Grand Villa Questions.

[pj-atsea]

I am thinking about getting a Grand Villa at BWV in October. I usually get a studio and a 2 bdr for our family. We will have the same amount of bedrooms and will all be together instead of one person down the hall. It will be approx 200 pts more than the 2 bdr and studio. This year I will have enough points to do it, but my question is, Is it worth it? It looks so nice on the videos but I have never actually seen a Grand Villa at the BWV. I did see one at SSR. I really can't decide whether to splurge or not. Hopefully someone can help me make the decision. i have to do it soon or it won't be available because it is the Food & Wine Festival time. I do have the 2 Bdr and studio already booked so if I let it go. I am unlikely to get it again if I change my mind, as I couldn't get the BCV at that time as it is, and only preffered viewe was available at BWV..Thanks pj

 

[RobDoc]

The GVs are really nice at all of the resorts. If you want a BWV GV for Octover, 2007 - you need to call yesterday though - since there are only 7 GVs and they do go quickly. That timeframe has been reserving for 2 months already. Hopefully there will still be something available when you call.

Good luck!

 

[DrShifty]

We usually get a 2 BR and a studio at BWV as well. Last year, we got a one floor GV at BWV instead (plus another studio for a friend). It is MUCH more spacious- large living room/dining room area and separate laundry room. Wonderful LARGE balcony with BW view. It was a luxurious splurge. Do you NEED it? No. Will you regret it? No way. By far the nicest accommodations that we ever stayed in at DVC, and I can't wait to do it again at some point. I reserved it 11 months out (and day by day) since it was a kid's school vacation week.

 

[byoung]

If youy can get it, go for it and enjoy the space.

 

[castleri]

Have not stayed in GV at BWV but did do a GV at OKW a couple of times. The first time we had 8 people - the second we had only 5 when some family members couldn't go. I would do it again if I had a large group. This year I booked the 2BR studio combo and it worked out well as we ended up with just 4 of us instead of 8 or 9 as originally planned. I was able to use fewer points, have plenty or room and ended up renting the studio (which was to have been for my son and his family- he lost his job the week before Thanksgiving so couldn't justify a trip to WDW-) and giving the money to my son to help them out a little. If you have the points and won't say later - gee I could have had another trip with those points I say go for it if you can get the reservation at this point. There is still a long time to go so you could waitlist if need be and see what happens. At least you have back up reservations.

 

[Jimbo]

I see that an October week in a preferred BWV 2BR plus a studio would cost 388 points, while the GV would cost 587 points. That's an extra 199 points, and I think I'd be tempted to pass on the GV unless I really had a lot of points to burn.

By comparison, OKW for the same week would be 314 for the 2BR + studio, and just 372 for the GV. A 58 point difference would easily be worth the splurge, IMHO.

I'm always surprised at how skewed the point charts are when it comes to Grand Villas. I know it's supply and demand, plus DVC "charges" whatever the market will bear (and rightfully so). It's just such a striking difference.

Of course, availability could easily make all of this moot anyway.

 

[Deb & Bill]

And availability in October at 7 months would be slim to none.

 

[pj-atsea]

Thanks everyone for your input. I called today and found that although a Grand Villa was available at BWV , it wasn't available for the full week. The day in middle was taken already. So what I did, was waitlist for the entire week rather than take part of a week and then maybe move. I don't want to cancel what I already have booked to take a GV for only part of the time and waitlist for the rest. If the extra day doesn't come up, then we'd have to move and I'd have to have something booked in the off chance that I needed it. This is getting complicated. I wish I had though of getting a GV a bit earlier. I' ll check with the other family members tomorrow and see if we can adjust the dates a little and maybe we can work it out. pj

 

[RAD]

As mentioned before, BWV GV's are in short supply compared to the other room types, so in the future you might want to call day by day at the 11 month window just to be sure. I had the points this time and really wanted to try a GV and snagged 10/10 -> 10/14 and then doing a 4 day cruise, as I said, I had a lot of points available this year.

 

[greenban]

Thanks everyone for your input. I called today and found that although a Grand Villa was available at BWV , it wasn't available for the full week. The day in middle was taken already. So what I did, was waitlist for the entire week rather than take part of a week and then maybe move. I don't want to cancel what I already have booked to take a GV for only part of the time and waitlist for the rest. If the extra day doesn't come up, then we'd have to move and I'd have to have something booked in the off chance that I needed it. This is getting complicated. I wish I had though of getting a GV a bit earlier. I' ll check with the other family members tomorrow and see if we can adjust the dates a little and maybe we can work it out. pj

PJ:

My advice would be to book the available days and waitlist day-by=day for the missing date(s). One day missing in the middle of the week sounds like a SPEC ressie to me. When that Owner finally finds a taker on the R/T board, they will not be able to book the remaining dates (which you have reserved) and then will cancel and you will match.

To be fair, it could also be a renter with limited BWV points, who booked one day with BWV points at 11 months, and will use their non BWV points day-by-day at the seven month window to complete the ressie.

Or I guess, someone really only wants one night at a BWV GV in the middle of a week

Best of luck!

-Tony

 

[Sue's Mum]

We stayed in a two-storey GV at Boardwalk in December and, to be truthful, we all found the decor to be a bit dull. The space was really great but, as the floor in the living areas was not carpetted, we found it quite noisy when some of the family were up early and others were still asleep.

For our smaller party, we would go with a 2-bedroom for preference.

We are not sorry we had the GV though, it was an experience and now we can stop wondering what they are like.

 

[pj-atsea]

Thanks Suesmom, I read someplace else that some people reported the GV's to be noisy, as you said, due to the hardwood flooring. Well, so far I can't get a GV anyway. I almost had one yesterday for a different week than I had initially wanted, but someone else booked it as I was releasing points from my other bookings to be able to do it.. So close.... But as I released the studio that I also had booked, someone else snapped that up and then I couldn't get my original booking back. So now we are doing the 2 bdr and studio a week later. Plus I did waitlist for the GV.. It seems the more trouble I have getting it, the more I seem to want it !!! Silly really, because it costs so much more and for the same amount of bedrooms as I have booked...