For those owning OKW but don't stay there

[WALTSAGOD]

For those of you that don't stay at OKW often, but bought there for the attractive resale pricing, GVs and large rooms, hows this working for you.

Do you have trouble getting the other resorts that you want?
Do you regret this route?

I fully undertand the, buy where you want to stay, feelingt, but if you like OKW and just want to bounce around through all of the other resorts, OKW's resale price looks very attractive.

 

[Michelemouse]

As long as you'll be content with a room at OKW if you can't get in anywhere else then go for it.

We own at OKW and it is our favorite DVC property, but we have stayed at all of the other DVC resorts except AKV. We haven't had any trouble getting a reservation, but we tend to plan well in advance, booking right at the 7-month window most of the time. That said, we do usually stay at OKW and are perfectly happy doing so.

 

[castleri]

We own at OKW, SSR and BCV and use our points to mainly stay at OKW. We do stay at other resorts if we are in a studio but much prefer OKW for all other size units. I have a waitlist now for 1BR at OKW for January because I waited until this week to try to book. I do have a reservation for SSR but would have preferred OKW. SSR was my second choice. We stayed at AKV in Sept on OKW points and have stayed at all the others using those points. It is really funny because we have the BCV contract and usually use the points for OKW. If I was told I could only keep one contract it would be the OKW one. We will continue to stay at other resorts because sometimes the people with us would like to try them. So far except for very busy times we have not had a problem using OKW points for any of the other resorts at 7 months or less.

 

[spiceycat]

well OKW was the only thing offered when I brought it.

on any offer you make - just check the ROFR that is posted on that resort.

stayed at all the DVC resorts with it. Now sometimes you can't change - so make sure you will be happy with OKW before you do this.

 

[WALTSAGOD]

We own at OKW, SSR and BCV and use our points to mainly stay at OKW. It is really funny because we have the BCV contract and usually use the points for OKW.

What don't you like about BC or is it just the maturity of OKW that draws you?

 

[Michelemouse]

What don't you like about BC or is it just the maturity of OKW that draws you?

I'm not that poster, but I do share their opinion of BCV/OKW. Personally, BCV just leaves me cold. I love the location but would rather stay at the BWV to be in that area. The BCV units are smaller than BWV's and much smaller than OKW's. Stormalong Bay is nice, but not enough of a draw to make me want to stay at BCV. There are plenty of members who absolutely love BCV though, so it's really about what you will like.

As for OKW, it's not the maturity of the resort that appeals to me. It's the whole feel of the place. It's very laid back and relaxed there. You feel a million miles from all the rushing around, yet you're just a quick bus ride away. The units are huge (including the large patios with full table & chairs on the 1BRs, 2BRs and GVs) yet cost less, points-wise, than any other resort. To us, OKW just feels like a home, rather than a hotel...but, again, it's all up to what you prefer.

Keep in mind that if you are planning to use your points primarily at BCV you may have a tough time. BCV is one of the smaller DVC resorts at WDW and getting in there can be tough during some seasons if you are not a BCV owner.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

We purchased at SSR, and have stayed everywhere. I haven't been the best at making reservations at the 7 month window, but have still gotten what I've wanted. We mostly travel in late July, early August.

If they told me tomorrow that we couldn't book at other resorts, I would be disappointed, but not because I own at SSR. I would be disappointed no matter where I owned, because I really enjoy all of the resorts. If DVC expands considerably, I'm not sure if getting reservations at the 7 month window will always be easy, but so far, so good!!!

 

[OneMoreTry]

We usually stay at OKW, where we own our points, more than half the time because we really prefer it overall. But the times we stayed elsewhere we didn't have problems getting the rooms we wanted or at least something close.

A couple points about that, though:

We didn't really try to get anything unreasonable. Like BWView.
We haven't gone outside OKW for Christmas, but that's because we would rather stay there at Christmas.
If the other resort is not available we always book OKW and put the other on a waiting list. Those have always come through for us but we would have no real disappointment if they hadn't.
We book the other resort right at 7 months.

The only time we didn't get the exact classification of room we wanted was a HA, Grand Villa near the hospitality house at OKW during spring break. I think there is only one of those and although I booked at 11 mos I didn't apply for the HA until month 9 or 10 and it was already taken.

We're staying in a Savannah View at AKV in April with a wait list for 2BR Concierge. We'll see what happens there.

 

[podsnel]

This is a really great thread! It's nice to hear what everyone's experiences have been staying elsewhere than their home resort. I really like being able to stay at different locations on my trips- I believe it will keep our WDW vacations fresh.

 

[drakethib]

As long as you'll be content with a room at OKW if you can't get in anywhere else then go for it.

We own at OKW and it is our favorite DVC property, but we have stayed at all of the other DVC resorts except AKV. We haven't had any trouble getting a reservation, but we tend to plan well in advance, booking right at the 7-month window most of the time. That said, we do usually stay at OKW and are perfectly happy doing so.

agree

 

[JimC]

We use our OKW points each year at OKW, VB and VWL. We have never had trouble getting reservations at VB or VWL.

 

[OneMoreTry]

No one mentions HH very much, but we use our points there once in a while when we don't want to do WDW.

 

[castleri]

What don't you like about BC or is it just the maturity of OKW that draws you?

It isn't that I don't like BCV - we have stayed several times and have had wonderful rooms - it is just that when we need a two bedroom we like the size of OKW rooms and balconies better. I agree with Michelemouse on her comments about OKW. It would be my ideal primary home if I could find a way to do it. We usually request South Point bldg 55 so we can be near the pool and enjoy the quiet and the views along the canal. There is one 2BR that I do love at BCV - It has a huge balcony that overlooks the back of the British pavillion and Spaceship Earth. It was fun to sit out there and listen to the music.

 

[WALTSAGOD]

Anyone else?