Which home resort to choose? OKW vs. BCV?

[lisareniff]

We are on the verge of joining DVC and need advice on the home resort choice. We seem to be drawn to OKW and BCV. I prefer BCV for the cool pool and closeness to restaurants and Epcot. DH prefers OKW for the quiet atmosphere, close parking, and the larger units. I could see us going to both over the coming years. They both look great!

From what I understand, the importance of the home resort is the ability to reserve before everyone else at the 11-8 month window.

So I guess my question is ...

How important is it to have this advantage in both of these resorts???? (we would be reserving either 2bdrm or Grand Villa and it may be during school vacations) Do you need to reserve before 7 months for OKW? What if you want a GV? Is a BCV 2bdrm harder to get than a OKW 2bdrm?

I realize that buying OKW would mean going resale and BCV would be though Disney.

Thanks ahead of time for your advice.

ttfn,
Lisa

 

[Richyams]

To assure yourself of the GV at OKW, you have to own there.

BCV isn't that big, some times of year will be hard to get at seven months. OKW two bedroom will be pretty easy most of the time at seven months.

Tough call. Personally, we prefer the OKW units, the OKW location, parking in front of your unit, and we always stay in the GV.

 

[llp479]

We originally bought in 98 at BWV because that is what they were selling. We always book a 2bdrm. While I like that location, I also liked OKW. We had stayed there in 96. So, in 02 we bought a resale at OKW.

I agree that the location at BCV is great. I love being in the thick of things when we're there for Spring Break. However, I also love the laid back atmosphere of OKW for our longer summer trip.

If you'll be getting a 2bdrm more often than the GV then buying at BCV and still staying at OKW shouldn't be a problem, except during premium seasons. However, as Richyams stated, if you don't own at OKW the chances of getting a GV at the 7 mo window are extremely thin.

 

[Cruelladeville]

We bought at BWV and BCV because it was right in the center of things, and we loved being close to everything. There was no problem getting a one bedroom at OKW, so I was happy with my choice--until we needed a grand villa. there is really no way to get a grand villa unless you own at OKW, as I have found from experience. You will need to decide which things are most important to you, and use that to make your decision. Both BCV and OKW are lovely resorts, you will be happy at either one. Don't forget that you can always add on points at a later date, if you need to.

 

[lisareniff]

Wow, such great quick responses!

That was just what I needed to know. I should have registered and asked sooner!

Those Grand Villa's sure look nice! But to give up Storm-along-Bay!?!

I did notice that you could buy a one and a two bedroom for close to the price of a grand villa for a week in OKW. So perhaps with that in mind, I' m leaning toward BCV's.

Do you know if you can request units next to or near each other? Are the requests usually honored?

Thanks Again,
Lisa

 

[fredonna]

I don't know how many points you intend on purchasing but I'd assume you're looking at at least 300. Getting a OKW GV is not cheap. Even at 300 pts., you're looking at banking or borrowing a few points to stay more than a few days.

Assuming you're looking at least for 300 pts. and above, you should consider buying half your points at OKW and the other at BCV. We have 200 at OKW and 150 at BCV in order to allow us to bank and/or borrow. This way, we have sufficient points at either location to have a great stay!

Just my two bits...

 

[vernon]

It's going to be easier to pick up reservations at OKW 7 months out that BCV, BUT if the finances are a major contributary factor OKW is going to work out cheaper, both on initial cost and also ongoing "dues". There are two ways of looking at "cost" one is we'd like ,say, 300 points at BCV that will cost us $xx,xxx now and $x per year where DVC will cost us $yy,yyy now and $y per year another is to say we have , say, $20,000 to spend at BCV we can buy , say 250 points, for the same money at OKW we get say 290 points and there's not much difference in the "on going" costs between the two.

If all cost were the same I think more people (though not everyone Rich ) would opt for BCV (mostly because of the pool) but personally ( and maybe it would sway a lot of others too when looked in those terms) I'd rather have 300 OKW points than 250 BCV for the same cost.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If all cost were the same I think more people (though not everyone Rich ) would opt for BCV (mostly because of the pool) but personally ( and maybe it would sway a lot of others too when looked in those terms) I'd rather have 300 OKW points than 250 BCV for the same cost.

I agree. We toured BCV in January, and decided it would be our last choice for units in DVC. We LOVE OKW and would make VWL our second choice for the units and BWV and BCV would come in behind that. I agree that the location of those two can't be beat, but buses are so easy, I don't like to give up my space and quiet and lower points for it.

 

[ArnyVee]

Originally posted by lisareniff
Wow, such great quick responses!

That was just what I needed to know. I should have registered and asked sooner!

That's the best thing about this discussion forum, the people are quick to response and so helpful!

I even have people cheering for me to get DVC...the 'magic' is definitely here!

 

[Regina]

To answer your other concern, yes you can request that multiple rooms be near one another, but there's no guarantee.

 

[JOC]

Arny,
You switched threads on us...you're everywhere now! Go Arny, go Arny, go Arny...

 

[Richyams]

We've requested rooms near eachother several times in the past few years. We have always been in the same building.....never on the same floor. But I get a GV and others get something else.....so they usually get the first floor, all but one of the GVs start on the second floor.

One time we were on the same floor, but you still had to go down satairs and up a different staircase to the other unit....actually farther then being right below.

 

[lisareniff]

Wow! thanks for all the input!

(I just had to try one of these guys)

Here is our latest thoughts.... (sorry this got long!)
First, I must say we like all the resorts and plan to stay in all of them depending on the mood and vacation type (lets throw in price and availablity as well). That includes HH for golf, golf and more golf(DH not me). But, we keyed in on OKW and BCV as two that we would like to stay in most often.

Availability, and the need to have the 11-8 month reservation window was an important factor in the decision of a home resort. From your responses it looked like you definitely needed it for a GV at OKW but not for a 1-2bdrm. With BCV you might need it for high times??? For us most of the time a 2 bdrm will be just fine. The GV would be really nice option, but in reality we would only reserve it maybe twice in the next 15 years. For those times we could rent two units. So... since the availability may be harder in BCV for 2bdrms we chose to go with that resort as our home, at least at the present time. (you can still change my mind!)

The idea of getting two contracts was a great one!! I thought about that all night. We were looking at getting 300 points. I think to split that up (even if you could buy a little more resale) would be two complicated for my little brain.

As far as price... Disney's price was $74, after the $10/pt buyout (with use year in Oct.) From what I've been reading there has been talk that resales are not going for under $70 (due to Disney's excercising ROFR). Add on the closing costs and your at about $72. Not enough different to change my mind about home resort. I know, I know, I gave up points and then there is the dues to consider. But hey, it's only money!

Sorry this got so long. I guess I was on a roll!

Thanks again!