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

[MJ NH]

When is the hotel side opening up?

 

[sleepydog25]

Welcome to the Groupies TT4Dis!!!
I cant say you could go wrong with either view, or either resort. I am partial to VWL(BRV)myself for obvious reasons, as a owner and as a groupie. But CCV has its great points too. Our family spent one night in a GV in CCV and it was awesome. With that said, I still love the decor at VWL better, but it is tiring a bit from use. If this matters, CCV may be a better fit.
For general woods views, VWL cant be beat. And lake views are possible, but iffy. KAT4DISNEY can share her experience on the ever so elusive lake views Right, Kathy?

Since you have only been one night in WL, you have a lot to look forward to on an extended stay! Even after all these years, our family still enjoys taking in the little ambiances, suttle as they may be, that makes up a small part of the Love of the Lodge.

Obviously, and I'm sure you have already experienced this, but still to this day puts me in awe, is the entrance to the main Lodge. Those sliding doors lead us to a bygone era in the Westward Ho feel. Looking up high into the rafters, at the massive totem poles, the massive fireplace and all the little intricate details, make up a wow factor for me, every time I hit those doors!

And listen for the crickets chirping as the lanterns flicker along the walkways. One of the most distinctive yet often overlooked(or underheard if there is such a word)things that make up the dynamic majesty of the place as a whole, at least for me, is the faint Western like music playing in the background. It really takes me aback to the era intended, makes me feel like I just stepped foot into The Magnificent Seven movie(Yul Brynner version)or looking for Clint Eastwood to step from behind a log support

Couldn't have said it better, JT!

I am spending this rainy Sunday obsessively studying room views for CC and BRV. I moved our March Kidani reservation to June at CC/BRV. We have previously done 1 night in a BRV studio so I'm very excited about really getting to enjoy Wilderness Lodge for an extended period of time!

Yes, , TT! As is our custom, we often shorten names on this thread, in addition to suggesting new Groupies (more on the in a moment) pull up a rocker and 'set a spell' (spittoon optional). Yes, both CC and VWL (we also--okay I will always call the renamed, original WL DVC resort by its actual acronym) are lovely resorts. They share all the same amenities, so you can't go wrong with either. Like JT, we prefer the more rustic feel of VWL, as well as the slightly more serene feeling you get staying in that building. We've always enjoyed walking into the VWL's smaller lobby with its distinct smell and rush of a/c on those hot, muggy days. You will undoubtedly love your stay, and be sure to take in all the small details that make the Lodge experience so marvelous. Disney doesn't put the little touches into their newer resorts the way they did with WL and AKL.

Hi! I checked in over on the Copper Creek thread, but after spending a couple pleasant hours reading this thread, I thought I'd bookmark this one, too.

My husband and I are definitely Lodge lovers. Any time we visit Disney, we take the boat over and have a meal or just walk the grounds, sit in a nook, and enjoy views of the lobby and the grounds. We live in a house in the woods that has rustic elements including a big stone fireplace (no where near as big as the Lodge, though, lol), and we have chairs like the ones in the lobby. Actually, I think Disney replaced their Stickley chairs with a similar off-brand version, but I digress. We love the ambiance at the Lodge and all the marvelous details, large and small. When they were building VWL we thought about buying, but we already had three timeshares, including one in Orlando, so it wasn't practical. We do love DVC resorts, though, and have exchanged into one bedrooms at BWV, HHI, OKW, SSR, and also exchanged into a studio at BCV, and spent one night at BLT in a theme park view one bedroom. Every stay was memorable.

We have an upcoming timeshare trade in May at Ormond Beach, and I tacked on a Wed-Friday stay at CCV. It will be a resort only stay, no parks. When I booked it, I didn't realize the rest of the Lodge was still shut down! We're looking forward to less guests while we explore the resort. Last time we visited, GP had just opened. I think the cabins were under construction, so we haven't seen the completed buildings.

I'm actually more excited over our brief stay at CCV than I am about our ocean front condo at Ormond Beach. Both will be great, but there's just something so awe-inspiring about the Lodge!

Copper Creek is our sister resort, and mrsap has done a great job with that thread. In fact, they are the second friendliest thread on the DIS (only because we are the self-proclaimed friendliest )., Kay! A resort only stay is a lot of fun, and we've done it a few times, or at least a "barely park, mostly resort" stay. You are in for quite a surprise with the cabins not only being completed, but the landscaping having matured for the past few years. Though I still have hurt feelings over Disney ruining a good portion of the wilderness for the Lodge, even I will admit the cabins are pretty and that GP is also lovely. (Could they have done things differently? Yep, but they didn't ask me.) You are correct: there is something awe-inspiring about our beloved Lodge.

On a larger note, and as promised to TT, we now consider you both Groupies, as our only prerequisite is a love of said Lodge, and each of you both possess such, obviously. We did have a slight enrollment fee for a time (payable to moi in small bills) but I was told this was illegal (PM me for details if you wish, though). Anywho, again welcome!

When is the hotel side opening up?

Currently, there is no set date for the hotel side to open, at least not that I've heard.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Hi! I checked in over on the Copper Creek thread, but after spending a couple pleasant hours reading this thread, I thought I'd bookmark this one, too.

My husband and I are definitely Lodge lovers. Any time we visit Disney, we take the boat over and have a meal or just walk the grounds, sit in a nook, and enjoy views of the lobby and the grounds. We live in a house in the woods that has rustic elements including a big stone fireplace (no where near as big as the Lodge, though, lol), and we have chairs like the ones in the lobby. Actually, I think Disney replaced their Stickley chairs with a similar off-brand version, but I digress. We love the ambiance at the Lodge and all the marvelous details, large and small. When they were building VWL we thought about buying, but we already had three timeshares, including one in Orlando, so it wasn't practical. We do love DVC resorts, though, and have exchanged into one bedrooms at BWV, HHI, OKW, SSR, and also exchanged into a studio at BCV, and spent one night at BLT in a theme park view one bedroom. Every stay was memorable.

We have an upcoming timeshare trade in May at Ormond Beach, and I tacked on a Wed-Friday stay at CCV. It will be a resort only stay, no parks. When I booked it, I didn't realize the rest of the Lodge was still shut down! We're looking forward to less guests while we explore the resort. Last time we visited, GP had just opened. I think the cabins were under construction, so we haven't seen the completed buildings.

I'm actually more excited over our brief stay at CCV than I am about our ocean front condo at Ormond Beach. Both will be great, but there's just something so awe-inspiring about the Lodge!

Welcome to the friendliest place on the Dis!!!

 

[Granny]

Hi! I checked in over on the Copper Creek thread, but after spending a couple pleasant hours reading this thread, I thought I'd bookmark this one, too.

My husband and I are definitely Lodge lovers. Any time we visit Disney, we take the boat over and have a meal or just walk the grounds, sit in a nook, and enjoy views of the lobby and the grounds. We live in a house in the woods that has rustic elements including a big stone fireplace (no where near as big as the Lodge, though, lol), and we have chairs like the ones in the lobby. Actually, I think Disney replaced their Stickley chairs with a similar off-brand version, but I digress. We love the ambiance at the Lodge and all the marvelous details, large and small.

Kay...thanks for dropping in and sharing your love of Wilderness Lodge! Glad you have enjoyed browsing through this thread. As you can see, we don't always stay 100% on topic, but we are always ready, willing and able to welcome any questions or comments about our favorite place at WDW.

We have an upcoming timeshare trade in May at Ormond Beach, and I tacked on a Wed-Friday stay at CCV. It will be a resort only stay, no parks. When I booked it, I didn't realize the rest of the Lodge was still shut down! We're looking forward to less guests while we explore the resort. Last time we visited, GP had just opened. I think the cabins were under construction, so we haven't seen the completed buildings.

I'm actually more excited over our brief stay at CCV than I am about our ocean front condo at Ormond Beach. Both will be great, but there's just something so awe-inspiring about the Lodge!

I think you will really enjoy staying at CCV. And Geyser Point is definitely something that comes in handy during a resort-only stay. Aside from that, we like all the nooks and crannies of the WL lobby and the VWL (BRV) lobby as well. Lots of places to curl up with a book, phone or tablet and just relax.

And even though the rest of the Lodge is shut down, the hotel portion only represents about 1/3 of the total occupancy of the resort. So if CCV and BRV are booked up, you will find that the resort is far from empty. And who knows about the hotel portion by May...it could well be open for guests as well.

Enjoy your stay at our beloved Lodge!

 

[jimmytammy]

Welcome to the groupies Kay!!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Quiet week for all our groupies. Quiet can be good I guess, or it can mean lots going on and no remaining time to post. Anywho, I saw we were at the bottom so I decided being on the 2nd page wasn't meant to be

 

[sleepydog25]

Thanks, JT!

For yours truly, it has been a busy time between work, house renovations, and successive weekly trips back to my old haunts in southwest Virginia to do a play. Live theater is tough to find anywhere, but where I lived for 19 years is able to put on shows in small venues with social distancing as they are supported by the local arts council. I agreed to come back and be in a show, and despite the travel (three times in the last month), I've loved it. In fact, I'll continue coming back as long as needed.

We love our house in HHI, but we knew we'd want to renovate the kitchen. It was updated but not exactly what we liked. So, we're redoing it, basically taking out non-load bearing walls to make the island completely open (not boxed in with columns). New lighting has been installed, too. Out front, we had the fence taken down and we're redoing the landscaping.

And in Disney related news, yep, still loving my job at the Disney resort here. I was given training to help out, as needed, with housekeeping attendant duties--think being a bar back at a very busy pub. HK attendants haul new linen to rooms being cleaned and then haul the used linens back to the service center. We also gather garbage from the cans located beneath each building. Meanwhile, as we do these two tasks, we're also called to run specific items to either housekeepers or to guests who requests an item such as a non-slip mat for a tub, extra hangers, etc. When you're working the "Back 40," buildings 21-31 which sit at the far end of the resort from the service center, you're constantly driving the Pargos (golf cart-style vehicles) back and forth and running up and down steps all day. I have to say, though, there's not a dull moment, and I enjoy what I do, especially when I get to interact with guests--that's the best part of my job.

Have a good weekend, Groupies!

Shot from the top floor of the service center looking over the marina


My "office" view when I work the Beach House


View from the fitness center in our subdivision--a 5-minute drive or 10-minute bike

 

[twokats]

Sleepy, love the pics! Glad you are able to help since you love the plays.
Also, good luck on the kitchen. I went thru a total redo of my kitchen back in 2012,
I was so glad to get that part of my house back.

 

[DVC Jen]

View attachment 557650

My "office" view when I work the Beach House
View attachment 557651

View from the fitness center in our subdivision--a 5-minute drive or 10-minute bike
View attachment 557653

your pics are making me want to go back.

 

[DVC Jen]

It's been a crazy week here. Ice, snow, sub zero temps, more ice, more snow, more freezing temps. We have been so incredibly lucky though. I was able to get to my appointment and receive my first covid shot on Monday. The roads in town were HORRIBLE - but the freeways had been treated and were better - at least one lane going each way.

We didn't lose power or water - so like I said we have been extremely fortunate. Our daughter in Austin lost power for 3 days, but was able to go to her boyfriends sisters house and stay there - they had power. She is home now and last I heard under a boil water notice. We are under a conservation notice but we don't have to boil.

Wednesday night we had more dog drama. I guess losing Ella, and finding lumps on Remy wasn't enough. Ian was clipping Gus and Remy's nails and accidently clipped two on Remy too close. He had had enough and was pulling his paw away. Well one of them started bleeding. Nothing we did would get it stopped for long. To make matters worse he has some hip issues and drags his back paws. So even when we did get the bleeding stopped he would walk, drag the paw and it would start again. So about 9 pm Ian had to load him into the car and go out on the very very bad roads and get him to an emergency vet so they could get it stopped. They did and wrapped his paw. Said he had to keep it on for 3 days. It fell off this morning so we had to create some "magic" to get it back on and staying on. Packing tape may have been involved.

I am just so thankful we came out of this as well as we have. We were cold. Our furnace really struggled and dipped down into the 50's in the house with it never shutting off - and a fire in the fireplace. But we kept power, we kept water, and the times we did have to go out we were safe. Emily was kept warm and safe in Austin as well.

Hope the rest of our Texas groupies have been as lucky as we have. I am so looking forward to next Wednesday. Temp is supposed to be 63!

 

[MrsM]

When is the hotel side opening up?

The regular rooms at the Wilderness Lodge are scheduled to open on June 6

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

It's been a crazy week here. Ice, snow, sub zero temps, more ice, more snow, more freezing temps. We have been so incredibly lucky though. I was able to get to my appointment and receive my first covid shot on Monday. The roads in town were HORRIBLE - but the freeways had been treated and were better - at least one lane going each way.

We didn't lose power or water - so like I said we have been extremely fortunate. Our daughter in Austin lost power for 3 days, but was able to go to her boyfriends sisters house and stay there - they had power. She is home now and last I heard under a boil water notice. We are under a conservation notice but we don't have to boil.

Wednesday night we had more dog drama. I guess losing Ella, and finding lumps on Remy wasn't enough. Ian was clipping Gus and Remy's nails and accidently clipped two on Remy too close. He had had enough and was pulling his paw away. Well one of them started bleeding. Nothing we did would get it stopped for long. To make matters worse he has some hip issues and drags his back paws. So even when we did get the bleeding stopped he would walk, drag the paw and it would start again. So about 9 pm Ian had to load him into the car and go out on the very very bad roads and get him to an emergency vet so they could get it stopped. They did and wrapped his paw. Said he had to keep it on for 3 days. It fell off this morning so we had to create some "magic" to get it back on and staying on. Packing tape may have been involved.

I am just so thankful we came out of this as well as we have. We were cold. Our furnace really struggled and dipped down into the 50's in the house with it never shutting off - and a fire in the fireplace. But we kept power, we kept water, and the times we did have to go out we were safe. Emily was kept warm and safe in Austin as well.

Hope the rest of our Texas groupies have been as lucky as we have. I am so looking forward to next Wednesday. Temp is supposed to be 63!

Wow Jen. So glad you guys have come through that crazy weather ok and that Remy is ok.

 

[jimmytammy]

Jen
You folks in TX have had a rough go of it the last few weeks. The last storm system that came your way hit us 2 days ago, but temps were just at the right place to cause little damage. We had freezing rain, most melted by 2pm yesterday. Last weekend hit us worse and the power outages were far worse. Cant wait for the warm up! Supposed to leave this Fri for WDW and now they are calling for another system that AM. My van may be hitting the road late Thurs

 

[Lakegirl]

Jen
You folks in TX have had a rough go of it the last few weeks. The last storm system that came your way hit us 2 days ago, but temps were just at the right place to cause little damage. We had freezing rain, most melted by 2pm yesterday. Last weekend hit us worse and the power outages were far worse. Cant wait for the warm up! Supposed to leave this Fri for WDW and now they are calling for another system that AM. My van may be hitting the road late Thurs

Sounds like a good plan to hit the road earlier.
Jenn so glad you are all well.
Up here in Mass it has been beautiful big snow flakes for what feels 3 days. So pretty. Jet Blue opened up flights for September so I might be booking those soon.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Jen
You folks in TX have had a rough go of it the last few weeks. The last storm system that came your way hit us 2 days ago, but temps were just at the right place to cause little damage. We had freezing rain, most melted by 2pm yesterday. Last weekend hit us worse and the power outages were far worse. Cant wait for the warm up! Supposed to leave this Fri for WDW and now they are calling for another system that AM. My van may be hitting the road late Thurs

We will be hitting the road for HHI on Friday. I think finally one of our planned vacations will happen. ( We both have had two vaccines, and no serious side effects, we will cautiously begin to travel.). In WDW we will be at BWV for 4 nights after HHI.

Safe travels!

 

[Lakegirl]

We will be hitting the road for HHI on Friday. I think finally one of our planned vacations will happen. ( We both have had two vaccines, and no serious side effects, we will cautiously begin to travel.). In WDW we will be at BWV for 4 nights after HHI.

Safe travels!

So glad to hear no serious side effects. Your trip sounds amazing!!! Enjoy and safe travels.

 

[wildernessDad]

Hello Groupies! I'm checking in. The wife and I had our second dose of the Moderna vaccine on January 26. I hope you are all able to get the vaccine soon. We're waiting for it to open up for our son, who is special. We made resort reservations for Sep 30 - Oct 2, but the park reservations for the MK for Oct 1 have been gobbled up. This is a major bummer. Personally, I think that those who have a resort reservation and the proper tickets should be able to go to whatever park they want to. I hope those in Texas get power soon. We're staying at VWL for Thanksgiving, the 50th anniversary and Dec 5 - 10. A Hopkins Professor offered an opinion that we in the US will have herd immunity by April. Others disagree, but the number of cases is going down significantly. If not by April, then I think before the end of the year as more people get vaccinated. Sorry about the scatter-brain listing of topics. I'm still retired and living a stone's throw away from the north entrance to Walt Disney World. I can drive to Wilderness Lodge in 10 minutes. I've had offers to go back to Maryland to work on GNC things, but I don't want to leave my Florida home. I do miss working at the Applied Physics Lab of the Johns Hopkins University. Was there for 17 and a half years and worked on New Horizons, the mission to Pluto and beyond. That was fun and it was a wonderful team effort. I worked on New Horizons in engineering development before the launch, was in the Mission Control Center for the launch, worked other APL programs, and then 8+ years later, was back working New Horizons for the encounter. Sorry for the babble. Anyway, I feel good that we got vaccinated; I feel good that we're heading towards normalcy; I think that we'll be able to socialize by December in a normal manner. Last summer we cancelled a Southwest vacation and that was a huge bummer. And we cancelled family reunions. I'm sure you all cancelled stuff too. I feel like a turkey that's being fattened up for the big dinner. We went to Disney Springs on Thursday and I was huffing and puffing and I didn't walk that much. Time to get back into shape.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Hello Groupies! I'm checking in. The wife and I had our second dose of the Moderna vaccine on January 26. I hope you are all able to get the vaccine soon. We're waiting for it to open up for our son, who is special. We made resort reservations for Sep 30 - Oct 2, but the park reservations for the MK for Oct 1 have been gobbled up. This is a major bummer. Personally, I think that those who have a resort reservation and the proper tickets should be able to go to whatever park they want to. I hope those in Texas get power soon. We're staying at VWL for Thanksgiving, the 50th anniversary and Dec 5 - 10. A Hopkins Professor offered an opinion that we in the US will have herd immunity by April. Others disagree, but the number of cases is going down significantly. If not by April, then I think before the end of the year as more people get vaccinated. Sorry about the scatter-brain listing of topics. I'm still retired and living a stone's throw away from the north entrance to Walt Disney World. I can drive to Wilderness Lodge in 10 minutes. I've had offers to go back to Maryland to work on GNC things, but I don't want to leave my Florida home. I do miss working at the Applied Physics Lab of the Johns Hopkins University. Was there for 17 and a half years and worked on New Horizons, the mission to Pluto and beyond. That was fun and it was a wonderful team effort. I worked on New Horizons in engineering development before the launch, was in the Mission Control Center for the launch, worked other APL programs, and then 8+ years later, was back working New Horizons for the encounter. Sorry for the babble. Anyway, I feel good that we got vaccinated; I feel good that we're heading towards normalcy; I think that we'll be able to socialize by December in a normal manner. Last summer we cancelled a Southwest vacation and that was a huge bummer. And we cancelled family reunions. I'm sure you all cancelled stuff too. I feel like a turkey that's being fattened up for the big dinner. We went to Disney Springs on Thursday and I was huffing and puffing and I didn't walk that much. Time to get back into shape.

My daughter and I were hoping to get the vaccines before our April trip but I don't think that will happen. Roll out has been pretty slow here and neither of us is close to being able to sign up. You sure have done a lot of really cool things!!

 

[twokats]

Like Jen, I had a lot of the white stuff called snow. Our county still has a lot of water departments and corporations that are under a boil notice if they even have water. Unfortunately (or fortunately, as I view it) we only have one bathroom that has cold water. More than some have, but we are hoping when the other pipes thaw that none of them are busted. Our house sits on blocks, so usually, no damage in the house, but a muddy mess under it for whoever has to go under and fix it. We can finally see most of our yard since the temps have been above freezing for some of yesterday and so far all of today, with no freezes in the forecast til Tuesday of next week, with 60's also in the forecast. Gotta love Texas!

 

[sleepydog25]

We will be hitting the road for HHI on Friday. I think finally one of our planned vacations will happen. ( We both have had two vaccines, and no serious side effects, we will cautiously begin to travel.). In WDW we will be at BWV for 4 nights after HHI.

Safe travels!

Chances are I'll work that Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Will you be there that long? (I don't seem to have your trip on Page 1.)