OKW, why so many less points?

[lenshanem]

I've never been to OKW. Just wondering why it requires so many less points and why then is it the last to fill?
Is it only because it is not right next to a theme park?
Is the main pool not very exciting? No slide, right?
From pictures it reminds me of CB. I stayed there years ago and thought it was very nice.
OKW studios larger, too?
Did I read it has no lobby? Where do people hang out at night? Few stores and resturants there?

 

[Richyams]

I actualy believe that the only reason it is less points is because it sold so well. I think they realized they could charge more points per night, so they did.

The rooms at OKW are much larger, you can park in front of your unit, its just a better, more relaxing vacation.

The studios are larger, not that much, but some. The difference is in the one bedroom and larger units. They are actually livable as compared to the tiny units at the other resorts.

If all the resorts were the same point cost, I wouldn't hesitate to only stay at OKW as I do now.

 

[Chuck S]

OKW requires less points because it is the first DVC resort built, and that is how the point chart was designed, you know that the TOTAL points on a chart can NOT be increased. There is a lobby/check-in area with a relaxing den/library attached. I full service restaurant (Olivia's), snack bar, poolside snack bar at the Turtle Pond pool, exercise room, community hall and general store. No room service. None of the 4 pools has a slide, but are very nice quiet pools. Basically it is a self-contained condo style resort as opposed to being an "add-on" to a hotel style resort.

 

[Dean]

As noted, they increased the points of the other resorts becasue they could. It's available more frequently because it's larger (more units), owners have owned it longer (ready to try other things), and location (it's away from the action).

 

[SueOKW]

We hang out on the patio and exercise our Veranda Rights....

"You have the right to relax, you have the right to have a beverage while you relax. If you do not choose a beverage, one will be provided for you."

 

[PamOKW]

From pictures it reminds me of CB

It does have very much the same "feel" as CBR....which is just what I want in my Florida vacation. I want to be in the tropics. It's like someone took CBR and kicked it up 100% in luxury! I think you should give OKW a try at some point. I'm betting that you'll love it.

I think most people are either out at the parks or DD at night or, if they really just want to relax, they hang out in their own villas. The Gurgling Suitcase is also available for those who want a little company.

 

[Connears]

I've been member at OKW since 1994 and have stayed there 12 times since joining and will return again for New Year's trip. It is wonderful for all of the above reasons. I tried BWV and will not return. It's just not the same friendly atmosphere and CM's. I am trying BCV this June, but I also don't mind always returning to OKW. It is the original DVC.

Connears

 

[jodifla]

We've stayed at every resort but HHI and own at Old Key West. If you're staying in anything other than a studio, Old Key West is just a knockout accommodation. The rooms are huge, very nicely decorated and the overall theme is very relaxing. For studio stays, I like the other resorts because they have a couch instead of a second bed, which offers more floor space.

We stayed last year at BCV, at were kinda surprised how disappointed we were. The two-bedroom seemed so small to us. (But SAB is the best, as is the Yachtsman Steakhouse.)

Relatives from Sweden joined us one year, and they were tired and cranky and jetlagged -- until they walked into our Old Key West two bedroom and saw where we were staying. They got a quick second wind then. I love taking people to Old Key West. In fact, two sets of friends join us in about 8 days!

jodifla

 

[JudithM]

I don't have my notes handy, , but at an OKW annual meeting about the time the point charts came out for the new BWVs, a member asked about the point difference between OKW & BWV. At that time I believe we were told one reason was BWV would be shared with a full service hotel.+

 

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by SueOKW
We hang out on the patio and exercise our Veranda Rights....

That was a good one. I'm going to have to remember that!

 

[vernon]

There is a "reading lounge" just off of the reception area ( which also has a TV and VCR I think for the kiddies). There is a small bar and also some tables outside to sit as well as Olivia's (table service) restaurant and the gift/convenience store. Being so close to DTD IMHO they don't really need the same sort of facilities/capacity that some of the other hotels have.
OKW was designed to be more of a "condo" feel to it. As such, I believe the designers thought that people would be more comfortable spending time in their own living rooms and veranda's (does anyone feel comfortable spending a night in their hotel rom ? LOL) therefore having multiple bars and restaurants on site would be a waste of space.

The lower points cost I agree is 100% down to the fact OKW was the first (experimental) venture for DVC and once they realised they had a "winner" they could raise the points cost (both $ and #of points per night). I don't think the "full service hotel" argument holds much water. BWV is a very nice hotel, but none of the restaurants are part of BWI or BWV, they are a separate "entertainment" area. Disney couldn't really say "we're upping the price because we made a mistake", it's a decent piece of marketting to give people the impression they are getting a "better product" for the extra cost but if you cut out all the packaging, there are minor preferencial differences (bigger rooms vs proximity to the park), it really comes down to the same product.

OKW is slower to fill up for a couple of reasons 1) it's much bigger and 2) the members have been members for much longer and are more likely to try different things. Whether that is the newer DVC resorts at WDW or to use II or the concierge collections offers.

 

[Pa@okw95]

Chuck S really said it all--It was first they were not sure what the public would stand for for charges-let us not forget they even gave free tickets to the parks-they were swimming in unchartered territory. Now they charge much more per point and you points don't go as far with the new add on's. That is another thing that is a mystery to me that people would pay more for an add on to a resort. It is demand and madness that is going on now. What can I say! Those of us that bought early were lucky. I bought in 95, I only wish I knew more about them earlier, I thought you had to be a millionaire ten times over to buy in, they never advertised price, who thought it only costs the price of a car.

 

[Zurg]

The price i.e. points to stay, as is well said above, is where they were set.

Now you may be asking why with the lower price isn't there more demand?

That may well be that members bought where they want to stay and even with comparbly lower rates and bigger rooms etc it is all about location and the other members like their locations better.

I know I do don't even think about staying anywhere other than my BWV. Yeah the other places are nice buy they don't float my boat.

 

[PamOKW]

Those of us that bought early were lucky. I bought in 95, I only wish I knew more about them earlier, I thought you had to be a millionaire ten times over to buy in, they never advertised price, who thought it only costs the price of a car.

It sure was a mystery, wasn't it? There was a bus that said "Disney Vacation Club" that picked folks up at the parks. There was some slight mention in the resort books from MKC about how you "could" stay here but the rates were very high. Who knew "regular" folk could afford to stay in luxury? I stumbled upon it on a "look see" never expecting to join. One of the best things I've ever done.

Zurg, I'm not sure what you mean about why isn't there more demand? OKW is a very popular resort.

 

[ILuvDVC]

Well, since they are building the new DVC next to OKW, we can sit back and wait to see what the points for the new Resort will be. If they are comparable to OKW, then we know it all has to do with Location! I would think that BW and BC and WL property, being so close to the parks, would cost more. Not to build, but to stay in.

 

[DebbieB]

That question came up when VWL opened. Alot of people expected the points to be somewhere between OKW and BWV since it did not have the location to parks like BWV did or the good views. Points turned out to be the same as BWV preferred.

 

[tiberius]

Originally posted by ILuvDVC
Well, since they are building the new DVC next to OKW, we can sit back and wait to see what the points for the new Resort will be. If they are comparable to OKW, then we know it all has to do with Location!

I have been wondering this for a while now, but I have a feeling they won't match OKW's points.

 

[Chuck S]

I would expect the point charts at SSR to be higher than OKW, simply because DVC now has a "track record" of being a delux timeshare, and the "CAN" charge more points. Remember in the early years there was no guarantee that OKW would even be completely built or sold, even with all the incentives.

 

[sumessefui]

Also, over the past 10+ years the cost to build has probably gone up cosiderablly. Therefore they not only charge more per point, but require more points to stay, forcing new buyers to buy more points. This way the resorts sell faster and they keep their profit margin.

 

[crisi]

Another reason OKW may be last to fill is that with the lower point cost you get more for your room....

Doesn't make sense does it, but stay with me for a second.

Let's say you aren't a DisBoarder who takes multiple trips and owns a ton of points. Instead, you are Joe Average family vacationer, with a 150 point VWL contract who wants to get one week a year out of your studio. You book eight nights in Magic Season (166 points - you borrow a little), which uses up your summer vacation time. You book ten or eleven months out, because you don't have flexibility - your job demands you plan your vacation that far in advance.

Now the seven month window comes along. You can move to OKW into a studio for 136 points. A bargain! But you've already borrowed the points needed to book your WL vacation. Now, smart DisBoarder's know that you have to use those borrowed points, but they also know that you could still bank the 30 points for this year into next year if you moved your reservation. But that gets into the complexities of banking and borrowing and restrictions on your points - which a lot of people don't understand (I think I've gotten it right here), and it becomes "not worth the bother."