Wilderness Lodge dedicated studios

[disneygrandma]

I've done some searching, and was able to find out that Wilderness Lodge does have both dedicated and lock-off studios. We would prefer a dedicated studio, but I'm concerned about location. (I don't want to get the dreaded dumpster view!) Are the dedicated studios scattered around, or maybe have certain views? Are they closer or farther from the elevators? We've never stayed at VWL before, so would appreciate any help we can get as far as location, and what we should request for a nice view and a quieter stay. Also, is it true that atleast one of the studios doesn't have a balcony? A balcony is very important to us.

Thank you!

 

[disneynutz]

I know that there are some dedicated studios at the end of the hall by the dumpster view. There may be others that I'm not aware of.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

My parents had a dedicated studio last April. It was a regular, non-HA room. It was on the first floor, right around the corner from elevator facing the bus stop area. Basically, they had the first patio to the left of the covered walkway as you enter the villas. I personally didn't care for the location b/c you really had no personal space if you wanted to sit on the patio. I mean, it was sort of like you were on display next to the entrance and it was pretty easy to see into the room (my Mom kept the curtains drawn tightly whenever she was in the room).

Incidentally, we booked 11 months out for them and requested upper floor, lake view. So, ummm ... no requests were met. We did not request a dedicated studio.

 

[spiceycat]

there are none on the 5th floor only lock off

there are a few on 2nd to 4th floors - 2531, 2561, 2563 - all face the lake/woods

but 2560 and 2562 would face the service building (dumpster view)

change 2 to 3 or 4 for the other building (first 2)

first floor has the best ones - 1502,1501,1514,1516,1509

all the ones on the first floor have a patio not balcony.

it might be 3563 - but it should have a balcony facing the woods?

some people did not like the first floor ones because of the people walking by - really preferred them to the dumpster view.

 

[disneygrandma]

Thanks for all the replies. I was so excited when I was able to get our VWL ressie. Now I'm having 2nd thoughts. It sounds like the DVC room locations are all pretty poor. There's no way I want to be ground floor near the bus stop, or overlooking the dumpster area. To us, having the balcony is what separates the studio rooms from the ordinary resort room. The Lodge itself seems to have such beautiful room views, and the DVC section has been short shafted on this. What chance will we have of getting what we request? Will the new online checkin help or hinder us from having a say in what we get? Any ideas?

 

[Granny]

Thanks for all the replies. I was so excited when I was able to get our VWL ressie. Now I'm having 2nd thoughts. It sounds like the DVC room locations are all pretty poor. There's no way I want to be ground floor near the bus stop, or overlooking the dumpster area. To us, having the balcony is what separates the studio rooms from the ordinary resort room. The Lodge itself seems to have such beautiful room views, and the DVC section has been short shafted on this. What chance will we have of getting what we request? Will the new online checkin help or hinder us from having a say in what we get? Any ideas?

No idea what the on-line check in will provide for you, but I would have to disagree that the "DVC room locations are all pretty poor" and that the "DVC section has been short shafted on this". The theming of the resort is the Pacific Northwest lodges which of course means mostly woods. If viewing something besides trees is an issue for you, you are right to have second thoughts about your stay.


In the aerial photo, WL is the green roof and VWL is the red roof. I'd say your odds of looking at trees is pretty high.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

The notion that the "dreaded" dumpster views are a fate worse that death has been greatly overplayed. Nobody should stress about it.

And note that the WL has a ground floor too.

 

[disneygrandma]

I happen to love trees, and I'm not knocking the view of trees. It's the dumpster view I'm worried about, and the fact that if you're first floor there's a possiblity of being right there at the bus stop. With so few studios at VWL, it's been sounding like we will be doomed to getting one of the bad locations.

I appreciate seeing the aeriel view. I've looked at the maps, but they don't show things as clearly as the aeriel view does. Things do look much better in this view. Where is the bus stop located in this picture? How about the dumpsters?

Thanks again, and believe me, I'm not knocking the trees.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

I happen to love trees, and I'm not knocking the view of trees. It's the dumpster view I'm worried about, and the fact that if you're first floor there's a possiblity of being right there at the bus stop. With so few studios at VWL, it's been sounding like we will be doomed to getting one of the bad locations.

I appreciate seeing the aeriel view. I've looked at the maps, but they don't show things as clearly as the aeriel view does. Things do look much better in this view. Where is the bus stop located in this picture? How about the dumpsters?

Thanks again, and believe me, I'm not knocking the trees.

I don't think you need to worry that much. Chances are your view will be fine. The bus stop views aren't really right in front of the busses ... our third story room faced the bus stop and really, you had to look through the trees, and you could see pieces of bus. Yes, the lodge has those spectacular courtyard views where you can see the themed pool and beyond to the lake ... but those aren't the majority of lodge rooms. Likewise, there are a few rooms at the villas that have a lovely view of the quiet pool ... but those aren't the majority of the rooms. Most rooms in the villas, studios and otherwise, have a woods view.

 

[Granny]

Here's a view of VWL taken from the bus stop.

As for the dumpster view, there are only a couple of villas that this comes into play. And even then, it's only a dumpster view if you look in that direction. Look straight ahead or to the right from those villas and you have a woods view.

The dumpster view would be right on the bottom corner of VWL that is cut off in the photo. Worst case scenario, this would be the view if someone chooses to look directly at that part of the view in those few rooms:

Frankly, it's no worse than the "Gutter View" at BWV or even the view we had last year at BCV of the maintenance people going back and forth in front of our balcony with trash cans and maintenance carts.

 

[spiceycat]

Here's a view of VWL taken from the bus stop.

As for the dumpster view, there are only a couple of villas that this comes into play. And even then, it's only a dumpster view if you look in that direction. Look straight ahead or to the right from those villas and you have a woods view.

The dumpster view would be right on the bottom corner of VWL that is cut off in the photo. Worst case scenario, this would be the view if someone chooses to look directly at that part of the view in those few rooms:

Frankly, it's no worse than the "Gutter View" at BWV or even the view we had last year at BCV of the maintenance people going back and forth in front of our balcony with trash cans and maintenance carts.

Granny you know (I think you had the dumpster view before) it that truck that either comes late at night or early morning - it is noisey very loud.

that say did love the first floor views - yes you can see the people coming in - but it still a very nice view. the bus view on the first floor is very, very far away.

further up it is more the cover over the walkway - which is something I definitely want - that blocks the views.

 

[Granny]

Granny you know (I think you had the dumpster view before) it that truck that either comes late at night or early morning - it is noisey very loud.

I agree but my point was that it isn't noisy all day long. My last BWV and BCV stays had a lot of noise all day long.

And by the way, I think this may well be your photo. I remember asking if I could "borrow" it and I think you were kind enough to agree. I keep it since this issue comes up from time to time on these boards.

To the OP...I would put in a request with MS for upper floor, near the elevators. That should give you the best chance of avoiding the dumpster and the ground floor.

 

[spiceycat]

I agree but my point was that it isn't noisy all day long. My last BWV and BCV stays had a lot of noise all day long.

And by the way, I think this may well be your photo. I remember asking if I could "borrow" it and I think you were kind enough to agree. I keep it since this issue comes up from time to time on these boards.

To the OP...I would put in a request with MS for upper floor, near the elevators. That should give you the best chance of avoiding the dumpster and the ground floor.[/QU

sorry did not mean to offend. been a bad morning

to the op - if you are offered a room you know you won't like - ask as pleasant as possible (don't get mad) what else is available.

for some reason (yet to be explained) the front desk at WL thinks that VWL belongs to them (WL resort) not to the members.

wrote to DVC about this and for a while they behaved. but it sounds like they are back to there VWL is part of WL resort again.

so if you get a view that is bad (your opinion) write to DVC - the thing that really got me upset - was when they offered a cash guest (I asked) one of the best villas in the place. (okay I am noisey)

that is what the fd had a tendency to do - if they are doing it again. Definitely time to write to DVC.

VWL is owned by members and not WL - sometimes the front desk needs to reminded of this fact - not by members but by DVC.

 

[disneygrandma]

Thanks for all the pictures, and responses. I appreciate it. We'll take your advice with the requests. As far as ground floor, I would love to not have to wait for an elevator, but I'm worried about then losing privacy in the ground floor room and on the patio. Also, I think there might be a greater sense of security for us on a higher floor. I guess there's pros and cons to everything.

So should I forget about requesting a dedicated studio, and instead just request the location? What about a non-HA studio? Should I request that? (I only ask about that because we would like a tub for the kids.) With our other DVC stays, I didn't really worry about any of this. It just seems like I've read so many negative posts about noise, views, etc here at VWL. Again, I'm not knocking the views of trees, which I personally love. In fact, the wilderness theme, in addition to location, is why we're so excited about staying here.

Thanks again for all the help I've been receiving with this.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

With our other DVC stays, I didn't really worry about any of this. It just seems like I've read so many negative posts about noise, views, etc here at VWL.

Somewhere along the way, you have been seriously led astray. If you don't worry about these issues at other resorts, there is no need to worry about them at VWL.

Of all the WDW resorts, VWL is the one with the least noise. It is the one where view choices matter least (since almost all the rooms have essentially the same view).

 

[Granny]

Somewhere along the way, you have been seriously led astray. If you don't worry about these issues at other resorts, there is no need to worry about them at VWL.

Of all the WDW resorts, VWL is the one with the least noise. It is the one where view choices matter least (since almost all the rooms have essentially the same view).

I agree with all points made in this post!

 

[wildernessDad]

Once you stay at VWL, you'll probably never want to stay anywhere else. I know that's how many people here feel, myself included.

 

[dgaston]

DH and I stayed at VWL in July 08. When we checked in I (politely) said I didn't want a room ending in 60 or 62. Of course we were assigned 2x61, but then we had a view of the trees. DH estimated it was 1/8 of a mile from the elevators (and they talk about BWV hallways). And we had a GREAT stay!

I think in the future I might request a room near the atrium or close to the elevators, but really all is good at VWL.