AKV or BLT: Decisons, decisions!

[Wingnut330]

So I'm learning a lot scouring these boards.

I think going with smaller contracts makes sense and I even like the idea of multiple resorts but I just can't settle in on buying resale.

I'm concerned that the perks will get even more restricted for resale buyers. My wife likes the idea of being able to go to DL and DCL but the savings through resale are tough to ignore.

If we go resale though, I can get more points at our resort of choice - BLT which will allow us to get 2 contracts at 100 pts each rather than only 160 if we go direct.

Ugh - it's keeping me up at night!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So I'm learning a lot scouring these boards.

I think going with smaller contracts makes sense and I even like the idea of multiple resorts but I just can't settle in on buying resale.

I'm concerned that the perks will get even more restricted for resale buyers. My wife likes the idea of being able to go to DL and DCL but the savings through resale are tough to ignore.

If we go resale though, I can get more points at our resort of choice - BLT which will allow us to get 2 contracts at 100 pts each rather than only 160 if we go direct.

Ugh - it's keeping me up at night!

Booking DCL isn't necessarily a given now. DVC receives an allotment so you might not be able to get what you want on points even though cabins are available for cash. The savings from resale could go towards a cruise or two (or three!)

 

[Mtnman44]

Wingnut,

The external trades for disney collection and the cruise, etc are really really point expensive. They give you much less value for your points than you get using them for DVC. In fact, prior to DVC changing the trading options for resales, most folks on this board would advise prospective members not to even consider these trades when making a purchase decision due to the low value. A cruise for just two people could easily cost you two or three years worth of points. For many families, they don't even own enough points to go on a cruise, even if they wanted to.

To pay $140 per point when there are perfectly good DVC points going for $50 right now is just crazy to me. That is nearly 20k in savings for a 220 point contract. I realize that my judgments and priorities might be different that someone else's, and that is fine. But the math doesn't lie. There is a large price to pay for the right to one day use a lot of points (too many) to go on a cruise. If I were you, I'd snap up a $50 SSR contract or two in a hearbeat and put that saved money in some kind of investment. Use the cash when the need for a cruise arises. Unless you really really want an AKV concierge or value, or BLT standard view, chances are you'll have pretty good success at 7 months most of the time. If not, all the other resorts are pretty fun also.

So I'm learning a lot scouring these boards.

I think going with smaller contracts makes sense and I even like the idea of multiple resorts but I just can't settle in on buying resale.

I'm concerned that the perks will get even more restricted for resale buyers. My wife likes the idea of being able to go to DL and DCL but the savings through resale are tough to ignore.

If we go resale though, I can get more points at our resort of choice - BLT which will allow us to get 2 contracts at 100 pts each rather than only 160 if we go direct.

Ugh - it's keeping me up at night!

 

[333disneymom]

So I'm learning a lot scouring these boards.

I think going with smaller contracts makes sense and I even like the idea of multiple resorts but I just can't settle in on buying resale.

I'm concerned that the perks will get even more restricted for resale buyers. My wife likes the idea of being able to go to DL and DCL but the savings through resale are tough to ignore.

If we go resale though, I can get more points at our resort of choice - BLT which will allow us to get 2 contracts at 100 pts each rather than only 160 if we go direct.

Ugh - it's keeping me up at night!

Since you are looking at buying at two resorts, you could always buy one directly from Disney (perhaps AKL), since it's the cheaper of the two, and buy one resale. Then, you'd always have some points that (if you chose) you could use for DCL, RCI or other stays in the future. In the end, you'd save a little money. Just a thought....

 

[wildernessDad]

Over the long haul, buy in cost is small when compared to dues. You will have to look at your own situation of course, but I say buy where you want to stay.

 

[kenny]

My suggestion would be this. What is the most important factor, price or where you want to buy. If price is biggest factor then you may want to look resale if BLT is your choice as others have said. Just note that there are some restrictions now to resale contracts so do your homework.

As far as the two resorts are concerned, we own at BLT and have never been to AKV so my opinion might be a little bias. AKV looks to me like a wonderful themed resort. My brother owns there. However to my family, we prefer BLT. AKV had only bus service and that is a big detracter. We like the idea of the animals but was afraid after a while it would lose it luster. The biggest thing was AKV just seems SO far from everything.

BLT is right in the center of it all. The monorail is key. We have young kids too and being able to walk to MK and take the monorail to Epcot is awesome. MK and Epcot are our 2 favorite parks even before we had kids. Plus the monorail opens many dining options without having to take a bus. As for theming many say there is no them to BLT. Yes, it is more sterile but it is a clean upscale (relativiely speaking in disney terms) look. But, can you get more themed them having the monorail go right by your room and seeing the castle from your LR and bedroom! Best views out of any hotel. I have 2 girls so maybe we are partial to princesses but they LOVE being able to see the castle from the room. Makes you feel like you are still a part of it all even when you are back at your room.

We originally owned SSR and then bought a small BLT contract. We quickly learned that 100pts at BLT does not go very far, even with banking/borrowing. While it costs us a little more, we knew we want to be at BLT and be able to get MK views when we wanted. It was worth the extra $$ to sell SSR and buy all BLT. SOOOOO Glad we did.

Only you can decide what is most important but it sounds like you really liked BLT but the $$ was a factor. It is for most of us so I can understand. Maybe try resale as others have said. If you went BLT you have a better chance of getting a savana view room at 7 months at AK then you do getting a MK view at 7 months. Just something to think about.

Good luck!

 

[majortom1981]

I had a choice between akv and blt. I chose AKV because I live on long island and the BLT theme reminded me too much of NYC. I have NYC at home. I go on vacation to get away from it.

I Like KIdani specifically because it is QUIET. I also love the firepit in the savanah. IT rocks being able to skip the parks at night and just sit at the fire pit rocking on the rocking chair watching the animals go by.

PS I also love talking to the employes from africa.

 

[kenny]

..I live on long island ...

Where on LI? We are in Northport.

We own BLT but you make some good points about AKV. Will have to try it some time.

 

[ffcheff]

I am trying to decide on where to buy my add on right now. I am considering AKV for the length of the contract and price per point. I already own BLT and love it. But learn from my mistake and study the points charts, I should have bought more at the begining. Good luck.

 

[ffcheff]

Seller accepted my offer this morning for AKL.

 

[alice99]

Seller accepted my offer this morning for AKL.

Congratulations!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Seller accepted my offer this morning for AKL.

Best wishes! I love AKV, I hope you pass ROFR!

 

[TosaTrio]

Congratulations! We love AKL

 

[Disney_Mousketeers]

We have stayed at all of the DVC resorts at Disney World, with the exception of Fort Wilderness. I would compare the resorts with my children.....we have no true favorite!!! They all have things we like and dislike and the lists may flip-flop on any given day.

With that said, we own at Kidani. We love many things about it, but the fact that a one bedroom unit has two full bathrooms is HUGE (this is the dad with a wife and three daughters posting)!!!!!

As mentioned by many folks, there is truly not right or wrong decision about a home resort. It is 100% personal preference.

To do it over again, I would buy a resale and save a ton of money up front!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We have stayed at all of the DVC resorts at Disney World, with the exception of Fort Wilderness. ...

Um, Fort Wilderness isn't a DVC resort. I think you mean Villas at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[alice99]

We have stayed at all of the DVC resorts at Disney World, with the exception of Fort Wilderness. I would compare the resorts with my children.....we have no true favorite!!! They all have things we like and dislike and the lists may flip-flop on any given day.

With that said, we own at Kidani. We love many things about it, but the fact that a one bedroom unit has two full bathrooms is HUGE (this is the dad with a wife and three daughters posting)!!!!!

As mentioned by many folks, there is truly not right or wrong decision about a home resort. It is 100% personal preference.

To do it over again, I would buy a resale and save a ton of money up front!

I agree 1000%

 

[alice99]

Um, Fort Wilderness isn't a DVC resort. I think you mean Villas at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Pizzaman12]

This topic has been well covered, but I figured I would throw in my two cents. When we first discovered DVC, we decided to split our points between BLT and AKV, and make our first stay a GV at Kidani.

We spent that entire trip at MK. For us, with one daughter, riding the buses for half an hour (and not being guaranteed a seat) was not for us. The room was beautiful, the animals enjoyable.

In the end, we decided to put all our points at BLT because of the convenience. If I were to stay at AKV again, it would be if I were NOT planning to spend a lot of time at MK.

When we first came back from that trip, I said I'd never stay at AKV again. But, I could see using it for AK days. And, we're staying at BLT this January for 5 days. I'm contemplating staying at AKV for the first two days to do an AK day and maybe a day offsite.

 

[Caren90]

Wingnut. A lot of people have given you excellent opinions on the pros and cons of either resort, but I think the financial portion of your decision is just as important. Buying direct will give you the points quicker and allow you to trade into DCL or the Disney collection, but these "perks" come at a premium that some would argue is not financially prudent. Buying resale can be much less expensive but you do not receive the "perks". For example, I recently purchased two contracts totaling 420 points at BWV at a price of $22,000. This price included closing costs and the current year's maintenance fees.I believe that if I bought those points direct from Disney it would have cost me double the amount. I don't feel those "perks" are worth $22,000!
BLT or AKV will cost you more, but the savings through resale can be quite incredible. If you can be patient and shop around this is currently a buyers market (As long as the buyer can keep their job.).

 

[sweetdana]

I would consider staying at AK before buying there. AK is (with help of value rooms), are the most economical resort. It also is the furthest away from MK, and Epcot, and HS. The standing room only after a long day at the park with a few shopping bags, a stroller, and a tired kid is nothing for some, and a reason to go to SSR with more points per night for others.

BLT is really more money as well, when you look at the price per night (points) say of a 1 bedroom LV room. So you need to realize, that although most of the time, AK is available, you cannot stay elsewhere, over Christmas week, you will be at your home resort. This must be figured into the equation, it is much more expensive. Not just the initial up front cost. The MF, for more points per night.


Buy where you want to stay, and you may need to stay at AK to know where that is.

Agree with the price per point of resale.. that would be a toughy to spend the direct prices.