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

[Disney loving Iowan]

Where are we?

 

[twinklebug]

Where are we?

Too easy! You're 6' (or more) to the left of me ... in my dreams.
Enjoy!

 

[Granny]

Best way to get specific room requests for VWL?

Welcome to the VWL Groupies thread! For view requests, I just email Member Services. Takes them a few days but they then bounce me back with a message that my request has been noted and no guarantees.

VWL is a really small resort...only about 130 villas or so as I recall. Most requests I see want to be on the Bay Lake side, and since 50% of the villas are on that side, they tend to be honored fairly well (unless your name is @KAT4DISNEY ). If you end up on the "bus side", you mostly have a view of woods which is perfect for the theme of the resort anyway. It's far enough away from the bus stop that we haven't been bothered by that noise. Some people request to be close to the elevator, but honestly it is such a small resort that even if you are at the farthest point from the elevators you'd still be much closer than other DVC hotel style resorts. Good luck!

 

[Granny]

Where are we?

In one of our favorite places on earth. Love the view of Bay Lake and the breezes that come through the lounge.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Welcome to the VWL Groupies thread! For view requests, I just email Member Services. Takes them a few days but they then bounce me back with a message that my request has been noted and no guarantees.

VWL is a really small resort...only about 130 villas or so as I recall. Most requests I see want to be on the Bay Lake side, and since 50% of the villas are on that side, they tend to be honored fairly well (unless your name is @KAT4DISNEY ). If you end up on the "bus side", you mostly have a view of woods which is perfect for the theme of the resort anyway. It's far enough away from the bus stop that we haven't been bothered by that noise. Some people request to be close to the elevator, but honestly it is such a small resort that even if you are at the farthest point from the elevators you'd still be much closer than other DVC hotel style resorts. Good luck!

Now you all don't start thinking about requesting my side of the building!

 

[sleepydog25]

Best way to get specific room requests for VWL?

As Granny says, there are no guarantees to get any room at any resort with the possible exception of being a "cherished guest." I also agree that pretty much all the rooms at VWL are lovely with the exception of a few toward the very end of the hallway that overlook either the dumpster area or the linen collection area (lake view and woods view, respectively). Personally, I'd ask for high floor near the elevator or lake view near the elevator for my request. You can email, call, or often chat (when that function is working). If you actually make a specific room request, as in number, and that room is unavailable, then the room assigner has no clue about your preferences.

Beyond that, to the Groupies, and we hope you'll join in our chats, sharing of trips (such as DLI lately), and just run of the mill news. Enjoy VWL!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Just a heads up. In the recent videos I saw it didn’t look like it was working right so this didn’t surprise me.

 

[jimmytammy]

Good morning Gang!
Hope all is well in your world
Our friend Kenny who I have mentioned a few times recently made me aware he has been hired back at WDW and will soon be back at Chef Mickey’s next week
Hoping many more hear the good news soon!

 

[Corinne]

Hi Groupies!

My sister and I are heading back to Sarasota for a girls only trip at the end of the month. We normally fly JetBlue exclusively, but they only offer direct flights between Boston & SRQ seasonally, so we decided to give Allegiant a try. I know they are completely “no frills”, but my big concern is if they cancel flights, which I have read they do, and they only offer a very limited schedule. Hopefully it will be fine.

Does anyone have experience with them?

 

[jimmytammy]

Corinne
We have flown Allegiant on a few occasions, and for the most part, its been a pleasant experience.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Good afternoon! We left BCV this morning, and are heading to HHI. We may be stopping in Savannah for the harbor cruise if we think we can get there for the 3:30 sailing.

It was a tad to hot for us at WDW. We were to eat at Whispering Canyon, but cancelled. So, we missed our WL visit. Didn’t hit MK at all. Stayed close to SAB.

Just crossed into GA. Will we see our Groupie CM?? We hope so!

Bobbi

 

[Corinne]

Thanks for the reply Jimmy! Going to try and have an open mind about Allegiant!

 

[sleepydog25]

Good afternoon! We left BCV this morning, and are heading to HHI.
Just crossed into GA. Will we see our Groupie CM?? We hope so!

Bobbi

According to Page 1, you'll be at HHI until 19 May, so...YES! There should be a Groupie CM sighting or two. Chances are I'll have a trainee in tow. I've become a trainer already, and I may a new hire tagging along with me while you're there. Actually, I'll make him do most of the work! Nahhh, I don't operate that way. And Chris, like me, usually works Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. My schedule, currently, is Sunday at the Beach House, Monday running around the back 40 doing housekeeping attendant, and then back to the Beach House on Tuesday. Chris is at the Lodge, of course, and is currently set for late shift, late shift, and mid-shift, respectively. See you around!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Sadly, we leave May 11. See you when we can!

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

In one of our favorite places on earth. Love the view of Bay Lake and the breezes that come through the lounge.

The best thing about it was the family of ducks! Momma duck and her 7 babies walked through looking for crumbs. They walked right around at our feet. It was awesome.

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Been home for a couple days now and boy am I depressed. It was so difficult to leave. Many tears were shed. My husband has assured me that I will get back sometime. Living in AZ I sure got used to not having humidity so boy were we hot. We spent a good amount of the hottest part of the day in the resort. Got to eat at WC twice. I have to say the bed at VWL was not nearly as comfortable as the bed at BWV. It was much firmer. The one at BWV felt like sleeping on a cloud. My back loved it and I slept great and woke up with a refreshed back. Wish the one at the lodge was so comfy. The staff at VWL were great. Ran into so many friendly CM's. The gentleman who came in for our trash every day was so nice. Overall we had a great trip. My DD and I travel really well together. We like the same basic schedule and like to do the same things. It was just so nice spending the time with her. I hate that we may never be able to have a trip like this again. I'm grateful though that we at least were able to do it this time. On Sunday we were doing Epcot so we planned to go later in the day. We spent the early part in our room with our curtains open so we could enjoy the view and watched a Golden Girls marathon with lunch at Roaring Fork squeezed in there. Such a simple thing to do but I loved it. Oh and did we enjoy watching the Mickey Mouse cartoons they show. They were great too lol. Thank you everyone who gave me advice and support in planning the trip. I really appreciate it.

 

[sleepydog25]

Good afternoon, Groupies! Here's hoping this has been and will continue to be a great weekend for each of you. Warm weather has finally settled in here at HHI (though it was 51F this morning), and that means all manner of wildlife on the islands are out and about: fish, turtles, snakes, all manner of wading birds, and yes, gators! We've seen our resident Smaug cruising up and down the lagoon which I have to say is rather cool.

 

[sleepydog25]

For those planning to visit the DHHIR resort in the upcoming months, here are a few pictures to tide you over. . .

The point at the resort--that is the deep water channel to Shelter Cove Marina that sits behind and to the left of this photo.


The beach near the Beach House


NOT Disney, but the lagoon at the edge of our back yard


View this morning from our property

 

[jimmytammy]

Sleepy
Love the pictures!

 

[Kay7979]

The best thing about it was the family of ducks! Momma duck and her 7 babies walked through looking for crumbs. They walked right around at our feet. It was awesome.

We saw them too!