VWL for 1st time--any suggestions?

[Rock'n Robin]

We will be at our VWL home for the first time on this trip--our last two nights. By the time we get there we will have seen every park and be down to a "things we want to do again" mode. We visited WL in December so I've seen the lobby, etc. Any recreation suggestions or anything? We are doing mouse boats during our Poly days.
Robin M.

 

[imgoingtodisney]

flag family - say hi to Ranger Stan
The view on the top of that lodge is absolutely gorgeous. You get to go up and raise 5 flags. We did this in Oct and could see everything - tree of life, Epcot ball, MGM ears and of course the castle.
They only have 1 family per morning so ask about this at soon as you check-in

 

[slimplaw]

Take a tour of the lodge with Ranger Stan. You'll find out a lot of interesting facts about WL.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Hunt for Hidden Mickeys. VWL is full of them. Carefully check your bedspread and pillows.

As a Hidden Mickey-challenged individual, I love searching for them, even though I have minimal success. I did find 2 in the VWL lobby area. One was burned into one of the log beams and the other is in the bricks in the fireplace.

 

[Cinderella]

Cycling to Fort Wilderness is great fun. We had the kids with us so we also visited the petting farm while we were there and they had pony rides.

 

[lodgelady]

The second to last night of our trip we put our kids in the Cubs Den (they LOVED it) and had a quiet night alone. We were going to go to Artist Point for dinner, but cancelled the ressie after agreeing that what we needed was quieter and more romantic....so
we took a hottub at the quiet pool, then packed up wine and munchies (available at Mercantile) and headed for the beach. It was glorious laying on beach lounge chairs ane talking while sipping our drinks. We watched the ferries come and go- then the Electrical Water Parade. By the end of the night we were more relaxed than if we had gone out IMHO....a tip, however if you plan to do this-don't forget the bug spray!!!

 

[Granny]

As Cinderella suggested, they have various bike rentals available. Also, various watercraft rentals if you prefer that.

And walking over to Fort Wilderness is not bad either. DW did it every day for her morning walk. I joined her a few times and it was a very nice walk. We even saw deer just off of the path a couple of times....they didn't run away and we were less than 20' from them!

And lodgelady nailed one of our favorite activities. About a half-hour before the Electical Water Parade, grab the beverage of choice, go over to the beach area and stake out a chair there. Sip on the drink, let the kids run around or play in the sand, enjoy the onset of night, and then here comes the EWP! It only lasts 15 minutes or so but it's very nice and plenty loud. Sitting on the beach you feel like it's a private show just for those on the beach since it's a little isolated from the WL pool area.

Enjoy...you'll love it!

 

[dkellumw]

Does EWP run every night?

We will be there for our first stay in November and I think our DD (who will be 16 months old at the time) will enjoy it. Of course DW and I will love it too being the Disney nuts that we are.

 

[Granny]

EWP ran each of the 8 nights we were there recently. But I don't know if they have a seasonal schedule for it.

 

[ohioMickey]

EWP is nightly 365 days a year (366 on leap years). When we were there in May, it was at 9:35pm every night. But check on your WILDERNESS ACTIVITY sheet to see if times have changed.

Salmon at Artist Point is great!!

Breakfast at Whispering Canyon is fun. Ask to sit in Tina Cantina or Ken B. Crazy's sections!

Also look at the movie schedule on the activity sheet. They have a campfire, singalong, and movie every night at an outdoor amphitheater at Fort Wilderness. They sell a smore kit for $5 with sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bar in it. YUM! They also have hotdogs, popcorn, etc.

You can walk the trail over or ride a boat and then bus back to Wilderness Lodge. When you ride the bus back, stay on the ORANGE BUS because it turns into the Wilderness Lodge bus at the end of the route (check with the driver to make sure this has not changed).

Whatever you decide to do, RELAX and have fun!!!!