Why VWL?

[Cinderella]

Muushka - maybe you're not getting enough use out of them. I use them at home all the time too! And they are very useful in the car on the way to work.

 

[Muushka]

Oh Cinderella. I don't want to use my special mug for everyday use!
I have lots of other travel mugs that I can use.

 

[jade1]

Cons

Roaring Forks - It's horrid - I hope it's improved since the refurb in Jan.

Poor room service choices in comparison to other deluxe resorts.

At least they offer something after 9PM unlike others. Here is the room service.


Menu Date: October 2005


(18% service charge, sales tax and $3.00 delivery charge
will be added to the total order)

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Breakfast
served 7 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Belgian-Style waffle or pancakes - with bacon or sausage links $10.29

French Toast - with bacon or sausage links $10.29

Eggs Your Way - two eggs, any style, served with breakfast potatoes, bacon or sausage links, and toast $10.79

Cascade Fruit Plate - with fruit-flavored yogurt $10.99

Western Omelet - three eggs omelet with ham, bell peppers, and onions served with home fries $12.99

Continental Breakfast - a variety of breakfast pastries, freshly brewed coffee or tea, plus a choice of juice $13.99

A la Carte

Toast- whole wheat, rye or white $2.29
Fresh Whole Fruit (apple, orange, banana) - $2.29
English Muffin - $2.29
Fresh Baked Muffin - $2.99
Hash Brown Rounds - $2.99
Fruit Yogurt - $2.99
Toasted Bagel and Cream Cheese - $3.99
Bacon or Sausage Links- $3.79
Ham Steak - $3.99
Assorted Hot and Cold Cereals - Oatmeal, grits, Fruit Loops, Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Raisin Bran, Frosted Flakes, or Granola with whole, lowfat or skim milk $3.29; With a banana or berries add $2.29

Pot of Coffee - fresh-brewed regular or decaf $4.99
Espresso - $3.50
Cappuccino - Latte or Mocha - $3.99
Hot Tea - regular, herbal, or decaffeinated (42 oz.) $4.79
Hot Chocolate $4.79
Milk - whole, low fat, skim or chocolate $2.99
Assorted Juices - orange, cranberry, grapefruit, apple, tomato, V8, grape, pineapple or prune $2.99
Iced Tea $2.19
Soda (can) - Coca Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite, Root Beer or Caffeine-free Diet Coke $2.99
Bottled Water - $4.50 to $6.50

KID'S BREAKFAST MENU


Egg Platter - one egg any style with potato rounds, bacon or sausage link $5.79
Waffles - 3 pine cone shaped waffles with bacon or sausage link $5.79
French Toast - 2 slices of French toast with bacon or sausage link $5.79
Pancakes - 2 pancakes served with bacon or sausage link $5.79


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Dinner served
5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Starters

Soup of the Day - $4.99
Mixed Green Salad - with Ranch, Thousand Island, French, Blue Cheese, Italian, Oil & Vinegar or House $5.99
Caesar Salad - romaine lettuce witih romano cheese, herb croutons, and caesar dressing - $6.99
Cheeseplate - with Chef's selection of cheese $12.99


Entrees

Grilled Burger - with French Fries. All burgers are prepared will done unless otherwise requested - $12.99

Oven-Roasted Chicken - served with cinnamon apples and mashed potatoes - $20.99 All white meat add - $4.50

Catch of the Day - Market Price

Glazed Pork Chops - yukon gold roasted potatoes, roasted fennel, cremini mushrooms and green beans $22.99

Johnney B Good's Grilled Chicken Pasta - penne, grilled chicken, broccoli, roasted red onions, witha garlic chipotle cream sauce $22.99

St. Louis-style BBQ Pork Ribs - full slab of slow-smoked pork ribs with fresh corn and cowboy beans $23.99

New York Strip Steak - with mashed potatoes and fresh corn $27.99



Chef's Vegetarian Pasta $20.99



Side order of cole slaw, cowboy beans or mashed potatoes - $3.99

Potato Chips/Pretzels $1.50/bag





Desserts

Caramel Apple Pie $5.99
Triple Chocolate Mousse Stampede $5.99
Pint of Ice Cream - vanilla, chocolate $6.99






Children's Dinner Menu

Includes brownie and choice of soda, milk or apple juice
$9.99
Hamburger with fries
Hot Dog with fries
Chicken Fingers with fries
PB&J with chips
Mac and Cheese with fruit
Grilled Cheese with fries


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Lodge Pizza & Sandwiches
4 p.m. to midnight
16" Cheese Pizza - $14.75

Extra Toppings - pepperoni, sausage, black olives, green peppers, mushrooms, onions, extra cheese $1.50 each

Sandwiches - Baked Ham or Smoked Turkey Sandwich, served with chips, and your choice of white, wheat or rye bread $9.99


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Hospitality Menu
Served from 4 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Platters serve 2 to 4 people
Nacho Chips and Salsa with cheese $14.50

Seasonal Fruit Platter - an assortment of fresh sliced fruit and berries, serves 2 to 4 people $18.00

Cheese - Chef's selection of cheeses, serves 2 to 4 people $28.00

Chicken Wing Platter - maple, chili or hot sauce with celery sticks and blue cheese, serves 2-4 people $20.00


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Beverages


Pot of Coffee - regular or decaf $4.99
Espresso - $3.50
Cappuccino - Latte or Mocha - $3.99
Hot Tea - regular, herbal, or decaffeinated (42 oz.) $4.79
Hot Chocolate $4.79
Milk - whole, low-fat, skim, or chocolate $2.99
Assorted Juices - $2.99
Iced Tea $2.19
Soda Can - Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite, Root Beer or Caffeine-free Diet Coke $2.99


Bottled Water - $4.50 to $6.50

Wines, Mixed Drinks and Beers also available.

 

[Cinderella]

Thanks for the menu Jade - it looks like the room service offerings have improved. Last time I tried WL room service was a long time ago, and the menu was more limited then, and also the quality was not as good as at the BC or the Poly.

If Roaring Forks does not have flies among the pastries this trip - then WL will be perfect!

 

[sleepydog25]

So, as with the "Why BWV" thread, I'd really love to hear from VWL owners or frequent guests. Some topics I'd like to get perspective on include:

• Pool and fitness facilities -- is there a quiet pool? How is the gym? Are there jogging paths through the resort?
• Children -- we don't have any, and my Signficant Other isn't too fond of being surrounded by them. (Part of the reason he's not fully on board with the whole Disney thing, but we're working on this.) How does VWL compare to other resorts?
• Proximity to parks and DTD -- how is the transportation?
• Intangibles -- this is most important. what do you just love about VWL? What would you change? How does it make you feel?

Naturally, personal perspectives on any location or facilities will vary as much as human behavior and variances allow. That being said, here are my thoughts regarding your specific questions. . .

Pool & Fitness Facilities: The exercise facility is very good, and based on what I've seen during my trips, severely underused, meaning you should have your choice of machines during most times of the day and night. Yes, the Hidden Springs pool is a "quiet" pool, never approaching the reported crowding that the main pool has during peak hours. HS pool has no slide but does have--as another mentioned--several spots in the pool where the water bubbles up like a spring. Given this is the only "attraction" for kids, the HS pool is often populated by adults and fewer kids per capita than the main pool. There is also a hot tub that is equally uncrowded. As for running paths, you can either take the mile-long sidewalk that heads to Fort Wilderness or you can opt to take part of that journey along the nature trail which is sandy and crosses over the main path a couple of times. My run usually includes both, and I meander among the campers and cabins at FW as well to add some mileage.
Children: As you alluded to, part of the whole Disney image is that it's family-oriented vice adult-oriented. It's why we travel each year with our young daughter--she loves the place, of course. Still, as resorts go, VWL is very peaceful and quiet. One reason we love VWL so is that once we leave the hustle and bustle of the parks, it feels as though we can unwind and relax back at the resort. The theming, music, and natural setting among the trees make for a bit of solitude among masses. One of the best places to go is the secondary lobby of the Villas themselves, the Iron Spike room. You can curl up with a book, sit by a fire, have a drink, people watch as folks walk by on the way to their rooms, play checkers, or just sit and chat with your honey. There's a short wooden walkway between the main Lodge and the Villas that seems to set the tone for the whole area as the majestic music is piped over the speakers. It's lovely and inviting.
Proximity to Parks: We haven't been to DTD yet, but I can speak to the parks transportation. Not only is there the bus stop right outside the Villas (okay, maybe it takes a minute from the door to the stop), but we've found the buses to run quite well during our stays. Sure, just as you'll find at any resort there are times the buses run behind, and some of them make an intermediate stop or two along the way, but we figure that into our plans. By and large, the buses work just fine, and there's even a bus that goes directly to MK. Further, you have the option to take a boat from WL to MK. The docks are located on the other side of the main Lodge, so it's a good 3-4 minute walk from your room, but that's still very close in my book. The boat ride is a great way to relax and kick back before and after hitting MK. There have been some complaints about waiting for boats during the peak times, especially catching a boat back from MK when it closes, but we've never had to wait more than 20 minutes and usually much less.
Intangibles: Personally, I fell in love with VWL the moment I walked into the main lobby. It's quite an amazing sight, full of Disney details one comes to expect at WDW. My favorite thing about VWL is that it remains a place of respite and relative quiet after a day of rubbing elbows with thousands in the parks. We come back to our room early in the afternoon to relax, jump in the pool, and recharge our batteries before heading back out to eat, take in a show, etc. Part of the appeal of that feeling of serenity comes from the music. It's a combination of western movie themes and classical music by Aaron Copland--unobtrusive, stirring, and calming all at the same time. I also like the theming and colors. If you aren't into rustic reds, greens, and browns, then you might be a little disappointed, but VWL definitely is not rundown. It's muted to reflect a lodge theme, and as another poster mentioned, the actual color scheme of a resort is secondary to my enjoyment of it, anyway.

What would I change? Tough question. For me, I believe changing the Whispering Canyon Cafe format would be in order. We've been twice and haven't been impressed with either the food nor the service. Due to the latter's shortcomings, we've subsequently had no fun server as one expects to get there. Still, to many, WCC is a great place to eat. I respectfully disagree since this is my posted response.

Most importantly, VWL feels like home away from home. . .as much as a resort can be. My wife and I love overall ambience of the place, from the small details of having faux animal tracks embedded in the sidewalks to the ability to get from your room in the Villas to any place at WL in less than five minutes. We also love the fact that Artist Point is located here, as we consider it one of the best onsite restaurants in all of WDW. Though our daughter was well-behaved the first time we tried AP, we now let her stay at the Cubs Den while we dine for a more adult-oriented experience. If you make a later ADR there, there tends to be even fewer kids (and there aren't usually a lot of them to begin with given that it is a signature dining restaurant).

Sorry for such a long post, but I wanted to give you the most thorough explanation and feel of VWL that I could. Others would disagree with some of my points, but that's why they have more than one resort at WDW. Hope this helped.