F&W Resort Help

[glamdring269]

We're owners at BRV but are considering doing something a bit different from our norm this year.

First, some quick background. 75 point contract. We tend to go once every other year and sell off the extra points. 2 adults and no children. Second, we're currently booked in a BRV studio for Oct 5th - 10th but I'm thinking about going for a 1BR this year which should unlock some boardwalk options that we typically wouldn't have.

With this in mind I'm just curious about what folks think about Studio vs. 1BR in general. Do you find it to be worth it? At this point I'm willing to give it a shot just to see. I really doubt we would use the full kitchen but having a living room and extra space in general will probably be nice. Also, any favorites between Beach Club and Boardwalk? We did stay at Boardwalk a few years back during F&W and loved the proximity to Epcot for F&W. I understand that Beach Club is technically closer but I'm not going to make a decision based on a few minutes of extra walking, would rather take all factors into account. (I doubt we will use the pool either.)

Appreciate any advice you all can offer. Thanks!

 

[iheartglaciers]

If you’re not using the pool, I would vote BWV over BCV (though I’m an owner so I’m biased!).

• I like how the BWV wing is attached to the main hotel versus being separated like BCV.
• The Boardwalk has a fun energy with the nighttime entertainment
• Bellevue Lounge is a chill place to hang out after the park (if you don’t go to Jellyrolls!)
• I think the ice cream at Ample Hills is way better that B&C

A plus for BCV is I think it has much better breakfast options through their counter service and Ale & Compass at YC.

I’ve only stayed in studios and 2BR, but having the extra space and in-room washer/dryer is really nice!! Once you try it, you may not want to go back to studios!!

Another idea (but for the future since studios are booked for this Oct) is to rent a BWV studio from an owner and then rent out your points to pay for it.

 

[cruisin5]

Availability is going to be the issue. You'll probably end up at BWV, the resort is so much bigger than BCV.

You'll love the 1-bedroom over the studio, but you will be spoiled for future stays!

Dining options are better at BWV but there are so many choices nearby. As mentioned, QS breakfast options are very limited but you'll have a full kitchen!

 

[glamdring269]

Another idea (but for the future since studios are booked for this Oct) is to rent a BWV studio from an owner and then rent out your points to pay for it.

Great idea. We'll definitely give that a shot next time. Unless we get spoiled with the 1BR this time...

Availability is going to be the issue. You'll probably end up at BWV, the resort is so much bigger than BCV.

Still have 2 days to go before we can make the change but as of the moment I'm seeing availability for 1BR at BCV and 1BR for Pool/Garden at BWV. The BWV is wide open for months so feel pretty confident it will be available. BVC is pretty open so may have a good shot there as well. Interestingly the BCV is actually 1 point cheaper.

(For BWV I'd honestly would prefer Boardwalk View but as of now there are only 4 of 5 days avail.)

 

[Deb & Bill]

I was watching BWV one bedrooms for my late Sept trip and saw them vanish a few weeks before my booking change date. For F&W, booking at seven months out at BWV or BCV is going to be very tough.

 

[glamdring269]

I was watching BWV one bedrooms for my late Sept trip and saw them vanish a few weeks before my booking change date. For F&W, booking at seven months out at BWV or BCV is going to be very tough.

Could be getting filled with false hope right now but my 7 month mark starts on Tuesday. The entire month range of August - November (other than Sep 28th) is currently available for BWV Pool/Garden view 1 BR. And as of now BCV looks like it may be an option, though a lot can change in two days.

 

[FFMickey]

You should be okay getting a 1 bedroom. We have a CCV contact and was able to get a BCV 1 bedroom a couple of days ago. Just jump on and modify your current reservations as soon as the window opens.

 

[glamdring269]

Things could change in the morning but as of now I'm going with the following assumptions:

1) BCV will be available.
2) BWV Pool/Garden will be available.
3) BWV Boardwalk available 4 out of 5 nights.
4) Wild card: Looks like Jambo house Standard view will be available which is significantly cheaper.

At the moment we are leaning towards BWV. Haven't stayed at BCV before but the main relative advantages vs. BWV don't really appeal to us and we know we enjoyed our previous BWV stay. Added Jambo to the list mainly because we've stayed there twice before, love it, but doubt we'll actually opt for that.

This brings me to a question regarding #3. I've never had a boardwalk view and would love to have one. Not sure I want to do a split stay to get one though. What would be the best strategy here?

1) Book #2 in full and waitlist #3?
2) Book one night of #2, get the other 4 nights of #3, and waitlist the single night?

I'm assuming #2 as the worst thing that could happen would be a split stay in the same resort. Easy enough to pack strategically for this.

 

[drusba]

As far as a 1BR versus studio goes, the issue you may have is that, with your total points, you are limited to studios almost all the time, and once you try a 1BR, you may have many future studio trips where you will wish you could have a 1BR.

Boardwalk view is the best but safest course is to reserve the pool/garden view for all nights and waitlist the entire time. You have a risk splitting the reservation to four and one night for that time of year of not being able to get that one night in p/g view when the time comes to reserve it, or, if you make that one night for p/g view the first night, the boardwalk and p/g views may disappear before you can reserve a room for the remaining nights. In other words, the only way you can book four nights in boardwalk view and one night in p/g view is to make two separate reservations with each having a separate seven month out date, and come March 5 at 8 a.m., anything still shown as open for Oct 6 and after may be gone before 8 a.m. on March 6.

 

[glamdring269]

As far as a 1BR versus studio goes, the issue you may have is that, with your total points, you are limited to studios almost all the time, and once you try a 1BR, you may have many future studio trips where you will wish you could have a 1BR.

Boardwalk view is the best but safest course is to reserve the pool/garden view and waitlist the entire time.

Thanks. Yeah, getting spoiled by a 1BR is somewhat of a fear but we can worry about that in 2021 I suppose. The good news is we typically go every other year, stay only 5 nights, and have sufficient points to cover a 1BR at current point rates in most resorts by borrowing. If the studio point creep actually happens next year then that will make the choice even easier I guess. (Not that we want to rehash that whole debacle here hah)

Out of curiosity, why would you call booking the entire res as pool/garden the "safest"? I don't mind swapping rooms if we have to after one night. We'll be at the parks all day anyway. Just want to be sure I'm not missing something.

 

[FFMickey]

2) Book one night of #2, get the other 4 nights of #3, and waitlist the single night?

If you want Boardwalk view, this is the route I would go. It'll be easier to match a single night WL than the whole time. I would stalk the RAT though as I completed a BCV stay for F&W before my WL came through. YMMV.

 

[drusba]

Thanks. Yeah, getting spoiled by a 1BR is somewhat of a fear but we can worry about that in 2021 I suppose. The good news is we typically go every other year, stay only 5 nights, and have sufficient points to cover a 1BR at current point rates in most resorts by borrowing. If the studio point creep actually happens next year then that will make the choice even easier I guess. (Not that we want to rehash that whole debacle here hah)

Out of curiosity, why would you call booking the entire res as pool/garden the "safest"? I don't mind swapping rooms if we have to after one night. We'll be at the parks all day anyway. Just want to be sure I'm not missing something.

I added to my post and via example: assume you can get Oct 5-9 in a boardwalk view the morning of March 5; come March 9 when you want to book that one extra night of Oct 9 in a p/g view and wait list it for boardwalk view, both the boardwalk view and the p/g view for that night may be gone. At the opposite end, if you see p/g view open for Oct 5-10 on March 5, and see boardwalk view open for Oct 6-10, and choose to reserve only one night in p/g view thinking you will get boardwalk view on March 6, you may find on the morning of March 6 that both p/g and boardwalk view are gone.

 

[glamdring269]

I added to my post and via example: assume you can get Oct 5-9 in a boardwalk view the morning of March 5; come March 9 when you want to book that one extra night of Oct 9 in a p/g view and wait list it for boardwalk view, both the boardwalk view and the p/g view for that night may be gone. At the opposite end, if you see p/g view open for Oct 5-10 on March 5, and see boardwalk view open for Oct 6-10, and choose to reserve only one night in p/g view thinking you will get boardwalk view on March 6, you may find on the morning of March 6 that both p/g and boardwalk view are gone.

Got it. I think you and I are nearly aligned on how I'm planning to do this.

1) Book P/G view tomorrow for Oct 5-10.
2) Waitlist B view for Oct 5-10.
3) Book B view the following day for Oct 6-10 (assuming still avail).
4) Waitlist B view for Oct 5.
5) Cross fingers...

This way I'm booked in BWV no matter what. Assuming I can successfully do #3 on Wednesday then my only risk exposure should be the fact that I might have to stay in a P/G view room the first night and switch to the B view room for nights 2-5.

Does this sound right?

 

[drusba]

Got it. I think you and I are nearly aligned on how I'm planning to do this.

1) Book P/G view tomorrow for Oct 5-10.
2) Waitlist B view for Oct 5-10.
3) Book B view the following day for Oct 6-10 (assuming still avail).
4) Waitlist B view for Oct 5.
5) Cross fingers...

This way I'm booked in BWV no matter what. Assuming I can successfully do #3 on Wednesday then my only risk exposure should be the fact that I might have to stay in a P/G view room the first night and switch to the B view room for nights 2-5.

Does this sound right?

The issue then becomes Oct 5 because you cannot make two modications to an existing reservation at the same time. If you actually want to keep that date with a p/g view, then the way to do that at 8 a.m., when you switch via the internet system on March 6, is to modify your existing Oct 5-10 p/g view reservation to one for boardwalk view from Oct 6-10, and then try to make a second reservation getting back Oct 5 for p/g view and waitlist it. On March 6, between the time you complete the switch to boardwalk view for Oct 6-10 and then try to make a new p/g view reservation for Oct 5, that p/g time has a risk of disappearing. Likely not a problem, but it is still not 100% certain you will get back that Oct 5 date.

 

[glamdring269]

I ended up doing a complete pivot this morning. Somehow a 1BR Value Jambo was available for my entire trip and we love AKV. Went ahead and booked it and will see how things play out with BWV Boardwalk view throughout the day. Thanks again to everyone for the advice!

 

[glamdring269]

Final update!

Today I made the decision to go with the boardwalk. Was able to do the following:

1) Book Oct 6-10 in Boardwalk View 1BR
2) Book Oct 5th in Pool/Garden 1BR
3) Waitlist Boardwalk View for Oct 5th

Hopefully #3 comes through but if not we can deal with it. I'll hate missing out on another AKV stay, and likely Sanaa because of it, but I guess the point of F&W is walking around and having dinner spread out over a couple of smaller courses anyway.

Cheers everyone and again appreciate all of the support.