?? About trying for BWV-std plus cash ressie

[KathyRN137]

I am going to go out on a limb here b/c DH wants to stay at an EPCOT area resort and our vacation dates will be 11/03/07-11/10/07 ("Jersey Week; last week of F&WF.)

We need a 2BR and really don't want to borrow pts from next year. I really do not want to get into renting points, either.

Plan "A" is to try to book day by day at 7 months for a standard view for 6 nights, and then do 1 night member-discounted cash. (Obviously for a Fri or Sat night)

I know what you're thinking...."Good Luck, honey!" But, its worth a try!

I've never done day by day or added a cash day, so I have a question for you veterans:

Do I start with my points and end with cash, i.e.:

Call on April 4th and begin day by day, end with the cash ressie for the last Friday night (11/10) OR...

Begin with making the cash ressie for the first night (Sat, 11/3) and then begin adding with points for the day by day??

Naturally, I will have Plan B...take the BWV preferred view ; waitlist for the standard view.

and Plan C... OKW or SSR.

What is your advice?

Kathy

 

[beachblanket]

Kathy, I'm a BWV owner. Here's are answers to your questions:

First, the only category that can be booked for cash at BWV is preferred. BW view and standard are in such high demand that DVC only allows them to be booked with points. So if you can get a cash night (which is highly debatable, more on that below), that is going to force you to move if your point nights are in a standard.

Second, be aware that unlike point nights, cash nights aren't usually "bookable" right at the beginning of ressie windows. In most cases, if available they are bookable 5 days to a week after a window opens. This is because DVC wants to allow members with available points the first opportunity to book.

Consequently, if you call MS right right at the 7 month window and request a cash night, they will almost always tell you that they are not yet available and that you will need to keep calling back to check (same thing will happen if you go for the last night, since the ressie window is a rolling one). So to limit risk, I'd book that first night with points - for you'll lose it completely if you don't and it never subsequently becomes available for cash.

Frankly, whether any cash nights will ever become available is a function of demand from members using points, and during a busier period (such as so-called "Jersey week") your likelihood of getting one at a preferred Epcot area property like BWV is going to be very low.

And not to disappoint you even more, but based on history, trying to get a standard view at BWV at 7 months during that popular fall period is pretty much impossible. So in all likelhood, if you want BWV you are looking at a preferrred using only points or have to go to your plan "C".

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Consequently, if you call MS right right at the 7 month window and request a cash night, ......

Not always true. I have booked discount cash at 11 months out before for different times of year. In fact, I booked December 13th - 15th at BCV 1BR at cash discount (as well as Vero Beach 2Br and 1 studio on cash discount for December 8th) at about 11 months out.

I think it's a roll of the dice...just keep trying.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Not always true. I have booked discount cash at 11 months out before for different times of year. In fact, I booked December 13th - 15th at BCV 1BR at cash discount (as well as Vero Beach 2Br and 1 studio on cash discount for December 8th) at about 11 months out.

I think it's a roll of the dice...just keep trying.

Do they tell you at time of booking that you received a discount on the room?
Thanks
Chris

 

[beachblanket]

Not always true. I have booked discount cash at 11 months out before for different times of year. In fact, I booked December 13th - 15th at BCV 1BR at cash discount (as well as Vero Beach 2Br and 1 studio on cash discount for December 8th) at about 11 months out.

I think it's a roll of the dice...just keep trying.

The Vero example isn't surprising (December is a mega-low demand period there), but the BC one is somewhat - that period used to be "slower," but the desire of so many to see WDW "during" Christmas is making it more and more popular.

Whatever, I stand by my recommendation to the OP not to get too optimistic about a cash night at BWV during F&W/Jersey. That is a very high demand period at that resort; if the OP gets anything there then at 7 months out (on points or cash), it's going to be preferred; there's already another thread here confirming that BWV standards for that period were completely gone at less than 10 months out.

Moral of story: DVC continues to grow, but from what one sees here, everyone still wants to stay at the same two resorts (BWV and BCV). So those who were smart enough to buy at those two properties are sitting pretty.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Do they tell you at time of booking that you received a discount on the room?
Thanks
Chris

Yes, I always ask for the member cash discount rate. There is no way we could afford the full price.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

The Vero example isn't surprising (December is a mega-low demand period there), but the BC one is somewhat - that period used to be "slower," but the desire of so many to see WDW "during" Christmas is making it more and more popular.

Trust me, I was surprised to get BC at a discount for that time period, as well.

Whatever, I stand by my recommendation to the OP not to get too optimistic about a cash night at BWV during F&W/Jersey.

I agree. Like I said, it is a roll of the dice.

Moral of story: DVC continues to grow, but from what one sees here, everyone still wants to stay at the same two resorts (BWV and BCV). So those who were smart enough to buy at those two properties are sitting pretty.

AMEN to that! (as I sit here wishing we had the forethought to buy resale!!!)

 

[KathyRN137]

Moral of story: DVC continues to grow, but from what one sees here, everyone still wants to stay at the same two resorts (BWV and BCV). So those who were smart enough to buy at those two properties are sitting pretty.

Well, I would like to eventually stay at all the DVC resorts. That is why we purchased DVC in the first place...for the variety of choices, not just to stay at the same resort year after year (however lovely it might be.)

Thank you all for your frank assessment of my situation. (Too bad the week we need overlaps with F&WF.)

After discussing with DH, have decided to keep optimistic and try for BWV (preferred) and borrow points ,if one night cash ressie not available, as our plan A

Plan B- We also have yet to try VWL-would be thrilled with that, too.

Plan c- We've already stayed at SSR and OKW, would like to try something new, but will be happy here too, I'm sure.

An attack of add-on-itis is definitely coming on!

Kathy

 

[Deb & Bill]

You may want to make a reservation at your home resort now, just in case you can't get anything you need or want at 7 months. You never know.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Reviewing some notes I made in May 06, I was offered a SV studio at BWV on cash with member discount for a Saturday night in October. We booked the PV because we were adding on to a an existing reservation of a BW view room. Our waitlist for those nights on points came thru and we cancelled our cash ressie.

Also, now that it is Monday, can't you call MS and ask about the cash ressie? I thought that cash ressies could be booked (subject to availability) at any time after 11 months with no home resort priority.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[beachblanket]

Reviewing some notes I made in May 06, I was offered a SV studio at BWV on cash with member discount for a Saturday night in October. We booked the PV because we were adding on to a an existing reservation of a BW view room. Our waitlist for those nights on points came thru and we cancelled our cash ressie.

Also, now that it is Monday, can't you call MS and ask about the cash ressie? I thought that cash ressies could be booked (subject to availability) at any time after 11 months with no home resort priority.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

Suzanne, I called MS about two weeks ago just to comfirm some details on an existing reservation at BWV, and during discussion I asked the CM to clarify what categories there can and can't be booked using using cash (since I had seen some recent confusion on that issue here).

Her answer was what I have previously understood: while preferred can be booked using cash, neither the standard and boardwalk view categories can; both are only available using points. So the policy has apparently changed since May of '06; DVC MS no longer makes the sort of offer you got back then.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Or it could have been a fluke for SuzanneO -- you got lucky!!!

The last time I reserved the BWV it was for a 1BR back in September '05. I did half points/half cash and they told me when I was making the reservation (approx. July '05) that I wouldn't be able to pay cash for standard view (which was actually available via points at that time believe it or not). So we stuck with a preferred pool view.

 

[DISNEY FIX]

Where can I find info/charts/graphes/diagrams whatever to explain the views, extra cost if any, and how fast they go? Or does someone have a good rule of thumb to go by? It's all new to me. For either/both of BCV & VWL.
Thanks it gets a little confusing first time around.
Chris

 

[crisi]

Where can I find info/charts/graphes/diagrams whatever to explain the views, extra cost if any, and how fast they go? Or does someone have a good rule of thumb to go by? It's all new to me. For either/both of BCV & VWL.
Thanks it gets a little confusing first time around.
Chris

Only Boardwalk has "views" - AKL will as well. Standard View faces the drive and is cheaper point wise, but books quickly. BWView and preferred view are the same number of points, BWView also books fast.

Click on the "point chart" link at the top of the page.

For how fast they go, small resorts book faster than large ones (BCV, VWL, BWV OKW, SSR - from smallest to largest), Grand Villas generally go first, studios are also popular, one bedrooms go last - October - early January is a popular time. There is generally SOME availability everywhere at seven months drying up to little around three months.