AKV - Value Studio - Some Questions

[kissiffer4]

Hi,

Relatively new to the forum, so please excuse me if this has been answered elsewhere. My family and I just returned from AKV (Jambo) and had such a wonderful time with our 5 and 3 year olds that we are considering purchasing some DVC points. January will most likely be our typical time to visit, so looking at the points chart it would appear a value studio comes in at roughly 50 points for a Saturday - Wednesday stay. So far so good...now for some questions...would a studio suffice for a family of four? Also, does anybody know if the studios or 1br come with bunk beds? Our kids loved them! Oh, and would purchasing 50 points be risky? Even with AKV as my home resort, is it quite difficult to get a Jan reservation 11 months in advance?

Thanks!

 

[disneynutz]

They less the number of rooms, the greater the chance that you will have competition booking them. Values were smaller rooms created when AKL rooms were converted to DVC rooms.

No bunk beds.

The kids will grow quickly so expect to be looking for more points and a larger room.

Bill

 

[Dean]

Hi,

Relatively new to the forum, so please excuse me if this has been answered elsewhere. My family and I just returned from AKV (Jambo) and had such a wonderful time with our 5 and 3 year olds that we are considering purchasing some DVC points. January will most likely be our typical time to visit, so looking at the points chart it would appear a value studio comes in at roughly 50 points for a Saturday - Wednesday stay. So far so good...now for some questions...would a studio suffice for a family of four? Also, does anybody know if the studios or 1br come with bunk beds? Our kids loved them! Oh, and would purchasing 50 points be risky? Even with AKV as my home resort, is it quite difficult to get a Jan reservation 11 months in advance?

Thanks!

It's unusual for timeshares to have bunkbeds. The only ones that come to mind are a couple of the Wyndham resorts in the FL panhandle. To book the values you'd need to own there and book right at 11 months out. For most new buyers it'll be cheaper and better to buy somewhere like SSR and book the standard view. Owning AKV for the values, you'd have to book those about 2/3 of the time to break even long term owning AKV resale vs SSR and booking AKV standard studios. This is not a realistic expectation for someone new to DVC. So you'll have to decide if the 20% extra cost to own at AKV is worth it. Of course the first question is whether DVC is right for you at all.

 

[com_op_2000]

You are doing the right thing by doing your research up-front.
Read these threads on the DIS and understand the following terms:
UY
MF
HR
11 month and 7 month booking windows
Concierge Collection
RCI
CM
MS
Direct vs resale
Rule of 4
Once you have a full understanding of these terms.
Then read some more.
Buying only a 50 point contract, if you can find a resale for that amount will cost more than a higher point contract. All contracts on the resale market less than 100 points cost about 20 - 30% more per point than larger contracts. AKL-value rooms are limited in number so you need to use as a "normal" booking a standard view room, as that is where you will be booking most of the time. Also, you need to factor in about 10% more points in case of changes to the points charts, which can and have occurred over the years. You also need to look at the point charts for the off-school times; @3 years from now you will be limited to when you can go and those times cost more points.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Also consider how long your kids will be content or willing to share a bed. Some kids are fine with that forever. Some kids less so. Gender and eventual size are also relevant; We use studios or 1BRs that have 3 sleeping surfaces because our children do not share well and will share even less well as they get bigger.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I cannot be any more blunt that what I'm about to say.

If your plan is to only buy enough points to book AKL Value Studios, you will often be disappointed. Way too much competition for the tiny number of studios available under the value category.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

To be quite precise: There are 18 total Value Studios. 10 are part of "lock-off" 2BR units, so if they are booked as a 2BR they take a studio out of circulation. So the maximum number of value studios at any one time is 18; there can be fewer in practice.

 

[DenLo]

If you are buying to stay at AKV, I would assume that you will mostly stay in Standard View rooms with occasional stays in value rooms (or split between the two rooms).

As to having four guests in a studio, it works out fine for many families. But as others have said it could change for peace of mind reasons in the future, especially when they become tweens teens.

BTW, if your family stays in a 1BR at Kidani you will also have two bathrooms. All one bedrooms at AKV with the exception of the values have a pullout sleep chair in the living as well as the pull out couch. That really helps when you have kids of different sexes or ones that don't share a bed well. Also I am starting to here complaints from my nieces about how they hate sleeping in a regular hotel room or studio anymore because their dad snores so loud. Hopefully my DSIL will take the hint. But you can see how situation can really change.

Good luck, Animal Kingdom Villas is a beautiful resort.

 

[DenLo]

Regarding the bunkbeds, the TreeHouse Villas at Saratoga Springs have bunkbeds in the third bedroom. However that villa type is more expensive than a 2BR at some of the DVC resorts.

 

[kissiffer4]

Thanks everyone. I will take any advice (blunt or not!) if it helps me make the most educated decision . I think I am leaning towards 150-180 points at AKV, most likely through resale. Would also probably finance half of that if it possible to do so? Are financing rates really as high as 14%? Considering excellent credit etc.

 

[Dean]

Thanks everyone. I will take any advice (blunt or not!) if it helps me make the most educated decision . I think I am leaning towards 150-180 points at AKV, most likely through resale. Would also probably finance half of that if it possible to do so? Are financing rates really as high as 14%? Considering excellent credit etc.

Yes, those are consistent with the numbers over the last few years. You could look at timesharelending.net, monera or light stream. Light stream is likely the cheapest and it's the one that's not a mortgage. IN effect these are all personal loans even though the first 2 write them as mortgages. I would recommend against a HELOC or similar.

 

[kristenrice]

Thanks everyone. I will take any advice (blunt or not!) if it helps me make the most educated decision . I think I am leaning towards 150-180 points at AKV, most likely through resale. Would also probably finance half of that if it possible to do so? Are financing rates really as high as 14%? Considering excellent credit etc.

You could always split up your purchase...buy 75-100 now (or whatever portion you wouldn't have to finance), take a few trips in a studio and then add on more later, once you've saved up. This way, you can have a couple DVC stays under your belt and you can get a better idea of what you like and dislike.