OKW attractive home resort due to lower points

[bgsnmky]

I currently own at SSR 225 points. Bought back in 2005 and just used some points for the 2007 member cruise.

As I am learning more about the points and Home resorts, I am curious why Old Key West would not be more attractive to people due to the number of points required to stay vs the other resorts. It would seem it would make the points more valueable.

For example in 2010 I want to get a 3 bedroom villa for a 50th annivesary celebration for my parents. OKW is over 150 points chepaer than my home resort.

I do understand that OKW contracts end 15 years earlier so I am trying to figure out how to analyze if if the long run OKW is better or not better as far as points.

I was curious if anyone has already done this??

I like OKW - I have stayed there 4 times on other timeshare trade ins. (which is getting harder and harder to get). The rooms are also bigger than the other resorts.

I would love to hear any feedback.

 

[Charlesaway]

I do understand that OKW contracts end 15 years earlier so I am trying to figure out how to analyze if if the long run OKW is better or not better as far as points.

Don't forget that with the recent assessment, there will be OKW packages that do go until 2057. I imagine any bought through Disney starting this spring will include the additional years.

We were definitely amazed by the point difference, especially on those grand villas. A sunday through thursday stay in adventure season is around 335 at SSR; only 180!! at OKW.

 

[rigsby25]

That is exactly why we bought OKW. At the time, the maintenance fees were lower also. Not only are they less points to rent, but 1BR and above are much, much roomier. You may argue square feet, but due to layout, etc., I was shocked when I walked into an SSR 1BR. It seemed to be half the size of the OKW 1BR. We have never been lucky enough to get an OKW GV. 3 days before our family reunion, due to a mistake, our GV was double booked and they moved us to SSR. This year I reserved 3 of the 5 days, and by the time I could reserve the rest (7 month window with AKV points), the other 2 days were gone, so we switched to a 2BR.

 

[jekjones1558]

We bought an OKW contract specifically for the 11 month advantage in booking a GV. We have often been able to stay at OKW with BWV points at 7 months when we only need a 1 or 2 bedroom. We agree that the size difference in the units is a real advantage to OKW, as well as the ability to park right outside your unit.

 

[DVC Mike]

OKW, like every DVC resort, has things that some people like and things that they don't.

OKW Advantages (my personal opinion)

• Offers the largest rooms of all DVC resorts! Feels like home
• Quiet, relaxed, lushly landscaped setting
• Point-saving rooms (including GV)
• Has very convenient self parking directly in front of units
  [*]Boat service and walkway to DTD
  [*]Most rooms have good views: golf course, water/canal, woods
  [*]Four swimming pools and a Community Hall

OKW Disadvantages (my personal opinion)

• Large, very spread out resort (distance of rooms from dining and services)
  [*]Condo/townhouse style setup doesn't appeal to me
• Oldest DVC resort (sometimes it's age shows)
• Limited onsite dining (Olivia’s café)
• No room service (just pizza delivery)
• Outdoor hallways
• Most buildings lack an elevator

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL! Good list, Mike, but some of of your negetives are positives for me!! I like outdoor hallways and the townhouse style!!

I also think OKW is a GREAT value, and all those things mentioned are exactly why we have 380 of our points there. We wanted enough to have the 11 month booking window for most of our points in one place.

 

[bgsnmky]

Don't forget that with the recent assessment, there will be OKW packages that do go until 2057. I imagine any bought through Disney starting this spring will include the additional years.

We were definitely amazed by the point difference, especially on those grand villas. A sunday through thursday stay in adventure season is around 335 at SSR; only 180!! at OKW.

Why do you think the assesment will make there be OKW that go to 15 years? Are you talking about if people extend their contracts and then sell.

 

[tony webb]

this is one of the reasons why im going to buy at HHI...grand villa points are pretty low compared to SSR....and high demand for summer months..so i can get the 11 month booking window...staying at OKW GV this coming June..renting points...cant beat 225 points for a 5 night stay in a GV at OKW

 

[dianeschlicht]

Why do you think the assesment will make there be OKW that go to 15 years? Are you talking about if people extend their contracts and then sell.

That, and DVC will sell new OKW contracts that have the 15 year extensions.

 

[Granny]

As I am learning more about the points and Home resorts, I am curious why Old Key West would not be more attractive to people due to the number of points required to stay vs the other resorts. It would seem it would make the points more valueable.

[snip]

I like OKW - I have stayed there 4 times on other timeshare trade ins. (which is getting harder and harder to get). The rooms are also bigger than the other resorts.

It's all about personal taste and what people are looking for in a Disney vacation home. Some people are all about location and can't imagine staying "far away" at places like OKW, SSR, AKV or even VWL. So room size and point schedule just aren't as important to them.

Others like heavy theming like you will find at VWL or AKV. For them, OKW is kind of a typical Florida condo and some don't find it "Disneyish" enough.

As people look at home resorts, they have to decide what is most important to them. If low point schedules and dues are the highest priorities then OKW is a great choice.

It's also a great choice if that Key West, laid back theming appeals to you as well as the larger rooms.

For those that love it, it's a great bargain. We've stayed there a couple of times and really enjoyed it, but we are glad to have our home booking advantage at VWL and BWV which we like best.

 

[Chuck S]

Why do you think the assesment will make there be OKW that go to 15 years? Are you talking about if people extend their contracts and then sell.

Current OKW owners can extend their contracts. For anyone buying OKW through Disney, I think the contracts are already extended to 2057.

If Disney gets a 2042 OKW contract through ROFR, when those points are re-sold it will be 2057 end date.

 

[bgsnmky]

this is one of the reasons why im going to buy at HHI...grand villa points are pretty low compared to SSR....and high demand for summer months..so i can get the 11 month booking window...staying at OKW GV this coming June..renting points...cant beat 225 points for a 5 night stay in a GV at OKW

Did you rent from someone that had OKW up for rent on the boards.

Just trying to preapare for that 50th anniversary of my parents.

 

[salmoneous]

Remebmer, there is a difference between what makes for a good resort, and what makes for a good home resort.

OKW is very nice resort - with big rooms and low point costs. However, with the exception of the GV's, you don't need to have OKW as your home resort to take advantage of the big rooms and low point costs. You can almost always get a studio/1BR/2BR at the 7 month mark.

The big advantage to OKW are those GV's. If you want to stay in one, OKW is an attractive home resort.

 

[castleri]

Current OKW owners can extend their contracts. For anyone buying OKW through Disney, I think the contracts are already extended to 2057.

If Disney gets a 2042 OKW contract through ROFR, when those points are re-sold it will be 2057 end date.

This is absolutely correct - All Okw contracts are now extended to 2057 unless the current owners elect not to extend their contract by opting out. Any sold by Disney directly will be for the extended period according to what was said at the member meeting about the extension in Sept.

 

[billmac50]

I just added on 170 pts (closing scheduled for 11/11) and they already have the 15 years added on.

We like the laid back theme and the lower point cost. We feel we get more for our money there. However, we have in the past stayed at all of the others. We will book at OKW within the 11 month window, then at the 7 month window try for reservations at one of the others if we want a change. We've gotten it every time, but when it comes the time when we don't, no big deal, we love OKW.

 

[bgsnmky]

I just added on 170 pts (closing scheduled for 11/11) and they already have the 15 years added on.

We like the laid back theme and the lower point cost. We feel we get more for our money there. However, we have in the past stayed at all of the others. We will book at OKW within the 11 month window, then at the 7 month window try for reservations at one of the others if we want a change. We've gotten it every time, but when it comes the time when we don't, no big deal, we love OKW.

Was your home resort already OKW and you added the 170 points to it...or is your home resort somewhere else.

 

[eporter66]

I currently own at SSR 225 points. Bought back in 2005 and just used some points for the 2007 member cruise.

As I am learning more about the points and Home resorts, I am curious why Old Key West would not be more attractive to people due to the number of points required to stay vs the other resorts. It would seem it would make the points more valueable.

For example in 2010 I want to get a 3 bedroom villa for a 50th annivesary celebration for my parents. OKW is over 150 points chepaer than my home resort.

I do understand that OKW contracts end 15 years earlier so I am trying to figure out how to analyze if if the long run OKW is better or not better as far as points.

I was curious if anyone has already done this??

I like OKW - I have stayed there 4 times on other timeshare trade ins. (which is getting harder and harder to get). The rooms are also bigger than the other resorts.

I would love to hear any feedback.

We also own at SSR, but we will be staying at OKW this February for the first time. Being in DVC, we do want to try all the resorts, but I will admit that the point difference is a big factor. If we like OKW on this stay, and ever decide to add on, that might be the place.

I am looking forward to seeing how much bigger the rooms are, and we like SSR so I dont think the style and lay out of OKW will be an issue. If we want to eat out, DTD is not very far at all, we can just shoot over there.

I am really looking forward to our stay. The biggest factor was the point difference for this trip. We wanted a 1 bedroom, BWV,VWL & BCV = 150, SSR = 135, OKW = 110.

E

 

[DVC Mike]

Remebmer, there is a difference between what makes for a good resort, and what makes for a good home resort.

OKW is very nice resort - with big rooms and low point costs. However, with the exception of the GV's, you don't need to have OKW as your home resort to take advantage of the big rooms and low point costs. You can almost always get a studio/1BR/2BR at the 7 month mark.

The big advantage to OKW are those GV's. If you want to stay in one, OKW is an attractive home resort.

Excellent point. I don't need to own at OKW in order to book a 1-BR at the 7-mo mark. I can still take advantage of the point-saving large rooms at OKW without having to own there.

 

[mdoc]

Does booking just 7 months out work at OKW even during holidays (like Easter week, T'giving week or Christmas week), or do you pretty much need the 11 month window everywhere for holidays?

 

[nunzia]

How does one go about trying to see if there are OKW points available through Disney as an add on? Anyone know how much per point and how do they work it..Use year, closing costs, etc?