Gina,
Let me be the first to tell you that we are THRILLED with our purchase at VWL. We bought last year sight unseen. After that purchase we also began reading posts about transportation issues from VWL and were apprehensive as to what we would find when we made our first visit home in January.
We had NO problems at all. The boats were very reliable. Never waited for longer that 5 minutes for a boat. Never waited longer that 10 minutes for a bus (and on the occasion where it was 10 minutes it was because we were being pokey on the way to the stop). And upon leaving parks, our bus was always there or was within 5 minutes!
As for no character meal, it really doesn't matter considering you can get to Chef Mickeys in a matter of minutes by boat (the best character dinner IMHO)...the Poly and GF in seconds by bus.
Its a great location (on the lagoon with the water pageant at night, surrey bikes to rent that can take you along a quiet little path to a petting farm, wonderfully quiet
DVC pool that is just steps away from the busier lodge, etc....)
You made a good choice. Judge the transportation for yourself.
Laura
**Actually by the time this post reply actually went thru, I was the second to tell you it was a good choice. And I'm sure I won't be the last.