There is only one way to describe an OKW Grand Villa..WOWWWWWWWW

[bunnymkc]

tJust got back from spending 9 days in Fla..5 at an OKW GV and 4 at Hard Rock Hotel at US..There was 15 of us with 12 staying at the GV and the other 3 at VWL..When we opened the door we all said"OH my God" It just took our breath away and we remembered why we bought DVC as when we saw the model of the GV about 6 or 7 years ago..we forgot what it looked like and how big it is..we had a wonderful stay at DW with one of the young fellows cooking us breakfast every morning,choc chip Mickey pancakes,omlets,eggs etc..as we were leaving to go to the HR Hotel I said who's going to miss the Mickey pancakes and we all shouted ME..It was very hard to compare the HR as we were just in love with the GV but I have to say that I will never stay there again..it just didn't have the MAGIC of Disney..it certainlly didn't feel like HOME and the CM ere not as wonderful as Disney's CM'S. I wish we could stay in a BW GV but as the points are so high I am sure we will not get a chance..we were in bldg 16 which is close to the HH but not too close..it was quiet but beautiful and we will never forget it I'm sure..if any of you have a chance please do so as the points are not too high and the experience was well worth it..HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!! Any questions please feel free to ask..Marianne

 

[PamOKW]

It's great to share the excitement you felt in the GV. It's also nice to know that it can still "wow" you even though you've been doing DVC for years.

 

[Towncrier]

I can completely understand you "wow". The one and only time that we stayed in an OKW GV, it nearly cost me a hunderd thousand dollars. Both my wife and I decided then and there that we needed to gut our house here in Ohio and model it after the GV. Of course, how practical would that have been? Not at all. Fortunately, we skipped the renovation and just bought more points at OKW. Hopefully we'll get to stay in a GV every now and then and be "wow"ed all over again.

 

[AZKathy]

That is exactly how our group felt when we walked in our Grand Villa this summer. We were with two other families; one already were DVC members and the other family was so impressed, they purchased, also!

We are doing the GV again next Thanksgiving with DH's family. Can't wait; under one year for countdown!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Do you think Rich may respond to this thread.

 

[jaysue]

Yoo hoo......Rich come come out wherever you are

 

[eva]

My husband and I couldn't agree more. We are building a new house and most of it was modeled after a GV. We brought the floor plans to an architect and of course he said that it wouldn't look quite right free standing. Plus we needed an office. So a number of modificatins where made and we added about 800 square feet to the house for a total of 3,000 square feet. I'm so excited! We just broke ground 2 weeks ago on an acre of land with a lake. The best part is the master bedroom. It is very similar to the GV except there are two master bathrooms and a huge walk-in closet. But we have the corner tub with the shuttered window looking into the bedroom. I wonder if I will feel like I'm at OKW all year round now.

 

[Pluto4President]

Missed you this year Marianne - we're "home" now till the 30th. I had thought you had the GV before. They are definately breathtaking. And you are right, it's a shame the BWV are so costly!

 

[CarolynFH]

bunnymkc, do you own at OKW? If not, did you have any difficulty booking your GV at 7 months? What are the chances of booking a GV at OKW if it's not your home resort, but you go at a less-popular time of year?

One of my dreams is to get a GV one year and bring my parents and other family members. I would love to have a big OKW GV, but I think we'll have to "settle" for one at BWV. (That's assuming that we can stay away from WDW long enough to save up a year's worth of points - it will take 3 years of points for us to have a week in a GV!)

 

[DeeP]

I would love to have a big OKW GV, but I think we'll have to "settle" for one at BWV.

Not to worry............You will definitely not have to "settle" IF you are lucky enough to get a GV at BWV. The GV at BWV is true top of line Disney deluxe accomendations in the best location at WDW. Nope you will not be settling at all--actually it is quite the opposite! You get what you pay for in life and the GV at BWV is a true reflection of this!!! Disney has always priced all their accomendations accordingly and their GVs are NO exception.

 

[MiaSRN62]

You get what you pay for in life and the GV at BWV is a true reflection of this!!! Disney has always priced all their accomendations accordingly and their GVs are NO exception.

Don't exactly get the point of this statement, but if it is attempting to make the BWV's GV's out as superior to the OKW GV's then I don't buy it. OKW is an older resort and thus it was Disney's first attempt at setting the point charts. I think once they saw how the DVC was growing and taking off, they figured they'd up the points at all the other resorts at the get-go because they knew they could count on people buying. (aka "build it and they will come. Set the point charts higher and they will still come")
Also, OKW has at least twice as many GV's at BWV so I think the supply and demand dictate that the BWV GV's are more points. I don't think either one is better than the other. Each offers luxurious accomodations to suit the needs of various guests.
Maybe I took your post wrong Deep ? If so, I apologize for misunderstanding the meaning of your statement. I just so dislike making out one DVC resort to be so far superior to another. It's just not true.
The only statement I agreed with in your post is that CarolynFH will not have to settle. I don't feel anyone "settles" at ANY of the DVC resorts

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
Also, OKW has at least twice as many GV's at BWV so I think the supply and demand dictate that the BWV GV's are more points. I don't think either one is better than the other.

I agree MiaSRN62..............take a look at the example below

OKW-27 GV's
BWV-7 GV's

Sample...........GV at OKW Dream Season 1 week- 439 pts
...................GV at BWV's Dream Season 1 week-676 pts

Do the math Deep.................do you think it is worth the extra 237 pts for the same GV?

 

[AZKathy]

Originally posted by MiaSRN62
Don't exactly get the point of this statement, but if it is attempting to make the BWV's GV's out as superior to the OKW GV's then I don't buy it. OKW is an older resort and thus it was Disney's first attempt at setting the point charts. I think once they saw how the DVC was growing and taking off, they figured they'd up the points at all the other resorts at the get-go because they knew they could count on people buying. (aka "build it and they will come. Set the point charts higher and they will still come")
Also, OKW has at least twice as many GV's at BWV so I think the supply and demand dictate that the BWV GV's are more points. I don't think either one is better than the other. Each offers luxurious accomodations to suit the needs of various guests.
Maybe I took your post wrong Deep ? If so, I apologize for misunderstanding the meaning of your statement. I just so dislike making out one DVC resort to be so far superior to another. It's just not true.
The only statement I agreed with in your post is that CarolynFH will not have to settle. I don't feel anyone "settles" at ANY of the DVC resorts

Amen!

 

[bunnymkc]

Carolynfh, most of our points are at OKW we own just 80 at BW..we did book day by day last year as I wanted to make sure we would get all the days..that is one of the lowest point wise to go only 190 for the 5 days which I thought was pretty good as we were going to go to BW just the 6 of us and it would have been the same for a 2 bdrm or close to it..I really love all the resorts and wish I had points in each one.our family does seem to perfer BWV as it was the 1st one we stayed in at Christmas one year and it holds some sweet and dear memories for us..we will be going to BWV in Feb with our best friends and then probably again with our family around Dec of 04 would love to go to Vero again in 04 as it was just too beautiful this past june but don't know if we can get away at that time again..anyway if you don't have points at OKW you could try to book at the 7th month window as I am sure everyone is going to try the new SS and you might get lucky also go on the waitlist I have had a lot of luck with the waitlist..what ever you decide good luck and I hope you get the GV as it is really not to be missed..Pluto sorry we missed you again have a great Thanksgiving in DW with your family..MariannePS Carolyn we booked at the 11th month window last year for the GV at OKW..

 

[rocketriter]

We just OK'd our purchase yesterday and haven't stayed with DVC yet. When I read about people "booking each day" I assume that means calling reservations on the first day a room is available against your use year, then calling each subsequent day to extend the stay until your vacation is the length you want. Assuming I'm correct, my question is: when you do this, are you setting up a series of separate reservations or does the reservation system link them together? In practical terms, I'm wondering if this means that you have to spend time at the front desk checking out and then in again every day.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by rocketriter
my question is: when you do this, are you setting up a series of separate reservations or does the reservation system link them together? In practical terms, I'm wondering if this means that you have to spend time at the front desk checking out and then in again every day.

It will be 1 reservation........just tell the MS, when you call the 1st day of day by day, that you will be calling for 4-5-6 or 7 days. They will keep it an 'open" reservation. When you book your last day, they will send you 1 confirmation.
You will not have to check in-and- or out of every day of your stay.

P.S. "WELCOME HOME"!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Nick has already answered your question correctly. It is really only necessary duing high DVC times. I just called this week day by day for a GV for the start of the F&W festival next October. I did this the first day and asked if interest was high enough to require that I continue with the day by day ressies. The CM said it was very active, and she would advise this for the GV. I had them all linked, and when I called the last day, the CM even reminded me that it was the last day. I have only used the day by day ressies for the GV and for new years.

As an aside...DeeP, I see you bashing OKW people all the time when we support our own resort, and you can't seem to take it when Richyams gives it back. Get over it!!! ALL DVC resorts are great places to stay! Of course, the older one costs fewer points! There are more units and the construction costs were significantly less 12 years ago. As you can see, SSR will also be fewer points in some instances because there will be more units there as well. You might not like OKW, but some of us love it for exactly the same reasons you don't. Then again, some of us don't love your BWV either. To each his own. No one has to "settle" for staying in any DVC.

 

[rocketriter]

Thank you both for complete and helpful answers to my question. It sounds as if, when I'm booking 11 months ahead for a 1-bedroom during anything but Magic or Premier season, I probably don't have to mess with day-by-day booking at the BCV. If my needs change, you've given me the knowledge to do it right.

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht

As an aside...DeeP, I see you bashing OKW people all the time when we support our own resort, and you can't seem to take it when Richyams gives it back. Get over it!!! ALL DVC resorts are great places to stay! Of course, the older one costs fewer points! There are more units and the construction costs were significantly less 12 years ago. As you can see, SSR will also be fewer points in some instances because there will be more units there as well. You might not like OKW, but some of us love it for exactly the same reasons you don't. Then again, some of us don't love your BWV either. To each his own. No one has to "settle" for staying in any DVC.

Since this is the part of your post that has addressed me, this is the part that I will answer. The portion of CarolynFH's post that I was answering was when she said they would "settle" for a GV BWV. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is no such thing as settling to be able to stay in one of Disney's top notch resorts--which BWV most definitely is.
As far as me bashing OKW people, not so. I do not tell lies about OKW and have NEVER made derogatory statements about OKW owners like is constantly done by Richyams regarding BWV members, the BWV resort and basically all the DVC resorts with the exception of OKW.
The only comments I make regarding OKW are true statements and my feelings for the resort. The resort is no way as near to major parks, restaurants, etc. as the other DVC resorts are, it does have less amenitites offered to its guests than a moderate or value resorts does-at least at these resorts(moderate and value) you have life guards at their pools, and OKW does have the largest 1 br out of all the DVC WDW resorts but the studios and GV are basically the same. I do find the studio set up at all studios except OKW to be preferrable. I do find the location of OKW to be no better than a moderate resort and OKW does remind me very much of CBR. I do not find that OKW gives me equal value for my points or cash as the other DVC resorts do.
I think "all Disney resorts" are great places to stay, it is just some are better than others and I find OKW to not be on par with the other DVC resorts nor the Disney deluxe resorts.
Disney does price their resorts according to their location and amenities. The age or the size of the resort does not seem to matter because if this was so then Poly would be one of the lowest priced resorts since it was one of the 2 orginal WDW resorts, but it is priced as one of the highest resorts. Why is the Poly one of the highest priced resorts at WDW? Because of location and amenitites! The same holds true for OKW. The cash or point price for OKW is lower than the other DVC resorts because you are getting less for your money or points. Believe it or not to many people the size of the 1 BR is not nearly as important as the location of the resort the resort amenities etc. I have even had CMs at member services tell me that OKW is not as "high end" level of resort as BWV, BCV and VWL are. Sorry if this bothers you but it is the truth.
You have a lot of nerve pointing fingers at me when you simply are fulled with delight everytime Richyams posts one of his ridiculous lies regarding BWV and degrades it's members and you are right there as his #1 cheerleader with comments like "What a hoot, etc., etc." You do not have to look far to see what I am referring to just look at the post from the other day regarding BWV GV. Or you resurrecting the stupid thread "OKW really is an Epcot resort" is another example of how you relish bashing or stirring up OKW vs the world threads. What a bunch of BS!
I have recently (within the past few months) chosen to ignore most things posted by Richyams and yourself because they are simply not worth my time or the effort to type a response, but since you purposely mentioned my name in this post I felt I had to address this.
I know I own a DVC membership at one of the very top DVC resorts so I am not insecure about my purchase and can and have ignored most bashes against BWV, etc in the past several months, you on the other hand seem incapable of doing this. You get over it!!
Now go get out you pom poms and put on your best cheerleading face and be ready to cheer on Richyams for his next bash against all DVC resorts and members with the exception of OKW. I personally have no time for this and will not be partaking in anymore of this BS. I wish everyone would stay at OKW and avoid the other DVC resorts it would certainly make it much easier to get into the superior DVC resorts at BWV, BCV and VWL!

 

[RobDoc]

The topic of this thread is the GV at OKW. Please keep responses to that topic.

If anyone feels the need to address another poster, please take it to PM or email. Further exchanges about bashing will not be tolerated in this thread.

If anyone feels the need to comment about any aspect of BWV in a thread about OKW (or BCV, VWL, VB, HH or SSR)- please start your own thread and make the comment there.

If someone does make reference to another resort that varies from the original topic, please use the "Report This Post" feature and allow the moderators to address the off-topic post rather than take matters into your own hands.

For those who like to use the phrase "It is the truth", unless you can reference an official statement from Disney or DVC about the reason for points being different at any resort, it is merely an opinion- regardless who said it. I'm not aware of any statement from DVC explaining that any resort is more "high end" than another- if the document exists, please provide the particulars. Otherwise, please state it as an opinion.

Thanks.