Question on BWV "Standard" View and General Availiability

[jaysue]

Looking for some feedback on the following questions:

1) What is a "Standard" view at Boardwalk Villas?

2) Are the "Standard" view rooms in higher demand and thus harder to get?

My thinking was to buy via Disney at BCV but after using the DVC Planner by "Caskbill?" I am thinking that a resale at BWV is a better choice. The potential fly in the ointment I see is that my thinking is based on having a "Standard" view studio/1BR/2BR for my trips. This made me think I should ask the board gurus for their views (no pun intended) on the "Standard" view and how available the rooms tend to be.

If it is pertinent information, our vacations would always be in Mid-March, July/August with the occassional potential 1st week of January

Thanks in advance!!!
Jason

 

[PamOKW]

The standard view rooms are the ones that face out the "Front" of the resort. They tend to include the entrance drive and/or parking lot in the view but are still very scenic and sometimes have a better view of Illuminations that the "other" rooms. However, they are few in number and in high demand because of their lower point requirement. Mid-March, July and August are busy times already (no school) so getting a standard view will be tough for a non-home resort owner. January might be a little easier.

I would not make a non-BWV purchase and expect to always stay in a standard view at BWV.

 

[JOC]

Standard View rooms tend to get booked at the 11-month window, although some DVC'ers who don't own at BWV have said that they've gotten SV at the 7-month window. Like PamOKW said, it depends on when you're going. If you can book at the 11-month window you should have no problem getting a SV room (some people even book day by day in order to ensure they get the SV).

 

[Caskbill]

Glad you found the DVC Planner useful.

To expand on Pan's "January" point, I would say that mid or late January is easier, but definitely not the 1st week as you indicated. BWV is very popular for New Year's and into the first several days of January. It will depend year by year where January 1st falls within the week as to when the demand starts to fall off. The first several days of January are very popular both due to being just after New Years and also that they are in the lowest season point wise. (Adventure Season)

Judging from your vacation times, if you're looking to conserve points and want to stay at BWV standard views, then you're probably much better off owning there so you can get the 11 month window.

Not to say you couldn't get the standard view at 7-months on occassion, but I wouldn't want to count on it to happen on a regular basis.

 

[DebbieB]

I own at BWV and always get a standard view for the first or second week of December. I call day by day because this is a popular time. Standard views are only about 20% of the total BWV rooms.

From most of the upper floor rooms you can see the fireworks from Illuminations and even hear the music! We were across from the bus stop on the 4th floor last December and had a perfect view of the fireworks.

 

[InstImpres]

This has come up several times. Just to give you an idea the make-up of rooms is as follows:

BWV
Standard View
Studios 22% of total 241 studios
One Bedrooms 23% of 272 total one bedrooms
Two Bedrooms 25% of 145 two bedrooms


These numbers were provided to me by MS when we had a discussion on the boards about a month ago and this is the e-mail response they sent me.

Hope this helps

 

[spiceycat]

okay all of the 2-bedroom at BWV are a studio and 1 bedroom - right - there are no dedicated 2-bedroom at BWV - so how does the 2-bedroom get more standard view than the studios?

 

[crisi]

Take into consideration what will happen if you don't get the Standard View - which might happen even if you own at BWV and try to book at eleven months. You probably won't always book at eleven months - something will come up that will make you switch your ressies, you'll take a spur of the moment trip, etc.

Can you stay for fewer nights in a perferred view? Is borrowing points ok with you? Or booking at OKW with the lower point requirements (OKW is generally easiest to get at 7 months)? If you don't manage to get a standard view, is it going to be horrible, or will you cope.

What appealed to you about BCV? My guess is that SAB is going to be a big draw and getting into BCVs - especially during the summer months - is going to be difficult unless you have the eleven month window. If that is where you want to stay, you should buy your points there.

We own BWV and had many of the same thoughts you did. But we don't think the worst thing in the world is spending a few more points and shortening the trip by a day.

 

[x5x5x5x5x5]

We purchased at BCV b/c of SAB - LOVE that pool and were worried that eventually it might be difficult to book there during busy times without that 11 month window. However, we have only stayed there once b/c we generally stay at BWV 1BR SV b/c of the point difference. We've always had to go on a waitlist to stay there but in the 3 times we've waitlisted, we've always gotten our room. So far we've booked late September, late October (food and wine festival), and first week of May (this year). Not sure if we're just very very lucky - or perhaps visiting during lower DVC demand times. Can't complain though! Our views have always been the porte cochere and front of BW and parking lot. It's not as pretty as the pool or the boardwalk area but it's actually quite nice - especially at dusk when the lights start twinkling. One day we will stay in a preferred view when I don't feel so stingy with our points!!

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by spiceycat
okay all of the 2-bedroom at BWV are a studio and 1 bedroom - right - there are no dedicated 2-bedroom at BWV - so how does the 2-bedroom get more standard view than the studios?

The numbers posted are percentages.

22% of 241 > 25% of 145

 

[spiceycat]

thanks!

 

[disneyberry]

these are the numbers i calculated for BWV rooms breakdown based on the discussion that InstImpres was referring to:

96 Dedicated Studios (17 Standard / 79 Preferred)
127 Dedicated 1Bdrm (26 Standard / 101 Preferred)
0 Dedicated 2Bdrm
145 Lockoffs (36 Standard / 109 Preferred)
7 Grand Villas (All Preferred)

Total = 375 Units / 520 Max. Available Rooms

 

[JulesMom]

We own at BCV.

I booked SV-BWV 1 bdrm at 7 month window for 2nd week of June. We were waited listed. It came thru last month!!

We are considering adding on at BWV--I left a message with our guide today.