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

[sleepydog25]

Hi everyone! Its been a long while since I've been on Disboards. Life has just been so crazy.
we have a vacay planned at VWL for Nov 13-18th. We wanted to go Nov 20 to 25th but even though Thanksgiving is Nov 28th, we were surprised to find our Pirate Passes were blocked after Nov 21st. I had already booked the room! I called MS in a panic and admitted with my busy life, I neglected to notice our passes were blocked and they got us in a week earlier. We were in WDW last November ( 11/29 to 12/3). Just my stupid oversight. MS was super nice about it.
My question now.....I think we will miss out on the WL lobby Christmas tree. That is a bummer to me, but December dates were not available to us as we can only book at 7 mos out. Can anyone confirm when the tree goes up? Thanks and hope you all had a nice July 4th (I worked this year so celebrating today!)

Great to hear from you again, Mia!

 

[Granny]

Hi everyone! Its been a long while since I've been on Disboards. Life has just been so crazy.
we have a vacay planned at VWL for Nov 13-18th. We wanted to go Nov 20 to 25th but even though Thanksgiving is Nov 28th, we were surprised to find our Pirate Passes were blocked after Nov 21st. I had already booked the room! I called MS in a panic and admitted with my busy life, I neglected to notice our passes were blocked and they got us in a week earlier. We were in WDW last November ( 11/29 to 12/3). Just my stupid oversight. MS was super nice about it.
My question now.....I think we will miss out on the WL lobby Christmas tree. That is a bummer to me, but December dates were not available to us as we can only book at 7 mos out. Can anyone confirm when the tree goes up? Thanks and hope you all had a nice July 4th (I worked this year so celebrating today!)

Maria...it is so nice to hear from you. And even though I have no idea when the decorations go up at WL, I think you've gotten some great advice.

If you do miss them this year, think of it as a benefit to make leaving WL a little easier. It's always hard enough, but if the decorations were going up as you are leaving, that would seem to me to be even more depressing.

So glad to "see" you around. It is always a great pleasure.

 

[Spartan86]

I thought the rooms on the 5th floor, although renovated, had traditional pull out sofa beds due to the ceiling structure…

Just as FYI, 4514, 1BR over walkway had a sofa bed, and the dormer type structures in the living room and bedroom. Not really a fan. No floor lamp added so fairly dark with only the ceiling fixture.

 

[Granny]

Just as FYI, 4514, 1BR over walkway had a sofa bed, and the dormer type structures in the living room and bedroom. Not really a fan. No floor lamp added so fairly dark with only the ceiling fixture.

Thank you for the information about 4514. I guess that makes sense since that section behind the elevators is only four floors high.

No floor lamp is pretty strange. And in those dormer/vaulted ceiling villas the light over the kitchen table doesn't hang down, it is imbedded in the vaulted ceiling. So it isn't as bright as the villas normally would be. Overall, I'd have to say that staying on the top floor of VWL is not optimal. It certainly isn't a big issue for us, but I can see where the sofa bed would be less than ideal for many.

 

[ClaraOswald]

We are staying in a 1 bedroom in January and I requested a low floor. I'm super nervous though because if we end up on top floor, my husband or myself will be stuck on the sofa bed and we're just too old (and I'm too arthritic) for that. But our son can't be left alone to sleep in the living room.

 

[bluecastle]

We are staying in a 1 bedroom in January and I requested a low floor. I'm super nervous though because if we end up on top floor, my husband or myself will be stuck on the sofa bed and we're just too old (and I'm too arthritic) for that. But our son can't be left alone to sleep in the living room.

If you call them and tell them your concerns about your son, they may make a note of it on your reservation. And hopefully, in January, if they are not sold out, you can doublecheck when you check in and they can make a change if you are assigned the 5th floor.

 

[Granny]

We are staying in a 1 bedroom in January and I requested a low floor. I'm super nervous though because if we end up on top floor, my husband or myself will be stuck on the sofa bed and we're just too old (and I'm too arthritic) for that. But our son can't be left alone to sleep in the living room.

I think if you requested a lower floor and that is your only request, then it should be fine.

I should say that our last two stays at VWL were on the top floor 1BR with the traditional pull out sleeper sofa. We found that sofa to be plenty comfortable, more so than the old sleeper/sofas they had. For instance, we couldn't feel the bar below the mattress like we used to be able to feel.

Still, I hope that the room assigner is able to get you something that works for you. The odds are certainly in your favor as there are many more villas on the lower floors compared to the top floor.

 

[ClaraOswald]

We put in a request for lower floor, near lobby. Last time we requested lower floor and lake view. We ended up in non-lake view. But were on the 1st floor. Unfortunately at the very far end though.

If we were to end up on a high floor, do they have extra mattress toppers or anything they could bring us?

 

[ClaraOswald]

Can anyone direct me to where I can see the difference between the 2-bedroom floor plan and the 2-bedroom lock-off floor plan? If we have enough points in the future, we may just go with that to avoid worrying about being on the top floor. It's a crazy amount of space/beds for 3 people and maybe we wouldn't even have enough points (I've never actually looked at prices) but I'm still curious about the floor plans.

Thanks!

 

[Mle8308]

Yes, I agree that cost aside, this new system works much better for us. We don't get up early on our vacation trips. And this way we can be sure to see some of our favorite attractions during a trip. We don't wait in lines any more, so this works better for us. Although I must say that I can't see spending the money on Animal Kingdom or EPCOT.

I saw one blog that indicated that you could purchase the LLMP for a cheaper park, say DAK, and once you use your first lightning pass you can get another ride pass at any park. So you can book early DAK attractions and then book MK or other park attractions the rest of the day. It's a way of enjoying the LLMP in MK but not paying the MK price.

I think it's going to be one price for LLMP now regardless of the park. Not 100% sure, but I thought I read that somewhere. Guess we'll have to see!

 

[CarolynFH]

Can anyone direct me to where I can see the difference between the 2-bedroom floor plan and the 2-bedroom lock-off floor plan? If we have enough points in the future, we may just go with that to avoid worrying about being on the top floor. It's a crazy amount of space/beds for 3 people and maybe we wouldn't even have enough points (I've never actually looked at prices) but I'm still curious about the floor plans.

Thanks!

This shows the floor plan for a BRV dedicated 2BR - https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/villas-at-wilderness-lodge/vwl-guest-room-inventory. I'll look for one that shows the lockoff.

Here's a lockoff - https://images.app.goo.gl/HVYSEHbNLvKQ9e5r9 but it's pre-refurb.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

I just booked VWL for later this month! We have never stayed here before & we are so excited to try it out!
I’m trying to read everything I need to know!

We’ve never stayed at Wilderness Lodge before. If paying cash, would you choose a one bedroom at Bolder Ridge, or a Fireworks View room at Wilderness Lodge?
What if the price was close?
What do you like or dislike about the choices?

I just added a poll question for this.

Thank you!

 

[ClaraOswald]

This shows the floor plan for a BRV dedicated 2BR - https://dvcnews.com/wdw-resorts/villas-at-wilderness-lodge/vwl-guest-room-inventory. I'll look for one that shows the lockoff.

Here's a lockoff - https://images.app.goo.gl/HVYSEHbNLvKQ9e5r9 but it's pre-refurb.

Thanks! This helps. I'd definitely go for the dedicated. I assume I get to pick when booking, right?

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks! This helps. I'd definitely go for the dedicated. I assume I get to pick when booking, right?

Yes, they are booking categories - the “2 bedroom villa” will be dedicated, and the “2 bedroom lockoff villa” will be exactly that.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Yes, they are booking categories - the “2 bedroom villa” will be dedicated, and the “2 bedroom lockoff villa” will be exactly that.

Good to know, thanks. I don't typically include anything bigger than a 1-bedroom in my searches so I've never noticed before.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Just as FYI, 4514, 1BR over walkway had a sofa bed, and the dormer type structures in the living room and bedroom. Not really a fan. No floor lamp added so fairly dark with only the ceiling fixture.

Really appreciate this bit of valuable information!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Thanks everyone ---old friends and new. Yes I will try and get a later date next year. I only get the 7 month advantage at VWL and its a fierce competition for Christmas season. Add that in plus our Pirate Passes had blackouts for our original dates (Nov 20-25th) we did the best we could. We will miss the tree not being up during the Nov 13-18th time period but hey.....we're at the Lodge for 5 glorious nights.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Can anyone tell me, besides 4514, are there other non-5th floor rooms that wouldn't have a murphy? I'd just want to know so when I see my room assignment, I'd recognize it and then could stop at the desk before going to the room.

 

[jimmytammy]

I just booked VWL for later this month! We have never stayed here before & we are so excited to try it out!
I’m trying to read everything I need to know!

We’ve never stayed at Wilderness Lodge before. If paying cash, would you choose a one bedroom at Bolder Ridge, or a Fireworks View room at Wilderness Lodge?
What if the price was close?
What do you like or dislike about the choices?

I just added a poll question for this.

Thank you!

VWL would be my choice, the room will be larger, its quieter in the villas vs the main lodge. You can actually see some of the fireworks from Geyser Point so you dont have to pay extra for a fireworks view.

 

[sleepydog25]

VWL would be my choice, the room will be larger, its quieter in the villas vs the main lodge. You can actually see some of the fireworks from Geyser Point so you dont have to pay extra for a fireworks view.

Agree with jimmytammy! VWL (or what is now called BRV) is quieter and has larger rooms overall. Some higher lakeside rooms also offer partial views of the fireworks which is all you'd really get from the actual Lodge rooms.