How about a 3-tier point structure at the boarwalk?

[one_cat]

I know this is very unlikely however what would you guys think of a 3-tier point structure rather than the 2-tier structure currently in place?

What I propose is that the Boardwalk views should cost the most, the Pool and other preferred views would cost less and the current standard views (parking lot views) would be at the bottom.

 

[Werner Weiss]

I don't think that's possible, given that the BWV units have all been declared into DVC inventory. Any condo that's now a preferred view studio, 1BR, 2BR, or 3BR will keep its current point structure, at least over the course of a year (with seasonal adjustment possible as long as everything adds up to the same amount).

 

[DebbieB]

This was brought up at last year's annual meeting. The board responded that it would be too difficult to manage since there are only a limited number of each room type with a Boardwalk view.

 

[Bigcat]

I don't buy the "limited number of rooms of each type theory". In today's world of computers, scheduling a 3 tier system should be very easy. Disney is certainly able to do this at their other resorts, I think Animal Kingdom Lodge has 5 or 6 different room catagories based on view.

I am a strong proponent of adjusting the point schedule to separate out Boardwalk views!!!

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

I think Werner has a point, this would probably create lawsuits because everyone purchased with the expectation of a two teir system and undoubtedly someone would really be upset at the point changes. Never mind that there are only so many points in the system to begin with and the weighting of the points would be a nightmare to figure out. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. It would be a great idea if they had a new resort and it was planned that way from the beginning though.

 

[Lesley]

I was under the impression that the 2 tier change was made after the resort was open.....was it, in fact, done before opening?

Seriously I'd rather see BW view and everything else separated....if I don't have a BW view I don't really care what other view I get (though I reserve the right to change my opinion after we actually stay there!). I don't really like that I have to gamble extra points on the chance I might get a BW view! So far our plans for 2002 include both standard and preferred views...we'll see what happens.

 

[Dean]

I suspect a 3 tier system would be difficult to establish and might violate the POS and other rules and regs. If it could legally be done, it would still be difficult to change over. It would also be a nightmare to administer. True it wouldn't be impossible but it would be more difficult. Actually I think the change was made after the resort started selling but since they declare the resort into DVC inventory in segments, that wasn't difficult to change. It would also make reserving a unit more difficult.

Can you imagine this conversation: Sir, I have 3 nights in a lagoon view, 2 nights in a BW view and 2 nights in a standard view for the 8 nights you are looking for. Yes sir, you will need to change rooms 2 times. Yes sir, you will need to pay the BW points for those nights even if you want a standard room.

I don't think you'll see any differentiation in room views at BCV.

 

[wdw1972]

I doubt they'd ever do it, but I agree the pool view rooms are not worth the same as boardwalk view. I won't book preferred view because I don't want to risk getting stuck looking at that horrible clown slide <g> or some other pool. That's no big deal to me, and I can't see paying a premium for that!

 

[Bigcat]

"Can you imagine this conversation: Sir, I have 3 nights in a lagoon view, 2 nights in a BW view and 2 nights in a standard view for the 8 nights you are looking for. Yes sir, you will need to change rooms 2 times. Yes sir, you will need to pay the BW points for those nights even if you want a standard room. "

Dean...so what. That sounds like half the conversations I have now with Member Services!
At least with a 3 tier system I would know what my options were and what they cost. I hate using extra points to pay for a view of the SWAN with a water filled ditch in between! To me this seems like the only way to guarantee the Boardwalk view and if it costs extra points, so be it. The system now has no rhyme or reason to it.

 

[drusba]

Legally, it is impossible to make the change now. The rule that allows them to lower points required while making an equal increase applies to a "unit." You buy ownership in a unit which consists of anywere from 2 to 8 rooms (the rooms are referred to as "vacation homes" in the official documents and a "unit" consists of several adjacent vacation homes, BWV has 383 vacation homes or rooms but only 125 units--at OKW each building is a unit). Thus, a group of rooms, say 7, on the boardwalk would make up one unit. The total number of points applicable to a unit for a year must always remain the same. Thus, they can lower the points applicable to a unit during one season and raise them during another but they cannot just lower the points for one unit, such as one overlooking the pool, while raising them for another, such as one over the boardwalk. Early in BWV's history all the rooms had the same point structure and they then set up the standard views with lower points. They did it then not under the rule that allows an increase if there is an equal decreasein points but instead actually redid their offerring circulars and the basic structure of the resort. That they could not do now as the resort and all the units are sold out.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Bigcat
Dean...so what. That sounds like half the conversations I have now with Member Services!
At least with a 3 tier system I would know what my options were and what they cost. I hate using extra points to pay for a view of the SWAN with a water filled ditch in between! To me this seems like the only way to guarantee the Boardwalk view and if it costs extra points, so be it. The system now has no rhyme or reason to it.

I don't disagree with your concerns, I think it has merrit from a consumer standpoint. It's just that I feel it's not within the rules to make the change and it would make more like all of your conversations with MS about BW that way, not just half.

 

[Pete W.]

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I love the points structure the way it is because folks staying in the BWV preferred-view units "subsidize" our stays in the standard-view rooms.

Our next trip is in May-June and we're using 310 points for a 9-night stay (including 4 weekend nights) in a standard-view 1BR. A preferred-view would require 356 points. What a difference!

Our friends just bought at VWL and if they wanted to stay during the same period as us, they would also use 356 points because there is no standard-view option at VWL (basically all the units require "preferred-view" points even though there is no real preferred-view at VWL). Our points go much further than VWL points do (or BCV will) so I am very happy with the current arrangement. A 3-tier structure would benefit preferred-view guests at the expense of us smart, frugal standard-view guests!

 

[PamOKW]

I don't think there's a legal problem because they did make the change to the two-tier system after BWV opened. I don't think they will go to the three-tier system because of the complications. No other DVC resort (with the exception of Garden/Ocean Inn view at Vero) differentiates based on view. The complaints about looking out over the parking lot at BWV were the only reason they offered some incentive. It's funny how now many people realize that these rooms actually have a better view of the fireworks than other BWV views. (Just read the last line of Dean's post...I guess I could be wrong on the difficulty of the legal issue.)

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

Pete,

I don't understand how you think that works. If there is a fixed amount of points and they introduced a third tier I would think that the standard view would become less points while the Boardwalk view would become more points. So it would actually benefit you, don't you think???

 

[Pete W.]

Actually they could keep the std view the same while raising the bw view and lowering the pool/lagoon view since the bone of contention seems to be the disparity between bw and pool/lagoon. It's a moot point because a 3-tier system will never happen anyway. Even if Disney could do it legally why would they bother at this point?

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

I agree