1 Bedroom Tastes with Studio Points

[RichVIII]

So we are starting to enjoy 1 BRs more and more. We stayed (for the first time in forever) in our home resort of BLT over the 50th and felt far more relaxed having the extra space. So with APs and visiting 2-4 times a year, 1 BRs quickly eat up our points. Prices have jumped drastically since we purchased resale 5 years ago. I am now struggling with a strategy to move forward with prices on the rise. We have enough points at BLT. We want BCV most and DW doesn't care about 2042 expiration.

So I want to buy some more reasonably priced points, mainly to book more available 1BRs but secondarily some advantage of the 11 mo window.

AKL interests me since it is longer expiration and prices are in line with OKW and SSR.

What others should I consider? Should I just get a WDW property the cheapest I can for 1BRs and move on? Do I start adding small direct (which I never thought I would ever buy direct) and build up those points since the gap between direct and resales is closer? Direct for many of the other resorts are insane. Wait till GFV2 comes online so if I buy direct I get something for 11 mo.? Or just keep waiting for a smallish contract? I am not sure I can convince DW of 100 points but I could easily get 50 without a big issue.

I know...impossible to answer. Any thoughts? Others struggling with this?

 

[CaliAdventurer]

You should get BCV. Happy wife, happy life : )

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

There is some correlation between price per point and benefit for the 11-month window. In other words, the three resorts you mentioned as being cheaper - AKV, OKW, and SSR - have some of the best availability at the 7-month mark.

If you buy where you really want to stay, then buy BCV. You may not need that home resort advantage as much for 1-bedrooms as for studios, but there is value in booking in your home resort window and not worrying/gambling at the 7-month mark to get what you really want.

 

[Airb330]

We’re in a similar boat. Stayed at one bedrooms due to COVID—figured extra time in the room, ability to cook, etc. We really enjoy the one bedrooms and got lucky with 1-bedroom values at AKV (Jambo). They’re dirt cheap points-wise (often on par with RIV/GFV studio) but obviously pretty hard to get even at 11 months. For us, we’ll probably only book one bedrooms going forward at 7 months when we can combine AKV, VGF and AUL points. Good news? One bedrooms are the last to book up. More one bedroom stays and overall less nights on property works for us as we don’t love the direction of DVC nor the parks (AP pricing, G+) at the moment tbh.


So for you? I think buy where you want to stay is applicable as always. BUT if you bought AKV or even SSR you could probably nab one bedrooms elsewhere at 7 months. For example Memorial Day just had its 7-month mark. I saw one bedrooms available almost everywhere including beach club. As long as you wouldn’t be totally unhappy at either resort from time to time. And if you bought AKV you may luck into those value one bedrooms once in awhile at 11 months and save some points!

 

[PolyNeverGirl]

Will you consider BWV across the lake from BCV? Disney is offering discount on direct buy and it’s a pretty good deal. Runs out on Dec 15. We could never get into BCV so we stayed at the BWV most the time although I own Polynesian and never stayed there once. Because I like one bed or two bed unit with full kitchen and separation of adult and kids sleeping areas. BWV is also within walking distance to two parks. I just don’t feel the pool can adjust the steep price difference.

 

[bobbiwoz]

So we are starting to enjoy 1 BRs more and more. We stayed (for the first time in forever) in our home resort of BLT over the 50th and felt far more relaxed having the extra space. So with APs and visiting 2-4 times a year, 1 BRs quickly eat up our points. Prices have jumped drastically since we purchased resale 5 years ago. I am now struggling with a strategy to move forward with prices on the rise. We have enough points at BLT. We want BCV most and DW doesn't care about 2042 expiration.

So I want to buy some more reasonably priced points, mainly to book more available 1BRs but secondarily some advantage of the 11 mo window.

AKL interests me since it is longer expiration and prices are in line with OKW and SSR.

What others should I consider? Should I just get a WDW property the cheapest I can for 1BRs and move on? Do I start adding small direct (which I never thought I would ever buy direct) and build up those points since the gap between direct and resales is closer? Direct for many of the other resorts are insane. Wait till GFV2 comes online so if I buy direct I get something for 11 mo.? Or just keep waiting for a smallish contract? I am not sure I can convince DW of 100 points but I could easily get 50 without a big issue.

I know...impossible to answer. Any thoughts? Others struggling with this?

We were 15 years ahead of you, but the “buying direct in small amounts” is what we did to get enough BCV points to mostly book one bedrooms there.

 

[vacay77]

So we are starting to enjoy 1 BRs more and more. We stayed (for the first time in forever) in our home resort of BLT over the 50th and felt far more relaxed having the extra space. So with APs and visiting 2-4 times a year, 1 BRs quickly eat up our points. Prices have jumped drastically since we purchased resale 5 years ago. I am now struggling with a strategy to move forward with prices on the rise. We have enough points at BLT. We want BCV most and DW doesn't care about 2042 expiration.

So I want to buy some more reasonably priced points, mainly to book more available 1BRs but secondarily some advantage of the 11 mo window.

AKL interests me since it is longer expiration and prices are in line with OKW and SSR.

What others should I consider? Should I just get a WDW property the cheapest I can for 1BRs and move on? Do I start adding small direct (which I never thought I would ever buy direct) and build up those points since the gap between direct and resales is closer? Direct for many of the other resorts are insane. Wait till GFV2 comes online so if I buy direct I get something for 11 mo.? Or just keep waiting for a smallish contract? I am not sure I can convince DW of 100 points but I could easily get 50 without a big issue.

I know...impossible to answer. Any thoughts? Others struggling with this?

I don't have advice but I've been struggling with the same thing, only my home resort is VGC and I can't even purchase direct now and the resale prices are crazy expensive. We have enough points for a studio every year, but we just stayed in a 1 Bedroom and I told my husband that's all I want to stay in for now on, lol.

 

[crisi]

You probably know this, but just in case - your BLT points won't combine with your new resort for the 11 month advantage. So if you are looking to buy BCV to get a one bedroom and the eleven month advantage - you'll probably be looking at a bank borrow every other year scenario.

 

[RoseGold]

1BR BC isn't impossible to get at 7 months. I just got it for June. Heck, it's available right now at 7 months. Especially visiting multiple times a year, it should be possible to get BC 1BR at 7 months now and then.

I like AKL as sleep around points. You could get a little cheaper, but AKL has booking categories that matter, like club level and value. Going as much as you are, you should eventually be able to get that 1BR value, one of the best bookings in the system.

50 points won't get you far in this plan, though. I'm not sure I'd buy a 50 point contract at all, with the closing cost flipping the math. For what it's worth, the best mathematical solution for BC is to rent the points. Maybe that's a good solution for now.

 

[RichVIII]

You all are providing great thought to this delimna. Also nice to at least feel like we are not alone! Thank you all!

 

[RichVIII]

I like AKL as sleep around points. You could get a little cheaper, but AKL has booking categories that matter, like club level and value. Going as much as you are, you should eventually be able to get that 1BR value, one of the best bookings in the system.

50 points won't get you far in this plan, though. I'm not sure I'd buy a 50 point contract at all, with the closing cost flipping the math. For what it's worth, the best mathematical solution for BC is to rent the points. Maybe that's a good solution for now.

This is my thought, at least there is some value to booking categories at a place we have liked. And ironically, we prefer the Savannah view over everything else. But yeah, 50 points won't go far - even for a long weekend in a 1BR.

I struggle with renting. Hell, I bought 24 OTUPs and felt crazy spending $500 when I could have put that towards a contract.

 

[RichVIII]

I don't have advice but I've been struggling with the same thing, only my home resort is VGC and I can't even purchase direct now and the resale prices are crazy expensive. We have enough points for a studio every year, but we just stayed in a 1 Bedroom and I told my husband that's all I want to stay in for now on, lol.

Holy smokes have resale prices VGC jumped! Yeah, tough once you have a one-bedroom.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Nothing scientific I could present you, but BC rooms are often tougher to get during the non-summer months when EPCOT festivals are in full swing. From F&W to Holiday to Arts to Garden, the cooler months are often a little tougher to get at BC than the summer months, because of the location. But you experienced something we did, too - once you start enjoying the 1BR, it's tough to not keep looking for them on future trips!! Good luck with your decision.

 

[davidl81]

So we were right where you are now a few years ago. We bought SSR and honestly 1BR availability is normally open at 7 months. They are the very last rooms to book. So really for you you can add SSR or AKV points, or the other option. Is to add BLT resale points so you will basically always have that booked at 11 months.
I will say over the past 8 years or so we have always been able to book BWV, BCV, or worst AKV at 7 months.

 

[defrogger]

already said, but typically 1 Bedrooms are easier to get at 7 months, but Beach Club depends on when you go and how long your stay is, if you typically go for 3 nights, getting 1 BR at Beach Club wont be to bad at 7 months, but if you like going a full week, thats when it gets tough, but doable if your not picky when you go.
Havent done the math in a little while but Ide say Copper Creek and Poly resale have the best value in points, but have higher upfront cost. So maybe consider Copper Creek for the good value and you have 11 month window at Copper.

Im going through something simlar, bought Boardwalk resale for Studios and the 11 month window there, cheaper upfront but not the best value due to 20 year experation. But now looking more at 1 BRs and wondering if i should of went with something with better point value since the 11 month window isnt as improtant with 1 BRs.

You mentioned AK, ide say there point value is somewhere in the middle, so not a bad choice if you think you will want the 11 month windows for things like Savana views or Value rooms.

 

[igrsod]

I have two trains of thought on this. Buy BCV because your DW really likes it there and she will be happy to own there.
OR Buy AKV, the value one bedrooms reserved at 11 months will save you points and allow for more vacations.

 

[bakerworld]

We purchased AK for the price plus the low point Value villas and yes, it's worked out to a point. We purchased BL for the dues and walkability to MK - the walkability works but we rarely stay there. Finally, we bit the bullet to purchase BC but we chinsed on the points. Finally, we tossed up our hands and bought the points we needed at BC. So, we could've saved but we didn't because we were busy being economically minded which didn't really work out because the heart wanting what it wants.

My advice, don't buy something for the price because it will cost you in the end.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I have two trains of thought on this. Buy BCV because your DW really likes it there and she will be happy to own there.
OR Buy AKV, the value one bedrooms reserved at 11 months will save you points and allow for more vacations.

Value accommodations are very hard to get at 11 months. Best to assume a standard view for points purposes.

 

[Airb330]

Value accommodations are very hard to get at 11 months. Best to assume a standard view for points purposes.

Agreed. When you get it, it’s a nice surprise. Owning AKV for one bedrooms is still a good deal though. At 7 months you can go elsewhere a lot since 1 bedrooms usually go last, and one bedrooms at AKV standard view are a pretty good deal too!

 

[kboo]

I struggle with renting. Hell, I bought 24 OTUPs and felt crazy spending $500 when I could have put that towards a contract.

We rented for 3 stays before buying in. I treated it as a cost of research.