First timer to dvc resort

[rachlh]

Hi,

We exchanged through II for boardwalk villas for July. Only got a studio but we are thrilled. Since this is our first disney exchange any info would be helpful. What would be our luck in requesting a particular room or area. And which area would that be. 2 adults and 2 children ages 11 & 12 traveling. Has anyone ever booked a studio then on arrival been upgraded to a 1 bdrm? Or is that just a daydream....

Also wanted to know if one is able to use amenities at any other dvc property, in particular bcv(stormalong bay)?


Thanks for any info given..


Rachel

 

[nezy]

I've never gotten an upgrade and I am not sure how it works w/II. I would call and ask. It can't hurt.
Just curious, what did you exchange to get a Studio?

Boardwalk is a fun place. There are alot of things to do right there and you can walk to EPCOT and MGM (or boat).
The Boardwalk itself has some arcade games at night and you can rent bikes. I think you can also rent boats-I forget.Jellyrolls is supposed to be fun too.

You cannot use the Stormalong Bay pool at BCV unless you are a guest at Beach Club. As far as pool hopping to other resorts, not sure. I know that DVC members can do that as long as the pool/resorts are not to capacity. You are supposed to check w/ the desk at the resorts to see if it is ok. Also certain times of the year there is no pool hopping(holidays).

 

[rachlh]

HI,

I used a so. california summer week. 1bdr.

so no pool hopping to stormalong bay.....

thanks for the info....

Any help on room requests from anyone would be great.


Thanks,

Rachel

 

[dianeschlicht]

It kind of depends on if your reservation is for a preferred view, standard view or Boardwalk view. I doubt you will have any input on that with a trade.

The probability of an upgrade is slim, but not unheard of with II trades. I wouldn't hold my breath though! Be aware that the studios at BWV will only have one queen size bed and one full size sleep sofa. For that reason, you might want to bring along an aero bed for one of the kids. I would think an 11 and 12 year old might not do too well together in a hide-a-bed that is only a full size.

 

[J and R's mom]

We just returned for BWV last week. We LOVED our trip. See this thread for more information on the trip.

When you made your trade, did they specify what room category you received? There are three room categories at BWV. Standard view will look out on lawns and parking lot areas. Preferred view will look out on the canals and/or pools. And the Boardwalk View will look out over Cresent Lake and the boardwalk. DVC members have to book one of those specific categories. I'm not sure how it works for II exchanges.

One thing that many DVCers request when staying at BWV is to be close to the elevators. It can be quite a LONG walk if your room is at or near the end of the hallway.

As far as pool-hopping goes, even DVC members are not allowed to pool-hop to SAB at BC unless they are staying at BCV. DVCers also cannot pool-hop over at AKL or at any pool during certain holidays. I'm not sure if II exchangers get the same perks, though.

Will this be your first trip to WDW?

 

[CarolMN]

My understanding is that those who exchange in do not get any DVC perks - their KTTW cards will not say "DVC MEMBER" on them. So no DVC dining discounts and no pool hopping anywhere. (The good news is that the BWV have a very nice pool and a good slide so no real need to go anywhere else unless it's to a waterpark).

Exchangers do get the perks that are available to all WDW resort guests such as EMH, charging food & purchases back to the room, free use of the health club, etc.

Best wishes -

 

[susieh]

I think you and the children will be fine. My sons shared the sleep sofa at OKW for 2 weeks in 1998 and again in 2002 and they were 16/14 and then 20/18 at those times. They have grown up sharing a bed on holiday (or vacation if you prefer that term) and they never complain it is too small. In fact when they went in 2002 they went with 2 friends (ages 24 and 18) and the 4 lads shared the 2 beds with no problems.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think you and the children will be fine. My sons shared the sleep sofa at OKW for 2 weeks in 1998 and again in 2002 and they were 16/14 and then 20/18 at those times. They have grown up sharing a bed on holiday (or vacation if you prefer that term) and they never complain it is too small. In fact when they went in 2002 they went with 2 friends (ages 24 and 18) and the 4 lads shared the 2 beds with no problems.

That sleep sofa at OKW was a queen size. The one in a BWV studio is a full size, and there was no mention if the kids were the same sex or not. Also, the 2 beds they shared in an OKW studio are 2 queen beds and not 1 queen bed and 1 full size sleep sofa.

 

[rachlh]

Thanks everyone for all the info.
No, This is not our first trip to WDW. Just our first exchange and stay into a Disney Resort.

My children are boy and girl....and at the age where they "think" they don't like each other too much...
So an aero bed sounds like a plan!!

On the II exchange confirmation it just says under unit number: "OBED" does anyone know what that means? II usually confirms into a particular unit...not random. So I dont know if those letters mean anything.

When I call to pay my $95.00 fee, I'll ask about requesting room with view. If boardwalk is unlikely, what would be the next best view?

Remember we got a studio, if anyone knows what the layout is at BWV.

 

[rachlh]

Oh,

Did I read somewhere that BWV has a studio with queen, sleep sofa and a daybed??


Thank again

Rachel

 

[J and R's mom]

Oh,

Did I read somewhere that BWV has a studio with queen, sleep sofa and a daybed??


Thank again

Rachel

The room that DD (2.5) and I just stayed in last week was a dedicated studio. It came with a queen bed, 1 sofa bed and a daybed (MAYBE the size of a twin mattress but seemed a bit smaller to me).

If you get a lock-off studio (one that has a connecting door to a one bedroom) it will not have the daybed. I know this because the 1st room DD and I had upon check-in was a lock-off studio and it didn't have a daybed. We requested to move because that room happened to have a solid balcony wall that came well above DD's head so she couldn't see the boardwalk view that we had booked. We were then moved to a different room and it just so happened to be a dedicated studio. Until then, I didn't even realize that BWV had dedicated studios.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Oh,

Did I read somewhere that BWV has a studio with queen, sleep sofa and a daybed??


Thank again

Rachel

The daybed is nothing more than a bench that MIGHT accommodate a very young and very small child as a bed, but not much more than that. It definitley would be too small for kids the age of yours unless they are unusually small.