We took the plunge (was why does OKW tend to be cheaper...)

[RuthnPaul]

My husband and I want to purchase a second DVC membership. Our home resort for our first purchase is BWV (we just closed today and will be making a reservation as soon as we're in Disney's system)!! We want to go with a different home resort the second time around and have had numerous discussions on whether OKW or VWL is the better choice. I will admit that I like the atmosphere at Wilderness Lodge so I'm assuming the atmosphere at DVC is much the same. We noticed that OKW requires less points for the same room type than does VWL and others and my husband is nervous that less points (and slightly cheaper resale) equates to lesser accomodations!

We'd appreciate any input between the 2 facilities, especially the pros and cons of OKW.

Ruth & Paul

 

[mikesmom]

Actually, in some ways, it's better accomodations! The rooms at OKW are much more spacious, the area around it is more open and well landscaped (except maybe for VWL) and you can park at your door. It's mush more like having an apartment at WDW than the others.

Why are the points/prices lower? Mostly it's because it was built first and they didn't know if the DVC concept would take off. The point values were locked in by rule. Once it took off, it became more apparent what the market would bear and that more could be charged for a little less space. They couldn't make any changes at that point.

 

[Deb & Bill]

OKW was originally called the Vacation Club and was the first DVC resort. When they discovered how popular this venture would be, they decided to make smaller rooms, charge more for them and pocket the change. The later DVC resorts were tacked to existing resorts (except for HH and VB) and kept the hotel feel.

 

[Chuck S]

If you're the type of vacationer that likes room service delivered meals, they are not available at OKW. This and valet parking are two "amenities" that OKW does not offer, but they are offered at the Villas that are "attached" to regular WDW hotels.

If neither of these amenities are important to you, you will be blown away by the size of the OKW rooms. Another difference...OKW studios have 2 "real" queen beds, not a bed and sleeper sofa. OKW also has full sized washer/dryers in the 1 bedroom and larger units. I absolutely love OKW, and have never stayed at any other DVC resort since purchasing in 1992.

OKW truly does feel like you have a private condo on WDW property.

 

[nydizfan]

I second what chuck said word for word......dave

 

[tguy47]

The only current benefit of a home resort is booking at 11 months instead of 7.

Therefore, the only reason for a price difference in resales is the perception that VWL, BWV, BCV will be harder to book at 7 mos. than OKW.

That and the fear that DVC will change so dramatically that you can only stay at your home resort.

If you believe the above, buy where you want to stay.

If not, buy the cheapest resale you can find.

 

[RuthnPaul]

Thanks for the great information -- this is exactly what we were looking for. We like the idea of larger rooms, "real" beds, the full-size washer & dryers, and the fact that OKW has a true resort feel to it! Valet parking and room service are not important to us at all. Sounds like we might have a winner with OKW!

RuthM

 

[Desperado]

"Why does OKW tend to be cheaper than BWV or BCV "

I'm not sure your question has been answered. ONe big factor is that OKW is older, thus built earler when building costs were lower. It compared with cheaper cash resort prices at the time point determinations were made. This helps contribute to the lower costs.

Other resorts offer more prime locations, with additional transportation options like boat service to theme parks not offerred at OKW, thus contributing to overall costs. People are willing to pay the higher point values for the better locations, additional amenities, and even given the smaller rooms. There are lots of nice advantages to OKW, it may be a perfect choice for you. We don't care for the location and resort layout as well, but that's just our tastes and we are willing to pay the additional point values for what we like better.

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by RuthnPaul
Thanks for the great information -- this is exactly what we were looking for. We like the idea of larger rooms, "real" beds, the full-size washer & dryers, and the fact that OKW has a true resort feel to it! Valet parking and room service are not important to us at all. Sounds like we might have a winner with OKW!

RuthM

Just so your basing your decision on accuate information, I don't know the difference of "real" beds your talking about. Other DVC beds are certainly real. All resorts have full size washers and dryers, they are just a stacked model with the dryer on top of the washer, they are plenty big and full size. I think many would describe OKW isn't a "resort" feel as much as a "condo" feel. Others are more of a resort feel similar to other deluxe cash resorts.

OKW may still be the perfect resort for you, but I didn't want your choice to be based on inaccurate information. Others can share mor of the advantages the resort has. Good luck.

One option I would strongly suggest is to go over to the rental/trade board and rent some points for a visit. Go down and seen the resorts for yourself to determine which you like the best. Then, buy where you would like to stay most often.

 

[Caskbill]

Originally posted by RuthnPaul
....Valet parking and room service are not important to us at all. Sounds like we might have a winner with OKW!

RuthM

The reason OKW doesn't have valet parking is because you park your car right outside your villa and not in some common full resort parking lot located hundreds of yards away.

I would guess on average the distance from your front door at OKW to your car is less than the average distance of the other DVC resorts from their front doors to the their hotel lobby.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Desperado
Just so your basing your decision on accuate information, I don't know the difference of "real" beds your talking about. Other DVC beds are certainly real. All resorts have full size washers and dryers, they are just a stacked model with the dryer on top of the washer, they are plenty big and full size. I think many would describe OKW isn't a "resort" feel as much as a "condo" feel. Others are more of a resort feel similar to other deluxe cash resorts.

OKW may still be the perfect resort for you, but I didn't want your choice to be based on inaccurate information. Others can share mor of the advantages the resort has. Good luck.

One option I would strongly suggest is to go over to the rental/trade board and rent some points for a visit. Go down and seen the resorts for yourself to determine which you like the best. Then, buy where you would like to stay most often.

I am sure the real bed comment meant having 2 queen beds in the second bedroom of a 2 bedroom villa. A sofa bed is not a real bed. Also that OKW has 2 beds in the studio instead of one bed and a sofa.

To the OP, Wilderness Lodge and the SSR also offer 2 beds in the second bedroom.

While the washer and dryers that are stacked are certainly adequate they are in no way as large as the ones at OKW. As to the resort feel of any location that is purely everyone's opinion and I think they all feel like a deluxe resort experience.

 

[PamOKW]

As mentioned, OKW was the original DVC resort when neither Disney nor the people buying knew how it would all play out. (See current DVC History thread).

Points are representative of Disney's costs to build the resort and the profit they want to see from the resort. Points are equal to real estate ownership. How many total points comprise each resort are based on how much money Disney needs/wants and what they feel they can charge per point. They then distribute that total pool of points into a reservation chart. Higher per point costs are not necessarily representative of any difference in actual value. Resorts built after OKW cost more to build. Disney had to balance "cost per point" and could do this by adding more points at a lesser cost. (10 points at $60 per point rather than 5 points at $120 per point.) An indication of this is that SSR costs more points per night than OKW but a cash customer is paying the same amount.

OKW resales can sometimes be had for less money because the owner paid less for the original purchase. If you paid $54 per point, had 5 years of free park passes and 30+ trips to WDW, you don't feel too bad about asking $65 per point when you are ready to sell. If you paid $80 per point for BCV and have only owned for a year or two, you would not be as pleased to sell for $65.

 

[laceemouse]

I would think a couple staying in a studio would not WANT 2 beds in there, seems that it would be better to have a couch to sit on. At the other resorts if you get a 2 bedroom, like we always will, you can request a dedicated which has 2 real beds in the 2nd bedroom, we did this at BCV a couple of weeks ago. I guess it just depends on your personal needs which is better. We would love to stay at OKW for the space and parking right by your unit. Is SSR supposed to have parking similar to OKW?

 

[PamOKW]

Originally posted by laceemouse
I would think a couple staying in a studio would not WANT 2 beds in there, seems that it would be better to have a couch to sit on.

Yes, a couple probably does prefer this set-up and that's why DVC did put it into the studios. However, when you have 3 or 4 in a studio, the "real" bed is a plus to many people. It's also a plus if the two people aren't a "couple" and would prefer their own beds. Even with the one-bedroom, someone has to sleep on a pull-out couch. It's the only option for a group of 3-4 to have a real bed without moving up to a 2 bedroom.

In an ideal world, the resorts would be able to offer both types of studios to satisfy different needs. For now, we have to make that decision ourselves based on resort.

 

[KNWVIKING]

BWV & BCV allow you to walk right into EPCOT and MGM (MGM is a bit of a hike,but a very nice hike), or take the ferry's. VWL has the great boat ride over to MK.

OKW does offer easy access to DTD, but IMO easy access to the parks is a greater perk.

BUT, having read all the listed reasons, it still boils down to greed. Asking why DVC charges more points is sorta like asking why a dog does certain things....... because he can.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Originally posted by PamOKW
As mentioned, OKW was the original DVC resort when neither Disney nor the people buying knew how it would all play out. (See current DVC History thread).

Points are representative of Disney's costs to build the resort and the profit they want to see from the resort. Points are equal to real estate ownership. How many total points comprise each resort are based on how much money Disney needs/wants and what they feel they can charge per point. They then distribute that total pool of points into a reservation chart. Higher per point costs are not necessarily representative of any difference in actual value. Resorts built after OKW cost more to build. Disney had to balance "cost per point" and could do this by adding more points at a lesser cost. (10 points at $60 per point rather than 5 points at $120 per point.) An indication of this is that SSR costs more points per night than OKW but a cash customer is paying the same amount.

OKW resales can sometimes be had for less money because the owner paid less for the original purchase. If you paid $54 per point, had 5 years of free park passes and 30+ trips to WDW, you don't feel too bad about asking $65 per point when you are ready to sell. If you paid $80 per point for BCV and have only owned for a year or two, you would not be as pleased to sell for $65.

I can't do better than Pam's explanation!

I can, however, say that we love OKW because of the home feeling of the vacation home units. I definitely feel like I am in a vacation home instead of a hotel, and that is what I like best. I also love the huge balcony and the fact that the master is big and there is a whole laundry ROOM in each unit rather than a closet. I also enjoy the fact that our points per visit is lower. Points are set when the resort is constructed, so OKW has the lowest points of those on-site. Depending on your perspective, the location of OKW is not necessarily a down side. We love the secluded feel, and find it very relaxing to get away from it all when we leave the parks. Bus service is great too, so that is no issue.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by Deb & Bill
The later DVC resorts were tacked to existing resorts (except for HH and VB) and kept the hotel feel.

This is not correct. BWV was not tacked on to anything. BWV was part of the orginal design and layout of BWV/BWI. BWV has always been and will always be a very prominent, vital and principal part of this resort.

 

[Terry S]

As far as your title of the thread. Why does OKW tend to be cheaper than BWV or BCV. I think as far as points go, it has been explained very well already and it has a lot to do with they didn't realize the demand for it at the time. BUT, when you look at the current cash price for OKW vs BWV or BCV, that doesn't explain the demand theroy. The fact is WDW classifys thier resorts based on the amenities at those resorts and BC and BW are deluxe resorts with deluxe amenities hence the cash price is more.

As far as the question in your thread comparing OKW to WLV. I really think your best bet is to visit OKW. (It sounds like you have already been to WL so you can already compare that). My husband and I had almost decieded to do an add-on at OKW instead of our home resort after reading so much about it here, but we decided to go there first and we were glad we did. Don't get me wrong, OKW is nice and the rooms are bigger, but for us that was not enough. We didn't like how far some of the rooms were from the restaurant or store. We also didn't like that you have to go outside to get to the store or restaurant, I think this may have been that we had a lot of rain at the time and we don't rent a car so if you wanted to go eat, you had to get wet. We also like the interior corridors at a resort as opposed to entering your room from the outside. I am glad we went, we had a great time, but I just don't think I would want to stay there all the time, so I wouldn't want it as one of my home resorts. For this reason, I think it would be best if you went to OKW or any other resort that you think you might want to buy into and check it out for yourself.

 

[PamOKW]

Dee is right about BWV. Having a DVC resort may even have been the catalyst for the whole resort area. It gave Disney the incentive to go ahead with the plans if they had a cash flow they could pretty much count on. It probably also proved for Disney that there was a market for more of a "deluxe hotel-style" DVC -- thus leading to VWL and BCV.

 

[spiceycat]

definitely check out OKW before you buy.

most of OKW points were sold between $50 and $62 a point.

as far as the points being lower - I love it - I get to go more often!!!

I also own a small amount of points at both VWL and BWV - to get the December reservations - the first two weeks of Dec are very, very popular with DVC members - and I like the flexibility that VWL and BWV offer at that time.

Disney has changed the points and will again - what they did was change the Adventure season - it was 6 points now it is 8 points - and gave them to summer weekends - not a big change for the summer - but a BIG change for Jan, sept and Dec.

I can probably see in the future them changing the Thanksgiving period - to maybe it own season - it will make it simplier because right now it is 2 seasons - but I would hate it - because it would be more points......

I was so glad that it wasn't change this year - and since SSR has the same as everyone else - I really hope it never changes......

I really hope they don't change the Adventure season again - or I might be staying 4 nights instead of 5.....