BWV preferred "view"

[MiaSRN62]

So I guess I "should be happy" that I got 3123 with Standard Points. I pulled out the reservation and sure enough it was booked as a Standard View. Now this was in 2000, so maybe with all the changes going on it somehow got upgraded to a preferred??? Still.....if that's what they call perferred then I'm definately not going to waste points on a view like that. It wasn't bad like I said. Fireworks were great! But it wasn't the boardwalk.

Thanks for the response Linda. As you suggested, either you got upgraded to this supposed "preferred" view, or they have recategorized this slot of rooms to "preferred" since 2000 ? We never saw any fireworks, but then again, we were in the parks at that time.

 

[married@wdw]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
I just hope this comment doesn't spark a wave of comments such as "good...less competition for my BW ressies".....or "that's fine---one less person at BWV", as I've seen before whenever some constructive criticism/comments come along.

Oh my! You're right MiaSRN62 -- I probably never should have written that! My intention for saying it is that I will never be able to get a standard view at the 7-month window and will probably never have the points again to stay in a preferred view. I just can't get the rooms I want, so I'd rather stay at "home" and use less points to stay longer. Hmmmm -- Unless I convince DH to do an add-on! Then I could compete with everyone else for those boardwalk view rooms!



Wishful thinking!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Hmmmm -- Unless I convince DH to do an add-on! Then I could compete with everyone else for those boardwalk view rooms!

NOW you're talkin'

 

[Shamus]

Rather, the point is that I feel either MS or Boardwalk is being somewhat deceptive in what they are conveying to Members.

Maria -

I can fully understand your feelings.

Yours is about the third or fourth incident I heard recently (Past 2-3 months) where people have been put in that area on "Preferred View" points. As others have mentioned, this always seemed to be a "Standard View" area in the past.

Personally I think DVC is giving you the runaround.

If it was me, I would write them back explaining how a number people have mentioned that they were given these rooms as "Standard View" and how this leads to the feelings of deception and being taken advantage of. IF DVC/Boardwalk could please provide a listing of the 112 "Standard View" room numbers, it would help alleviate this terrible feeling.

That way you would know for sure as to if you were being taken advantage of or the others were just getting lucky. Let them prove it to you.

Shamus

 

[kathleena]

I have a lot of interest in this preferred/standard topic, so I don't want what I say here to infer that I don't have sympathy for the OP. I do think - for Boardwalk - the view of the parking lot is questionable as a preferred, but not having stayed in that room myself, I don't know specifically.

I do know I have had rooms at OKW (studios specifically) that are overgrown with brush. No view at all except the bark of trees and leaves. The deck was just yukky. I even had one room where the only "window" was the door out to the deck - it didn't have a window on the other side of the room. It was so dark in there all week.

I asked for a water view once and got a room where, oh, if I stood on the table I could see maybe 1" square of water

It was then that I decided that I won't stay in a studio again at OKW because of that chance of getting a crummy room. I would rather pay the extra - and get an open air deck with a glimpse of water - than pay the points for the OKW room.

I guess my thought is, we all decide to take our own risks and each resort has their less than desirable rooms. We can't all have the best ones all the time. Over the course of the ownership though, we should be able to experiece a nice variety and come to understand - through our disappointments and our approvals - what our preferences are.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
Well, Jackie from MS just now called me and insisted that I had a preferred room. I even told her our room had a view of the service driveway and we got to see trash and delivery trucks pull up and down, but she insisted over and over that this was a "preferred" view because I had a view of TOT and the canal. Very disappointing......I attempted debating this with her---even quoting some of the things you all mentioned here---but to no avail. Jackie sounded like an automatic response giver. She tried to come off that since I booked less than 60 days out this is why I got this. Huh...yeah ? So what does that have to do with anything ? I told her had I known that my primary view was going to be a parking lot and service driveway I would have booked "standard". I told her Members are not led to believe that this might be their view.
She coyly mentioned that there were no standard views at 60 days out (which I knew), but HYPOTHETICALLY, even if I had booked 7 or 11 months out, I could have gotten this "supposed" preferred view and she said simply "yes, unfortunately". She did tell me she had called the Boardwalk directly to confirm this. So......just be careful what ya book people. You might pay "preferred" points for a parking lot !
Sorry....but this left a sour taste in my mouth..........

I'm not sure I understand your response. The only question was whether they mistakenly gave you a standard view room rather than a preferred view. The idea that it wasn't preferred enough for you is not or at least should not have been the question. I've talked to Jackie many times and found her to be honest and up front. It sounds like you tried to argue that you disagree with the rooms designation. She has no authority to change that but can pass on your concerns. If the room were included in the standard view as an addition, they'd have to take another room out which would likely have an even worse view in some people's eyes. Many owners have yet to understand that the room designations are really standard and non standard rather than truly preferred views. It’s like getting a first floor ocean view unit at VB, guess what, no view of the ocean.

 

[MiaSRN62]

The idea that it wasn't preferred enough for you is not or at least should not have been the question.

It sounds like you tried to argue that you disagree with the rooms designation. She has no authority to change that but can pass on your concerns.

Well, sorry if it sounded like I argued with Jackie. I did not. I tried to stress my point that I couldn't believe this was a preferred view because nowhere in the handbook or on the phone does MS insinuate or give the Members a hint that they could get a parking lot view. Dean, you were one of the people on these boards that kind of felt my view wasn't preferred either. I can go back and find your post, but that's ok. Maybe you see it differently now--that's ok. I was very polite with Jackie and I knew very well she had no authority---she told me the Boardwalk themselves told her my room was preferred. I guess I would have liked to hear something along the lines that maybe they don't give Members a little more clue that this could happen ? Instead, she tried to turn it back on me and made it look like that's what I deserved for booking 60 days out. So, I guess it's not that I thought this room was not preferred enough for me, but rather I didn't feel it should be designated as preferred at all ? I mean 80% of the view is a parking lot and service driveway. We saw the trash trucks and all driving up and down under our balcony ?
Sorry Dean.....I'm not the type that complains all the time, I just find it difficult to take that others who spent the preferred points got pool and BW views. If I had paid standard points, then this view would not be a problem at all. Sorry if you can't understand.

I guess my thought is, we all decide to take our own risks and each resort has their less than desirable rooms. We can't all have the best ones all the time.

But at least with OKW there is no preferred and standard points. I know what you mean about those studios. We had a 2 bedroom ground floor villa last year and the porch of the studio was pretty much useless due to wild vegetation. The porch off the living room was heavenly on the other hand and made up for the studio portion.
So, "less than desirable rooms" I can take. But if I'm (or anyone) purposely making a ressie for a preferred view and using more points because MS states I'll get a "BW, pool, water or garden views" then I have a problem that they don't tell us that we "could" possibly get a parking lot view too---and in my case, it was a big part of the view. I suppose if it happens to you at BW with paying preferred points, then you can appreciate what I'm saying here. Just wish MS would be a little more upfront about these views in the future so Members can decide on their own if they're willing to take this "risk", that's all.
Shamus suggested I write to MS and I think I will.....along with writing to Boardwalk. Thanks for listening everyone. Sorry if I sounded whiney.....that's not my nature. I just felt I had a legitimate gripe here.

 

[Lesley]

Okay, I had 4123 in Jan. 2002...it is a standard view. You say you had 4131, which would a bit further down the hallway....and have a view of mainly the canal even though I'm sure you could see the parking lot and gas station too! I guess even more incentive to actually book standard view.

4123 has a great view, imo....though it is mainly the parking lots and bus stop you can also see the canal, TOT, and Japan in WS...and its a huge 1br (not quite OKW size, but close)

I can kind of see why that's considered preferred view....though I guess its disappointing to hear. I guess standard views are only considered to be the ones overlooking the entrance driveway, which 4123 does. So would that make **23 the last standard view room number? Interesting.

I'd like to actually see a map and see which room is the last standard view and which is the first preferred view.... I wonder if enough folks here have info that we could figure it out. We need to know if anyone has stayed in **25, **27, and **29 and what type of room they had reserved....standard or preferred. Since apparently we don't have any reports of someone gettting **31 as a standard view at this point. Yes, they're all in the same area....but I think it would at least be helpful to know where the actual division between standard and preferred occurs. Also, it would be interesting to get confirmation of whether or not folks are being assigned to **33, **35 (and however much farther the hallway/view goes) and used preferred points. I think the only way we can draw any conclusion is to know these things. At this point we have no confirmation that the same rooms have been given out as both standard and preferred view....and only if this is the case can anyone accuse DVC of giving anyone the runaround. Lets try to find some evidence before making accusations.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
Well, sorry if it sounded like I argued with Jackie. I did not. I tried to stress my point that I couldn't believe this was a preferred view because nowhere in the handbook or on the phone does MS insinuate or give the Members a hint that they could get a parking lot view. Dean, you were one of the people on these boards that kind of felt my view wasn't preferred either. I can go back and find your post, but that's ok. Maybe you see it differently now--that's ok. I was very polite with Jackie and I knew very well she had no authority---she told me the Boardwalk themselves told her my room was preferred. I guess I would have liked to hear something along the lines that maybe they don't give Members a little more clue that this could happen ? Instead, she tried to turn it back on me and made it look like that's what I deserved for booking 60 days out. So, I guess it's not that I thought this room was not preferred enough for me, but rather I didn't feel it should be designated as preferred at all ? I mean 80% of the view is a parking lot and service driveway. We saw the trash trucks and all driving up and down under our balcony ?
Sorry Dean.....I'm not the type that complains all the time, I just find it difficult to take that others who spent the preferred points got pool and BW views. If I had paid standard points, then this view would not be a problem at all. Sorry if you can't understand.

Maria, I felt you should contact them and ask because you and others felt it was a standard view you got, not that I specifically felt it was a standard view. If I stated otherwise, I misspoke. Jackie even checked for you and it is not a standard view, case closed IMO. There is a lot of variability in views as all the resorts, that variability is a different question. To be honest, I am not very sympathetic to the "the view wasn't good enough" complaint. Whether it be in terms of "preferred view" or requests or the dumpster view. DVC should have never labeled BW with preferred views as it created unreasonable and inaccurate expectations. Now when one, especially a newer members, pay points for a preferred view, they expect a nice view. That was NEVER the intention. The segregation was simply an admission that some views were even worse than others, not that some were better.

As I noted, I own at a Marriott that has Ocean Front and Ocean side units. If you owned an Ocean Front and got a view that had shrubs and that's about it AND almost all of the ocean side units had a better view, would you complain? I wouldn't as I understand that the designation is location and not specific to view. This is a common practice among timeshares, that is to place the unit designation based on the location and not the actual view of the unit. You then give owners at that resort the best rooms and assign them from there from highest to lowest priority.

I attempted debating this with her

Was the phrase that suggested you were arguing with her. I didn’t hear your conversation but you stated that you tried to convince her it wasn’t a preferred view and for her to keep stating over an over suggests to me that you kept making your point several times as well. Maybe I did misinterpret but my guess is if you ask Jackie if you were arguing with her, she would say yes. That’s OK, you’re entitled to do so. I’ve discussed things with Jackie that I disagreed with also, she was fair, firm and honest. And that’s all I ask.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I can kind of see why that's considered preferred view....though I guess its disappointing to hear. I guess standard views are only considered to be the ones overlooking the entrance driveway, which 4123 does.

Yep, it is disappointing to hear, since I never was aware that "any" view of any parking lot was preferred and I suppose this is the main issue here. I believe Members are led to believe preferred is ONLY water, garden, pools or BW. I have never stayed at BWV before this and in the month before we left, I turned to BWV owners (or anyone who had experience there) to find out what were the preferred views. I'm sure my posts can be found on these boards if I did a search. Not one reply I received from the very many friendly words of advice I got here, ever mentioned I "could" possibly get a parking lot view. I wonder how many "expect" this might happen and take this risk ? I just don't feel one should have to play Russian Roulette with their vacation and/or their preferred points ? That was my point here.
Had I had the view for standard points (as Leslie states she did), I would have thought it was fine---even good. I'll accept that I lost those preferred points and move on from here, all the more wiser about how MS and the Boardwalk works. I'll be MUCH more specific with any further reservations I make there---even those that are "only 60 days out" as Jackie pointed out to me.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I attempted debating this with her

Was the phrase that suggested you were arguing with her. I didn’t hear your conversation but you stated that you tried to convince her it wasn’t a preferred view and for her to keep stating over an over suggests to me that you kept making your point several times as well.

I attempted to make a couple of different points with Jackie, Dean. Had I not, I would have just sat on the phone and said, "thank you very much for getting back to me" and hung up. Sorry, but I like to discuss things out a little more, rather than just take the other guys word for it right off the bat. I suppose the main points I tried to make with her were when she suggested because I could see TOT and the canal, that this made it preferred. I then said something like, "yes, but the parking lot and service truck driveway was at least 80% of the view and it was the only view you could see from inside the room". Then Jackie said, "well you did book less than 60 days out". So I replied with, "yes I did. But hypothetically had I booked 7 months out I still could have gotten this room assignment, correct ?" To which she replied, "yes, unfortunately". At no point were we rude to eachother or short with eachother. It was just a healthy dose of pro and con on both our parts. She dished out the same as I did. I see nothing wrong with this and I was nowhere near arguing with her. I thanked her for calling me back when we were done our conversation.

To be honest, I am not very sympathetic to the "the view wasn't good enough" complaint.

Well that's fine Dean. But that wasn't my complaint. Rather it was lack of details in what BWV considers preferred and what Members are led to believe.
At this point I'm not looking for sympathy, but rather I just want to get the word out to those that might be interested, that certain views considered preferred by BWV or MS might not be exactly devulged in literature or on the phone. So it's just me doing my little bit for my fellow man and DVC neighbors.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
IWell that's fine Dean. But that wasn't my complaint. Rather it was lack of details in what BWV considers preferred and what Members are led to believe.
At this point I'm not looking for sympathy, but rather I just want to get the word out to those that might be interested, that certain views considered preferred by BWV or MS might not be exactly devulged in literature or on the phone. So it's just me doing my little bit for my fellow man and DVC neighbors.

Fair enough. That's why I tried to provide some history and outlook on the standard view and stated that I feel the labelling for the non standard view is misleading to some. It is not and never was intended to convey an acceptable quality of view.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I feel the labelling for the non standard view is misleading to some. It is not and never was intended to convey an acceptable quality of view.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this specific point Dean. I respect your opinion, as I hope you could respect mine.

 

[Shamus]

Originally posted by Lesley
I'd like to actually see a map and see which room is the last standard view and which is the first preferred view.... I wonder if enough folks here have info that we could figure it out. We need to know if anyone has stayed in **25, **27, and **29 and what type of room they had reserved....standard or preferred. Since apparently we don't have any reports of someone gettting **31 as a standard view at this point. Yes, they're all in the same area....but I think it would at least be helpful to know where the actual division between standard and preferred occurs. Also, it would be interesting to get confirmation of whether or not folks are being assigned to **33, **35 (and however much farther the hallway/view goes) and used preferred points. I think the only way we can draw any conclusion is to know these things.

Lesley - I totally agree.

That is why I suggested Maria ask for a "Standard View" room listing. If Boardwalk would provide a listing/map it would answer the question - Was Maria being treated fairly or is she being deceived? Tell us where the cut-off is and we all live with it.

- **35 would be the last room in that section.

Shamus

 

[Lesley]

I can understand the frustration....but I do wonder where the impression that "preferred" view referred to all water or boardwalk views came from. Is it just from the word "preferred"? Or is there elsewhere in DVC literature that describes preferred view as such? (I don't count the word of a DVC guide because, after all, they are trying to sell you something and many aren't as reputable as we'd like...though I'd say for timeshare sales folks they're at the better end of things)

From what I learned from various sources (DVC, this board, elsewhere online, other members, etc...) I thought standard view only referred to rooms that overlooked the entrance drive. Everything else, from what I could tell, was preferred.

Again, I would really be curious to know where the line is drawn...which rooms are and aren't standard view down that end, because frankly the view doesn't really sound much different than many standard views (and I believe I was the one who mentioned it in another thread)....but those are actually better standard views than the ones directly overlooking the entrance drive. Also, it would be nice to confirm that MS, the Boardwalk management, or whoever designates these things, are applying the designations consistently...to know that **31 is always considered preferred and which rooms have what designations. Seems only fair for members to know this.

Believe me, I understand where you're coming from....unfortunately if that is a preferred view, it is and there's not really much that can be done without totally redrawing the points and room designation charts. I mean, I think they already must regret even creating standard and preferred views.

But honestly, views really aren't a huge big deal to me either....I had the dumpster view last time I stayed at VWL and it wasn't that bad. I tend to look at what's nice about my view rather than at what is bad. I've had parking lot views at other resorts where I could watch Illuminations (and did so in 4123 too)....

I guess if you don't like the view you get, you can always see if there's something else available.....it just has never seemed worth it to me.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
We'll just have to agree to disagree on this specific point Dean. I respect your opinion, as I hope you could respect mine.

That's cool but I'm not sure where we disagree. You simply wanted to know if the unit you got was truly preferred or not, basically, did they give you the wrong unit and charge you too much. You found out that you were given the correct unit. Nothing to disagree there. If OTOH, contrary to your stated goals, you were upset that even if it was "preferred" DVC ripped you off by giving you an inferior view, we definitely disagree, but that's cool too.

 

[MiaSRN62]

That is why I suggested Maria ask for a "Standard View" room listing. If Boardwalk would provide a listing/map it would answer the question

Thanks for this suggestion Shamus---I think I will ask for this in my letter to BWV.

but I do wonder where the impression that "preferred" view referred to all water or boardwalk views came from. Is it just from the word "preferred"? Or is there elsewhere in DVC literature that describes preferred view as such? (I don't count the word of a DVC guide because, after all, they are trying to sell you something

I am going by the Member Guidebook, page 52, top of the outside column. Where else would I get any information pertaining to this issue ? Does anyone know ?

unfortunately if that is a preferred view, it is and there's not really much that can be done without totally redrawing the points and room designation charts. I mean, I think they already must regret even creating standard and preferred views.

I agree totally here. Now please don't flame me, but I think BWV is stretching here charging "preferred" points for a view such as I had. For standard points it's fine.

But honestly, views really aren't a huge big deal to me either....I had the dumpster view last time I stayed at VWL and it wasn't that bad

If I had paid standard points, then I would totally agree with you here. But it's what I was led to believe from the information out there. Nowhere in the guidebook on page 52, does it suggest parking lot is "preferred". Maybe they should add (to next year's guidebook) that a parking lot view "may" be included in the preferred view rooms. Then I'd be fine as toast with them.

I guess if you don't like the view you get, you can always see if there's something else available.....it just has never seemed worth it to me.

We checked-in at 3:30 pm during the height of a major electrical storm. The computers went down and it was a mess in the lobby. Anyone else there on July 31 ? They let us into our room, but we didn't have a key for 2-3 hours. Not a big deal, but after all that, we were just too exhausted to go and change anything. We drove all the way down from PA and just wanted to rest and get some dinner.

If OTOH, contrary to your stated goals, you were upset that even if it was "preferred" DVC ripped you off by giving you an inferior view, we definitely disagree, but that's cool too.

Nope....this couldn't be further from the truth. And by saying "we disagree", are you referring to everyone on this board ? I feel a little ganged-up on here Dean....lol Sorry, just stating my opinions here.
Again, what upsets me, is that MS/BWV does not specify anywhere (at least not that I can see), that a parking lot view (particularily 80% of the view) is considered preferred. I knew I had no chance of a BW view and was fine with that. A pool view would have been nice, or just about anything without a parking lot and service vehicle entrance. Maybe had I been informed that I was risking my "preferred" points for a parking lot view, I would have opted to stay elsewhere. Sorry, but the view is important to me to a certain degree. I know others feel differently.
Sorry I caused such a debate here......if you read my original post in this thread, this is exactly what I didn't want to do.

 

[disneyberry]

Maria, i just wanted to say i agree w/ the suggestions that maybe you can try to find out what the last room# is for std-view rooms.

the thing is, in my notes, i have written down that x123 is the last std-view room and is on the corner with a huge balcony.
once you go around the bend of that corner, i always thought the rooms were preferred view because they face the canal directly.

the room# range i wrote down for std-view is: odd number rooms from x069 to x123, with x being the floor#. this is just based on scanning people's past room reports and studying the BWV map, so of course it's not official.

have you tried to do a search on the boards for the room# that you stayed in? maybe another member posted a review of it a long time ago, and might've mentioned whether it was preferred or standard?

anyway, i'm a little surprised at some of the answers Jackie gave you. if BWV was really using the new "Room Ready" system, then it shouldn't have mattered when you booked your reservation. you should have had just as good a chance to get a "good" preferred view as any other person who booked earlier.

well, good luck. and keep us posted.

 

[MiaSRN62]

the thing is, in my notes, i have written down that x123 is the last std-view room and is on the corner with a huge balcony.
once you go around the bend of that corner, i always thought the rooms were preferred view because they face the canal directly.

Disneyberry......is x123 on the left or right corner (around the bend) if you're facing the canal ?
Also, I'm not denying that my room is preferred. If BW and MS say it is, then it is. I'm not trying to change that. Rather, what I am trying to do, is make people aware that you could be getting an 80% (at least) parking lot view for your "preferred points". That's all. This does not seem to be publicized by BWV or MS anywhere that I can see, yet they feel free to specify that preferred view is "water, garden, BW or pools". Why don't they be 100% honest/upfront and mention in the guidebook that "some parking lot views are included". That's all I'm saying really. Just trying to get the word out but I don't think some get what my point really is. I accept that I spent preferred points for a parking lot view.....can't change the past at this point....but I'll make darn sure BW or MS never does this to me again. I'm going to be even more "informed" than I thought I was. Live and learn.............

 

[disneyberry]

hmm.... Maria.
i just dug out my BWV map and now i'm unsure again of why i had these notes written this way.

basically, room# x123 is the last room on the... okay, this is too hard to explain. (be prepared for some really bad ascii art )

looking at this bad ascii diagram.....
J * L

the asterisk is the porte-cochere circle where people drive up to valet park.
the J is the Villa side of the resort.
and the L is the Inn side of the resort.

room# x121 is on the bottom right corner of the letter J, the last room directly facing the L. and room# x123 is the other half of that bottom right corner of the letter J. it would be facing down (towards the tennis courts?) rolleyes: okay sorry this explanation is getting so silly )

then, the rest of the rooms on the bottom portion of the J are numbered from right to left: odd-numbers from x125 to x135.

so i guess the question is, are the rooms that face the tennis courts (and parking lot in the distance) considered standard view?

hope you get some amusement ... or confusion... from this reply.