VWL, trip report--just back!

[dizneeluvr]

We just got home from a week at our home resort--VWL. What a GREAT trip we had!

The room was in pristine condition. Clean, nothing amiss or "not working". The room was incredibly quiet as always (don't know how that many people can be there yet the place be so quiet)!

We were saddened to see how "thin" those beautiful big trees are now in front of the villas from the entrance road. Hurricane Charley hit them hard! The big "Wilderness LODGE sign" over the entrance to the resort grounds was down--though they were in the process of rebuilding the base of it when we left today.

Transportation was right on once again. The only real wait we had was for an MGM bus and it was less than 15 minutes so not much to complain about there. And the driver more than made up for it with a GREAT personality. He had everyone laughing! He pretended we were on an airplane complete with a "cruising altitude of 3 feet and a reminder to put our seatbacks in the upright and locked position". And he had one name if we liked the trip, another if we didn't. Very funny guy! It's amazing what an attitude like that can do...

The EWP barges were affected by the hurricanes. We noticed that only one barge was being used (stopping at the turtle....no second barge with Triton and the dinosaur, etc...). I asked a boat CM one day on the way over to the MK and he said that "three screens on the second barge collapsed in the hurricane and it will take a while to get them redone".

It amazes me how many people were affected by those storms (most said Charley was the worst) yet still worked to make everyone's VACATIONS nice.

We went to MNSSHP for our first time. It was GREAT!!!! What a treat that was. We also made our first outing to the F & W festival at Epcot. Our DD6 (NOT an adventurous eater unless ketchup is involved) tried so many things and actually (gasp!) LIKED them! So that was neat too.

One surprise for us (normal January Disney visitors) was how BIG the crowds were this whole week. The MK was packed!!!! And the other parks weren't much different. We had a great time, GREAT weather...but we will be extra appreciative of our January "calm" next time!

We had a great time!

~Laura

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Thank you for posting such a nice trip report We are going very soon and getting so excited

Lisa

 

[sleepydog25]

You're right about the CM's attitudes making a big difference, and we found in August (just a few days after Charley) that many of them had been miserably affected by the hurricane. We struck up several conversations with CMs during our stay, asking how they were doing, how repairs were coming, and the like. To a person, they were all grateful for our concern and seemed to enjoy the fact that a visitor was attempting to make a CM feel better rather than the other way around. How they continued to be as chipper as they were while faced with lack of power, water, and needed repairs is still very laudable.

As for VWL, that's where we stayed, and it's simply gorgeous. Like you, our 1BR was spotless and in perfect working order. We love the intimate feel there. Even the pool situation is great since the smaller Villas pool is almost never crowded. Great trip!

 

[Granny]

Laura...I've been keeping an eye out for your trip report, hoping that you and your family had a great time. Sounds like the trip was back in the "magical" category, eh? I sure hope so!

Thanks for the update on VWL. It sounds like Disney is doing their best to get back up and running 100%, and that they are still committed to a great guest experience.

Thanks for taking the time to share your impressions and observations.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you for your VWL report! We were at the MNSSHP on the 3rd and found the lines for the rides at MK then nearly non-existent, so that was a definite bonus for going to the party!

Bobbi

 

[MaryJ]

Thanks for your report. I'd been wondering how VWL made out after the hurricanes. Hadn't seen much posted here about it. So sorry to hear about the trees! At least it won't be as much of a shock now when we head down there at the end of this month.

Glad you had a good time. How wonderful that your daughter is branching out in her food selections after a trip to the F & WF!