Why stay at VWL at Christmas rather than just visiting the resort?

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

I have a reservation at BLT, my home resort, got at 11 months.
Have reservations at VWL for 12/13, and 12/15 & 12/16. Waitlisted for 12/14.
If it comes through, I will cancel those BLT days.
But wondering why staying at VWL at Christmas is better than just visiting the resort? I am wondering if it matters.
Everyone always says how beautiful it is to stay there at Christmas.
I will just go visit Grand Floridian, AKV, as many other resorts as I can work in.
So just visiting VWL will be fine, too. Have never stayed there though, or visited at Christmas before either.
So why is staying at VWL at Christmastime better than just visiting WL?
TIA

 

[disneynutz]

IMO staying at a resort is a more immersive experience.
If it wasn't, buy at SSR and just visit other resorts or to really save some bucks, stay at motel 6 and visit the Disney resorts.

It's all up to you.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

As Bill said it's just more immersive. You see and experience the Christmas decorations every day of your trip rather than just on a quick visit. Whether it's worth it is subjective though and will depend on your own preferences.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

As Bill said it's just more immersive. You see and experience the Christmas decorations every day of your trip rather than just on a quick visit. Whether it's worth it is subjective though and will depend on your own preferences.

Thanks Bill and Kathy.
I never ask "is it worth it?" I really hate that question.
I am asking what makes it so special.
The "woodsy" theme and décor certainly go best with traditional American Christmas. So I think it will certainly be more special there at Christmas than May or June for instance.
BWV, AKV, GF, and BC all supposedly also have great Christmas décor.
It just seems like so many recommend VWL, wondering why.

 

[Desnik]

It's just magical, that's why
Seriously, it's just a feeling you get when you stay there during Xmas. Warm and welcoming, just like at home. The colors, the theming, the decorations right outside your door. Nothing compares to it. We stayed there Xmas week a few years ago and it was amazing. We visited the other resorts and it just wasn't the same. They didn't have that Xmas feel even though they had decorations. Ok, the GF came close, but still IMHO, the WL is the best during Xmas time. The lobby decor, warm cider & fresh baked cookies in the lobby while sitting by the fireplace They had carolers, and the characters in their holiday gear & santa too! Yeah the other resorts had some of that but it really wasn't the same.

 

[vicki_c]

I totally feels like Christmas. I visited the Contemproary at Christmas and my overall impression was "bleh" when compared to the WL, BC, BW or the GF. To be fair, I found the Poly pretty bleh too. And I love the Poly.

 

[DonnaL]

As another poster said...it's an immersive experience. Also, I do think the theming has a great deal to do with getting the Christmas spirit when staying at VWL.......ahhh.......those fireplaces.....nothing like them on a cool winter evening to make you feel like you're somewhere in Yellowstone Park in a grand lodge rather than on the short of Bay Lake in central Florida!! One of my favorite things to do during a winter stay at VWL is have a cup of hot chocolate with a good book sitting by one of those grand fireplaces.

 

[Sur]

How do you manage to find time to do that?!

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I sure hope that waitlist for 12/14 fills. 4 days sure beats 2 days.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Many resorts have community groups come in to celebrate with song and music. If I am not staying at a particular resort, I find out the schedule and plan to spend a few hours listening to the offerings at the particular resort.

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks Bill and Kathy.
I never ask "is it worth it?" I really hate that question.
I am asking what makes it so special.
The "woodsy" theme and décor certainly go best with traditional American Christmas. So I think it will certainly be more special there at Christmas than May or June for instance.
BWV, AKV, GF, and BC all supposedly also have great Christmas décor.
It just seems like so many recommend VWL, wondering why.

The resorts posted above all have great but a little different decorations. GF being Disney's flagship resort seems to spend the most on decorations and theming.

Bill

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Many resorts have community groups come in to celebrate with song and music. If I am not staying at a particular resort, I find out the schedule and plan to spend a few hours listening to the offerings at the particular resort.

Wow, never read that before.
How do you find out the schedule?
Thanks in advance.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, never read that before.
How do you find out the schedule?
Thanks in advance.

Good question! I think I ask at concierge of the resort I am staying at. Somehow I do find out.

 

[bbn1122]

We stayed at WL before we were DVC members back in 2006. We have 3 sons, whom were young at the time. We choose the WL for the woodsy feel and we had seen pix of how beautifully it was decorated at Christmas time. It did not disappoint and my boys loved the place. The decorations were great and the size of Christmas tree in the lobby was huge.

On the same trip we took our boys over to GF to see the giant gingerbread house and they thought the place was too girly and they could not wait to leave.
I thought GF looked beautiful. The garland on the staircases was gorgeous.

We own at BLT and love it, but for the holidays I would stay at VGF or VWL.

Hope your wait list comes through.

 

[MrsM]

It's just magical, that's why

I agree! We have VWL as one of our home resorts and we have stayed at almost every other DVC resort over the years but staying at VWL around Christmas (we typically travel over Thanksgiving week) is like nothing else for us. Coming "home" at the end of a long day in the parks and walking through the main lobby - with the smell of the fire, the flickering lights just feels well - magical!

 

[Sheriff Woody]

For how long do they keep the decorations up? We're staying at VWL for a few days beginning Jan 4; will we still feel some holiday spirit?

 

[Msmithmd]

For how long do they keep the decorations up? We're staying at VWL for a few days beginning Jan 4; will we still feel some holiday spirit?

Probably bad news. The internal operating schedule says the last day for the Christmas parade is the third, returning to the non-holiday parade on the fourth. And the Osborne lights end the fourth. So the resort decorations will likely be coming down on the same timeline. Won't know until you get there for sure.

No worries though, the lodge is still a great place and should be looking magnificent as the main pool refurbishment/upgrade will be completed.