VWL vs. WL itself... Will I be disappointed?

[Dodie]

I figure that you guys will be most familiar with this situation - so I am posting here.

We've always wanted to stay at WL, but haven't been able to realistically afford to do so.

I think I can rent points and stay at the VWL for less. What do you think? What are the differences? Will I be disappointed?

 

[Disney On The Bayou]

You will be as pleased or more pleased then if you stayed at the lodge itself.

Good Luck

 

[spiceycat]

You will not get the great courtyard view - but the extra room and the mircowave and refrigerator should more than make up for that. It is also quieter in the Villa than the lodge. the exercise room is great!!!

 

[darner]

You'll likely end up with a larger room in VWL... quieter in VWL... no daily maid service in VWL (pro or con, your preference)

But the best thing is... WL is just a short hop away if you just want to rock away in front of the fireplace and enjoy the ambiance...

I'd recommend the guided tour of the WL / VWL, you'll get some interesting insight to both lodges (check at the front desk for days and time)

Also, they used to have a morning flag raising ceremony one family per day could participate in (up on the roof)... don't know if they still do that?

 

[Lesley]

I've never stayed at the WL itself, but have stayed at the VWL.

My impression of the WL is that as serene as the surroundings are, its still quite a bustling hotel. The VWL is quiet and homey....very relaxing. When you're in the villas, you'd never know that right outside the building is the WL and all that action...it was kind of a shock to walk up to Roaring Forks in the morning and into all that noise!

I wouldn't trade a stay at the Villas for one in the lodge for anything!

 

[Cinderella]

Well, I was the number one Wilderness Lodge fan and stayed there a lot but, I bought into the Villas. Haven't stayed there yet but toured them and they are lovely. I think the decor is nicer than the decor in the actual Wilderness Lodge rooms.

I never thought they could make anything as nice as the lodge but, it is lovely and the lobby is nice but, on a smaller cosier scale. I would definitely rent points and stay at the villas if I were u. U will still have all the benefits of the lodge right there including the pool and the boat ride. Plus there is a covered walk way to the main building, so it makes the villas feel more part of the lodge. Lovely.

 

[DiznEeyore]

We've stayed at both. The rooms at the WL are charming, and our ds *loved* his bunk beds. The villas at the VWL are more subtly decorated, but are *so* nice, and I really feel like you have the best of both worlds there. You've got more space than at the WL and the Villas are nice and quiet, but you can take a short walk and be right back in the more bustling atmosphere of the WL!

If you like the Lodge itself, I'm pretty confident you'll love the Villas. We sure do!

 

[Granny]

Well, I won't arm wrestle with Cinderella over who is the number one WL fan, but we are right up there in our love of the WL. Through a series of incidents, we stayed there a few years ago. After that stay, it was WL only for my family.

The villas give you all the benefits of WL with nicer accommodations. We enjoyed the rooms at WL with the bunk beds, but are really looking forward to our 1BR at VWL in a few months.

The theming was carried well from the WL resort, and as was mentioned above, it is even cozier and more secluded....perfect haven after a day in the parks!

You can't go wrong either way, but all else equal....gotta go with the villas. Even the studio is bigger than the standard WL room.

 

[Olaf]

I loved getting up early, and running down to the snack bar for hot coca in the mornings. The resort was practically empty, and you could hear the birds, and the air smelled so fresh. I wish I were there.

 

[MaryJ]

Ditto what Olaf said.

I'm an early riser, and the mornings there with the smell of pine in the air are great. I'd fix myself a cup of tea and sit on the balcony and just breathe it all in!

I will be there is less than 5 months!

 

[ralphd]

Last December we added 100 points at VWL sight unseen. Dropped by a week later on a business trip and added 35 points a month later. We joined at BWV and like now both resorts for their individual amenities and personalities.

ralphd

 

[MinnieMe2]

A year ago, we stayed at the Lodge for the first time and loved it. We also took the tour and loved that. We bought into VWL, and my one concern was that I'd feel, I don't know, left out somehow. We took our first trip home last July, and I wasn't disappointed one bit. We loved the Villas, and we felt very much part of the Lodge because it's all so nicely connected by beautiful walkways and landscaping and music. We just love it there....

 

[DisneyKidds]

I doubt you'll be disappointed at all. The Villas are like an extension of the WL resort - but quieter. Te rooms and view are a little different, but the differences end there. You share all the same amenities, you are a short walk from the main lodge building, pool, etc., and you are closer to the quiet pool area (which is perhaps the most relaxing place in WDW . We rented points to stay at the VWL last November. We are now VWL owners. Can't wait to go back this Nov - or maybe even sooner.

 

[buckylarue]

Just ditto to what everyone else has said! Check out the pics of the VWL building in my link below to get a feel for them...

 

[imgoingtodisney]

We stayed 9 nights (added on 3 more on checkout day) at Wilderness Lodge in Oct. We loved it so much we bought into DVC with VWL as our "home". We have never seen the villas and I was wondering if I would miss the lodge. We'll find out for ourselves Oct 2003. Thanks for this thread.

 

[BraveMom3]

My family and I have stayed at WL 3 times at about 10 nights per trip, and absolutely love it. My 4yo DS cried on the way home last trip because he missed the WL!! Well I bought in at VWL recently and am anxiously awaiting our upcoming 2 week trip home. I've wondered the same thing about "missing" the Lodge!!

105 days and counting!!