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

[KAT4DISNEY]

Hey y'all. So our contract was party stripped and we are going to have to buy 16 extra points from Disney for our first stay. We want to go the first week of December 17. I read we can't buy these til the 7 month mark, do you think we will have issues?

I'd have some concern over that at 7 months. And you will also be restricted from waitlisting for a missing night as you must have the points to cover a waitlist and can't set it up with the need to purchase one time use points. You will not have any points to borrow?

 

[Granny]

Hey y'all. So our contract was party stripped and we are going to have to buy 16 extra points from Disney for our first stay. We want to go the first week of December 17. I read we can't buy these til the 7 month mark, do you think we will have issues?

I agree with @KAT4DISNEY that normally it is very difficult to book December stays at VWL at 7 months. The only thing going for you is all the construction which is making some people avoid the resort throughout 2017. Assuming for some reason that you don't have points to borrow from your next Use Year, I would book what you can at the 11 month mark and try to add on at the 7 months when you can buy the points.

Your other options are to "rent points" for the nights you cannot reserve due to a lack of points. If you start soon you can possibly line up a VWL owner willing to make a reservation for your "leftover days". The only issue with that is that you would have two reservations which might not be able to be linked and that would mean you would have to check out and check back in for a day.

Your best solution would be to borrow points from your next Use Year to complete the reservation. The next best solution would be to find a VWL owner willing to sell you points in a transfer so you could book the entire reservation yourself at the 11 month mark.

Good luck!

 

[Muushka]

This is the first "Groupie meet" I can attend, but I've attended other group meets. The Games meet 3 years ago was a success partially because we set the dates years in advance.

Thank goodness I got to spend 15 glorious days on our Panama Canal cruise with you!

How about a Groupie meet on a Panama Canal cruise?????

DVC questions (sorry I am so lame on the subject these days....)

Are there mixers in the villas?

How about check-in online? We need to be sure that both of our villas at OKW are relatively close and our 2 BR has to either have an elevator or on the first floor (handicap not necessary). At VWL we never did online check-in, we always went over early in the AM with our room requests (in addition to when we booked it) and that always seemed to work well. But that was 3 years ago. Is it better to do online these days? Thanks!

 

[jmassey1samchi]

Your other options are to "rent points" for the nights you cannot reserve due to a lack of points. If you start soon you can possibly line up a VWL owner willing to make a reservation for your "leftover days". The only issue with that is that you would have two reservations which might not be able to be linked and that would mean you would have to check out and check back in for a day.

I am in a similar situation for this December. I booked three consecutive night, two with points, and 1 night by renting. I noticed on MDE that they show as two separate reservations. Does this mean I will have to check out of my room booked with points and check into a different room for the one that I rented?

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

When do the Christmas decorations start going up at the lodge? We are planning our 2017 December trip and trying to decide between weekends. We would like to go the first weekend in December (just a week after Thanksgiving) and wanted to make sure all the Christmas will be out.

 

[wildernessDad]

Okay, I see what they did with the Resort Availability Tool. Cancel my lock-off two bedroom addition suggestion.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

When do the Christmas decorations start going up at the lodge? We are planning our 2017 December trip and trying to decide between weekends. We would like to go the first weekend in December (just a week after Thanksgiving) and wanted to make sure all the Christmas will be out.

All the resorts are decorated prior to Thanksgiving so you'll be fine They do rotate which ones are done first so it's not possibility to say exactly what date but prior to Thanksgiving.

 

[Granny]

DVC questions (sorry I am so lame on the subject these days....)

Are there mixers in the villas?

Muush...The Member Merry Mixers are at EPCOT. Here's what the Disney site says about them:

When & Where
​

• • Dates: Every Friday from November 25, 2016 through December 23, 2016
  • Time: 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time
  • Location: World ShowPlace Pavilion at Epcot (between the Canada and United Kingdom Pavilions) at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida

Important Information
​

• • Valid theme park admission is required.
  • Event reservations are not required.
  • Admission is subject to capacity limits. Once the event reaches capacity, arriving Members and their guests may wait in line at the entrance, and can be admitted when event attendees exit the venue.
  • Party size limit of the Member plus 5 guests.

How about check-in online? We need to be sure that both of our villas at OKW are relatively close and our 2 BR has to either have an elevator or on the first floor (handicap not necessary). At VWL we never did online check-in, we always went over early in the AM with our room requests (in addition to when we booked it) and that always seemed to work well. But that was 3 years ago. Is it better to do online these days? Thanks!

As far as online check-in, I've never done it. When I've tried it never has the kind of requests that I'm looking for and I see no evidence that people get their requests more often by using the tool. And it seems to override whatever requests that might have already been made.

What we do is email Member Services with our request. A couple of days later they respond that they have added the requests to our reservation. Or you can call MS if you want to try to talk to a live person. Either way I do think that early in the day check-in has an advantage over evening check-in as far as requests go. Good luck!

I am in a similar situation for this December. I booked three consecutive night, two with points, and 1 night by renting. I noticed on MDE that they show as two separate reservations. Does this mean I will have to check out of my room booked with points and check into a different room for the one that I rented?

We have gone through this a couple of times with varying results. You will want to check with the front desk to see if they can keep you in the same room all three nights. But for the scenario you describe you may have to pack your belongings and check out in the morning and then check back in at 4:00 or whenever your room is ready. That could happen so I wanted you to be prepared for it, as painful as it seems. The most important thing is to discuss it with the front desk personnel when you check in. For the same reason, I would definitely avoid the online check-in for such a stay. Best wishes that it works out for you.

 

[Minnie_Moo]

I very surprisingly had a one night VWL waitlist for a 2 bedroom villa come through earlier this week for New Year's Eve! I cringed at the points cost, but my daughter really wanted to stay there and had booked a hotel room for her and her husband at a cost of over $600(!!!), while my husband and I had booked a much more reasonably priced room at Art of Animation. It will be our first stay at VWL and I'm looking forward to it We own at BLT, but have stayed more at SS and HH. We'll be heading over to SS after NYE for the rest of our stay.

Has anyone viewed the NYE or other fireworks from the WL property? I'm not sure whether the cabin construction will block the view. Recommendations for a viewing location would be appreciated! We have also considered hopping a boat to try to see the fireworks.

 

[sleepydog25]

Muush...The Member Merry Mixers are at EPCOT.

Granny, I think she might mean actual hand mixers in the kitchens in the villas. If so, I believe the answer is no.

As for your question, Minnie_Moo, there was never a great place to view fireworks at WL except perhaps the upper rooms on the north side, and the honeymoon suites there do offer great views (I can personally attest to that). There used to be decent viewing from the beach but that no longer exists due to construction. From the higher floors of the VWL suites on the lake side, you can glimpse some of the higher explosions. And if you're really adventurous, you could work your way down the old nature trail (yes, I know it's closed but I'm certain a person could manage to get to the shore line if he wanted), and about 1/4 mile down said path as it gently turns left, there is an opening in the foliage big enough to park a golf cart. It offers excellent views of most of the fireworks, and they appear to mostly be exploding over the lit up Contemporary Resort.

 

[Muushka]

Granny, I think she might mean actual hand mixers in the kitchens in the villas. If so, I believe the answer is no.

Ding Ding Ding, Sly is the winner. Thank you, I'll go ahead and bring my hand mixer along. I have a great recipe for cannoli dip that is to die for.

Thanks Granny for the heads-up on onlne check in. We'll do it in person on the day. Thanks!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

How about check-in online? We need to be sure that both of our villas at OKW are relatively close and our 2 BR has to either have an elevator or on the first floor (handicap not necessary). At VWL we never did online check-in, we always went over early in the AM with our room requests (in addition to when we booked it) and that always seemed to work well. But that was 3 years ago. Is it better to do online these days? Thanks!

Muushka - I'd definitely call or email those particular requests to MS at least a week prior to your check in or as soon as you're able to. With the online check in and direct to room I think it's much less likely to be able to change a room from what they've already assigned. You will want them to add a "traveling with xxxx" notation to both the OKW reservations. And you will want the 2BR to be noted to need "a building with an elevator or first floor due to medical reasons". You might still end up with a handicap villa if they aren't otherwise assigned because they are also in those locations but at least you'll have the location you need. Then you can either do online check in or not but don't go into the request section if you do as those types of requests are not normal options and you might erase them. Even when you've done online you can still go to the front desk and see if your requests have been met prior to going to the rooms.

I am in a similar situation for this December. I booked three consecutive night, two with points, and 1 night by renting. I noticed on MDE that they show as two separate reservations. Does this mean I will have to check out of my room booked with points and check into a different room for the one that I rented?

If you can contact the person you rented from and they are willing to do a three way call with MS you can have the reservations linked together for a continuing stay which will tell the hotel you have 3 nights and they likely will keep you in the same room. Otherwise at check in tell the front desk CM that you have the second reservation and would like to stay in the same room if they didn't already notice and assign you the same one. You still might have to check out and back in but most likely won't have to move.

I very surprisingly had a one night VWL waitlist for a 2 bedroom villa come through earlier this week for New Year's Eve! I cringed at the points cost, but my daughter really wanted to stay there and had booked a hotel room for her and her husband at a cost of over $600(!!!), while my husband and I had booked a much more reasonably priced room at Art of Animation. It will be our first stay at VWL and I'm looking forward to it We own at BLT, but have stayed more at SS and HH. We'll be heading over to SS after NYE for the rest of our stay.

Has anyone viewed the NYE or other fireworks from the WL property? I'm not sure whether the cabin construction will block the view. Recommendations for a viewing location would be appreciated! We have also considered hopping a boat to try to see the fireworks.

As Sleepy mentioned the best viewing from WL is a few of the north side hotel rooms. You can see some fireworks from other locations around but I'd plan on going some other place to watch if at all possible. The beach at FW is nice but personally I'd consider watching some place around the 7 Seas Lagoon. As I understand there are fireworks that are fired off from the islands in the lagoon or something similar. The Ferry dock at the Ticket and Transportation center is apparently a very good viewing spot - you could do a boat ride from VWL to MK then take the Ferry or monorail to the T&T. Or maybe over to GF. Poly would be a great viewing spot also but I think they sometimes can limit who is allowed there on holidays with special fireworks.

 

[Minnie_Moo]

Thanks very much for the NYE fireworks viewing information! My daughter had already mentioned to me that the Polynesian was going to limit access. I viewed the fireworks from there on NYE with friends years ago following a late dinner at Kona Cafe. We may have to try the boating option...

 

[jimmytammy]

Not certain that you saw this Jimmy but I watched the memorial service for Arnold Palmer a few weeks ago and Vince Gill performed so beautifully. And also displayed such a nice sense of humor - many of the speakers at the memorial spoke of Arnold's loss of hearing. After hearing story after story recounting the same point Vince Gill came up to perform and said "This has been very revealing...to know that I was Arnold's favorite singer....and he probably never heard a note I sang."

That sounds like Vince Gill. He is very humorous and takes himself very lightly

 

[jimmytammy]

Muushka
I have found that calling MS and putting in those requests works best for me. I did it once with online check in and got totally opposite of what we asked for. As for OKW, there are 3 buildings with elevators in them. They are fairly near Hospitality House(buildings 62, 63 and 64). We stayed in 64 once, not at request, just worked out that way. When you call MS, if this is for mobility issues, you can ask for elevator if you choose. To be on safe side though, I would ask for ground floor for mobility issues, then choose an area you like. I am particularly fond of Turtle Pond area but if being close to Hospitality House is important, let that be your 2nd request.

 

[DenLo]

Are there mixers in the villas?

I believe you can request an electric hand mixer from housekeeping.

Edit: I cannot find my amenity list for VWL but a electric mixer does show up on several other resorts list which show the items you can request (an electric hand mixer, blender and electric tea kettle).

 

[Corinne]

Countdown is at 38 days for the Big Honkin' Groupie Meet! It will be a lot of fun!

I'll try not to look like my current avatar.

Oh my goodness I haven't been here in a few weeks! I am so darn busy at work that I am barely thinking about the BHGM, and WDW at all! I cannot wait!!!!!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

10 hours 'til wheels down at MCO! Looking forward to just chilling and enjoying the last couple days of F&W.

 

[Granny]

Granny, I think she might mean actual hand mixers in the kitchens in the villas. If so, I believe the answer is no.

Ding Ding Ding, Sly is the winner. Thank you, I'll go ahead and bring my hand mixer along. I have a great recipe for cannoli dip that is to die for.

Oh.

 

[sleepydog25]

Oh.

I loved that character!! And it's been me so-o-o many times. . .