We returned from a short 4 ngt stay at the VWL on Tuesday - it was fabulous!
I was very hesitant to stay here, but my friend had wanted to for a long time - when the Villas popped up at an AP rate, when just about everything was sold out - we were delighted. All I can say is wow! We loved the Villas!
We had a studio - location was perfect, room size was perfect - a corner room with a balcony facing the pine trees, but not dense so we could see Bay Lake & see/hear the Electrical Water Pageant at 9:35 each ngt. Also, from the balcony or side window we could see the top of Wishes - what a great room location!
It was very clean, in excellent condition. The room was cleaned for us by special needs, so not sure what it would have been like otherwise, but it seemed to be in very good condition. Flat screen TV.
The theme here is a bit more subtle than the Lodge - sort of rustic with a soft elegance in the lobby and hallways - rooms cozy. Holiday decorations were up on Friday morning, 11/19 - we were told the decorations were due to go up overnight Wednesday 11/17, but delayed a ngt. (a manager told us that the Wednesday before the weekend prior to Thanksgiving week is when WL/VWL holiday decorations go up).
Anyway, both in the Lodge and Villas the decorations were beautiful! I preferred the Villas because I loved the circular atrium, rocking chairs, fireplace, side rooms etc. It was so warm and homey (I know the Lodge has the same, but the lobby is massive!). The walk to the Villas is very pretty, especially with the decorations.
Every CM we encountered was cheerful and helpful. Several went out of their way to help us )a shop CM managed to find a couple of sought after pins and saved them for my friend) - we left cards with a manager for each one. A housekeeping manager was especially wonderful on our last morning - I'd had major surgery 7 weeks prior and thought a trip to the World would be fine...not so much. All the walking we do when feeling healthy is far more than I should have been doing... knowing a late check out at the Villas is rare, if not nearly impossible, I decided to explain the situation (train did not leave until 7:30 p.m., I was in a lot of pain) in hopes of maybe an extra hour with a noon check-out. She went above and beyond! Not only was she understanding, but very kind and when explaining the Villas were overbooked, yet she said not to worry - she would be over in a few minutes to drop off keys to a room in the Lodge for our use until whatever time we needed it! This was major pixie dust! We were out of the Villas by 11 a.m. and moved over to the Lodge room (1134) - a king HC room, probably a Woods View - there was a grassy area and sidewalk outside the room, very pretty. We had walked by these rooms when going outside from the Villas to Roaring Forks or the Water Launch.
The lodge room was not in nearly as good of condition as the Villa - the halls were narrow (and noisy) and in need of refurbishment as well. The room was also not as clean - whomever did the vacuuming between guests missed candy and loose change under the table - which would be hard to miss. Would definitely not stay in the Lodge until it is refurbished and maybe not even then b/c we enjoyed the Villas so much.
Anyway, we absolutely loved our Villa stay and would return during the same time of year. Roaring Forks was terrific and again, CMs so nice, always helpful and smiling.
Thank you to everyone on this thread for your help when we were planning. Will post some pics after my friend has time to upload a few. Fingers crossed for later, but maybe not until tomorrow.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!
p.s. Buses were hit or miss. Waited the longest for HS and Epcot buses - one afternoon 8 AK buses arrived and 6 left empty.
We did mention it to a driver, as there was no one else around, but he didn't really say much.
Water Launch to the MK, CR or Ft Wilderness were all fantastic. Never waited more then 10 mins at the most, but usually much less.
). 
. Even when healthy, vacations can take a lot out of you.
