BLT or AKV Resale

[gambit985]

Looking to add on about 160 pts at one of these via resale. Besides cost any pros and cons that we should be aware of for these resorts. Also how important is having same use year as our current VGC membership. This would give us 2 separate pts values one for DW and other for DL. I did see it appears MFs are higher at AKV and that could offset the price difference some.

 

[supersnoop]

BLT dues are much lower.

 

[lolakat]

Looking to add on about 160 pts at one of these via resale. Besides cost any pros and cons that we should be aware of for these resorts. Also how important is having same use year as our current VGC membership. This would give us 2 separate pts values one for DW and other for DL. I did see it appears MFs are higher at AKV and that could offset the price difference some.

In addition to the cost difference they are very different resorts. AKV is heavily themed while BLT is not. BLT is walking distance to the MK and on the monorail while AKV is really only close to AK and you still need to take a bus to get there. Studios as BLT are smaller than those at AKV. At BLT there you have booking advantage for standard view rooms which are some of the least expensive on the monorail while at AKV you have booking advantage with the Concierge level rooms. BLT points rent at a premium while AKV do not. Overall it is generally harder to book into BLT than AKV at the 7 month mark during busy times. I'm sure there are lots of other difference that others can chime in on....

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There are also many more BLT Standard rooms than AKV Concierge. Never buy AKV assuming you will regularly get Club Level; you probably will not.

If you are interested in AKV Value, those typically do require 11-month priority.

If you want to travel during Food & Wine, you need 11-month priority for much of F&W at monorail resorts.

 

[jerseyduke]

BLT dues have been rising at a faster rate that AK. But, to me, that isn't the deciding factor. Given how much cheaper AKV points are, the difference in dues over the life of a contract will probably be close to a wash.

What you are paying for when you buy is the 11 month booking window. Will you use that at BLT? If your plan is to stay at BLT, then it is probably what you should buy.

If you are not going to book BLT at 11 months (or at least more than 7), you are paying for a premium you are not using.

Aside from that, obviously two totally different resorts as far as theme (or lack there of) goes.

If you have little children, the proximity to MK makes BLT a great choice.

AKV is huge, and i can sometimes be a field trip to get to your room.

AKV has much more availability at 7 months, which is part of the reason its points are cheaper.

With the same UY you get one account. 2 is more difficult to manage. I would try to keep them the same UY unless you had a good reason to get a different one.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

BLT points rent for a higher rate.

 

[ColonialMouse]

If what you want is AKV concierge, you need to own there for the 11 month window. If you want savannah, unless you want it for truly peak times you should by SSR and get AKV at the 7-month. AKV has character and a commute. BLT is a large nice hotel if you want walking to MK and the monorail.

Bruce

 

[jedcaum]

BLT dues have been rising at a faster rate that AK. But, to me, that isn't the deciding factor. Given how much cheaper AKV points are, the difference in dues over the life of a contract will probably be close to a wash.

AKV is huge, and i can sometimes be a field trip to get to your room.

A\.

OMG! We've owned at AKV since 2005, and it's always a hike, but last time we were literally at the very end of Kidani Village, and I'm getting a pith helmet for our next trip - it was like a safari!


On the dues question, don't underestimate that expense... It's generally over 3x what your initial investment is over the life of the contract, perhaps more. Those little dollar differences add up.

 

[gambit985]

I appreciate all the input. We are trying to stay with same use year but being that it is Sept there have not been many for these 2 resorts that match. However wasn't sure if the fact we would only use these pts to book at DW and would only use the VGC pts to book at DL would make a difference in going with a different use year. Also from BLT are you able to get buses to the other parks from Contemporary?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Also from BLT are you able to get buses to the other parks from Contemporary?

Bus to AK and HS. Monorail for Epcot.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

Posted this elsewhere but seems relevant:

Low annual dues is one reason we went with BLT as opposed to AKL (which is the other DVC resort we were considering). The difference between $6.41 and $5.28 per point is actually quite a lot over the life of the contract.

If you make the following assumptions:
1. 4% increase in annual dues per year over the life of the contract
2. shorten BLT by 3 years (to end at 2057) to match AKL
3. 200 point contract, BLT @ $123 pp and AKL @ $85 pp
4. closing costs: BLT = $610 and AKL = $560
5. 2016 MF: BLT = $5.28 pp, AKL = $6.41 pp

Cost of the contract over it's entire life is:
BLT = $135,692
AKL = $151,948

AKL actually costs $16,000 more than BLT.

If you assume annual dues stay flat (0% increase)
BLT = $69,587.20
AKL= $71,404.00

AKL still $2000 more than BLT.

BLT actually has 3 more years built in, which actually makes it slightly more attractive than the numbers state.

AKL's advantage is that you don't need as many points to rent a room, so you could probably get away with a much smaller contract at AKL than BLT and see significant savings from that standpoint. But point for point, BLT is a great deal.

 

[CarolMN]

Unless you anticipate a need to regularly combine your VGC points with your new contract's points for the same stay, the use year won't matter. (Other than remembering a different baking deadline). In fact, if you will travel to WDW at a different time of the year than you usually travel to VGC, it may be in your best interest to choose a different use year.

IMO, the best/easiest way to use two contracts (with different resorts &/or use years) is to use each on an every other year basis and take advantage of the home resort priority booking period for each.

 

[jerseyduke]

On the dues question, don't underestimate that expense... It's generally over 3x what your initial investment is over the life of the contract, perhaps more. Those little dollar differences add up.

Dues are important, and significant, but in a resale case between BLT and AKV, less so. BLT is going(asking) in the low 120s, AKV in the low 90s. Almost 30$ less per point. Difference in Dues is about 1.20 (BLT being cheaper). Dropping the difference down to 24 per point, it would take 20 years for the additional AKV dues to eat up the savings of buying AKV.
(This assumes no ROI on the savings, not Time value of money adjustments, assuming the difference in dues stays the same etc - it is just a basic raw calculation)

So, while dues are important, and do indeed add up, (and can be 2-3X the actual purchase price over the life of a contract; certainly nothing to sneeze at) they are somewhat negated by the large difference in price per point in this particular case. But still, they are something for the OP to consider. (If you were to change AKV to BCV, then dues are MUCH more significant due to the higher price per point of BCV)

From a strictly numbers/real estate view, I do think BLT is a better value.

As a PP pointed out, the difference in the 2 costs over life is about 16K.
things to note are
1. that assumes same contract size; AKV is cheaper point wise.
2. the calculations include no ROI on the money saved today
3. The 16K more that AVK costs over the life of the contract is not an expense that is incurred for about another 20 years; so that is 16K 20 year from now - and spread out over the remaining years.

Based on the above (and including an ROI on the initial savings, and TVM) I think total Cost Of Ownership will be virtually equal. Again in this case due to the large price per point difference. Financially speaking, BLT would blow away something like BCV as the better buy.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

Dues are important, and significant, but in a resale case between BLT and AKV, less so. BLT is going(asking) in the low 120s, AKV in the low 90s. Almost 30$ less per point. Difference in Dues is about 1.20 (BLT being cheaper). Dropping the difference down to 24 per point, it would take 20 years for the additional AKV dues to eat up the savings of buying AKV.
(This assumes no ROI on the savings, not Time value of money adjustments, assuming the difference in dues stays the same etc - it is just a basic raw calculation)

So, while dues are important, and do indeed add up, (and can be 2-3X the actual purchase price over the life of a contract; certainly nothing to sneeze at) they are somewhat negated by the large difference in price per point in this particular case. But still, they are something for the OP to consider. (If you were to change AKV to BCV, then dues are MUCH more significant due to the higher price per point of BCV)

Yes you are correct. But I think many people (myself included) when comparing AKL and BLT think "wow, AKL is so cheap compared to BLT", which is not really the case. It allowed me to take the cost difference out of equation and just look at the AKL and BLT resorts, and choose which one I liked best independent of price, and not just buy AKL "because it is cheaper", unless you think that the upfront cost is too high. I certainly wouldn't buy BLT "because it is cheaper", as it's also a bit of a guessing game as to what MFs will be like in the future, and also because the point requirements for the rooms are higher for BLT. I think that AKL MFs will always be among the most expensive though because of the animal costs.

 

[suebeelin]

I, personally, prefer BLT and would be unhappy if I ended up "stuck" at akl.

Why don't you find a price you're comfortable with for both, despite the current resale prices, and see if anyone bites?

 

[alisonslp]

I, personally, prefer BLT and would be unhappy if I ended up "stuck" at akl.

Why don't you find a price you're comfortable with for both, despite the current resale prices, and see if anyone bites?

LOL I am just the opposite! I would much prefer AKL to BLT and glad we bought at AKL.

OP -- Cost certainly place a part but if you are going to want to book at high times and need the 11 mth window then you will want to pick where you are most comfortable. We have stayed in BLT 2x and loved that it was so close to MK but with 3 teens, that is less of pull for us than it would have been 5-10 years ago. I personally do not like the design of BLT. Too contemporary for my tastes and the pool is nothing special. AKL offers a 'home' atmosphere in which you can sit out on the balcony, overlooks, or in the lobby and just settle in and relax watching the animals or reading a book. I don't get that feel with any of the other resorts.

Again, perhaps it is because we are in a different stage, where we go to enjoy the resort, not necessarily spend all day at all the parks, but it is something to think about. We bought when our oldest were 8 and we never thought of it then but just 7 years later and we are already at this point. And when they are grown and gone, I will want a resort "I" feel comfortable at doing what I want, not the fact that it is close to a particular park my kids liked when they were little.