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

[BethanyF]

quick question about ground floor units....can you walk off the patios or are they fenced?

 

[nanajoyx2]

Ground floor patios are walk off, no fences.

 

[denisekayt]

Hello, thought I would stop in and say hi, I'm probably not much of a regular poster, but I read often. After several years of loving Disney we finally decided to buy VWL resale and are currently in ROFR on a 300pt contract. If this one gets taken we'll find another one to go for

We stayed at WL on our first trip to Disney and it has remained our favorite over stays at other resorts (although Poly is also a favorite). We became interested in DVC after staying in a BLT 1-bedroom on cash and really loving the additional space and amenities over a regular hotel room. We waited to see how the Poly DVC would come out, but with no 1-bedrooms we knew that VWL would be for us.

We can't wait to officially become owners! We have an upcoming trip in April to VWL, booked on cash, that will hopefully be our last trip as non-owners!

 

[jimmytammy]

I used to think the halls at VWL were long, until we stayed at BWV, then I thought nothing could top that, until we stayed at Kidani Either way you go, you get a good workout

 

[sleepydog25]

Hello, thought I would stop in and say hi, I'm probably not much of a regular poster, but I read often. After several years of loving Disney we finally decided to buy VWL resale and are currently in ROFR on a 300pt contract. If this one gets taken we'll find another one to go for

We stayed at WL on our first trip to Disney and it has remained our favorite over stays at other resorts (although Poly is also a favorite). We became interested in DVC after staying in a BLT 1-bedroom on cash and really loving the additional space and amenities over a regular hotel room. We waited to see how the Poly DVC would come out, but with no 1-bedrooms we knew that VWL would be for us.

We can't wait to officially become owners! We have an upcoming trip in April to VWL, booked on cash, that will hopefully be our last trip as non-owners!

Always great to hear stories about the draw of our beloved Lodge! Welcome and we hope you become a regular poster. Same to you BethanyF and any others who have found our merry band of late. It's always a pleasure to welcome new people to our Groupies "club" where the only requirement for membership is a love of the Lodge.

As we often say on here, grab a rocker, your favorite libation, and sit a spell (spittoons optional).

 

[ottawagreg]

Hello Groupies. I have a little bit of free time this afternoon. I thought I might share a few pics from our December trip. We are home about a month now, and five months to go until the summer trip. We were on the the ground floor, second room on the lake side of the long hallway. I really liked it. It was very convenient to ice, pool, boardwalk to the lodge and I got to move around a bit when we hung out in the room. I noticed the trees were tagged with paint. I am wondering if anyone has seen this or might have an idea what they mean. When I have trees removed on our propery the lumberjack marks them with paint so the guys bearing chainsaws know which tree to fell. Maybe they are going to clear more space for new villas! Naw can't be. It is curious though, any thoughts?





I met this little guy. He was very busy but he paused to let me snap a profile.

 

[jimmytammy]

Greg
Those trees may be on the radar to come down, but it will really surprise me if they add villas, though I would have no issue with it other than liking that VWL is so quaint

I took some time to make another WDW inspired recipe today, and it is a hit with the family. I saw it a few days ago on The Main St Mouse newsletter. It was Disney Magic Bars, never had one before, but seen them at the MK candy store behind the glass case. Really tasty makes me want to break out into a bad rendition of Main St songs

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

1. Does the VWL have an activities calendar? I haven't found one online, but AKV always handed us one with all the hotel event when we checked in. Would love to see an example. We also got one, I think, when we stayed at OKW, where we loved the community room activities with DS (now 12).

2. Do studio refrigerators have small freezers? We usually like to make ice from bottled water as I am sensitive to the local water.

Thanks all, and thanks for all the great info on this thread.

mmtravel

Here's a link to the main resorts WL/VWL thread. If you scroll a little more than half way down then just above where they start listing the stays at the lodge is a link to the most recent schedule:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=52944172&postcount=1

Here's the direct link to the most recent one they share that will download as a pdf:

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_142222345833210&key=debb21522a2ba14b8d7bcbd1910c5bdb&libId=89fa8452-65b1-4722-b400-34c4a703268b&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.disboards.com%2Fshowpost.php%3Fp%3D52944172%26postcount%3D1&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.themouseforless.com%2Ftripplanning%2Fresorts%2Fwdw%2Fpdf%2FWLCalendar.pdf&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.disboards.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D3372315&title=The%20DIS%20Discussion%20Forums%20-%20DISboards.com%20-%20View%20Single%20Post%20-%20~NEW~%20Disney%27s%20WILDERNESS%20LODGE%20and%20VILLAS%20INFORMATION%20THREAD%20~2015~&txt=MOST%20RECENTLY%20POSTED%20WL%2FVWL%20RECREATION%20AND%20MOVIE%20SCHEDULE

Safe travels! I'll call you on Sat!

As of today it should have been 2 more sleeps for me but now it's just 1 more sleep. Last night I quickly had to reschedule all my plans because we're getting a blizzard late tomorrow through Tue! The timing on that could not have been worse. Thank god for SW & their no change fees. Last night I had pretty much my pick of flights so I grabbed a 5:15 direct. This morning I looked again & every early flight is now sold out. The 3:45 connecting through BWI flight is the only one available before mine. Gets in at the same exact time as the nonstop so no point doing that. I'm praying the 5:15 gets out ahead of the storm. So I'm at Pop tomorrow night, then switch to BCV for 1 night, then CSR for 2 nights, then 2 nights at the Swan. Geesh.

Good luck with your travels Julie!! Hopefully you'll get out on time and can start your fun a little bit early.

This looks like the Overlook hotel from The Shining!

Oh yes! And do you remember the old decor at BWV? That was definitely The Shining material and I was waiting for the twins to appear.



And speaking of twins (not really but the two-fer birthdays!)

Happy Birthday Twokats and Claire_ont!!!

 

[ottawagreg]

Anybody think they know where this mickey might be located?

 

[ottawagreg]

Those trees may be on the radar to come down, but it will really surprise me if they add villas, though I would have no issue with it other than liking that VWL is so quaint

I totally agree with you, thought it is unlikely that the mouse would be adding new villas. I was kidding. However, there were lots of threes tagged. Maybe twenty or more from what I could see near the sliding doors in my room. It was rather alarming to contemplate so many of them being removed.

 

[Pirate Granny]

A CM in December told us that they were going to build cabins on the wateredge , similar to Poly.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

A CM in December told us that they were going to build cabins on the wateredge , similar to Poly.

The first rumor was that it was going to be teepees!

 

[Sur]

I met this little guy. He was very busy but he paused to let me snap a profile. http://s85.photobucket.com/user/ottawagreg/media/IMG_8793_zps4c9ef612.jpg.html

Thats BamaEd's little squirrel from the Fort! lol

 

[Corinne]

Anybody think they know where this mickey might be located?

The blueberries in the middle, also, the apple on the left sort of has one on the top.

ETA the holly berries are all hm's! Lol

 

[DiznyDi]

WELCOME denisekayt! Pixie dust you make it thru ROFR and that contract becomes yours! Nice to have you here.

To our Groupies in the path of this monster storm coming... be safe!
Julie, sounds like you've made plans to get out ahead of it. Glad everything worked out for you.
Maria, you too. You were bombarded with snow last year. Hope to catch up with both of you over these next few days.

We leave on Thursday. The snowfall should stop here Tuesday. I'm not anticipating any difficulty leaving. Will be nice to be in 70 degree weather.

Have a good week! Mine will go fast.....

Di

 

[ottawagreg]

The blueberries in the middle, also, the apple on the left sort of has one on the top.

ETA the holly berries are all hm's! Lol

That is excellent observation. I never even considered the holly berries. I am terrible at finding hidden Mickey(s). Usually when when a CM points one out to me they need a laser pen to trace it out for me! So I found this one by myself and I was so proud I took a picture. Here is a hint. The blue berries Mickey is in the Magic Kingdom and I was waiting when I noticed it.

 

[ottawagreg]

A CM in December told us that they were going to build cabins on the wateredge , similar to Poly.

Well that would explain a lot. It will open up the sight lines from the balconies on the lake side. and remove the "wilderness" feel. Now I wish that I investigated more on how many trees are tagged with the green paint spots. It almost looked like the clear cutting in the northwest where a entire mountain side is razed.

 

[sleepydog25]

That rumor about building more expensive, over-the-water VWL suites has been around for some time, and while I don't completely discount the idea, that doesn't quite sound like the current strategy DVC is employing in their "new" resorts. There are also rumors abounding about refurbing some WL rooms into studios which would be more their speed given what happened at Poly. Frankly, I don't want a new build at VWL or anywhere along the way to FW. I like the woodsy feel as it is, the ability to escape from the resort and the parks and walk and run along an actual nature trail. It's personal for me. Have you considered posting what you've seen on the Miscellaneous thread which is where rumored projects are oft discussed?

Here's a link to just such a discussion that started right after Christmas: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=52965109#post52965109

 

[ottawagreg]

That rumor about building more expensive, over-the-water VWL suites has been around for some time, and while I don't completely discount the idea, that doesn't quite sound like the current strategy DVC is employing in their "new" resorts. There are also rumors abounding about refurbing some WL rooms into studios which would be more their speed given what happened at Poly. Frankly, I don't want a new build at VWL or anywhere along the way to FW. I like the woodsy feel as it is, the ability to escape from the resort and the parks and walk and run along an actual nature trail. It's personal for me. Have you considered posting what you've seen on the Miscellaneous thread which is where rumored projects are oft discussed?

Here's a link to just such a discussion that started right after Christmas: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=52965109#post52965109

All of your comments echo my thoughts and feelings entirely. The thought of them clearing any trees at all is depressing.

I have a small 2 acre lot that is wooded. we cleared four of the most beautiful oaks one can imagine to dig the basement. I was nearly sick. Now whenever we lose a tree it is more emotional than the one before. We have a hickory at the end of the drive that is as straight as a flag pole, 90 feet tall. We are seeing fewer leaves on it every year. I paid to have tree service inject chemicals to try to rejuvenate it. My wife was in the kitchen crying when they told me it was about all they can do to save it.

I have heard it said that the best time to plant a tree is fifty years ago. The second best time is today. So when you mention the wooded walk around the lake, I empathize completely with the point. Even when I have had the dumpster studio room on the fourth floor, it is not a big deal to me. I just turn the chair the other way and enjoy the wooded view. What is not to like? I feel blessed that I am able to be at VWL.

I have had these pics for more than a month, kind of waiting around to see if anyone mentioned it. I lurk on the "other" board and see nothing. I hope it is nothing. But we're family of sorts here and thought I should share with you. I must say though, my thoughts immediately were that those trees were marked for chain saws. I do pray that I am wrong. I don't really care to look at the lake over the top of cabin roofs. The magic would be lost. We enjoy taking photos of the woods and nature and critters as much as the lobby or other parts of the lodge.

I really have not considered posting to other sites or pages, because I have no knowledge of anything, other than what I am sharing with youse guys. If you wish, I can send them to you electronically and let you have a closer look. Other than Groupies I really don't have much time on discussion boards.

greg

 

[horselover]

Hello, thought I would stop in and say hi, I'm probably not much of a regular poster, but I read often. After several years of loving Disney we finally decided to buy VWL resale and are currently in ROFR on a 300pt contract. If this one gets taken we'll find another one to go for

We stayed at WL on our first trip to Disney and it has remained our favorite over stays at other resorts (although Poly is also a favorite). We became interested in DVC after staying in a BLT 1-bedroom on cash and really loving the additional space and amenities over a regular hotel room. We waited to see how the Poly DVC would come out, but with no 1-bedrooms we knew that VWL would be for us.

We can't wait to officially become owners! We have an upcoming trip in April to VWL, booked on cash, that will hopefully be our last trip as non-owners!

Welcome to the groupies! Good luck with your contact!

A CM in December told us that they were going to build cabins on the wateredge , similar to Poly.

And Ranger Jack told me the rumors of DVC coming to WL were 100% not true. You could ask 20 different CMs & you would likely get 20 different answers. Only time will tell. I for one hope it's not true. It's fine the way it is. The River Countr/FW DVC plans have resurfaced again. I'd much rather see that come to fruition.

To our Groupies in the path of this monster storm coming... be safe!
Julie, sounds like you've made plans to get out ahead of it. Glad everything worked out for you.
Maria, you too. You were bombarded with snow last year. Hope to catch up with both of you over these next few days.

We leave on Thursday. The snowfall should stop here Tuesday. I'm not anticipating any difficulty leaving. Will be nice to be in 70 degree weather.

Have a good week! Mine will go fast.....

Di

Not. I thought I'd be safe but nope. I had rescheduled to a 5:15 p.m. flight today. I got a text this morning at 9:40 a.m. from SW that my flight was canceled. So disappointed especially considering it wasn't even snowing at 5:15. That flight could have easily gotten out. I'm rebooked on a 7:10 p.m. flight on Wed. It was the best I could do. There was a 6:15 a.m. flight but I didn't want to risk it. I'm missing the entire first day of my program now.

Safe travels to you! Still hoping to see you this weekend.

Stay safe to all those in the path of Juno!