Looking for advice and comments

[Den&Deb]

We are not DVC members (yet). Still can't keep the hand from shaking to write that check. Actually the buy-in doesn't scare us as much as the yearly fee (seems pricey). FYI, we looked at BWV in 2000 and points were $65 each - now resales of BWV are $75 to $80. That makes us kick ourselves.

Two big concerns that we would like comments/advice on.

1. Why can't non-smoking be guaranteed? You have X number of non-smoking units. Either they are or are not taken when reservations are made. Not rocket science. What are we missing? A week in a smoking unit would not be a pleasant vacation for us. Any comments of how easy it is to get a non-smoking unit?

2. How difficult is the 7 month window for booking? With work schedules there is almost no way we would be able to book at 11 months.

Look forward to some expertise on your part.

Thanks

 

[DisnutDave@work]

Hi, and welcome to the DIS and (maybe) DVC!

On the smoking question, I think the answer lies in how reservations (or ressies as they're called here) are made. When you make them, you are not reserving a specific room. Room assignment happens when you check in, and at that time they try to meet your requests (view, location, smoking, etc.). I see your point though, while questions about location can be subjective, they physically have a certain number of non-smoking rooms, so you'd think that should be something they could guarantee. But they don't. I will add, though, that we've not yet had any trouble getting a NS room.

The 7 month window should not be a problem, as long as you can be flexible about where you will be staying. You may not be at your home resort, but usually something will be available.

I'm sure others more knowledgeable than I am will weigh in as well. Good luck with your decision!

 

[tjkraz]

1. Why can't non-smoking be guaranteed? You have X number of non-smoking units. Either they are or are not taken when reservations are made. Not rocket science. What are we missing? A week in a smoking unit would not be a pleasant vacation for us. Any comments of how easy it is to get a non-smoking unit?

Why can't it be guaranteed? Simply because Disney chooses not to guarantee it. It's never been guaranteed at ANY Disney resorts--DVC or non-DVC. The main difference is that Disney resorts are rarely at 100% occupancy so they usually have some wiggle room.

I also think that it may be much ado about nothing. Read this recent thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=755209

Last time I perused it there was something like a 1-2% occurrence of someone requesting non-smoking and getting a smoking room.

2. How difficult is the 7 month window for booking? With work schedules there is almost no way we would be able to book at 11 months.

You would rarely (if ever) have problems getting SOME room at 7 months. Depending on the time of year and the room size you are looking for, your options will vary. Because they are the largest resorts, OKW and SSR are often the last to fill. The BWV Preferred View category also seems pretty easy to book most times of the year.

 

[drusba]

1. Don't know why as they never explain. However, in the almost 9 years we have owned at BWV, we have never been given a smoking room when reserving with a non-smoking preference.

2. Depends. Grand Villas tend to go fast at 11 months out. Also, as to most of the year, it can be difficult to get the lower point cost "standard" view at BWV, which makes up only 25% of the resort, at 7 months or less out. High demand DVC times, particularly Easter, Christmas, Presidents Week, and first two weeks in December (likely DVC's highest demand time of the year), can be difficult for even preferred view. Studios tend to fill quicker than 1BR, and 2BR generally fill last. We usually get a 2BR at BWV and have never had a problem getting a preferred view when we reserved at 4 to 6 months out but those reservations were for times in summer (a low DVC demand time) and first and last week of January.

 

[jarestel]

That's the million dollar question as to why they don't. They could, just choose not to. However in approximately 20 DVC stays, we've received a smoking room only once. It can and does happen, but not with astonishing frequency. We kept the balcony door open all day and night and blasted the AC to try and air out the room, but it didn't help all that much. They did move us to a N/S room the next day, so we only had the smoking room for one night. Still wasn't good though, but they do try and accomodate you whenever possible.

Also, booking at 7 months isn't bad if you're flexible on dates and resorts.

 

[JimMIA]

On the smoking issue, there are two kinds of requests. One is if you simply don't like a smoking room (my case). They will try to fulfill those, and if you read the thread that tjkraz gave you, you'll find that those requests are granted most of the time - like 98% of the time.

If, however, you have a medical reason for wanting non-smoking (asthma, allergy, etc.), that is a different matter. You can make the request as medical necessity and you will go ahead of folks like me, for whom it is only a preference.

 

[jarestel]

If, however, you have a medical reason for wanting non-smoking (asthma, allergy, etc.), that is a different matter. You can make the request as medical necessity and you will go ahead of folks like me, for whom it is only a preference.

Though based on the findings that cigarettes leave all kinds of nasty carcinogenic things behind, I don't know why anybody couldn't request N/S due to medical reasons, ie not wanting to expose self or family to known cancer causing agents.

 

[darner]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tjkraz
because Disney chooses not to guarantee it. It's never been guaranteed at ANY Disney resorts--DVC or non-DVC. The main difference is that Disney resorts are rarely at 100% occupancy so they usually have some wiggle room.​

Make that WDW/FL resorts... Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel is 100% non-smoking... or at least that's how they're advertising it in their reservation confirmation. But that's probably more because of Calif. laws.

--
And on your kicking yourself for delaying... we delayed too, but once we bought in, it's been great! Your worries on 7 mo. booking will depend on many factors -- time of year you're going, accomodation requests, resort request, etc. We've made requests at less than 7 mo. from departure and got what we wanted... But we've also had other times when we've been on a wait list... just with most travel, the earlier you know dates, the more likely the chance of availability... if you plan on vacationing at WDW every other year or so for the next 10 years even... you'll likely break even on your purchase. Good Luck!