MouseBuzz.com - View Single Post

brumcg · 03-28-2004

Every family is different. Mine is dialed straight to 'Wilderness Lodge'. So much so, in fact, that we're DVC owners at the Villas. We could use our points for any other DVC property...but we just can't do it. We'd miss the Lodge too much.

We did a Studio this time, and it should be the last time that we do that. It's cramped, so you have to be a pretty tight family...and you don't have a full kitchen (microwave, small fridge, toaster, coffee pot). But, all I can say is that 1502 is awesome! In all of the Villas, you couldn't get closer to the Lodge...which means closer to the bus stop, dock, pool, shop, mug refill area, etc... Hilarious thing is that this was the first year that I didn't send a fax requesting a room EXACTLY like this, and the first year that we got it. Only downside is that it was also closest to foot traffic, but we heard none the entire trip.

Due to the weather and other things to do, I only had the kids in the pool once, but we had a blast. The Lodge pool doesn't have the bells and whistles of some of the other pools, but the setting is nice and relaxing. The slide is perfect for my timid 4 year old.

One afternoon, for the first time ever, my wife and I got to stroll the resort by ourselves for a wonderful 90 minutes while my 4 year old napped and the 12 year old stood by with a FRS radio in hand in case of...anything. It's amazing that the resort can be so family friendly and romantic at the same time.

The cast members are great, the restaurants are great... The fauna (that's animals, right?) is great - interesting birds around the water (other than gulls!) and rabbits all over the property at night and in the morning.

Short story... I (and my wife agrees) could go to the Lodge for a week and not leave.

Ack, I've gushed enough, and that's not my style (I'm the 'Pet Peeves' guy after all). Worst part? The wonky transportation system with the random sharing with Fort Wilderness or Grand Floridian. I know it probably makes sense to do it this way, but it just seems like each resort is 'worthy' of having their own transporation. Still, as crowded as it was, we only had to stand on 1 bus the entire stay, and we rarely had to wait more than 5 minutes for a bus or boat.

03-28-2004	#4 (permalink)
brumcg Mouse Meister Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,301	Home Away from Home Every family is different. Mine is dialed straight to 'Wilderness Lodge'. So much so, in fact, that we're DVC owners at the Villas. We could use our points for any other DVC property...but we just can't do it. We'd miss the Lodge too much. We did a Studio this time, and it should be the last time that we do that. It's cramped, so you have to be a pretty tight family...and you don't have a full kitchen (microwave, small fridge, toaster, coffee pot). But, all I can say is that 1502 is awesome! In all of the Villas, you couldn't get closer to the Lodge...which means closer to the bus stop, dock, pool, shop, mug refill area, etc... Hilarious thing is that this was the first year that I didn't send a fax requesting a room EXACTLY like this, and the first year that we got it. Only downside is that it was also closest to foot traffic, but we heard none the entire trip. Due to the weather and other things to do, I only had the kids in the pool once, but we had a blast. The Lodge pool doesn't have the bells and whistles of some of the other pools, but the setting is nice and relaxing. The slide is perfect for my timid 4 year old. One afternoon, for the first time ever, my wife and I got to stroll the resort by ourselves for a wonderful 90 minutes while my 4 year old napped and the 12 year old stood by with a FRS radio in hand in case of...anything. It's amazing that the resort can be so family friendly and romantic at the same time. The cast members are great, the restaurants are great... The fauna (that's animals, right?) is great - interesting birds around the water (other than gulls!) and rabbits all over the property at night and in the morning. Short story... I (and my wife agrees) could go to the Lodge for a week and not leave. Ack, I've gushed enough, and that's not my style (I'm the 'Pet Peeves' guy after all). Worst part? The wonky transportation system with the random sharing with Fort Wilderness or Grand Floridian. I know it probably makes sense to do it this way, but it just seems like each resort is 'worthy' of having their own transporation. Still, as crowded as it was, we only had to stand on 1 bus the entire stay, and we rarely had to wait more than 5 minutes for a bus or boat.