Wish you bought at another DVC resort?

[spiceycat]

I'm now leaning in the direction of three DVC resorts to consider for us (yes, I keep changing my mind ):

OKW, BCV and VWL (oh, who am I kidding, we're still considering BWV too!)

The only resort that's consistently been on our list is OKW. We just can't seem to get over how inexpensive it is to stay there point wise vs. the other DVC resorts, especially those grand villas, which we could end up reserving a lot since we'll invite guests to join us at WDW often! That 11 month booking window could be very important for us and come in handy to book an OKW grand villa.

first I would hate to buy anything with just pictures. Anyway make a list - bigger rooms, room service, valet parking, (all DVC resorts have bell services), resturants at the hotel (BWV does not have restuarants. They are on the BW - so on a rained day this could be a problem). Both SSR and OKW have their restuarants/food court only in the main building (check in area) - so again on a rain day this could be a problem.

both BCV and VWL have passages to their WDW resorts so you won't get too wet in the rain.

BCV has the best pool - SALB (storm a long bay) go see pictures of it on the BC/YC sites.

but BWV has the silly clown - now I don't like it - but others seems to love it.

Write down everything that each resort has and doesn't have. then do it on what the resort don't have.

OKW and SSR only have bus tranportation to the theme parks. BCV and BWV can walk or take the boat to Studios and Epcot. VWL has a boat or bus to MK.

OKW and SSR do have a boat for DD.

decide what you need and want in a DVC resort - then find one that matches.

 

[disney-super-mom]

first I would hate to buy anything with just pictures.

Well, I'd love to write up a purchase agreement for a DVC contract with a "contingent upon inspection" clause, but I'm pretty sure that wouldn't go over very well. LOL
Anyway, great idea Spicycat. I am going to make a list of all the resorts, and then include what each resort has and doesn't have. Then I'm going to make a list of our priorities/wants/needs. This should help us A LOT! It's always nice to be able to see it all on paper. Thanks!

 

[chips]

We own at bcv. Last three years we booked at wvl to be close to wdw. We have been able to book at the 7 month window. We felt in later years we would want to be close to the boardwalk action so we bought bcv site unseen. We considered a bwv or okw add on.

I felt the best way to judge the resorts was to visit them while on vacation. With okw we knew we would have to like the bus service or rent a car. We took a bus from epcot to okw and toured the resort and walked around a little. We took the boat from mgm to bwv. We saw the pool action in person. Very lively and very active. Not really our style.

We finally toured bcv. We knew about sab. I actually liked the secluded quiet pool in back with the dune sand and dune grass. It really felt like the beach to me.

We walked around the boardwalk loop. Althought our walk throughs were in early afternoon, I think we were able to get a feel for the resorts. I think we like bcv more since the walk through. I think you need to walk through the bwv to see if the action and the energy fits for your vacation needs. I think a tour of okw reminds the visitor it is spread out. At wlv, it is so small I feel all locatiions are the same. One minute corridor walk. At okw it matters where you stay. If I had a large party it would be great to rent a grand villa at okw.

It is not easy to break up the vacation with a tour of the properties. I feel it was more than worth the effort. If we can't get our first ressie choice, we now have a priority list where we want to stay.

Obviously, we talked with members about there stay at the respective resorts. How is bus service? etc.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Well, thanks to all the wonderful expert advice from all of you, my DH and I discussed everything quite thoroughly last night, and we've narrowed are choices down to two - OKW and BCV!

That's not to say that we don't love the other DVC resorts, and we want to stay at all of them at some point.

It could be that we buy a couple of smaller contracts, one each for OKW & BCV, or if a larger, fully-loaded contract comes up for either, we may just pounce on it.

Anyway, it just feels good to make a decision.

Now, onward we go! We need some pixie dust for a quick sale of our travel trailer!

Thanks everyone! Hugs, hugs, hugs to all!