Wilderness Lodge Villas (Studio) "Newbie Questions"

[maelstrom]

We are staying at the VWL for the first time in May. We aren't DVC members, but we are APs, and this was all we could get that was to our liking with the AP discount. We've stayed at the WL proper before, but never the villas. We have reserved a studio and I'm going to be sleeping on the pullout bed, so my first questions are: how comfortable are they, are they easy to pull out, and does housekeeping put them back together every morning?

Next, are there any yucky views from the villas and can you book a nice view or only request it? I don't want to look at the parking lot. I'd really like to look at Bay Lake or the pool, but I'd even take the woods. Just not that parking lot. We weren't given an option of view when reserving the room so I'm guessing that it isn't something you can reserve. Does anyone have a good area for me to request (we have a studio booked)?

From the looks of it, studio balconies are private and not attached to other balconies; is this correct?

Do we check-in at the villas building or in the main WL lobby? Do you feel really disconnected from the main WL building when you're in the villas? I enjoy the atmosphere of the WL and don't want to miss it.

The walk to the boat dock isn't too long, right? I know it's at one end of the main WL building farthest away from the villas. But we'll be closer to the boat rentals, which is nice.

Does the walking trail to Fort Wilderness start near the villas? I've been wanting to do this. Is the path well-marked? I'll most likely be doing this by myself and as much as I don't want to think about it, I'm a VERY small 21 year old girl and I don't want to encounter any deviant people in the woods or go off course and meet a bear! Deer are cool, bears not so much. I've seen them all up close & personal at my house (backwoods of NY) but I was safely inside. Does anyone know where to find remnants of the Fort Wilderness railroad once I get there?

Does anyone have any pictures of the studio villas? There's only a couple on AllEarsNet and I can't really get a feel for the rooms. They also look very plain and I was wondering if they redid them with the rest of the WL and maybe they're a little more festive now. Pictures, please!

Is the fridge bigger than the ones in the regular WL rooms? It looks a bit taller. I also see a microwave (yay ramen!), coffee pot, and bar sink. Does the studio come with plates and flatware? And if so, does housekeeping do the dishes?

Since we aren't DVC members we get daily housekeeping, right?


That's all my questions for now as I have to get going to work (yay Rita's Italian Ice!) but I expect answers when I get back! :ROFLOL:

 

[sweetale]

I will do my best to answer some of your questions. My information is based on knowledge of DVC and what I have read about VWL.

You can request a view when you make the ressies, but it is not guarenteed. I will be staying there on my honeymoon and we had them make a note that it is our honeymoon and we would like a lake/pool view. From what I have heard this is the view options: lake/pool, woods, and parking lots. The balconies are not interconnected. I do believe that you check in at the lobby of the main WL.

As for the sleeper sofas: This is from my stay at the Boardwalk Villas, so I can't say if this completely carries over to WL. I found them very comfortable and no need to worry about putting it back, it is extremely easy to do and I put it "away" with the covers all mashed too! Plus I am very small (5'3" and 105 lbs) and it wasn't a problem. I do believe that you will have maid service everyday though. They will probably put it back if you don't want to.

This is what is included in the studio room: flatware, plates, coffee maker, microwave, mugs, coffee filters (you'll probably need to buy more though), a small packet of coffee, fridge (it is pretty tall, lots of room). There is more, I think, but my memory fails me! I can't say whether the housekeeping would do your dishes, we stayed as DVC members and also had a dishwasher (not in the studio).

I don't think that the walk to the boat dock looks too long. But I am a fast, fast walker and may be biased! Plus we stayed at BWV last time and that WAS a lot of walking!

I have no idea about the walkway. As a general rule, I would be cautious walking at dusk or dark (but I also live just outside of Detroit :lol: ).

I don't have any pics to show you, there are great ones in the DVC packets and it looks lovely. But that may also be my personal taste coming in to play too.

Either way, enjoy your trip! Sounds like it will be lots of fun. I know I am probably not the most knowledgable member on the boards, but feel free to pm me if you like! :wave:

~Amy

 

[wherewhy]

Hi there,

First of all, enour trip! It is a great place to stay! I am a dvc member and when we went down to sign the paperwork, we stayed in the villas.

- you check in at the main entrance
- the villas are not a far walk from the main building(though the boat dock is a little farther to walk, but nothing compared to a stay at CB or SS)
- there are only a limited number of pool view/ bay lake views available but to my knowledge no rooms have a parking lot view (usually just the woods)
- you will have your own private pool as well as the main pool within walking distance of your building.
- the rooms seem a little bigger than most DVC rooms (studio?) and the pullout is comfortable.

Hope this helps, enjoy your trip! :wave: