very disappointed with boardwalk

[DeeP]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
Interesting, since you seem to always think only OKW has available rooms that close!

No I don't! I think OKW has rooms available a lot closer than 5 months prior to the trip. Believe it or not 5-6 months out is a little less than average for me booking a DVC resort. 5 months out is really not close for me at all. I have had trips that I tried to book as close as 1-2 months prior and those I have never gotten lucky with any rooms available but at OKW.
What I have stated many times that I book DVC resorts and WDW rooms in general very close to trips because I go to WDW so often if I tried to book everything at 11 months I would be constantly booking, borrowing etc, also many times business trips come up with a lot less notice than 11 months so again I do not have a big booking window.
What I have also said is I do is change my trip dates (if possible) to get into a DVC resort I prefer rather than settle for OKW. I have also said that OKW has always been available no matter how close to the trip I have called for reservations.
I don't mean to be picky but you do tend to credit me with words or actions that I do not say or do. I am prefectly willing to own up to my statements and actions but please make sure they are mine! Thank you!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Originally posted by DeeP
I don't! I consider it a big advantage in that you have more choices. You have the big advantage of standard view villas to save pts, or you can spend more pts and get a preferred view and if you reserve early and get lucky you can even reserve a boardwalk view. To me, having a bigger variety is an advantage, a plus of BWV.

I totally agree!!

 

[PamOKW]

Originally posted by DeeP
I have stayed at BWV twice since the new booking policy went into effect, both reservations were made at much less than 7 months and both times I got great preferred view rooms. My last trip 3 weeks ago my view, that was preferred view villa made at 5 months btw,

So, why have we had lengthy posts about how it is impossible to book BWV on short notice? Sounds like there isn't a problem if you are even getting the preferred views without having to book within your home resort priority period.

LOL!! I guess if it ain't broke there's no need to fix it. Sounds like the DVC program is working okay after all.

 

[MiaSRN62]

If your view was anything other than parking lot, it is prefered. 80% of the hotel is prefered view.

Just thought I'd add that there are preferred view rooms at the BWV that face parking lots. I was in one this past July. A large portion of our view was the valet parking lot.
A view is important to me I must admit. We often like to lounge on our balcony/porch and take in the sights. We've always had fantastic views at OKW, and while I fully believe BWV has awesome views too, we were not fortunate enough to get one on our trip there.
Sorry about your experience Nicurn. While I didn't have the best view at the BW this summer, I felt the CM's (mousekeeping, valet, front desk, gift shop etc) were very friendly and helpful there & our room was very clean. There was a problem getting a room key because they had an electrical outage, but the bellhop let us into our room. There was a horrible thunder storm going on during check-in. Valet even took my husband out to our van on one of those golf carts when he forgot to bring up a suitcase. My husband was going to walk out to the parking lot, but valet would hear nothing of it.
Hoping your next experience there will be better Nicurn.

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by PamOKW
So, why have we had lengthy posts about how it is impossible to book BWV on short notice? Sounds like there isn't a problem if you are even getting the preferred views without having to book within your home resort priority period.

LOL!! I guess if it ain't broke there's no need to fix it. Sounds like the DVC program is working okay after all.

Actually it is the standard view villas that are the hardest to get and also the boardwalk view villas are difficult.
What I said in my previous posts regarding booking at BWV vs OKW is that it is annoying to always be told the OKW is available no matter how short the booking window is but yet I have to juggle my trip dates many times to get into any resort other than OKW.

 

[PamOKW]

OKW is the largest resort so it has the greatest possibility of being available. I would think you'd consider yourself fortunate to have a back-up for short notice trips. When you are talking about trying to get rooms within a month or two you are no longer just competing with fellow DVC members but with paying guests that Disney has put into the rooms during the breakage period. That is probably the difficulty you face at BWV more so than any imbalance in the DVC system. Unfortunately, I don't think adding a slide at OKW is going to do much to change those circumstances at BWV.

 

[Betty X]

So far I have had really good luck with the wait list less than 2 months out at BWV. I have 3 nights that I need for a week in Jan 2004 in a standard view studio. I am sweating a little because the 30 day cancellation period has come and gone but at the worst I will have to move to OKW twice. Not the end of the world but I still hope it comes through!

 

[DeeP]

That is your theory of why OKW is always available. There is absolutley no proof that this is the case.
Maybe Disney's decision to put a pool slide at OKW is excatly as some have posted.........they are trying to drum up interest in people staying at OKW. If they are trying to drum up interest in people being willing to stay at OKW, this might suggest that OKW has an much higher rate of empty rooms than Disney likes and they are trying to get people interested in this resort so there are not as great of a % of empty rooms.

 

[PamOKW]

The size of OKW has always made it fairly easy to book, even on short notice. Once SSR is fully built, I imagine it will also be a source of last minute rooms as well.

When OKW was the only on-site WDW resort, members never had to book at 11 months out (the special season list being the exception). This may have gotten many of them into the habit of booking much closer to their actual date of travel. Not having to book any specific category of room but having only one point schedule may also lessen the urgency of making plans 11 months out. This leaves the resort more open for longer periods of time. Also, as I think I've mentioned before if the percentage of members who cancel is roughly the same at all DVC resorts, you will always have a greater number of rooms at OKW available.

Maybe once the slide has been added it will alleviate your problem but I wouldn't be expecting a major change in availability at BWV. It's not my "theory" that OKW is larger than BWV -- that is fact.

 

[DeeP]

It's not my "theory" that OKW is larger than BWV -- that is fact.

No it is your theory that OKW is always available because it is the bigger resort. This may be true but then it may very well might not be true, no one knows since there has not been any official info released from Disney either supporting or rejecting this theory. The almost always short term availablity at OKW might very well be due to the fact that members choose other DVC resorts to stay at over OKW. As I said no one knows except for maybe Disney and they have not shared this info with the DIS board. However the decision to put in a slide after 12 years of the resort being open might be an indication that Disney is trying to drum up interest in OKW to fill more empty rooms then Disney is happy with. BTW, I did not post this theory about druming up interest in OKW, another poster did, but when you think of it, it is feasible and sensible.

 

[MiaSRN62]

OKW is the largest resort so it has the greatest possibility of being available. I would think you'd consider yourself fortunate to have a back-up for short notice trips. When you are talking about trying to get rooms within a month or two you are no longer just competing with fellow DVC members but with paying guests that Disney has put into the rooms during the breakage period.

I agree with Pam in her above statement. As far as last minute trips, Pam made a good point----all DVC members should feel very fortunate to have OKW availability this last minute (2 months out). I also own at an off-site timeshare and most times I can't even secure ressies there that last minute. Getting rooms at alot of Disney resorts 2 months out can also be very difficult. I've had trouble in the past with WL, Poly and AS Movies for last minute trips. Luckily OKW has so many rooms and thus, often has last minute availability, though I believe it's "possible" to secure last minute ressies at any of the DVC resorts if you're willing to wait up until the last minute. I've even read several posts on these boards where people secured BWV/BCV ressies at the last minute.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Agreed, Maria, but some here like to ignore that fact that ALL DVC resorts can usually be gotten on short notice. I think it may seem like OKW has more availability not only because of the size, but because folks don't feel the need to always book so early with the larger number of rooms available. The REALLY hard ones to book late are BCV and VWL, because they are significantly smaller than BWV and OKW. It will be interesting to see what happens at SSR. They will have lots of units too, but they will NOT have the lower points schedule, lower dues, or convenience to Epcot either.

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by DeeP
No it is your theory that OKW is always available because it is the bigger resort. This may be true but then it may very well might not be true, no one knows since there has not been any official info released from Disney either supporting or rejecting this theory.

Are you seriously trying to question that OKW is a much larger resort? Just when you think someone can't get any more "out there" in their "arguments" to minimize another location try to make themselves feel better about "their" resort.........Maybe G.a.L.?

 

[dianeschlicht]

 

[MelissathePooh]

DeeP isn't arguing about the size of OKW. That isn't the point - the statement was that the theory about availability being directly related to the size cannot be proved. It is just as possible and - my opinion more likely that the more common availability at OKW has more to do with the fact that there is less demand to stay there compare to the other DVC resorts. If given the option I believe MOST people would rather stay someplace else. That is my opinion - and much like the opinion that there is more availibility at OKW because its bigger cannot be proved or disproved at this point.

Most likely its a combination of the two that gives OKW greater availibility - less demand in the first place and more rooms to fill.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Interesting that an OP about someone being unhappy with BWV was turned around to be a rag on OKW AGAIN!

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
Interesting that an OP about someone being unhappy with BWV was turned around to be a rag on OKW AGAIN!

Interesting in an eye-rolling, head-shaking, sad sort of way. BWV is a perfectly nice resort overall. Comparing DVC resorts is the epitome of comparing apples to oranges.

I don't understand the inferiority complex and constant obsession with trying to be "better" than another. Grasping at straws to put a spin on information to "prove" that OKW is inferior is just bizarre, as is the cackling pleasure in thinking that any OKW owners might be unhappy at new developments. It is just creepy.

 

[MiaSRN62]

It is just as possible and - my opinion more likely that the more common availability at OKW has more to do with the fact that there is less demand to stay there compare to the other DVC resorts. If given the option I believe MOST people would rather stay someplace else. That is my opinion - and much like the opinion that there is more availibility at OKW because its bigger cannot be proved or disproved at this point.

Well, if the size vs availability point can't be proven (Melissa states : the statement was that the theory about availability being directly related to the size cannot be proved.) , then I fully believe neither can your guess/opinion MelissathePooh about folks would rather stay anywhere BUT OKW ? I simply don't buy into this.

I don't understand the inferiority complex and constant obsession with trying to be "better" than another.

Agreed Fred ! What are people basing their statements on and more importantly, WHY ?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Grasping at straws to put a spin on information to "prove" that OKW is inferior is just bizarre, as is the cackling pleasure in thinking that any OKW owners might be unhappy at new developments. It is just creepy.

Yep!

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by FredS
Are you seriously trying to question that OKW is a much larger resort? Just when you think someone can't get any more "out there" in their "arguments" to minimize another location try to make themselves feel better about "their" resort.........Maybe G.a.L.?

Please show me where I was questioning that OKW is larger than BWV. Please show me this, because I would love to see it!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do not have to make myself feel better about my DVC home resort, I already know it is definitly one of the top, deluxe, premium WDW resorts on property!