VWL vs WL?

[Antonia]

If you have stayed in both and loved the lodge, did you also love VWL? Did you still go up and enjoy the main lobby while staying in the VWL or is it just too far? These are just some thoughts rambling around in my head? Was the master bath in the VWL a lot better than the bath in the main lodge room? I'm sure I'll love having a kitchen - but mainly just for snacks. I'm hoping to do the dining plan. Was it convenient to go out and see the EWP from the VWL? Was it real far to the boat dock? Just wondering about the difference in experience of staying in the VWL and the actual WL. I've stayed in the WL several times, but this time we need two BR's so we're dong the VWL.

 

[pam66]

I've been wondering the same thing! May I join your thread?
We want to stay at the WL in July and I am thinking of renting points for a studio (there are 3 of us) because it is cheaper than a standard room in the Lodge.

 

[InstImpres]

I love the VWL. It is a few steps further obviously to the boat dock but not a big deal. We did often go back through the main lobby and even that is a little longer than going outside. We enjoyed both the WL lobby as well as Iron Spikes the VWL lobby. We have always been lucky to have a room near the elevator so the walk was always small. I wouldn't consider it to be any more inconvient for anything you wold do at WL except maybe Roaring Forks but just make the morning coffee in the room

 

[newholidayx2]

Yes the VWL is farther away, yes DS wants to stay in the Lodge.
However ---- when I consider that I have prepaid vacations at VWL all is wonderful again.

 

[OldSchoolDisney]

Have done both two bedroom VWL and single room in Main Lodge and to me VWL is hands down the better experience.....length of walk depends where you are in villas but we still spend plenty of time at main Lodge while at Villas.....to me you get the best of both worlds; quiet and tranquility when you desire it and the hustle and bustle of the lodge is just a step away.......the master bathroom is hands down better at VWL with jacuzzi tub, stand up shower and PLENTY of room.....make sure you request one of the 2 bedroom villas that are dedicated two bedroom villas instead of one that is a studio/one bedroom combo (they are much roomier).........

 

[spiceycat]

VWL wins hands down.

my last trip to WL was way over in the section closest to MK. So believe me inside the lodge can be a further walk than the villa to the lobby.

besides I love the lobby at VWL - it is very cosy....warm...friendly...

the one in WL is overwhelming - but VWL has it own style.

the only thing that WL has that VWL does have is those courtyard views.

VWL has few (less than 5%) views of the lake - the rest are views of woods or even worst that silly service area.....

 

[Antonia]

Well, I feel good about our rental. We have a dedicated 2BR for 5 nights and we are adding on the dining plan for 2 adult couples. I just bet couple #2 may be jealous of our bathroom.

 

[spiceycat]

not to mention the king bed.....

 

[Antonia]

But hey, we're paying! Couple #2 is our son and fiancee (who will be his new wife by then)! So we get the king bed!

 

[pinktales]

I was wondering same thing. Have never stayed at VWL or WL and was wondering the layout of the buildings and what view the VWL has as I am planning a trip staying at VWL. I would love of view of the lake! Also anyone have any comments on them for Christmas time? When do they put the Christmas decorations up? Thanks for the insight!

 

[Bracho]

We own at VWL and I've stayed several times at WL and we love both places. I like the fact that I can have a 1 bedroom at the Villas and have the extra space, washer/dryer (very important for longer trips), a kitchen which came in handy believe it or not and all the beauty of the Wilderness Lodge within a short walk... perfect all the way around.

 

[Forever a Princess]

VWL rocks!

The extra couple of steps to the VWL are worth it!!

We use all of the amenitites of the WL while staying at the VWL.

Sigh, such a beautiful resort!!!!

 

[Russell]

We have stayed in both. The bunkbeds are nice for the kids, but we liked our vwl studio room better. Actually, I requested a room close to the lobby and my villas room was actually closer to the lobby than my courtyard view room was. The walk to the boat dock was further, but part of the joy of staying in this place is walking around it! The bus stop was closer. I would stay in the villas and just ask for a room close to the lobby.

 

[piglet50]

we stayed in the villas last summer and loved it. we're going back in may and will stay there again. we liked having the extra room and it seemed a little more private. the lodge is beautiful and we enjoyed spending some time there. i found whispering canyon to be fun for some but it wasn't our cup of tea. the kids we saw loved it. the villas were quiet, we had a agreat view of their pool and were close to the bus stop. it is a beautiful place to say. so much peace in a very busy place. you will enjoy either place.

 

[Lady SnowElla]

Hey, I just wanted to add a question about the VWL. Can you see the MK fireworks from any of the rooms?

 

[spiceycat]

Hey, I just wanted to add a question about the VWL. Can you see the MK fireworks from any of the rooms?

well I use to say no way.

but someone say they did - it was in a room not near the lodge (which is between you and MK - if the Cont is not already blocking it)

 

[bfrosty]

We stayed at the WL on the 5th or 6th floor and our balcony looked over the woods and there was an open spot between the woods and we could see the Contemporary.

No big deal and right below our balcony was a dozen air conditioners humming along. It wasn't bad if you kept the door closed.

My family was out swimming the first night and I said, "I'm going up to the room to get some warmer clothes". As I approached my door and opened it, our curtain was open to the outside.....Whammo!! Fireworks Galore...not perfect but it made me run over to grab my camera. I took a dozen or so shots using the handrail as a tripod.

It was a pleasant surprise, considering the noise below. It was a trade-off that was okay with me. =))

bfrosty
(Happy Camper)

 

[Geoff_M]

Hey, I just wanted to add a question about the VWL. Can you see the MK fireworks from any of the rooms?

We had a 1 BR villa on the top floor at, or very near, the lodge-end of the villa wing. We had a decent view of the MK fireworks. However, few rooms offer this view. Overall, the best place to watch the MK fireworks at VWL is to take the short walk down to the beach by the boat rental docks. There's a pretty good, but not perfect, view of the fireworks down there.

 

[fla4fun]

I was on the 4th floor, about halfway down the long villa hallway, and I could see the higher fireworks from my balcony, if I turned to face the lodge.

I have stayed at both WL and VWL. It depends on how long I'm there which I'd book. If I'm staying less than a week, I'm more likely to book WL, because I don't need the kitchen facilities. But for stays longer than a week, I like to have some meals in, and I like having laundry facilities in the room. It also doesn't feel as claustrophobic to spend a couple weeks in a 1br as opposed to a regular hotel room. I do spend time in the main lodge if I'm at the villas, but I also spend time in the villa lobby. The villas are closer to the bus stop than most of the lodge rooms, and if you walk around the back of the lodge, it doesn't really seem that much farther to the boat than it does from most of the lodge rooms. It can be a little less convenient to use the refillable mugs, so I usually don't buy one if I'm in the villas. Since I usually book woods view at the lodge, the view doesn't change a lot for me whether I'm in the lodge or villas.

 

[eliza61]

If you have stayed in both and loved the lodge, did you also love VWL? Did you still go up and enjoy the main lobby while staying in the VWL or is it just too far? These are just some thoughts rambling around in my head? Was the master bath in the VWL a lot better than the bath in the main lodge room? I'm sure I'll love having a kitchen - but mainly just for snacks. I'm hoping to do the dining plan. Was it convenient to go out and see the EWP from the VWL? Was it real far to the boat dock? Just wondering about the difference in experience of staying in the VWL and the actual WL. I've stayed in the WL several times, but this time we need two BR's so we're dong the VWL.

I went to the main lodge every morning. It was sort of my own private time. I got up before the rest of my family (I'm always an early riser) took a cup of coffee and a donut/cinnamon roll/any thing with 1000 calories and watched the world wake up. It was a great way to start the day.
Walk to the boat dock is not far at all, hop skip and a jump around the pool.