Has anyone successfully installed Windows 8.1 through bootcamp?

Short answer: I cheated.

I'm running a Macbook Pro 15" Retina display without an optical drive. Fortunately, I also have a Windows 7 box that I used to create a .iso from my Windows 8.1 Pro DVD, and transfered that onto a USB Flash Drive that I let Boot Camp Assistant work with to create the volume needed to set up Boot Camp and install Windows 8.1.

I read some articles that talked about being able to download an .iso from Microsoft directly. You might want to search online or the Microsoft site to find out options for downloading the correct .iso from them. As long as you already have the product key you purchased, it's not like they lose a sale.

Other than that, I couldn't figure it out.

If you're on an iMac or have a SuperDrive there may be options within Disk Utility to read the Windows 8.1 DVD and create a .iso file from there.

Can't swear to it, but if I couldn't have "cheated" those were the things I'd have investigated.

Good luck!

Bootcamp Assistant will create the USB drive if you point it to your iso file.

Windows 8.1 isn't yet supported so you may have driver issues. It's ok on mine but others have had problems. It depends on your hardware.

I ran into a couple minor problems during my windows 8.1 installation. I usually work with my MBP "docked" with a connection to an older 24" Apple Cinema Display and an external USB keyboard and mouse. I noticed the keyboard entry of my product key was wonky, and after typing the key in using the MBP keyboard the external display when entirely blank. I had to disconnect the external gear and work with the MBP itself.

I guessed those were the result of driver issues when it came to accurately mapping my keyboard strokes and recognizing the external monitor.

Once I finished the 8.1 install and then installed the Boot Camp items (as mentioned in the instructions) it looked like it was using my built-in dispay properly. I haven't tried running Windows 8.1 while "docked" but I'm expecting it will work, too.