While I understand the land cost, development cost, etc arguments and I agree they have some validity, I think Peterd came closest to my view on this.
OKW was the first resort and Disney didn't really know exactly where to "price" the units. I'm certain they erred on the side of caution, IMHO it's better to sell out at a slightly reduced profit margin than to be left with a white elephant that doesn't sell at all. Having seen the experiment under working conditions at OKW they were able to see they had , perhaps, underpriced and over sized the units at OKW ( IMHO this is particularly true of the GV, but holds water for all the units at OKW). With the benefit of hindsight, they reduced the size of the units a little and raised the cost (both $per point and points per unit) knowing the "market" would accommodate those higher costs. With the legal set up of DVC, they were stuck with their original points cost of OKW as , although they can move around the seasons a little, they are legally bound not to raise the overall total.
Maybe the easier question to answer would have been "why are BWV GVs charged at a higher rate that OKW" The answer there is, because they could and did raise the price, at OKW they were legally obliged to leave it where they originally fixed it.
I tend to agre with Rich, but this is with the benefit of hindsight. If I was to buy in again, having stayed at all but VWL, I think I would buy at OKW. I do like the bigger units and the parking situation but over all I prefer the ambience of the resort FOR A RESORT THAT I WILL RETURN TO MANY TIMES. It's nice to be in the "hussle bustle" of BCV and BWV but IMHO, after 10-15 years that may go a little stale. It's a personal thing I know, but my feeling is if I want a little "action" it's available a short distance away. If I want peace and quiet there is a good chance I won't be able to find it in a room overlooking the BW. I've always found it's a lot easier to find noise and action than it is to get away from it LOL.
OKW was the first resort and Disney didn't really know exactly where to "price" the units. I'm certain they erred on the side of caution, IMHO it's better to sell out at a slightly reduced profit margin than to be left with a white elephant that doesn't sell at all. Having seen the experiment under working conditions at OKW they were able to see they had , perhaps, underpriced and over sized the units at OKW ( IMHO this is particularly true of the GV, but holds water for all the units at OKW). With the benefit of hindsight, they reduced the size of the units a little and raised the cost (both $per point and points per unit) knowing the "market" would accommodate those higher costs. With the legal set up of DVC, they were stuck with their original points cost of OKW as , although they can move around the seasons a little, they are legally bound not to raise the overall total.
Maybe the easier question to answer would have been "why are BWV GVs charged at a higher rate that OKW" The answer there is, because they could and did raise the price, at OKW they were legally obliged to leave it where they originally fixed it.
I tend to agre with Rich, but this is with the benefit of hindsight. If I was to buy in again, having stayed at all but VWL, I think I would buy at OKW. I do like the bigger units and the parking situation but over all I prefer the ambience of the resort FOR A RESORT THAT I WILL RETURN TO MANY TIMES. It's nice to be in the "hussle bustle" of BCV and BWV but IMHO, after 10-15 years that may go a little stale. It's a personal thing I know, but my feeling is if I want a little "action" it's available a short distance away. If I want peace and quiet there is a good chance I won't be able to find it in a room overlooking the BW. I've always found it's a lot easier to find noise and action than it is to get away from it LOL.
