VWL Groupies...yes, we love the Lodge, a lot!!

[Granny]

Love VWL...stayed there twice and have a very quick stay booked for next month in a studio. Have the bedspreads been replaces with triple sheeting yet? The one thing I really dislike about the older properties is the bedspreads.

I have to admit...we stayed there last Christmas and I don't really know if they changed anything, or what "triple sheeting" is for that matter. Hey, as I admit in my signature, "I'm a guy" which makes me pretty clueless.

Having said all that, I don't think there was anything different about the bedding last December. Unless it was a major change, though, I wouldn't notice.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have to admit...we stayed there last Christmas and I don't really know if they changed anything, or what "triple sheeting" is for that matter. Hey, as I admit in my signature, "I'm a guy" which makes me pretty clueless.

Having said all that, I don't think there was anything different about the bedding last December. Unless it was a major change, though, I wouldn't notice.

This is the triple sheeting at BCV Granny - I think you would have noticed the all white bed, yes?

Although - to be honest I didn't recognize it right away at OKW until I did not have to remove the heavy bedspread that night!

 

[nanajoyx2]

I am at VWL right now in a studio and we still have the bedspread. If triple sheeting means a duvet and no top sheet or blanket I will not like it. Hotels in Europe have duvets and they are too hot for me. I prefer a top sheet and a blanket.

 

[Granny]

This is the triple sheeting at BCV Granny - I think you would have noticed the all white bed, yes? Although - to be honest I didn't recognize it right away at OKW until I did not have to remove the heavy bedspread that night!

Definitely would have noticed something like that. And it definitely wasn't the triple sheet thingy going on late last year. Thanks for the quick tutorial Kat. .

 

[Granny]

I am at VWL right now in a studio ...

Have a great stay at our home!!!

 

[jimmytammy]

nana
Have a great trip!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I am at VWL right now in a studio and we still have the bedspread. If triple sheeting means a duvet and no top sheet or blanket I will not like it. Hotels in Europe have duvets and they are too hot for me. I prefer a top sheet and a blanket.

Nope - there's no duvet. It's the bottom sheet, normal top sheet, blanket and then another sheet on top of the blanket.

The only thing I wish is that there were the typical bed scarf to bring some color and theme to the bed. VGF has them so I'll keep holding out hope that they're just picking them out for the other resorts.

 

[bluecastle]

Hi Groupies! I haven't posted in forever, but have recently booked a 2 BR villa for the 3rd year in a row for an August visit. Unfortunately I had to postpone the first two because of back problems and a conflict with DD taking the last course she needed for her teaching license, but I am hoping the 3rd time is the charm!
I am back in research mode and would love to know how the villas are doing. Are there any rumors of rehabs? Are they in good shape? This will be our first time in a villa. We have stayed in the lodge and love it there. We are a party of 5 for this trip and we are looking forward to having space! ( plus the large fridge and the washer/dryer)
Any and all comments on the upkeep of the villas will be appreciated! So happy to have a countdown again!!

 

[MMrules]

I have almost 3 months to go before my first VWL vacation! I have the worst week (car crash which probably totaled my Tahoe, kids were with me, we are all ok, but haven't heard from the insurance all week). I am fearful that we will need to cancel the trip due to the money it will cost from the accident, and the thought is disheartening. I need my trip to Disney, my time in the lodge and my happy place!!!!

Just needed to vent and see my ticker to tell me I will find a way!!!

 

[Granny]

Hi Groupies! I haven't posted in forever, but have recently booked a 2 BR villa for the 3rd year in a row for an August visit. Unfortunately I had to postpone the first two because of back problems and a conflict with DD taking the last course she needed for her teaching license, but I am hoping the 3rd time is the charm!
I am back in research mode and would love to know how the villas are doing. Are there any rumors of rehabs? Are they in good shape? This will be our first time in a villa. We have stayed in the lodge and love it there. We are a party of 5 for this trip and we are looking forward to having space! ( plus the large fridge and the washer/dryer)
Any and all comments on the upkeep of the villas will be appreciated! So happy to have a countdown again!!

Welcome back bluecastle!

We last stayed at VWL last December and our villa was in fine shape. I know they have done some rehabbing over the past year or so and we haven't seen any real issues on any of our stays. Maybe we've been extraordinarily lucky, but in our 15+ DVC stays we've never had a room that I would describe as "shabby" or poorly kept. Certainly some calls to maintenance for some minor issues, but overall we've found the DVC villas to be pretty well kept despite almost full occupancy all year round.

Good luck with your patience to wait until August! And we'll keep our fingers crossed that there are no more cancellations for you!

 

[Granny]

I have almost 3 months to go before my first VWL vacation! I have the worst week (car crash which probably totaled my Tahoe, kids were with me, we are all ok, but haven't heard from the insurance all week). I am fearful that we will need to cancel the trip due to the money it will cost from the accident, and the thought is disheartening. I need my trip to Disney, my time in the lodge and my happy place!!!!

Just needed to vent and see my ticker to tell me I will find a way!!!

So sorry to hear about your challenging week!

We hope everything works out with your insurance and that you get your much needed trip to our beloved VWL. Good luck!

 

[DVCTigger]

Hello all! My DH and I will be spending 9 nights at the Lodge for my birthday in Feb. We have only been to VWL once before, and it was a pre cruise stay with the kids with a full day in the parks. This trip is a non park trip, just the two of us. We know how to enjoy WDW without the parks, and have spent at least four weeks at Fort Wilderness in the past, so we know all about the path and what to do over there. What I'm wondering is if there is anything specific to WL that we need to know about. We have done the restaurants and lounge a few times each, know to enjoy the quiet and the pool parties. But what do we need to know about a longer, non park stay at WL? TIA

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Definitely would have noticed something like that. And it definitely wasn't the triple sheet thingy going on late last year. Thanks for the quick tutorial Kat. .

I've been waiting years for the bedspreads to go away - they've always felt like a ton of bricks so I'm a bit excited over triple sheets! I'm still amused at myself though that I didn't even notice it right away at OKW. I noticed the nice blue pillows on the bed but not the fact that they stood out because they were on white. But BCV - no color at all - that was an obvious stand out.

I have almost 3 months to go before my first VWL vacation! I have the worst week (car crash which probably totaled my Tahoe, kids were with me, we are all ok, but haven't heard from the insurance all week). I am fearful that we will need to cancel the trip due to the money it will cost from the accident, and the thought is disheartening. I need my trip to Disney, my time in the lodge and my happy place!!!!

Just needed to vent and see my ticker to tell me I will find a way!!!

Glad you're ok and hope insurance takes care of everything so you can get to the fun!!! (I have a Tahoe too - love that truck and know it would do a pretty good job of protecting. I'd be very sad though if it got totaled).

 

[Granny]

Hello all! My DH and I will be spending 9 nights at the Lodge for my birthday in Feb. We have only been to VWL once before, and it was a pre cruise stay with the kids with a full day in the parks. This trip is a non park trip, just the two of us. We know how to enjoy WDW without the parks, and have spent at least four weeks at Fort Wilderness in the past, so we know all about the path and what to do over there. What I'm wondering is if there is anything specific to WL that we need to know about. We have done the restaurants and lounge a few times each, know to enjoy the quiet and the pool parties. But what do we need to know about a longer, non park stay at WL? TIA

It sounds like a wonderful trip I would ask when you check in to be the flag family one morning. Great view from the top of the Lodge.

I would also do a Lodge tour. Very interesting facts about WL can be learned from that.

I would also look into an extended bike & boat plan to ride bikes and take boats out on a leisurely basis.

You'll have a great trip I'm sure!

 

[twinklebug]

Nope - there's no duvet. It's the bottom sheet, normal top sheet, blanket and then another sheet on top of the blanket.

The only thing I wish is that there were the typical bed scarf to bring some color and theme to the bed. VGF has them so I'll keep holding out hope that they're just picking them out for the other resorts.

I'm one of "those folk" who have always folded up the bedspread and kept it in the closet for the length of our stay, so to me this is great news. One less thing to do!

Those blankets can be just as dirty as the bedspreads though. During our stay at VWL this summer, I had a blanket with what I'll only describe as 'stuff' smeared and hardened onto it. I called for a new blanket right away. This is a problem at all the resorts. The housekeepers have to be made to do the proper thing, not the easy thing. Launder those blankets!

 

[DVCTigger]

It sounds like a wonderful trip I would ask when you check in to be the flag family one morning. Great view from the top of the Lodge.

I would also do a Lodge tour. Very interesting facts about WL can be learned from that.

I would also look into an extended bike & boat plan to ride bikes and take boats out on a leisurely basis.

You'll have a great trip I'm sure!

Thank you, these are exactly the ideas I'm looking for! Can I just ask at concierge about the tour?

 

[Granny]

Thank you, these are exactly the ideas I'm looking for! Can I just ask at concierge about the tour?

Yes, you go to Guest Services (at the end of the registration counter nearest to the Mercantile store) for tour information as well as Flag Family info.

Also, if you want to kill some time in a fun way around the Lodge, you can ask Guest Services for the list of Hidden Mickey clues for WL (and VWL is in there too).

 

[jimmytammy]

MMRules, Moosedust to you that all goes well with ins. And that your week improves too!

Headed to Panthers Falcons game in a bit, Mountains with mom and dad yesterday to enjoy fall colors, busy but fun weekend, helps keep my mind off not being in WDW as Im having WithDraWal

And everybody keep in mind if you PM me about your dates for WDW/cruise vacations with dates and resorts(remember, any WDW resorts will do)I can get you on 1st page, and twokats if PMed will be glad to get birthdays/anniversaries on 1st page also!!

 

[bluecastle]

I know it is too early ( but is it ever too early?) to think about room requests, but I am. I would love your input. I usually ask for a high floor, mostly because I don't like hearing footsteps above me. I already know I want a dedicated 2 BR on the pool/lake side. I noticed the 5th floor on that side is all dedicated 2BRs and I am thinking that when we go, August 11-19, it might not be too busy up there. But I also read about dormered windows somewhere and one of our party of 5 is about 6'2". So, I am weighing the pros and cons of asking for 4th or 5th floor I guess. Any opinions?
p.s. Thanks for the welcome back Granny!

 

[eliza61]

I know it is too early ( but is it ever too early?) to think about room requests, but I am. I would love your input. I usually ask for a high floor, mostly because I don't like hearing footsteps above me. I already know I want a dedicated 2 BR on the pool/lake side. I noticed the 5th floor on that side is all dedicated 2BRs and I am thinking that when we go, August 11-19, it might not be too busy up there. But I also read about dormered windows somewhere and one of our party of 5 is about 6'2". So, I am weighing the pros and cons of asking for 4th or 5th floor I guess. Any opinions?
p.s. Thanks for the welcome back Granny!

As a general rule, VWL and the BCV's are two of the resorts where I rarely ask for room request. Mainly because of the way these resorts were added on, all views IMO are very "generic".
We usually go a week later than you, as the schools in NJ don't start until after Labor day and while not empty the crowds thin out a bit.
I've never had a room on the 5th floor, always floor 3 or 4. truthfully they all have been "woods" view. I have had a room where we could peer left and see the lake but pretty much that was all woods.

I'm not much help as one of the things I love about the lodge is the "woodsy" views especially in late August.