Just back from OKW, West Coast Jinxed again!

[JoEllen]

We just got back Friday from 10 great days in a 1 BDRM at OKW. We had called for our reservations 7 months out (BW is our home resort) and requested 3 buildings for our choice locations. We always arrive around 6 pm due to the long WC flight from Seattle. Even though the resort was only at 70% capacity, our request was not met and we settled on another building. Not a hugh deal and we were happy with building 64!

However, we had a chance during our stay to ask the HH manager what tips he might have for improving our chances of getting our request on our next stay. He mentioned that OKW had just completed a survey to their members and that all DVC resorts will be involved. One of the survey questions was would you rather have earlier check-in or get you choices met for requested bldg location. The result was overwhelmingly to get the location request met.

For our dilema from a West Coast perspective and late arrival (plus calling 7 months out), he suggested asking for a studio the first night and changing to a 1 bdrm the next day. This was so simple, I couldn't believe we hadn't thought of it! Especially, since we always arrive late.

Hope this info is helpful for fellow left coasters if location is a priority for you.

 

[CarolMN]

The information about the survey results was interesting, but not surprising. Wonder if the results will change OKW's current practice of assigning most rooms based on time of arrival (rather than pre-assigning most, if not all rooms ahead of time)? If so, the CMs idea of getting a studio the first night shouldn't make any difference to getting your room requests.

 

[DebbieB]

There aren't as many 1 bedrooms as 2 bedrooms, most buildings only have 4 according to Doc's survey, so it's hard to meet a request for certain buildings.

We arrived around 6:00pm on Friday May 9 and I was concerned about our requests. I had faxed the room controller the Monday before and just confirmed our requests - non-smoking, first floor (not handicapped), water view, Turtle Pond Road. I mentioned we would not be arriving until 6:00pm and asked if a room could be held for us. When checking in, I asked if our room was pre-assigned and the cm said yes and it met all our requests - building 43 (room 4311). I'm not sure what the capacity situation was that day.

 

[Halle]

We have been extremely fortunate and always have had our requests met except the one year that we arrived at 12:30AM. The location was very disappointing, a view of the woods and the road behind it. I do think that we were given a room that no one wanted because I ahad booked at the 11 month window.

 

[Minybear]

We also come from the West Coast. Our first visit to BCV we got in around 6pm and we got all of our requests. For this coming trip we are flying in the night prior and staying at the Hyatt at the airport and then coming in early that morning to BWV's. Of course we have not given any requests for the BWV due to I don't know of any for standard view rooms .

 

[DebbieB]

For standard view at BWV, I would request top floor across from the bus stop. You'll get a great view of the high fireworks from Illuminations. That's assuming the renovations are complete (they should be by November), when we stopped by 2 weeks ago almost all of the standard views were closed, except for the ones at the end by the tennis courts.

 

[Minybear]

Thanks DebbieB. I will email MS with your suggestion for room location .