Boardwalk View??????

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Originally posted by Beca
BTW...all you posters from Maine are making me SOOO jealous!! I'm in AZ where it is WAAAAAY too hot to mention. I'm thinkin' it's 70 and breezy...why do you need to go somewhere for vacation...it sounds amazing where you are!!!!

I agree and that's why I said I can wait until November for WDW.

On the topic of guaranteed Boardwalk view: With the change to the guaranteed view, that's why our next reservation is our first at the BWV that is not in a standard view room (that we made at 11 months). I never wanted to take the chance before and end up spending more points and not getting the Boardwalk view. Now with the room guaranteed, we are looking forward to this November, knowing we will have that view. I'm glad Disney made this change.

HBC

 

[DebbieB]

The separate boardwalk view category was created shortly after the "room ready" system came into effect last year. Boardwalk members were told when they bought that they would have first chance to get boardwalk view rooms if they booked at 11 months. Room ready would have erased that priority and it would have been a zoo at the front desk with people trying to get those rooms. Now it's guaranteed, so no disappointments. Also, it's been posted that they do not allow cash guests in the boardwalk views unless there are no members in them (unlikely).

 

[zurgswife]

I only stay standard....so, you won't be competing with me to get that BW view....

 

[MikeBW]

We had a BW view in February on the second floor just about the store and it was loud at night. It was nice to sit out and watch the happenings on the BW, but trying to sleep was tough. There was yelling at 2AM and the constant bell ringing from the games. We tried to get our kids to sleep early one night, so we could get to the parks the next day, but they had troubles getting to sleep. We will probably not take a BW view room any more. We have had pool and standard views without any noise problems. Maybe a BW view room on a higher floor would be less noisy.

 

[cjb-nc]

We've had preferred view once, the first time we stayed. We got a third floor room all the way at the end of the hall near jellyrolls, with a balcony looking at the Swan, the canal, and the DVC offices. Whoopie. The long walk from the elevators alone was not worth it.

We've booked standard view ever since, with no special requests except non-smoking. So far we've always gotten a ground floor room facing the driveway. This gives us shade for our patio, a relatively shorter walk from the elevators, no elevator at all to get to the BW itself, and a short cut to the private pool. All for less points. Definately worth it to us. Of course there's no guarantee we'll keep getting ground floors.

 

[CVW]

We actually stayed in an EPCOT view studio as cash guests in 1999. Our original room was too smoky, so they moved us into what must have been the best studio on property.

BWV was sold out when we bought BCV last year. (SAB makes BCV better for us anyway.) My guide raved about the BCV views, but it would seem from other threads that it's as good a view as up high on the Boardwalk.

Has anyone stayed in both a preferred BWV view as well as a good view at BCV? How do they compare? I've heard there's several rooms at BCV where you can see the fireworks.

 

[SoCalKDG]

I'll take any BW view, I'm just waiting for ROFR to pass.

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have stayed everywhere with every view, and there is NOTHING like a BW view! In my opinion, it's well worth the points! I did not like my standard view one bedroom that I had, since I was just above the air conditioners facing the tennis courts. Talk about noise!! You all had that nice cool air at the expense of my sleep--phooey! So I started getting preferred view, and haven't looked back.

As for BC--well, there are good views and not-so-good views. Every time I have stayed there my view was only so-so at best. In my opinion, I would rather be guaranteed a view as they do at BWV. But that's why we have 6 different resorts to choose from, there is something for everyone.

 

[CVW]

How difficult is the Boardwalk view (and by Boardwalk, I'm assuming Spaceship Earth view) at the seven month window?

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by jel0511
DVC changed the room categories for booking last September I believe. There are now three booking categories at BWV. Standard, Preferred garden/water view and Preferred Boardwalk View.

Not completely correct - The change was made, but was never formally laid out as an official published booking policy on the point charts (see for yourself on current official 2004-2005 DVC point charts at):

http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/common/blankPage?id=PointsChartBWVPage

As those charts show on their top right, DVC still only lists two catagories at BWV: "Preferred" and "Standard." The Preferred Boardwalk View "category" you describe may be a field in an internal DVC reservation database, but it's not an official published category (ergo, note how the point chart in the link above has no "footnotes" or anything else on it discussing a third category). For that matter, search the official DVC site all you want, you will find not mention whatsoever of a "Preferred Boardwalk View Category" at BWV. This isn't to imply one can't get it, but to point out this is currently positioned as almost a benefit only for "insiders."

 

[kathleena]

Originally posted by Beca
Hmmmm...could be a "hazard" of the BW view...too much to look at, so not much sleep!!!

Anyway...it's definitely a "hazard" I would LOVE to have!!

BTW...all you posters from Maine are making me SOOO jealous!! I'm in AZ where it is WAAAAAY too hot to mention. I'm thinkin' it's 70 and breezy...why do you need to go somewhere for vacation...it sounds amazing where you are!!!!





Beca

Yup. And this is why we don't go to Florida in August! Just check in with us in January when we've been in the sub 10 dregree deep freeze for a couple a weeks. Then we will be Flordia bound for sure!

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by DebbieB
The separate boardwalk view category was created shortly after the "room ready" system came into effect last year. Boardwalk members were told when they bought that they would have first chance to get boardwalk view rooms if they booked at 11 months.

Sorry to stay stuck on this subject, but we purchased our BWV contract back in 2000 and were NEVER told then or subsequently (in ANY communication) by DVC of any sort of "front of the line/first chance" 11 month "guaranteed Boardwalk view" booking benefit (which again is NOT a published reservation category, e.g. that benefit is not laid out in ANY fashion on the current offical point charts (link below).

http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/common...ntsChartBWVPage

Again, I'm not debating the fact the benefit exists, just pointing out it is almost a secret "insider" booking option.

 

[jel0511]

were NEVER told then or subsequently (in ANY communication) by DVC of any sort of "front of the line/first chance" 11 month "guaranteed Boardwalk view" booking benefit

Well, maybe you were never told, but the information was definately given out to members. I certainly recall in being in the Member Clubhouse e-mail update that was mailed out. I'm also positive it was in an edition of Vacation Magic.

 

[Laurabearz]

Taken from the
Member Clubhouse sent October 2003 (also viewable online, under member publications archive)

Viewer's choice
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the Member reservation and check-in experience, we are pleased to introduce enhanced room categories for Disney's BoardWalk Villas. Effective immediately, Preferred View accommodations will be identified by one of the following new categories?Preferred: Boardwalk View and Preferred: Garden/Pool View.

Both categories require the same number of Vacation Points for reservation of accommodations. When booking, you'll be able to request the Preferred: Boardwalk View category and will know immediately if this is the room category you'll receive at check-in. If these accommodations are not available, you may request the Preferred: Garden/Pool View category.

Member Services has already converted some existing reservations to the enhanced room categories, based on Boardwalk View requests and the date reservations were confirmed. An updated confirmation will be sent to Members whose reservations have been confirmed for the Preferred: Boardwalk View category.

Keep in mind that inventory in the Preferred: Boardwalk View category is limited, so please make your vacation plans accordingly.

 

[jel0511]

Thanks laurabearz, I knew I read it!!!!

 

[Laurabearz]

I have stayed at BWVilla's three times now... twice with BWView and the other prefered pool view.

The prefered pool view was wonderful, we had a lovely view of the Clown, kiddie pool, and ToT in the backround, plus a view of the canal. Very nice. Open Balcony...

The two BWView rooms were FANTASTIC. But I love the Boardwalk... LOVE IT.

With that said, to conserve points we are going to book standard view for our next visit there.....

Another great thing about DVC... sometimes you go for the view and sometimes you dont...

 

[rufusrex]

Another Mainer here (I think that is 5 in the post) -
We have stayed once and absolutely loved the BW View. To me, it is worth the extra points, but that is just my opinion. When we bought through a reseller a couple of years ago there was no guarantee of a view, just standard or preferred. We thought great, if we can't be promised a BWV may as weel just save the points and get a standard. When I called this year they had the option, which is awesome. Nothing worse than paying the extra points, rushing to the lobby, and then finding out you are or are not on the BW. We are booked next January in a guaranteed BW view and can't wait. I wish other resorts could do something like this. Your requests should be based on when you make your reservations, instead of the seemingly randomness that's done now.

 

[Laurabearz]

Originally posted by jel0511
Thanks laurabearz, I knew I read it!!!!

Anytime.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by CVW
How difficult is the Boardwalk view (and by Boardwalk, I'm assuming Spaceship Earth view) at the seven month window?

Very difficult. IMHO, I'd consider it remotely possible.

Chances are better if you travel in the DVC slower seasons such as January (not Marathon or MLK weeks, though) September after Labor Day and/or early May.

Best wishes -

 

[barbarabee]

I've always stayed in a Boardwalk view! On our last trip, I asked my boyfriend if he had the option of two weeks in a standard view vs. one week in a Boardwalk view, which would he choose? He said Boardwalk view!

We love it. But I sure don't want to encourage anyone else to go for the Boardwalk view!!! Those rooms are REALLY limited, especially the studios!