Preferred & Standard

[Lorelai]

I am in the process of trying to understand the points chart.....Can anyone tell me the difference on the Boardwalk Villa's Points Chart between preferred & standard? What does the preferred Villa have that the standard does not?

Thanks!

 

[dianeschlicht]

A different view is the only difference. Preferred view is of waterways and boardwalk and standard view looks toward the entrance and possibly the parking lot, but there is still a lot of green.

 

[cjb-nc]

Loosely: a water view. Standard view rooms (mostly) look over the driveway up to the entrance. Preferred view rooms look over water: the canal, the pools, or the boardwalk itself.

 

[CarolMN]

The only difference between the categories is view - and in some cases, not much of a difference at that.

Standard view rooms overlook the resort entrance and the driveway leading up to it. There is nice landscapng between the villas and the blacktopped areas. Some of the rooms in this category have a view of the higher level fireworks of IllumiNations from the balcony. IMHO, standard view rooms at the BWV are the best DVC bargain on property.

There are two categories of PV - Boardwak view (guaranteed view of the Boardwalk area and Crescent Lake) and Pool/Garden. rooms in the Pool/Garden category overlook one of the pools, the canal, the Swan/Dolphin resorts and/or the croquet lawn. If you want the Boardwalk view, you must reserve it - it is no longer available by request.

Boardwalk views and the standard views book very quickly. It is difficult to get one of those categories at the 7 month mark. It can happen, but it is rare - BWV owners tend to book those up at the 11 month window - especially in the more popular DVC seasons.

HTH.

Best wishes -

 

[LYNSUE]

Just this week we added one night to our already booked DVC stay in September. We decided to try BWV for the first time. I requested standard view, which was not available. However both Boardwalk and preferred view were. Either one was the same amount of points (12) I took the Boardwalk view. I was suprised anything was available at such short notice.

 

[Pete W.]

IMHO, standard view rooms at the BWV are the best DVC bargain on property.

As a BWV owner I wholeheartedly agree. Our first stay was in a preferred-view unit (we faced Luna Park) and every trip since has been in a standard-view unit with a great view of the Illuminations fireworks each nite. I would never spend the extra points on a preferred-view again. And I love the option of using less points per nite than I would if I stayed the same number of nites at BCV, VWL or SSR.

 

[spiceycat]

I do love the standard view - less points - still great resort.

but with new request BW - I think sooner or later I will have go with the BW view again.

got it the first time at BWV - then I got that stupid Clown for my next several tries -then I went with standard view.

 

[pmcpmc]

As a BWV owner I wholeheartedly agree. Our first stay was in a preferred-view unit (we faced Luna Park) and every trip since has been in a standard-view unit with a great view of the Illuminations fireworks each nite. I would never spend the extra points on a preferred-view again. And I love the option of using less points per nite than I would if I stayed the same number of nites at BCV, VWL or SSR.

I was told yesterday that the std. view doen't have a view of illuminations fireworks only MGM.
I was booking my son's honeymoon in June.
CM a little confused?

 

[spiceycat]

the other side of BW - BWI is in the way of great views of Epcot/Illiuinations - but you can definitely see the higher fireworks from standard view BWV -ask for a higher room.

however that said - I saw much better view from the BCV of Illiuinations.

 

[CarolMN]

I was told yesterday that the std. view doen't have a view of illuminations fireworks only MGM.
I was booking my son's honeymoon in June.
CM a little confused?

The CM was mistaken.

I have watched fireworks from my standard view balcony many times. Never had one that had a view of Fantasmic, though.

Depending on where the room is located, you may also be able to see some fireworks from Fantasmic. However, you are much more likely to see those from EPCOT than MGM - there are way more standard view rooms facing EPCOT than MGM.

Best wishes -

P.S. For your son's room, ask for an upper floor across from the bus stop. If he and his new wife are lucky enough to be assigned in that area, they will have a very good chance of seeing the fireworks from IllumiNations and they will also be in a very convenient location.

 

[DebbieB]

One time I had a standard view of both Illuminations and Fantasmic. It was on the corner above the pond, room 3123 (1 bedroom).

 

[bavaria]

I do love the standard view - less points - still great resort.

but with new request BW - I think sooner or later I will have go with the BW view again.

got it the first time at BWV - then I got that stupid Clown for my next several tries -then I went with standard view.

Spiceycat, I actually went last weekend and looked at that clown which haunts your dreams, since I didn't remember it from previous BWV stays and had to see what you were talking about! It reminded me of a Simpson's episode where Homer makes a clown bed for Bart and he can't sleep for fear of the clown......

I guess that I'll stick with standard view in future

 

[Pete W.]

One time I had a standard view of both Illuminations and Fantasmic. It was on the corner above the pond, room 3123 (1 bedroom).

Thx x123 rooms are extra-large 1-BR lock-offs because they are in the corner. SInce they are in the corner, the large balcony off of the living room/kitchen faces Epcot and the smaller balcony off of the bedroom faces MGM (kind of). They are difficult to get because there are only 3 (and the 2nd floor unit is smoking-optional) but it can't hurt to ask for one upon check-in. But turn down x121 and especially x101 if you want to see the Illuminations fireworks because there are trees in front of those units.

 

[Dean]

It really helps to understand the history. Initially all BWV rooms were the same but early on some complained about the views from some of the units. Apparently enough complained to get it changed. DVC simply lowered some of the rooms and renamed them standard view. Thus a standard view is in theory a worse view than a preferred view, rather than the preferred being a "higher" view. I know it's semantics but it helps to understand the orientation.

 

[DebbieB]

Thx x123 rooms are extra-large 1-BR lock-offs because they are in the corner. SInce they are in the corner, the large balcony off of the living room/kitchen faces Epcot and the smaller balcony off of the bedroom faces MGM (kind of). They are difficult to get because there are only 3 (and the 2nd floor unit is smoking-optional) but it can't hurt to ask for one upon check-in. But turn down x121 and especially x101 if you want to see the Illuminations fireworks because there are trees in front of those units.

Actually 3123 was a 1 bedroom dedicated.

I posted a report with pictures:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=477630

 

[brandip22]

Just this week we added one night to our already booked DVC stay in September. We decided to try BWV for the first time. I requested standard view, which was not available. However both Boardwalk and preferred view were. Either one was the same amount of points (12) I took the Boardwalk view. I was suprised anything was available at such short notice.


May I ask when you are going? We have PV, but were waitlisted for the BW view. Wondering if I should start calling now since i'm w/i my 30 days?

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip)...We have PV, but were waitlisted for the BW view. Wondering if I should start calling now since i'm w/i my 30 days?

All waitlists "expire" at 31 days prior to arrival. If you want to stay on it after that, you need to call MS and say so. No waitlists at 7 days prior - that's when it may pay to call daily - you never know when a last minute cancellation will occur.

Best wishes -