New Year's Eve at BWV

[Ashley24]

Hi! I am just learning about the DVC but am interested in possibly renting a one bedroom suite at the Boardwalk for December 28th through January 1st for next year (2003-04). We will be just returning from the Disney Cruise and would love to cap off the vacation going to the parks and celebrating New Year's in Orlando. Can anyone tell me how many points this would be? Everytime I go to the points calculator, it shows up blank. Not sure if it's just me or it's not working for everyone. What would be my best bet for renting points? Should I wait until it's much closer to the actual dates that I want or is it better to take care of the arrangements as early as possible? Also, what special activities does Disney have for New Years? Does the BW do anything special, in particular? Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Ann

 

[bres@westernMA]

Hi Ann
I don’t know about the points but the last time we were at WDW for New Years (it was a few years ago), there was a party at Atlantic Dance and Pleasure Island (both were costly but great (my kids were there)). The parks were open well into the New Year. We went out to dinner, then stayed in our room watched some fire works and a video. Should you decide to go, get PS as soon as possible, we could not get our first choice restaurant and ended up eating dinner at about 6:00PM.

 

[Caskbill]

Hi Ann

I'm not clear on your dates. If you're staying 5-nights, checking out on Jan 2nd, it's 144 points for a 1-B/R at BWV. If you're staying 4 nights, checking out on the 1st, then it's 128 points. these are for a <b>Standard</b> view room. For a <b>preferred</b> view room the rates would be 160 points or 182 points respectively.

Note that the first 4-nights are the highest priced nights all being in Premier season, while Jan 1st is the first night in Adventure season, and a much lower rate.

As to ressies, I wouldn't wait. It may already be too late to get those dates there. New Years is a very popular time at Disney. I would think at this date it'd be impossible to get a Standard view room, and most likely even the preferred view rooms are already gone.

You need to get ahold of a potential member who would supply points and have them check with member services right away to see if anything is available.

<i> Post edited 5/27 9:38pm

PamOKW is correct in her following post. I did calculate for 2002/2003 New Year's instead of the 2003/2004 time frame. Points above have been edited to the correct numbers.

Thanks Pam for pointing out this error. It was not my intent to give incorrect information.

Also, the other information changes as the weekend dates moved so ignore everything else after the 1st paragraph which has been corrected. Caskbill </i>

 

[PamOKW]

Ashley, you'll have to get out a calendar to check the days of the week but, at that time of year, Sunday-Thursday nights would be 40 points (each night) for Preferred View and 32 points for Standard View. Friday and Saturday nights would run 75 points for either view. If you stay the night of January 1, and it's Sun-Thurs, that would run 22 or 16 points (by view). If it's a Friday or Saturday, it would be 45/41.

 

[PamOKW]

I think Caskbill's numbers may be a little off. I think he checked for this coming NYE and you indicate next year.

I looked at the calendar....December 28 is a Sunday.

Checking in on December 28 and out on January 1 would run 160 points Preferred View and 128 points Standard View. If you add January 1, that's either another 22 or 16 points.

I would try to line someone up to the make the ressie for you as soon it is possible -- January 29, 2003 would be the day they could begin booking this ressie day by day.

 

[Ashley24]

Pam,
You are right. I am looking at the following year. I would plan on departing on January 1st, 2004. Am I right in thinking that each point is usually rented for about 10.00? So if I was interested in the preferred view, it would cost me 1,600 altogether or 400 a night? Just curious, how much would this same room cost without using points? Also, what is the standard view a view of? I'm assuming the preferred view is of the water? Also, do I go to the DIS board for renting points to find someone to make the ressies for me? Thanks for your help!
Ann
Last question (for now): Is the BWV one of the most expensive of the available resorts to use points with?

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Ashley24
Pam,
You are right. I am looking at the following year. I would plan on departing on January 1st, 2004. Am I right in thinking that each point is usually rented for about 10.00? So if I was interested in the preferred view, it would cost me 1,600 altogether or 400 a night? Just curious, how much would this same room cost without using points? Also, what is the standard view a view of? I'm assuming the preferred view is of the water? Also, do I go to the DIS board for renting points to find someone to make the ressies for me? Thanks for your help!
Ann
Last question (for now): Is the BWV one of the most expensive of the available resorts to use points with?

I'm not Pam, but I will take a crack at answering your questions:

1. The average "going rate" for points is $10. However, to get the very popular NYE time frame at BWV, you will have to get a member to make a ressie 11 months in advance. It is more than likely that you will end up paying $12 -$13 per point to be sure of getting the ressie. (JMHO). Note that you do not pay the 11% room tax when you rent points.

2. Here is a link to the 2002 rack rates for BWV:

http://dvc.disney.go.com/disneyvacationclub/resorts/ratesindex?id=BoardwalkRoomRateGrp

Rates will probably be higher for 2003, but I do not know how much higher. As far as I know there have never been discounts for arrivals between Christmas and New Year's Day.

3. Standard views are those that overlook the BWV/BWI Hotel entrance and the driveway leading up to the entrance. There is lots of nice landscaping and some of these rooms also have a view of the higher level fireworks from EPCOT. Preferred views are everything else and include the Boardwalk, Luna Pool, the quiet pool and the canal/Swan/Dolphin Hotels.

4. Hop over to the Rent/Trade Forum to find a DVC Member willing to rent points/make a ressie for you. Definitely start looking 12 -14 months ahead of time. You will need a BWV owner to call at the 11 month booking window to ensure you get your ressie.

5. OKW has the lowest point requirments. BWV standard view is next - it's almost the same as OKW. The point requirements for BWV preferred view, as well as all of the rooms at VWL & BCV are the same, and are higher than OKW & BWV Standard view.

Finally, good luck. NYE at BW is very special. You will have a great time!

 

[Lisa F]

I would not count on getting a standard view unless you find someone to rent who is very dedicated. This year the standard views at the BWV for NYE sold out in under 10 minutes, causing bunches of people to have to switch their entire reservation to preferred view. Had I known that was going to happen I would've taken preferred view just to save myself the heartache (though luckily we got our standard)

Lisa

 

[Ashley24]

Why does everyone want the standard view? Is it just because it is cheaper or is the view better for fireworks?
Ann

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Ashley24
Why does everyone want the standard view? Is it just because it is cheaper or is the view better for fireworks?
Ann

Mainly because the standard views require less points. Not all the standard view rooms give you a view of the fireworks, so if you get one of those it's a very nice bonus. JMHO.

Among the various preferred views, only the Boardwalk views give you a view of the EPCOT fireworks. Again IMHO, the best view of the EPCOT fireworks (outside of standing around the World Showcase lagoon, of course) is from one of the rooms overlooking the Boardwalk (preferred view rooms). Even there, you can only see the higher level fireworks. HTH.

 

[chris1gill]

Thanks LisaF for the info on the standard view for NYE... I have no trouble dialing in at 8:57 & hitting redial several times if that's what it takes to reserve the standard view during that timeframe. How was the standard view to book the few days before NYE? Was it a little more than 10 minutes?

I'm asking, because we are planning on going for NYE next year.

 

[PamOKW]

Mousesavers has the 2003 rates. They list BWV for Holiday at $570 per night ($10 per night increase). With tax, that's $632.70. As Carol said, discounts are unusual during Christmas Week. Last year was the first in memory. You can see what happens this year for comparison. So, if you can get someone to rent points for $10 you'll see quite a savings.

 

[Lisa F]

Originally posted by chris1gill
Thanks LisaF for the info on the standard view for NYE... I have no trouble dialing in at 8:57 & hitting redial several times if that's what it takes to reserve the standard view during that timeframe. How was the standard view to book the few days before NYE? Was it a little more than 10 minutes?

I'm asking, because we are planning on going for NYE next year.

We didn't have any trouble booking any of the other nights when we just called in a little after 9 BUT by the time we called in more than half the standard studios were gone. I would definately call first thing in the morning for the days before NYE start dialing and keep trying to get in first thing in the morning for NYE itself. I think NYE sold out faster because people more local might like a place to crash just walking distance from the festivities at Epcot and MGM just for the night.

After we got our reservation I checked the boards and there was a whole thread about people who had missed out getting their standard reservations. I was surprised, but after I read it, I felt lucky. Good luck getting your reservations... if you haven't stayed at BWV over NYE yet, there is NOTHING like being able to walk back to your room while the masses are dealing with transportation issues (buses, cars, you name it, it's one big traffic jam.)

Lisa

 

[Caskbill]

Whoops, I'm embarrassed..

As PamOKW pointed out, I incorrectly calculated points based on this next NYE's, and not for 2003/2004.

I have edited my original post to correct to the numbers.

 

[Ashley24]

Like I said earlier, I am just learning about the DVC. I am curious, if people who rent their points usually charge an average of $10 a point, how much do these points cost the owners approximately. I am figuring out how much it would cost me as a renter to stay during NYE but curious as well what the rates would be for a member. Thanks for any help!
Ann

 

[PamOKW]

There are so many factors that enter into what the points "cost" individual members. It depends what price they paid initially, what they paid in financing costs, etc., etc. At $80 per point, a member would pay $12,800 initially for those points. Yearly dues are different at every resort as well. At BWV, this year a member would pay $3.92 per point. It's hard to calculate the per year breakout of the point cost. You can figure in lost interest on the money, etc., etc. But, even if you do the roughest calculation and assume the person paid cash for the points, divided by 40 years they are still paying at least $2 per point. So, it's "costing" at least $6 per point.

The amount charged to renters is really what the market will bear and how desperate the person is to rent the points for cash versus using them for a different trip or making a deal with family members.