OKW Grand Villas Question

[noname70]

Is it possible for a DVCer who does not own at OKW to reserva a Grand Villa?
Do they go at 11 months (day by day)?

 

[castleri]

Yes you can get one- depending on when you want it for. I have a friend who got one for spring break time at the 6 month point. He had misclaculated his 7 month date and was really paniced but everything worked out for him. You may have more problems if it is for a Christams or Easter visit. When I wanted one for Christmas week I did the 11 month day by day both times. When I wanted one for a May vacation I got it at at 6 months out for the whole trip.

 

[RobDoc]

It is possible to get a GV at 7 months (unless you have OKW points, you cannot reserve at 11 months). It will depend on the time of year, but it is possible. Use the waitlist if necessry.

Good luck!

 

[noname70]

It is possible to get a GV at 7 months (unless you have OKW points, you cannot reserve at 11 months). It will depend on the time of year, but it is possible. Use the waitlist if necessry.

Good luck!

Would you suggest finding an OKW owner to transfer me the needed points?

 

[castleri]

If you have a very specific time period you want a GV and it is a premium time of year you would be in better shape if you could get the points to use the 11 month booking window so your idea would be a good one. What time of year do you want to get a GV?

 

[noname70]

If you have a very specific time period you want a GV and it is a premium time of year you would be in better shape if you could get the points to use the 11 month booking window so your idea would be a good one. What time of year do you want to get a GV?

Probably off season-so to speak. First/second week of January or summer months (not 7/4).

 

[castleri]

Second week of January might be a good one to try for. Summer should not be as bad as Dec or Easter weeks so I think you stand a good chance at 7 months but I would do it day by day and be prepared to waitlist is needed. You might want to have a back-up at another resort or be prepared to take a 2 BR and Studio with a request for being close together if the GV is not available right away. That way if the waitlist does not come through at least you have something. I did that one year because I was not sure how many people would actually end up going on the trip. It turned out to be a good thing because I ended up only needing the 2BR so did not use more points than I needed to. One year I ended up with 5 people in a GV because 4 of the original group did not come. It was for Christmas week and we had a great time but it did burn up a lot of points.

Good Luck

 

[Deb & Bill]

As the number of members increases, more and more members who don't own at OKW will want to get into a GV at 7 months because of the low number of points required for the stay.

 

[noname70]

As the number of members increases, more and more members who don't own at OKW will want to get into a GV at 7 months because of the low number of points required for the stay.

So true. Would someone tell me the reason there is such a big point difference in the GV at OKW vs SSR? I realize SSR is newer but it is still quite a difference.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So true. Would someone tell me the reason there is such a big point difference in the GV at OKW vs SSR? I realize SSR is newer but it is still quite a difference.

OKW was the first DVC built and they were seeing if the idea was a good one. When they realized they had a winner on their hands, they increased the number of points to stay in a villa and decreased the size of the villa to increase earnings.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's nice to be "first", and "old"!

 

[byoung]

It's nice to be "first", and "old"!

I totally agree.

 

[noname70]

OKW was the first DVC built and they were seeing if the idea was a good one. When they realized they had a winner on their hands, they increased the number of points to stay in a villa and decreased the size of the villa to increase earnings.

I Understand. But why didn't they increase (or realocate) the number of points to stay in the OKW GV as well? A 30 point difference is quite large. Not that I want DVC to, but it seems like they could get more points for this size accomodation too.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I Understand. But why didn't they increase (or realocate) the number of points to stay in the OKW GV as well? A 30 point difference is quite large. Not that I want DVC to, but it seems like they could get more points for this size accomodation too.

Once they allocate the number of points for a resort, that's the number of total points that resort will have forever unless they add to the resort and then the new buildings will have the same point value. They could increase the point value for the GVs, but they would have to decrease the point value for other lodging. They can't just increase the number of points required because of the timeshare laws.

 

[noname70]

Got it. Makes owning at OKW more desirable than I originally thought.

 

[RobDoc]

I Understand. But why didn't they increase (or realocate) the number of points to stay in the OKW GV as well? A 30 point difference is quite large. Not that I want DVC to, but it seems like they could get more points for this size accomodation too.

When the only reallocation of points occured in 1996 (announced in 1994) the points needed for the GV went up for some seasons and actually went down for others. Keep in mind that this decision was made before there were any other DVC resorts. The total points at the resort cannot be changed - so of some nights are raised, others MUST be lowered to keep everything in balance.

Brginning in 1996 GV's went up a few points in Adventure and Choice Seasons and went down for Dream, Magic and Premier Seasons.

Pre-1996, GV's were 31/77 (weekdays/weekends) in Adventure Season and in 1996 went to the present 36/88. In Choice it was 37/92 and went to 38/91.
In Dream it was 45/112 and went to 45/107, Magic went from 52/130 to 51/123 and Premier went from 68/170 to 66/162.

All other villa types were also affected - mostly to a lesser extent. Since that time, DVC has had the opportunity to modify the point structure for each new resort before it came online. DVC has chosen to basically use the same point structure for BWV (Preferred View), VWL and BCV. Some changes were made when SSR came online and more changes have now been made for AKV.