadvantage because I just don't know this resort. Any inside scoop you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated!

There are now two dedicated boats which travel to and from the MK from WL. The boat ride takes about 10-15 minutes and the maximum wait for our last trip was about 10 minutes.

There is a slide in the main pool, albeit a small one.

Artist Point is great. My son and I loved the buffalo steak.

We love Roaring Fork quick service.

The walk to the WL bus from Epcot is lengthy. We walked to the bus after the Xmas fireworks addendum to Illuminations and there was a big crowd already waiting for the bus. That was the one time when I felt the bus service 'broke down' so to speak.

Request to be the flag family upon arrival.

If you've never been in WL, take the time to look around. You can't help but to look up. Just being there gives one a feeling. I can't explain it. But it makes me want to return now to experience it.

Others will chime in, I'm sure.

I hope that you get it!

 

[Camster0307]

Thanks for the response, wildernessDad.

Re: Epcot. I'm seriously thinking that some nights, we may just exit over to the BW, walk around, and then just cab it back to WL. How much do you think that would cost?

 

[eliza61]

Hi Cammie,
WL is one of my families favorite resort. The nightly parade is called the electric water parade, it's a parade of tug boats with sea creatures. very pretty and yes you can view it from WL.
My kids loved the pool. It's nowhere as big as SAB (BC) but the slide is nice and every time we went there in August, the resort had life guards at the pool organizing games.
I do want to point out, that the boats to MK are not speed boats. I only point this out because some people complain that they go slow. Wilderness dad is correct, it only takes 10 minutes tops and I think it's a great ride. You go pass GF & the Contemporary. Very pretty.

Take a moment to walk around the lodge. Have a blast!

 

[wildernessDad]

As far as the Electrical Water Pageant is concerned, check with the front desk about times. It is usually at WL at 9:35 pm.

 

[keliblue]

*******************************************ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS *******************************************ZSzeb001_ZSYYYYYYYYUS Yahooooooooooo Cammie made it over

I have stayed at just about every resort and have to say, that W Dad is right You just get an amazing feeling when you walk into WL everything seems to be at a slower pace and more relaxed.. Make sure you take a swim in the bubbling pool and the huge jacuzzi

We too like to end our evening at Epcot and haven't found the bus ride home to bad, usually the WL line is shorter then all the other especially POP Century We like to take the monarail from Epcot to MK and then the boat to WL.. what a nice way to end your day, watching all the lights from GF bouncing off the water.

 

[wildernessDad]

We like to take the monarail from Epcot to MK and then the boat to WL.. what a nice way to end your day, watching all the lights from GF bouncing off the water.

Great tip on the monorail! We'll have to try that out next time!

 

[mickeymorse]

We too like to end our evening at Epcot and haven't found the bus ride home to bad, usually the WL line is shorter then all the other especially POP Century We like to take the monarail from Epcot to MK and then the boat to WL.. what a nice way to end your day, watching all the lights from GF bouncing off the water.

Keliblue. Can you stay for illuminations and still catch the boat HOME?

 

[keliblue]

Keliblue. Can you stay for illuminations and still catch the boat HOME?

That all depends on how late MK is open. I believe the boat runs and hour or two after closing. So far we haven't had a problem but we don't always stay for Illuminations either so don't kill the messanger if you miss the boat

 

[Camster0307]

Thanks for the tips, groupies! Actually, looking at my schedule, 2 out of the 3 nights at Epcot is a late EMH - so a mass exodus to the buses shouldn't be a problem.

Any more insider tips?

 

[Granny]

I really want this trip to be special for my daughter and I...

You're staying at VWL. Trust us, it will be a SPECIAL trip!

And you're right, we own at BWV too and we sorely miss having something like Roaring Fork there. You'll like that.

And if your daughter likes wildlife, she's heading to the right place. In addition to possibly seeing deer along the path to Ft. Wilderness, there is the family of ducks that has decided to call the WL main pool its home!

 

[Granny]

Speaking of wildlife...beware of the Groupies that might be hanging out around there at that time...

 

[Camster0307]

Ok, this is what I'm worried about, Granny. My daughter is not an animal person! I read about the ducks in the pool on another thread and all I could think is - she would FREAK!

That won't deter us though. The lodge looks lovely and, again, very excited about being so close to MK. We will miss our beloved BWV but .... change is good!

 

[blossomz]

OMG...the ducks are the best thing in the pool!!! Don't worry though, they will not want to be near your daughter. They kind of do their own thing and if people bother them, they just move on! ....to the spa, the quiet pool, etc!

 

[mickeymorse]

Speaking of wildlife...beware of the Groupies that might be hanging out around there at that time...

Thats right, you just never know who you might run into.

 

[Camster0307]

I, myself, don't mind the wildlife - as long as they come bearing beverages!

 

[Muushka]

You guys are losing it!!

PS In Granny's picture of the 3 mooses, I'm the one on the right with the blue shades.

And I'm drinking a chocolatini!

 

[mwehttam]

Hello all,
I am in the process of booking an 8 night stay at VWL and will be in a 2-br. It will be me, DW, DS, DM, and DF. We are staying in a 2-br and when booking (in process of day-by-day) was given the option of a dedicated or lockoff. At first I was going to say dedicated but decided on lockoff. My parents will stay in the master and my DW, DS and I will stay in the second bedroom. Since my DS will be 18mo at the time he will still be in the pack and play. I felt that only having the one bed would give us more space of pnp.

Is this accurate/correct thinking on this? Or do we give up even more space due to the kitchenette?

Besides that I am very excited to be staying at VWL. This will be my parents first time at WDW and VWL will be perfect for them.

-Matthew

 

[wildernessDad]

Personally I'd have to agree with your decision to go with the lock-off. I hope you have a great time at our beloved Lodge!