Back when OKW was the only resort...

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

what was the system for booking reservations? Could everyone book trips as far out as 11 months or was there some other sort of system in place back then?

I would imagine when they started building the next resort (was it BWV that was next?) that they came up with the idea of OKW being a "home resort" with priority booking at 11 months. Anyone care to share what the system was like back then?

 

[3pirates]

I go back to 1993. OKW was the only one then, but they had plans for others, so they described how things would work when there were exchange options. The policy was always stated as it is now. I THINK the 7 month window may have applied for exchanges within the other Disney resorts....but wouldn't swear to that.

 

[RobDoc]

11 months has always been the Home Resort Priority. Until 1995, when VB opened, DVC members could make reservations at OKW and all other DVC options 11 months in advance. Until 1995, OKW was named the Disney Vacation Club Resort and was listed as the Lake Buena Vista Resort in the documents.

When VB opened, the 7 month "window" came into being. Early VB owners even had the same free admission program enjoyed by OKW owners and they also got the free park passes when staying at OKW. That incentive ended at both resorts by the time HH opened in 1996 - a couple of months prior to BWV.

The Home Resort Priority and 7 month "window" for non-home resorts was in place and fully described in the early documents - even though there was nothing different about 7 months until VB opened.

The World Passport Collection originally used RCI as the exchange program and was changed to II when that contract expired.

Originally, there was a Special Seasons Priority list where members could be placed on a list giving them an opportunity to make reservations much earlier than 11 months and without regard to Home Resort status during the Holiday season each year. For that timeframe in 1999, they even created a lottery system to accommodate those wanting reservations for the millenium. Neither program has been used since 1999/2000.

The early sales videos went into great detail of many of these programs since DVC had the challenge of promoting a system foreign to most individuals at that time. The internet had little affect on sales then, although there were some early forums at AOL and other providers.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

Thanks for the info, Doc and 3pirates! Very interesting to learn about the early DVC days.

 

[Simba's Mom]

11 months has always been the Home Resort Priority. Until 1995, when VB opened, DVC members could make reservations at OKW and all other DVC options 11 months in advance. Until 1995, OKW was named the Disney Vacation Club Resort and was listed as the Lake Buena Vista Resort in the documents.

When VB opened, the 7 month "window" came into being. Early VB owners even had the same free admission program enjoyed by OKW owners and they also got the free park passes when staying at OKW. That incentive ended at both resorts by the time HH opened in 1996 - a couple of months prior to BWV.

The Home Resort Priority and 7 month "window" for non-home resorts was in place and fully described in the early documents - even though there was nothing different about 7 months until VB opened.

The World Passport Collection originally used RCI as the exchange program and was changed to II when that contract expired.

Originally, there was a Special Seasons Priority list where members could be placed on a list giving them an opportunity to make reservations much earlier than 11 months and without regard to Home Resort status during the Holiday season each year. For that timeframe in 1999, they even created a lottery system to accommodate those wanting reservations for the millenium. Neither program has been used since 1999/2000.

The early sales videos went into great detail of many of these programs since DVC had the challenge of promoting a system foreign to most individuals at that time. The internet had little affect on sales then, although there were some early forums at AOL and other providers.

Thanks for all that info! I wondered that too. So do I understnd that there was no "7 month" anything until 1995? I wonder where they came up with the figure 7 months as opposed to, say, 8 or 6. Does anyone know?

 

[MikeBW]

Back when OKW was the only resort... you chiseled your request on a stone tablet and sent it to MS.

 

[TisBit]

Thanks for all that info! I wondered that too. So do I understnd that there was no "7 month" anything until 1995? I wonder where they came up with the figure 7 months as opposed to, say, 8 or 6. Does anyone know?

When OKW opened there were only 7 months in a year, so you could book a year in advance, by the time VB came around they had made it up to 11 months, so your home got a one year advantage.....

 

[MrsNick]

Back when OKW was the only resort... you chiseled your request on a stone tablet and sent it to MS.

And here I thought it was morse code. Thanks for setting me straight!

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

11 months has always been the Home Resort Priority. Until 1995, when VB opened, DVC members could make reservations at OKW and all other DVC options 11 months in advance. Until 1995, OKW was named the Disney Vacation Club Resort and was listed as the Lake Buena Vista Resort in the documents.

I did not know that OKW was once known by another name. So when they announced the name change, were there any other names that were considered? Did they ask for DVC member input about the name change?

 

[spiceycat]

I did not know that OKW was once known by another name. So when they announced the name change, were there any other names that were considered? Did they ask for DVC member input about the name change?

yes kona something don't remember.

no member were asked for the name change.

on the date of the change - they changed the signs and buses - but forgot to tell the guests at the time.

boy talk about a bunch of mad people.

that is why on II OKW is listed as DVC - not OKW or DKW - that was the original name. That happened when BWV was open.

 

[RobDoc]

Thanks for all that info! I wondered that too. So do I understnd that there was no "7 month" anything until 1995? I wonder where they came up with the figure 7 months as opposed to, say, 8 or 6. Does anyone know?

The only thing we are "guaranteed" is a one month reservation priority at our Home Resort - so the reservation "window" could be changed to 10 months or reduced to less than 7 months.

No explanation has ever been given for using 7 months. I suspect it was chosen just because it offers owners a reasonable timeframe - and for many years it didn't present any challenge at all, unlike the current atmosphere at for some dates.

Many other timeshares use varied time references - some allow reserving at other resorts within the system 6 months ahead, some allow home resort priority at 12 months, some allow an advantage for owners with multiple weeks or point minimums. 11 months/7 months is just what DVC chose from the start.

When the name was changed to OKW, no member input was sought. I suspect that decision was made long before the change and the name chosen does reflect the theme for the resort, so it is very consistent, IMO. Over the years, DVC has made a number of changes without any direct input from members (at least in the form of any vote) - most notably was the addition of the slide at OKW. Of course, technically, all changes are approved by the members thru a vote of the Board of Directors, but that is another discussion altogether.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

I'm curious about how they projected DVC would grow when they were initially making sales at OKW. Did they tell buyers that they one day hoped to have another 4 or 5 DVC locations at WDW?

 

[Dean]

The only thing we are "guaranteed" is a one month reservation priority at our Home Resort - so the reservation "window" could be changed to 10 months or reduced to less than 7 months.

On paper the original split was 11/10 but it was changed to 11/7 early, before VB or BWV came on board.

 

[RobDoc]

I'm curious about how they projected DVC would grow when they were initially making sales at OKW. Did they tell buyers that they one day hoped to have another 4 or 5 DVC locations at WDW?

Our early documents from 1993 listed VB, HH and BWV as additional resorts - with the caveat that those resorts might never become part of the DVC program. The document language was very careful to state that OKW owners should not count on other resorts being added, but went on to describe how the DVC program would work if/when there were additional resorts.

Historically, DVC has announced a number of resorts which never came to fruition - Newport, CA , Colorado, Manhattan, NY , Eagle Pines - all of these were announced while other resorts were being sold. By 1996, DVC was selling 4 resorts at the same time - OKW, VB, HH and BWV. When VWL began sales, OKW and BWV were sold out and VB/HH were still actively selling. When they stopped active sales (by closing the sales offices) at VB and HH, VWL was the only resort being promoted actively - although there were still contracts available for OKW, BWV, VB and HH due to ROFR and foreclosure. VWL was "basically" sold out when BCV began sales (although, again there were contracts available) and the pattern continued with SSR until AKV began about a year ago. At this time, there are 2 resorts in active sales, 6 resorts in "inactive" sales (OKW, VB, HH, BWV, VWL, BCV) and now we have two more announced resorts with a projected openings in the next 3 years.

Stay tuned!

 

[Dean]

Our early documents from 1993 listed VB, HH and BWV as additional resorts - with the caveat that those resorts might never become part of the DVC program. The document language was very careful to state that OKW owners should not count on other resorts being added, but went on to describe how the DVC program would work if/when there were additional resorts.

Historically, DVC has announced a number of resorts which never came to fruition - Newport, CA , Colorado, Manhattan, NY , Eagle Pines - all of these were announced while other resorts were being sold. By 1996, DVC was selling 4 resorts at the same time - OKW, VB, HH and BWV. When VWL began sales, OKW and BWV were sold out and VB/HH were still actively selling. When they stopped active sales (by closing the sales offices) at VB and HH, VWL was the only resort being promoted actively - although there were still contracts available for OKW, BWV, VB and HH due to ROFR and foreclosure. VWL was "basically" sold out when BCV began sales (although, again there were contracts available) and the pattern continued with SSR until AKV began about a year ago. At this time, there are 2 resorts in active sales, 6 resorts in "inactive" sales (OKW, VB, HH, BWV, VWL, BCV) and now we have two more announced resorts with a projected openings in the next 3 years.

Stay tuned!

I think only Newport, CA and EP were actually announced as resorts.

 

[RoutemanDan]

Manhattan was definitely written about in the Disney Magazine with accompanying concept art. I have the magazine, I'll see if I can find it and post the article.

 

[3pirates]

And do you all know that Marriott ended up developing the former Disney-owned Newport Property for their timeshare program? We actually stayed there several years ago...nice, but a bit of a drive from Disneyland.

 

[Dean]

Manhattan was definitely written about in the Disney Magazine with accompanying concept art. I have the magazine, I'll see if I can find it and post the article.

I think there was an article about DVC in something, maybe the Disney Magazine but there was never a formal announcement of a resort for NY, CO or HI.

 

[RobDoc]

I think there was an article about DVC in something, maybe the Disney Magazine but there was never a formal announcement of a resort for NY, CO or HI.

All of these locations have been discussed at the DVC Annual Meetings over the years.

At the December, 2007 DVC Annual Meeting , Jim Lewis devoted considerable time to the Ko Olina, HI resort and included concept art and aerial photos of the site itself.

 

[WolfpackFan]

This step back in history has been very interesting. Thanks for posting the questions and the answers.

To add to the discussion - how long were free park passes one of the perks for staying at OKW? Also, how big was the uproar from members when they stopped the practice?