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

[wildernessDad]

In other news, CodeSpyder has informed me that he'd like pictures of Aulani. He will credit you in his website. This message isn't an advertisement, just a request. Please email codespyder@webspydercode.com with your pics. He could use one iconic picture and one, which will be sized to 600 x 400. The iconic picture will be sized to be square.

 

[sleepydog25]

I've been MIA a bit due to work but here are a few comments:
1) the paved "nature" trail to FW is still open and should be during construction. Luv actually likes it better.
2) the lobby is the heart and soul of WL but I will miss the trees. There. I said it. They will disappear.
3) early construction noise shouldn't affect us as we tend to be early risers even at the World.
4) one of the plans shows ponds not trees (see #2 above). Ugh
5) there exists the potential that HS pool could be refurbed by Jan's end since the first turn off the nature trail proper leads to the access road. That route would be far easier to maneuver especially given the far cabins will be located there along with the new secondary parking lot.

Back to work!

 

[Granny]

For every one of us old timers who don't care for the changes or Disney's direction, others will love it.

Bill...I truly believe your statement to be true. I'll bet that when the dust settles after construction, there will be more people interested in WL/VWL than ever before. While we don't like what this may do to the status quo, in the long run it will increase the resort booking options, amenities and in many peoples opinions, the views. Right now VWL is considered a "view doesn't matter" resort (IMHO). I think that will change once this expansion is complete.

Overall, if you look at this objectively, I think the expansion will improve the general appeal of WL/VWL. Just like the VWL villa refurb did, I think. So yes, if Disney thinks they can increase a resort's demand which translates to higher occupancy and increased profitability, then I don't doubt they consider that a huge win.

And us WL/VWL lovers will have to adjust to this like any other change at WDW. We can all grow very old waiting for Disney to care more about us than the bottom line.

 

[ottawagreg]

I've been MIA a bit due to work but here are a few comments:
1) the paved "nature" trail to FW is still open and should be during construction. Luv actually likes it better.
2) the lobby is the heart and soul of WL but I will miss the trees. There. I said it. They will disappear.
3) early construction noise shouldn't affect us as we tend to be early risers even at the World.
4) one of the plans shows ponds not trees (see #2 above). Ugh
5) there exists the potential that HS pool could be refurbed by Jan's end since the first turn off the nature trail proper leads to the access road. That route would be far easier to maneuver especially given the far cabins will be located there along with the new secondary parking lot.

Back to work!

Sleepy,

I am at work too. Just killed a double meat Subway Club sammich with chipotle on it. Not bad. Trying to eat less, so I skipped the cookie.

You are correct, the trees are gone. I knew that June 2014. I snapped pics of the tagged trees and posted them a long time ago. I suppose things can still fluctuate a little, but they are tagged with green spots of paint and waiting for the chainsaw. The spots were still there June this year. As for the noise the chain saws will be loud but that will be short work, maybe a week. Earth moving equipment is not as bad as jack hammers and chainsaws, but the diesel fumes can kill magic too. How long for that? Maybe 3 or 4 weeks? The can dig a swimming pool in a week, tops. Concrete trucks will be involved but that is going to go quick too. The rest is going to be carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and such. Once the barricade walls are up the noise won't be real bad, especially when the doors are closed. If one is on the bus side (wilderness view), I doubt if you would hear much of anything. The walls are the a downer, and I think they are really ugly. Don't what they paint on them.

In regards to the Lobby you are correct again. Julie commented on the Carolwood Pacific Railroad room and the quiet peaceful days in by the fire. We love that space too. If it is being used for games, movies, and such the lobby is a very good option. Us groupies know where to retreat to quiet places that newcomers may not be aware of. Our plan is to find solace in that and enjoy Christmas in the big Lodge. I must confess, last December was our first Christmas trip and I did not spend enough time over there. I plan to do better this year. The pool is not big on the list in December, we may use it and hot tub, but only in the afternoon hours. It is not a big deal.

So we just take what comes in December and reload when next year comes. As others have pointed out, the points are spent, the room is reserved, airfare is booked, and the choices are limited. All we can do is smile and wish someone a good day, and do our best to have a good vacation. As for the Mouse and corporate earnings, and dumping on the DVCers ..., well if anyone thought that Mickey gave a fig newton for you and me, then we are not paying attention or we are being naive. I bought in January 2013, resale. Now the deal is very different from my expectations when I cut those checks. I was buying inexpensive lodging. The food, the parks, transportation all of that is the same. Now we have to see how they handle the contracts, extensions, assessments, changing the number of points to rent in peak season. Maybe this season in life ends. Oh well, we all may face a lot worse. Have you read the news today? Oh boy! I try not to accept the things I cannot change, have the courage to change the things I can, and pray for wisdom to know the difference.

In the meantime, next summer..... should I try to book studio a Poly or GF? Or should I go for the wilderness bus stop view at VWL?

Now I better get back to work too. God is good.

 

[circhead]

Granny I already have - old and tired.

 

[sleepydog25]

Sleepy,

I am at work too. Just killed a double meat Subway Club sammich with chipotle on it. Not bad. Trying to eat less, so I skipped the cookie.

You are correct, the trees are gone. I knew that June 2014. I snapped pics of the tagged trees and posted them a long time ago. I suppose things can still fluctuate a little, but they are tagged with green spots of paint and waiting for the chainsaw. The spots were still there June this year. As for the noise the chain saws will be loud but that will be short work, maybe a week. Earth moving equipment is not as bad as jack hammers and chainsaws, but the diesel fumes can kill magic too. How long for that? Maybe 3 or 4 weeks? The can dig a swimming pool in a week, tops. Concrete trucks will be involved but that is going to go quick too. The rest is going to be carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and such. Once the barricade walls are up the noise won't be real bad, especially when the doors are closed. If one is on the bus side (wilderness view), I doubt if you would hear much of anything. The walls are the a downer, and I think they are really ugly. Don't what they paint on them.

In regards to the Lobby you are correct again. Julie commented on the Carolwood Pacific Railroad room and the quiet peaceful days in by the fire. We love that space too. If it is being used for games, movies, and such the lobby is a very good option. Us groupies know where to retreat to quiet places that newcomers may not be aware of. Our plan is to find solace in that and enjoy Christmas in the big Lodge. I must confess, last December was our first Christmas trip and I did not spend enough time over there. I plan to do better this year. The pool is not big on the list in December, we may use it and hot tub, but only in the afternoon hours. It is not a big deal.

So we just take what comes in December and reload when next year comes. As others have pointed out, the points are spent, the room is reserved, airfare is booked, and the choices are limited. All we can do is smile and wish someone a good day, and do our best to have a good vacation. As for the Mouse and corporate earnings, and dumping on the DVCers ..., well if anyone thought that Mickey gave a fig newton for you and me, then we are not paying attention or we are being naive. I bought in January 2013, resale. Now the deal is very different from my expectations when I cut those checks. I was buying inexpensive lodging. The food, the parks, transportation all of that is the same. Now we have to see how they handle the contracts, extensions, assessments, changing the number of points to rent in peak season. Maybe this season in life ends. Oh well, we all may face a lot worse. Have you read the news today? Oh boy! I try not to accept the things I cannot change, have the courage to change the things I can, and pray for wisdom to know the difference.

In the meantime, next summer..... should I try to book studio a Poly or GF? Or should I go for the wilderness bus stop view at VWL?

Now I better get back to work too. God is good.

Go for VGF. We really liked our stay there last year, though the storage is abysmal in a studio. I'm sure Poly is nice, but it has blanded me with science (i.e., refurb choices). Luv is headed there for her annual friends' trip in September, so she'll let me know more. I prefer more substance, and I don't wanna new drug. In the end, first world problems, and that's what I keep telling myself.

 

[Granny]

All we can do is smile and wish someone a good day, and do our best to have a good vacation.

Amen!

In the meantime, next summer..... should I try to book studio a Poly or GF? Or should I go for the wilderness bus stop view at VWL?

We have stayed at every WDW DVC resort except Poly. You really can't go wrong trying a new resort, and it helps to keep WDW trips from getting stale. BWV Standard View, OKW and SSR are all great point saving options. VGF is very nice and the staff does seem to really try to please. We haven't had a "never go back" experience with any DVC resort. I'm sure you'll enjoy whatever you do, and WL is always there for the visit!

Now I better get back to work too. God is good.

AMEN again!!!

 

[sleepydog25]

Speaking of room locations, Luv and I always get a higher floor room and strive for the lake view. As luck would have it on our recent two-day stay, we got neither. We wound up on the bottom floor looking out toward the confluence of the walkways from the main Lodge and the Villas--straight down from the Mickey topiary. Turns out, we rather enjoyed it! It was a bit noisy when bell service CMs were rolling the large carts or large families went by, but that wasn't very often to be fair. I'm still no fan of the lighter, more homogenous look in the rooms, but it wasn't glaringly hideous. We were able to enjoy the Lodge in all its current glory, sans tree removal, jackhammers, or ugly walls. AP is back to its former glory based on our dinner there, and in a bit of good news, there's a new Territory Lounge coffee shop that opens every morning at 7 a.m. They have an actual (though automated) espresso machine for lattes, capps, etc., as well as plain ol' coffee. Additionally, there are several selections of pastries which are tasty. We're latte fans, and these were very good. The best news is they don't charge for extra shots of espresso which we always get. The basic cost for a latte is $3.39. Add three shots (me), and guess what? Still $3.39! That qualifies for one of the better bargains in the World. It was a real boon for us. Here are a couple of pics from our trip.

Our room. . .


The pretty sunrise is from the spot we first met on the beach. . .when (if) it goes, we will be extremely saddened. . .

 

[Dean Marino]

Worth noting in this forum....

We are DVC owners - homed at VWL. We got out "relocation" phone call tonight, regarding our Nov 2015 booking at VWL (made at our 11 month window).

The details: only relocation spot was AKL. We turned it down ,using the SPECIFIC verbiage "WE CHOOSE TO NOT RELOCATE". It worked. Construction or not, we're going to BE at the VWL in November.

I asked a second question: "Will we be FORCED to relocate?"
The answer was NO.

So - based on OUR experience.... if you are willing to deal with the construction issue, and are DVC members with existing VWL bookings - you do not HAVE to accept any form of relocation. If, in some fashion, you have been FORCE RELOCATED, against your will? CONTACT you DVC Rep. We have - just as a backup.

 

[twinklebug]

I wonder how many people set up wait lists for the holiday at VWL before notice was made about the construction. And, of those folk, how many still have their WLs active and set for automatic cancellation of their current reservations or to borrow from next years points all without verbal confirmation.

Personally, I'd be at VWL for our December trip, but I've been too long away from my home resort, VWL was booked full at 7 months, and both my sons have asked when the next AKL stay was going to be (not saying either of them will be there... but booking their request is worth a try

 

[circhead]

Does anyone knows what happens to VWL owners and the 11 month booking windows? If there's going to be ongoing construction will all VWL rooms be available or are we looking at this situation for the next 2 years.

It doesn't seem right that VWL owners won't be given some advantage even a month to make up for the unavailability of our home resort. Especially now that the scope and length of the construction project has become known.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Does anyone knows what happens to VWL owners and the 11 month booking windows? If there's going to be ongoing construction will all VWL rooms be available or are we looking at this situation for the next 2 years.

It doesn't seem right that VWL owners won't be given some advantage even a month to make up for the unavailability of our home resort. Especially now that the scope and length of the construction project has become known.

I'd expect that once the pool work is done then they're not going to care to much about noise coming from building the bungalows and are allowing normal booking.

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

Worth noting in this forum....

We are DVC owners - homed at VWL. We got out "relocation" phone call tonight, regarding our Nov 2015 booking at VWL (made at our 11 month window).

The details: only relocation spot was AKL. We turned it down ,using the SPECIFIC verbiage "WE CHOOSE TO NOT RELOCATE". It worked. Construction or not, we're going to BE at the VWL in November.

I asked a second question: "Will we be FORCED to relocate?"
The answer was NO.

So - based on OUR experience.... if you are willing to deal with the construction issue, and are DVC members with existing VWL bookings - you do not HAVE to accept any form of relocation. If, in some fashion, you have been FORCE RELOCATED, against your will? CONTACT you DVC Rep. We have - just as a backup.

Thanks for sharing! Just curious, but since you decided to stay put, did they offer you any perk/discount or did you inquire about any additional benefit?

 

[Firepath]

I've been MIA a bit due to work but here are a few comments:
1) the paved "nature" trail to FW is still open and should be during construction. Luv actually likes it better.
2) the lobby is the heart and soul of WL but I will miss the trees. There. I said it. They will disappear.
3) early construction noise shouldn't affect us as we tend to be early risers even at the World.
4) one of the plans shows ponds not trees (see #2 above). Ugh

I noticed those ponds right away. Ponds = mosquitoes. I stopped staying at POR years ago because I constantly got eaten by them with all the ponds. With all the other changes, that might be the last straw for me .

 

[twinklebug]

Thanks for sharing! Just curious, but since you decided to stay put, did they offer you any perk/discount or did you inquire about any additional benefit?

Just my thoughts: DVC in general does not owe owners anything back for their stays unless they were significantly inconvenienced. While I agree it was pretty poor planning on their part to know there was construction coming and not alert those making reservations for that time frame (from what I see, the website still does not indicate the construction), the rooms and resort amenities are remaining reasonably untouched. In their minds they're playing nice by contacting people in advance and helping them move resorts if available. By offering perks and discounts, their accounting system will have to make up for the difference in cost, be it in points or financial. I'm not sure how that all works, but I fear that may come back to bite owners in the way of dues in future years. If you sense there may be an issue, I suggest moving now while they can shuffle things about to make it happen.

The cash room situation is quite different. We all know those rooms are horribly overpriced at their base rates and many folks there booked without so much as a discount offered. Cash guests could very well cause a lot of noise at the front desk when they discover their room is overlooking the reconstruction of a pool below, and could call upon their credit card companies to back them up on getting refunds. The hotel business is pretty hard with people making demands and threatening non-payment. The price reduction is Disney's way of getting them to sign a sort of contract stating that they will not cause problems. Don't think of that credit being offered to those folk as a benefit beyond what DVC owners are offered, think instead of it as bringing the cost of the room down to what Disney would have had to offer it up as to start with the use of a discount code.

That's my back seat analysis. I could be 100% wrong...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

On a nostalgic note instead of a construction note thought I'd re-share the Disneyland 60th Birthday video done yesterday by the DIS in case some missed it. Brought a happy tear to my eye!

 

[Dean Marino]

Thanks for sharing! Just curious, but since you decided to stay put, did they offer you any perk/discount or did you inquire about any additional benefit?

Friendlyadvice2? We just didn't ASK for anything, other than "leave us alone" . It's probably just us.... we're staying put, and it's looking like the Lodge is going to be REAL empty. Other threads on this board are showing folks in the main lodge bailing out like the mice on the Titanic .

Really - we just want our daily breakfast at Whispering Canyon, our dinner at Artist's Point, and time to see our CM friends . I am ESPECIALLY worried about the "tip impact" to a NUMBER of our CM friends in the Restaurants . And RIGHT before Christmas .

twinklebug? Odd as it sounds coming from a DVC member? I agree with you . Sandy and I are pretty aware that we're getting VWL rooms at something like $80 a night, factoring in dues, up front money, time value of the cash, yada yada yada.... . JUST TO US - this is another home. Homes get renovated. It's noisy. The cats have to go into the basement. There is dirt. We don't mind But we go twice a year, EVERY year.... the perception of those poor folks in the main lodge is VERY different, when they come to WDW about once every FIVE years.

 

[sleepydog25]

Firepath re: the mosquitos--that would not be good, no.

 

[Corinne]

Sleepy- care to elaborate on your dining experience at AP? Was there a new menu?

Jimmy & Tammy --are you ready for your big trip!!??

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

Just my thoughts: DVC in general does not owe owners anything back for their stays unless they were significantly inconvenienced. While I agree it was pretty poor planning on their part to know there was construction coming and not alert those making reservations for that time frame (from what I see, the website still does not indicate the construction), the rooms and resort amenities are remaining reasonably untouched. In their minds they're playing nice by contacting people in advance and helping them move resorts if available. By offering perks and discounts, their accounting system will have to make up for the difference in cost, be it in points or financial. I'm not sure how that all works, but I fear that may come back to bite owners in the way of dues in future years. If you sense there may be an issue, I suggest moving now while they can shuffle things about to make it happen.

The cash room situation is quite different. We all know those rooms are horribly overpriced at their base rates and many folks there booked without so much as a discount offered. Cash guests could very well cause a lot of noise at the front desk when they discover their room is overlooking the reconstruction of a pool below, and could call upon their credit card companies to back them up on getting refunds. The hotel business is pretty hard with people making demands and threatening non-payment. The price reduction is Disney's way of getting them to sign a sort of contract stating that they will not cause problems. Don't think of that credit being offered to those folk as a benefit beyond what DVC owners are offered, think instead of it as bringing the cost of the room down to what Disney would have had to offer it up as to start with the use of a discount code.

That's my back seat analysis. I could be 100% wrong...

I appreciate and am respectful of everybody's opinion, particularly on the VWL Groupies thread, as this is the best group of DIS members there is; however, your assumptions are unfortunately as you suspected. As my post clearly indicated, I was only trying to learn the specifics of Dean's decision to stay at the VWL as I'm tracking various data points. That's all. However, I will factually state that DVC "in general is not just interested in playing nice" by alerting guests to the construction.....they are genuinely trying to make everybody as happy as they can while still running a business at the same time. That guest happiness may come from members staying put with no additional benefits, (as was the case for Dean and his wife), being moved to a different deluxe resort, receiving additional fast passes and/or water park tickets in lieu of moving, or receiving compensation in the form of a room folio credit or points refund in lieu of moving. In fact, it's NO DIFFERENT than the hotel side as I've confirmed already with several members. The disruption due to the construction and the loss of amenities, no matter how minimal or significant one feels they may be, is no different whether you paid cash or used points....and that's how DVC is handling this "in their mind". And any compensation that IS being paid out to DVC members and hotel guests is coming out of WDW's pocket, not DVC's, so dues won't be impacted. Despite all of this, there will ultimately be some members/guests who will remain unhappy, but in my experience, that seems to be common with many things in life.

Friendlyadvice2? We just didn't ASK for anything, other than "leave us alone" . It's probably just us.... we're staying put, and it's looking like the Lodge is going to be REAL empty. Other threads on this board are showing folks in the main lodge bailing out like the mice on the Titanic .

Really - we just want our daily breakfast at Whispering Canyon, our dinner at Artist's Point, and time to see our CM friends . I am ESPECIALLY worried about the "tip impact" to a NUMBER of our CM friends in the Restaurants . And RIGHT before Christmas .

twinklebug? Odd as it sounds coming from a DVC member? I agree with you . Sandy and I are pretty aware that we're getting VWL rooms at something like $80 a night, factoring in dues, up front money, time value of the cash, yada yada yada.... . JUST TO US - this is another home. Homes get renovated. It's noisy. The cats have to go into the basement. There is dirt. We don't mind But we go twice a year, EVERY year.... the perception of those poor folks in the main lodge is VERY different, when they come to WDW about once every FIVE years.

Thanks for your reply Dean! I'm glad that you were able to stay put at VWL and are happy with your decision. I know you and Sandy will have a great trip! Don't worry about the lodge being empty, we'll be there right with you and we too are looking forward to our Thanksgiving trip. I'll be the guy sleeping under the large fake evergreen tree in the lobby, you know, the one with the all lights on it. If the snoring bothers you, just give me a nudge and I'll roll over onto my side and quiet down a bit!!