VWL...is it just me or do others feel the same way?

[hitthebids]

We just got back from our trip 7/2 thru 7/8 at the VWL. I know that we were there during one of the most crowded times of the year BUT, i am not happy with the fact that the WL shares many of its services with the campgrounds. The Lodge is supposed to be a deluxe resort, yet the pool, the resturants and the transportain is used by the campers more so then the hotel guests. I believe disney should somehow seperate these two properties. VWL is my home resort but i doubt i will stay there any more. For example one late nite leaving the MK, we went to the boats for our return, we were at least 4 boats back. When we did get on and back to the WL, very few people got off. I know that the resorts on the monorail have thier own trains. I am not being snobish or looking down on anyone. I think the WL is just not able to handle the extra people during busy times. I am paying for the use of a deluxe resort and i dont think someone staying at a campground should have access to the same features.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Wow, I didn't know that! I thought the campground had its own facilities. That really doesn't sound fair.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don't think that the camprground people are SUPPOSED to use WL facilities, they just do. It would be great if CM's would hand out towels after seeing the resort key like they do at SAB, it may discourage some of the crowd.

Bobbi

 

[dizfanz]

I understand you observation about the crowded boats. However, I do not necessarily agree with the pools or restaurants being that crowded. SUre maybe the pool, but what pool on Disney grounds does not get crowded. Think of what SB must have been like during your stay. It's just my opinion.

 

[dizplanner]

OK The only thing the campground shares with the WL is the boats. And transportation is shared whereever you go on site - WL buses are shared with other resorts (GF which by the way is the top deluxe resort and it has to share too, Poly or CP - I don't remember exactly which resorts are sharing and it changes over time). The Epcot resorts have to share buses and boats. Sharing of transportation is done based on demand - and since the deluxe resorts have fewer people, they have to share. The only resorts that get their own buses are the larger resorts - i.e. values and believe me, when you are competing with 5000 people, the buses are still very crowded even if they go to only one resort.

The campground is not allowed to use the WL pools. People will go just as people staying at other resorts and even off-site will - there will always be people who will not obey the rules.

As for restaurants, anyone can eat there - regardless if they are staying at the WL, campground, other resort or off-site. This is the case at all restaurants.

You used the monorail as an example. Guess what? It is shared by three resorts and anyone can ride - even people going to the TTC to go to their cars. They are not limited to riding the express monorail - many do because it is faster without the stops, but they don't have to.

ALL Disney Transportation is overburdened at closing time. You would have been waiting for monorails or buses if you were going to a different resort. It is just that the boats are slow so it takes longer. By the way, if they ran individual boats to WL and campground, you probably wouldn't have gotten home much sooner because of the 4 boats you waited on, at least 2 or 3 would have gone to the campground and you would have had to wait for a WL boat. If you want private transportation, take a taxi.

 

[hitthebids]

Let me clarify this a bit. People were coming from the boats directly to the pool. People were using the food court and then going back to the campgrounds (i was in the rest. and then on the boat with the same people. who got off at the campground). There are walking trails which connect both areas. I am not being a snob. I saw some of these RV's, they cost more then some homes. If guests at the Allstar Resort had easy access to the Floridain, where do you think they would be spending most of their time? Im not even sure if the campgrounds have a foodcourt. The week i was there, you could not even get into the Poly or the Connie without a confirmed ressie at a rest. And people will always break the rules but at WL no rules are being broken. It is Disney's policy that i question.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It seems to me that the food courts and restaurants are there for anyone to use. Now, the pools is a different story. Resort pools should be for guests of that resort or anyone who can legally pool-hop. We usually stay at OKW, but we always have at least one meal at Artist Point at WL. Are you saying we shouldn't be allowed to do that?

 

[hitthebids]

You said "You used the monorail as an example. Guess what? It is shared by three resorts and anyone can ride - even people going to the TTC to go to their cars. They are not limited to riding the express monorail - many do because it is faster without the stops, but they don't have to."


I believe there are 2 seperate Monorails, one which just goes to the TTC and one just for the resorts. Why would you get on the resort one is you need to get to the TTC? I would think you want to get there are fast as possible.

 

[bavaria]

Let me clarify this a bit. People were coming from the boats directly to the pool. People were using the food court and then going back to the campgrounds (i was in the rest. and then on the boat with the same people. who got off at the campground). There are walking trails which connect both areas. I am not being a snob. I saw some of these RV's, they cost more then some homes. If guests at the Allstar Resort had easy access to the Floridain, where do you think they would be spending most of their time? Im not even sure if the campgrounds have a foodcourt. The week i was there, you could not even get into the Poly or the Connie without a confirmed ressie at a rest. And people will always break the rules but at WL no rules are being broken. It is Disney's policy that i question.

But I very often visit WL from another WDW resort, and then take the boat to the campground to wander around. It's something I really enjoy. How would you know if I was staying at the campground or at OKW or somewhere else if you saw me on the boat and in the restaurant?

I understand your frustration about crowds and pool hopping, but resort hopping is allowed and even encouraged.

 

[dianeschlicht]

You said "You used the monorail as an example. Guess what? It is shared by three resorts and anyone can ride - even people going to the TTC to go to their cars. They are not limited to riding the express monorail - many do because it is faster without the stops, but they don't have to."


I believe there are 2 seperate Monorails, one which just goes to the TTC and one just for the resorts. Why would you get on the resort one is you need to get to the TTC? I would think you want to get there are fast as possible.

If you go during off peak times, the only monorail running is the one that stops at the resorts before or after the TTC. In January, we rarely have seen the express monorail open. We often use the resort monorail to get to a restaurant at one of the monorail resorts too.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

So are you saying when I stay at the VWL, I shouldn't be allowed to use the food court at the Contemporary??? We always take a boat over to hang out there, walk around, etc.

There are boats that run between all the resorts on the lake, never saw this as a problem and I have stayed at the campground, VWL and Contemporary.

The only thing I would have a problem is pool hopping, I really wish they would do away with it all together!!! Book your resort and swim there, if you want to swim elsewhere, stay elsewhere, and they should hand out bracelets at all the pools during busy times to keep people where they belong!

But, if you can pool hop, why can't people at the campground pool hop also? I really don't know how the pool hop thing works, but if I am at the Poly, and want to swim in the WL pool, can I?? If I can, then why can't the campers do the same? I honestly don't have a clue how it works, is it only the deluxes and DVC that can pool hop?

 

[crisi]

Pool hopping is a DVC perk. Regular hotel guests are not supposed to hop. I suspect that the only way to deal with this will be wristbands handed out by lifeguards when they see a room key like at SAB.

 

[Beca]

I wanted to add....not that I am condoning ANYONE doing anything they shouldn't, but many people staying at FW are staying in "deluxes". Before I bought into DVC, my favorite place to stay was the cabins at FW. I used to pay almost $300 per night for one of these cabins.

I honestly don't know if there is a pool in FW, as I RARELY swim on vacation, but I know there is not a fast food place in FW. There is Trail's End restaurant, and there is a really neat general store...but, no fast food.

Ironically, I NEVER went to WL when I was staying at FW...I really like being "out there" when I stayed there.

Transportation is shared...I'm sorry you found that so frustrating, but it really is NO different that people saying that busses pick up BWV AFTER S/D and Beach/Yacht club, and when they get there...there is no were for BWV patrons to sit. It is awful, but not necessarily resort specific.



Beca

 

[littlestar]

We did a split stay over the 4th of July at VWl and BCV. We saw LOTS of pool crashers at Storm a Long Bay. People would walk in wearing their street clothes and then take them off and their bathing suits were underneath their street clothes. No red (that was the color when we were there) wrist bands for the whole day. We saw numerous guests that couldn't find a chair or lounger. And Disney never walked around and checked wrist bands. We actually thought it was more peaceful at the lodge pools as far as crowded pool area vs. Storm a Long Bay. Also, Disney did not have people checking IDs at Storm a Long Bay all the time. Sometimes they were there and sometimes they weren't. I think it was the time of year you visited. Disney was just plain crowded everywhere in my honest opinion and especially crowed at the Yacht and Beach resorts.

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Beca - there are 2 pools at FW, but they are just pools, nothing fancy, there was talk about turning the old "swimmin hole" aka River Country, into a themed pool for the campground. Funny, one of the reasons we bought at VWL was because we loved going over to FW and walking around and going to River country, the year after we bought, River Country closed!!!! We were bummed!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I do just the opposite, when I stay at WL, I love taking the boat and going over the the Trail's End Buffeteria to eat breakfast.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I do just the opposite, when I stay at WL, I love taking the boat and going over the the Trail's End Buffeteria to eat breakfast.

So far, we've only stayed at the villas in cooler weather, we've walked to FW and have enjoyed lunch and dinner at TEB! We're tempted to take a carriage ride sometimes.

Bobbi

 

[Sammie]

The only way it will get any better is to complain to Disney and let your money do the talking. Let them know that unless some changes are made you do not wish to stay there anymore.

You can also thank Internet forums and guidebooks that do not discourage pool hopping. Also many DVC members that are not staying at WL Villas pool hop there. Even though I am a DVC member I think the pool situation at Disney is way out control during the summer, and all pool hopping should be suspended during June, July and August. The pool was not large enough during the summer before the villas were built, and it is definitely too small now.

They hand out letters at checkin at the Campground, but they don't enforce it at the pool. I think once an hour they just need to have a lifeguard to get on his loud speaker and say Wilderness Lodge ID check, please get them ready.

It would interesting to see how many suddenly feel the need to leave.

 

[crisi]

And Roaring Forks is underbuilt for the traffic it creates. Just the Lodge traffic is bad. It was worse before they enlarged it.

 

[hitthebids]

The pool was out of control when we were there. At 10:30 there was not a chair to be found. I had to drag a couple off of the beach. So many chairs with just a towel on them, it is a big pblm. I know we have the quiet pool but the kids like the slide. And the quiet pool was just as jammed as well. It seems to be a Disney pblm not just a VWL pblm. I dont get the pool hopping stuff. I like the pool at the Coranado but im not going to get in my car to go there. And if you like the slides at SAB, why not just go to one of the water parks? Maybe if Disney put in a nice(free) pool area for everyone to enjoy the pool hopping would stop.