We just signed up!!! Questions on VB

[PamOKW]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>its easy to get into Vero at anytime. [/quote]

That's not entirely accurate either Rich. I have had times when I could not get a DVC room at Vero.

Just throwing this idea out there....Many people have regretted not buying DVC sooner but said they really didn't know about it until BWV made it "visible". OKW is not out in the public eye as much as BWV. New BWV owners, of course, want to stay at BWV initially but I'm wondering whether once circumstances take them over to OKW and they get a taste whether some of them might decide to stay at OKW more often. Once this happens things will once again "balance" between resorts. Just like some BWV owners will probably want to try out WLV as well.

What I think really contributes to the problem is the large number of 150 point owners. They want/need to stay in either the studio or 1-bedrooms probably with a preference for standard view. This is what makes it difficult for a non-BWV owner to get standard view.

 

[kem330]

Re: Pam's remarks:
"Just throwing this idea out there....Many people have regretted not buying DVC sooner but said they really didn't know about it until BWV made it "visible". OKW is not out in the public eye as much as BWV. New BWV owners, of course, want to stay at BWV initially but I'm wondering whether once circumstances take them over to OKW and they get a taste whether some of them might decide to stay at OKW more often. Once this happens things will once again "balance" between resorts. Just like some BWV owners will probably want to try out WLV as well."
I'm curious, Do BW owners like to stay over at OKW? Since we are new BW members and haven't tried it yet, I wonder whether other BW owners have changed their preferences towards any of the other resorts once they tried them? At this point we bought strictly on location preference.(BTW, we are one of those who bought VB and backed out and bought resale BW)

 

[LauraS]

My husband and I are wondering the same thing about BWV owners staying at OKW or VWL. We're members for two years now and while I can see myself enjoying OKW for a different kind of Disney experience, my hubby isn't sold yet. He loves the BW location and the easy access to the Studios and Epcot. I can see a trip to OKW in the future, mainly if we were bringing a large group with us and needed to stretch our points a bit.

I do agree with Rich on his point about the BCV. I think that BWV will become even more popular and more difficult to get when BCV is completed. Especially if the points per stay are increased. It will become very difficult for anyone who isn't a BWV owner to get ressies. It'll make BWV owners book at the 10-11 month point to ensure that they can enjoy a stay at their home resort. Eventually I believe that necessity to secure any kind of ressie may drive some late booking BWV owners over to OKW, and the VWL. Fine by me, though, I'd like to try OKW and VB too. As long as I get the majority of my stays at BWV I'm a happy camper.

 

[garrett79]

Rich, thanks for the counter point. Just out of curiosity, what is your beef with DVC sales? We plan on going several times a year at all of the different DVC resorts including BWV. If we get it fine, if not we will move on to VWL or OKW.

 

[Richyams]

I thin DVC sales does us al wrong when they use lies and fraud to sell their poorly planned Vero Beach resort. We have heard an entire range of lies told by DVC sales staff, I have sat through a presentation where they lied to us. I think that DVC is a great thing. I hate seeing their reputation sullied by poor sales staff lying to get people to buy at VERO.

What I wish that had dane, and they actually still can, is sell off Vero when they realized what a mistake it was for them.

DVC sales staff uses several lies and fraudulant sales practices. they lie to families with three or more kids about the room occupancy limits, they lie to families with one or two kids and tell them they wish to mantain the value and integrity of DVC.

That one line I asked you about is one that we have heard here a bunch of times..."most reservations are made six months out so the eleven month window is not a concern"....that is a popular lie with DVC sales staff,

Then I always hope that someone from DVC sales or DVC management will read this board and put a stop to the fraudulant slaes practices and lies employed by DVC sales.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[dvcdudes]

I'm glad to hear that you are flexible. I saw that you were a Florida resident from your first post and thats why I said as long as your flexible you should be ok. If you don't mind either BWV, OKW, or VWL, then you should be able to get something at one of these at the 7 month window unless like Rich said, you need a GV or only want standard view at BWV.
Good luck and enjoy.

DVCDUDES
Owner BWV Feb 2000

 

[garrett79]

Well, I am going to test my thory this morning as I am going to try to get BWV for Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend. If it is a hassle, we will go to another resort. We are still contemplating backing out of this and buying into VWL, but who knows. Yeah, they did use the " as long as you dont book more than 7 months" in advance argument. The thing is this, we will probably never have the need for a grand villa or anything larger than a 2 bedroom so I am not too worried about that.

 

[normr]

Do you think they'll stop the pool hopping to Storm a long bay? Making you have to stay there to use the facilities?

 

[Richyams]

Vero Beach dues are also the highest of any DVC resort. DVC sales staff also tells a lie when they say "Dues vary, Vero is highest now but was lowest once"....while technically this may be true, they fail to say the reason the dues were lower. They were lower becasue the original plans were for a much larger resort, poor sales caused them to drastically cut back the size of the resort. The original dues were subsidized to make up for the dues from those unbuilt rooms.

When it became plainly obvious that VB was such a poor idea, they slashed the plans for the resort and ended the subsidy.

Paying VB dues to stay at WDW DVC resorts is also not reasonable. You could buy an OKW resale, pay $3.16 per point in dues, buy in for around $60 per point and have the 11 month advantage on property.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[ripleysmom]

From the postings that I see here, as long as you flexible you can get into at least one of the DVC resorts on property at the 7 month window.

If you are looking to stay during the peak times, chances are you will have to use your points to book one of the non-DVC resorts, however, I really don't think it's fair to generalize and say that there is no availability at the 7 month window and that DVC sales staff are lying.

I do agree that you should buy where you plan to stay and I know that that is what our Vacation Guide said, but as long as you do not have your heart set on staying at a particular resort you will probably be fine with a purchase at HH or VB.

Kimberly-Lucas and Ripley's Mom

 

[Richyams]

Whats not a lie?

"Most reservations are made six months out so the eleven month window is not a concern"

That?

That is most certainly a lie..and it is uttered by many DVC sales staff everyday.

"Vero dues are highest now, but they were lowest once and may be again"

What about that? The fact that they were lowest once is lie by omitting the reason they were lowest, that they may be again is a wild speculation that has no chance of being true. It has no chance unless they double or triple the size of the resort. Poor sales has excluded that from being a possibility.

I just think that it is unreasonable to sell someone, planning WDW vacations, the resort with the highest dues and no chance of on-property 11 month window.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[garrett79]

Test results: I called this morning and got a Studio Preferred view at BWV for Labor Day weekend without any problems. Not sure if this will carry on this way or not. Rich, by the way, do you work for a resale broker?

 

[RobDoc]

Rich finally forced me to make a comment!

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>"Most reservations are made six months out so the eleven month window is not a concern"

That is most certainly a lie..and it is uttered by many DVC sales staff everyday. [/quote]

What is your source for verifying this? I would NOT be at all surprised to find that MOST reservations- on an annual basis- are in fact made within 6 months. I know people can make reservations right now at OKW in May, June and July. I do understand that there are times when a given resort may not have a studio or GV, but to state that something is a lie does require a little more proof than just your assumption. Stating something loudly and frequently still does NOT make it a fact. Give me your proof and I'll gladly state it as fact and give you credit. Otherwise, please just state it as your personal opinion and leave it at that.

Doc
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[TampaDisneyFreaks]

Garrett, Welcome Home! We also had a great experience with Roland. I think it depends mostly on your flexibility. If you are planning on staying off-peak times, the 7 month window should not be a problem. I tried to get mid-Dec. at BWV (I am a BWV owner) and at the 11 month window the DVC MS rep was surprised that I was able to get a studio then (even right at the 11 month window!). That is a slow time for the rest of WDW, but apparently BWV is a hot place at that time. Last year I booked OKW for the same mid-Dec. time well within the 7 month window and had no trouble. Every time I have been on a waitlist I have gotten what I wanted. As long as you are flexible, being IN the DVC in the first place would seem to be the most important thing. Do what you are most comfortable with

 

[Richyams]

No, I just really destest DVC sales steering people towards something that isn't right. Towards something that has been a financial hardship for them. Something that was built because of Disney's arrogance. The failed Vero Beach resort.

Failed?? Failed?? Whenever I use that term,
I have to defend it. Vero Beach is only a shadow of the planned resort because sales FAILED to materialize. VB has had to be the beneficiary of the most generous sales incentives(MB) of any resort because of its FAILURE to attract buyers on its own. They must use WDW DVC resorts to dupe people into buying at VB.

The reasons for its failure are pretty clear. Disney built VB and HH after the wonderful success at OKW. Disney's arrogance had them believing that they were able to succeed in what at the time was a failing timshare industry because of the Disney nam.....duh, it was WDW people, not the Disney name.

Their arrogance allowed them to feel any resort anywhere in the world would sell with the Disney name on it....then lo and behold, here come VB and HH. Both were priced higherthen any other timeshares at the time. Both have suffered from poor sales. HH will eventually sell out, it is a much smaller resort in an active vacation area already...and the Disney name is worth something.

But VB is another story. VB's failure has caused many problems. It has caused DVC sales to lie and use fraud to sell the failed property. This hurts all DVC owners. It makes getting short term reservations more difficult to get at your home resort because so many points were sold to people that intend to spend the majority of their vacations at WDW.

Now VB is causing deeper problems. They couldn't price VWL where it need to be because VB points were still for sale. Instead of raising the point schedule at VWL so high using the excuse of higher construction costs, they should have raised the per point price, this would have had the effect of making a point spent at any resort give roughly the same value. As it is, a point spent at VWL gives less value then a point spent at OKW or BWV....the trend will probably continue at BCV and the reason for this trend is the FAILURE of VB to attract customers at the prices Disney must charge.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[KMarie]

I'm BWV owner and could not get a reservation at my home resort, or at VB recently. As new members, we were anxious to take a short trip, and we could go any date over a six-week time period. Granted, I was trying to make the reservation on "short" notice -- four months in advance. We ended up booking at OKW, which, interestingly, had plenty of availability for the entire time we could visit. Based on the popularity of BWV, I now wonder how successful I will be trying to book BWV at the 11-month window. And, will I even be able to book VB at the seven-month window? But, hey, at least for now, we are going!

[This message was edited by KMarie on 02-12-01 at 11:03 AM.]

[This message was edited by KMarie on 02-12-01 at 11:08 AM.]

 

[Richyams]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Rich finally forced me to make a comment!

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Most reservations are made six months out so the eleven month window is not a concern"
That is most certainly a lie..and it is uttered by many DVC sales staff everyday.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What is your source for verifying this? I would NOT be at all surprised to find that MOST reservations- on an annual basis- are in fact made within 6 months. I know people can make reservations right now at OKW in May, June and July. I do understand that there are times when a given resort may not have a studio or GV, but to state that something is a lie does require a little more proof than just your assumption. Stating something loudly and frequently still does NOT make it a fact. Give me your proof and I'll gladly state it as fact and give you credit. Otherwise, please just state it as your personal opinion and leave it at that.

[/quote]

Proof is pretty easy for this one DOC. The first half may well be true, the second half "The eleven month window is not a concern" is pretty obviously a lie. Last year people couldn't get into BWV, any room, any view, at the nine month mark let alone the seven month mark. If they were to qualify that statement with

.....unless you want a standard view, a grand villa, a studio, any room at all during the low months when there is a celebreation, the begining of December, many hiliday weeks......

okay, with that qualifier, it is a true statement. They didn't use that qualifier when they lied to me trying to ush HH at that time.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[PamOKW]

The above are the oft stated opinions of Richyams and do not necessarily reflect the view of other members of DVC.

Garrett I'm delighted to hear your first reservation went smoothly! May it be the first of many trips.

Early December is somewhat difficult to book since so many folks love to go down and the see the decorations, attend MVMCP and also the annual meetings of the DVC resorts. I've also found that people will book that time well in advance and then may change their mind during the year, freeing up time later on when you call to book or stay on the wait list.

 

[garrett79]

Is there any guarantee in any of the contracts that Disney wont sell VB, VWL, BWV or any other DVC resort? Has anyone else had the same kind of problems that Richyams has had or is this an isolated opinion? We are still determining if this is the best value for a vacation period. Does anyone feel trapped into only going to Disney for the next 40 years? (keep in mind we only have 150 pts) so we would have to play the bank/borrow game

 

[LauraS]

Don't be discouraged by not being able to get into BWV at the 4 month point. Occasionally you can luck out and get what you want within the 7 month time-frame, but it is not common (despite those who will post how they lucked out). We got a preferred studio for 5 nights at the 5 month point for a stay in November, but I'll concede that we lucked out. I have tried at other times to book within 7 months and have not been so lucky. I do think that BWV is a bit more popular than the other resorts right now, but am hoping that the pendulum will swing back a bit.

OKW is wide open because I think that many OKW owners have owned in DVC the longest amount of time and are looking for a change. I think that many HH, VB and OKW owners hit that 7 month mark right away to try for the occasional BWV stay.

Unfortunately for us BWV, that fact makes it necessary to really utilize the 4 month advantage making last minute BWV trips very unlikely.

On a good note, I was able to get a BWV Grand Villa with one phone call instead of having to do the day by day thing. I was flexible with my dates and was calling for what I thought would be the first of seven mornings. For the heck of it I asked if there was a GV available for the week before. When the CM said yes I was shocked!! It cost me a few more points, but I didn't care.

Good luck in the future.

Laura