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

[JWG]

We're staying at VWL for the first time 12/17-12/19 before we move to BLT for 9 glorious nights... Anyway, we just got the WDW welcome but you need to know e-mail for our stay at VWL. It listed everything under construction and/or closed. If I didn't know better I would say we're heading into a demilitarized zone . We don't care because odds of using the pool at Christmas are slim and we're just excited to stay here and enjoy the cool holiday theming. But still... it was a 2 page e-mail of construction impact.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I grabbed this photo from DVC Mike's site, and it's the first one I've seen with the new pool appearing to be framed out. So maybe they will start work on that pool sooner rather than later?

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I think a few of the cabins are also under construction on the VWL side...aren't there multiple cabin roof structures also in this picture from the same site?

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MAYBE they are working on getting the Cabins and resort amenities done first so that they can get the resort more back to normal?

Or maybe their ahead of schedule?

All the most recent pictures seem to show the cabin utilities stubbed in. Framing ought to go pretty quick. And I can't imagine they would be framing in the pool area if they weren't getting ready to get things stubbed in there and concrete poured. Of course realize that all my thoughts are influenced with the wish for them to be done and gone, but it seems like things are moving along nicely, doesn't it?

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Where is the post or info on the Big Honking Group Meet?
I am going in Dec, and would like to join and meet you all.

 

[jimmytammy]

Where is the post or info on the Big Honking Group Meet?
I am going in Dec, and would like to join and meet you all.

We are meeting at TOTWL at BLT on Dec 12. I don't think we have an official time yet, but Granny may have the answer to that. You are more than welcome to join! We have a great time for sure!!

 

[jimmytammy]

I think it's safe to say that we all grew up with Disney. What Disney means to us, was probably formed when we were young. To me, the most Disney thing at Walt Disney World is walking into the Magic Kingdom and looking up Main Street, USA at the Castle. I am transported into another World, far away from the work-a-day mess we live in. I am also a big fan of their earlier animation. I think Pinocchio is the greatest animated movie of all time, due to its artistry. Every frame is a work of art - a level of achievement which will never be equaled, in my opinion. I could go on, but you understand. Disney means different things to different people. I just hope that The Disney Company realizes that before they tear everything down in the interest of newness.

For me, I think growing up watching The Wonderful World of Color/Disneyland shows on Sun nights was what hooked me. And more importantly(and little did I know, Walt was no longer with us in the late 60s/early70s when I watched often)the historical shows, though based around a lot of fiction, Walt and Co. made it all seem so real, and exciting. Davey Crockett in particular intrigued me. Yes, I had the coonskin cap, the flintlock rifle, and the imagination to make history more exciting than for the avg. kid, and Walt made it possible.
So to tie WL/and VWL back to my childhood is obvious. The 1st time I walked in to the place was as an owner. I looked up into the rafters, and knew I had made a great site unseen choice! It still evokes those feelings today, takes me back to my childhood.

 

[Dizny Dad]

. . . . . . . . . The 1st time I walked in to the place was as an owner. I looked up into the rafters, and knew I had made a great site unseen choice! It still evokes those feelings today, takes me back to my childhood.

And for those that had the good fortune of knowing Ranger Stan, the picture of him (now located in the hallway to the roof - Flag Families know what I mean) crouching down with a child staring up into the rafters is what I always think about when first entering The Lodge lobby.

 

[Granny]

We're staying at VWL for the first time 12/17-12/19 before we move to BLT for 9 glorious nights... Anyway, we just got the WDW welcome but you need to know e-mail for our stay at VWL. It listed everything under construction and/or closed. If I didn't know better I would say we're heading into a demilitarized zone . We don't care because odds of using the pool at Christmas are slim and we're just excited to stay here and enjoy the cool holiday theming. But still... it was a 2 page e-mail of construction impact.

Yes, it is quite an extensive construction area, and I give Disney credit to trying to let people know about that. You trip sounds like a wonderful Christmas visit and I'm sure you'll have a great time!

 

[Granny]

We are meeting at TOTWL at BLT on Dec 12. I don't think we have an official time yet, but Granny may have the answer to that. You are more than welcome to join! We have a great time for sure!!

I don't think we have an official time other than some time before Wishes. I guess I can look at the schedule that night and see when Wishes will be. I don't think they've published it though.

And for those that had the good fortune of knowing Ranger Stan, the picture of him (now located in the hallway to the roof - Flag Families know what I mean) crouching down with a child staring up into the rafters is what I always think about when first entering The Lodge lobby.

DDad...you are so right! And for those who didn't know Ranger Stan, here's his picture (holding the framed copy of the Disney Files article about him provided by our own Jimmy) lifted from the first page of this thread:

 

[sleepydog25]

I think it's safe to say that we all grew up with Disney. What Disney means to us, was probably formed when we were young. To me, the most Disney thing at Walt Disney World is walking into the Magic Kingdom and looking up Main Street, USA at the Castle. I am transported into another World, far away from the work-a-day mess we live in. I am also a big fan of their earlier animation. I think Pinocchio is the greatest animated movie of all time, due to its artistry. Every frame is a work of art - a level of achievement which will never be equaled, in my opinion. I could go on, but you understand. Disney means different things to different people. I just hope that The Disney Company realizes that before they tear everything down in the interest of newness.

The latter part of the last sentence exactly summarizes what I fear. Then again, I tend to be stuck in "classic" mode which many relative newcomers aren't.

As for when I formed my earliest Disney memories, I was somewhat tardy to the party. As a PK, our family didn't have the money to travel to Disney Land or World, and since the World of Color aired on Sunday evenings, it was rare when I was able to watch. Still, I was at least familiar with the litany of Disney movies. During my time in the AF, I was stationed in SoCal and thus visited DL several times with my oldest daughter (who now has kids of her own). I fell in love with a few of the rides (pre-CA Adventure), classics such as IASW (much better than the World's version), Matterhorn, and especially Storybook Land. Fast forward several years and I made my first trip to the World but only visited, gulp, Epcot (long story). Several more years pass before finally getting back to WDW. After spending two nights in a sweltering, smelly, and generally rundown hotel on the beach in Melbourne, FL, I wound up the next three nights at--sound the trumpets!--VWL before I knew what DVC was all about. The rest, as they say, is history, although I should add that the best part of discovering Disney mid-stream in my life was that it brought me to Luv, and VWL was the connector. I guess that's why I've been disquieted and concerned about the construction there since we hold such an emotional attachment to the Lodge. Unlike me, I want the resort to age gracefully.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I'm looking for recommendations for a VWL studio Dec 11-14. Traveling solo if that makes a difference, don't need HA.
Thanks in advance.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'm looking for recommendations for a VWL studio Dec 11-14. Traveling solo if that makes a difference, don't need HA.
Thanks in advance.

A request? With the construction going on if you want to try and avoid looking at it you could request an even numbered room which will be on side away from the work. But if you don't mind the construction you can see some of Bay lake and perhaps the nightly water parade if you requested an odd numbered room. Otherwise close to elevators is another option if you don't want a longer walk down the hallway. I like to request high floors wherever we go although I've gotten ground floor and had the patio at VWL and it is also nice.

 

[Dean Marino]

In looking at the vacation list I see the last visitor to the Lodge was..........you!

I was noticing a few days ago that we are definitely concentrated on fall and spring visits with periodic winter trips and only a few summer sprinkled in.

.... and Sandy's photos are posted on Humphrey's site . Oh yes, we made SURE to document the room-deconstruction in the South wing . But all of that was April 2016.... hoping for more data - ESPECIALLY how the NEW Construction will affect OUR interests.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

.... and Sandy's photos are posted on Humphrey's site . Oh yes, we made SURE to document the room-deconstruction in the South wing . But all of that was April 2016.... hoping for more data - ESPECIALLY how the NEW Construction will affect OUR interests.

I'm not even sure where Humphrey's site is.

 

[sleepydog25]

I'm looking for recommendations for a VWL studio Dec 11-14. Traveling solo if that makes a difference, don't need HA.
Thanks in advance.

As KAT said, your basic options are lake side or bus stop side. There is quite a bit of construction going on lake side, but we didn't find it terribly intrusive a few months ago. Might be different now. Bus stop side is mostly tree views and is tranquil. We also like a higher floor and if you request near the elevators and get it, then you won't be close to the service area at the far end of the hall. I think you'll enjoy VWL, regardless of location. And, WELCOME to our Groupies thread!

 

[Granny]

.... and Sandy's photos are posted on Humphrey's site . Oh yes, we made SURE to document the room-deconstruction in the South wing . But all of that was April 2016.... hoping for more data - ESPECIALLY how the NEW Construction will affect OUR interests.

Dean...I"m not sure what you are saying. The pictures that I posted on the last page are about 3 weeks old. That's the most recent I've seen, and I don't know what other news you are looking for.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thank you KAT and sleepydog.
And thanks for the welcome too.

 

[Dean Marino]

Dean...I"m not sure what you are saying. The pictures that I posted on the last page are about 3 weeks old. That's the most recent I've seen, and I don't know what other news you are looking for.

See Kat's Post. According to your data, ours was NOT the last visit to VWL.
To quote:"In looking at the vacation list I see the last visitor to the Lodge was..........you! "

Apparently, we were NOT the last visitors. And I WAS hoping that this group might be interested in posting progress photos.

Sorry to bother everyone.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

See Kat's Post. According to your data, ours was NOT the last visit to VWL.
To quote:"In looking at the vacation list I see the last visitor to the Lodge was..........you! "

Apparently, we were NOT the last visitors. And I WAS hoping that this group might be interested in posting progress photos.

Sorry to bother everyone.

I'm pretty certain that we all share the wish to see more photos of what is going on Dean. I'm no help though as there's a couple of things I've committed to with Disney - and one is to avoid WDW during the summer to the best of my ability. One of these years the fireworks on the 4th will draw me down though.

Granny's photos were not his - just found on another website that he was kind enough to share with us. As I mentioned the last ones who were on the Groupie list to visit were you although not everyone adds their dates. And not everyone adds their photos here (ie, for example you put yours somewhere else). In actuality though there is another thread that is the one covering the expansion: http://www.disboards.com/threads/bo...ilderness-lodge-dvc-expansion-thread.3410778/
Even it has been pretty quiet. Whomever is staying there either aren't DISer's or aren't photo bugs.

 

[Granny]

See Kat's Post. According to your data, ours was NOT the last visit to VWL.
To quote:"In looking at the vacation list I see the last visitor to the Lodge was..........you! "

Apparently, we were NOT the last visitors. And I WAS hoping that this group might be interested in posting progress photos.

Sorry to bother everyone.

Dean...no bother at all, I was just confused. We all are looking forward to any news we can find about our favorite resort!

 

[sleepydog25]

We're staying at VWL for the first time 12/17-12/19 before we move to BLT for 9 glorious nights... Anyway, we just got the WDW welcome but you need to know e-mail for our stay at VWL. It listed everything under construction and/or closed. If I didn't know better I would say we're heading into a demilitarized zone . We don't care because odds of using the pool at Christmas are slim and we're just excited to stay here and enjoy the cool holiday theming. But still... it was a 2 page e-mail of construction impact.

Thanks for checking in, JWG! Weirdly, when we stayed in February, we got no notification that construction was going on, no letter, email, or phone call asking if we'd like to stay somewhere else, and no offer of fast passes or the like. We did get the construction pins in the room. That was it. We were fully aware of the construction, but nary a word from Disney about it prior to our arrival. Guess they're making up for that with your email.