Saratoga v. Boardwalk

[attorneywolfe]

Tried to book at Boardwalk 7 months to the day before our upcoming trip (leaving Saturday). Could not get in, nor into Beach Club. Only available was Saratoga.

1) Looking for comments of comparison on anyone who has stayed at both (especially transportation and ease of getting around resort from Saratoga).

2) Since this next week is low season, any guesses as to why I could not get into Boardwalk or Beach Club?

Thanks

 

[jimh13432]

1) Both resorts are very nice. We own at both SSR and BWV and enjoy them both but prefer BWV as it's so close to Epcot and MGM and the nightlife on the Boardwalk is a lot of fun too. I've never experienced any problems with the buses at SSR though.

2) Although the points are "low" its actually a very popular time for DVC'ers to go to WDW as everything is lit up for the holidays. That explains the lack of availablility at BWV.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[KyleRayner]

I had the same experience. I'll be at WDW 12/2 thru 12/10. I called on the 1st day of the 7 month prior period and could not get into Boardwalk or Beach Club and those were my 1st choices. So I too settled for Saratoga. I even asked to be put on a waitlist for both Boardwalk & Beach Club, but unfortunately nothing freed up. This is my 8th trip to WDW, but my first trip as a DVC member, so I can't comment on the DVC resorts but I am very excited.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Early December is one of the most popular times for DVCers. Most book at 11 months.

Saratoga has better availablility right now, not only because of its size, but also because new buildings are being completed and put into the system as they go which frees up availability.

As for the comparison, I really like them both and each has its good and not so good (well not really but Im on Pixie Dust) but what we really enjoy about SSR (since this is where you will be staying) is the proximity to DTD, the Direct Busses to the parks, the quiet pool Congress Park area, the Community Hall (BWV has one too), Shuffleboard, Basketball, the Spa, The Fitness Center (I would rank BWV's 2nd because it is really nice too), Lake Buena Vista and the complete loop around the lake. Oh and the CM's have been great to us!

 

[KyleRayner]

Liferbabe,

Is it your opinion that unless BCV or BWV is your home resort, getting a reservation at one of them is close to impossible at the holiday season? I like going to WDW the 1st week of December each year. My home resort is OKW, but I would love to stay at BCV or BWV, but of course I have to wait for the 7 months as opposed to the 11 months. Is my only chance, finding someone who's home resort is BCV or BWV and and if they are interested in staying at SSR, then that person would make reservation for me at BCV or BWV at 11 months and I would do the same for them at SSR?

 

[attorneywolfe]

Leaving Saturday for 7 nights. Staying at Saratoga. Could not get into Boardwalk or Beach Club even though I called 7 months to the day.

Any thoughts on why?

Any comparison thoughts between Boardwalk and Saratoga?

Does the bus to MK from Saratoga take you to the Transit Center or right up to the park like when you stay at Boardwalk?

Thanks,

 

[CarolMN]

Liferbabe,

Is it your opinion that unless BCV or BWV is your home resort, getting a reservation at one of them is close to impossible at the holiday season? I like going to WDW the 1st week of December each year. My home resort is OKW, but I would love to stay at BCV or BWV, but of course I have to wait for the 7 months as opposed to the 11 months. Is my only chance, finding someone who's home resort is BCV or BWV and and if they are interested in staying at SSR, then that person would make reservation for me at BCV or BWV at 11 months and I would do the same for them at SSR?

I'm not Liferbabe, but I do have an opinion, LOL!

It is not impossible to get a reservation at the BCV or the BWV for the first half of December at the 7 month mark. (However, IMHO, it is virtually impossible to get standard view or guaranteed Boardwalk view at the 7 month mark).

There will always be some availability at the smaller DVC resorts at the 7 month mark. But because the number of DVC members continues to increase every month, so does the competiton to get reservations at the 7 month mark. Thanksgiving through New Year's Day is arguably the most difficult time to get into the smaller DVC resorts at the 7 month mark. (VWL, BCV & BWV)

To get what you want, you need to enter the "Dialing Derby". That means you must call MS day by day as soon as it opens, to secure your reservation. If a day is not available, get on the waitlist. Waitlist for individual days (rather than the entire reservation). It is more risky to waitlist by individual days, but the chances of it coming through are much better.

If the "Dialing Derby/Waitlist" process doesn't appeal to you, other options include finding a BWV owner who is willing to trade reservations with you (in essence you are trading the 11 month reservation window), or you could rent points from a BWV owner.

HTH.

Best wishes -

 

[KyleRayner]

Carol,

When calling MS at the 7 month mark, I thought you couldn't call until 7 months prior to the check out date. Is that wrong? Should I have been calling 7 months from my check in date? I wouldn't even care about the view at BCV or BWV, I just want in.

 

[missymagic]

That is interesting...I booked in September was wait listed half at SSR and half at BWV. BWV ended up coming thru first with all the nights.

 

[robinb]

Carol,

When calling MS at the 7 month mark, I thought you couldn't call until 7 months prior to the check out date. Is that wrong? Should I have been calling 7 months from my check in date? I wouldn't even care about the view at BCV or BWV, I just want in.

I'm not CarolMN, just as she's not Liferbabe, LOL!

The key is to call at exactly 7 months from your check-in date. You will be able to book that date only. Then, you call day-by-day and add onto your reservation until you have all your dates. If a date is not available, then put yourself on the waitlist. Set up the waitlist so you are booked automatically without a verification call from Member Services. Also, set up to be waitlisted for each day individually. You will have a better chance to get all your dates one-by-one rather than waiting for all the days at once.

 

[btrim]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think any of the buses can go right up to the park at MK. All buses have their own stopping place the the bus stop right outside MK. If you mean TTC, none of the resorts drop off there for MK.

 

[bicker]

As time goes on, the ability to book resorts at the 7 month point seems to have decreased, as folks for whom that is their home resort learn (perhaps the hard way) that if they don't book early, they lose out.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I am a Boardwalk owner and stayed 2 nights at saratoga In October. To be honest I have 2 varying opinions..... I was with my Mom and we had 2 seperate studios. She was way out in the back by downtown Disney in the Paddock section, she hated Saratoga and never wants to go back. She said she fealt like she was staying at one the hotels on the strip there. She did not feel as if she was on property.

I who by the way was expecting to Not like it so much was in the Springs section. I could see the entire Pool area and shopping area from My balcony. Literally It took a minute and a half to walk over there. I loved Saratoga. Found it very easy to get around. enjoyed the rooms thought they were themed beautifully and the area was very quiet.
I do know I would Not have enjoyed my stay had I not been so centrally located. I would recommend a request near the Springs It will make a big differance. And Enjoy the property I thought it was lovely.

 

[KyleRayner]

Robin,

Thanks for the heads up. I messed myself up. I called 7 months prior to my check out date because I think the Member book said that. I stand corrected and next time will take your advice. Thanks.

 

[CarolMN]

..(snip).....The key is to call at exactly 7 months from your check-in date. You will be able to book that date only. ......

To be very precise, you call exactly 7 months from the check out day for the first night of your stay. For example, let's say you want to check in on 12/3/2006 and check out on 12/8/2006.

Your first night is 12/3/06. If you were only staying one night, you would check out on 12/4/06. So you call on May 4, 2006 as soon as MS opens to reserve that night.

You tell MS that you will be calling each day after that and that your "final" check out day will be 12/8/06. That way, MS will hold the confirmation letter until you have all the days.

You repeat the process for each day until after your call on May 8 and (if you are lucky) you have all the days reserved. MS sends your letter and you are set. If you are not so lucky, you get a letter for the days you have reserved and are on the watilist for the days that were not available. HTH.

Best wishes -

 

[KyleRayner]

Thanks Carol for the clarification. I'm going to try that for next year. I should have bought my timeshare at BCV or BWV. Instead of buying where I would like to stay most of the time, I bought my timeshare that at the time at the lowest annual dues which was OKW.

 

[oogsdaughter]

I'm not sure how it happened but we made reservations for BCV 12/11-12/17 in late June or early July (inside 7 months) without wait listing any days. We also got a room at BWV for one night without wait listing for 12/18. We just wanted to try it one night. Not sure how we got it with everyone calling at 7 months and wait listing.

 

[KyleRayner]

oogsdauther,

I guess its luck of the draw.

 

[oogsdaughter]

oogsdauther,

I guess its luck of the draw.

It shouldn't be. I don't think MS and reservations work like that. I wonder if it is room category is the deciding factor. We booked a 1 bedroom villa. What were you looking for?

 

[robinb]

Robin,

Thanks for the heads up. I messed myself up. I called 7 months prior to my check out date because I think the Member book said that. I stand corrected and next time will take your advice. Thanks.

No, you didn't mess up. The dates may not have been there day-by-day either.

However, my guess is that if you had waitlisted you would have gotten it. I waitlisted myself for the week after new year in a standard view studio only 5 months out. I got a couple days when I called and I popped off the waitlist for the other days within a couple months. Then, I made someone very happy a couple weeks ago and cancelled the whole week and they popped off the waitlist .