AKL value rooms

[3pletprincesses]

I'm in process of narrowing down on a contract and I'm kinda stuck between SSR and AKL. I like the idea of value rooms but need a 2 bdr. My heart is set on AKL but my brain tells me SSR is the way to go so I'm trying to justify buying AKL for the value rooms. Just how hard it is at 11 months out to book AKL 2bdr value for the 3rd week of August and Halloween? Those are the 2 times we go and I'm hoping that half the time I can get a value room to justify the higher MF.

 

[chalee94]

i think there are a dozen value 2BRs. all 12 are lockoffs so some wind up booked as 1BRs and studios, leaviing fewer than a dozen available to book as a 2BR.

but august and september are not high periods for DVC bookings until you start to hit food and wine in late sept. if you are online right at 11 months out at 8am, i would think you'd have a great shot at getting a value 2BR more often than not...but there is definitely a risk and others may have more experience.

AKV will definitely have higher dues. eventually, i suspect you are going to want the AKV-kidani 2BRs which have an extra sleeper chair and an extra bathroom.

 

[disneynutz]

IMO buying based on expecting to get a certain category of room is setting yourself up for disappointment.

You also need to have experience at all of the resorts to truly know which you like and do not like and what the resort feels like and what the views are.

I also wouldn't buy based on thinking that the dues will follow a pattern. We bought BLT and it had low dues. The last 3 years it has had 6% plus increases.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

I also wouldn't buy based on thinking that the dues will follow a pattern. We bought BLT and it had low dues. The last 3 years it has had 6% plus increases.

BLT's increases were still pretty predictable.

AKV's animals mean higher dues there than SSR (barring something very unlikely such as a new monorail track connecting DTD/SSR with the MK.)

 

[erionm]

i think there are a dozen value 2BRs. all 12 are lockoffs so some wind up booked as 1BRs and studios, leaviing fewer than a dozen available to book as a 2BR.

The Value Villas consist of 10 2-bedroom locks-offs and 8 dedicated studios.

 

[3pletprincesses]

Any idea just how hard it is to get at 11 months out?

 

[Tunseeker1]

It has been easy to get the value rooms at 11 months out. I have had studios and 1bed during christmas, studio last week, and 2 bed during memorial day weekend. by 10 months out the 2 bedrooms are gone in value but plenty at kidani.

 

[disneynutz]

BLT's increases were still pretty predictable.

AKV's animals mean higher dues there than SSR (barring something very unlikely such as a new monorail track connecting DTD/SSR with the MK.)

I don't know, when we bought BLT our Guide made it a point to tell us how BLT dues were one of the lowest due to the building being a high-rise.

Bill

 

[chalee94]

The Value Villas consist of 10 2-bedroom locks-offs and 8 dedicated studios.

i always forget if it's 10 and 8 or 12 and 6...

I don't know, when we bought BLT our Guide made it a point to tell us how BLT dues were one of the lowest due to the building being a high-rise.

yeah, i'm always suspicious of the guides...

(i think when BLT opened, they also didn't staff their own check-in - so it's also true that some things have changed.)

 

[bwang123]

Any idea just how hard it is to get at 11 months out?

don't have experience booking the 2 bedroom but i was able to book 2 value studios for halloween this year right at 11 months.
also have 2 value studios for may booked at 11 months for our exact days. no walking involved in either.

 

[kristenrice]

I would suggest buying at SSR. The points will be cheaper so you can purchase enough to "upgrade" to a standard 2BR at AKV when you want to stay there. That way, you can pay the lower dues (at SSR) and still stay in a larger, standard 2BR at AKV. There is plenty of rooms in the savanna and standard view category so no need (yet) to worry about their availability at 7 months. If you plan to stay at AKV in the standard or savanna view category, you do not need to own there to stay there. If you even want a chance at the concierge or value category, you absolutely need to own there...and even then, it's still very tough to get a full week without walking.

 

[zavandor]

Are you absolutely sure you are going to stay in a 2BR value room in AKL for all your ownership?
Not tempted to try a different resort?
Maybe try a GV one year for extended family?
Maybe rent them one year you want to do a different vacation?

If you do all the calculations, AKV comes cheaper than SSR only if you always book a value room. Buying SSR and booking a standard view room is not that much more and would give you a bigger room. And any other resort or category that you might book with your AKL points would be cheaper with SSR points.
Getting into AKV at 7 months is easy almost every time of the year. During marathon week end at 7 months for 2014 the only studios available on property were SSR and AKV Kidani savannah. Even OKW had a night missing. (I got OKW with a waitlist).

 

[graychef]

I own at AKV and stayed there on my last trip in December. I rented at OKW for a trip several years ago that really got my mind working and thinking about owning DVC. I'm about to close on my second contract at AKV (I chose it because a really really enjoy the resort and I wanted to be a part of it). In the meantime, I'm planning a trip in October and will rent points for that stay because of the 11 month advantage of BCV owners at that time of year.

Choose the resort you love and can afford. It may change over the years and that's OK. You should always have a resale market available to sell/buy. Don't rush into it.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I will be honest I've always thought buy where you want to stay and that's exactly how I went into this until the frugal in me took over and told me SSR was the best. The one contract I tried to get not long ago at SSR got ROFR and I went back to thinking AKL again. AKL is honestly a place I love but the MF scare the hell out of me because what happens when there's problems with the animals how bad will MF will go up. Thank for the input everyone. Food for thought for a few days but I have the perfect 2 contracts in front of me for the same price just different points amount and I'm torn on which to get.

 

[supersnoop]

I will be honest I've always thought buy where you want to stay and that's exactly how I went into this until the frugal in me took over and told me SSR was the best. The one contract I tried to get not long ago at SSR got ROFR and I went back to thinking AKL again. AKL is honestly a place I love but the MF scare the hell out of me because what happens when there's problems with the animals how bad will MF will go up. Thank for the input everyone. Food for thought for a few days but I have the perfect 2 contracts in front of me for the same price just different points amount and I'm torn on which to get.

The "Animal Programs" budget at AKV is about 5% of the total budget. Even if the cost to care for the animals doubled, dues would only increase 5%. AKV dues are high because the resort is large; it has a huge footprint.

Back when SSR was cheaper (last year it was about $10 less per point), you could buy more points at SSR and pay the approximately the same maintenance fees, and always stay in a regular (not value) room. Now, with the price gap closing, if you will always book a value room, you're better off buying at AKV. Otherwise, there's very little benefit from the home resort booking advantage there.

 

[Minniesgal]

If it's what you really want I don't see the point in buying SSR I'd buy AKV and have what you want. You are still spending a fair chunk of change on SSR why buy it and think if only....

 

[Tunseeker1]

The problem with not knowing the future is you have to make choices today.

I bought at AKV because of the animals and being far from parks on trips with no plans for park visits.
I bought at Vero because I want to go to the beach during busy times.
I bought at Poly because I want the monorail/walk to epcot monorail/ connecting studios.

My original resort is OKW.

I love the option of getting value rooms. If I want a cheap trip down I book values.
We bought at poly because I don't want to be stuck in a 2 bedroom if the kids want to bring friends and we don't really cook in the kitchen anymore.
OKW is a nice resort to relax but its huge and spread out. Food at AKV is an elevator ride to the lobby.

I own at 2 of the highest MF resorts and have never looked back.

 

[sndral]

IMO BLTs dues increased rapidly after they sold out for the same reason Hawaii forced DVC to up Aulani's MFs, they were set artificially low or you could phrase it optimistic budget predictions to make the resort easier to sell.
I'm glad I chose AKV rather than following the now common suggestion to buy SSR - if I'd bought at SSR for the two trips I've used points for so far I'd have been stuck at SSR as even AKV wasn't available for all 10 days ea time @ 7 months. Since I love AKV it's worth an extra $100 or so a year in MFs to know I can definitely stay at a resort I love instead of settling for one I'm indifferent to.

 

[drusba]

Studio and 2BR values have had some issues of being gone before 11 months out for some of the very high demand times during DVCs high demand quarter (late Sep to marathon weekend in Jan). Times when there have been issues are first and second week of Dec, Thanksgiving, and near NYE, and there are other periods during that time where you really need to assure you are there early in the morning booking online, which includes that Halloween time. They have generally been open 11 months out mid-Jan through Sep,including the Aug time you mention, but even then it is advisable not to wait any days beyond the 11 month window.

 

[skier_pete]

So, to answer the OP question - my observance is the only potential time of year you would have an issue with getting into a value room right at the 11-month mark is early December. The rest of the year it seems like you wouldn't have a problem.

AKV's animals mean higher dues there than SSR (barring something very unlikely such as a new monorail track connecting DTD/SSR with the MK.)

If you look at the actual costs, the animals are about 35 cents per point. This is only about 1/3 of the price difference.

I would suggest buying at SSR. The points will be cheaper so you can purchase enough to "upgrade" to a standard 2BR at AKV when you want to stay there. That way, you can pay the lower dues (at SSR) and still stay in a larger, standard 2BR at AKV. There is plenty of rooms in the savanna and standard view category so no need (yet) to worry about their availability at 7 months. If you plan to stay at AKV in the standard or savanna view category, you do not need to own there to stay there. If you even want a chance at the concierge or value category, you absolutely need to own there...and even then, it's still very tough to get a full week without walking.

This is an excellent point I never thought about...standard view rooms take about 15-20 % more points than if you stayed in a value room. If you are saving 20 % on MF by buying at SSR, you can buy at SSR are to consider the maintenance fees, and most of the year get into a Standard View room at AKL - essentially getting a larger room at the approximately the same price.

I will be honest I've always thought buy where you want to stay and that's exactly how I went into this until the frugal in me took over and told me SSR was the best. The one contract I tried to get not long ago at SSR got ROFR and I went back to thinking AKL again. AKL is honestly a place I love but the MF scare the hell out of me because what happens when there's problems with the animals how bad will MF will go up. Thank for the input everyone. Food for thought for a few days but I have the perfect 2 contracts in front of me for the same price just different points amount and I'm torn on which to get.

We bought at AKV, and are not upset about it. My view is we spent $12000 on a 160 point contract. The difference in MF between AKV and SSR add up to <$200 a year right now. While it seems this will continue on, it COULD change. If you really are set on saving the most money - buy the SSR contract (see the note above). I personally am happy to pay the extra MF to know I own at a place I really like,and gives me the option to stretch my points in value rooms. That said, If I buy another contract, I will probably go SSR, to sort of split the difference.