Wilderness Lodge.....might be a new favorite

[luckyman_apd]

On our way home from a great weekend at Wilderness lodge. What a great resort! Sad we hadn't tried it earlier! The decor was fantastic. The construction didn't impact us at all, and the lack of quiet pool really didn't matter as it was really too chilly for the pool anyway. Happy to get "pixie dust" disney pins as an apology for the construction.

I don't know if it was because of the holiday weekend but the busses were top notch. Never waited more that 5-6 minutes for a bus to arrive......and that was anywhere, not just at the resort.

 

[cbnsoul]

I love WL. Staying there again over spring break and really looking forward to it. I enjoy the "remote" feeling of the villas (although they may not feel that way after the construction is done!), the decor, pool and restaurants, especially Roaring Fork, our favorite quick service on property.

 

[jimmytammy]

We love it too!

 

[DisneyfromDeland]

We were there this weekend as well. It was our first stay in the villas. We really enjoyed it. We were asked by a CM if we were bothered by construction noise and my answer was no. I never heard a thing. And the resort specific construction pins were a nice touch.

 

[disneynutz]

VWL is one of our three favorites. Hopefully the additions will be positive and not affect the existing feel.

A note on construction, this may be a quieter time but tomorrow that may change as they start the major work.

Bill

 

[lovin'fl]

We first stayed there in 2008. We were somewhat new to DVC and had not tried many resorts out yet (actually only BWV and SSR DVC stays under our belt as well as CR and POR cash stays). We were just 'meh' about it then. After that we stayed at OKW, HHI, VB, BCV, AKV, BLT as well as repeats at some including another stay at VWL. The second time at VWL, in 2014 for F&W, was more impressive to us. And we have eaten at WL a few times (including at Christmas times) and are just wowed every time we step into the lobby. It was a slow fall but we have fallen for VWL. We have 4 WDW resorts we prefer to book at: BCV, AKV, VWL and BWV. We love the grand lobbies and the great dining options. And walking or boating to parks is really nice (AKV doesn't have either but they have animals).

 

[luckyman_apd]

I'm very disappointed that we did NOT visit during our stay in december. I really would have loved to see the decorations there. I've heard wonderful things. We have now had a stay at all DVC resorts on WDW property EXCEPT Poly and GF. I don't foresee that in our future. Can't justify the extra points. When we stay at BLT (our home) it's almost exclusively in a SV studio. This past december was the exception as we had our neighbors use our points. Couldn't get 2 reservations on SV and we wanted rooms near each other. They own SSR and have no shot at anywhere but SSR for the first 2 weeks of December.

On a side note, not related to DVC exclusively......They started a new van transport for early mornings FROM the parks back to the resort. It's one of the benefits of the magic band tracking. We like to hit Magic hours in the morning and then leave as the crowd builds. AK had an 8 am opening yesterday. We're not big fans of that park compared to the others, but my daughter loves Everest. So we went for Magic Hours opening, rode Everest a few times and a couple of dinosaur stuff and hit the road. We were out of the park a little after 9. We were standing there for fewer than 5 minutes and a white van pulled up and the driver asked where we were headed, and she took us back to the resort. She explained to us that until 11 am, there really aren't a lot of guests trying to get back to a resort or resort hopping for meals. She said they usually only used the vans for really busy times but they just started implementing it full time. By using a few vans for return guests it frees up extra busses for getting guests to the park.

Now I know what the word on the street is about listening to rumors from bus drivers......Because of the van instead of a bus, this is really the most interaction with a driver I've ever had beyond "Hello" or "Good Morning". She was a driver and also worked dispatch for the busses as well, so take it for what it's worth. I was just happy not to be waiting 20 minutes or more for a bus to come along.

 

[luckyman_apd]

VWL is one of our three favorites. Hopefully the additions will be positive and not affect the existing feel.

A note on construction, this may be a quieter time but tomorrow that may change as they start the major work.

Bill

To be honest, we arrived Friday night, and left last night. Being a weekend, I only heard construction noise yesterday, and because we checked out and spent most of the day away from the resort, it didn't bother me at all.

 

[disneynutz]

To be honest, we arrived Friday night, and left last night. Being a weekend, I only heard construction noise yesterday, and because we checked out and spent most of the day away from the resort, it didn't bother me at all.

When they start the pool and new building construction I expect that the noise will increase.

Bill

 

[lovin'fl]

I'm very disappointed that we did NOT visit during our stay in december. I really would have loved to see the decorations there. I've heard wonderful things. We have now had a stay at all DVC resorts on WDW property EXCEPT Poly and GF. I don't foresee that in our future. Can't justify the extra points. When we stay at BLT (our home) it's almost exclusively in a SV studio. This past december was the exception as we had our neighbors use our points. Couldn't get 2 reservations on SV and we wanted rooms near each other. They own SSR and have no shot at anywhere but SSR for the first 2 weeks of December.

On a side note, not related to DVC exclusively......They started a new van transport for early mornings FROM the parks back to the resort. It's one of the benefits of the magic band tracking. We like to hit Magic hours in the morning and then leave as the crowd builds. AK had an 8 am opening yesterday. We're not big fans of that park compared to the others, but my daughter loves Everest. So we went for Magic Hours opening, rode Everest a few times and a couple of dinosaur stuff and hit the road. We were out of the park a little after 9. We were standing there for fewer than 5 minutes and a white van pulled up and the driver asked where we were headed, and she took us back to the resort. She explained to us that until 11 am, there really aren't a lot of guests trying to get back to a resort or resort hopping for meals. She said they usually only used the vans for really busy times but they just started implementing it full time. By using a few vans for return guests it frees up extra busses for getting guests to the park.

Now I know what the word on the street is about listening to rumors from bus drivers......Because of the van instead of a bus, this is really the most interaction with a driver I've ever had beyond "Hello" or "Good Morning". She was a driver and also worked dispatch for the busses as well, so take it for what it's worth. I was just happy not to be waiting 20 minutes or more for a bus to come along.

This past Oct we stayed at SSR for F&W and DH left early in the morning on check out day to drive back to NC. Twin DDs and I had a late flight to MD so I booked lunch at Whispering Canyon Cafe and we took bus from SSR to a park, want to say HS, and then went to WL bus stop and got picked up by a van to get a personal ride over to WL. It was very nice and we were also with another couple and had nice conversation on the way over. We had a great lunch at WCC and then walked over to VWL to sit by the fireplace in the little lobby/gameroom area. DDs sat and did homework on laptop for a couple hours and then we went back to SSR to catch ME to the airport.Really do love it there!!! And, yes, you have to go at Christmas time.

 

[DisMamaPf]

VWL is one of our three favorites. Hopefully the additions will be positive and not affect the existing feel.

A note on construction, this may be a quieter time but tomorrow that may change as they start the major work.

Bill

totally off topic...but where do you get the cute signature stuff?? I totally need a countdown!

 

[Lakegirl]

VWL is one of our three favorites. Hopefully the additions will be positive and not affect the existing feel.

A note on construction, this may be a quieter time but tomorrow that may change as they start the major work.

Bill

What are they starting tomorrow?

 

[disneynutz]

What are they starting tomorrow?

My point is that work seems to be minimal currently and that any day now, some major work will be starting.

Bill

 

[disneynutz]

totally off topic...but where do you get the cute signature stuff?? I totally need a countdown!

www.**************

Bill

 

[bobbiwoz]

I am glad you enjoyed the VWL, we do too! We have no VWL stays for 2016, I will wait for the construction to be over, but we will book an ADR at Artist Point a few times during the year, so we get to enjoy the ambiance! We ate there on NYE, and it was relaxing and filled our "need" to see and enjoy the decorations! We're using our VWL points for (hopefully) another stay in Aulani in early 2017! We have to book at 7 months, and we're glad we have those VWL points available!