OKW Grande Villa help!

[llebrekniT]

We are planning our trip for next April. We will be traveling with DH's family and would like to book a grand villa at OKW.

Does anyone know how many of these type units there are and how far out it is necessary to book them? We own at BWV, but will need to rent additional points for this trip and need to know whether it is necessary to do so at the 11 month window, or would it be safe to wait until 7 months out?

Any suggestions or advice is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[RobDoc]

OKW has 27 GV's. You might be fine at 7 months but, since April is spring break time, the 11 month priority would be a much safer way to go. You can try to rent OKW points to make the reservation at 11 months or just rent enough points thru transfer to stay at BWV and make it yourself at 11 months.

Good luck!

 

[llebrekniT]

We really NEED the grand villa at OKW, due to the number of people coming and our hope to stay under one roof together. Sounds like maybe we should look into finding the points and booking at 11 months....


Thanks for your reply!

 

[RobDoc]

... We really NEED the grand villa at OKW, due to the number of people coming and our hope to stay under one roof together.

The BWV GV's also sleep 12 - exactly the same as the GV's at OKW (... and SSR ... and HH ... and VB).

 

[Dean]

You have some choices. Assuming you have a home resort at WDW, book multiple units at your home resort that will accommodate your group. Then at the 7 month window call day by day and see if the GV is available and book the days you can get and wait list the rest DAY by DAY. If you really want OKW and the GV is not available, change over to OKW in smaller units of say a 2 BR and studio following the rest of the advice above. If you have enough points to keep the smaller unit reservation and book the GV, that will be best, if not, you will have to decide. But if you cancel all but the GV and only have part of the days, you should be able to book something else as you get closer. If you own SSR or BWV, you can book a GV 11 months out. If that is your situation but you don't have enough points, just book the weekdays and not the weekends.

 

[eileenkeeney]

If it were me, I would try to trade with someone who owned at OKW, and wanted to stay at BWV (and these people are probaby more abundant then those owning at BWV wanting to stay at OKW).
You might be able to do a point for point trade (1:1).

Does anyone know the exact rules on point trading (via tranfer of the points into each other's account). Can the same account both transfer points out, and transfer other points in?

If not, maybe you can do something like this:
Rent (at the 11 month window) a 2 bedroom and a studio at BWV; or maybe even 3 studios.
This way you have put yourself in a position to trade with multiple people.
You then find someone at OKW who is willing to transfer points into your account in return for one of the reservations. You do this for each reservation. Then you use the OKW points, transfered into your account to rent the Grand Villa.
Some trust is involved.
You will probably have to help keep member services straight, when the points transfer, so that they maintain their original resort (as per the rules, but may not happen automatically).
This might be more complicated then it is worth.
Maybe you can find one OKW owner, with enough points for a grand villa, who will book it for you, in return for a transfer of BWV points into their account.

I would do this for you, if I had any points to do it with.

 

[zfw4609]

You may also want to consider renting a 3BR timeshare at one of Orlando's non-disney timeshares. Marriott and Hilton have several properties in the area and the accomodations are much nicer than those of DVC.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

You may also want to consider renting a 3BR timeshare at one of Orlando's non-disney timeshares. Marriott and Hilton have several properties in the area and the accomodations are much nicer than those of DVC.

I've never stayed in a Grand Villa, yet, (we will be in December, though!) but seeing the pictures...I can't image Marriott or Hilton having nicer villas.

 

[llebrekniT]

The BWV GV's also sleep 12 - exactly the same as the GV's at OKW (... and SSR ... and HH ... and VB).

Yes, I know, but not exactly the same amount of points needed, if you know what I mean. In my dreams, we do stay at the villa at BW.

 

[llebrekniT]

You may also want to consider renting a 3BR timeshare at one of Orlando's non-disney timeshares. Marriott and Hilton have several properties in the area and the accomodations are much nicer than those of DVC.

Um, no thanks.

If it ain't Disney, it ain't Disney.

 

[Dean]

I've never stayed in a Grand Villa, yet, (we will be in December, though!) but seeing the pictures...I can't image Marriott or Hilton having nicer villas.

Certainly as nice including as large or larger and pools equal or above. Add Hyatt to the list as I think all their's are 3 BR.