BWV 1 Bedroom Standard-Cruddy View Inevitable?

[famsen]

Last year DH and I made cash reservations in a standard view studio and got a great room overlooking the main pool. It was close to the boardwalk, elevators, lobby, etc. We loved it. We book a 1 bedroom standard room using our DVC points for our stay in less than 2 weeks (YAY!).
Looking at the maps it seems that all 1 bedroom standard rooms are overlooking the parking lots; true? Is there any chance a member staying on points can be assigned a 1 bedroom standard that DOESN'T overlook the parking lots or bus stops?

I have no idea if I should make any requests except that DH will have had the second of 3 cortisone shots in his foot 4 days before we leave and would appreciate it if we could be close to an elevator for him.

 

[quirty30]

I've stayed in a standard view villa twice. One overlooked the entrance to the resort (well a little further down, but you get the idea.) The saving grace was the shrubbery that essentially blocked the view of the pavement. And as a plus, I could see the fireworks from Illuminations. The view didn't bother me at all.

Our second stay was all the way in the back of the resort - it had a partial water view of a pond and we could see the Tower of Terror in the distance. It was easy to get downstairs and walk to DHS. I don't think you'd appreciate this location, not because of the scenery, but rather the distance from the elevator. It was a LONG walk (but not too far from the Villas quiet pool.) I actually preferred this location to my first one.

All in all, I think SV is a great point value and I'd do it again anytime it was available at the 7 month mark. I think your room request idea is a good one - sounds like being close to an elevator is a must for you.

 

[vicki_c]

A BWV room looking over the pool would almost always be a pool/garden view room and costs more points. I have seen a few room reports though for 1 BR standards that looked over the quiet pool.

On DVC news, there is a list of member reports of room numbers / room types / views.
http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=table&tableid=6

 

[jekjones1558]

Many people think that the standard view rooms at BWV are a great bargain with views at least as good as the more costly BCV rooms. If you have a 1 bedroom booked you may even win the lottery and get one of one of the HUGE corner rooms (rooms with numbers X123). Many of the BWV standard view rooms even have a partial view of Illuminations. Have a great trip.

 

[Figment2]

Cash reservations at BWV say standard view but are actually the preferred (non-Boardwalk) views (in other words, pool/garden).

I always book standard view (BWV Owner) and love looking over the driveway. Love to watch all the comings and goings. Never make requests and have had rooms close to the stairs (long walk from lobby) and rooms close to the elevators. We really don't have a preference. When staying down by the stairs, we take the stairs. When staying close to the elevator, we take the elevator.

Sounds like your request should be - close to elevators.

Enjoy your stay!

Cyn

 

[LoveKermit]

I think I would request near the elevator, high up.

There are some rooms that are near the elevator but essentially overlook the baggage area/airline check-in. I've not been in the rooms, but noticed them on a visit to the resort in August. With no requests, that would be the villa my DH would be assigned, because that's the luck he has.

That's just my opinion.

 

[jekjones1558]

Here is a link to an old thread with photos of one of the x123 rooms. The photos were taken before the BWV rehab, so furnishings are now updated but you will get an idea of how big the rooms are:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=12770299&postcount=106

And Carol also has some good photos of views from standard view rooms in this post:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38110146&postcount=18

 

[famsen]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!
I will check out some of the links.

This is going to sound harsh but it seems like if you are a cash paying customer, Disney considers you worthy of a better view room being that for cash, garden or pool is considered "standard" and DVC members using points get parking lot view as "standard". That seems pretty stinky.

 

[LoveKermit]

Point owners are happy to save points for less of a view. There are also, I believe, more preferred (non-Boardwalk) view villas than std view. Consequently, the standards views are saved for point owners. While your view may be right, I don't think point owners will always agree with you.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!
I will check out some of the links.

This is going to sound harsh but it seems like if you are a cash paying customer, Disney considers you worthy of a better view room being that for cash, garden or pool is considered "standard" and DVC members using points get parking lot view as "standard". That seems pretty stinky.

I guess it would be better than using preferred view points and getting the parking lot. That's why they separated the two views. You use fewer points and get the parking lot. Or you use more points and get the noisy pool, but a nicer view (to some).

The standard view villas go much more quickly than the preferred view villas for points. It's hard to get the standard view at 7 months out. Only about 20% of the villas are standard view. Sometimes they get a good view of Illuminations.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!
I will check out some of the links.

This is going to sound harsh but it seems like if you are a cash paying customer, Disney considers you worthy of a better view room being that for cash, garden or pool is considered "standard" and DVC members using points get parking lot view as "standard". That seems pretty stinky.

Not really - it's just different terminology. And as a cash guest you can't get the best views at BWV which are the boardwalk views.

 

[crisi]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!
I will check out some of the links.

This is going to sound harsh but it seems like if you are a cash paying customer, Disney considers you worthy of a better view room being that for cash, garden or pool is considered "standard" and DVC members using points get parking lot view as "standard". That seems pretty stinky.

Not really. Members WANT those Standard View rooms. Disney is really selling preferred view rooms through CRO and calling them standard - they have one Boardwalk Villas view category. By calling the view standard and "upgrading" guests, they leave themselves with maximum flexibility. As a cash guest, you'll never end up in a Standard View or a Boardwalk View room.

As to upgrading members, timeshares almost never do free upgrades for their owners without a reason. It isn't fair to the other members. With a timeshare, you almost always get what you pay for.

I hope your husband does well on the trip - we traveled last time with my husband on steroids for a disc - it wasn't the best trip ever.

 

[Brian Noble]

As Crisi points out, cash (and exchange) guests get whatever is "leftover" after Members make their choices. So, at OKW, a cash/exchange guest essentially never stays in the Hospitality House section. At BWV, that generally means Preferred Pool/Garden, as that's the last category to book. But, CRO describes it as "standard" in case that's where they have to put someone---that way, they can never be accused of "downgrading".

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!
I will check out some of the links.

This is going to sound harsh but it seems like if you are a cash paying customer, Disney considers you worthy of a better view room being that for cash, garden or pool is considered "standard" and DVC members using points get parking lot view as "standard". That seems pretty stinky.

Nope, that's not the way most of us see it. Disney is using different terminology here. Standard for cash reservations is different than standard views when using points.
A huge number of BWV owners love the standard views. I have two studios booked for next month that are both standard views.
I don't think they are bad views at all...I actually enjoy watching people coming and going. And it's usually faster to get to the walkway to DHS and to the bus stop.
And being able to see ToT in the distance, from my standard view villa??? Not too shabby.

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for all the help, everyone!
I will check out some of the links.

This is going to sound harsh but it seems like if you are a cash paying customer, Disney considers you worthy of a better view room being that for cash, garden or pool is considered "standard" and DVC members using points get parking lot view as "standard". That seems pretty stinky.

The DVC standard view is in high demand for members because of the lower points. I think members would be upset if there was no availability for DVC standard view because CRO was booking cash guests into them.

I've stayed in standard view many times to save points, I have never thought the view was "cruddy". Always had a fireworks view and one time scored 3123, the extra large corner 1 bedroom.

 

[crisi]

Another thing is that I personally don't believe that there are truly "cruddy" standard view rooms - especially for the price - but there are some stinkers of preferred view rooms that I would be unhappy to be 'upgraded' to.

Preferred view at Boardwalk is such a catch all category. You can get a room on the Village Green that would be Boardwalk View but for 25 feet, you can get a room that is right next to standard view - or you can get a room in one of the corners of the building, where you "overlook" the pool, but it isn't a stretch to see your neighbors in the opposite corner.

 

[VrBchJ]

I really enjoy the std views. I did win the BWV lottery once and get a "123" 1 bedroom. I got 3rd floor two bedroom overlooking the arrival area once and was initially upset by that location because I thought it would be noisy. It wasn't and we really had fun watching all the arrival/departure activity. It was especially fun to watch the brides and wedding parties as they got out of their stretch limos. It was during the ESPN college football awards held at the Atlantic Dance Hall so there were lots of football players and their families coming and going.

I also like the rooms overlooking the duck pond and tennis courts. It's a long walk to the lobby but a short walk to DHS. Next time we have that location I'd like to have birding book because there were so many ducks and birds on the pond. The Wood Storks were fascinating.

So std view is a value and valuable!

 

[dzorn]

We loved our SV we had. It was a long walk from the lobby (very last room), but near the stairs down to the pool and the path to DHS. Our view was the pond and Tower of Terror off in the distance.


Denise in MI

 

[goofy4tink]

We loved our SV we had. It was a long walk from the lobby (very last room), but near the stairs down to the pool and the path to DHS. Our view was the pond and Tower of Terror off in the distance.


Denise in MI

One of my favorite areas at BWV. Actually hoping for that area next month!!! We'll have a rental car, so the quicker access to the parking lot would be great!!

 

[dan and scott]

There are no views that are cruddy IMHO at the BW.
We have had several different view catagories while owning since 98.
Everything from a obstructed balcony view overlooking Luna Park, 1st floor standard 1 bedroom, or a view of Tower of Terror furthest from the lobby.
All the rooms and views have been great!!
Love the standard rooms either ground level or higher up .
Standard,prefered or BW view any of which are the best.

Scott