VWL/WL....Yes, it's a DELUXE

[doubletrouble_vb]

One thing that both Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge are both missing that all of the others have is....convention centers. I am happy that this is true but it probably influences Disney's ability to charge higher rates. Room rates are reflective of market. With WL and AKL Disney can't quite get the same proportion of the convention market that the others can.

In terms of feelings alone I will give you that GF, Poly, Contemporary, YC/BC are in a different category of deluxe from WL & AKL...BWI...I just don't see it but obviously there are people willing to pay the price to stay there as an "intermediate" deluxe (as opposed to the "borderline" deluxe price of WL & AKL). If I were to shell out $289 for a room I'd hie myself over to the YC/BC no questions asked.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Originally posted by dvcreg
"Disney Wilderness Junction Resort, a companion to Wilderness Lodge, will be a log-sided structure deep in the woods at the end of a nature trail. With 575 guest rooms, it will open in 1997."

Could that have been the pre-cursor of the VWL???

I sure hope it was pre-cursor! What a horror if they built this between VWL and the woods.

 

[Lisa F]

Location most certainly IS a defining characteristic of how deluxe a resort is at WDW. Would people pay as much for the Grand Floridian if it was located out near the All Stars? I don't think so. I think some of the cost of the hotel is for theming, amenities and room size... but part of that goes toward location as well. Animal Kingdom Lodge, another wonderfully themed resort, just cannot command the same prices as the monorail or Epcot resorts. Disney recognizes that. If, instead, you could stumble out of the back door of AKL and into AK, you can bet the price to stay there would be higher.

Now location (ie being on the monorail vs. having to take a boat) may not be IMPORTANT to you... that's an entirely different thing. I'm sure there are many many people who stay at deluxe hotels who do not take advantage of room service, valet parking, the high end restaurant at the resort or the fitness center. Just because someone does not take advantage of those amenities does not mean that they do not help define a deluxe resort. These, along with theming and location, seem to be the clear criteria that Disney uses to define their deluxe resorts. WL has all except the really superior location of the monorail resorts and accordingly, Disney prices the WL below that of the other deluxes. It's similar for the Contemporary garden wings... although they have the location, they are some what lacking in the theming/view that you get in the tower and as such, are priced slightly lower. For someone who doesn't care about such things but for whom location is very important (such as myself) the wings are ideal as a way to save some money. For someone who doesn't care that you are not on the monorail, WL offers a way to save some money over the monorail resorts. For me, the theming of the WL makes up for the lack of good location and that's why I added on there when VWL came on board, but I can certainly understand those who do not feel VWL is worth the money because of the missing location factor. I guess we all have our matrix that we plug the various factors into and I think Disney bases its pricing scheme on how they anticipate most people will view all of the factors.

Lisa

 

[Lisa F]

Originally posted by dvcreg
"The plush-but-rustic Wilderness Lodge and the moderately priced Disney's All Star Sports Resort will be open by summer."

I would think that they would have described both as "moderately priced" if that was the intent.
."

I don't think ANYONE is making the argument that the All Stars are anywhere near the same league as the WL, regardless of whether disney once called them "moderately" priced. I do think that based on evidence presented in this thread that the WL was clearly intended to be sort of a hybrid between a moderate and a deluxe. It has deluxe amenities, but more moderately sized rooms and a location that is better than that of most moderates but not as good as the other resorts in the area (ie on the monorail). With the addition of VWL, the room size ceased to be an issue (at least for dvc members) so really, the only negative that the WL has for it is ease of access to the other parks (it could be argued that monorail resorts have easy access to both the MK and Epcot, being able to transfer monorails at TTC whereas at the WL you have to either transfer from boat to MK monorail to Epcot monorail or take a bus over the Epcot).

Lisa

 

[spiceycat]

VWL is a deluxe - because it is the closest DVC resort to the MK - plus it is a wonderful resort.

Many people (myself included) - consider the MK to be WDW - it was the first and in my opinion still the best.

do you really think that young children want to stay in the Epcot/Studios part? No they want to be there the Mouse lives - well the Mouse lives in the MK - he visits Epcot/Studio/AK - but he lives in the MK.

when I first brought my niece and nephew they only want to do the MK - they didn't care about Epcot or Studios - My niece still feels this way. so sorry as long as this is true - VWL is be a better place for me to stay. Plus have you seem this place at Christmas - it is well - you have to see it to believe it.

Have you tried to get this place from Thanksgiving to NY? well unless you made your reservation at the 11th month forget. Last year I got BWV standard view in Dec 6 a few weeks before I wanted it.

I think it just depends upon the time you are looking for that matters - maybe with your choices it was BWV.

Since it is very doubtfully that DVC will ever built a DVC resort on a monrail - VWL is the next best choice. Besides all that it is a fun resort!!!

 

[Regina]

It was mentioned that initially the WL was classified as a "moderate" resort by Disney.

I found the early mention that I quoted from the '93 Annual Report. The use of the word "moderate" was in relation to the All Star Sports Resort. Believe me, I wasn't comparing the two.

I'll stick with the "Plush" adjective that appeared in the description of WL.

 

[DisneyKidds]

WL is a deluxe resort, and it doesn't appear that many people are disputing that fact. Do some consider WL "less deluxe" than the Poly, CR, YC/BC, and BW? Yes. Why? Simple - room size and price.

Most of the other deluxe resorts will sleep 5, WL only sleeps 4. You can also get a room at the WL for significantly less than many of the other deluxes. Does this make the resort "less deluxe"? IMHO, no - it just makes the folks who stay there more savvy shoppers .

The WL has all the amenities of any deluxe resort. It also has as good a location as any other resort. Face it, the monorail is overrated. Yeah, we stayed at the CR once, and it took us a good half hour to get to the MK via monorail. All those elevators, waiting for the monorail, 3 stops before the MK - it can take some time. One way via monorail from the CR to the MK is going to be anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. The WL boat to the MK is exactly the same. Yeah, we have stayed at the GF, and it isn't as short a trip from the MK to the GF via the monorail at the end of the day as one might think. The boat to the MK from the WL is different, but just as effective and Magical. The WL boat to the MK is as effective as the YC/BC/BW boats to Epcot and MGM. Yeah, the walk to Epcot from these resorts is short, but not everyone is into walking. So, yes, location is a key factor in being deluxe, but the WL has location.

 

[Jimbo]

I have to dispute the monorail being overrated. Yes, you have to make three stops from CR going to MK. But you don't have to make <i>any</i> stops returning from MK. And the reverse is true for GF, while the Poly is in the middle. And you don't have to take the monorail - you have the boat option from these resorts, too.

It's true that the WL is only a boat ride away from the MK. But that's probably a 20 minute boat ride. We returned from MK one afternoon, and the boat stopped at Ft. Wilderness first, before proceeding to WL. That trip was well over 30 minutes. I could have bussed it to OKW faster. And you can't see the MK from the resort, and in fact can't see it until you get past the CR.

Don't get me wrong; we loved our stay at WLV. It just wasn't 'cause of the location. It's a beautiful resort, the villas are perfect, and they had some of the nicest CMs around.

 

[littlestar]

One of the reasons why we added on 50 more points at the VWL a few weeks ago is because "no convention" business traffic. We HATE seeing suits on vacation.

We saw business traffic all over the boardwalk area, blech. Yacht Club's lobby was full of business people, Boardwalk Resort was too. Now, Beach Club lobby wasn't, but we ran into some out around Beaches and Cream area.

Now, when we got to the lodge, not a business suit on site - ahh, we're on vacation. At the lodge you see families on vacation. We like that feel. Old Key West was the same way - people on vacation, no suits!

Can you tell we travel on business a lot?

 

[spiceycat]

when I rode the boat there were 2 - one for WL and the other one (a very big one) for FW - so this was not a problem - besides you in a boat siting down - not a bus - this is a more fun ride for me anyway. I can ride buses everyday at home. Boats I can't ride and the same for monrails.

Hey I love OKW too - but a bus ride is pretty boring - to me anyway - where a boat ride is a treat.

when the kids were little and even the last time - riding the monrail was just as important as going to the theme parks - we went out of way several times so the kids could ride the monrail - especially in the front!

littlestar - I can understand your situation - but I am still kind of mad at OKW for that - when I brought in 93 - we were promised no conventions, no sales meets, no business people - this was a get away from it all resort. I was staying at the Contemporary and they were having a BIG convention - and boy were they trouble. At least the ones at OKW (to my knowledge) are a bit better behaved - or maybe I am older and aren't as attractive.

 

[Bexx]

Just want to say Hi and I wonder how successful Saratoga Springs will be!!

Please completely ignore this post and carry on with Maistre Gracey's original topic!!

 

[Crissup]

Just because Disney referred to the All Stars as moderately priced, do you believe, then, that they meant for the All Stars to be moderate resorts? At the time, DxL, PO and CBR were the value resorts, with CBR being the cheapest of the bunch at $79 a nite.

As for the Wilderness Junction Resort, yes, that was the original plan for the VWL. In fact, until Disney finally released the official name, many people were still referring to them as WJ or WLV instead of VWL.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

The lobby at the WL is the most deluxe of any of the WDW hotels. The others can't compare. YC/BC, even the GF lobbies pale in comparision. I think the relaxed WL atmosphere gives the impression that it's not as "rich", and therefore not as deluxe. My jaw still drops everytime I walk through the lobby and surrounding resort. If you doubt me, sit in the WL lobby for a while and just watch the people as they walk through.

The expressions on their faces say DELUXE.

 

[DSNY FN]

I found the rooms to be similar in size to the rooms at Dixie (POR) and CSR which are moderates and the lobby makes me think of a hotel up near our cottage near the Muskokas in Ontario Canada. Very nice and a great sitting area if you are into that not me personally but still beautful to look at. I would say I find WL and VWL a level below the other deluxes just based on room size alone heck I can go get 2 rooms at All Star with a pass through door and pay less and have more room even if I rent a fridge mind you the All Stars are my all time favourite places to stay I just love all the things gong on all the kids running around and the activity. BWV were really great to I loved the pool and that is another big plus to it being a Deluxe in my eyes. They all need bigger hot tubs though like the one at CSR.

 

[Regina]

All that I've been saying is the earliest mention that I could find, both the Wilderness Lodge and All Stars were mentioned in the same sentence in the same paragraph. "Moderate" was the description of the All Star Sports Resort, "Plush-but-rustic" was the description of the WL.

On the same page of the '93 Annual Report appears:
"Construction continues on moderately priced All Star Resorts at Walt Disney World, where first units will open this summer."

These were Disney words ten years ago, not mine.

I don't know how far back my treasure trove of useless information goes. I was very surprised to find what I did in the first report that I picked up.

If I have something official that preceeds that, I'll be more than happy to see what it says.

 

[Desperado]

What's in a label. Does it matter that WVL are referred to as deluxe or not? If WLV members love thier resort, enjoy the wonderful vacations they have there, what's the label matter?

Is a large impressive lobby the criteria for being "Deluxe"? Room size? Amenities? Transportation options? Enjoy your stays at the Wilderness Lodge Villas, they are wonderful.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Desperado.......................why don't you come to your senses.......................you've been out walkin'.........................


Ooops, sorry, couldn't help myself .

 

[FredS]

I can't imagine anyone would not consider VWL/WL a deluxe resort. It is a stunning resort with numerous amenities. The comparison with other Disney resorts are simply apples to oranges. There are people who go to Disney once or twice and don't comprehend the big picture. It is always going to be easier to convince someone to put down the big bucks for a resort "on the monorail" or "you can walk to Epcot and MGM" instead of one which appears to be more distant (OKW or VWL/WL) In reality families may very well spend more time on travel when staying at Epcot or monorail resorts but they don't really understand enough to know that when making reservations.

And a resort such as Animal Kingdom, which is incredible, is a little too "different" and takes a while to get a following. Pricing is based on many factors, not always perfectly logical ones and definitely not directly tied to quality of a resort.

BTW, I stayed at WL in 1994. I have never heard anything about it being a moderate. My definite understanding when I made my reservations was that it was a deluxe resort, and my stay confirmed that.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Okay, so some say it's "less deluxe" only because of room size and price? Obviously nobody can say it is because of theming or amenities.

Let's look at size and price. WL has deluxe rooms, that are similar to a 1br villa, and also cost more. Does that make part of WL "more deluxe" than BC or BW??? (I don't think BC or BW have deluxe rooms, but I could be wrong). The room sizes at VWL are roughly the same size as BCV or BWV, perhaps bigger.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
Okay, so some say it's "less deluxe" only because of room size and price? Obviously nobody can say it is because of theming or amenities.

Let's look at size and price. WL has deluxe rooms, that are similar to a 1br villa, and also cost more. Does that make part of WL "more deluxe" than BC or BW??? (I don't think BC or BW have deluxe rooms, but I could be wrong). The room sizes at VWL are roughly the same size as BCV or BWV, perhaps bigger.

Don't take this issue personally. I think there are less amenities overall than at GF, BC/YC and BW. Certainly less restaurants and bar options but does have the Marina. One must separate out an individuals personal preferences from the overall situation. I prefer OKW but it's certainly not a deluxe resort in the definition we're using here though it is deluxe in many ways and in some ways more so than any other DVC resort.