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

[ClaraOswald]

There are no dumb questions! The villas have a beautiful lobby, but no check-in. So, you get to walk into the stunning main lobby to check in and then it’s a short walk over to the villas.

Thanks!

So what exactly is the lobby area in the villas for? Just relaxing?

It's time for my another PSA!

If you have trips you are taking and you want to be included on Page 1, please drop me a note. I realize we may not be taking as many trips as before, plus we have new Groupies who may not be aware that all one needs to do is let me know the where and when (and any other pertinent information, such as an anniversary trip), and I'll gladly add you to the Trips list.

We now send you back to your regularly scheduled programming. . .

Is this just for people who own at VWL? Or anyone staying there in the future? We're staying there in January but VGC is our home resort.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Dumb question....we've never been to Wilderness Lodge or BRV so....when we check-in, do we go to the main building or is there a check-in desk on the BRV side?

No official check in desk, but we have been there when a CM has been stationed at a desk I side the BR lobby and has helped with room issues, questions,dining reservations, etc.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Thanks!

So what exactly is the lobby area in the villas for? Just relaxing?



Is this just for people who own at VWL? Or anyone staying there in the future? We're staying there in January but VGC is our home resort.

Yep just for relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere. Plus you have the Carolwood room where you get to see some of Walts love of trains. Also the trips on page one are for any of us. Although I'm a groupie I'm not an owner. My next trip is on there anyway and I'm not even staying at the Lodge.

 

[DonMacGregor]

So what exactly is the lobby area in the villas for? Just relaxing?

Yup, and it's the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the main lobby. The main lobby is awesome, and it's always there. The VWL lobby is just a nice counterpoint. The lobby at BCV is sort of the same, but with a lot less to offer.

 

[twinklebug]

Yep just for relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere. Plus you have the Carolwood room where you get to see some of Walts love of trains. Also the trips on page one are for any of us. Although I'm a groupie I'm not an owner. My next trip is on there anyway and I'm not even staying at the Lodge.

VWL's BR set the standard for what I look for in all hotels: I want atmosphere, privacy and a little extra to use as room away from the room for those times we just want or need to be out of it but don't want to go too far.

I recall one night around midnight when I realized Southwest had cancelled my flight home, they insisted I had missed my flight down and was not in Florida - Not funny at the time. The Carolwood Pacific room was perfect for fixing the situation as my kids were in bed and I was in my PJs with socks.

WL's main resort has similar areas, but BR maintains the lead.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

VWL's BR set the standard for what I look for in all hotels: I want atmosphere, privacy and a little extra to use as room away from the room for those times we just want or need to be out of it but don't want to go too far.

I recall one night around midnight when I realized Southwest had cancelled my flight home, they insisted I had missed my flight down and was not in Florida - Not funny at the time. The Carolwood Pacific room was perfect for fixing the situation as my kids were in bed and I was in my PJs with socks.

WL's main resort has similar areas, but BR maintains the lead.

WTH? How would they not know you took your flight?
Our last visit our room was right off of the lobby which made it so convenient to use the laundry room. After throwing some wash in, I did it pretty early, I enjoyed sitting at the fireplace and just relaxing there.

 

[jimmytammy]

Room request questions came up a few days ago on here
I requested room 2519 and 3519 less than a week ago on DVC by email
Got 3519!
It’s a cool albeit odd layout
We got 2519 years ago as our very 1st anywhere 2bedroom and loved it
So I took the chance, no lake view, pool view
Just specific numbers of rooms
It worked
So I’m testing the waters and asked for my BIL and his family 2 different room numbers , 3rd floor for Thursday arrival
Let’s see what happens
KAT. There may still be hope to finally see the lake

 

[twinklebug]

WTH? How would they not know you took your flight?
Our last visit our room was right off of the lobby which made it so convenient to use the laundry room. After throwing some wash in, I did it pretty early, I enjoyed sitting at the fireplace and just relaxing there.

It was years back and apparently the scanner as we boarded the plane didn't register my ticket. Seems to have been a boarding agent failure.

I really disliked that surprise, but in all the places I could have been, thank God I was at VWL.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

It was years back and apparently the scanner as we boarded the plane didn't register my ticket. Seems to have been a boarding agent failure.

I really disliked that surprise, but in all the places I could have been, thank God I was at VWL.

It was a good thing you caught it before you went to head home.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Room request questions came up a few days ago on here
I requested room 2519 and 3519 less than a week ago on DVC by email
Got 3519!
It’s a cool albeit odd layout
We got 2519 years ago as our very 1st anywhere 2bedroom and loved it
So I took the chance, no lake view, pool view
Just specific numbers of rooms
It worked
So I’m testing the waters and asked for my BIL and his family 2 different room numbers , 3rd floor for Thursday arrival
Let’s see what happens
KAT. There may still be hope to finally see the lake

That's great Jimmy! Always fun to get a room that's a bit different from the same old. I will not hold my breath quite yet but maybe if I keep requesting the same 1 or 2 rooms they'll finally give in. Can I toss your name around as someone I know?! I tried Atrium room request one time vs the room #'s like you did. Ended up on the 5th floor where there isn't a view down into the lobby, solid balcony walls and guess what direction we looked? lol

Most of you may not know this but on the bus side there are dedicated 1BR's that have an extra window in the bedroom that look down towards the entry way into VWL. Have to say that the extra light from the window is quite nice. That's the room you apparently get when you change up the request trying for an atrium room by asking for lakeside, close to elevator.

 

[sleepydog25]

Thanks!

So what exactly is the lobby area in the villas for? Just relaxing?



Is this just for people who own at VWL? Or anyone staying there in the future? We're staying there in January but VGC is our home resort.

Our bylaws state that anyone who loves the Lodge is automatically granted Groupie status. Ergo, you are a Groupie, ergo, you are eligible! Seriously, anyone who stays at the Lodge (and by Lodge, I mean the whole of it including DVC and non-DVC) is welcome to drop me a note, and I'll add them to the trip list on Page 1.

 

[jimmytammy]

A few shots from room 3519

 

[jimmytammy]

 

[jimmytammy]

 

[jimmytammy]

Couple pics from our steamboat Willie ride to the fort and contemporary. We went to get one of those yummy burgers from Steakhouse 71
We overheard the boat capt tell a guest that since the layoffs they only had 2 boat captains per day and they were working 12 hr shifts so they couldn’t bring back the steamboat willies until more were trained
Truth…or another boat capt story??

 

[GGGT]

Dumb question....we've never been to Wilderness Lodge or BRV so....when we check-in, do we go to the main building or is there a check-in desk on the BRV side?

Your question has been answered. Just to add, we enjoy the grandeur and atmosphere of the WL Lobby, but also love the peaceful/serene atmosphere of the BRV lobby. Smaller, intimate, reading/relaxing nooks, and just an overall feeling of tranquility.

 

[jimmytammy]

As mentioned before, on our way down, we stopped in Jacksonville to see the Lynyrd Skyryd guys graves and pay tribute them. Morbid, I know, but I’m weird that way

Ronnie Van Zants parents

Leon Wilkerson, bass player. I saw him a couple times playing with 38 Special

Ronnie Van Zant, singer who passed away in the airplane crash in 77. Someone left a few bullets and guitar picks. They had a song call Gimme Back My Bullets

Words from Charlie Daniels near Ronnie Van Zants resting placeBilly Powell, pianist. On his stone, is written He Played It Pretty. LS fans will know this from a live playing of Freebird when RVZ said that just before Powell played a beautiful and haunting soloAdding one more, Dave Hlubek of Molly Hatchet, he wrote many of their hit songs

And that’s my trip down Southern Rock memory lane
Now back to our regularity scheduled WL going’s on
Thanks for indulging my quirky side trips

 

[GGGT]

As mentioned before, on our way down, we stopped in Jacksonville to see the Lynyrd Skyryd guys graves and pay tribute them. Morbid, I know, but I’m weird that way
View attachment 800285
Ronnie Van Zants parents
View attachment 800286
Leon Wilkerson, bass player. I saw him a couple times playing with 38 Special
View attachment 800287View attachment 800287View attachment 800288
Ronnie Van Zant, singer who passed away in the airplane crash in 77. Someone left a few bullets and guitar picks. They had a song call Gimme Back My Bullets
View attachment 800289
Words from Charlie Daniels near Ronnie Van Zants resting placeView attachment 800290Billy Powell, pianist. On his stone, is written He Played It Pretty. LS fans will know this from a live playing of Freebird when RVZ said that just before Powell played a beautiful and haunting soloView attachment 800300Adding one more, Dave Hlubek of Molly Hatchet, he wrote many of their hit songs

And that’s my trip down Southern Rock memory lane
Now back to our regularity scheduled WL going’s on
Thanks for indulging my quirky side trips

Thanks for sharing these.

 

[CarolynFH]

Couple pics from our steamboat Willie ride to the fort and contemporary. We went to get one of those yummy burgers from Steakhouse 71
We overheard the boat capt tell a guest that since the layoffs they only had 2 boat captains per day and they were working 12 hr shifts so they couldn’t bring back the steamboat willies until more were trained
Truth…or another boat capt story??
View attachment 800278View attachment 800279

I think it’s quite possibly true. Other conversations with WDW boat captains have indicated they’re required to have training and licenses beyond what an attractions CM would need, because the boats are free-floating vessels.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

View attachment 800269View attachment 800270View attachment 800271View attachment 800272View attachment 800273

Hey - there's a chair as well as the murphy bed/sofa! I was really missing that in our 2BR last Apr. Maybe they were delayed and have gone into all the 1 & 2BR's. Hopefully.