Just back from OKW ....

[RoutemanDan]

...and all I can say is WOW!What a beautiful resort.The room (studio) was excellent! We were in Building 25,room 2515,with a fantastic view of the golf course and waterway.Ducks ,rabbits and assorted birds of flight greeted us every morning.Olivia's was better than I expected after reading numerous reports that weren't too favoring.It was so laid back,I have never been that relaxed at WDW.We rented a canopy boat and made our way to DTD,truly a magical ride. One strange thing though,not a big deal but odd.On our 4th day we were treated to full housekeeping and on our 8th day just a trash and towel. I found that odd,but didn't care.We brought a few of our own bath towels with us just in case as well as beach towels for the pool.We visited VWL and really loved them as well.Heres where it gets interesting.Being on these boards now for a while and being a Vero owner,Rich's words of buying where you plan to stay the most have been drilled into my head
So we visited our guide,but he was on the cruise so we were given another.We talked of an add on using MB but since our use year is June we weren't able tK no big deal,it would have been nice,but we already decided we wanted an add on.As we were talking our guide has an idea and wants to run it by his manager.Here it is..I had borrowed 127 points for this trip,by buying 127 VWL points,they put back the 127 borrowed Vero points into my account and used the 127 points I purchased at VWL yesterday for the trip I had just completed.So now next month I will have all of my vero points and the 127 VWL points I just purchased.So in a way I just had a free vacation. So we are now proud owners of 200 VB points and 127 VWL points giving us the 11 month window at WDW.But,the best part is ,I have more points to use at OKW at the 7 month window for as long as this trend of being able to book there with relative ease lasts.

 

[PamOKW]

I am sooo happy to hear you enjoyed OKW! And congratulations on the add-on as well. DVC is addicting. (Just wait until you "try" a one-bedroom....you'll be heading back for more add-ons.)

The full cleaning on the 4th day is the way they do it for stays of more than 7 nights. They switched to that a few years ago since it didn't make sense for folks staying 8 nights or so to get the T&T mid-trip and then a full cleaning a day or so before they check-out and then for housekeeping to have to do another full cleaning upon the check-out. I think it's to our benefit but I can see where you'd be surprised if you weren't expecting it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have to agree with Pam!

We stayed in a studio when we purchased. Stayed in a 1 Bedroom and GV after that. When we took a trip with just the 2 of us in a studio again, we hated it!! We decided we would never again do anything smaller than a 1 BR! Then we had to do an add on! So glad you loved your new home away from home as much as we do. Was the old heron still living near the water way to DD?

 

[AMI]

WE ASKED FOR YOUR ADVICE REGARDING THE BEACH CLUB, ETC. THE OTHER DAY - THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE. WE ARE NOW THINKING WE WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST BUY A MINIMUM NUMBER OF POINTS AT EITHER OKW OR BW. WE HAVE RULED OUT VWL SO ARE LOOKING AT THE RESALE MARKET. WE WERE THINKING OF TRYING TO FIND A MIN. NUMBER OF POINTS NOW THEN BUY AN ADD ON AT BEACH CLUB WHEN IT OPENS. NOW WE ARE QUESTIONING WHETHER THIS IS A GOOD IDEA, AFTER ALL, THEN WE COULD ONLY BOOK HALF OF A TRIP 11 MONTHS IN ADVANCE, ETC. ARE WE BETTER OFF BUYING ABOUT 200 OR SO POINTS NOW AND THEN HOPING WE CAN GET IN AT THE BEACH CLUB SOMETIMES? I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE SO HUNG UP ON THE BEACH CLUB (WE DO LOVE THE EXISTING BEACH CLUB). WE'VE HEARD THE PROS AND CONS OF OKW VS. BW BUT WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE AT ALL. WE'VE NEVER STAYED AT THE BOARDWALK AND MY HUSBAND ONLY VIEWED THE OKW LAST WEEK. IS HALF HERE AND HALF THERE NOT SUCH A GOOD IDEA FOR BOOKING RESERVATIONS?

 

[KathyR]

Sounds like you had a great trip Dan!!! Congrats on the add on

AMI-
I have 2 scenarios to offer:

1.
I would go ahead and get a 150 point contract at either OKW or BWV, and then get another 150 point contract at BCV when it is available. This way you could stay every other year at either resort using the 11 month window by either banking or borrowing. You would have 300 points at OKW or BWV to use in say 2002 and 300 points at BCV to use in 2003. Then 300 points at OKW or BWV in 2004 and 300 BCV points in 2005 etc. etc. etc. So, you would be able to flip flop between the 2 resorts!!! I think it would be perfect. You would have the 11 month window at 2 resorts! I would choose OKW only because BWV is right by BCV, so that way you would get a totally dif resort and location every other year.

2.
If you are only wanting a total of 200 points then this would not be as ideal as you would have a 150 contract at OKW or BWV and only a 50 at BCV which would give you the 11 month booking at OKW or BWV for 150 of your total points and the 11 month advantage at BCV for only 50 points. This would not be as much fun (IMO). If 200 is the total points you want, then, I would just wait it out and buy all of them at BCV. Since the BCV are what you really want, then that is where you should buy Don't worry, it wont be long before they are up for sale and we will all be welcoming you home

I hope I helped a little!

 

[BobBrazeal]

Dan,

Definitely some Disney magic in the air during your visit! I think it is great that it worked out as it did.

I bought an OKW resale (260 points) back in Mar after a trip in Jan. I visited all the DVC resorts there and just felt that I wanted my home to be OKW. Even so, I loved VWL.

My first trip "home" isn't until Sept. but I just couldn't resist the lure of VWL. I just signed all the papers for a 70 point add-on and should close on the 16th. So we are neighbors there!!

I'm glad to hear such a good report from OKW. Maybe one of these days we'll be there at the same time.

Bob