BWV Standard view

[castle1]

That BWV standard studios/2BRs (all are lock-offs and thus 2BRs disappear due to studio demand) usually fill right at, or sometimes even before, 8 a.m. eastern at 11-months out from every possible start date of the year. That a member does not want July but instead late in the year makes no difference. Moreover July 7-31 is the second lowest overall DVC demand time of the year at WDW. The high demand fall season that runs from late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan makes July look like an off-season.

That year-round 11-month problem for BWV standard studios/2BRs actually started before the Pandemic. Before 2017, the rooms had the problem for the high demand fall season but only a limited number of times the rest of the year. In 2016, the rooms were refurbed and DVD added the Murphy bed that pulls out of a cabinet beneath the TV, and changed the room capacity to 5 (plus a child under three) instead of the previous 4. That caused a significant increase in demand for studios and by 2019 that entire year reservation problem existed.

Walking takes place but even that can require repeated tries because it can be difficult to even get a reservation for any date of the year to begin a walk. Some have been successful in getting a room shortly after the 11-month window passes as walkers pass by. But that requires constantly checking for openings, and some luck to actually get all the nights you want.

The boardwalk view studios/2BRs have the same problem during that fall season but just once in a while the rest of the year. Even the pool/garden studios /2BR can have the problem for the highest DVC demand weeks of the year -- first two weeks of Dec and Christmas week. And for the fall and winter season of 2023-2024, those also often booked right at 11-months out, the cause being the refurb that started in Sep 2023 and took many rooms out of service while being done.

Good to know..thank you

 

[TheDailyMoo]

I wonder what the longest anyone has walked a reservation for is

 

[castle1]

I wonder what the longest anyone has walked a reservation for

It seems like it could be a year...ha

 

[Cyberc1978]

For the past few years including this one I have not had any issues getting a studio standard view reservation.

I'm walking my reservations at BWV for a September date. I started my walk in June and honesty it was as easy as it has always been.

I normally also do a value studio at AKV, but boy have they been though to get. All days gone well before the 8am window so I haven't had a chance to try out for one yet. In the past they would open up regularly and I could book them just as easy as the BWV studio. Next opening is on the 20th let see if that holds up.

I've read somewhere here on DIS that the values and maybe also standard view at BWV are perhaps being booked by bots. I don't know if that true or not.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Between the walkers and the bots, it is harder and harder to get what you want even at 11 months. I plan to ask my guide about these two issues when I see him in October. We want to tour the mock ups of Poly Tower if we can. Imagine trying to get a 2 BR at Poly Tower at 11 months?????????????

 

[Cyberc1978]

Between the walkers and the bots, it is harder and harder to get what you want even at 11 months. I plan to ask my guide about these two issues when I see him in October. We want to tour the mock ups of Poly Tower if we can. Imagine trying to get a 2 BR at Poly Tower at 11 months?????????????

That’s assuming that bots are actually being used. But I wouldn’t count on your guide knowing anything in that regards. Guides are usually the last to know anything about anything

 

[BaybeeYoda]

Wish Disney would implement a rule where you can only edit your reservation once a week (with no restrictions on cancelling) to discourage walkers. It's honestly so ridiculous.

That might get complicated. Perhaps once every three days until 3 months before the reservation. One might need time make more changes as you get closer to the time of travel.

That being said, do you trust Disney IT to implement anything that’s more complicated?

 

[Cyberc1978]

That might get complicated. Perhaps once every three days until 3 months before the reservation. One might need time make more changes as you get closer to the time of travel.

That being said, do you trust Disney IT to implement anything that’s more complicated?

If you book 7 nights then you basically don’t need to move it until every 6th day - if you prefer to play safe then every 5th day.

Every 3rd day wouldn’t make a difference unless you book less than 7 days for your walk.

 

[Sandisw]

Deleted some posts…please do not share the real time availability including screen shots…you can certainly mention that looking like walking is happening, or general comments, but no specific dates about what is still there.

 

[minster22]

For the 1st time since becoming an owner at BWV (2005), I was not able to get a standard studio for our May vacation. I know it is difficult because of the low points but have walked the reservation the past few years starting several weeks ahead. No go this year, could not get my foot in the door at any point . I have a very limited amount of points and had to borrow next years to book the preferred view. Now I will be short for next year (booking in 2025 for 2026). My use year is March. When will I be able to book(borrow) for 2026 to get my foot in the door? Worst case scenario I may try to have someone on the boards book a couple of preferred nights if I cannot get the standard view again. If I was youmger (74 yrs old) I would try to buy a small contract but that is not in the cards.

 

[Tatebeck]

For the 1st time since becoming an owner at BWV (2005), I was not able to get a standard studio for our May vacation. I know it is difficult because of the low points but have walked the reservation the past few years starting several weeks ahead. No go this year, could not get my foot in the door at any point . I have a very limited amount of points and had to borrow next years to book the preferred view. Now I will be short for next year (booking in 2025 for 2026). My use year is March. When will I be able to book(borrow) for 2026 to get my foot in the door? Worst case scenario I may try to have someone on the boards book a couple of preferred nights if I cannot get the standard view again. If I was youmger (74 yrs old) I would try to buy a small contract but that is not in the cards.

Sounds like on April 1st 2025 you could book March 1st 2026 and borrow from 2027 points if needed, then walk

 

[minster22]

Sounds like on April 1st 2025 you could book March 1st 2026 and borrow from 2027 points if needed, then walk

That is exactly what I thought but the use year, borrowing....it does get a bit confusing!Thank you !

 

[skier_pete]

I swear it's more than just walkers. I'll be the first to admit I've attempted to walk a reservation for a standard BWV room in the past. We only have 75 points and it was plenty to do what we want preferred view before the point shift but now it only gets us 4 nights in a preferred view in Oct/Nov, where it used to get us 5.

I haven't been trying every day, but I've been trying for like 2 months to get a standard studio at 11 months that I COULD walk and so far no luck. But if it was just walkers, it wouldn't show availability at 7:59 AM and then disappear at 8 AM. Walkers don't need to walk at 8 AM, they can do it gradually and maintain there advantage. I don't know if it's just limited availability that means the few rooms available get snatched at 8 AM, or if it's some sort of automated software.

I do agree that availability tends to open up behind the current date, which is a good indicator that at least some portion of people are already walking. For once I have less of a concern this year as I have 124 points available from cancelling this years trip for 2025, so I can get at least 6 nights preferred view even if I can't get the standard view.

 

[BaybeeYoda]

I swear it's more than just walkers. I'll be the first to admit I've attempted to walk a reservation for a standard BWV room in the past. We only have 75 points and it was plenty to do what we want preferred view before the point shift but now it only gets us 4 nights in a preferred view in Oct/Nov, where it used to get us 5.

Keep trying. They apparently disappear in nanoseconds. I tried for about 10 days and was able to catch a room yesterday at 8am-- just as my cell phone clock switched from 7:59 to 8:00, my finger was already pressing that button.

 

[Cyberc1978]

I swear it's more than just walkers. I'll be the first to admit I've attempted to walk a reservation for a standard BWV room in the past. We only have 75 points and it was plenty to do what we want preferred view before the point shift but now it only gets us 4 nights in a preferred view in Oct/Nov, where it used to get us 5.

I haven't been trying every day, but I've been trying for like 2 months to get a standard studio at 11 months that I COULD walk and so far no luck. But if it was just walkers, it wouldn't show availability at 7:59 AM and then disappear at 8 AM. Walkers don't need to walk at 8 AM, they can do it gradually and maintain there advantage. I don't know if it's just limited availability that means the few rooms available get snatched at 8 AM, or if it's some sort of automated software.

I do agree that availability tends to open up behind the current date, which is a good indicator that at least some portion of people are already walking. For once I have less of a concern this year as I have 124 points available from cancelling this years trip for 2025, so I can get at least 6 nights preferred view even if I can't get the standard view.

Keep trying. They apparently disappear in nanoseconds. I tried for about 10 days and was able to catch a room yesterday at 8am-- just as my cell phone clock switched from 7:59 to 8:00, my finger was already pressing that button.

Yes keep trying it’s definitely possible. I was walking a standard view reservation the other day and I forgot to move it 3 days in a row, and since I didn’t book an entire week I sort of lost my reservation - since I now have to start over by getting my foot in the door again.

Oh well the standard view at Boardwalk are imo much easier to get than value studios so I hope by the next time an opportunity opens up I’ll be able to snag one again.

 

[Tatebeck]

I have only booked boardwalk view at 11 months so far which seem s a bit easier. Though I may try for some standards eventually, especially if doing a 2 br or something for substantial point savings.

At what point is the room "held" for you to book? Is it once you press check availability and then you can pick what you want out of the rooms that showed up? Or is it only held once you press "continue" on a certain room and you need to be quick to find the one you really want and click on in ASAP? I think I've heard it's the second one? But I haven't done much 11 month booking right at open yet.

 

[Cyberc1978]

I have only booked boardwalk view at 11 months so far which seem s a bit easier. Though I may try for some standards eventually, especially if doing a 2 br or something for substantial point savings.

At what point is the room "held" for you to book? Is it once you press check availability and then you can pick what you want out of the rooms that showed up? Or is it only held once you press "continue" on a certain room and you need to be quick to find the one you really want and click on in ASAP? I think I've heard it's the second one? But I haven't done much 11 month booking right at open yet.

Nothing is held for you then you check availability - if it were that would effectively mean that if you searched for all resorts for a specific date that all of those rooms was on hold just for you.

When you click to book the specific room, if you get to the contract screen then the room is held for you - think the deadline for booking is 15min.

If you book at 11 months out at 8am then some of the rooms, standard view included at BWV, will disappear 8.00.01am.

 

[Tatebeck]

Ok, so the second one like I thought. So you need to be quick to pick the exact room after searching.

For others like me with multiple home resorts, when searching multiple resorts, is there any way to make sure the resort you want is on top or at least in the same order every time on the search results? I've noticed they switch around a little bit and don't always stay in the same order every time you search.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Ok, so the second one like I thought. So you need to be quick to pick the exact room after searching.

For others like me with multiple home resorts, when searching multiple resorts, is there any way to make sure the resort you want is on top or at least in the same order every time on the search results? I've noticed they switch around a little bit and don't always stay in the same order every time you search.

When you do the search make sure only to select 1 resort.

 

[drusba]

Ok, so the second one like I thought. So you need to be quick to pick the exact room after searching.

For others like me with multiple home resorts, when searching multiple resorts, is there any way to make sure the resort you want is on top or at least in the same order every time on the search results? I've noticed they switch around a little bit and don't always stay in the same order every time you search.

I am unaware of any way to control the order of resorts that the system chooses to provide when you search availability and I have never seen anyone mention that it could be done, but as noted above you can limit your availability search to only the resorts you want to see.