Inequities to owners of view preferences

[paults]

lets charge anyone who gets on a waitlist or 2 or 3 at anytime with the purpose of dropping it when their resort of choice has an opening thus causing more work for those over worked MS people who love their jobs or they wouldn't be there.

ScottOKW2K
"Let's face it - if you are a BWV owner and you call MS to make your reservation your request will probably go like this : "Are there any standard view XXX type rooms available ... No ? ... Well, any Preferred Boardwalk view ... Yes ?!? ... Thanks, I'll take it." Between "standard" and "boardwalk" view requests you will have fully a third of BWV room inventory committed exclusively to BW owners before any requests from owners at other dvc resorts can be met. This amount of inventory that will effectively be restricted solely to owners at that resort exists only at Boardwalk, and no other dvc resort."

lets change the resort name
Let's face it - if you are a OKW owner and you call MS to make your reservation your request will probably go like this : "Are there any( GV's) type rooms available ... No ? ... Well, any (dedicated 2 bedrooms) ... Yes ?!? ... Thanks, I'll take 2 ." Between "GV's" and "dedicated 2-bedrooms" requests you will have fully a third of OKW room inventory committed exclusively to OKW owners before any requests from owners at other dvc resorts can be met. This amount of inventory that will effectively be restricted solely to owners at that resort exists only at (sorry not just at) Boardwalk, at all dvc resorts in some way.
But I guess that's not the same. HuH

 

[johde]

I have been wondering the same thing and came up with the following list of room types that can be reserved. BWV has over twice as many room types as any other resort. This may also explain why N/S and Handicapped are not catigories. If you added both Smoking and handicapped that would be 4 times as many room catigories, a total of 140 catigories.


OKW-5
Studio
1 BR
2 BR Lockoff
2 BR Dedicated
Grand Villa

BWV-16

Standard View
Studio Dedicated
Studio Lockoff
1 BR Dedicated
1 BR Lockoff
2 BR Lockoff

Preferred Pool View
Studio Dedicated
Studio Lockoff
1 BR Dedicated
1 BR Lockoff
2 BR Lockoff

Preferred Boardwalk View
Studio Dedicated
Studio Lockoff
1 BR Dedicated
1 BR Lockoff
2 BR Lockoff
Grandvilla

VWL-6
Studio Dedicated
Studio Lockoff
1 BR Dedicated
1 BR Lockoff
2 BR Dedicated
2 BR Lockoff

BCV-7
Studio Dedicated
Studio Lockoff
1 BR Dedicated
1 BR Lockoff
2 Br Dedicated - 2 Queens
2 Br Dedicated - Queen/Sofa Bed
2 BR Lockoff


Total 35 Room Type

Please feel free to correct me with I missed any or counted one that isn't a room type I am doing this off the top of my head.

Jeremy

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by Doctor P
More room categories mean more work for MS and more complexity to the reservation system. Since this is pretty much strictly a BWV issue, why not charge BWV owners higher management/MS fees to make up for the additional cost being imposed on the other DVC owners?

BWV and VB owners already pay the highest dues and both are the resorts that have guaranteed views, boardwalk or ocean.
Seems to me like any additional cost is already covered and has been for years. Also what happens to non BWV or non VB owners that get on a wait list for an ocean view or boardwalk view? Do they also get charged higher management fees? God forbid that should happen, OKW owners would have cardiac arrest if they had to pay higer dues!!!

 

[married@wdw]

I feel like I need to chime in here. We bought at OKW to get the most nights for our money. We love OKW.

We were very disappointed when this whole BWV view issue came up as we were planning a very special trip (5-year anniversary, wedding reception was at the Boardwalk) for January and with the change were told that it was almost impossible that we would get a Boardwalk View. We didn't really expect the BW view, but a girl can dream, ya know. And being told after we'd used all banked points that what we really wanted wasn't possible, well, we felt misled. We decided to stay at Boardwalk and waitlisted for the BW view. And guess what we got in the mail a few days ago -- our Boardwalk View confirmation letter.

While I did speak to Jackie, my complaint was really in the way the changes were made arbitrarily when MS wanted to make them, with no warning for members. That really didn't seem fair to us.

All of that said, I'm not sure what this fuss is about for future reservations. It is possible to get a boardwalk view or standard view sometimes at 7-months -- and watilists do come through. And I'd rather know up front than be disappointed at check-in or go through what I went through last month. If by chance this change does cause a major disproportionate use of MS by Boardwalk owners, yes, I do think that should be factored into their dues -- or better yet, taken out of DVD profits, as they are the ones who have created the problem in the first place. But I really don't think that will be the case. Imagine the number of people who will call at the 7-month window and will ask about standard view and preferred view at BWV before deciding where to stay. So I think it will all even itself out in the end.

I don't agree that these rooms should always be reserved for BWV owners -- they have 4 months to get them before I can make my reservations and that's how DVC gives owners a preference. And since I can't guarantee my preferential view at my resort, I think that extra 4 month should be looked at as a gift to BWV owners. If these rooms were to get reserved for BWV owners only, then I think GVs and 2-bedroom dedicateds at OKW should be held for OKW members only and VB Ocean view rooms should be held for VB members only. Of course, this would add another terrible layer to the reservation system and since I'm sure this will never happen, it seems that part of the conversation should probably be closed.

DVC should look into how many rooms at BCV really overlook Epcot and more importantly, what types of rooms these are. I don't know the lay of the land there, but if 5% of the resort overlooks Epcot (and I understand some people have said this may be more???), but those rooms are all studios and one-bedrooms, then this might be more viable given that the 11% at BWV contains all 4 room sizes. But I wonder if someone with more knowledge of BCV could shed some light on this? I don't have a problem with this change either -- I'll take my chances with a 7-month window and if I get it, great. If I don't, OKW will always be my first love!

 

[WDWguru]

Originally posted by johde
Please feel free to correct me...

There are no dedicated studios, one bedrooms or two bedrooms at BWV, so the chart for it should be as follows:

BWV-10

Standard View
Studio Lockoff
1 BR Lockoff
2 BR Lockoff

Preferred Water/Garden View
Studio Lockoff
1 BR Lockoff
2 BR Lockoff

Preferred Boardwalk View
Studio Lockoff
1 BR Lockoff
2 BR Lockoff
Grand Villa

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by DeeP
Also what happens to non BWV or non VB owners that get on a wait list for an ocean view or boardwalk view? Do they also get charged higher management fees? God forbid that should happen, OKW owners would have cardiac arrest if they had to pay higer dues!!!

At Vero they do pay higher management fees. The ocean view rooms are more points, thus more fees per night.

 

[married@wdw]

Originally posted by DeeP
God forbid that should happen, OKW owners would have cardiac arrest if they had to pay higer dues!!!

Not a very nice thing to say! Up to this point I think people on this thread have tried not to be judgemental of owners at other DVCs. As an OKW owner I can tell you I bought into OKW to get the GVs and lower point stays. We bought when points were available from knocking down the sales office (Commodore House???) at OKW and the only other option we had was VB, but weren't interested. BWV was sold out and having access to more GVs was more important to us anyway. Many owners, including my in-laws bought before there was an inkling that there would even be another DVC. So I think many OKW owners will agree with me that the cost of dues was really not a big part of the decision to buy there.

So please don't judge us all by what just a few would say, and we will try to lend you the same respect.

 

[CRobin]

Originally posted by WDWguru
There are no dedicated studios, one bedrooms or two bedrooms at BWV, so the chart for it should be as follows:

Actually, I can personally attest to the dedicated studios (maybe this is what they call a "studio plus ?")

Room 3061 at BWV is a studio over Wyland Gallery and not connected to anything except the big balcony and the hallway.

 

[DeeP]

married@wdw,
I am very glad the bw view came through for you. I remember reading quite a few of your posts regarding your disappointment over the new bw view booking policy.
Just to clarify my statement regarding OKW members and paying higher dues. Many times over the years whenever adding something to OKW like a more enhanced pool, life guards, pool slide, etc, whenever these topics are discussed they are always met by a resounding No by OKW members and many times it is because they do no want their dues to go up. It has been voiced many times that OKW members do not want their dues to go up. Makes no sense to me because any enhancements make a resort better but since I do not own at OKW , it is really immaterial to me.

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by DeeP
Many times over the years whenever adding something to OKW like a more enhanced pool, life guards, pool slide, etc, whenever these topics are discussed they are always met by a resounding No by OKW members and many times it is because they do no want their dues to go up. It has been voiced many times that OKW members do not want their dues to go up.

It's been voiced by <i>non-OKW owners</i> (you, mostly), but I don't recall a single OKW owner that said they were against changes because they were worried about dues. I suspect that you find it hard to believe that anyone could like OKW just the way it is, and are projecting your feelings. But we do like it, it's why we bought there, and it's why the survey and the polls on this site showed that OKW owner were 60% against any changes.

Makes no sense to me because any enhancements make a resort better but since I do not own at OKW , it is really immaterial to me.

Then don't bring it up!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DeeP
Don't quite understand how this came into this discussion??? I have not read any posts on this thread where anyone was displaying this "mentality".

Must disagree. This thread is rampant with those that have the attitude if BWV owners get something, other owners should too. I don't tolerated that behavior from my children and have even less tolerance for it in adults.

To those discussing the dues, The amount paid is not the relavent part. All owners pay a proportional amount of dues that cover MS. I don't know if it's exactly the same per owner or adjusted based on usage but I do know that VB extra dues go to the things inherently higher at VB, etc.

Actually there have been many discussions where OKW owners said they didn't want things that would raise dues. Whether it be a slide, lifeguards or any one of several other topics. That's OK, any change sould be a risk vs reward evaluation.

We were very disappointed when this whole BWV view issue came up as we were planning a very special trip (5-year anniversary, wedding reception was at the Boardwalk) for January and with the change were told that it was almost impossible that we would get a Boardwalk View. We didn't really expect the BW view, but a girl can dream, ya know. And being told after we'd used all banked points that what we really wanted wasn't possible, well, we felt misled. We decided to stay at Boardwalk and waitlisted for the BW view. And guess what we got in the mail a few days ago -- our Boardwalk View confirmation letter.

You didn't lose anything except the dream. Your chances of getting a BWV are the same or higher than under the old system, very slim. The problem isn't the BW view, it's the first come, first served issue.

 

[married@wdw]

Originally posted by Dean
You didn't lose anything except the dream. Your chances of getting a BWV are the same or higher than under the old system, very slim. The problem isn't the BW view, it's the first come, first served issue.

Did you read my whole post? I'm not sure if you're criticizing me with this or not, but I thought that was exactly my point. With the old system at BWV -- i.e. first come, first served -- I most likely wouldn't have gotten Boardwalk View. And with the old system, I would have ended up dreaming until January, then most likely disappointed at check-in. This way, I got my BW view and I can dream about the Boardwalk view and know I'll be happy when I check-in. And I prefer it this way.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Dean
This thread is rampant with those that have the attitude if BWV owners get something, other owners should too. I don't tolerated that behavior from my children and have even less tolerance for it in adults.

I think we were just scolded...

 

[llp479]

Are you all this demanding when staying at other hotels/resorts, or do you think because "own" here, you should have a choice? My parents own at 3 Marriott Vacation Clubs. They have never requested a room, or a particular view. Nor have my sister and her family at the Marriott they own.

I'm also confused on the "fist come, first serve." When we stayed at OKW in January, I was told our "assinged room" was not ready. When we checked in last month at OKW we were told the room we had "been assinged as requested near Turtle Pond" was not ready. Didn't expect it to be, it was 9AM. However, we were offered a room that was ready in South Point. Since it was ready, we took that. Our request was very generic, non-smoking near Turtle Pond, didn't specify a building, floor, dedicated 2 bdrm, or anything else. Had it not been granted, I wouldn't have been upset.


When we stay at BWV we book the standard view at 11 months. Our only request is for a non-smoking room. No request for floor, near the elevator or anything else.

As for the boardwalk view, I think DVC created this mess by having "standard" view rooms. As I previously stated, I don't think many of the "preferred" view rooms are all that great in terms of the view. But as someone else stated, I'm not in my room often enough to notice anyway. Maybe the points should have been structured that the BW view was a premium, and all other views were the same. With the DVC properties that followed, they didn't offer a "preffered view". Maybe they learned their lesson at BWV?

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by married@wdw
Did you read my whole post? I'm not sure if you're criticizing me with this or not, but I thought that was exactly my point. With the old system at BWV -- i.e. first come, first served -- I most likely wouldn't have gotten Boardwalk View. And with the old system, I would have ended up dreaming until January, then most likely disappointed at check-in. This way, I got my BW view and I can dream about the Boardwalk view and know I'll be happy when I check-in. And I prefer it this way.

Not at all, just emphasizing that this policy doesn't hurt non BWV members at all and may help them. Glad you got the BW view.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
I think we were just scolded...

Maybe, maybe not, but only if the shoe fits. LOL.

 

[Dean]

Are you all this demanding when staying at other hotels/resorts, or do you think because "own" here, you should have a choice? My parents own at 3 Marriott Vacation Clubs. They have never requested a room, or a particular view. Nor have my sister and her family at the Marriott they own.

I can tell you that most Marriott owner's are very demanding as well. I have a friend who is the GM at one of the HH Marriott timeshares. When I ran my request by him for this past summer, he said that was easy. He said most people request a certain room or a specific building, floor and location like end unit. We had 3 units, two we own and the other an exchange. One was an Oceanfront unit and the other two ocean side. Our requests were as close together as possible and definitely in the same building. I thought this might be difficult as there are only two of ten buildings (five floors each) where they have both OF and OS units and there are three start days. He still said our were easy and he wished everyone would be a general as that. We got two on the 3rd floor and one on the first, that was fine though we would have loved for all to be fifth floor.

 

[Zurg]

Originally posted by Dean
Maybe, maybe not, but only if the shoe fits. LOL.

Hey careful what you say about shoes!

 

[madcoco]

Hey careful what you say about shoes!

LOL

What are the chances of them instituting this policy at VB since you can no longer request OV in the villas? Well you can just book a Beach Cottage and be guaranteed a view.

 

[married@wdw]

Originally posted by madcoco
What are the chances of them instituting this policy at VB since you can no longer request OV in the villas? Well you can just book a Beach Cottage and be guaranteed a view.

Interesting. Couldn't that be said for BWV, too? Aren't all the GVs Boardwalk view?