Which DVC resort...

[Dopey Sharon]

A friend of mine is renting me points for our stay, at a really cheap price. We have a reservation for the WL, the first week in December, but will be cancelling that when we find out if she can get us the one bedroom villa. (She can't call until May 5). My question is this...my DH and I have always wanted to stay at the WL, but if she can't get us in there, I will stay at the BCV or BWV. I'll probably never get this opportunity again! Her "home" is OKW, which she can book now. My question is...we won't have a car and OKW looks so big. And, it doesn't have the Disney feel (we've only driven through, never stayed there). I'm afraid that we won't like it and end up with a room so far away from the main building and restaurant, that we will hate it. Do you guys think I should go ahead and have her book it now, then try to change it to one of the other resorts (you can do that, right?) in May? Thanks!

 

[gazeborob]

I think it would be a good idea to book a room now, and make the change if possible. Disney does have a great transportation system that can get you to anywhere you want to go. Don't make any changes to your reservations untill you have everything set with the rented points.

Rob

 

[DebbieB]

It's going to be hard to get into BWV the first week of December at 7 months. I always go the first or second week of December and call day by day for a standard view right at 11 months (it's my home resort). Usually all rooms are booked by 7 months for that time because it's adventure season (lowest), it's close to the Epcot & MGM Christmas Activities & the annual meetings are held then at the BW convention center. I don't know about BCV but it may be similiar. I would hold onto what you have until you can see what she can get at 7 months. OKW will probably still be available. OKW has huge 1 bedrooms if you like space. You can request a room close to the main building, but if you don't get one, all of the busses make their last stop at the main building, so you can hop a bus from any stop (there are 5 stops).

 

[Doctor P]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "it doesn't have the Disney feel" at OKW. If you are saying it doesn't have the hustle and bustle of other places, I agree. But that isn't the "Disney feel", IMHO. The only resorts, IMHO, that have the "Disney feel" are the All Star Resorts due to theming (especially All Star Movies), and the monorail resorts due to location. I would make the reservation at OKW and then try to switch to another resort at a later date to make sure you have someplace to stay. Good luck!

 

[Cruelladeville]

Make your ressies at OKW now so you have some place to stay in case everything is booked at 7 months. Don't dismiss OKW because it's so spread out--you have more privacy there than at any other resort. If closeness is a problem for you, ask for buildings 62, 63, 64, which are closest to the Hospitality House. You can walk to the HH in about 2 minutes. We stayed over the bridge in building 23, a most spectacular location! This is a wonderful resort for walking, relaxing, etc. BWV is much more busy, a great place to keep teens occupied, and close to everything, and it has valet parking, which I love, but it's not quite as relaxing. Good luck on getting the room you want

 

[Dopey Sharon]

What I mean by the "Disney feel" is...OKW seems like an apartment complex to me, not a resort. WL has theming my DH likes. When you pull up to the resort and walk into the lobby it just wow's you...if you know what I mean. Maybe I'm not wording it right, I don't know. He has always wanted to stay there, and since this is his birthday trip, I wanted to surprise him with a stay there. BUT...I will never be able to stay in a one bedroom villa, so I'm torn with what to do. I'm starting to ramble....

 

[dianeschlicht]

Early Dec. is hard to do at this late a date with DVC.

 

[eva]

I agree with everyone else, you better get what you can right now and try to switch at 7 months. You may have to waitlist even now. The first two weeks of December are probably as popular for members as any of the hoildays. Most people make their reservations for that time period at 11 months out.

 

[PamOKW]

walk into the lobby it just wow's you...if you know what I mean

Not to belabor the point because it is different strokes for different folks, but you'll get a real "wow" factor when you open the door to a one-bedroom at OKW. I tend to spend more time in my villa than in the lobby.

I have no idea where this concept of OKW being an apartment complex with no theming comes from. It is an absolutely deluxe resort almost perfectly modeled on what you find in the Florida Keys (I thought a recent commercial for the Keys was a Disney ad). It appears spread out because it winds around a golf course. However, I've never found the walks any longer than say from a room at the GF to the main lobby.

If you have your heart set on something else go ahead and stay there. However, for regular DVC owners, many have surprised themselves with how much they like OKW once they give it a try.

 

[Mary Anne]

I own at BWV but 90% of the time stay at OKW. I love the fact that it is so big and it not a problem getting a room at an almost last minute. Wait list just came through for the Monday after Easter of Easter Week and I only called Thursday for it.

To each his own, mine however seems to be the full Landry room in the one bedroom at OKW vs. the one in the closet at BWV

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Thanks everyone. I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings suggesting that OKW wasn't a nice resort. I'm sure it's very nice. I'm taking the great advice I've received and we are calling tomorrow morning to get the one bedroom at OKW, then, hopefully change to another resort. My friend loves OKW also, so I'm sure it's a very nice place. Thanks, again!

 

[colleen costello]

Dopey Sharon, don't you worry -- everyone here is entitled to her own opinion. I think the protest here comes form the fact that once you have actully stayed at OKW, you'll probably love it! Folks here are so fond of the place that they are not trying to be ornery, just trying to convert you!

Why not stay at both? If you love the Wilderness Lodge, go for it! Perhaps you could book the OKW room as a "backup" like suggested here, but hope for a romantic night or two at the Lodge? My family was at Beach Club last July 1st when it opened. It was very exciting and beautiful and new. By July 4th we had to move as it was booked, and we headed over to OKW. I kept saying "Beach Club is a hard act to follow" but we simply LOVED OKW. Peaceful, green, lush. Everything you see is colorful. The picket fences have Hidden Mickeys! We had our van but did use the buses and they were fine. We asked for a room near a quiet pool and often felt like we had the place to ourselves. So I am now an offical "Old Key West" convert. We are driving there this Friday and I am so excited I am like a kid at Christmas.

Whatever you decide, have fun. I always say "Any room at WDW is a good one!"

 

[travelbug]

I'm glad you decided to go for OKW right now. You can always try to change it to VWL later, but for now you can at least be assured of having a DVC room for a very popular time of year.

If you do wind up staying at OKW, you just may love it as we did. It is a beautiful, peaceful, and classy resort. I still remember walking into the 1BR at OKW for the first time. My jaw dropped. The pictures and video I had seen ahead of time couldn't begin to do it justice. I was really blown away.

Since then, I've also fallen in love with BWV and BCV. But I still love OKW, and I'm sure I'll stay there again sometime.

Good luck getting your reservation made through your friend. Let us know how it turns out.