BLT Vs. AKV: JMHO

[HockeyKat]

We have been on the fence between the two, or even waiting and seeing if we could get more BWV pts, or even BCV pts, through resale. We aren't planning on kids and are in our mid 30s, so the contract term really isn't a factor.

I do agree on AKV having better hanging out ambience. However, I think our plan is to maybe do combined trips... AKV for hanging out days, BWV/BCV for Epcot days, and BLT or VWL for MK days. We drive and don't mind switching. Also, we tend to travel in Sept and Jan where the 11 mo window is not quite as much of a concern, at least yet anyhow.

So it really comes down to better value. And as someone pointed out elsewhere, the only worse incentive you could get w/ BLT is none at all. The AKV incentive is good but not any better than we could get an Epcot resort resale, so after much discussion yesterday and today, I think we will wait and see.

 

[dis-happy]

I think the best comparison is standard rooms to standard rooms, premier rooms to premier rooms, and using BWV as the guide.

11% standard rooms are going to reserve quickly at 11 months to BLT owners. Once again, the relative bargain of staying somewhere great for the least amount of points is going to be a driving force of owning. No where else on earth can you walk home from MK.

Same with Boardwalk View and MK views (or AKV concierge). Harder, more desirable, will fill their reservations fast.

Anyone who doesn't mind staying with a BWV pool/garden view or BLT Lake View....you will probably be able to get a reservation at 7 months in non-holiday times.

Don't forget too that all those new BLT contracts are going to put pressure on the rest of DVC and getting rooms at 7 months. People noticed a big change after SSR entered the picture and the numbers just continue to grow. Home resort just keeps getting more important as time goes by. We will probably do a small add-on at BLT for this reason alone--we already own at BCV and BWV.

 

[cn123]

I too have been thinking about purchasing at AKV a 100 point contract but now that BLT is going to be for sale I think I will wait and see if the incentives get any better. I'm looking at developer points or something. So lets keep our fingers crossed

 

[lowepg]

All discussion about bus distance, monorails and vanity mirror-placement aside:

I guess Im still curious as to why more ppl aren't considering the large MF delta when comparing these rates. Over $1/point? It would seem to be easy math to figure out the breakeven point vs AK.

In fact, if you really look at 50 years of ownership- and assuming that delta will maintain or more likely grow- BLT could look like a steal vs AK (even with all your bargain basement incentives).

What am I missing here?

 

[senecabeach]

Originally Posted by AKV707
Is it possible that the dues at BLT are low now because the resort is not open? Isn't it possible that there could be a big increase once the building is complete with all units declared and open?

yes, i would expect dues to move more in line with the other hotel-type DVCs, but that's all speculation at this point.

In speaking to my guide about the MF, he thought that additional transportation isn't needed. Monorail, boat, walking exists...so the cheaper MF fits.

 

[TSMIII]

All discussion about bus distance, monorails and vanity mirror-placement aside:

I guess Im still curious as to why more ppl aren't considering the large MF delta when comparing these rates. Over $1/point? It would seem to be easy math to figure out the breakeven point vs AK.

In fact, if you really look at 50 years of ownership- and assuming that delta will maintain or more likely grow- BLT could look like a steal vs AK (even with all your bargain basement incentives).

What am I missing here?

I'm thinking that maybe the advantage of the lower MFs may be canceled out somewhat by the higher point requirements. I think that is what Chase'n'Ciera was trying to get across in their earlier post.

 

[lowepg]

I'm thinking that maybe the advantage of the lower MFs may be canceled out somewhat by the higher point requirements. I think that is what Chase'n'Ciera was trying to get across in their earlier post.

OK- maybe, but that disadvantage is also wiped out when staying at other (cheaper) resorts and/or nono-preferred BLT rooms.

I guess my point is (no pun intended), the difference in MF could be worth the equiv. of $25/point in purchase price, a point many seem to be ignoring- OR- trying to rationalize away by theorizing a big MF jump later (little proof to support).

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

All discussion about bus distance, monorails and vanity mirror-placement aside:

I guess Im still curious as to why more ppl aren't considering the large MF delta when comparing these rates. Over $1/point? It would seem to be easy math to figure out the breakeven point vs AK.

In fact, if you really look at 50 years of ownership- and assuming that delta will maintain or more likely grow- BLT could look like a steal vs AK (even with all your bargain basement incentives).

What am I missing here?

Tell me if I'm wrong. If AKV MF's are $1 more, my 100 pt AKV addon will cost $100 more a year. $100 X 50 years = $5000 Thats about the pricetag Difference between AKV and BLT. Keep in mind the MF's at both resorts will change over the years. THeoreticaly, one day BLT MF's can be higher than AKV.

 

[lowepg]

Tell me if I'm wrong. If AKV MF's are $1 more, my 100 pt AKV addon will cost $100 more a year. $100 X 50 years = $5000 Thats about the pricetag Difference between AKV and BLT. Keep in mind the MF's at both resorts will change over the years. THeoreticaly, one day BLT MF's can be higher than AKV.

Theoretically we are just a dust spec on Hortons flower, but I'd rather not get too speculative

It seems the historical data would rather suggest they WDW resorts will climb at a more stable level. Let's play with EXCEL. Taking both AKV and BLT and inreasing each by 3%/yr, after just 30 yrs, the delta would grow to $2/point!!

Let's assume a worse cse scenario, AK rises by 2.5%, but BLT rises by 3%, it would take 30 years for the delta to finally shrink to just under $1/point....

I would theorize that the operating cost for AK is higher (who is paying for those SPECIAL animals in the DVC savannah?). BLT would seem to have much more modest costs for scenary (the scenary is MK!) and transportation....

 

[Laneychris]

How much does it cost to buy BLT per point?

 

[tassma]

DVC members can buy 100 points or more for $107/point. I think that was an $8/point savings.

Our guide (who is low pressure a/k/a no pressure) did not seem to think that incentives were happening too soon for BLT. I would be interested on other opinions on potential upcoming incentives for BLT.

 

[fadedgirl]

No doubt they will have BLT incentives eventually.

In keeping with the "logic" on MFs discussion here: BLT is a terrific buy if you never want to stay at BLT but instead want to use your BLT points to stay at other DVC resorts.

Of course, this idea is contingent upon the points chart that they had on dvcmembers website yesterday, which was removed from said site today. If they alter the BLT points chart to resemble something a little more sane, all bets are off.

 

[edk35]

why people "hash it out so much about resort purchases" but I will throw in my 2 cents too . I mean.....it seems that there is always the possiblity of a better deal later. I mean...you buy when you buy for whatever reasons at the time just like anything else in life. I have read on here countless times how people get mad after purchase because not too long afterwards....someone else got a better deal. I know when we bought the end of Jan. 07 people on here didn't believe we were allowed to BANK our Dev. Points but at that time....we could. Some people who bought before us, couldn't and others after us weren't extended that offer. I think there were probably better AKV deals maybe before we bought in Aug. I still feel like what we got was great. The whole debate of MF fees....no one knows what the future will bring....we can make educated guesses, but trying to figure out which is a better deal right now is crazy in my book. I bet there will be an incentive offer for BLT in the coming months.....but that is a risk one takes in waiting for it. Maybe it sells out very quickly and you miss the boat if you wait. If you love BLT then just do it, if you like AKV then just do it....sometimes waiting for the sale might mean missing the boat entirely. THE MF will always be there......no matter what....whether BLT is a buck cheaper per point or not right now doesn't mean it will always stay that way and the same for AKV...those babies might go up a lot over the years more so than other resorts. People buy into resorts for a variety or reasons.......and I doubt MF play a huge role in their decisions...at least it didn't in ours. Again, everyone buys for different reason and maybe MF is a huge thing for one to consider when buying a certain resort. For us...didn't even think about the MF.

So.....,do I think DVC will eventually offer a BLT incentive. .....YEPPERS I Do. I think that with AKV.....the offers weren't as good to start with either. Please feel free to correct me....but seems to me I remember reading threads about people complaining about this too. I bet that when BLT starts getting close to being completely sold or maybe after the excitement dies down and sales slow....those buyers will have had the best deal thus far since BLT was first selling. Just my opinion.

 

[maburke]

Current AKV (base price $104/point) inventives expire 9/20. BLT goes on sale 9/21 at a base price of $112. Will the base price of AKV go up at the same time? Doesn't DVC try to keep all of the resorts currently selling at the same price per point (even if some have better incentives)?

 

[HockeyKat]

why people "hash it out so much about resort purchases" but I will throw in my 2 cents too . I mean.....it seems that there is always the possiblity of a better deal later. I mean...you buy when you buy for whatever reasons at the time just like anything else in life. I have read on here countless times how people get mad after purchase because not too long afterwards....someone else got a better deal. I know when we bought the end of Jan. 07 people on here didn't believe we were allowed to BANK our Dev. Points but at that time....we could. Some people who bought before us, couldn't and others after us weren't extended that offer. I think there were probably better AKV deals maybe before we bought in Aug. I still feel like what we got was great. The whole debate of MF fees....no one knows what the future will bring....we can make educated guesses, but trying to figure out which is a better deal right now is crazy in my book. I bet there will be an incentive offer for BLT in the coming months.....but that is a risk one takes in waiting for it. Maybe it sells out very quickly and you miss the boat if you wait. If you love BLT then just do it, if you like AKV then just do it....sometimes waiting for the sale might mean missing the boat entirely. THE MF will always be there......no matter what....whether BLT is a buck cheaper per point or not right now doesn't mean it will always stay that way and the same for AKV...those babies might go up a lot over the years more so than other resorts. People buy into resorts for a variety or reasons.......and I doubt MF play a huge role in their decisions...at least it didn't in ours. Again, everyone buys for different reason and maybe MF is a huge thing for one to consider when buying a certain resort. For us...didn't even think about the MF.

So.....,do I think DVC will eventually offer a BLT incentive. .....YEPPERS I Do. I think that with AKV.....the offers weren't as good to start with either. Please feel free to correct me....but seems to me I remember reading threads about people complaining about this too. I bet that when BLT starts getting close to being completely sold or maybe after the excitement dies down and sales slow....those buyers will have had the best deal thus far since BLT was first selling. Just my opinion.

Some people, myself included, are just over-analyzers. Plus, it is more fun to debate this than politics, that's for sure!!

But seriously, my reasons for trying to decide what to do are based on not really liking EITHER resort completely. I like the ambience and animals at AKV but I hate the location. I love the location at BLT but I don't love the price and lack of incentives.

So, that says to me, either wait to addon, or buy another contract via resale at a resort that I do love (BCV/BWV).

And yes, I have stayed at all WDW DVC resorts now (except the ones that aren't open, of course), so it isn't a decision based solely on emotion.

 

[dzorn]

In speaking to my guide about the MF, he thought that additional transportation isn't needed. Monorail, boat, walking exists...so the cheaper MF fits.

Yes but they have to be maintained. Updating the Monorail when needed will be quite costly and I doubt that DVC will get out of paying for a share of it.

Denise in MI

 

[snackyx]

As for the fireworks, and all the people salivating at having a room overloking the MK to watch them, I just don't get it - the fireworks (Wishes) is only 12 minutes long!! All that money and all those points just to see 12 minutes of fireworks? And how good are those MK views really? Does anyone know if you'll have a nice pristine view of the castle and some other elements or will there be a lot of backstage and support areas visible?

This has been a question I have had--for years. I have stayed at the CR with a park view and its nice--but there is alot of parking lot to look at and the MK is some distance away. The BLT resort is closer to MK but you are correct--I doubt this is a pristine view. The point increase from Bay View to Magic Kingdom View is substancial. Is it worth it? You make the call.

 

[senecabeach]

Yes but they have to be maintained. Updating the Monorail when needed will be quite costly and I doubt that DVC will get out of paying for a share of it.

Denise in MI

Soooooo....
I'm sure all the other hotels on the MR have been/do/will absorb these costs, like they have been doing for the last 37+ - yrs. too?
Certainly DVC could have easily upped the initial MF costs with the BLT announcement in line with BWV/BCV/VAK...and still no one would have cared.

Originally Posted by TSMIII
As for the fireworks, and all the people salivating at having a room overloking the MK to watch them, I just don't get it - the fireworks (Wishes) is only 12 minutes long!! All that money and all those points just to see 12 minutes of fireworks? And how good are those MK views really? Does anyone know if you'll have a nice pristine view of the castle and some other elements or will there be a lot of backstage and support areas visible?

Ah the key....Remember only 281 units
Per my Guide:

20% MK views
67% Bay Lake views (thats towards Ft. Wilderness & WL)
11% Parking lot views

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

This has been a question I have had--for years. I have stayed at the CR with a park view and its nice--but there is alot of parking lot to look at and the MK is some distance away. The BLT resort is closer to MK but you are correct--I doubt this is a pristine view. The point increase from Bay View to Magic Kingdom View is substancial. Is it worth it? You make the call.

BLT owners can watch there point value drop with every inch the treetops grow.

 

[sraiford]

Do you think that BLT will sell out faster because it is so much smaller than other DVC?