OK, if you can manage to do this just once in your life...rent an OKW GV!

[SleepyatDVC]

I agree the OKW GV's are great. My dd had a blast when we had her 5th birthday party in the GV. It is perfect for a large (family) gathering. The kids loved having anyone together. It is certainly beautful and spacious.

That being said, the BEST part of the trip was when the rest of the family went home and our family of 4, down-sized to a one bedroom. Ahhhh, peace and relaxation, it was great being "home."

I doubt a WDW GV will be in our future anytime soon. DH and I have decided never to travel/vacation with his family again (sad for the kids) and my family either will fit in a 2 bedroom (just my parents) or they have their own DVC points (aunt).

However, the Vero Beach GV sounds really tempting even if it is just with my parents.

 

[AZKathy]

We loved our stay in the GV this past summer. It was incredible. We, also, had 12 in our party and were very comfortable with the accomodations. We loved it so much, we are getting another one for our trip over Thanksgiving. Our group is much larger, now, so we have a GV and two studios for our group of 15. Can't wait!

 

[DisneyKraZy]

We are staying at the OKW GV in just 31 short days!! We can't wait!! We have invited my sister and her family and our best friends and their daughter. All together we will have 12 and we are soooo ready to get there! In fact, next week we are having our first 'disney planning party'.

As far as the timeframe of getting a GV, we booked out at 7 months out with no problem. We waitlisted each day individually at first and within a week, we had all days booked

 

[lovwdwalot]

Are There any photos of a grand villa?

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by lovwdwalot
Are There any photos of a grand villa?

Here is a link with GV pictures below.

http://allearsnet.com/acc/g_okw.htm

 

[TDC Nala]

sounds cool... but I still think they're a little big for just me.

 

[eileenfk]

I plan on renting a few grand villas for my 80th Birthday party.
That will be just a few years before the plan expires.

- Eileen

 

[Merilyn]

We never stay anywhere else but in a GV at OKW. They are the greatest. We even added on at VB so we could do the cottage trip there. Leaving in a week for both places. Can't wait!!!!Everyone should someday at least visit a GV and see what we are talking about.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Merilyn
We never stay anywhere else but in a GV at OKW.

Merilyn
Are you related to Richyams?

 

[Richyams]

We never stay anywhere else but in a GV at OKW.

The only thing that has turned my head is concierge at AKL. We will prabably do that a few more times, especially for a short stay or maybe before the gang arrives and we move to the OKW GV.

The OKW GV really defines "Home Away From Home"

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Originally posted by lovwdwalot
Are There any photos of a grand villa?

LOL...thinking of this board, I thought to take pictures and post them, but when the thought accord to me, it was in the morning, when the beds were messed up, bath towels all over the place, ect. I did not feel like "neatening up" to get pictures of the unit.

 

[robinb]

We booked an OKW GV for last NYE with our friends. We had 4 adults and 3 kids and it was great! The GV is bigger than either one of our houses . We'll be downsizing for our next two trips ... a studio at VWL in August and a Boardwalk View studio at BWV for next NYE. After blowing 388 points on 6 days we need to economize a little . Luckily, DVC is flexible enough to allow us to splurge one year and cut back the next.

 

[parrotheadlois]

We would love to rent an OKW GV for 5 nights in July 2005, but we'd have to do it at the 7 month window - what are our chances of being successful?? We don't have a lot of points would have to bank and borrow, so would definitely want to do a Sunday-Thursday night stay, but would be open as to which week. What do you think?

 

[Roo'sMom]

Hi,

We tried for a GV at OKW at the 7 month window too (for Nov 04).
I was worried too, and had to waitlist for all of our days (we did it day by day). Most of the days came through quickly! We had to wait a bit for one of the days (right in the middle of our week!) but that came through too!
I don't know how July is compared to Nov, but it IS possible to get the GV at the 7 month mark! Be willing to waitlist, and keep the faith!

 

[BWVDee]

The only thing that has turned my head is concierge at AKL. We will prabably do that a few more times, especially for a short stay or maybe before the gang arrives and we move to the OKW GV.

Have you ever stayed in concierge accommondations at any of the other WDW resorts? Most of them are all pretty darn nice. AKL conceirge does offer accesss to the Sunrise Safari, but that is at an additional fee, of course.

The OKW GV really defines "Home Away From Home"

I totally agree. And the BWV GV really defines "Luxury Vacation Accommondations" to the max.

 

[Towncrier]

We booked a GV at OKW several years ago, possible before I started posting on the DIS. Good thing too, because with all the horror stories of how difficult (or impossible) it is to reserve a GV, I might not have tried. I'm certain that I booked it inside the 7 month window, even though OKW is our home resort. We had one of the two handicapped accessible GVs since we took my sister (who uses a wheelchair) and her family. We had zero trouble getting all five days without having to resort to the waitlist.

After staying in a GV, our "real" home seemed inadequate. We spent the next year looking into moving into a larger home or even building a home that mirrored the GV. Thankfully (for my wallet) we came to our senses and stayed put. We did buy a resale to bolster our points so that, in the future, we could reserve a GV again.

 

[MiaSRN62]

ANY DVC GV is luxury in my book

 

[dianeschlicht]

WE get to go back to another GV in October.

 

[SamRoc]

We just stayed in a grand villa at OKW during Easter week in April. I booked it in Feb. and couldn't believe we actually got it. The grand villa was beautiful and very spacious for our family. I can't wait to someday see the GV's on one floor at Boardwalk Villas, they must be huge!

 

[Merilyn]

We have stayed in a GV at OKW, BWV and the cottages at VB. We love them all and can't wait to get there on Sat. The GV is the best and at OKW they are sooooo big! Hope you can all stay in one sometime.