Please DVC experts help me!!!

[PlutoFan21]

Help DVC experts you have been so helpful!!!!:bowdown:

O.K. we're ready to make our 1st reservation as dvc members:kickingco

Stayed at OKW as cash people last February, loved it and bought OKW points.:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

Decided we'd like to try BWV this early February (not Presidents week). MS has all of our 11 nights in preferred view water/garden but we really thought we'd enjoy the Boardwalk view and MS has none of our dates available in Boardwalk view.

Should I book water/pool and waitlist for Boardwalk view? :idontgeti
and if so how should I leave the waitlist.....I not sure I completely understand the waitlist.

Also I didn't ask about Standard view. Should I??
:idontgeti

[Leftcoaster]

There seems to be two methodologies in terms of the waitlist. One is to be put on a day by day waitlist and the other is to be put on one waitlist for the length of stay.
On the day by day waitlist, as each day becomes available, you get that day. The downside is that you could make multiple moves if not all of your days come through.
On the length of stay waitlist, you get all or nothing.

I suppose you could also try asplit stay and see about being on a waitlist for half of your stay or something.
As for the standard view, I stayed there once and was not thrilled with it. While it was nice to save the points, I couldn't quite enjoy the balcony as I do at other places. just felt weird overlooking the driveway. If that doesn't bother you, then go for it and see if they have it.

[dvcconvert]

Should I book water/pool and waitlist for Boardwalk view?
and if so how should I leave the waitlist.....I not sure I completely understand the waitlist.
Also I didn't ask about Standard view. Should I??

Personally, I'd try for the Std view as very many of those rooms border on what you'd paid for points to obtain a water/pool view.

HTH :)

[idratherbeinwdw]

I love BWV, I hope you enjoy your stay there as much as I do.

My order of preference at BWV for is
BW View
Standard View
Preferred view

As convert said, often the preferred views are no better than the standard ones. Since you use less points per night for standard view, but preferred and BW view are the same # of points, you may as well save the points if you can't get a Boardwalk view. Boardwalk views are totally awesome.

[Niki]

I'd try standard view. We have used SV several times and had good views of MGM and a courtyard area. The only preferred view we had was of a small courtyard and the waterway heading to MGM. Not so hot.

[jdvm]

As a fairly last minute planner, I'm a bit of a waitlist expert and offer this advice. First of all, remember the old maxim...never drop a class until you add one. So hang on to what you've got until you replace it.

With that out of the way, I'd call Member Services and ask them how many of the individual nights are available during the period you want to stay. If they are sold out every single night, you might not want to go further. If they have several but not all of your nights, I personally would book the nights available and go on an individual waitlist for the others (while keeping the original reservation for the nights that are unavailable).

Now you are in the risk zone Leftcoaster describes. I've been there many times and it's always worked out for me. I would then call Member Service every few days and see if any one or more of the nights you need have become available and slowly plug the holes in the reservation. Sometimes waitlists come through but it seems like i usually have better luck with Member Services on the phone. Not sure how the waitlist system works but i doubt that a flawless waitlist system could ever be designed.

Once you start getting close and there are still holes, i somestimes shift strategy because with four daughters whose luggage seems to explode and occupy every square inch on arrival, I detest moving rooms. So I'll see if there are cash nights available (hopefully with a member discount) in the type of room I want to go to for the nights I need. Then of course, I go on a waitlist for those nights for points on a night by night basis.

A key element of this strategy is to stay on top of it and call member Services often and make sure that all of the various reservations that you wind up with get linked before you arrive so you aren't changing rooms or room keys for the length of your stay.

Hope this helps.
Good luck.
John

[jiggerj]

Personally, I'd try for the Std view as very many of those rooms border on what you'd paid for points to obtain a water/pool view.

HTH :)

:yes:


I love BWV, I hope you enjoy your stay there as much as I do.

My order of preference at BWV for is
BW View
Standard View
Preferred view

As convert said, often the preferred views are no better than the standard ones. Since you use less points per night for standard view, but preferred and BW view are the same # of points, you may as well save the points if you can't get a Boardwalk view. Boardwalk views are totally awesome.

double :yes:

[PlutoFan21]

Thanks everyone for all the info. I think I'll ask about standard and book if available or if SV is not available I'll book the PV water/garden either way I think we'll waitlist for BW. Any particular room request info that would be good to put on the reservation for either SV or PV water/garden?

One other question.....Last year my DH (secretly) packed his glove, my DD's (9yrs. old) glove and a softball so that they could practice her fast pitch. At OKW they were able to do this on the sand volleyball court area. Is there any open space to play catch around BWV?

[nono]

Something to consider about SV over PV in early February:

PV = :sunny: on balcony

SV = :brrrrrr: on balcony

You've been warned. :)

[PlutoFan21]

Thanks nono you make a very good point.

Just what I needed something else to factor in:help:

[idratherbeinwdw]

Something to consider about SV over PV in early February:

PV = :sunny: on balcony

SV = :brrrrrr: on balcony

You've been warned. :)

Well, maybe, maybe not, as not all standard views are the same side. Laura and I both had Standard view at BW this last trip, and our locations were on totally different sides of the building--she faced the tennis courts/tower of terror, I was overlooking the lawn/front driveway. I can't imagine the sun was the same for both rooms.

Plus doesn't it depend on time of the day? When I stayed at BCV in August my friend and I had studios on different sides of the building. Early in the day she had the sun, later in the afternoon I did.

I remember you saying you were soooo cold last January nono, sorry about that! :hug:

Pluto, there are a number of areas I can see working to play catch at BWV, I am sure you'll find a spot.

[jiggerj]

Well, maybe, maybe not, as not all standard views are the same side. Laura and I both had Standard view at BW this last trip, and our locations were on totally different sides of the building--she faced the tennis courts/tower of terror, I was overlooking the lawn/front driveway. I can't imagine the sun was the same for both rooms.

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for a standard view Mar had a fabulous view of the front enterance , so was able to see the hustle and bustle of all arrivals AND was able to see some of Illuminations, I believe from over the Inn-

My view was standard as well (pics in my trip report) it was VERY quiet where I prefer "busy" but was able to see TOT at night and was able to see some of fantasmics fireworks- It was VERY sunny in the morning with full sun on the balcony- I was able to hear the "booms" of Illuminations at night and if I stretched my neck to the left (without taking a header over the balcony :D) I was able to see a few of the higher fireworks-

[nono]

Well, maybe, maybe not, as not all standard views are the same side. Laura and I both had Standard view at BW this last trip, and our locations were on totally different sides of the building--she faced the tennis courts/tower of terror, I was overlooking the lawn/front driveway. I can't imagine the sun was the same for both rooms.

Plus doesn't it depend on time of the day? When I stayed at BCV in August my friend and I had studios on different sides of the building. Early in the day she had the sun, later in the afternoon I did.

I remember you saying you were soooo cold last January nono, sorry about that! :hug:



I was there the first week of Feb. this year. Time of day the majority of SVs get the sun? Sunrise. And it comes in from the right, as one is looking out on the view. It's not full-on, IYKWIM, so it totally makes sense that jiggerj's room which was around the corner at the end got full blown sun in the AM. It was a real downer to me, as I like to sit on the balcony in the afternoon, to see the sun basking on those PV rooms when I was at the pool playground. 'Cause I'd go back to my room and have to wrap in a blanket (after putting on a jacket) to go sit on the balcony. It's information that would have made a difference for me. That's why I put it out there. Most of the year, I'd go for SV. Jan/Feb., I'd spend the points... Obviously it's a risk, 'cause if it is a cloudy week....but for me, the risk is worth it. Oh to have been able to warm my bones on the balcony in the afternoon...:goodvibes

[PlutoFan21]

O.K. so I called MS and there are no SV or BWV for any of our nights but I was able to get all 11 nights in the PV water/garden and are waitlisted for the BWV for all nights together. I have non-smoking and pool view down as room requests.
Any other words of wisdom that could be of use to me???
Anybody ever waitlisted that many nights as a whole and got it???

You people really are awesome!!!:cool2: