VWL and the lack of lake views.

[SoCalKDG]

Just thinking out loud here, so be nice and I welcome your opinions.

I've stayed at Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear, and Lake Tahoe. Many of the views are very similar to VWL, except for the fact you can usually see the lake through the trees.

Should Disney trim back some of the trees surrounding the villas so that you would be able to see the lake? I'm not talking complete removal, but partial removal and trimming to allow all the units a view of the water through the trees.

I mention this because there are numerous posts asking for the best view room, and they all say, near elevator overlooking quiet pool. Oh, and good luck getting one, since there are only a couple.

Opinions, thoughts, inside info from Disney?


Need some sort of smilie to end this, so here goes.

:space: I used this in case some of you think I'm out of this world on this topic.

 

[goofy4dvc]

I would love to have better views of the lake. As long as it didn't mean cutting down alot of trees. I'm not sure that's the answer. Seems to me that the way the resort is designed to have the resort-proper to have lakeviews, while the DVC villas are over to the side where the trees are. If the trees were all removed, I'm not sure there would be a lake view because I'm not sure there is a lake beyond the trees. I could be incorrect. Only stayed there once, but that's the way I remember it. I think there is an overhead view map somewhere on this board that might show the relationship of the villas to the lake.

 

[Muushka]

Well, I thought about your question and I have to agree. It would be nice if they trimmed some of the trees to enhance the VWL views. But then again, I'm a republican .

No inside Disney info, but I'll be somebody knows why they can't do this!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by goofy4dvc
I would love to have better views of the lake. As long as it didn't mean cutting down alot of trees......If the trees were all removed, I'm not sure there would be a lake view because I'm not sure there is a lake beyond the trees.

Here's a picture that Granny uses from time to time. You can see that the only way to get a better lake view would be to remove a lot of trees.

HBC

 

[goofy4dvc]

Thanks, HBC. From your photo, I can clearly see that the lake does border the DVC Villas. It looks like it would be a lovely view. On one hand I would love to have the view, but on the other hand I would hate to see the trees go. If the trees were replaced with a white sandy beach (similar to GF or Poly) it would be just beautiful. BUT, alot of the ambiance of WL is the woodsy feeling. I don't think I would be able to make that decision.

 

[pakdayton]

are the villas the reddish-brown roofed buildings?
thanks

 

[jimmytammy]

I think removal of some trees would be nice. My only thought into why they dont remove them is wildlife. Though I have never seen deer or other animals, others have seen them at WLV. Looking at Grannys picture, it shows the thickness of the trees, a very good hiding place for deer.

 

[spiceycat]

as much as I would love a better view - I would rather have a chance to see a deer or a fox.

thanks - but no thanks!

the red roof are the VWL.

 

[kitkatsnindylou]

I think "Charlie" may have taken care of some of this problem, there were quite a few tree's down, and I could see the lake from room 5549 right after "charlie" hit.

 

[Granny]

Not surprisingly, I suppose, I would prefer not to have the trees thinned out to enhance a lake view. I have two reasons:

1. I agree with the woodsy, wildlife feeling that the trees bring out. They are in perfect keeping with the VWL theming, and theming to me is critical for this resort. We've stayed at the WL main resort with the lake view, and it was very nice. But it was different, and after that we always chose the Woods View until we bought at VWL. Somehow, watching water mice boats and parasailing detracted a bit from the ambiance of the feeling.

2. Most importantly, if the trees were cleared to create a lake view, there would instantly be a new class of room views, and the resulting mess that many other resorts have with people worried about their room views. I can see people now at the front desk checking in and demanding a lake view!!


As it stands right now, there are a few rooms with a glimpse of the lake. Nice to get them, if you like that, but nobody should be going to VWL with the idea that they should be getting those rooms....anyone who gets them should consider themselves fortunate and if someone doesn't get them they know that the vast majority of the other people there didn't get them too.


Nope....not a flame, since all topics are just discussion topics....but my vote is keep the trees!

 

[d-r]

those cyprus trees around the lake grow very slowly, and they are very old. Getting thinned out by a hurrican is one thing, but I'd hate for them to cut down more than were needed.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Even if 80% of the trees were removed, the view would still be blocked. as long as there is such a thick layer of trees.

I get the feeling that the location and design of VWL are intentional. At OKW, all views are essentially equal -- some combination of golf, water, and woods. But at BWV, DVC has two different point tiers, yet guests are still unhappy when they don't get Boardwalk views. Disney Vacation Development learned from that experience. At VWL, all view are woods views. (Yes, I know that some have a pool view, and then there's the famous "dumpster view," but even in those cases, the woods for the backdrrop.)

 

[SoCalKDG]

I get the feeling that the location and design of VWL are intentional.

You may be right. Solves many problems for Disney and leaves no doubt on what type of room you will get when you stay there.

How many trees were lost due to the hurricane, anyone know?

 

[goofy4dvc]

I definitely believe that the trees were left there intentionally to create the ambiance that is WL. It has much to do with why VWL is one of my favorite resorts. If it was put to a vote on whether to cut down the trees or not, I would vote NOT to cut them down. If people want a sandy beach view, there are other resorts for that.

We saw deer on our last stay there and it was so wonderful to see that in the middle of the Disney complex.

 

[RobDoc]

All of the VWL villas are described as having a "woods view". Just because one side of VWL faces towards the lake does not constitute a "lake view" for those villas. If some have a glimpse of the lake, I'd consider it a bonus- but the view is still "woods view".

HBC's graphic clearly shows the available "view" for the villas.

Please keep in mind the theming for this resort- it is railroad construction housing that is supposed to predate the WL resort. "Woods View" was part of that theme. Please consider a glimpse of the lake to be a bonus and not the focus for those rooms.

Enjoy!

 

[DVCDAVE]

Hurricane Frances my solve the "Lake View Problem", personally it is the "Wilderness Lodge", hence the tree view fits it well in my opinion.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Keep the trees, we saw several bunnies running a round, 2 black snakes (yuck), and saw deer foot prints, in the sand near the bike barn.

Does anyone know what is up with the water in the lakes as to why we can't swim in it??? Is it the water or because of snakes and alligators? People are allowed to waterski, so if they ski like me, I assume they are in the water alot!!! And does thw water have anything to do with the closing of Water country or whatever it was called at the campground!

 

[spiceycat]

there is a bacteria in the lakes that can get in your ears and sinus - not good!!!

also alligators are always a problem this is Florida.

I would think WDW would give skiing guests stuff to cover these areas????

water country has a filteration system - water country was closed due to not enough people - however I think that was what the outside guests were told.

Spicey stays at FW alot. So when I try and park and there are alot of cars here (this is way before 4:30 when Hoop de lo becomes a problem) - I ask where these people are going - most of the time I get told "river country". Seems like WDW is renting out this water park for office events. So they most likely will not open it up for the general public again.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Interesting, so it is still operational, just not to the general public!!! Hmmm, well that's a real bummer, one of the reasons we bought at VWL was because of the easy access to River Country!! You would think with VWL, GF, Poly, CR and the campground, if they offered incentives, guests staying there would go, its an easy boat ride or walk!

 

[Beca]

That IS interesting!!! I have a chlorine allergy...even being close enough to smell it sends my sinuses in a tailspin!!! So, River country was always the only option for me, and I LOVED it!!! I bought the "bacteria" story because I am from Texas, and that was a problem there after hot, humid summers...but, if they are still renting it out????? I, too wish they would just open it up!!



Beca