AKV or VGF?

[DanaEA24]

My family is ready to purchase 200 points direct but the only thing available right now is AK and GF. My first thought was to purchase AK since Disney is currently offering $1300 off but now I'm wondering if there would be any advantage to purchasing 100 points at each. Would that allow me to book either resort at 11 months out even if I had to use both sets of points to do so? We won't be going back until next year so I will be carrying over this year's points. I'm also considering going on the waiting list for Bay Lake Tower which is my favorite but I'm not sure how long of a wait that is or if that would make any sense. Thoughts?

 

[ImagineerTHAT]

My family is ready to purchase 200 points direct but the only thing available right now is AK and GF. My first thought was to purchase AK since Disney is currently offering $1300 off but now I'm wondering if there would be any advantage to purchasing 100 points at each. Would that allow me to book either resort at 11 months out even if I had to use both sets of points to do so? We won't be going back until next year so I will be carrying over this year's points. I'm also considering going on the waiting list for Bay Lake Tower which is my favorite but I'm not sure how long of a wait that is or if that would make any sense. Thoughts?

If BLT is your favorite, you should consider looking at resale contacts for BLT. There are contracts available at many of the brokers for much cheaper than direct and the process is "usually" around 60 days from offer to points in an account. That can always change based on many factors, but it's a good benchmark.

If you separate the points, you can only use the 11 month window where you own. So you would not be able to book all 200 pts unless they were at the same resort.

Lots of great threads here explaining the benefits of resale...good luck! I suggest lots of reading before purchasing!

 

[Missyrose]

My family is ready to purchase 200 points direct but the only thing available right now is AK and GF. My first thought was to purchase AK since Disney is currently offering $1300 off but now I'm wondering if there would be any advantage to purchasing 100 points at each. Would that allow me to book either resort at 11 months out even if I had to use both sets of points to do so? We won't be going back until next year so I will be carrying over this year's points. I'm also considering going on the waiting list for Bay Lake Tower which is my favorite but I'm not sure how long of a wait that is or if that would make any sense. Thoughts?

First, please don't base your decision to buy DVC on which resorts the salespeople tell you are available. All resorts (except VGF) are for sale via resale or direct (though they've created lengthy wait lists for most of the classic resorts when buying direct).

Where do you want to stay? Where wouldn't you mind staying? Have you looked at the point charts to figure out how many points you'd need for your typical stay?

If you buy a 100-point contract at two separate resorts, you can only use that 100 points at 11 months out. At seven months out, you can combine your points.

 

[disneynutz]

My family is ready to purchase 200 points direct but the only thing available right now is AK and GF. My first thought was to purchase AK since Disney is currently offering $1300 off but now I'm wondering if there would be any advantage to purchasing 100 points at each. Would that allow me to book either resort at 11 months out even if I had to use both sets of points to do so? We won't be going back until next year so I will be carrying over this year's points. I'm also considering going on the waiting list for Bay Lake Tower which is my favorite but I'm not sure how long of a wait that is or if that would make any sense. Thoughts?

Disney sells all resorts direct but they want you to buy the resorts that makes them the most profit. They also control the wait list to get excited buyers to buy the resorts that they want you to buy.

Bill

 

[DanaEA24]

First, please don't base your decision to buy DVC on which resorts the salespeople tell you are available. All resorts (except VGF) are for sale via resale or direct (though they've created lengthy wait lists for most of the classic resorts when buying direct).

Where do you want to stay? Where wouldn't you mind staying? Have you looked at the point charts to figure out how many points you'd need for your typical stay?

If you buy a 100-point contract at two separate resorts, you can only use that 100 points at 11 months out. At seven months out, you can combine your points.

When it's just my sister, niece and I, we would be happy just about anywhere and 200 points are more than enough. If we bring our parents, we would rather be on the monorail and my first choice would probably be BLT. On those trips we would have to have banked 200 and use the current year 200.

Thanks for explaining how the points would work with 2 different contracts. Sounds like I need to go with 200 points at one resort.

 

[SFlaDisneyfans]

Disney sells all resorts direct but they want you to buy the resorts that makes them the most profit. They also control the wait list to get excited buyers to buy the resorts that they want you to buy.

Bill

Not according to my guide yesterday. We wanted to see the VGF model so we went up to WDW for the weekend. After the tour the guide told us when we spoke about our interest in BCV (from our old paperwork in the system) that in his last sales meeting that DVD would "never" ROFR any more BCV contracts and thus "never" be selling it on the waitlist. He would be glad to sell us a VGF contract though. Gotta love salesmen.

 

[disneynutz]

Not according to my guide yesterday. We wanted to see the VGF model so we went up to WDW for the weekend. After the tour the guide told us when we spoke about our interest in BCV (from our old paperwork in the system) that in his last sales meeting that DVD would "never" ROFR any more BCV contracts and thus "never" be selling it on the waitlist. He would be glad to sell us a VGF contract though. Gotta love salesmen.

I get the feeling that Disney would sell you the shoe laces from Mickeys shoe if it would make them money. The Guides are under pressure to sell the resorts identified by their bosses. If there is a time when new resorts are sold out, they will ROFR and fill wait lists while they wait for the next resort to be built.

Bill

 

[Sandisw]

If you really want to be on the monorail, then I would go with BLT or VGF. We spent more to own at BLT for that reason and having stayed at AKV, even though it was beautiful, I missed the convenience of BLT. Even when DH and I were just at VWL, I missed BLT!! As mentioned, you can currently get that on the resale market vs. going on a waitlist for Disney.

Good luck!!

 

[SFlaDisneyfans]

I get the feeling that Disney would sell you the shoe laces from Mickeys shoe if it would make them money. The Guides are under pressure to sell the resorts identified by their bosses. If there is a time when new resorts are sold out, they will ROFR and fill wait lists while they wait for the next resort to be built.

Bill

Yeah. The guide was very nice and personable. No pressure at all. Just played a little fast and loose with some facts (in my opinion). I was going to do a small purchase of VGF since my GF likes the resort but when we went through the model for VGF she did not like it. Well to rephrase, she did not "love" it. She felt it did not have the same feeling of grandeur that the cash version has. She did love the tv in the bathroom mirror though. End result of the tour... My Amex stayed securely in my wallet.

 

[Missyrose]

Yeah. The guide was very nice and personable. No pressure at all. Just played a little fast and loose with some facts (in my opinion). I was going to do a small purchase of VGF since my GF likes the resort but when we went through the model for VGF she did not like it. Well to rephrase, she did not "love" it. She felt it did not have the same feeling of grandeur that the cash version has. She did love the tv in the bathroom mirror though. End result of the tour... My Amex stayed securely in my wallet.

Wow, you dodged an expensive bullet.

 

[SFlaDisneyfans]

Wow, you dodged an expensive bullet.

Yes indeed. We stayed at AKV this weekend for the first time and fell in love with it. Giraffes outside the balcony can't be beat. We decided on the drive home tonight to start looking for an AKV resale contract. AKV exceeded all expectations for us. So we went looking to buy VGF and decided on AKV when all was said and done.

 

[ELMC]

My family is ready to purchase 200 points direct but the only thing available right now is AK and GF. My first thought was to purchase AK since Disney is currently offering $1300 off but now I'm wondering if there would be any advantage to purchasing 100 points at each. Would that allow me to book either resort at 11 months out even if I had to use both sets of points to do so? We won't be going back until next year so I will be carrying over this year's points. I'm also considering going on the waiting list for Bay Lake Tower which is my favorite but I'm not sure how long of a wait that is or if that would make any sense. Thoughts?

Don't be fooled by the "incentive", the cash value of your AKV contract will drop by 40% as soon as the ink is dry. Same can be said for BLT. My advice is to decide where you want to own first, and then which option is best, direct or resale. Also, despite the slightly higher price, VGF offers many financial advantages over AKV and is a much safer and wiser purchase from a financial perspective.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Yes indeed. We stayed at AKV this weekend for the first time and fell in love with it. Giraffes outside the balcony can't be beat. We decided on the drive home tonight to start looking for an AKV resale contract. AKV exceeded all expectations for us. So we went looking to buy VGF and decided on AKV when all was said and done.

AKV is a great resort! You should be able to find contracts in the mid-60's to mid-70's, which is less than half what you would spend on VGF. Plus, you can get a savanna view room for just a little more than half the number of points needed for a LV at VGF. In fact, if you can plan 11 months in advance, you can get concierge for less than a LV at VGF, although the concierge rooms do not have very good views. Despite that, we really enjoyed staying concierge.

I think that there is definitely some value to the current pricing of VGF, which is spelled out in several threads on these boards. But, as you have found out, you want to own where you would want to stay, and AKV is a wonderful resort.

Good luck finding the contract that works for you!

 

[Minniesgal]

Personally I would do half and half and book a split stay. aKV is a great resort and we love staying there but staying at a monorail resort is fab for the MK but also for eating out and feeling at the centre of things.

 

[JustTinking]

When it's just my sister, niece and I, we would be happy just about anywhere and 200 points are more than enough. If we bring our parents, we would rather be on the monorail and my first choice would probably be BLT. On those trips we would have to have banked 200 and use the current year 200.

Thanks for explaining how the points would work with 2 different contracts. Sounds like I need to go with 200 points at one resort.

BLT and VGF will be very convenient for the monorail. But I wouldn't overlook that VWL has boat transportation that goes to all the same locations as the monorail. Really comes down to where you would be happy to stay and call home.

 

[DanaEA24]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I think we're going to do 200 points at VGF but I have one last question. My guide said I will get 200 points now for 2013 then in Feb I will get another 200 for 2014. My plan would be to book VGF for late August using the 400 points but do I have to wait for my 2014 points to be available to do that or can I go ahead and book when my 11 month window opens? I guess I would be "borrowing" the 2014 points at that time?

 

[Missyrose]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I think we're going to do 200 points at VGF but I have one last question. My guide said I will get 200 points now for 2013 then in Feb I will get another 200 for 2014. My plan would be to book VGF for late August using the 400 points but do I have to wait for my 2014 points to be available to do that or can I go ahead and book when my 11 month window opens? I guess I would be "borrowing" the 2014 points at that time?

You might want to check with your salesperson. February UYs aren't getting 2013 points (because the resort didn't exist in 2013 -- April is the earliest UY that will get 2013 points). So you won't get points until 2014. So you'd have to borrow your 2015 points to use for August.

But to answer your original question, all the points you own are available in your account, they don't actually deposit there each year. You have to have enough points in the UY you want to book a reservation in, so for a Feb. UY, an August 2014 trip would fall in your 2014 UY.

 

[lorie13]

April is the first UY you can receive points for VGF. A Feb UY will not give you points until Feb 14 and if you want to book 11 months out for August next year you would book in September and would borrow your 2014 points from Feb that would only give you 200.

So ask for an April UY and you will be able to use your 2013 points and borrow against your 2014 points. You will also only be paying partial dues for 2013 points which is $1.04 per point due to the resorts opening date of October 23.

 

[Missyrose]

April is the first UY you can receive points for VGF. A Feb UY will not give you points until Feb 14 and if you want to book 11 months out for August next year you would book in September and would borrow your 2014 points from Feb that would only give you 200.

So ask for an April UY and you will be able to use your 2013 points and borrow against your 2014 points. You will also only be paying partial dues for 2013 points which is $1.04 per point due to the resorts opening date of October 23.

Just to clarify this a bit... An August 2014 trip would fall in the 2014 UY (if you have a Feb. UY), so to book the trip, OP would go online in September and use their 2014 points and borrow their 2015 points to get to 400 points. UY has nothing to do with when you book.

 

[DanaEA24]

You might want to check with your salesperson. February UYs aren't getting 2013 points (because the resort didn't exist in 2013 -- April is the earliest UY that will get 2013 points). So you won't get points until 2014. So you'd have to borrow your 2015 points to use for August.

But to answer your original question, all the points you own are available in your account, they don't actually deposit there each year. You have to have enough points in the UY you want to book a reservation in, so for a Feb. UY, an August 2014 trip would fall in your 2014 UY.

I will check with my guide tomorrow but when we spoke earlier this evening he said I am buying 2013 points now and in Feb 2014 I will get 200 more points. I will definitely ask again though to be sure I didnt misunderstand him. Thanks!