Buying DVC: AKL or BLT

[cmorrison87]

Thinking of buying DVC (resale). Debating between AKL and BLT. Have stayed at both and like them both (prefer location of BLT but prefer room and ambiance of AKL). Wondering how availability of standard 2 bedrooms are at BLT? I think 2 bedroom savanna views are not as hard to secure at AKL? Looking at points, we would almost always need a standard at BLT. We owned at Boardwalk but sold our contract because we always had to book pool/garden for a 2 bedroom even at 11 months and we want a resort with a longer deed. We go every other year, book at 11mos and travel with 6-8 people so definitely need the 2 bedroom. Cost wise BLT is more upfront but with dues factored in, a slightly better costs savings for the life of the contract. Kids are young now (10, 8, 3, 3) but we enjoy all the parks.

 

[dansdad]

Thinking of buying DVC (resale). Debating between AKL and BLT. Have stayed at both and like them both (prefer location of BLT but prefer room and ambiance of AKL). Wondering how availability of standard 2 bedrooms are at BLT? I think 2 bedroom savanna views are not as hard to secure at AKL? Looking at points, we would almost always need a standard at BLT. We owned at Boardwalk but sold our contract because we always had to book pool/garden for a 2 bedroom even at 11 months and we want a resort with a longer deed. We go every other year, book at 11mos and travel with 6-8 people so definitely need the 2 bedroom. Cost wise BLT is more upfront but with dues factored in, a slightly better costs savings for the life of the contract. Kids are young now (10, 8, 3, 3) but we enjoy all the parks.

There are quite a few DVC owners hanging out on this board, but you might get more feedback posting on the DVC board.

https://www.disboards.com/forums/purchasing-dvc.28/

 

[squeezeplay101]

Thinking of buying DVC (resale). Debating between AKL and BLT. Have stayed at both and like them both (prefer location of BLT but prefer room and ambiance of AKL). Wondering how availability of standard 2 bedrooms are at BLT? I think 2 bedroom savanna views are not as hard to secure at AKL? Looking at points, we would almost always need a standard at BLT. We owned at Boardwalk but sold our contract because we always had to book pool/garden for a 2 bedroom even at 11 months and we want a resort with a longer deed. We go every other year, book at 11mos and travel with 6-8 people so definitely need the 2 bedroom. Cost wise BLT is more upfront but with dues factored in, a slightly better costs savings for the life of the contract. Kids are young now (10, 8, 3, 3) but we enjoy all the parks.

You have a big party...if the group uses the amenities of the resort and you like the rooms better, maybe AKL is the better option.

 

[Willow Ufgood]

Thinking of buying DVC (resale). Debating between AKL and BLT. Have stayed at both and like them both (prefer location of BLT but prefer room and ambiance of AKL). Wondering how availability of standard 2 bedrooms are at BLT? I think 2 bedroom savanna views are not as hard to secure at AKL? Looking at points, we would almost always need a standard at BLT. We owned at Boardwalk but sold our contract because we always had to book pool/garden for a 2 bedroom even at 11 months and we want a resort with a longer deed. We go every other year, book at 11mos and travel with 6-8 people so definitely need the 2 bedroom. Cost wise BLT is more upfront but with dues factored in, a slightly better costs savings for the life of the contract. Kids are young now (10, 8, 3, 3) but we enjoy all the parks.

BLT std view is almost impossible to book unless you own there. Even dedicated 2BR villas are scarce at 7 months most of the year. If it's a priority to stay there and you can only afford the points for a std view then buy there.

If AKV is your dream resort then as a previous DVC owner you probably already know that the club level and value rooms at AKV are extremely difficult to book even at 11 months. But the resort is very large and booking std and savanna views there at 7 months is relatively easy most of the year.

If you look at dues you'll see that for 2026, AKV was $10.1608 per point vs BLT at $8.7415. That's a pretty big differential.

If you think that you will need to rent your points in the future, BLT will get you a better rate. Monorail resorts are very popular.

Ultimately it is up to your own personal preferences. If I was only comparing those two resorts then personally I would lean toward purchasing BLT knowing that I can always use my points to stay at AKV if I desire.

 

[intamin]

AKV is easy to book aside from club/value at 7 months. I do plan to book 1BR values with my AKV points but in hindsight I sort of wish I had purchased BLT for the lower dues and easy walkability to MK. On the other hand, BLT preferred view is extremely easy to book at all times aside from major holidays that have special fireworks like July 4th on NYE but still I probably would've gone with BLT in hindsight. The thing that makes me feel a little better is we do have monorail access through our Poly points but I'd probably go BLT over AKV.

 

[AstroBlasters]

BLT. You can use at AKV, but BLT has a lot lower dues.

 

[intamin]

Just read that you're wanting 2BRs for 6-8 people, BLT for walkability and ease of transportation for a group that big.

 

[Brian Noble]

If you want 2BRs in Standard (now called Resort) views at BLT you probably need to own there.

AKV-Kidani Savanna 2BRs should be mostly doable except for the very highest demand weeks. AKV-Jambo will be harder, because those are all lockoffs.

https://dvcfieldguide.com/availability-tables

 

[aka Charles]

If you will be in the parks all the time, I would go with BLT. (lower dues and more transportation options)
If you like to spend some of your vacation at the resort, I would do AKV, considering you prefer the room and ambiance of AKL.

Cost wise, BLT will cost more up front per point.
Also, a 2BR resort view at BLT will require more points than the 2BR resort view at AKV.
.

 

[muppets3d]

You can fairly reliably book AKV at 7 months most of the year. It's probably third in line in terms of 7-month availability behind SSR and OKW. So buying there is not essential unless you must have a 2-bedroom at Jambo (a little tougher because they're all lock-offs, so you depend on studio availability) or if you want value or club rooms.

BLT at 7 months is much tougher than AKV. So, of those two I would rather own at BLT.

 

[Chili327]

BLT. You can use at AKV, but BLT has a lot lower dues.

Just read that you're wanting 2BRs for 6-8 people, BLT for walkability and ease of transportation for a group that big.

BLT at 7 months is much tougher than AKV. So, of those two I would rather own at BLT.

Agree, BLT.
The only advantage to AKV is being able to add AKV to your signature on here.

 

[aka Charles]

I just looked a bit closer at the numbers and it looks like AKV may be cheaper even with higher dues.

Using the 2027 point charts and the resale value estimates from DVC Resale Market, I calculated the costs for each.
I used travel period 4 (Summer months).

BLT 2BR Resort View for 1 week requires 313 points.
The resale value estimate for a contract that size is $141/point, for a purchase price of $44,133.
Annual Dues for 2026 is $8.74/point, for an approximant total of $2736.

AKV 2BR Resort View for 1 week requires 255 points.
The resale value estimate for a contract that size is $111/point, for a purchase price of $28,305.
Annual Dues for 2026 is $10.16/point, for an approximant total of $2591.

AKV costs $15,828 less to buy and the annual dues are $145 less.

FYI,
AKV 2BR Savana View for 1 week requires 315 points, only a 2 point difference from BLT resort view.
That would cost about $465 more in dues, but would still be about $9500 cheaper to buy.
Break even would be at about 20 years.

Just some things to think about in your decision making.
And finding the right sized contract(s) might take some time.
.

 

[melissa70]

Thinking of buying DVC (resale). Debating between AKL and BLT. Have stayed at both and like them both (prefer location of BLT but prefer room and ambiance of AKL). Wondering how availability of standard 2 bedrooms are at BLT? I think 2 bedroom savanna views are not as hard to secure at AKL? Looking at points, we would almost always need a standard at BLT. We owned at Boardwalk but sold our contract because we always had to book pool/garden for a 2 bedroom even at 11 months and we want a resort with a longer deed. We go every other year, book at 11mos and travel with 6-8 people so definitely need the 2 bedroom. Cost wise BLT is more upfront but with dues factored in, a slightly better costs savings for the life of the contract. Kids are young now (10, 8, 3, 3) but we enjoy all the parks.

Be like me and get both!

 

[intamin]

I just looked a bit closer at the numbers and it looks like AKV may be cheaper even with higher dues.

Using the 2027 point charts and the resale value estimates from DVC Resale Market, I calculated the costs for each.
I used travel period 4 (Summer months).

BLT 2BR Resort View for 1 week requires 313 points.
The resale value estimate for a contract that size is $141/point, for a purchase price of $44,133.
Annual Dues for 2026 is $8.74/point, for an approximant total of $2736.

AKV 2BR Resort View for 1 week requires 255 points.
The resale value estimate for a contract that size is $111/point, for a purchase price of $28,305.
Annual Dues for 2026 is $10.16/point, for an approximant total of $2591.

AKV costs $15,828 less to buy and the annual dues are $145 less.

FYI,
AKV 2BR Savana View for 1 week requires 315 points, only a 2 point difference from BLT resort view.
That would cost about $465 more in dues, but would still be about $9500 cheaper to buy.
Break even would be at about 20 years.

Just some things to think about in your decision making.
And finding the right sized contract(s) might take some time.
.

The only thing is this assumes you need AKV home resort priority to book there but you don't. The best value of course is going to be booking AKV with BLT points.