Adding On a Value DVC Resort

[Jwaire]

I'm an owner at Poly and Rivera. I have the premium point chart resorts covered and that's where I personally prefer to stay. I'm willing to give up a larger room for a premium location and could spend my entire vacation in a Poly studio because I love that resort so much.

My extended family doesn't care and doesn't have the same attachment to these resorts as I do. They loved Saratoga Springs (2 bedroom) and preferred it over both CC and BLT on our recent trip. They generally value more space and good pools over location (as their immediate families are larger).

I want to add-on a small contract for extra points at one of the more point chart friendly resorts for them. They won't go every year. I've been looking at AKL, OKW and SS. What would you recommend? I'm leaning toward AKL just because I feel like of the three, it has more to offer with the savannah, good restaurants, etc. and it has a slim, 11-month window advantage to book a concierge or value room.

However, my gut is telling me to go with OKW because they notice every inch of extra space and I would need the 11-month advantage for Hospitality House . Does Saratoga really even have an 11-month advantage?

 

[Lunchbox66]

My opinion would be to go with OKW if you're gut is telling you and you're truly looking for the cheapest points for the most space and don't care as much about dining options at the resort.

For me AKL is Savannah view or nothing at all, but IMO it's an amazing value for the point cost with the Savannah, dining (when it's open as Jiko is still closed), and feel.

I think SSR is one of the least valued home resorts because they have such a large inventory I don't see an issue finding something at the 7 month mark, but SSR is not a go to for me personally.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

With large families, do they need elevators for either strollers or mobility devices? Old Key West has very limited elevator service.

Also, what about SSR do they love? SSR has two pools with slides, elevators in each building, and is the closest resort to Disney Springs. Would they appreciate AKL as much?

If you're buying the points and not them, is what you want in a resort a factor?

You don't need to post answers to these questions; I'm just tossing out some things to consider.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

AKL for the Value rooms. Old Key West and Saratoga Springs are readily available at 7 months, so you could use your AKL points to stay there when you want to. AKL Value, Standard, and Club rooms are the ones where the 11 month booking window is a real advantage.

Said more simply... With AKV points, you can stay at any of those three resorts consistently. With SSR or OKW points, it will be harder to get the cheap rooms at AKV.

 

[Jwaire]

I find it hard to believe that OKW has higher dues than AKL. That's just crazy to me. That may factor into my decision.

If you're buying the points and not them, is what you want in a resort a factor?

I've thought about this somewhat, but these points are pretty much going to be dedicated to them if they want them. If they don't want them that year (or the next year, if banked), then I would just use them for an additional trip, birthday trip or whatever.

 

[Frugal Fairy Tales]

My opinion would be to go with OKW if you're gut is telling you and you're truly looking for the cheapest points for the most space and don't care as much about dining options at the resort.

For me AKL is Savannah view or nothing at all, but IMO it's an amazing value for the point cost with the Savannah, dining (when it's open as Jiko is still closed), and feel.

I think SSR is one of the least valued home resorts because they have such a large inventory I don't see an issue finding something at the 7 month mark, but SSR is not a go to for me personally.

Out of AKL, OKW, and Ss…Add AKL. You will then own points to have easy access to all 4 parks. Also AKL Kidani 2 bedrooms have 3 bathrooms.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Out of AKL, OKW, and Ss…Add AKL. You will then own points to have easy access to all 4 parks. Also AKL Kidani 2 bedrooms have 3 bathrooms.

And Kidani 1 bedrooms have 2 bathrooms!

 

[Sandisw]

I like SSR because it does have the ease to DS, the rooms are pretty nice, and the dues are better than OKW and AKV.

To be fair, I have never stayed at OKW and never book AKV because it’s not my cup of tea. I prefer to stay at the ones I love. If I bring family, we stay where I want to be!

 

[Jwaire]

If I bring family, we stay where I want to be!

This was sort of my opinion too (especially this trip after 2 years of COVID), but there's 2 of us and 5 of them. It's a huge difference.

I also feel guilty about lopping them off to another resort and staying at Poly and Rivera. Poly doesn't accommodate them comfortably and I can't justify adding on to Rivera with it's high points per night (and resale restrictions).

Poly means a lot to me personally or I would otherwise stay at the same resort as them. Our grandfather went to the original preview center and was there for the first opening of both Magic Kingdom and Epcot. He always wanted to stay at the Polynesian and finally got the opportunity in 2003. After that, we went back every year until he wasn't able to travel anymore and it's just important to me.

My brother and his family doesn't feel the same attachment to it. BLT wasn't large enough for them. They enjoyed Copper Creek, but preferred the Saratoga pools and liked being able to park by their room. I want them to be happy too.

 

[Sandisw]

This was sort of my opinion too (especially this trip after 2 years of COVID), but there's 2 of us and 5 of them. It's a huge difference.

I also feel guilty about lopping them off to another resort and staying at Poly and Rivera. Poly doesn't accommodate them comfortably and I can't justify adding on to Rivera with it's high points per night (and resale restrictions).

Poly means a lot to me personally or I would otherwise stay at the same resort as them. Our grandfather went to the original preview center and was there for the first opening of both Magic Kingdom and Epcot. He always wanted to stay at the Polynesian and finally got the opportunity in 2003. After that, we went back every year until he wasn't able to travel anymore and it's just important to me.

My brother and his family doesn't feel the same attachment to it. BLT wasn't large enough for them. They enjoyed Copper Creek, but preferred the Saratoga pools and liked being able to park by their room. I want them to be happy too.

I will say that when I take people with me, they are just so happy that it doesn’t matter to them.

I have also always offered to book them at a different resort if they really wanted something else. It would just mean different room sizes.

But 4 or more guests is a 2 bedroom…and once I add on more at VGF, won’t put more than 6 in one. But, our family trips are currently smaller than before so that helps!

 

[jbreen2010]

If you are just looking for sleep around points, you will likely want to just look at where the best value is.
I believe AKL's dues are a little higher than SSR or OKW....and if you're not going to buy to book between the 7-11 month windows then might as well look at cost per point & dues per point annually.

I own at SSR and it's a good location to disney springs....but I have stayed at OWK and found it to be quite charming - the rooms are very spacious and being right on the golf course was quiet and relaxing.
AKL is also very nice too.

Long story short you can't go wrong

 

[bobbiwoz]

Jwaire, I think you are very generous, and I hope your family appreciates you, and I think they do. I understand your attachment to the Poly!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I think that SSR 2BR's are smaller than BLT so if they loved everything about SSR then I'd just stick with that. The dues at SSR are by far the lowest of the 3 you mention and it has the low point standard views to make it very economical. AKV does have the nice low point standard views too and even lower point value rooms but the value rooms are small so don't seem to fit the criteria. And while myself and my family love AKV there are a lot of people that don't so could be risky if they haven't stayed there before. If you're looking to satisfy that part of your family make it easy with something you know they like and that is the cheapest - SSR.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

there are a lot of people that don't

Identify these people so I can have words with them.

 

[bumbershoot]

What size rooms do they need at SSR, OKW, and AKV? Will the AK value rooms really accommodate them? (I know nothing about them)

And what about as their family grows?

What place of those three do they like the most? Or have they stayed there?

Although AK isn't my fave, I'd likely go with that IF the value rooms would work for them, and that still gives me SSR and OKW (my fave of the three) fairly easily at 7 months.

 

[bumbershoot]

Identify these people so I can have words with them.

Ah, that would be me. Least fave of all the resorts I've experienced at WDW so far. It means I'm almost never going to try to stay there, which gives you more opportunities, so don't be angry.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

My brother and his family doesn't feel the same attachment to it. BLT wasn't large enough for them. They enjoyed Copper Creek, but preferred the Saratoga pools and liked being able to park by their room. I want them to be happy too.

Kidani has insanely long hallways. I hated them. However, the parking is under the building, so they can be relatively close to their room, although it isn't like SSR. If they liked to be able to walk around the grounds at SSR, they may dislike that aspect of AKL. The areas guests can access are obviously limited, due to the savanna. However, I loved watching the animals from the viewing stations and my room.

 

[mrsdoubie]

I would also go with OKW to be able to book the HH category at 11 months. I love AKL and specifically Kidani but it’s easy to book there at the 7 month mark. Even if you buy AKL to book the value or club level at 11 months its still difficult because there are so few of those rooms and everyone wants them.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I would also go with OKW to be able to book the HH category at 11 months. I love AKL and specifically Kidani but it’s easy to book there at the 7 month mark. Even if you buy AKL to book the value or club level at 11 months its still difficult because there are so few of those rooms and everyone wants them.

I actually don't care for the hospitality house area of OKW. The whole appeal of the resort to me is the peace and tranquility of the golf course or river view rooms. And because of how convenient parking is to each individual unit, I always get a car when I stay there.

 

[mrsdoubie]

For me it depends on who I’m going with. If I’m on my own or doing a girls trip I don’t really care where I stay at OKW. But with my young child I want to be near the HH because of the pool and playground. Also I almost never have a car and I really don’t mind using the buses to get around the resort.

I actually don't care for the hospitality house area of OKW. The whole appeal of the resort to me is the peace and tranquility of the golf course or river view rooms. And because of how convenient parking is to each individual unit, I always get a car when I stay there.