We're Baaaaack!! **The WLV's groupies & Trivia Thread chapter 3

[horselover]

Thank you so much Muushka. How does it look??

That moose looks fabulous on you!

Well I did call MS today to see if they had anything available at AKV for my dates in June. Nothing. I went on the waitlist, but I'm not hopeful. I haven't had any luck with the past 2 I've been on. I guess it was not meant to be.

 

[Muushka]

Good luck HL, I hope you get it! You never know......

 

[blossomz]

Great Oshawa!!

Thanks Muush!!

 

[bzzelady]

Did anyone else notice that abc played the theme from Epcot's Illumination's all day and night in their coverage of the Inauguration??

So everytime I heard it.... It just took me back at first I couldn't understand how they could of come up with that choice but then I remembered who abc's parent company was.
So by the end of the day I started to see if I could sneak in a girls only escape weekend I guess this gives a new meaning to being called......

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed it!!!
I was at work (I work as a nurse in a critical care unit) and I heard the music coming out of my patient's room. I spent a lot of time with her on Tuesday so that I could listen to my "happy" music!!

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Thanks Rinkwide!!!!!

I woke up with a fever and that was the cure. I love it!

LVSWL - woohoo for more trips booked

DiznyDi - aww sorry to hear you lost your Mickey countdown. Wish I could help!

Oshawa -

The moosie looks great as always! Glad to have you be a part.

horselover - Sorry you had so much frustration on your trip. Enjoyed your pictures. Glad you made the best of it and hope your waitlist comes through for you.

 

[horselover]

As I mentioned in a previous post I called MS about availability at AKV & BCV for June, but nothing is available. I waitlisted for AKV. But I'm not that easily deterred! I have 76 pts. that must be used or rented this year. So I started thinking maybe a trip in May for just DH & myself for our annniversary would be nice. A no parks, chillin' by the pool vacation for a change! Called MS today for my 1st choice dates at BCV or BWV. BCV had the 1st night, but not 2nd or 3rd, 4th & 5th nights were available. Nothing available at BWV, AKV or VWL. I also had them check my 2nd choice dates & the availability was even less. Frustration is starting to set in. Yes SSR & OKW were available, but I really don't want to stay there.

So here's my question. Should I take the nights available at BCV & wait list for the other 2? I have not had good luck with my past 2 wait list requests & as I mentioned in my last trip report I wasn't that thrilled with moving around. I don't know what to do. Maybe I should take it as a sign that a mid-year trip is not meant to be. Help please!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

As I mentioned in a previous post I called MS about availability at AKV & BCV for June, but nothing is available. I waitlisted for AKV. But I'm not that easily deterred! I have 76 pts. that must be used or rented this year. So I started thinking maybe a trip in May for just DH & myself for our annniversary would be nice. A no parks, chillin' by the pool vacation for a change! Called MS today for my 1st choice dates at BCV or BWV. BCV had the 1st night, but not 2nd or 3rd, 4th & 5th nights were available. Nothing available at BWV, AKV or VWL. I also had them check my 2nd choice dates & the availability was even less. Frustration is starting to set in. Yes SSR & OKW were available, but I really don't want to stay there.

So here's my question. Should I take the nights available at BCV & wait list for the other 2? I have not had good luck with my past 2 wait list requests & as I mentioned in my last trip report I wasn't that thrilled with moving around. I don't know what to do. Maybe I should take it as a sign that a mid-year trip is not meant to be. Help please!

Gotta ask - have you stayed at OKW horselover? We did for 3 days in Dec and I was so pleased. And I'd say it would be especially nice for a non-park stay. Very peaceful and beautiful property and there's the nice boat ride to DTD.

Otherwise my best guess is that a waitlist probably wouldn't come thru for BCV so I'd only book the last 2 nights there and the first 3 nights at OKW and then waitlist for the full first 3. That way it's only 1 move and not the 2 I'd suspect might happen if you took all 3 nights. But remember - it's only a guess that I'm somewhat basing on checking for availability at AKV for May which has been pretty tight and not changing. And of course it's based on the fact that I would be willing to stay at OKW. Both DH and I got the feeling from there of being at Hawaii on a golf course which I didn't think was bad at all!

 

[Oshawa]

Oshawa -

The moosie looks great as always! Glad to have you be a part.

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

As I mentioned in a previous post I called MS about availability at AKV & BCV for June, but nothing is available. I waitlisted for AKV. But I'm not that easily deterred! I have 76 pts. that must be used or rented this year. So I started thinking maybe a trip in May for just DH & myself for our annniversary would be nice. A no parks, chillin' by the pool vacation for a change! Called MS today for my 1st choice dates at BCV or BWV. BCV had the 1st night, but not 2nd or 3rd, 4th & 5th nights were available. Nothing available at BWV, AKV or VWL. I also had them check my 2nd choice dates & the availability was even less. Frustration is starting to set in. Yes SSR & OKW were available, but I really don't want to stay there.

So here's my question. Should I take the nights available at BCV & wait list for the other 2? I have not had good luck with my past 2 wait list requests & as I mentioned in my last trip report I wasn't that thrilled with moving around. I don't know what to do. Maybe I should take it as a sign that a mid-year trip is not meant to be. Help please!

We were very happy with OKW and it was very relaxing and laid back. I would certainly do that if it were me. A trip without kids is so wonderful. My DH and I have done it twice. Even things like riding the monorail and touring through the resort gift shops is so relaxing and fun to me without the kids. We always go in the parks (mainly Epcot and MK) just with a different plan--eat churros, ice cream, good meal, fancy coffee, another churro, enjoying the gift shops/movies in the countries of Epcot, etc. It was very enjoyable to us. We even did the Segway tour in Epcot.

I LOVE being at WDW with my family, but a couples only trip is on my list of things to do again and we never regret it.

I have no experience with wait list so I can't help you there, but I do think OKW would be worth a try if it was available. Mainly wanted to encourage you to not give up and put in my good experience with OKW.

 

[tea pot]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed it!!!
I was at work (I work as a nurse in a critical care unit) and I heard the music coming out of my patient's room. I spent a lot of time with her on Tuesday so that I could listen to my "happy" music!!

It must be a nurse thing... It's been many years since I worked ccu... you need happy music working there. Now I'm a Parish Nurse....and love it.

As I mentioned in a previous post I called MS about availability at AKV & BCV for June, but nothing is available. I waitlisted for AKV. But I'm not that easily deterred! I have 76 pts. that must be used or rented this year. So I started thinking maybe a trip in May for just DH & myself for our annniversary would be nice. A no parks, chillin' by the pool vacation for a change! Called MS today for my 1st choice dates at BCV or BWV. BCV had the 1st night, but not 2nd or 3rd, 4th & 5th nights were available. Nothing available at BWV, AKV or VWL. I also had them check my 2nd choice dates & the availability was even less. Frustration is starting to set in. Yes SSR & OKW were available, but I really don't want to stay there.

So here's my question. Should I take the nights available at BCV & wait list for the other 2? I have not had good luck with my past 2 wait list requests & as I mentioned in my last trip report I wasn't that thrilled with moving around. I don't know what to do. Maybe I should take it as a sign that a mid-year trip is not meant to be. Help please!

horselover don't be afraid to book at SSR ..It's a very peacefull resort. the grounds are great for long walks...or to rent bikes... the pools are great the spa is wonderful and I've been to the Floridian Spa and like the SSR much better. You can walk to DTD. The Artist Palette has a varity of healthy foods. It would be a great May anniversary trip..... Give it a try

 

[DiznyDi]

horselover, here's another plug for SSR. I would echo tea pot's observations about the resort. You can also take a lovely boat ride over to DTD if you prefer not to walk. If we're not at VWL, we're at SSR.
If it were me, and I had points that HAD to be used, I'd book the available resort and not chance the waitlist. Besides, I'm not a very patient person! I find the waitlist way too stressful.

 

[twokats]

Have any of you ever rented a car from Avis while you were at the resorts. Do they send a shuttle to the resort like Alamo/National does? I know their location is somewhere near DTD. Am trying to figure the rest of my unknowns for this trip. We need the car to go to the port for the cruise and from my figures I will get the best deal from Avis, since Alamo/National does not have a return center at the port anymore.

 

[horselover]

Morning groupies. Thanks for all the input on my booking problem.

Kat - I have stayed at OKW during F&W. I thought it was very nice, but I wasn't that thrilled with the food at Olivia's & the QS restaurant is very small.

I think you have convinced me to give SSR a try. Being able to walk to DTD is a nice plus & I've heard excellent things about the Turf Club. That might be a good place for our anniversary dinner.

I plan to take Kat's advice & try for the 1st 3 nights at SSR so it will only be 1 move. I'll try to get the last 2 at BCV because I really do want to try it & being on the boardwalk is very appealing. I suppose you never know maybe this time I'll have good luck with a wait list.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone!

 

[jimmytammy]

Since the pts reallocation, how many of you are feeling a little displaced with upcoming trips to VWL?

Although I knew it could be possible for DVC to do this, it seems they are really tightening the screws on 1 bedroom stays. I dont want to purchase more pts(again ) just to make those 1 bed stays twice a year possible. And already considered staying studio on Fri Sat early part of trips. But we bought 4th contract intentionally for making those 1 bed stays doable.

Just venting(and a bit preturbed)

 

[Muushka]

Have any of you ever rented a car from Avis while you were at the resorts. Do they send a shuttle to the resort like Alamo/National does? I know their location is somewhere near DTD. Am trying to figure the rest of my unknowns for this trip. We need the car to go to the port for the cruise and from my figures I will get the best deal from Avis, since Alamo/National does not have a return center at the port anymore.

Ooh, no, can't help. But when everything is said and done. let us know how the car rental thing worked for you. We considered doing it for our last cruise because we stayed at WDW the last night before the cruise, but otherwise we would have stayed at PC and parked at the hotel there.

If you don't get your answer, the transportation board will have it. Good luck!

Since the pts reallocation, how many of you are feeling a little displaced with upcoming trips to VWL?

Although I knew it could be possible for DVC to do this, it seems they are really tightening the screws on 1 bedroom stays. I dont want to purchase more pts(again ) just to make those 1 bed stays twice a year possible. And already considered staying studio on Fri Sat early part of trips. But we bought 4th contract intentionally for making those 1 bed stays doable.

Just venting(and a bit preturbed)

I am with you JT. I can't remember the reason, must be how the points added up, but the 1 BR seemed to be the one that was affected the most and that is usually what we get when we go. No, I am not happy either. And we won't buy more points to be able to stay in a 1 BR.

 

[50 years Too!]

Chiming in about the one bedroom points. I thought studios were also the size most in demand. If you can't book a studio, you can usually find availability with a one bedroom. Won't this make more of a disparity?

Deb

 

[bzzelady]

Glad to see that I am not the only one puzzled about the 1 BDR point reallocations.

Even though our resale values are slightly on the low side compared to BCV, our beloved Lodge and Villas must be a more desirable place to stay-our 1BDR's are higher priced than BCV during most seasons, with the most surprising one being Food and Wine.

Of course, we already knew that we were a more desirable place to stay

 

[J and R's mom]

The WL was a favorite of ours. When we bought into DVC back in 2003 we asked if there were any points left to buy at VWL. Knowing NOTHING about DVC at the time (and having never even heard of the DIS) we just accepted it when they told us there were currenly no points left at VWL but that it'd be better to purchase SSR anyway since we'd get 12 extra years and could still book VWL anytime we wanted. We are hoping to add-on there one of these years though through re-sale (when we have the extra money)...now that we know better.

We are headed to VWL (the first time as DVC members) in March and I have some questions I'm hoping you all can help me with:

1) Do we check in at the main lobby or is there a check-in in the VWL lobby?

2) Does anyone have a link to the VWL room map that I once saw posted on the boards? My hard-drive crashed two wees ago and "my favorites" is one of the things I did not have backed up. I used to have a link to that map in there but it is gone now.

3) I'm thinking about requesting a pool view but I wanted to ask about the 5th floor balconies. Are they fully enclosed or do they have slats that can be seen through? My kids are 4 and 5 and not tall enough to see over the rail so I like to make sure to get a balcony that has rails.

We're excited about our trip. Our girls are going to LOVE this resort. It will be my first time to stay there without the Christmas decorations up. I can't wait to see what it looks like.

 

[horselover]

I'll also chime in that I'm not happy about the point reallocation.

Yes our beloved Lodge is awesome & amazing, but I don't see why it's point values should be so high. I'm really disappointed because we only have a 50 pt. contract. It's going to make staying there in a 1 BR for more than a couple of days difficult. It definitely seems to me Disney is trying to push people towards a full week stay instead of shorter stays. I'd rather take a few shorter stays than one long stay. JMHO.

J&R's Mom- Congrats on your upcoming stay! The only question I can answer for you is the check-in is in the main WL lobby. I'll defer to my other groupie experts for the rest.

Muush please add me to the list again! I booked SSR for 5/2-5/7 today. I lost the BCV room for the last 2 nights. You snooze you lose I guess. I waitlisted for BCV, BWV, AKV, & VWL. I don't think I'll be unhappy at SSR though after looking at some pics & reading reviews. The horse theme is right up my alley!

 

[Muushka]

I'll also chime in that I'm not happy about the point reallocation.

Yes our beloved Lodge is awesome & amazing, but I don't see why it's point values should be so high. I'm really disappointed because we only have a 50 pt. contract. It's going to make staying there in a 1 BR for more than a couple of days difficult. It definitely seems to me Disney is trying to push people towards a full week stay instead of shorter stays. I'd rather take a few shorter stays than one long stay. JMHO.

J&R's Mom- Congrats on your upcoming stay! The only question I can answer for you is the check-in is in the main WL lobby. I'll defer to my other groupie experts for the rest.

Muush please add me to the list again! I booked SSR for 5/2-5/7 today. I lost the BCV room for the last 2 nights. You snooze you lose I guess. I waitlisted for BCV, BWV, AKV, & VWL. I don't think I'll be unhappy at SSR though after looking at some pics & reading reviews. The horse theme is right up my alley!

Done! I hope you like it. We stayed there last year and really enjoyed the resort.

J&R's Mom, sorry I can't help you on the room location map. On the top floors, I think most of the balconies are enclosed, and if I remember correctly, they were about 4 feet high (guessing here). Enjoy!

And grab a Mooise if you like!!