Has a stay at a new resort reformed you?

[bobbiwoz]

Hi!

I don't know about your points situation, but if you have enough, I think your chances of AKV could be better if you held onto the OKW part and did booked AKV day by day and then waitlist for any days singly. At any rate, I hope you do get the AKV stay that you want!! I love AKV so much, that we visit the hotel even when we're staying elsewhere! Our anniversary trip next month begins with me and some of our guests at AKV, from there we all head to VB.

Your posts regarding AKV were the catalyst for us trying to get and luckily we did secure a long weekend CL AKV stay for DH and I next March. We do do studios and that's what I got for the last part of my Spring break '09!

The only time that a DVC stay directly caused us to purchase points was when we stayed at VB, in a garden view room, no less and DH immediately wanted to buy points there, which we did.

Best wishes!
Bobbi

PS. I wonder if you are at all wishing you did a larger AKV add on, or have another one, perhaps, in your future.

 

[alldiz]

Just stayed at OKW and BWV for the 1st time....and I loved it.

I bought at WLV and I'm finally staying there in OCT.

But I was very impressed with OKW and BWV....

BWV for location.....general upscale feel of the place....great main pool area, great restaurants within walking distance.
OKW for complete relaxation, boat to DTD and SSR, lg rooms, Olivia's, cute "town" feel.
One of the reasons why I LOVE MY DVC is that I can stay at all of these fabulous resorts without ever getting bored or "stuck in 1 place".

And 1 day I will even venture out to a trade....Caribbean
Kerri

 

[dianeschlicht]

Hi!

I don't know about your points situation, but if you have enough, I think your chances of AKV could be better if you held onto the OKW part and did booked AKV day by day and then waitlist for any days singly. At any rate, I hope you do get the AKV stay that you want!! I love AKV so much, that we visit the hotel even when we're staying elsewhere! Our anniversary trip next month begins with me and some of our guests at AKV, from there we all head to VB.

Your posts regarding AKV were the catalyst for us trying to get and luckily we did secure a long weekend CL AKV stay for DH and I next March. We do do studios and that's what I got for the last part of my Spring break '09!

The only time that a DVC stay directly caused us to purchase points was when we stayed at VB, in a garden view room, no less and DH immediately wanted to buy points there, which we did.

Best wishes!
Bobbi

PS. I wonder if you are at all wishing you did a larger AKV add on, or have another one, perhaps, in your future.

Well, I have wished I would have more AKV points, but the only way DH would agree to do that is if we sold one OKW contract, and we didn't see any real benefit to doing that, so we decided to try to use OKW points at the 7 month window. Actually for January, if we don't get it, it's no big deal, but I figure once Kidani opens it will get a little easier as AKV has been around awhile. I feel like we need at least 1 AKV trip a year! DH would be thrilled if it was a CL stay each year!

 

[mopee]

Last month we used our first AKV points. Many of you here on the DIS/DVC boards know that I LOVE my OKW!!! I still do, but that visit to AKV has me craving more of the same.....especially the CL units!!! Now I am in planning mode for our January trip. I booked OKW at the 11 month window, but the first week of our stay at the end of January is with guests.

Diane

1.
We, my bride and I of 40 years, are new to DVC having joined last November and took our first trip home this April. I am a little amazed and in awe to see this post from you. You have posted 30,000+ posts and are still looking and working to stay where ever you want. It's nice to see people who have been in the "system" for quite a while still excited about this thing called "DVC".

2.
I would think by now you would have some good "buddies" who have points at different resorts that you could trade with.
So here is the question. Isn't it fairly easy to make a ressie at OKW and then get a "friend" to switch? Or is that just too much trouble??


Mo

 

[starbox]

I'll admit, I am a new resort junkie. I like all the DVC's - but SSR and AKV are my favorites - and I think a big part of why is that they are so nice and new. Here's hoping that DVC only builds large (SSR/AKV size) new resorts from here on out so I can always stay at the new kid on the block at 7 months!!!!

And I LOVE the really diverse room categories at AKV - makes it totally worth owning points there. I just made 11-month reservations for a value studio for next Spring Break when it's just me and the kids again. It's Easter Week so points are CRAZY high - but having the option of the value category makes it do-able. I was a little nervous about getting the value without calling day-by-day since there are only a few value studios.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Diane, I'm looking forward to seven nights at OKW in four weeks. Just imagining my porch overlooking the golf course is my kind of heaven. If only they could put OKW on the Gulf Coast of FL. Now THAT would be total heaven.

I'm fitting two wonderful weeks in FL between a week long Emergency Preparedness Assessment and a weeklong Pandemic Flu exercise. I am going to enjoy those two weeks.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

Well, I have wished I would have more AKV points...

Happy Mother's Day??? Subtle (or not so subtle!) hints can work wonders with those DHs!

And in response to your original post, yes, I do love staying at other resorts! I'm always wondering where I want to stay next and haven't found that I have an affinity to any one resort yet. I'm still making my rounds, though!

 

[bnlbebes]

WHen they finally brought AKV on board to the DVC system, we knew we HAD to have some points there, so that's why we own a minimal 69 point contract there. It gives us that second resort at the 11 month booking window every 2-3 years.

Just curious...

Why did you settle on the #69 points for your add-on?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I hope I get reformed when I stay at OKW next May. (Hopefully I get it at 7mos.) I have never stayed there. I did go over and walk around the resort in April, but they wouldn't let me see a room because they were all booked. My brother just raves and raves about it. I hope I love it as well!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

We bought BWV in 98 to be our WDW vacation accomodations for 50 years. Then we went to VB in 2001 (new to us) and it did reform entirely the way we think about DVC. We realized there are other wonderful options off-site and so we really only go to BWV about once every 3-4 years.

 

[Deb & Bill]

OT: Congratulations, Rob. Keep up the good work on being tobacco free. It's a hard struggle, but you can do it. Just imagine more years at VB because your health will be better.

 

[mikeandkarla]

Let me ask an opinion of all the AKV lovers.....I'll be booking a trip for August 2009 at the 11 month mark (i.e September). I've already banked and will borrow for the trip maximizing our small add-on. We'll have enough points for 6 nights in a 1BR concierge or 8 nights in a 1BR standard (can also do 6 nights in a 2BR value and take someone along or 6 nights in a 1BR SV) It's the weekend points that kill us....we can only swing a Friday on the 6 night stays.

Would you splurge and go for the concierge or get 2 extra nights out of the trip and go with the standard (most likely Kidani)? We have already stayed in a SV villa and loved it as well so we'd more than likely be giving up the view.

Let me start by stating I have never stayed CL. I would almost always choose more nights. having three small children, we are not at at that point of our lives that we need to be pampered in our resort. Hopefully, someday, that will come. For now, it is pretty much convenience, enough space for all 5 of us, and low point totals.

 

[alldiz]

We bought BWV in 98 to be our WDW vacation accomodations for 50 years. Then we went to VB in 2001 (new to us) and it did reform entirely the way we think about DVC. We realized there are other wonderful options off-site and so we really only go to BWV about once every 3-4 years.

DisDaydreamer (noticed your siggy)
Keep up the good work....quitting smoking will be the hardest.....and BEST thing you have ever done for yourself...and your family.
I wish you all the success in the world.
One day at a time
Kerri

 

[Off-The-Deep-End]

Okay Diane, here is the question:

You can only choose one of the two answers below, choose the answer that most closely fits:

A) My favorite of all DVC resorts is OKW.

B) My favorite of all DVC resorts is AKV.

We too love OKW, and own the vast majority of our points there. But much like Diane, a recent stay at AKV (sans CL) 'affected/converted' us.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane

1.
We, my bride and I of 40 years, are new to DVC having joined last November and took our first trip home this April. I am a little amazed and in awe to see this post from you. You have posted 30,000+ posts and are still looking and working to stay where ever you want. It's nice to see people who have been in the "system" for quite a while still excited about this thing called "DVC".

2.
I would think by now you would have some good "buddies" who have points at different resorts that you could trade with.
So here is the question. Isn't it fairly easy to make a ressie at OKW and then get a "friend" to switch? Or is that just too much trouble??


Mo

Yes, I suppose we could do that switch, but it isn't that important to us where we stay any given trip. We like to plan what we like, but if it's this year or next year, doesn't really matter.

Oh, and we celebrate 40 years of marriage this year too, but NO WAY are we going to WDW for our anniversary!!! We did that for our 35, and never again! Too HOT! Our anniversary is August 24, and I hated the heat and humidity that trip, so we'll be celebrating our anniversary this time right here in our "lodge"!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane, I'm looking forward to seven nights at OKW in four weeks. Just imagining my porch overlooking the golf course is my kind of heaven. If only they could put OKW on the Gulf Coast of FL. Now THAT would be total heaven.

I'm fitting two wonderful weeks in FL between a week long Emergency Preparedness Assessment and a weeklong Pandemic Flu exercise. I am going to enjoy those two weeks.

I agree, that would be about perfect!!!

 

[Goofy DVC]

We purchased in 93 OKW. Believe it or not, we only stayed at OKW until last year when we did the cruise and stayed at BW. BW was nice but we still love our OKW. We did make a decision to try all the resorets and this December we will be at SSR.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Thanks, Deb & Kerri.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

so we'll be celebrating our anniversary this time right here in our "lodge"!

I love your lodge (sig pic). Some day you must post a couple interior shots and view shots.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Let me start by stating I have never stayed CL. I would almost always choose more nights. having three small children, we are not at at that point of our lives that we need to be pampered in our resort. Hopefully, someday, that will come. For now, it is pretty much convenience, enough space for all 5 of us, and low point totals.

And a good plan it is....

We have never stayed in CL anything, but many years ago I got (free) tickets to a number of Orioles games (Club level) for me, DW, DD, & DS. The first time we took the escalator up to the Club level, and opened the door, I swear to you I spontaneously said to my family "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore". That was one great summer, but I could never have afforded to pay for that.

Sooo, I only imagine the CL gives the same feeling.