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

[jimmytammy]

My husband and I have been DVC members at BWV since 2000. As we usually visit during F&W, it has been a great place to stay, and since our son is an adult now, we have been able to continue to entice him to visit with us. However, I made a trip in April with my sister, and ventured out to stay at the VWL. I absolutely adored everything about it! I think it has the most wonderful lobby of any Disney resort, and everything from the pools, to the lake/beach area, to the restaurants was just top notch. I came home, and talked my son into splitting a purchase of points with me so I can come back some more! I was hard pressed to venture out to the parks most days.

My nephew is getting married in DW next year - they own DVC at the BLT, and want us to stay there. I'm thinking I'll stay at VWL, and take the cute little boat over to the contemporary when we need to! Can't wait to go back!

Welcome to the groupies!!!!
Its funny that you mention owning at BWV for the purpose of staying there during F & W. We own the majority of our pts. at VWL, and love the Lodge, it is #1 in our hearts. We have stayed at BWV once and loved it, so much so we bought pts last June with the sole purpose of a F & W stay every other year.
As for BLT, we stayed there almost 2 weeks back in Feb. and I was pleasantly surprised to like it so much. Im not much on the modern decor, but the stay there was very nice, lots of amenities between the 2 resorts, MK walking distance, access to the Monorail, etc. made up for the decor for me. I only say this so as not to count it out. But if VWL is calling your name, we here, understand

 

[sleepydog25]

My husband and I have been DVC members at BWV since 2000. As we usually visit during F&W, it has been a great place to stay, and since our son is an adult now, we have been able to continue to entice him to visit with us. However, I made a trip in April with my sister, and ventured out to stay at the VWL. I absolutely adored everything about it! I think it has the most wonderful lobby of any Disney resort, and everything from the pools, to the lake/beach area, to the restaurants was just top notch. I came home, and talked my son into splitting a purchase of points with me so I can come back some more! I was hard pressed to venture out to the parks most days.

My nephew is getting married in DW next year - they own DVC at the BLT, and want us to stay there. I'm thinking I'll stay at VWL, and take the cute little boat over to the contemporary when we need to! Can't wait to go back!

I second JT: Welcome to the Groupies!!

Other than that pesky newcomer fee (shhh. . .just between us, ok?), all it takes to join our group is an appreciation--we say "love"--of the Lodge. Though we do like to visit other resorts from time to time, VWL speaks to my wife and me more than any other--it's our second home. If you haven't done so yet, I urge you read the first page of the thread for instructions to grab a Moosie siggie and to add your name(s) to the Trips/Cruises and Birthdays/Anniversaries lists if you so choose. Again, welcome: pull up a rocker, your favorite beverage, a spittoon (optional), and set a spell.

 

[twinklebug]

A little info on the fountains in the main building, this is all she said, he said, so take it for what it's worth:

Member services just called to see if there was anything else they could do for me for our upcoming stay (meaning, can they get me to spend any more money? ) I asked if she had heard anything regarding when the fountains would be back up and running. Took her off-guard as member services had no idea the fountains were down. I know they're not integrated into the villas, but really had hoped my sister and her kids would see the resort as intended.

She called over and confirmed the refurbishment was underway, and was told it would be another 30 days.... so into August. (I'm not great with date math, but June 7+30 = August? ) ... oh well... only the contractors doing the work know for sure, and I'm pretty sure in their world, working the summer away at the lodge is pretty sweet.

 

[eliza61]

No exciting news on this end (psst, finally got my house sold. LOL )
So just some pictures to start our work week off.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Once again, I feel like I'm at the end of the Cha-Cha line at the big homecoming dance . . . . . . .

Corrine - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

[Dizny Dad]

Eliza - Thanks for the heart warming pics!

It brings me thoughts that there really is an ongoing fun spot that I enjoy outside of the shipping container I'm sitting in at the moment.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

And where are you shipping yourself Dizny Dad? Can you change the address to VWL?

 

[ottawagreg]

No exciting news on this end (psst, finally got my house sold. LOL )
So just some pictures to start our work week off.

I thought about posting few pics tonight also. Thanks for throwing those up on the thread. Always a good thing.

greg

p.s. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

 

[twinklebug]

A confession: For years now whenever groupies post pictures of the lodge I'll leave a browser tab open to the images just so I can stumble across them and smile.

Thank you Eliza & everyone who's posted images over the years! Your pics are very much appreciated!

 

[ottawagreg]

Well it is getting close. Fifteen days! Is it getting hot in WDW yet?







My little girl; she loves the lodge, won't stay anywhere else!

 

[jimmytammy]

BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday KAT4DISNEY!!!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Eliza and Greg, loving the photos. And Greg, you raised your daughter right

 

[Dizny Dad]

And where are you shipping yourself Dizny Dad? Can you change the address to VWL?

Seriously, I spend the best hours of the day working out of an old shipping container . . .luckily it is not one of those we see from time to time floating in the ocean. I am spending time finishing a large material handling system for the dreaded fracking pipe at a new pipe mill in NE Ohio. Often they use old shipping containers (we've all seen them going by on the highway or on trains.) Man doors are cut into the ends, lighting and AC installed, and suddenly business is conducted. Mine is situated between column rows so I can conveniently hear six crane sirens, banging pipes, air blow-offs, and an occasional weather siren and tank full alarm system. . . so soothing, so calm . . so appreciated . .

I can't ship myself to VWL, but DiznyDi sees to it that every once in a while I end up there. She takes good care of me!!

KAT4DISNEY - Thanks for asking!

 

[ottawagreg]

Seriously, I spend the best hours of the day working out of an old shipping container . . .luckily it is not one of those we see from time to time floating in the ocean. I am spending time finishing a large material handling system for the dreaded fracking pipe at a new pipe mill in NE Ohio. Often they use old shipping containers (we've all seen them going by on the highway or on trains.) Man doors are cut into the ends, lighting and AC installed, and suddenly business is conducted. Mine is situated between column rows so I can conveniently hear six crane sirens, banging pipes, air blow-offs, and an occasional weather siren and tank full alarm system. . . so soothing, so calm . . so appreciated . .

I can't ship myself to VWL, but DiznyDi sees to it that every once in a while I end up there. She takes good care of me!!

KAT4DISNEY - Thanks for asking!

Field offices are where the work gets done! You are building America! I do process pipe design and work with pipe fitters and boilermakers. When a contractor brings a mobile office with aluminum stairs for the doors to a job site, (otherwise known as a trailer), we refer to it as the "crystal palace".

I feel your pain. In january and february all I can think about is those summer nights pool side at VWL.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Congrats on selling your house eliza....and thanks for the photos!

Ottawagreg....your daughter is adorable. THanks for the pics as well!!!

I just got my copy of Disney Files in the mail today. I am super impressed with the room refurb at Hilton Head----gorgeous!!! Page 5 & 6 of the Files.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Seriously, I spend the best hours of the day working out of an old shipping container . . .luckily it is not one of those we see from time to time floating in the ocean. I am spending time finishing a large material handling system for the dreaded fracking pipe at a new pipe mill in NE Ohio. Often they use old shipping containers (we've all seen them going by on the highway or on trains.) Man doors are cut into the ends, lighting and AC installed, and suddenly business is conducted. Mine is situated between column rows so I can conveniently hear six crane sirens, banging pipes, air blow-offs, and an occasional weather siren and tank full alarm system. . . so soothing, so calm . . so appreciated . .

I can't ship myself to VWL, but DiznyDi sees to it that every once in a while I end up there. She takes good care of me!!

KAT4DISNEY - Thanks for asking!

Haha - darn! But with all the construction going on all over WDW if you could figure out how to move it (with AC intact!) perhaps they wouldn't notice it sitting next to Bay Lake. It sounds interesting though - thanks for filling in the details. I had no idea that fracking was going on in Ohio. But perhaps it's all over the country and I just have some catching up to do on what's going on.

BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday KAT4DISNEY!!!!

And I'll say an early thanks Jimmy!!

I started hearing rumblings of some plans for tomorrow. But after that I may have caused a slight panic attack when I asked Gordon if he was baking me a birthday cake. White with chocolate frosting.

 

[twokats]

Happy Birthday KAT4DISNEY!!!!

I hope it is great, with or without a birthday cake!!

 

[twokats]

Just a quick update on my last visit with the surgeon. . .
He has me full weight on my leg, as tolerated. I try to keep the cane handy in rough uneven ground, but have gone without it more and more, just being super careful and slow. I am going to therapy three times a week for the last few weeks. Mobility in the arm is a little better, although there is still a definite weakness. Right now I am only supposed to lift up to 5 pounds. I can tell the arm will take the longest to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

But they have let me have my driving privileges back. I had just traded in for a new 2014 Camry two days before my leg and arm break, so I am having to make up for lost time. My sweet husband who usually does not like to drive my cars, put over 3000 miles on the new one for me while I was down. As I said, some catching up to do.

Is a Magic Kingdom view room at Bay Lake Tower easy to get at the 7 month mark? I have a friend that asked me to see if any of the groupies knew.

 

[Granny]

Happy Birthday Kathy!!!


Hope it's great one. And I'll bet you end up with some excellent cake too!

 

[Granny]

Is a Magic Kingdom view room at Bay Lake Tower easy to get at the 7 month mark? I have a friend that asked me to see if any of the groupies knew.

Kathy...very excited to hear of your continued progress. I know it's a marathon, not a sprint but it is wonderful to hear that you are slowly but surely recovering. Hooray!!

As for your question, I don't know but it seems to me that depending on the time of year the MK view at BLT can be tough to grab. Lake View is the easiest since it is more than half the rooms. Maybe someone else with better knowledge of MK view can chime in.