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

[Murron]

Well this didn't go over well with us....at Boulder Ridge now. Yes I know the villas will be refurbished. Yes I know the villa is somewhat clean. CMs are great. But this fix to a chair that should have been tossed is unacceptable.

 

[momtwoboys]

Well this didn't go over well with us....at Boulder Ridge now. Yes I know the villas will be refurbished. Yes I know the villa is somewhat clean. CMs are great. But this fix to a chair that should have been tossed is unacceptable. View attachment 590821

agree, as much as we LOVE BRV and bought DVC there I do not want to use our hard earned points to stay in rooms in such disrepair. that is totally unacceptable, and all pics and videos we see of the rooms seem to be the same. Shame on DVC.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Well this didn't go over well with us....at Boulder Ridge now. Yes I know the villas will be refurbished. Yes I know the villa is somewhat clean. CMs are great. But this fix to a chair that should have been tossed is unacceptable. View attachment 590821

Wow. When we were there the beginning of May we saw wear and tear but nothing that bad. Yikes.

 

[CopperCreek28]

I’m not sure if this has already been mentioned but I noticed this different carpet and color scheme and the end of a first floor hallway. Is this a sneak peak of the hard refurb?

 

[prouddaddycdn]

This is why I switched my upcoming trip reservation over to Riviera, even though I absolutely love Wilderness Lodge. I was originally excited to secure a 2 bd for 4 nights at BRV but after reading numerous comments and watching videos showcasing the disrepair of the rooms, I just couldn't justify the points. There was nothing available at CC so switched to Riviera that had the last minute availability. Hope to get back to BRV once the refurb is completed.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

I’m not sure if this has already been mentioned but I noticed this different carpet and color scheme and the end of a first floor hallway. Is this a sneak peak of the hard refurb? View attachment 590854

Yes if you go back a few pages (968) we had a good discussion on this. It is believed that in the future that is how the rest of the VWL will look.

 

[gretabull]

Hi guys! I am considering buying DVC resale at Boulder Ridge. I have never been there before but it seems like the perfect location for me. I usually solo at WDW so I go at my own pace and I really want somewhere where I can relax on the hotel property, plus MK is my favorite park. I will be staying at Copper Creek in a few weeks to see how I like that area. Any advice for a VWL soon to be (hopefully) newbie?

 

[Lakegirl]

I really really love The Lodge. Spend some time to just relax and take it all in. Pools are amazing, outside restaurant is great. Sit back and relax in front of one of the beautiful fireplaces.

 

[Suzabella]

Explore the resort. There are some great little hidden gems on the 2nd/3rd floors of the main lodge and over in the rooms off the main area of the DVC lodge. The pools are wonderful but take some time to sit in the rocking chairs outside near the bubbling spring in the lodge. Very peaceful there. Make sure you have a bison burger at Geyser Point Bar & Grill. And now I'm homesick....and hungry. ;-) Enjoy your trip!!

 

[KaystotheKingdom]

Hey All! Got a family trip in November coming up at VBR and had to do 2 studios instead of a 2BR because of borrowing restrictions and availability. I have 2 questions: are the studios centrally located to one another or fairly spread out in the DVC building? I’m wondering if it’s necessary to request the studios to be close or if it will just kid of work out that way based upon where they are. Additionally, any room requests you would make for a studio stay?

thanks!
The grandparents will be in one room, my family with toddlers in the other. The two rooms is probably a blessing in disguise for them lol

 

[wnielsen1]

Hey All! Got a family trip in November coming up at VBR and had to do 2 studios instead of a 2BR because of borrowing restrictions and availability. I have 2 questions: are the studios centrally located to one another or fairly spread out in the DVC building? I’m wondering if it’s necessary to request the studios to be close or if it will just kid of work out that way based upon where they are. Additionally, any room requests you would make for a studio stay?

thanks!
The grandparents will be in one room, my family with toddlers in the other. The two rooms is probably a blessing in disguise for them lol

They are a little spread out, but it is possible to get rooms near each other (but not connecting). Scroll down on the very first post in this thread and you can see the floor layouts. Definitely request the studios to be close to one another (do this on each reservation). The BR building is not that large when compared to other DVC resorts so I think the key would be to be on the same floor first, then as close as possible after that.

 

[DVC Jen]

Agree this weather has been absolutely ridiculous here in MA! I cant take it, we lost our sweet dog almost 2 weeks ago and its been hard but this weather is making it worse. We are supposed to go to WDW Nov 1-5th and I am just not feeling it at all. Also booked air for our annual spring trip and waiting to book DVC studio for that. My heart isnt in it at all.

I am so very sorry about your sweet dog. We lost one of ours in Feb and I there are times the grief still sneaks up on me. Sending lots of love and hugs your way. It is so very hard.

 

[DVC Jen]

Well this didn't go over well with us....at Boulder Ridge now. Yes I know the villas will be refurbished. Yes I know the villa is somewhat clean. CMs are great. But this fix to a chair that should have been tossed is unacceptable. View attachment 590821

Completely unacceptable. We had a mattress (king size in the one bedroom) that was so soft we felt like we were literally sinking down to the box springs. After 4 nights on it I was in so much pain every morning I could not keep on so we called. They were great and replaced it for us. But the woman who came who was in charge apologized and said she didn't know if they had a brand new mattress because of all of the shipping issues that have been happening with Covid - they haven't been able to get replacements of the items they needed replacements for. But, she promised they would do something for us. Luckily as I said, they did locate a brand new mattress and brought in and remade the bed for us.

It didn't really surprise me to find out Disney is having a hard time getting replacement furniture as I think pretty much every one is right now. It has been on the news several times that the cost of big ticket items like furniture has risen drastically because of shipping and manufacturing delays.

I hope this doesn't ruin the resort for you. It is not normally like this. I also really hope you have been able to have a wonderful vacation despite any issues you have had with the room.

 

[DVC Jen]

Hey All! Got a family trip in November coming up at VBR and had to do 2 studios instead of a 2BR because of borrowing restrictions and availability. I have 2 questions: are the studios centrally located to one another or fairly spread out in the DVC building? I’m wondering if it’s necessary to request the studios to be close or if it will just kid of work out that way based upon where they are. Additionally, any room requests you would make for a studio stay?

thanks!
The grandparents will be in one room, my family with toddlers in the other. The two rooms is probably a blessing in disguise for them lol

Are they studios or Inn rooms? There are 4 buildings not counting the cottages. The Inn rooms are all located in - well the Inn and could be spread out. But the building isn't huge so it wouldn't take more than a few minutes to get to a room on the opposite side of the building. The other buildings which have the actual studio - 12, 14 and 15 are not large and would take even less time to get to a studio in the same building. You really should request that you are at least in the same building if possible with your family. DVR is an amazing place with wonderful CMs. They will do their best for you. We just got back from 4 nights there and I really wish it had been longer. We were in a one bedroom in building 12 and were lucky enough to get a wonderful ocean view. I honestly can't say enough good things about the resort. It was our first time back since 2014 and our first time seeing the renovations. They did such a good job - everything was beautiful. The restaurant onsite is SO much better than it used to be. The market/quick service is a wonderful addition. Vero is our second home resort and I can't wait to go back. I hope you and your family have a wonderful time.

 

[gretabull]

I really really love The Lodge. Spend some time to just relax and take it all in. Pools are amazing, outside restaurant is great. Sit back and relax in front of one of the beautiful fireplaces.

Sounds delightful! I cant wait!

 

[gretabull]

Explore the resort. There are some great little hidden gems on the 2nd/3rd floors of the main lodge and over in the rooms off the main area of the DVC lodge. The pools are wonderful but take some time to sit in the rocking chairs outside near the bubbling spring in the lodge. Very peaceful there. Make sure you have a bison burger at Geyser Point Bar & Grill. And now I'm homesick....and hungry. ;-) Enjoy your trip!!

Sounds like the perfect mix of relaxation and WDW!!!

 

[momtwoboys]

just secured a studio at BRV for march 31-April7 just to have something, oddly the months before during and after appeared totally booked solid or at least not able to book and now this AM voila all are open totally. Not sure what is going on with the refurb but for now will grabbed a room, will see what else is open on aug 31st our 7 month and decide from there. I love BRV which is why we bought there, but the rooms are so so sad wish they were getting some love before the start the new GFV project.

 

[sleepydog25]

to all our new posters and Groupies! VWL (if you're new, realize many of us still call it VWL vice BRV, the new moniker) is a marvelous resort, though even the most ardent among us agree it stumbles sometimes. Given the age of the last refurbishment and mostly non-stop use of the resort, sometimes it may not be in tip-top shape. Our last trip there a couple of years ago, we were stuck at the end of the hallway in a studio that was dark, had sad-looking furniture, and overlooked the linen collection area. We were not fans, and we own here. But, we've had many more excellent stays and well-maintained rooms. I wouldn't judge the old gal on her current state, though it never hurts to let upper management know your feelings.

As a host on a renovation show might say, "the Lodge has great bones." The majestic theming is still in place, as is that sense of serenity, and the beautiful views, too. Once the new makeover happens, I'm sure she will shine prettier. Covid has been tough on everyone, and that's true for Disney, too. I don't lose much sleep thinking Chapek, or D'Amaro, et.al., are going to the poor house, but I do understand the giant logistical nightmare covid wrought on all businesses. And Disney is going to play things close to the vest; they will be cautious as we are not yet out of the woods as recent news has shown us. But, the Lodge will remain a marvelous place to simply unwind, grab a libation, and enjoy a vacation, and it will only get better once she's spruced up a bit.

Yes, though I haven't updated it lately, Page 1 does have diagrams of room locations and a fair amount of other information. As always, though, we old-timers on this thread love to answer questions and will do so the best we can. If you have specific Copper Creek questions, an even better source is our sister thread, Copper Creek Lovers and Owners. They're a great bunch over there, too.

 

[momtwoboys]

to all our new posters and Groupies! VWL (if you're new, realize many of us still call it VWL vice BRV, the new moniker) is a marvelous resort, though even the most ardent among us agree it stumbles sometimes. Given the age of the last refurbishment and mostly non-stop use of the resort, sometimes it may not be in tip-top shape. Our last trip there a couple of years ago, we were stuck at the end of the hallway in a studio that was dark, had sad-looking furniture, and overlooked the linen collection area. We were not fans, and we own here. But, we've had many more excellent stays and well-maintained rooms. I wouldn't judge the old gal on her current state, though it never hurts to let upper management know your feelings.

As a host on a renovation show might say, "the Lodge has great bones." The majestic theming is still in place, as is that sense of serenity, and the beautiful views, too. Once the new makeover happens, I'm sure she will shine prettier. Covid has been tough on everyone, and that's true for Disney, too. I don't lose much sleep thinking Chapek, or D'Amaro, et.al., are going to the poor house, but I do understand the giant logistical nightmare covid wrought on all businesses. And Disney is going to play things close to the vest; they will be cautious as we are not yet out of the woods as recent news has shown us. But, the Lodge will remain a marvelous place to simply unwind, grab a libation, and enjoy a vacation, and it will only get better once she's spruced up a bit.

Yes, though I haven't updated it lately, Page 1 does have diagrams of room locations and a fair amount of other information. As always, though, we old-timers on this thread love to answer questions and will do so the best we can. If you have specific Copper Creek questions, an even better source is our sister thread, Copper Creek Lovers and Owners. They're a great bunch over there, too.

all excellent info! Yes we have been long time lovers of VWL, in fact we bought dvc years back and never even stayed at the home resort, we always found ourselves here. Both of us have been longtime WDW travelers since our youth ( early 80's) honeymooned in 1997 after much researching on the new Dis way back when the internet was new! Raised our now 2 boys 23, and 21 on wdw trips and now continuing as empty nesters. We just recently sold one dvc contract to purchase our fav! Now we can enjoy our time with the 11 month advantage. Hope I wasnt sounding too down about VWL due to the condition of the rooms too much. Sorry! I just hope it gets some love soon.

 

[momtwoboys]

here we are! Jenny and Joe