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

[jimmytammy]

MsChristy
Aulani is awesome! We have stayed there twice and loved it. Very laid back feel to it, much like VWL.

And congratulations and Welcome Home are in order!!

 

[ClaraOswald]

Now that we have our points, it's time to book our vacation! I'm a little bit sad our first stay as members won't be at BRV, but I'm so excited to check out Aulani!!

I'm kind of sad that my first stay as a DVC member will actually be at BRV just because our home resort is VGC. Ha!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We just returned from our first stay at BRV. We all loved it!

I liked that it was small and a very short walk to WL. We had a 2BR villa which was great. The kitchen was very small (compared to other DVC resorts), but we weren't really cooking so that was ok. Just reheating food, using toaster, coffee maker, etc.

I found it odd that there were no cast members in the lobby area. At BLT, VGF and Kidani (all places we've stayed with separate DVC buildings) there were usually at least a cast member or two.

Another strange thing is that the left elevator was broken during our entire stay. This made waiting for the elevator at busy times frustrating.

All in all we really enjoyed our stay there and wouldn't hesitate to stay there again!

Isn't VWL amazing! Glad you enjoyed it!

The layout there is one of the many "lets fit in all the doors we possibly can" design. lol At WDW it was 1st used at BWV and BCV and SSR too. If you stay at any of them you'll find the kitchen is the same as BRV or as we sometimes say here - VWL. I believe VB and maybe HHI have the same layout too.

They have had staff downstairs on and off but mostly off. It's been similar to BCV that way although recently BCV has staffed their location.

 

[smileyanna]

I am officially an owner at BRV, membership and activation came yesterday! Looking forward to some great stays, and appreciate this forum for all great cheer and information!

 

[holden]

Isn't VWL amazing! Glad you enjoyed it!

The layout there is one of the many "lets fit in all the doors we possibly can" design. lol At WDW it was 1st used at BWV and BCV and SSR too. If you stay at any of them you'll find the kitchen is the same as BRV or as we sometimes say here - VWL. I believe VB and maybe HHI have the same layout too.

They have had staff downstairs on and off but mostly off. It's been similar to BCV that way although recently BCV has staffed their location.

The layout was ok, just not what we are used to. We frequently stay at BLT (we own there), Kidani, OKW and VGF. We've never stayed at BCV or BWV. We'd love to, but they are hard to get. We don't care for SSR and we've outgrown Poly's small rooms (though I'd love it if they put in 2BR there!).

 

[MsChristy12]

MsChristy
Aulani is awesome! We have stayed there twice and loved it. Very laid back feel to it, much like VWL.

And congratulations and Welcome Home are in order!!

!!

Honestly, I wasn't very interested to check it out before we became members, mainly because the room rates are crazy!! Even with their promo 25% off or book with Costco, it's still a lot. But now we have points, let's go!

Now the hard part...I keep going back and forth can't decide if we want to do 5 nights or 6 nights. I want to do 6 nights but part of me want to save some points for our next Disney trip...dilemma dilemma!!

 

[MsChristy12]

I am officially an owner at BRV, membership and activation came yesterday! Looking forward to some great stays, and appreciate this forum for all great cheer and information!

!!

 

[MsChristy12]

I'm kind of sad that my first stay as a DVC member will actually be at BRV just because our home resort is VGC. Ha!

haha...first world problems!! I tried looking for just a couple nights availability at VGC...nada! we don't need to stay on property whenever we go to DLR, but once in awhile it's nice to switch it up.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The layout was ok, just not what we are used to. We frequently stay at BLT (we own there), Kidani, OKW and VGF. We've never stayed at BCV or BWV. We'd love to, but they are hard to get. We don't care for SSR and we've outgrown Poly's small rooms (though I'd love it if they put in 2BR there!).

Yes, I was guessing you hadn't stayed at all the resorts with that design before.

 

[jimmytammy]

Happy Sunday Everyone!!

 

[Granny]

Happy Sunday Everyone!!


View attachment 781471

And a Happy Sunday right back at you, Jimmy!

 

[Granny]

I am officially an owner at BRV, membership and activation came yesterday! Looking forward to some great stays, and appreciate this forum for all great cheer and information!

 

[jimmytammy]

Congratulations smileyanna and Welcome Home!

 

[jimmytammy]

I subscribe to a hardcopy of WDW Magazine, and occasionally I get an email from them regarding WDW subjects. So the last few days I got this one and wanted to share a video that a young lady put out that encompasses a lot we love about WL, VWL, CC and the cabins. Give it a watch if you have a few minutes. Its well done IMO!

 

[Granny]

Jimmy…that’s a really nice overview of the Lodge. Thanks for sharing the video.

 

[bluecastle]

I subscribe to a hardcopy of WDW Magazine, and occasionally I get an email from them regarding WDW subjects. So the last few days I got this one and wanted to share a video that a young lady put out that encompasses a lot we love about WL, VWL, CC and the cabins. Give it a watch if you have a few minutes. Its well done IMO!

Thanks for posting that!
A couple of questions: is the pin cart that used to be outside of Artist Point gone?
I thought I read that the water you see in the lobby that runs down towards the pool, just keeps recirculating and doesn’t really connect to the pool. Anyone else read this?

 

[Disney loving Iowan]

Thanks for posting that!
A couple of questions: is the pin cart that used to be outside of Artist Point gone?
I thought I read that the water you see in the lobby that runs down towards the pool, just keeps recirculating and doesn’t really connect to the pool. Anyone else read this?

Yes that is my understanding too of the stream.

 

[twinklebug]

I thought I read that the water you see in the lobby that runs down towards the pool, just keeps recirculating and doesn’t really connect to the pool. Anyone else read this?

The stream is comprised of 3 systems. The indoor-to-outdoor geyzer, the pool stream, and the pool to lake stream. I believe this was one of the ingenious creations of the architect himself.

1. The indoor fountain/geyser flows outside and down to the footpath bridge just outside the pool gates and that's where it stops, under that bridge where we can't see it.
2. The pool stream picks up where the other leaves off. It starts under the bridge and uses the pool's own water.
3. The final leg has a stream flowing from under a pathway on the other side of the pool down to the lake itself. I believe this uses lake water and is untreated.

 

[DonMacGregor]

I thought I read that the water you see in the lobby that runs down towards the pool, just keeps recirculating and doesn’t really connect to the pool. Anyone else read this?

I heard the comment about the water and was going to say the same thing the others beat me to: 3 separate recirculating systems.

 

[TCRAIG]

Hi all - hope everyone is managing to stay cool - especially seeing how this is such a cool bunch - opinions please - I’ve got multiple ressies for December and not sure which to keep - I’ve got VWL for Dec 4-9 then BWV (BW view which I’ve never had before) Dec 9-11 and then VWL from 12-17 - trying to decide which VWL to keep, 4-9 or 12-17…I usually like to end with WL but Dec 17 for going home just seems too close to Christmas…