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

[DenLo]

We are staying at BRV now and are really enjoying our stay. The CMs are wonderful, friendly and real troopers to make everyones vacation perfect. I sometimes miss posts here, but I wondered if you all knew about the extras added to the VWL Lobby during this construction. Coffee, hot teas,and apple juice are available from 7:00 am until 3:00 PM daily. Also a concierge CM has a desk just off of the VWL lobby from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily. However, the hours are not consistently kept, because a pair of CMs rotate between VWL and the WL front desk and I think one CM has been absent.

I have to admit that at times the walk through the lobby to get the pool, Geyser Point and the ferry gets old. I can see why some would hate it.

Good news is that we have been watching them plants dozens of trees daily this week. So far they are all around the cabins as the area outside VWL is still a pretty busy thoroughfare with all of the construction vehicles. Also they added the metal tank with an arm to the pool area. I will try to upload a photo for you to see tomorrow.

 

[melk]

@rkstocke5609

@jimmytammy California is so worth it!! We had an amzazing trip there with a week at DL (and also some general LA sightseeing) and then went to Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP, Yosemite and San Francisco for the Walt Disney Family Museum. I would go back in a heart beat (actually thinking about a return trip to California sometime in 2018...).

I remember reading your trip report as we took a similar trip last summer. Disneyland, Sequoia & King's Canyon, Yosemite and SF...loved every minute of it!

Love the GC, we had the one bedroom there as well. VWL is of course my favorite but now VGC is a close second.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Kathy, I truly believe Ken is sorry for any inconvenience this has caused us and for any potential dues increase.

Look at the bright side here....you too can increase your enjoyment of the lodge and all of its enrichments by adding on at CCV for the low low price of $176 per point. We should be thanking Mr. Potrock

 

[Lakegirl]

We are staying at BRV now and are really enjoying our stay. The CMs are wonderful, friendly and real troopers to make everyones vacation perfect. I sometimes miss posts here, but I wondered if you all knew about the extras added to the VWL Lobby during this construction. Coffee, hot teas,and apple juice are available from 7:00 am until 3:00 PM daily. Also a concierge CM has a desk just off of the VWL lobby from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily. However, the hours are not consistently kept, because a pair of CMs rotate between VWL and the WL front desk and I think one CM has been absent.

I have to admit that at times the walk through the lobby to get the pool, Geyser Point and the ferry gets old. I can see why some would hate it.

Good news is that we have been watching them plants dozens of trees daily this week. So far they are all around the cabins as the area outside VWL is still a pretty busy thoroughfare with all of the construction vehicles. Also they added the metal tank with an arm to the pool area. I will try to upload a photo for you to see tomorrow.

So glad to hear about the trees!!!!

 

[rkstocke5609]

Live from VGC day 4. Last night we shopped & returned to DL thinking crowds would dwindle...wrong. Got in Autopia, Buzz, Pirates, and a nice lady gave us Star Tours FP's she wasn't going to make the window on. Saw some of the fireworks, looked great. So wiped out, made it back to the sixth floor viewing deck in the villas wing for World of Color (they even pipe in the music!). Wife & daughter so tired they made me promise to let them sleep in this morning.

So, solo I managed all the dark rides except PP, then added tea cups. Flew over to HSM, only couldn't grab FP's for all since they weren't scanned into the park. Last year I managed this trick, must have been lucky. Followed up with a FP for BTMR and did the Submarines. Then breakfast, followed by a run to Splash where while standing in the single rider line it went down. Badly, they couldn't move the logs around and had to evacuate from multiple spots. Handicappers too, it was ugly. So, bailed on that, did the BTMR FP, then grabbed the monorail to go grab the family.

Got them up, into MK, but left them at the gate inside, ran for HSM FP's for later, but it was down, so no go. Tried for Indy, but return would have put us for dinner, so onto planned things at CA park. Did Animation drawing (Olaf!). This is way bigger a class than Studios used to have. Then, Food & Wine chocolate making class (Yum!). Then live at the Hyperion for a Broadway caliber "Frozen" production. Little over an hour long. This was outstanding, nothing like this in Florida! Now off to Jazz Kitchen for dinner, then back to MK to close it down, check out tomorrow...lots to get in yet!

 

[ErinC]

Got my "sorry for the inconvenience" letter from Ken today. I know it's already been mentioned, but does anybody else think the salon in the old trout pass bar area is just weird? Do any of the other resorts have salons? I guess it's kind of like spa services, but I just think the location is odd. I don't think it's something I would ever use. Are they enclosing it?

 

[Flossbolna]

We are staying at BRV now and are really enjoying our stay. The CMs are wonderful, friendly and real troopers to make everyones vacation perfect. I sometimes miss posts here, but I wondered if you all knew about the extras added to the VWL Lobby during this construction. Coffee, hot teas,and apple juice are available from 7:00 am until 3:00 PM daily. Also a concierge CM has a desk just off of the VWL lobby from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm daily. However, the hours are not consistently kept, because a pair of CMs rotate between VWL and the WL front desk and I think one CM has been absent.

I have to admit that at times the walk through the lobby to get the pool, Geyser Point and the ferry gets old. I can see why some would hate it.

Good news is that we have been watching them plants dozens of trees daily this week. So far they are all around the cabins as the area outside VWL is still a pretty busy thoroughfare with all of the construction vehicles. Also they added the metal tank with an arm to the pool area. I will try to upload a photo for you to see tomorrow.

Love hearing about the new trees!!!

When we were there in December, there was a concierge CM at the VWL lobby as well. But it was irregularly then as well. The CM helped us once when we were trying to figure out why there was no Epcot bus. He was really nice! If I remember correctly, he was from Yosemite in California.

But in December there was no coffee, hot tea or juice in the lobby. I am pretty confident about that. I noticed however that the VGF lobby has a nespresso machine that you can use for a cup of coffee. At Vero Beach in November they had coffee and hot tea at their temporary breakfast station that was complimentary as well. I wonder if this is a new perk they have added (of course we are paying for that perk with our dues, but I cannot imagine that it would be really noticeable in our dues, maybe half a cent per point?). I like it!

 

[Dizny Dad]

We are staying at BRV now and . . . . . . . .

I racked my brain trying to think where in the heck you were staying . . . I guess I really have taken on the "Name that will remain unspoken" mantra heavily. I'm telling myself it was just an early morning brain burp, but . . .

. . . . . . does anybody else think the salon in the old trout pass bar area is just weird? . . . . . . . .

Yes, both DiznyDi & I wrinkled up our noses at the thought. Somehow, visiting the wilds and seclusion of the Lodge just doesn't bring to mind having a pedicure by the geyser, even with a rum in hand. The young upwardly mobile executive that inserted this feature will soon be moving on, promoted until incompetence is recognized, leaving behind ideas that forever changed the course of life. I have seen this so often (old age, I know) that I am beginning to believe it is a law in the universe, kind of like gravity.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Love hearing about the new trees!!!

When we were there in December, there was a concierge CM at the VWL lobby as well. But it was irregularly then as well. The CM helped us once when we were trying to figure out why there was no Epcot bus. He was really nice! If I remember correctly, he was from Yosemite in California.

But in December there was no coffee, hot tea or juice in the lobby. I am pretty confident about that. I noticed however that the VGF lobby has a nespresso machine that you can use for a cup of coffee. At Vero Beach in November they had coffee and hot tea at their temporary breakfast station that was complimentary as well. I wonder if this is a new perk they have added (of course we are paying for that perk with our dues, but I cannot imagine that it would be really noticeable in our dues, maybe half a cent per point?). I like it!

I wonder if the coffe etc in the lobby is more in response to Roarking Fork being closed? A little "compensation" for no Mickey waffles and an even longer walk around to the refill station at Geyser point from VWL. (See That @Dizny Dad ? VWL!)

And this letter......wonder if Mr Potrock heard a bit at the meet and greet at the MK events a month or so ago........there didn't seem to be much concern about our patience before.

 

[horselover]

Anybody else get their letter from Ken Potrock yet thanking us for our patience during the CCV build process? Says it's going out to all the original owners. Unfortunately the bulk of the letter just advises of all the new amenities and how they are enriching the overall resort experience

Wait till the newbies move in July 17 and we put our "welcome home" plan into motion.....it'll be enriching alright!!

I got my letter yesterday. It quickly went into the recycling pile.

Got my "sorry for the inconvenience" letter from Ken today. I know it's already been mentioned, but does anybody else think the salon in the old trout pass bar area is just weird? Do any of the other resorts have salons? I guess it's kind of like spa services, but I just think the location is odd. I don't think it's something I would ever use. Are they enclosing it?

Weird. When I go to the pool I'm not thinking about getting my nails done. I was just looking at my drink stirrers I'd been collecting every time I visited Trout Pass recently. I told DH they're collectors items now. HIs reponse was I could get at least a penny for them. They have sentimental value! As much as I enjoyed GP I will miss TP as a bar.

 

[Flossbolna]

And this letter......wonder if Mr Potrock heard a bit at the meet and greet at the MK events a month or so ago........there didn't seem to be much concern about our patience before.

He definitely heard from me during the Annual Meeting about my fears and how I felt that this whole project was treating the exisiting members as second class compared to the new ones. The wording I used was that we get rocks (Boulder) and the others get lovely streams (Creek). I am not delusional in thinking that me speaking up has any influence on decisions being made since those are money driven. But I got the impression that Ken actually is the type who listens to people and does not just shrug it off. I am sure that the combination of people like me who complained in person, people who wrote and maybe even an downturn in booking was noticed. And I can understand that sending the letter now makes sense. They should have sent it before work started, but once it started, it made sense to wait until we have actually seen a bit more of the positive that is going to come (or what DVC perceives to be positive).

I wonder how long it will take for the letter to arrive in Germany. Maybe it will go to Georgia (the country, used to be part of the Soviet Union) first because for whatever reason the DVC database keeps changing my profile from Germany to Georgia in some instances.

 

[sleepydog25]

Love hearing the updates from DL! Visited several times many years ago BCA (Before CA) as I was stationed in SoCal. Took luv on a surprise trip there going on three years ago, and loved the changes. Most of all, I wanted to comment that the choices in room decor at VGC are exactly what CCVC should be, as well as the refurbed VWL rooms from three years ago. Gorgeous. Upscale. Appropriate. Side by side comparison pictures would show a distinct difference between CCVC (why do I feel like I'm typing the acronym for the Soviet Union each time I use that tag?) and VGC, and would prove how large a mistake they made when they furnished the new rooms.

Haven't received the Pet Rock, er, Potrock letter, either. In fact, we're long time VWL members and have received very little from DVC at all save the "welcome, you're going on vacation" letters for our upcoming trips. Haven't heard squat from our agent/rep, though we wouldn't buy in, anyway. Glad to hear about the trees and the mini-concierge station in the VWL lobby. We'll have to see if it's still up and running in a month.

Happy Friday!

 

[Tardisblue]

Anybody else get their letter from Ken Potrock yet thanking us for our patience during the CCV build process? Says it's going out to all the original owners. Unfortunately the bulk of the letter just advises of all the new amenities and how they are enriching the overall resort experience

Wait till the newbies move in July 17 and we put our "welcome home" plan into motion.....it'll be enriching alright!!

Wasn't he Fred's boss in the Flintstones?

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

Well, that would help explain the new "boulder" name change/theme and rock quarry pool.

 

[Kathymford]

Got my "sorry for the inconvenience" letter from Ken today. I know it's already been mentioned, but does anybody else think the salon in the old trout pass bar area is just weird? Do any of the other resorts have salons? I guess it's kind of like spa services, but I just think the location is odd. I don't think it's something I would ever use. Are they enclosing it?

I thought it was a weird choice for a location at first too, and then I thought, oooh, but what about getting a pedicure with the lake view and a nice breeze ...

 

[twinklebug]

I think the location will be enclosed. I like pretty nails too, but just saying... I don't want to see anyone getting their feet scraped down from my table at Geyser Point.

 

[Corinne]

Hi Groupies!
My trip to Sarasota is winding down, what a wonderful week it's been! Headed back to MA tomorrow (hopefully flight won't be cancelled) going from 80's to SNOW. Boy am I grateful for this escape!

 

[rkstocke5609]

Live from VGC day 5. First off, the Jazz Kitchen in DTD was really good last night. Atmosphere 10, food 7.9 . Highly recommend, loved the live soloist on the piano. From there it was back to DL where we did rides until midnight. Got in the elusive Indy ride, so pressure was off for Friday.

Two different cast members we heard blaming the ride closures to some issue with the power from Anaheim. One from the Monsters Inc. ride at CA said that the maintenance guy turned the AC off and to try turning the ride back on to the operator, and said something about he thought that would keep it running ---WHAT?? We have seen a crazy amount of rides go down, but as seasoned veterans we take what the park gives us. Even SMALL WORLD went down -- I didn't think that ever broke....

Anyways, no rest for the weary as we left the room by 7:45 AM (well two of us). Ran over to MK and navigated HSM twice and Autopia, then flew back to grab a CS FP from CA park. Then, back to room to finish packing up with my wife and check out. Then off to the CS FP, followed by a run back to MK for a secured HSM FP from earlier. Then, scored an Indy FP and a BTMR FP before heading back to CA park to food & wine booth it for dinner. Some highlights were a beef tenderloin slider with garlic, and something called a "maple bacon whoopie pie" -- True heaven. Casually strolled around and made our way back to the GC lobby, Supershuttle scheduled to get us back to LAX for our 11:45 departing red eye in about 45 minutes. I fully expect to sleep the whole flight and another six hours when I get home. We finished strong. I will put together some final reflections sometime this weekend.

 

[twokats]

Got my letter a couple of days ago. Kinda read thru it, and laid it to one side before I decide what to do with it.

 

[Anna114]

Anybody else get their letter from Ken Potrock yet thanking us for our patience during the CCV build process? Says it's going out to all the original owners. Unfortunately the bulk of the letter just advises of all the new amenities and how they are enriching the overall resort experience

Wait till the newbies move in July 17 and we put our "welcome home" plan into motion.....it'll be enriching alright!!

I read it, said a nasty expletive and proceeded to throw it out.