VWL Room selection Do's & Don'ts

[curlicue]

We are headed to the VWL for the first time. What room locations & views are the best?

I want to make this trip as wonderful as possible. I had to do a little convincing of DH to purchase our DVC membership. And the more magical this stay is, the happier he will be about the DVC.

Thanks for the help!

 

[littlestar]

I'd ask for close to the elevator or pool view. Maybe request both.

If you're on the pool side of the Villas you won't get the "dumpster view." Close to the elevators would probably take care of not getting the dumpster view also as even if you're on the back side of the building (the side where the Wilderness Lodge bus stop is at) and are close to the elevators, you're not far enough down to be looking directly at the dumpster/laundry area.

Also, if you're staying in a studio, ask for a balcony room. There is one studio (lock-off) that doesn't have a balcony at all. We heard it was a construction error. My parents got that room on our last trip. It's on the fourth floor.

I have to say that even though we got a dumpster view and my parents got the "no balcony" studio on our last trip, we still enjoyed our stay at WLV. Our rooms were immaculate and the resort is stunning.

 

[DVCGirl49]

Do not get room 3560! This is the front and center dumpster view room. Last Dec we went to VWL and were assigned to a lovely 1st floor studio which upon entering the rest of my party deemed unacceptable because it was on the first floor and looked out to....the woods! (To think that WILDERNESS Lodge would have views of the WILDERNESS.) Anyway, I liked the room AND the view, but agreed to see if we could get it changed to something on an upper floor. We went back to the front desk and they changed it, to the last available room, (also note it is at the dead end of the hallway). When we walked in and my BF went to look out our balcony, I just had to laugh, here he'd insisted on changing rooms for a 'better' view and we got the dumpster view, front and center. .....Moral of the story, trust the room assigner, the room they have picked in the first place is probably better than the ones left if you want to switch!

 

[Granny]

curli...if smoking or non-smoking is important to you, I'd start there with my request.

Apart from that, the great majority of the views at VWL are of the woods. And it's very nice. The only complaints I have really heard is people who got rooms with the dumpster view (very small number of rooms) and those who got a handicap access room (different layout to allow wheelchair access).

I don't know when your trip is, but VWL still supposedly fills room requests in the order they are placed. Supposedly, this gives those who book at the 11 month window a better chance of getting their requests than someone who books at the 9 or 7 month window. So if you've already made your ressie, I'd make your requests ASAP!

Also...I don't want to sound too preachy, but if the value of DVC is going to be judged by room location or view, there are bound to be some disappointed people since every room gets filled most nights.

I realize this is the first trip, so "first impressions" are important. I would just hate to see anyone judge the benefit of DVC by the room view they receive.

Good luck...hope you get a great view and have a nice trip.

Granny

 

[curlicue]

Thank you so much for the good info. I will call today to put in our "request".

Curlicue