OKW Premier Season

[Sheriff Woody]

I'm just beginning to plan my next trip for April of 2006. In looking at the points calculator, it seems that I could book a three bedroom villa at OKW for roughly one-half the amount of points compared to either the Boardwalk or Saratoga Springs. Can that be correct?

 

[lovewdwdvc]

I did not check the points but it could be true. We really like OKW and it is my brother's favorite. The accomocations are much bigger. It is quieter and more secluded. We like that though. After some time in the parks we like to go someplace more tranquil.

 

[JudithM]

Are you thinking of Easter time next April? I have the 2005-2006 Vacation Planner in front of me. One week during premier season (April 9-22) in a grand villa at OKW is 654 points. One week during premier season in a grand villa at BWV is 966 points. One week during premier season in a grand villa at SSR is 869 points.

 

[Sheriff Woody]

Right, Judith. Next April. I'm not looking for the entire week, but four nights. I'm seeing OKW at 264 points, SSR at 468 points and Boardwalk at 520 points for the 3BR villa. Why is OKW so much cheaper?

Of course, I don't really expect that I have any chance of getting that OKW reservation at the seven month window. I'm just wondering if OKW is that much less desirable than the other two?

 

[CarolMN]

It has nothing to do with desirability, LOL! Weekday nights in GVs OKW book up very quickly - you have to be quite lucky to snag them at 7 months.

OKW was the first DVC resort and for at least right now, it has the most Grand Villas of the 3 WDW resorts that offer them (OKW, SSR & BWV). When SSR is finished, it may have more than OKW - I just don't know. BWV has only 7 GVs and all 7 overlook the Boardwalk.

FWIW, I think DVC just realized it could charge more for the BWV GVs (less of them and also because of the BW view). As far as SSR - again, I think DVC just realized it could charge more than OKW for GVs due to the demand, (but not as much as BWV, due to the EPCOT location, number and view).

Anyway - in at least MHO (and I am a very loyal BWV owner), OKW Grand Villas are in no way less desirable than the others! They are simply a bargain! Go for it without any worries and I hope you can snag one for your April 2006 trip. If you do, I'm sure you'll agree that the OKW GVs are very special!

Best wishes -

 

[Sheriff Woody]

Thanks Carol. Should I consider making a reservation at my home resort at the eleven month point, then call back at seven months to try to get the OKW? Then if I'm successful I'd cancel the original ressie? If unsuccessful then I should try to get on a waitlist for OKW and if it comes thru I'd book it and cancel the other? Or do I need to have enough points to cover both ressies in order to get on the waitlist? I have enough points to cover one or the other but not both at once.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks Carol. Should I consider making a reservation at my home resort at the eleven month point, then call back at seven months to try to get the OKW? Then if I'm successful I'd cancel the original ressie? If unsuccessful then I should try to get on a waitlist for OKW and if it comes thru I'd book it and cancel the other? Or do I need to have enough points to cover both ressies in order to get on the waitlist? I have enough points to cover one or the other but not both at once.

If it were me, I'd definitely make a reservation at my home resort at 11 months to make sure I had a place to stay. As you are thinking, at 7 months, you can call and see what availability there may be for your dates. If it looks good, you can cancel the home resort days as you make the OKW reservation. I'd call day by day for a GV.

You don't have to commit points to use the waitlist. You only need to commit the points once the waitlist comes through. The least risky way to use the waitlist is to waitlist for the entire reservation - in other words, if all 4 of your days do not become available at once, the waitlist won't work for you. The other way is to waitlist individual days. This last has the best chance of working, but you could end up with a "hole" in the middle of your stay. I wouldn't want to move in the middle of my stay, but some don't mind.

Only you can decide how much risk you are willing to take. If it were me, I'd call at 7 months and see what was available. If I were able to get 3 of the days, I'd waitlist for the 4th. Otherwise, I'd waitlist for all four days and hope for the best, knowing that I had a perfectly good back up at my home resort.

Since you are just ahead of the 11 month window, you could also see if anyone would be willing to trade OKW points/reservation for your home resort. If so, each party to the transaction could take advantage of the home resort booking advantage. If you can arrange it, that's the best way I know to ensure getting an OKW GV (short of owning OKW, of course).

Best wishes -