BLT vs AKV and price of add-ons

[EWL]

We are currently debating DVC resale and looking for thoughts on two things:
1) with AKV being a large resort, is it hard to get into at 7 months? That holds the most appeal to us but the location of BLT is so great (although the decor doesn't do much for us) and the MFs are much lower. What resorts are the hardest to get at 7 months? I know we are only assured of space at our home resort and many advise to buy where you want to stay. But also wonder if resale value of BLT will be greater...
2) we are ideally looking for about 75 points but if we bought 50, how much is it to add-on points thru Disney-- same as new buyers? Seems like the smaller contracts are going like hotcakes in the run-up to 3/20!
Many thanks!

 

[EWL]

Oops, sorry-- just saw that dvcnews also lists the current member add-on prices. Need more coffee.

 

[Sandisw]

IMO, I would not take resale value into the equation as there are too many things, out of your control, that can affect that.

Just the change in benefits for resale contracts vs. direct contracts after March 20th has got some members, who believed DVC would hold its value, worried that it will no longer.

I believe that BLT is harder to get in to a the 7 month mark than getting in to AKV. SV rooms, which cost the least amount of points, are almost impossible at the 7 month mark for many travel times. It does seem that LV rooms are available, if you call right at the 7 month mark.

However, there are some AKV rooms that are equally difficult at 7 months--concierge and value rooms.

I still believe that people should buy at the resort they are comfortable staying, if there is not one resort they really want to be able to be at all the time.

We bought BLT because we know we will stay at BLT every trip. We enjoy split stays and have been (and will continue) to try to get a few nights at BWV or BCV at the beginning of the trip, but if I can't trade out, I would be perfectly happy staying at BLT for the entire time.

If you really like AKV and just want to be able to try BLT when there is availability, then I would buy there and hope for the best. However, if you will be disappointed that you can't stay at BLT frequently, then that is where I would buy, providing those hard to get rooms at AKV are not of importance.

 

[SanDeeKath]

I agree -- the buy where you want to stay advice is especially important in high demand times like school holidays and Food and Wine. Otherwise, you can own at Vero Beach for $45 a point and go to one of the other resorts pretty easily with the 7 month ressie window...

Katherine

 

[JimMIA]

But also wonder if resale value of BLT will be greater...

I agree with Sandi, I would not consider any hypothetical resale value of ANY resort in my calculations. The fact is, both BLT and AKV are selling WELL below DVD prices on the resale market already and they're both still in active sales. They're both large resorts and I believe their value will continue to drop significantly because resale supply trumps location every time. If you want an example, look at the relative pricing between BWV and BCV. Why is BCV selling so much higher -- much smaller resort = less supply of resale contracts on the market = higher price.

I also would not pay a whole lot of attention to annual dues for a resort in active sales. Those will go up when active sales stop. A better guideline would be to look at the dues history of other hotel-connected large resorts like BWV.

2) we are ideally looking for about 75 points but if we bought 50, how much is it to add-on points thru Disney-- same as new buyers? Seems like the smaller contracts are going like hotcakes in the run-up to 3/20!
Many thanks!

You'll have to do the math, but a small add-on is about the only situation where I would even consider buying direct in todays market. There probably is still a difference worth going resale for, but you need to do the math first and then be ready to pounce if you see a resale contract that meets your needs.

Also, for a small add-on, you might want to consider waiting until after 3/20. You're not likely to be able to use 50-75 points on any of the options that are going away anyway, so the full-benefit consideration is much less important on a small purchase by an existing owner, IMHO.

 

[SanDeeKath]

Great advice! AKV was selling like hotcakes a couple of years ago, both on the resale and the direct side. The resort is larger and there is a lot of availability, so now it's priced much less on resale. I also agree with the MF issue. It always goes up so it makes no sense to see that as a sales incentive. It starts low to help sales and then over the years goes up. Luckily for DVC it's been a predictable and "fair" rise. Not so with my Starwood timeshares, where MFs in Hawaii went from $1200 for a 2br to $2600 in the span of 7 years!

Katherine

 

[drewmer]

The MF at AKL is a little higher but as long as they keep the animals this is gust a fact of life. In my opinion it is worth it. Over a long term the MF will probably end up much higher than at other resorts - the result of compounding. We also purchased at the Grand Cal since the points were very inexpensive and we tend to either go to AKL or on cruises.

I would not consider resale value much since the future is so unpredictable. We should purchase what we like and should not consider this as an investment that will only go up. Look what happened to the housing market.

Have fun and enjoy your next trip

 

[dizzneebabe]

We own at both properties because we wanted to be able to stay at both. And we love them, each for different reasons. AKV is so 'Disneyesque' to us. In my opinion, only Disney could pull off a resort like that! BLT's convenience and room sizes (on the outer ring) can't be beat! We didn't think much about the MF's or resale when we purchased. I would agree with the other posters and take that factor out of your decision.

Also, don't misunderstand, you are not 'assured' accommodations at your home resort; you have the advantage of being able to make reservations at 11 months out, vs 7 months, providing you have the points available. It still is first come, first serve.