VWL - My Home Away from Home

[sleepydog25]

Just got back from a 5-night stay at VWL. I'll be doing a trip report soon, but if anyone has any questions regarding VWL re: food, accomodations, transportation, etc., fire away.

 

[DiznEeyore]

So didya have a good time?

 

[salmoneous]

Looking forward to the full report, but as a quick question, how was the "new" Roaring Forks?

 

[Gabby&Liv's Mommy]

We will have our first stay there in Dec 06. Really looking forward to it. How was the transportation?

We are considering eating at Wispering Canyon? Will we need reservations or could we walk in when we are hungary with only a short wait?

Hope you had a great time.

 

[Granny]

I've heard that's a nice resort.

How was the boat transportation to MK? We've never had a problem (more than a 15 minute wait) with dozens of boat trips but I've been hearing of some extended waits, overcrowded boats, etc lately.

 

[gppnj]

How was your room? What size room did you have? Everything in good shape?

 

[sleepydog25]

So didya have a good time?

Oh, yeah! lol There is something so relaxing and inviting about VWL. . .

 

[sleepydog25]

Looking forward to the full report, but as a quick question, how was the "new" Roaring Forks?

We liked it a lot. The dining area didn't seem to be substantially different (though we never ate in there so my opinion is based on quick glances), but the prepared food area was much nicer, more efficient, and offered a few things I don't remember from previous visits such as a huge roast beef sandwich with bleu cheese on focaccia or the turkey with brie on whole grain honey oat bread. Both were more than a meal in themselves and cost $6.79 and $6.49, respectively. The roast beef is the size of a dessert plate and 3" to 4" high while the turkey is even taller and sliced much like a huge piece of pie, about a quarter section of a pie plate. Very tasty!

How was the boat transportation to MK?

We wound up only taking the boat once, and it was around 2 p.m. coming back to VWL from MK. The boat was docking as we walked up. I will say that the bus transportation went off terrifically well. We had two waits of 10-12 minutes and the rest were under 5 minutes each. A couple of times we waited less than a minute. From our perspective, the transportation there (as it has been in the past) was topnotch. In fact, it was better this trip than previous trips during less busy seasons.

We will have our first stay there in Dec 06. Really looking forward to it. How was the transportation? We are considering eating at Wispering Canyon? Will we need reservations or could we walk in when we are hungary with only a short wait? Hope you had a great time.

As mentioned above, the transportation was excellent, though I'll admit we got lucky a couple of times. The main recommendation I have there is to drive to Animal Kingdom if you have a car since the bus stops both at the Grand Floridian and Blizzard Beach on the way to the park the farthest away. If you don't have a car, just allow yourself an extra 15-20 minutes.

WCC is quite busy, but I still think you can get a walk up if you plan correctly. I'd try for as early a dinner as possible on a night when they may be slower than normal. VWL is rather a bit more quiet and relaxed to begin with, and we've noticed that Thursday nights seem to be slower overall. Certainly, it's worth a try for a walk up. Perhaps others can offer better opinions since we haven't eaten there in a couple of years.

Yes, we had a wonderful time at VWL, as we always do. It's serene, lovely, full of awe-inspiring architecture, and has one of the top 5 restaurants in all of WDW--Artist Point. I hope you have a grand time, too.

 

[rigsby25]

WCC is quite busy, but I still think you can get a walk up if you plan correctly. I'd try for as early a dinner as possible on a night when they may be slower than normal. VWL is rather a bit more quiet and relaxed to begin with, and we've noticed that Thursday nights seem to be slower overall. Certainly, it's worth a try for a walk up. Perhaps others can offer better opinions since we haven't eaten there in a couple of years.

A word of caution. We were usually very, very lucky with walk ups in late May, but we got to Whispering Canyon at about 3:30 totally unaware that they close from 3 to 5. (between lunch and dinner).

 

[sleepydog25]

How was your room? What size room did you have? Everything in good shape?

I forgot to answer this one. We had a 2BR as usual since we enjoy having a king bed in the MBR while our young daughter can feel very grown up and happy with her two queens in her own room. The suite was in very good condition with a Mickey towel animal awaiting us in the MBR. The light above the shower burned out on Day 2, and at that time I noticed a bit of mold around the fan vent close to the light. It's something I could have easily wiped away, but I figured they would want to clean it better than that. I left a note the next morning (cleaning day) and both minor issues were resolved by the time we got back around 3.

That night around 11 p.m., the washer stopped working during the spin cycle. I called maintenance who offered to send someone right then, but I said it wasn't a big issue and the morning would be fine. When we came back to the room at 2, it was either fixed or switched out for another unit. So, even though there were minor issues, each was handled promptly and eagerly. Some might call that a bad experience--I call it great service and was totally satisfied.

I do have one complaint, however. Who was smoking what when they decided to locate the toilet roll dispensers in the bathrooms? I'm not feeble nor particularly decrepit, but you just about have to be a contortionist to reach the dang things! I finally opted to use a loose roll of TP instead of trying to subject myself to twists you don't even get on the Rock N Roller coaster at MGM!

 

[gppnj]

There have been a few threads recently about less-than-acceptable rooms (though I don't think any of them were at VWL). I'm so glad to hear that yours was up to your (and Disney's) standards.

I forgot to answer this one. We had a 2BR as usual since we enjoy having a king bed in the MBR while our young daughter can feel very grown up and happy with her two queens in her own room. The suite was in very good condition with a Mickey towel animal awaiting us in the MBR. The light above the shower burned out on Day 2, and at that time I noticed a bit of mold around the fan vent close to the light. It's something I could have easily wiped away, but I figured they would want to clean it better than that. I left a note the next morning (cleaning day) and both minor issues were resolved by the time we got back around 3.

That night around 11 p.m., the washer stopped working during the spin cycle. I called maintenance who offered to send someone right then, but I said it wasn't a big issue and the morning would be fine. When we came back to the room at 2, it was either fixed or switched out for another unit. So, even though there were minor issues, each was handled promptly and eagerly. Some might call that a bad experience--I call it great service and was totally satisfied.

I do have one complaint, however. Who was smoking what when they decided to locate the toilet roll dispensers in the bathrooms? I'm not feeble nor particularly decrepit, but you just about have to be a contortionist to reach the dang things! I finally opted to use a loose roll of TP instead of trying to subject myself to twists you don't even get on the Rock N Roller coaster at MGM!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I've heard that's a nice resort.

Sounds like the type of place you would enjoy Granny. You really ought to try it.

HBC

 

[joelly2103]

We are considering eating at Wispering Canyon? Will we need reservations or could we walk in when we are hungary with only a short wait?


Our last trip was just a few weeks ago and we had the dining plan free with our stay (well nothings ever free, but thats besides the point), anyway the first place we ate was at Wispering Canyon and LOVED IT!!

The noise level is high, but it is lots of fun if you have kids with you.

We ate at 5 other sit down meals, one including the Castle for dinner, and the best food we had the whole trip was at Wispering Canyon! We loved the BBQ and the portions they give are more than you can eat!

We are going back in December, no free dining, but we are going back to eat at Wispering Canyon.

I would also say that even with a reservation, we waited 20 minutes for a table and we ate at 8:30pm. I would suggest that you make reservations.

Have a GREAT trip!!

 

[starbox]

I would also say that even with a reservation, we waited 20 minutes for a table and we ate at 8:30pm. I would suggest that you make reservations.

We waited close to 40 minutes with an ADR on a week night, at 6:00, in early June.