Did DVC make a mistake

[dianeschlicht]

...when they left GVs out of VWL and BCV? I have read several things about folks wishing they had access to GVs at their home resorts. Even BWV folks think they could use more GVs.

I think DVC left out GVs because they didn't think folks would be using them enough. I am glad to see them adding them back in at SSR. Is the point cost of GVs at BWV the reason they changed the points costs at SSR?

I guess I see the lack of GVs at all the DVC resorts to have been a short sight on DVC's part.

 

[Desperado]

I agree. I very much wish there were GV's available at BCV, this is a huge missing piece for the resort in my opinion.

 

[jarestel]

I think you're right. I have a family gathering booked in October at VWL where a GV would have been perfect, but had to settle for two-2BRs instead.

 

[floridafam]

Yes, they made a mistake. I feel they should have Grand Villas at VWL and I know a lot of people want them at BCV.

 

[dianeschlicht]

And another question. If you need the three bedrooms, would you reserve a GV wherever it was available, or would location be more important, and you would do a 2 bedroom plus a studio to accommodate your guests?

 

[DBBN]

I think they made a mistake as well.

On another thread I mentioned how they could fix this mistake at VWL by adding OKW size buildings on the South shore of Bay Lake. I wonder how many DVC owners would like to see additional buildings built that include Grand Villas?

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
And another question. If you need the three bedrooms, would you reserve a GV wherever it was available, or would location be more important, and you would do a 2 bedroom plus a studio to accommodate your guests?

I think the mistake becomes evident for DVC in that to my knowledge you really need the 11 month window to get a 3 bedroom at least during normal and peak seasons. The demand is there for these units, I wish BCV and WLV had them. A two bedroom and a 1 bedroom can work, but the nice large central meeting place is not available like in the 3 bedroom. Can anyone correct me? Can you get a BWV GV in the 7 month window? A Vero beach house?

 

[jarestel]

DBBN.
I would like to see what you suggest at VWL. It's a small resort anyway, so an expansion would work quite well I would think. Nice ideas!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Desperado
Can anyone correct me? Can you get a BWV GV in the 7 month window? A Vero beach house?

At the 7 month window at VB, very doubtfull for summer and peak times.
Thats one of the reasons we picked OKW(27 GV's) and VB
(6 Beach cottages) as our home resorts.The 11 month window is a must for us.

 

[BWVDee]

On another thread I mentioned how they could fix this mistake at VWL by adding OKW size buildings on the South shore of Bay Lake. I wonder how many DVC owners would like to see additional buildings built that include Grand Villas?

What a GREAT idea!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Does anyone know how many GVs are planned for SSR? I thought I heard there would be some in every building.

 

[rocketriter]

Is there enough room at BCV for another building that included a few GVs?

 

[Granny]

Diane...I can only speak about VWL, and only give my own opinion, but I don't think they made a mistake. With only 136 units (I think that's right) at VWL, and not many more at BCV, they probably couldn't afford to take too many rooms out of circulation by including GV's. I figure they couldn't put just one in there...there would need to be at least four or so. And that would put the squeeze on the other accommodations even more than it is now.

So for us, I think they made the right decision.

And to respond to your second question, if we had that large of a group, we'd probably reserve a 2BR and a studio at our home resort and then try to switch to a GV waiting list at OKW or some other home.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
Does anyone know how many GVs are planned for SSR? I thought I heard there would be some in every building.

I read somwhere that there will be 12 GV's at SSR.

 

[RobDoc]

The plan for SSR is 24 GV's- two in each of the 12 buildings.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That would put SSR close to OKW in number of GVs, but it would still be proportionatly less, since they will have more total units.

I can only speak about VWL, and only give my own opinion, but I don't think they made a mistake. With only 136 units (I think that's right) at VWL, and not many more at BCV, they probably couldn't afford to take too many rooms out of circulation by including GV's. I figure they couldn't put just one in there...there would need to be at least four or so. And that would put the squeeze on the other accommodations even more than it is now.

I too kind of thought the decision might have been for space reasons. That would translate into greater cost, since the GVs would take up more space and have fewer occupants than a group of lock off units. Perhaps that is one of the problems with building DVC units at existing hotels.

 

[Dean]

I'm sure they didn't make the decision lightly. You can bet it was discussed for some time. They did have the HH, VB, OKW and BWV experiences to draw from. My guess is that the 3 BR are hard to deal with and that it would be more efficient in terms of space and selling points not to have the GV to work with.

They could have gone in between with a double lockoff. A 1 BR with two connection studios. I think it's wrong to say it was a mistake, obviously they sold and that's DVD's number one goal, to make money. It is fair to say some people would like GV at those properties. Remember that BWV only has like 7 and I'm sure a lot of people complain when they can't get them.

I suspect SSR has GV because many people asked for them with the preceeding two properties and that SSR has the luxury of space that BCV and VWL had.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by Dean
They could have gone in between with a double lockoff. A 1 BR with two connection studios. I think it's wrong to say it was a mistake, obviously they sold and that's DVD's number one goal, to make money. It is fair to say some people would like GV at those properties. Remember that BWV only has like 7 and I'm sure a lot of people complain when they can't get them.

What a great idea! It would be a lot less wasted space than putting in the big GVs! Maybe you should offer that suggestion to DVC!

 

[JimC]

Is Dean's idea something they can do retro? Is the configuration such that it is a possibility?

 

[dianeschlicht]

I kind of doubt it could be done retro without a great deal of expense. It is a GREAT idea though.