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

[KAT4DISNEY]

Maybe this has been talked about before but I just noticed that it looks like they have a new path that will be built close to the villas on the lake side. Is that correct?

 

[twinklebug]

Maybe this has been talked about before but I just noticed that it looks like they have a new path that will be built close to the villas on the lake side. Is that correct?

That's the path that's giving me cause to worry. I can see no reason for them to need to run a path that close to the patios on that bottom floor and disrupt the privacy. There is another image that isn't quite as detailed that shows the path taking another route, not as bad:

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That's the path that's giving me cause to worry. I can see no reason for them to need to run a path that close to the patios on that bottom floor and disrupt the privacy. There is another image that isn't quite as detailed that shows the path taking another route, not as bad:

View attachment 110040

Oh wow - I just hadn't even noticed before. This picture does look like a better route for the Villas.

 

[jimmytammy]

Happy Birthday Deebits!!!!

 

[circhead]

All the trees are gone!

The Hidden Springs Pool doesn't look so hidden anymore.

What is going to happen to the views from the villas - trees missing and additional buildings between it and the lake?

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the reality won't be as bad as my overactive imagination.

 

[carissa1970]

I'm not sure if this is what MS might mean by making sure everyone has a magical experience during construction, but we stayed at Aulani during the construction of the second part, and they gave us 2 nights free when we booked 5 on points. And the best thing was that we never could even tell construction was going on!

 

[wildernessDad]

It looks like we'll have a choice between woods / buses view and Bungalow view.

 

[DenLo]

One of the engineering maps indicates that several pockets of trees between VWL and the cabins are not part of the project, so those trees should still be there post construction. See the small rectangular areas marked in yellow that are within the boundaries of the project, these are the ones that have been listed as not part of the project. I think VWL will still have some trees, but also some guests will have a pool view with the expansion of the pool deck.

 

[circhead]

Thank you

 

[horselover]

They'll still show movies, only they'll be in the Carrolwood Pacific room in the Villas lobby.

I'm not really that happy about this. You can frequently find us in the PEACEFUL villa lobby playing chess or just sitting in front of the fireplace. It won't be so peaceful packed with people watching a movie.

Just got off the phone with MS on a different matter and was advised the following regarding construction work. Please realize that there is often conflicting information from various cast members, but I just wanted to relay what MS informed me after putting me on hold, discussing with WL management and reading me a letter. Also note that this relates only to DVC as most individuals with cash reservations who are calling guest services are either being offered moves or $100/night compensation:

1. Letters started to go out on July 13 and each DVC member or guest with a reservation from Oct 26 through the end of January 2016, is supposed to be contacted by a "special guest services team" to advise of the construction and options to achieve guest satisfaction. FWIW, I have a reservation and have not received a letter or been contacted yet.

2. The end of January 2016 date was given becuase the current construction timeline is for the Hidden Springs pool area to be completed by that time and for the work to be restricted to the cabin area closer to Bay Lake and away from the villas and lodge area. IMO, this seems a bit ambitious based on what I've seen from the plans which is more than just expanding the pool, but if they are going to have this area completed by end of January then they will really have to hit the ground running in Oct. Obviously if they run behind, I was advised that additional letters would be sent out if something changes.

3. No contact is being made at this point regarding anyone with reservations starting Feb 2016 until (or if) it is determined that the they are behind on the construction timeline.

4. This one's the most important............Ensuring that every guest has a magical vacation is their top priority!!

Again, just relaying what I was told in case anyone was interested. The MS rep was actually very thorough and very interested in finding accurate aswers for my questions.

Thanks for posting this. As of today we've received no letter, email, or call regarding our Dec. trip. If I hadn't borrowed a significant amount of points to make our Dec. ADR I'd be seriously thinking of canceling this year's trip. We still haven't purchased our airfare down as prices as too high. It just seems like the stars are not aligning for this year. I was really hoping we'd get one more family trip in pre-construction. Sadly that's not going to happen.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

This morning I answered the call for DH from WDW about the construction going on. We have a couple of rooms booked for our trip at the end of October. The person calling was not MS but probably someone assigned and wasn't even originally aware it was a points reservation. Anyway, he said they are attempting to move as many people as possible but since I was points I needed to talk to my DVC contact (lol) and see if anything else could be found. He then wondered if I needed assistance changing any plans, tickets or ADR's. Mentioned construction would be going on until 2017 which we've seen before.

So beyond scrambling to move our Oct stay I've been getting distrubed about a couple things beyond the likely change in feeling of the resort and ruining the beach. First, that they couldn't manage to plan this and give appropriate notice for DVC which really goes out to the 11 month mark and second that our ownership is likely to be very disrupted for a couple of years. I thought the resort was finished, complete and practically perfect as it is. Right now I think they should move on and start a brand new resort and stop this adding on and converting existing.

 

[pangyal]

This morning I answered the call for DH from WDW about the construction going on. We have a couple of rooms booked for our trip at the end of October. The person calling was not MS but probably someone assigned and wasn't even originally aware it was a points reservation. Anyway, he said they are attempting to move as many people as possible but since I was points I needed to talk to my DVC contact (lol) and see if anything else could be found. He then wondered if I needed assistance changing any plans, tickets or ADR's. Mentioned construction would be going on until 2017 which we've seen before.

So beyond scrambling to move our Oct stay I've been getting distrubed about a couple things beyond the likely change in feeling of the resort and ruining the beach. First, that they couldn't manage to plan this and give appropriate notice for DVC which really goes out to the 11 month mark and second that our ownership is likely to be very disrupted for a couple of years. I thought the resort was finished, complete and practically perfect as it is. Right now I think they should move on and start a brand new resort and stop this adding on and converting existing.

I COMPLETELY agree. We actually just bought into VWL because it's gorgeous and we wanted a little taste of green living in the middle of winter when we are buried in snow and ice! But it leaves a really bad taste in my mouth knowing that they knew about the construction before any of us booked to Christmas, yet we weren't given any warning, and with this being the arguably most popular resort for the holiday season, they couldn't give us some advance warning or, better yet, hold off until January?

I'm really torn. If they offer us a chance to switch, by some miracle, I don't know if I would regret it. I can be happy anywhere, but my mom decided to join for her first wdw trip based on the fact that we were staying here. Our flights are booked. And then what if it's not that bad when we get there and we switched for nothing?

What do you guys think? Or how likely would it be that, since they are giving $100/night discounts to the hotel side (who will be nowhere near as impacted as the villas), maybe they would offer resort credits or points back? Who would I ask about that?

I'm thinking that the scope is going to be bigger than we think it is based on the fact that they are actively moving people, is this a rational thought?

Sorry to yammer on, but I am calling MS tomorrow and I would like to think I have an idea of what to say at that point .

 

[circhead]

I'm not really that happy about this. You can frequently find us in the PEACEFUL villa lobby playing chess or just sitting in front of the fireplace. It won't be so peaceful packed with people watching a movie.



Thanks for posting this. As of today we've received no letter, email, or call regarding our Dec. trip. If I hadn't borrowed a significant amount of points to make our Dec. ADR I'd be seriously thinking of canceling this year's trip. We still haven't purchased our airfare down as prices as too high. It just seems like the stars are not aligning for this year. I was really hoping we'd get one more family trip in pre-construction. Sadly that's not going to happen.

I haven't been able to find airfare for Christmas for less than 500 per person so I'm planning on driving. I don't know where you come from but it's not that bad a drive. Our trip is 1130 miles one way, but when I can drive for the price of 1 airfare I drive. I also changed my reservation from VWL, part of which I had to wait list at 11 months, to Jambo. I'm torn - I keep stalking the website to see if I can pick up any days at VWL, construction or not, I want to stay there one more time before it's unrecognizable.

When you get that call maybe you can get them to return your points to their original use years if you really on't want to deal with the nuisance of the construction.

 

[circhead]

This morning I answered the call for DH from WDW about the construction going on. We have a couple of rooms booked for our trip at the end of October. The person calling was not MS but probably someone assigned and wasn't even originally aware it was a points reservation. Anyway, he said they are attempting to move as many people as possible but since I was points I needed to talk to my DVC contact (lol) and see if anything else could be found. He then wondered if I needed assistance changing any plans, tickets or ADR's. Mentioned construction would be going on until 2017 which we've seen before.

So beyond scrambling to move our Oct stay I've been getting distrubed about a couple things beyond the likely change in feeling of the resort and ruining the beach. First, that they couldn't manage to plan this and give appropriate notice for DVC which really goes out to the 11 month mark and second that our ownership is likely to be very disrupted for a couple of years. I thought the resort was finished, complete and practically perfect as it is. Right now I think they should move on and start a brand new resort and stop this adding on and converting existing.

Couldn't agree more. As I said before, if I had a vote it would have been no! Leave my home alone.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks for posting this. As of today we've received no letter, email, or call regarding our Dec. trip. If I hadn't borrowed a significant amount of points to make our Dec. ADR I'd be seriously thinking of canceling this year's trip. We still haven't purchased our airfare down as prices as too high. It just seems like the stars are not aligning for this year. I was really hoping we'd get one more family trip in pre-construction. Sadly that's not going to happen.

I think circhead has an excellent suggestion to try and get your borrowed points returned to their UY if you decide you'd rather not attempt the stay. If ever there's a time for DVC to correct for their poor information sharing this would be one.

I'm really torn. If they offer us a chance to switch, by some miracle, I don't know if I would regret it. I can be happy anywhere, but my mom decided to join for her first wdw trip based on the fact that we were staying here. Our flights are booked. And then what if it's not that bad when we get there and we switched for nothing?

What do you guys think? Or how likely would it be that, since they are giving $100/night discounts to the hotel side (who will be nowhere near as impacted as the villas), maybe they would offer resort credits or points back? Who would I ask about that?

I'm thinking that the scope is going to be bigger than we think it is based on the fact that they are actively moving people, is this a rational thought?

Sorry to yammer on, but I am calling MS tomorrow and I would like to think I have an idea of what to say at that point .

The uncertainty is really a difficult part of it all. If they could say that you'd be placed on the side away from the construction that would be one thing but they did not block out rooms so as it stands now they're going to have to use rooms on the lakeside. If things are very bad during the stay my best guess is that they'll do something - probably some points back although a room credit might happen although I'd guess the credit would be a little less likely. But that's just my guess with no guarantee. Our first stay at Aulani was during construction there and they were giving points back based on your length of stay. They did not offer that when they started construction but started the offer a few weeks later. If it was just DH and I on our trip to VWL in Oct I'd be more tempted to leave our trip alone but bringing guests does make you want things to go well.

Are you going right over Christmas? At least that should be a down time on the work.

 

[pangyal]

I think circhead has an excellent suggestion to try and get your borrowed points returned to their UY if you decide you'd rather not attempt the stay. If ever there's a time for DVC to correct for their poor information sharing this would be one.



The uncertainty is really a difficult part of it all. If they could say that you'd be placed on the side away from the construction that would be one thing but they did not block out rooms so as it stands now they're going to have to use rooms on the lakeside. If things are very bad during the stay my best guess is that they'll do something - probably some points back although a room credit might happen although I'd guess the credit would be a little less likely. But that's just my guess with no guarantee. Our first stay at Aulani was during construction there and they were giving points back based on your length of stay. They did not offer that when they started construction but started the offer a few weeks later. If it was just DH and I on our trip to VWL in Oct I'd be more tempted to leave our trip alone but bringing guests does make you want things to go well.

Are you going right over Christmas? At least that should be a down time on the work.

Well that's exactly the thing, wanting to make the trip everything my mom is hoping for. It's tough.

We are there December 15-21, so the work will probably be ramping up rather than slowing down lol.

I don't think we will move as we don't want OKW or AKL. I doubt a 1BD will be available anywhere else. I am still disappointed that Lodge guests are getting $100/night discounts and we haven't even gotten a call yet, though the Lodge should be further from the work being done. I'm still not sure of what to say to MS when I call, but your Aulani story gives me some hope that at least we might be able to ask for a point discount.

 

[JessLCH]

We have two two bedrooms and one one bedroom booked at VWL for Thanksgiving week. NO other resort has availability and MS basically told me the best I could do was waitlist something else. We would need at least the two 2 bedrooms to be at the same resort if we moved. I feel the likelihood of being able to move all three reservations is practically impossible. We also own at BLT. Had I known this was coming I most certainly would have booked BLT for this trip.

 

[eliza61]

We have two two bedrooms and one one bedroom booked at VWL for Thanksgiving week. NO other resort has availability and MS basically told me the best I could do was waitlist something else. We would need at least the two 2 bedrooms to be at the same resort if we moved. I feel the likelihood of being able to move all three reservations is practically impossible. We also own at BLT. Had I known this was coming I most certainly would have booked BLT for this trip.

Hey Jess,
I think you'll be fine. I know staying at a resort while construction is going on is never anyone's first choice but I've actually had that experience (lol in Paris of all places) and many times it's only a very minor issue. I know many folks said the poly refurb went very very smooth with the big complaint simply being, the big construction walls.
Hang in there

 

[disneynutz]

We just shorted our stay at VWL in December, have not been contacted and was told by MS that they have a "if they don't ask, don't tell policy". There aren't many resorts with available rooms to move reservations to so there will be DVC members with no choice but to deal with the construction.

Disney will always have construction but IMO I would rather not be paying to stay in a construction zone. Disney will modify the resorts for increased revenue even at the cost of losing the past, more rooms, restaurants, space for people. For every one of us old timers who don't care for the changes or Disney's direction, others will love it. Profit at Disney continues to increase in record numbers and in today's corporate world, that is all that matters.

Bill

 

[wildernessDad]

We're going to WDW for 6 nights in December and usually go that time. I'm going to hang in there and try to stay away from the construction unless I'm heading for the boat landing to go to the MK or FW. Or eating at Roaring Fork. The construction noise may be a wake-up call to head to the parks early.