OKW or BWV?

[ITGirl50]

Hello,

I'm new to the board and have really enjoyed reading it.

My DH and I are huge Disney fans and have decided we should purchase DVC. We want to buy 200 Pts resale before next summer's vacation. We like being walking distance to Epcot, so BWV or BCV really appeals to us, but there are very few resales and they are expensive. We are considering OKW because it costs less and there are more available resales. Is this a mistake?

We go to DW the first week of June every year. We will need a one bedroom most of the time (only have one 8-yr old DD). We may go every other year at Christmas for a few days.

Also, what use year should we purchase?

Are there more resales in the Fall and Winter?

Thank you for your advice!

1992 – Dolphin (Honeymoon )
1998 - Disney Land
Fall 2000 - Beach Club
Spring 2001 - Carib Royale
Fall 2001 - Contemporary/Dolphin
June 2002 - Offsite House
Fall 2002 - Swan (work conference)
Summer 2003 - Wilderness Lodge / Hard Rock
June 2004 - Polynesian
Fall 2004 - Swan (work conference)
Christmas 2004 - Contemporary / Yacht Club
June 2005 - Animal Kingdom / BWV (rented points, Thank you!)

 

[kathleena]

We are considering OKW because it costs less and there are more available resales. Is this a mistake?

We go to DW the first week of June every year. We will need a one bedroom most of the time (only have one 8-yr old DD). We may go every other year at Christmas for a few days.

Welcome to the board!

From the point of view of quality of resorts - you can't make a mistake with any one of them.

But, many here would tell you buy where you want to stay. And if you really want to stay at BWV and BCV at Christmas, I would say it could be a mistake. May be very difficult for you to get that time at 7 months out.

So, if your pocketbook is your first consideration, then OKW is great. You will just have to live with the possibility of not getting into BWV or BCV sometimes.

But if you can squeeze out the little bit more cash, the BWV standard view rooms are usually no more points than the OKW rooms and you can get them at 11 months out!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[thelobstershanty]

If you want to stay at BCV and BWV then buy there. It is a lot easier to trade into OKW with a BCV or BWV home resort contract then it is to trade into BCV or BWV with an OKW home resort contract.
Yes the BCV and BWV resales are more expensive but you are paying for the resort's location, the added amenities avaliable and because they have fewer villas.

 

[DisBeliever]

I agree with what others posted. I'd say, take a piece of paper and list your priorities in order of priority. If you absolutely want to be able to walk to park and not have to rely on shuttle bus, then spend the extra $ for location, location, location. But if saving $ is your number one priority then go with OKW which btw has more sq ft per villa, those great pools, and a nice quiet laidback feel which might be a nice change after the hectic day at the parks. If you still can't decide after listing priorities, hey, flip a coin and don't look back. Either way you go, you'll be an owner!

 

[ITGirl50]

Thank you for the advice. This really helps!

Cindy

 

[RLevy29]

If you really want BCV or BWV for Christmas and you like to walk to Epcot, then you should buy there for the 11 month window. Do you plan your vacations way ahead of time?
We own at both BCV and OKW. We bought BCV because we wanted to be able to book for the Food and Wine Festival and Christmas time at the 11 month window. We stay at OKW at other times of the year and we love that too! Good Luck1

 

[JimMIA]

We bought OKW because of the lower initial cost and lower maintenance, but you have other considerations. I have two things to throw into the mix.

One is that, comparing OKW to BWV resale, you are probably talking about $8-10 per point difference. While that sounds like a lot - and it is - it's only $1,600 - $2,000 on a 200 point contract. That is a chunk up front, but when you look at it over the length of your DVC ownership, it's really not that much. Actually, the differences in the maintenance fees will be greater than that.

And another thing is, there is more than one way to skin this cat. You want to go to WDW every June and maybe every other Christmas. How 'bout a 150 OKW resale for the June trips (you should be able to get BWV in June at seven months if you want), followed by a 50 point BWV add-on bought direct from DVC? Closing costs on a small resale will eat you alive, but going direct, there are no closing costs.

Then, you bank your BWV points every other year and have enough for your Christmas stay + you have the 11 month window for the Christmas stay.

 

[JimB.]

IMHO, lots of factors to further confuse the issue.................

Want a more relaxed atmosphere? OKW. More active? BWV.

Want to be able to walk to some attractions? BWV definitely.

I think the accomodations @ OKW are bigger.

More variety of "non-park things to do @ BWV.


Personally, I have OKW as my home resort, & really like it, but I don't stay there exclusively. If you like to kick back in your condo at night & ride a bus, go to OKW.

If you want to party, go to BWV.

The 7/11 month window has never presented a problem to us (& we own most of our points at VB), but then again, we are pretty flexible when it come to where & when we stay.

But hey, It's Disney World!! You can't go wrong either way.

 

[clutter]

I would really want to use my points at BCV, probably alternating years for July (week AFTER the fourth) and the last week of August. Do you all think that it would be tough getting a studio (maybe 1br) during those times at the 7 month window?

You all keep saying that busy times are different with DVC than what we think. Just when are the peak periods for somewhere like BCV?

I don't know, I'm torn between more points at OKW (which we might actually like) and less points at BCV.

 

[Granny]

I would really want to use my points at BCV, probably alternating years for July (week AFTER the fourth) and the last week of August. Do you all think that it would be tough getting a studio (maybe 1br) during those times at the 7 month window?

You all keep saying that busy times are different with DVC than what we think. Just when are the peak periods for somewhere like BCV?

I don't know, I'm torn between more points at OKW (which we might actually like) and less points at BCV.

Those times for getting a BCV studio shouldn't be too bad, especially if you call right at the 7 month window. Also, be prepared to wait list some times...again if you do so at the 7 month mark you probably have a pretty good chance of getting BCV.

Busy times with DVC...in addition to the WDW peak times (Spring Break, Christmas week, 4th of July) you can add in late November-early December and anytime during the Food/Wine Fest at BWV or BCV as difficult booking times for DVC at non-home resorts.

As for the OP...I think JimMia has a good suggestion if you're willing to juggle your points a bit. Personally, we don't care for the small point add-ons, but if managed properly they can really help for those less frequent DVC resort destinations at the busy times of the year.

 

[ITGirl50]

Your advice has helped us make a decision. Now we just need to wait for the right resale.

Cindy

 

[dianeschlicht]

FYI, studios might actually be more difficult to get at 7 months than 1 bedrooms.