Picking a room / view

[iX.]

New to the DVC concept, looking to rent points for a 1 or 2 br villa.

What I'm wondering about is how it works in terms of selecting rooms and views. With regular disney properties you pick a view and then when you arrive you wrangle with the front desk for the particular building you want based on your ridiculously detailed research on the subject. With our normal trips being October, it's sparse enough that we've had nothing but great luck getting the exact right spot or even the particular room we wanted.

How does it work when renting points? Is there any control over the particular location? Villas don't seem to be detailing the view, is this because there are not options?

Many thanks

 

[BDJazz]

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong... I believe that when you rent points the owner that you are renting from has control over the reservation and they would make the request on your behalf. They will be able to guarantee a particular type of room such as a magic kingdom view at BLT or lae view. They can also put in special requests such as floor level, closeness to the lobby, etc... Once you get to the resort it is a good idea to bring up the additional requests again to ensure they are granted.

 

[dzorn]

Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong... I believe that when you rent points the owner that you are renting from has control over the reservation and they would make the request on your behalf. They will be able to guarantee a particular type of room such as a magic kingdom view at BLT or lae view. They can also put in special requests such as floor level, closeness to the lobby, etc... Once you get to the resort it is a good idea to bring up the additional requests again to ensure they are granted.

An owner would put the request in when making the reservations. You should not add any additional reuest at check in as they may cost more points. If you are the owner no problem for a renter you should not.

OP do your research before you rent and get request in when reservation is made. Remember request are just that. No guarantee any will be granted.

Denise in MI

 

[crisi]

You can make a request, but DVC operates almost 100% full year round - and especially in October. So getting exactly what you want may be difficult. We almost never have our view requests met with DVC (members ten years). Also, DVC will charge you a room change fee if you reject a room after they issue a key. At some resorts, views are booked (VAKL, BWVs and BLT) or locations (HH at OKW). Free upgrades are almost never done - they are done when there is some sort of availability issue and that is pretty much it.

Also, if your trip is October, you are probably too late to book any of the good views at most of the resorts.

 

[drusba]

Certain views/areas are guaranteed when you reserve if you can get one of them: (a) Boardwalk Villas boardwalk view; (b) Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna view; (c) Bay Lake Tower Magic Kingdom view or Lake view; (d) OKW Hospitality House area . Otherwise you can request an area of the resort but it is not guaranteed and trying to haggle after you arrive if request is not met will usually get you diddly squat with DVC.

 

[iX.]

Also, DVC will charge you a room change fee if you reject a room after they issue a key.

Most commonly I've rejected rooms because somebody smoked in it, as I'm allergic. Would they charge in this instance?

Also, if your trip is October, you are probably too late to book any of the good views at most of the resorts.

Please elaborate for the n00b? I'm actually looking at early October 2012, so I'm very, very interested to know when I should be talking to people. I thought it was 7 months prior which would be, well, right now? (early march?)

Yes I'm early, but I plan to be fully informed before I do this. Seems like a great option, but it's a bit intimidating first time.

 

[iX.]

At some resorts, views are booked (VAKL, BWVs and BLT) or locations (HH at OKW). Free upgrades are almost never done - they are done when there is some sort of availability issue and that is pretty much it.

We're looking at BCV mostly. No views are specified online. Can anyone comment on what the views are, or what the possibilities are? If it's a "take what you get" scenario, I'd like to understand what it is that I might get. Looking at probably studio or 1br at this point. My preference being the latter.

Would be interested in similar info on SSR and OWK -- again, no views are specified... what do you get? Are there any requests worth making in these circumstances?

 

[dzorn]

We're looking at BCV mostly. No views are specified online. Can anyone comment on what the views are, or what the possibilities are? If it's a "take what you get" scenario, I'd like to understand what it is that I might get. Looking at probably studio or 1br at this point. My preference being the latter.

Would be interested in similar info on SSR and OWK -- again, no views are specified... what do you get? Are there any requests worth making in these circumstances?

OKW is not really a view but location close to Hospitality House and the rest of the resort. SSR You can request an area but no guarantees. BCV you can request a location but no guarantees. The only guarantees any of the resorts have is if there is a specific category such as Savanah view at AKV. Any other requests other than a specific category is only a request and not guaranteed. You can make any request you want it does not mean it will matter where they put you.

Denise in MI

 

[dzorn]

Most commonly I've rejected rooms because somebody smoked in it, as I'm allergic. Would they charge in this instance?



Please elaborate for the n00b? I'm actually looking at early October 2012, so I'm very, very interested to know when I should be talking to people. I thought it was 7 months prior which would be, well, right now? (early march?)

Yes I'm early, but I plan to be fully informed before I do this. Seems like a great option, but it's a bit intimidating first time.

You want to start looking over 11 months out for a owner of the the location you want. That way the owner can try to book at the opening of the 11 month window. This is important for low availability accomidations.


Denise in MI

 

[crisi]

BCV is a take what you get scenario. None of the views at BCV are what I'd consider "good" but other people like some of them.

To book BCV for October 2012, have an owner lined up to call in November 2011 - or January at the latest.

 

[drusba]

As to change due to smoking: smoking is prohibited in all rooms and all balconies. If you enter a room and there is smoke smell because prior occupant broke the rule and you are allergic, I believe they will give you a free change as long as another room is available.

If October 2012, you want to try to reserve 11 months out (in November 2011) to assure getting resort you want. The earliest an owner at a particular resort can reserve is 11 months out from date of arrival and if call is made then, you are virtually assured of getting whatever you want.

BCV has no specified views. Views basically face either Epcot or the front area where there is pool and parking lot. The Epcot view is bloked by wall and trees to a good extent.

OKW has mostly views of other OKW buildings, woods, and golf course. It is a large spead out resort. When reserving you can request Hospitality House area which is a guaranteed booking category if you get it; otherwise anywhere else is just a request. Hospitality House area puts you near restaurant, main pool, store and a good bus stop.

SSR is also a large spread out resort. You can request areas there but no guarantees. For best view of lake and Downtown Disney and one of the best views in WDW request Congress Park lake view and also request upper floor-- that request is very often met because the building is not close to main pool area (Congress Park has its own quiet pool) and thus many don't request it but if fantastic view is desired that is the place to be. Many like to request the Grandstand area which gives fairly nice views of golf course and puts you close to an ideal bus stop and not too far from pool. Others like to request Springs area which puts you very close to main pool. The Paddock area may also be something to request if going October 2012. They are putting a second, main pool in that area that should open before Oct 2012.

 

[quirty30]

We faced Epcot when we stayed at BCV and from the 5th floor we could see some of the Illuminations fireworks. In hindsight, I think I'd have rather had a pool view. Some folks prefer a larger balcony at BCV and would make that a room request over view. Just as an example, our 2 BR villa on the 5th floor had 3 small balconies, 1 off the master BR, one off the living room, and one off the studio lock off. I believe some of the units on lower floors have one large balcony rather than several smaller ones. As I recall, from the pool we could see several villas with HUGE balconies.

 

[iX.]

If October 2012, you want to try to reserve 11 months out (in November 2011) to assure getting resort you want. The earliest an owner at a particular resort can reserve is 11 months out from date of arrival and if call is made then, you are virtually assured of getting whatever you want.

Ok, duly noted. So I have 7 months to learn *everything*.

BCV has no specified views. Views basically face either Epcot or the front area where there is pool and parking lot. The Epcot view is bloked by wall and trees to a good extent.

So basically Disney landscaping type stuff? Having walked around BC a fair bit (not knowing where the villas are per se) it was all pleasant enough. At least we're not looking at giant green fish scales, right?

OKW has mostly views of other OKW buildings, woods, and golf course. It is a large spead out resort. When reserving you can request Hospitality House area which is a guaranteed booking category if you get it; otherwise anywhere else is just a request. Hospitality House area puts you near restaurant, main pool, store and a good bus stop.

SSR is also a large spread out resort. You can request areas there but no guarantees. For best view of lake and Downtown Disney and one of the best views in WDW request Congress Park lake view and also request upper floor-- that request is very often met because the building is not close to main pool area (Congress Park has its own quiet pool) and thus many don't request it but if fantastic view is desired that is the place to be. Many like to request the Grandstand area which gives fairly nice views of golf course and puts you close to an ideal bus stop and not too far from pool. Others like to request Springs area which puts you very close to main pool. The Paddock area may also be something to request if going October 2012. They are putting a second, main pool in that area that should open before Oct 2012.

That's great info, really, thanks a lot.

We faced Epcot when we stayed at BCV and from the 5th floor we could see some of the Illuminations fireworks. In hindsight, I think I'd have rather had a pool view. Some folks prefer a larger balcony at BCV and would make that a room request over view. Just as an example, our 2 BR villa on the 5th floor had 3 small balconies, 1 off the master BR, one off the living room, and one off the studio lock off. I believe some of the units on lower floors have one large balcony rather than several smaller ones. As I recall, from the pool we could see several villas with HUGE balconies.

So ok I have some command of it now, based on your comments, memory of walking around the grounds, and good old google earth.

From the upper floors on the epcot side do you get any traffic noise from Epcot Center drive? I also can't *stand* diesel fumes, they make me sick to my stomach... anyone ever catch that from the little utility yard by the far west tower? Just wondering.

We sort of enjoy ground floor rooms, are those available and is that the kind of request you can make? The Epcot side along the ground is very quiet, hardly anyone ever walking there that we saw. The pool side was much busier, probably prefer an upper room there.

We're not picky really, just wondering what's possible and what's not.

 

[Sandisw]

Ok, duly noted. So I have 7 months to learn *everything*.



So basically Disney landscaping type stuff? Having walked around BC a fair bit (not knowing where the villas are per se) it was all pleasant enough. At least we're not looking at giant green fish scales, right?



That's great info, really, thanks a lot.



So ok I have some command of it now, based on your comments, memory of walking around the grounds, and good old google earth.

From the upper floors on the epcot side do you get any traffic noise from Epcot Center drive? I also can't *stand* diesel fumes, they make me sick to my stomach... anyone ever catch that from the little utility yard by the far west tower? Just wondering.

We sort of enjoy ground floor rooms, are those available and is that the kind of request you can make? The Epcot side along the ground is very quiet, hardly anyone ever walking there that we saw. The pool side was much busier, probably prefer an upper room there.

We're not picky really, just wondering what's possible and what's not.

We stayed at BCV last summer and had one of the rooms in the back that faced the road. Honestly, we never heard a thing so either we were oblivious or it just wasn't that bad. It was late July/early August so definitely a time where crowds are around.

You can certainly request first floor, or facing pool, or higher floor, etc. As said, this is a request and they do their best, but don't necessarily have the same flexibility to switch things around as they do with cash rooms.

Just be sure to have the owner you rent from share them with MS when they book the reservation (or when you know what you want to request).

We requested "not first floor" last year and we ended up on the 3rd floor. With DVC, in my experience, the less specific you are in your requests, the better chance you have of getting them.

 

[crisi]

We stayed at BCV last summer and had one of the rooms in the back that faced the road. Honestly, we never heard a thing so either we were oblivious or it just wasn't that bad. It was late July/early August so definitely a time where crowds are around.

You can certainly request first floor, or facing pool, or higher floor, etc. As said, this is a request and they do their best, but don't necessarily have the same flexibility to switch things around as they do with cash rooms.

Just be sure to have the owner you rent from share them with MS when they book the reservation (or when you know what you want to request).

We requested "not first floor" last year and we ended up on the 3rd floor. With DVC, in my experience, the less specific you are in your requests, the better chance you have of getting them.

We also had one of those rooms - but we heard things. Maybe its because where we live we seldom have any traffic or noise beyond 10pm.

If I stay at BCV again (unlikely - we own at BWV and discovered there isn't much reason for us to switch), I'd ask for a room overlooking the community pool and CLOSEST TO THE LOBBY. People talk about the LONG walk down the BWV hallways - but I was not at all prepared for how far it was from the Villas to SAB or the boat dock.

 

[Pirate Granny]

We were in a studio last September. First floor...last studio unit facing the bus road. Never heard the bus, no smell...but what a walk...we rented there for the pool...SAB...I rented 7 months out, just one Friday night.

 

[iX.]

Great information guys, many thanks to you all.

Still thinking BCV is my most favoured option. But it's a few more points than OKW or SSR... any opinions on one vs the other?

The things we like about BCV are the sandy pool, beach acces, the clean bright atmosphere, the close walk to boardwalk and epcot.

SSR and BCV we like the spread out (low traffic) layout, the palm trees and the greenery.

Previously we stayed at Poly, which we loved the hammocks, beach, secluded building (no foot traffic) and walkout water view, surrounded by tropical plants, and CBR, for essentially the same reasons, although that was a second floor room without outside stairs.