VWL Groupies & Lovers Thread (Special Collectors Edition 2.5) updated 2 February 2025


Hope you have a great birthday, W'Dad! :cake:

And in a small bit of personal news, our waitlist for one night at our beloved Lodge just came through! We're doing a July Dream cruise for our anniversary and staying one night in the World. We'd booked OKW as nothing at VWL was open. However, that has changed. It's a minor victory, but given we've not stayed there since our wedding nearly two years ago, we're thrilled to be going back if only for one night. :lovestruc
 
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Sleepy You have every right to be excited, I would be too. I bet you sleep really well that night in preparation for your cruise the next day and I believe you will "Dream" really good too :beach:
 
...what the best airport is to fly into if visiting Asheville?
Sorry, I didn't see your post 'til now. We live in the Asheville region. Here are your options:

AVL (Asheville-Hendersonville Regional Airport) has direct flights to Newark NJ, Orlando and a few other places, but most flights change planes in Charlotte or Atlanta. We mostly fly in/out of AVL on Delta or USAir. It's a 15 min drive from AVL to either downtown Asheville or downtown Hendersonville by taxicab or rental car, longer by bus with stops.

GSP (Greenville-Spartenburg Regional Airport in SC) has a couple more national carriers with more direct flights, so sometimes better prices. It's ~1.5 hours drive to Asheville by rental car.

CLT (Charlotte Douglass Int'l Airport in NC) usually has the best prices and biggest selection of flights nearby. It's ~2+ hours drive to Asheville.

TRI (Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Johnson City, TN) is similar to GSP. It's ~2 hrs drive, very scenic highway, winding through the mountains to Asheville.

TYS (McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, TN) is ~2-3 hrs drive to Asheville, depending on traffic - Great Smokies tourism, TN game days, rush hours, I-40 winding through the mountain gorge. It's scenic but we have not found good enough airfares to make it worth the unpredictable drive there for a flight.

Greensboro is 3 hrs away and Raleigh is 4.5 hrs away. They offer nice places to visit but we've never flown in/out of those cities.

ATL (Hartsfield-Jackson Int'l Airport in Atlanta, GA) is a major airline hub with cheap flights everywhere but driving to Asheville takes 4 hrs if not during rush hours, much longer with traffic. We only fly in/out of ATL when flying cross-country or internationally and we spend the night before in an Atlanta hotel with free parking for our car while away.

By the way, it's taken us ~6+ hrs drive time, plus stops, to drive to Cincinnati, ~7-8 hrs drive time, plus stops, to Columbus, OH from here.

Since you love Wilderness Lodge, try to include a visit to the historic Grove Park Inn. It's a splurge to stay there but quite something to see. We occasionally visit for a meal in one of the restaurants or coffee/drinks in the lobby or a lounge, then spend an hour or two wandering around the resort, enjoying the sunset mountain views. There is a parking fee, up to $15. Built about 18 years after the Biltmore Estate across town, the Grove Park Inn has an authentic 1910's, turn-of-the-century, arts-and-crafts lobby and main building. Also, if you like upscale art galleries with gorgeous woodwork, glasswork, pottery, and mountain crafts, you would love a visit to their Grovewood Gallery on the grounds. Next to the galleries, a cafe serves lunch. No parking fee to visit the galleries only. Regardless, as a VWL-lover, you'll enjoy a visit to the Grove Park Inn, I assure you!

Enjoy your visit to Asheville - we love this area of NC! :) Hope this helps. :)
 
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Good afternoon all!

It's been a really long time since I've posted on here, but thought I'd stop by and say hello to my favorite groupies. I was just in the World last week, and made a visit to our beloved Lodge. I definitely thought of you while I was there.
 
Thanks go out to all of the birthday well-wishers. I don't want to broadcast my age, but I am reminded of a Beatles song...
 
Good afternoon all!

It's been a really long time since I've posted on here, but thought I'd stop by and say hello to my favorite groupies. I was just in the World last week, and made a visit to our beloved Lodge. I definitely thought of you while I was there.

Well, it's been a while for sure! How are you doing?
 
Anybody going to try for a Bungalow or studio at the Poly on the 25th? I was thinking about trying the Bungalow, but it's a heck of a lot of points, even for just a 4-night stay.
 
Sorry, I didn't see your post 'til now. We live in the Asheville region. Here are your options:

AVL (Asheville-Hendersonville Regional Airport) has direct flights to Newark NJ, Orlando and a few other places, but most flights change planes in Charlotte or Atlanta. We mostly fly in/out of AVL on Delta or USAir. It's a 15 min drive from AVL to either downtown Asheville or downtown Hendersonville by taxicab or rental car, longer by bus with stops.

GSP (Greenville-Spartenburg Regional Airport in SC) has a couple more national carriers with more direct flights, so sometimes better prices. It's ~1.5 hours drive to Asheville by rental car.

CLT (Charlotte Douglass Int'l Airport in NC) usually has the best prices and biggest selection of flights nearby. It's ~2+ hours drive to Asheville.

TRI (Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Johnson City, TN) is similar to GSP. It's ~2 hrs drive, very scenic highway, winding through the mountains to Asheville.

TYS (McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, TN) is ~2-3 hrs drive to Asheville, depending on traffic - Great Smokies tourism, TN game days, rush hours, I-40 winding through the mountain gorge. It's scenic but we have not found good enough airfares to make it worth the unpredictable drive there for a flight.

Greensboro is 3 hrs away and Raleigh is 4.5 hrs away. They offer nice places to visit but we've never flown in/out of those cities.

ATL (Hartsfield-Jackson Int'l Airport in Atlanta, GA) is a major airline hub with cheap flights everywhere but driving to Asheville takes 4 hrs if not during rush hours, much longer with traffic. We only fly in/out of ATL when flying cross-country or internationally and we spend the night before in an Atlanta hotel with free parking for our car while away.

By the way, it's taken us ~6+ hrs drive time, plus stops, to drive to Cincinnati, ~7-8 hrs drive time, plus stops, to Columbus, OH from here.

Since you love Wilderness Lodge, try to include a visit to the historic Grove Park Inn. It's a splurge to stay there but quite something to see. We occasionally visit for a meal in one of the restaurants or coffee/drinks in the lobby or a lounge, then spend an hour or two wandering around the resort, enjoying the sunset mountain views. There is a parking fee, up to $15. Built about 18 years after the Biltmore Estate across town, the Grove Park Inn has an authentic 1910's, turn-of-the-century, arts-and-crafts lobby and main building. Also, if you like upscale art galleries with gorgeous woodwork, glasswork, pottery, and mountain crafts, you would love a visit to their Grovewood Gallery on the grounds. Next to the galleries, a cafe serves lunch. No parking fee to visit the galleries only. Regardless, as a VWL-lover, you'll enjoy a visit to the Grove Park Inn, I assure you!

Enjoy your visit to Asheville - we love this area of NC! :) Hope this helps. :)

That's all great information - thank you! I hadn't realized that Asheville has a regional airport since I was limiting myself to one stop and so it wouldn't have shown since there are no direct flights from Reno to those connecting locations. I'll open up my search a bit and see if that makes any sense to fly directly in. And thanks for the local sight seeing tips too. We'll have to plan a stop at the Grove Park Inn. ::yes::
 
Anybody going to try for a Bungalow or studio at the Poly on the 25th? I was thinking about trying the Bungalow, but it's a heck of a lot of points, even for just a 4-night stay.

I have some holding points to use up so it was crossing my mind......I could chalk it up to a rather momentous BD that DH is having this year since he thinks they look very cool. :angel: We both agree that the points are rather incredible though.
 
My DD is going to try on the 26th cause that's our 7 month window...she really, really wants to stay there. I'm good with the BCV studio we have
 
Anybody going to try for a Bungalow or studio at the Poly on the 25th? I was thinking about trying the Bungalow, but it's a heck of a lot of points, even for just a 4-night stay.

Not trying on the 25th, but I'm thinking about seeing what's available at our 7 month window for Jan 2016. Not the bungalows though, that's for sure. We'll see what's available and if we want to do a split stay or not.
 
Good afternoon all!

It's been a really long time since I've posted on here, but thought I'd stop by and say hello to my favorite groupies. I was just in the World last week, and made a visit to our beloved Lodge. I definitely thought of you while I was there.

Hey Stopher!! Great to see you back here for a quick visit.:thumbsup2


Glad to hear that you were able to stop by our favorite WDW location, and we all hope that all is well in your world. Thanks for dropping by. :banana:
 
Hey Stopher!! Great to see you back here for a quick visit.:thumbsup2


Glad to hear that you were able to stop by our favorite WDW location, and we all hope that all is well in your world. Thanks for dropping by. :banana:
Luv is going to try since she has her annual girls' trip seven months out but for only one night before they transition to concierge at BC. She has an emotional connection to Poly from years ago; however, the price point and lack of 1BRs ensured we won't buy there. Will try the occasional night or two there if available. Welcome back, Stopher!
 












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