The I Love BWV (yes, Hallways and Clown Pool too!) Thread

[airjay75]

It seems that booking at 11 months is getting harder for everyone, not just BW owners. I have seen so many complaints across social media boards the last 30 days about not getting anything at 11 months. I saw someone this weekend who couldn't even get a 1 bed at BW at 11 months. Something is changing not sure what. I would encourage sending DVC an email to complain if you have time and if it is effecting your ownership.

I’ve seen some of this too. I feel a lot of this must be attributable to the past 30 days being the time to book for early December. I think it has become increasingly clear to a lot of people - DVC owners using their points and spec renters trying to maximize returns - that December is the time when you will maximize your DVC returns whether on a value basis measured against cash stays or for potential rental returns because you won’t have to worry about Disney offering 30% and 40% discounts.

Sure, spec renting is definitely still a problem, but I feel increasingly convinced that we need some serious points charts adjustments, especially if Disney is going to keep loading up spring and summer with large discounts. You’re not getting a lot of value out of your points if you go in the summer, but you get massive value in December. And, accordingly, way more return renting out your points in December.

 

[AstroBlasters]

This is the first time that I have seen even the G/P view rooms book up completely at 11 months. Even early December typically had G/P rooms available in the past.

The lack of dedicated 2BR at BWV is a big negative for us. We ended up booking a GV because getting a 2BR was almost impossible.

Same same.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I’ve seen some of this too. I feel a lot of this must be attributable to the past 30 days being the time to book for early December. I think it has become increasingly clear to a lot of people - DVC owners using their points and spec renters trying to maximize returns - that December is the time when you will maximize your DVC returns whether on a value basis measured against cash stays or for potential rental returns because you won’t have to worry about Disney offering 30% and 40% discounts.

Sure, spec renting is definitely still a problem, but I feel increasingly convinced that we need some serious points charts adjustments, especially if Disney is going to keep loading up spring and summer with large discounts. You’re not getting a lot of value out of your points if you go in the summer, but you get massive value in December. And, accordingly, way more return renting out your points in December.

I agree with this.

 

[miss0033]

I’ve seen some of this too. I feel a lot of this must be attributable to the past 30 days being the time to book for early December. I think it has become increasingly clear to a lot of people - DVC owners using their points and spec renters trying to maximize returns - that December is the time when you will maximize your DVC returns whether on a value basis measured against cash stays or for potential rental returns because you won’t have to worry about Disney offering 30% and 40% discounts.

Sure, spec renting is definitely still a problem, but I feel increasingly convinced that we need some serious points charts adjustments, especially if Disney is going to keep loading up spring and summer with large discounts. You’re not getting a lot of value out of your points if you go in the summer, but you get massive value in December. And, accordingly, way more return renting out your points in December.

This makes a lot of sense. I know a lot of people like this, especially when it comes to travel. They don't take the trip they necessarily want to take, they take the trip that gets the most value. IE, how expensive of a flight could I possibly book with this set amount of airline miles. We know people who brag about oh, this flight would've normally cost this much, but we used XX amount of miles and only paid tax. Same with hotel points, etc. I am willing to bet there is a certain number of DVC owners with a similar mentality. So you find when 'value' is highest, and then build your trip around that.

There is nothing wrong with that, everyone is free to go about their own business with their own money, miles, points, etc. Just agreeing with your sentiment that there is definitely something to that line of thinking.

 

[mrsap]

It’s being reported on FB that work is being done inside the old Big River Grille location…

Posted by Shelley Eggert

 

[RickNJane]

It seems that booking at 11 months is getting harder for everyone, not just BW owners. I have seen so many complaints across social media boards the last 30 days about not getting anything at 11 months. I saw someone this weekend who couldn't even get a 1 bed at BW at 11 months. Something is changing not sure what. I would encourage sending DVC an email to complain if you have time and if it is effecting your ownership.

I usually book a 1 or 2 br as soon as possible at 11 months and never had an issue at BWV or anywhere. VDH, however can be a bit of an issue due to inventory. We usually travel the first 2 weeks in December, but have started going the middle 2 weeks in November. So being a curious person, I just went and checked and holy crap. The only place I could get during the first two weeks was AKV Kindani. This is definitely much worse than the past. I could understand Kindani being tight with the refurb, but no.

Still looks like November is pretty wide open, but as other posters said, it is a bit more point expensive during this time.

I'm sure I'll get a lot of hate for this, but maybe they should go back to the old days where you could book 11 Months from Check out instead of Check in. (or do I have it backwards ) I remember calling MS Every day first thing in the morning to extend a reservation. Sorta reverse walking . I live on the west coast so early was really early. Was sort of a pain, but always got what I wanted. And no issues with people walking reservations.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I usually book a 1 or 2 br as soon as possible at 11 months and never had an issue at BWV or anywhere. VDH, however can be a bit of an issue due to inventory. We usually travel the first 2 weeks in December, but have started going the middle 2 weeks in November. So being a curious person, I just went and checked and holy crap. The only place I could get during the first two weeks was AKV Kindani. This is definitely much worse than the past. I could understand Kindani being tight with the refurb, but no.

Still looks like November is pretty wide open, but as other posters said, it is a bit more point expensive during this time.

I'm sure I'll get a lot of hate for this, but maybe they should go back to the old days where you could book 11 Months from Check out instead of Check in. (or do I have it backwards ) I remember calling MS Every day first thing in the morning to extend a reservation. Sorta reverse walking . I live on the west coast so early was really early. Was sort of a pain, but always got what I wanted. And no issues with people walking reservations.

That sounds awful. I don’t think I’d keep DVC it that made it that much of a pain to use.

 

[RickNJane]

That sounds awful. I don’t think I’d keep DVC it that made it that much of a pain to use.

Like I said, I will get a bit of hate for this.

I joined back in 1996, you know back in the bearskins and flint knives era! You had to call MS to make any reservation. It was someone at MS that told me to just make the reservation for 1 day and call back daily to extend it. Was not as bad as you would think.

But back then we did not have as many resorts or members either. Walking reservations seems to be a huge problem. Walking was an unintended consequence of the rule change. If it continues to be hard to get reservations at 11 months, something will have to change. Right now there seems to be no interest from VCD to do anything. Even their so called crack down on commercial renting as done nothing but cause confusion. The change could be something as simple as you can modify a reservation 2 times on the website then you have to call in. I'm sure if we make enough noise things will change.

 

[airjay75]

Still looks like November is pretty wide open, but as other posters said, it is a bit more point expensive during this time.

I think this is where I see the biggest part of the problem. Sure, I understand Thanksgiving weekend being more points, but why does 10/1-11/24 cost more points than 12/1-12/23. Looks to me like rack rates, even without any discounts, are cheaper in October and November.

I think there was a time that people were not willing to take vacations in early December and it was, accordingly, a low demand period. But, that time is no more. So long as DVC keeps the gap between points and rack rates as high as they are in December, I don't think any other change is going to make much difference. People using their points will want to target that time for trips and people using their points to make money, whether that's spec renters or Disney itself, will grab the rooms they can to rent for maximum profit.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Like I said, I will get a bit of hate for this.

I joined back in 1996, you know back in the bearskins and flint knives era! You had to call MS to make any reservation. It was someone at MS that told me to just make the reservation for 1 day and call back daily to extend it. Was not as bad as you would think.

But back then we did not have as many resorts or members either. Walking reservations seems to be a huge problem. Walking was an unintended consequence of the rule change. If it continues to be hard to get reservations at 11 months, something will have to change. Right now there seems to be no interest from VCD to do anything. Even their so called crack down on commercial renting as done nothing but cause confusion. The change could be something as simple as you can modify a reservation 2 times on the website then you have to call in. I'm sure if we make enough noise things will change.

There is things they could do to help things without harming us regular members but they have seemingly chosen not to. Also get a lot of hate when I bring up commercial renting as many think it’s no big deal.

 

[RickNJane]

There is things they could do to help things without harming us regular members but they have seemingly chosen not to. Also get a lot of hate when I bring up commercial renting as many think it’s no big deal.

I do have a faint glimmer of hope. The owners at VGC made a lot of noise about the sub-par refurb that was just completed. It was supposed to be a complete hard goods refurb, but they did not do anything to the bathrooms. Well the uprising worked and a second refurb was announced starting fairly quickly.

So complaints help, or so it seems. Maybe we should pack the condo association meetings and make sure we are heard. If we start organizing now, perhaps we could make a difference?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Like I said, I will get a bit of hate for this.

I joined back in 1996, you know back in the bearskins and flint knives era! You had to call MS to make any reservation. It was someone at MS that told me to just make the reservation for 1 day and call back daily to extend it. Was not as bad as you would think.

But back then we did not have as many resorts or members either. Walking reservations seems to be a huge problem. Walking was an unintended consequence of the rule change. If it continues to be hard to get reservations at 11 months, something will have to change. Right now there seems to be no interest from VCD to do anything. Even their so called crack down on commercial renting as done nothing but cause confusion. The change could be something as simple as you can modify a reservation 2 times on the website then you have to call in. I'm sure if we make enough noise things will change.

It’s not hate, but it would just make the entire system too burdensome to be worth it.

Remember this is on top of the crazy early Pacific Time zone times to book dining reservations, reserved seating, etc.

There is a reason they changed it.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I do have a faint glimmer of hope. The owners at VGC made a lot of noise about the sub-par refurb that was just completed. It was supposed to be a complete hard goods refurb, but they did not do anything to the bathrooms. Well the uprising worked and a second refurb was announced starting fairly quickly.

So complaints help, or so it seems. Maybe we should pack the condo association meetings and make sure we are heard. If we start organizing now, perhaps we could make a difference?

I wish attending the meetings were easier. It’s pretty unfair to not have any type of virtual attendance this day and age.

 

[RickNJane]

I wish attending the meetings were easier. It’s pretty unfair to not have any type of virtual attendance this day and age.

Totally agreed.

 

[soniam]

There is things they could do to help things without harming us regular members but they have seemingly chosen not to. Also get a lot of hate when I bring up commercial renting as many think it’s no big deal.

I am surprised about people dismissing commercial renting. I have a friend who owns at AKV. She almost always gets the value room with much effort. She noticed it was getting even harder. I said it was probably commercial renters, not rental agencies, because those rooms are all over the FB groups. I guess she never looked, since she never rents points. I guess we will see about the crackdown.

This is one of the first years that I have booked after my 11 month window. Neither of us are working, so we have more time to add WDW days to trips that were for other places in Florida. September at BWV had no studios, of course, but I had the points for a 1 bed. Don’t need it, but maybe the waitlist will come through. Got a 1 bed for SSR in April, but this late I wasn’t too surprised. Plus, we’ve never stayed at SSR.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I am surprised about people dismissing commercial renting. I have a friend who owns at AKV. She almost always gets the value room with much effort. She noticed it was getting even harder. I said it was probably commercial renters, not rental agencies, because those rooms are all over the FB groups. I guess she never looked, since she never rents points. I guess we will see about the crackdown.

This is one of the first years that I have booked after my 11 month window. Neither of us are working, so we have more time to add WDW days to trips that were for other places in Florida. September at BWV had no studios, of course, but I had the points for a 1 bed. Don’t need it, but maybe the waitlist will come through. Got a 1 bed for SSR in April, but this late I wasn’t too surprised. Plus, we’ve never stayed at SSR.

I do think many don’t see all the things I see on various groups for rent. It very disheartening to see 1 person renting out 10 reservations Boardwalk Resort studios and VGC studios in one posting. At least on broker sites I have slight hope it’s *might* be from various owners.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I do think many don’t see all the things I see on various groups for rent. It very disheartening to see 1 person renting out 10 reservations Boardwalk Resort studios and VGC studios in one posting. At least on broker sites I have slight hope it’s *might* be from various owners.

I’ll also add it’s extra disheartening when you own those 2 resorts to see it.

 

[mrsap]

It’s being reported on FB that work is being done inside the old Big River Grille location…

Posted by Shelley Eggert

Wanted to add a post shared on another FB group. Obviously nothing announced, so take it for what it’s worth.

“So I was sitting hear enjoying the view , several construction workers came & went. I asked them what they’re building there, a hot dog place !”

Posted by C. Cousins

 

[zackiedawg]

Let's hope that's wrong - wouldn't make any sense since they already have corn dogs on the boardwalk. A dedicated hot dog place would be silly. Burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, etc - that would make some sense.

 

[CarolynFH]

Let's hope that's wrong - wouldn't make any sense since they already have corn dogs on the boardwalk. A dedicated hot dog place would be silly. Burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, etc - that would make some sense.

Maybe they’ll move the corn dog place there and add items. As I posted on the Disney Resorts forum, I’d prefer burgers and salads, but I’ll take hot dogs if there’s indoor, air conditioned seating.