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

[Disney loving Iowan]

In case anyone is interested in having a beautiful picture of our Lodge for your home. This place sells a lot of Disney stuff. Wish I could stop in there on my next trip.
https://www.shopforevervintage.com/...mU6hXPnd0S41rpxd6ncib3uxVwRusZETU0XN7tGYUXYCU

 

[ClaraOswald]

How far in advance should I put in room requests for BRV?
I assume I just message member services to do this.

I also have no idea what to request so any help is appreciated. We will be in a studio in January. I want to request a lower floor so we get a murphy bed. Do I literally just say "lower floor" or should I say something like "floors 1-3" or what?

Not sure what other requests to make. We definitely want a quiet area but not sure where that would be. And I can't decide if we should do lake view or not. We don't really use the balcony much so maybe it doesn't matter?

 

[Mle8308]

How far in advance should I put in room requests for BRV?
I assume I just message member services to do this.

I also have no idea what to request so any help is appreciated. We will be in a studio in January. I want to request a lower floor so we get a murphy bed. Do I literally just say "lower floor" or should I say something like "floors 1-3" or what?

Not sure what other requests to make. We definitely want a quiet area but not sure where that would be. And I can't decide if we should do lake view or not. We don't really use the balcony much so maybe it doesn't matter?

A woods view will be a little quieter than a lake view (depending on the location of the lake view) due to the water parade going by at night, you can hear it from some of the lake facing rooms. It's only for about 10 minutes, so nothing drastic. First floor lake view you can have people walking by, there is a walking path in front of those rooms. There is one studio without a balcony, 4533, though you said a balcony is not important. You could request "not 5th floor". Enjoy your stay!

 

[Suzabella]

We've had more noise issues from inside the resort than outside....like any Disney resort. We've had pool views and never heard noise from the pool area. It's soundproof enough that we don't even hear the electrical parade.

I agree with requesting 'not 5th floor'. We have called our request directly to the resort at other DVC resorts with some success. Last year, we purchased Touring Plans and they sent our requests for us. We got something like 4 out of 5 over 3 trips. They send them at 30 days.

Hope that helps!

 

[bluecastle]

We had a birthday dinner with our DD and granddaughter at a restaurant nearby that always reminds me of the lodge. I find it comforting to be there!

 

[jimmytammy]

Bluecastle
Those chandeliers look very familiar

 

[bluecastle]

Bluecastle
Those chandeliers look very familiar

I don’t know if there is any connection between this restaurant (in VA) and whoever designed those chandeliers at the lodge. But I love being able to visit this place! (Food is good too) It’s part of a group of restaurants called The Great American restaurants. Don’t know if they are only in NoVA or in any other states.
Anyhow, I told my granddaughter that the next time we go to Disney, our hotel is going to look just like this restaurant.

 

[ClaraOswald]

So I was on a FB group and I saw someone mention something about the studio villas at a different WDW resort. They said that in the lock-off, they couldn't control the thermostat because it was in the other villa and not the studio portion. Is that for real?? Is this something I need to worry about in the studio villa we have booked at Boulder Ridge?

 

[Suzabella]

So I was on a FB group and I saw someone mention something about the studio villas at a different WDW resort. They said that in the lock-off, they couldn't control the thermostat because it was in the other villa and not the studio portion. Is that for real?? Is this something I need to worry about in the studio villa we have booked at Boulder Ridge?

That's nuts!!

No. We were in a lock off in March (post refurb) at BRV and controlled our own thermostat. Just a heads up, though. They did take the ceiling fan out of the unit. We took our own small fan but you can also ask for one from Mousekeeping, I believe.

 

[ClaraOswald]

That's nuts!!

No. We were in a lock off in March (post refurb) at BRV and controlled our own thermostat. Just a heads up, though. They did take the ceiling fan out of the unit. We took our own small fan but you can also ask for one from Mousekeeping, I believe.

Will I need a fan? Does the AC not keep the room cold enough?

 

[Suzabella]

Will I need a fan? Does the AC not keep the room cold enough?

The AC works great but we like sleeping with a fan. Used to be that the thermostats were motion activated in all DVC units. Not sure if that's still the case but this solves that issue and the fan to block our noise in the hallway or the 1 bedroom adjoining unit. Just something we travel with.

 

[ClaraOswald]

I hope the AC isn't motion activated because that will be crappy at night!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So I was on a FB group and I saw someone mention something about the studio villas at a different WDW resort. They said that in the lock-off, they couldn't control the thermostat because it was in the other villa and not the studio portion. Is that for real?? Is this something I need to worry about in the studio villa we have booked at Boulder Ridge?

Not to be a doubter of something posted on FB but nope. It's not how DVC has set up the thermostats assuming it was actually a lock-off. Do you recall what resort they said it was?

I hope the AC isn't motion activated because that will be crappy at night!

It is not motion activated.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Not to be a doubter of something posted on FB but nope. It's not how DVC has set up the thermostats assuming it was actually a lock-off. Do you recall what resort they said it was?

It is not motion activated.

Found the post. It was Kidani. They said the vents on their studio side were controlled by the thermostat on the other side and they were at the mercy of those people. So weird.

I just re-read it. It sounds like they do have a thermostat on their side but there are some vents near the lock-off door that are blowing cold air and and those vents are controlled from the other side. I don't know. I'm probably just reading it wrong or something.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Found the post. It was Kidani. They said the vents on their studio side were controlled by the thermostat on the other side and they were at the mercy of those people. So weird.

I just re-read it. It sounds like they do have a thermostat on their side but there are some vents near the lock-off door that are blowing cold air and and those vents are controlled from the other side. I don't know. I'm probably just reading it wrong or something.

More likely they were mistaking an air return or something for a vent and then concluded it was connected to a different thermostat. Or I guess it could have been ducted as a dedicated 2 bedroom but I think a mistaken assumption is more likely. I've stayed in a studio at Kidani although only once. Normal thermostat and cooling.

 

[twinklebug]

Found the post. It was Kidani. They said the vents on their studio side were controlled by the thermostat on the other side and they were at the mercy of those people. So weird.

I just re-read it. It sounds like they do have a thermostat on their side but there are some vents near the lock-off door that are blowing cold air and and those vents are controlled from the other side. I don't know. I'm probably just reading it wrong or something.

That is really weird. The only issues I've ever encountered are in the value studio rooms at Jambo, where the thermostat is hidden in the dark alcove created by the giant wardrobe placed 6" from it. Had to use my phone to take a pic of it whenever I needed to know what settings it was on.

 

[ClaraOswald]

We're thinking that during our stay, we will probably go over to Roaring Fork for breakfast before heading to the parks. Normally on our trips to Disneyland we'll head back to our room after eating to grab our stuff and use the restroom. But since the BRV rooms seem like a fair distance from Roaring Fork, I'm thinking we'll want to go straight to the bus stop or boat launch after eating.

So my question is...is there a restroom near Roaring Fork we could use before going to the parks?

And on the subject of restrooms, do they have them near the pools? (Though no sure if we'll want to swim in January or not....)

 

[RuntheMouse]

We're thinking that during our stay, we will probably go over to Roaring Fork for breakfast before heading to the parks. Normally on our trips to Disneyland we'll head back to our room after eating to grab our stuff and use the restroom. But since the BRV rooms seem like a fair distance from Roaring Fork, I'm thinking we'll want to go straight to the bus stop or boat launch after eating.

So my question is...is there a restroom near Roaring Fork we could use before going to the parks?

And on the subject of restrooms, do they have them near the pools? (Though no sure if we'll want to swim in January or not....)

Yes and Yes.

When facing Roaring Fork it is to the right.

They have nice pool baths at the BRV pool.

 

[jimmytammy]

We're thinking that during our stay, we will probably go over to Roaring Fork for breakfast before heading to the parks. Normally on our trips to Disneyland we'll head back to our room after eating to grab our stuff and use the restroom. But since the BRV rooms seem like a fair distance from Roaring Fork, I'm thinking we'll want to go straight to the bus stop or boat launch after eating.

So my question is...is there a restroom near Roaring Fork we could use before going to the parks?

And on the subject of restrooms, do they have them near the pools? (Though no sure if we'll want to swim in January or not....)

My experience with eating at RF then heading to parks...yes, RF has restrooms nearby. If you are headed to boats, this is a plus. If headed to bus, same, but if staying in villas, bus stop is nearby, so not that far removed to go to room. Also, there are restrooms near WCC as well

 

[ClaraOswald]

Yes and Yes.

When facing Roaring Fork it is to the right.

They have nice pool baths at the BRV pool.

Great, thanks!

My experience with eating at RF then heading to parks...yes, RF has restrooms nearby. If you are headed to boats, this is a plus. If headed to bus, same, but if staying in villas, bus stop is nearby, so not that far removed to go to room. Also, there are restrooms near WCC as well

Thanks! I think we'll definitely plan to go straight to the boats on a MK day. And then play it by ear on the days we go to the other 3 parks.

What is WCC?