Considering SSR or AKV

tammyandtommy

Just call me Duckie!
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Dec 17, 2004
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Ok we are currently trying to decide between Saratoga or Animal Kingdom! sounds like a no brainer! I would choose AK BUT the more I am thinking about it, the kids will be getting older, maybe being close to DTD is a bonus. They are 9 and 12 now. any opinions out there?:confused3
 
Ok we are currently trying to decide between Saratoga or Animal Kingdom! sounds like a no brainer! I would choose AK BUT the more I am thinking about it, the kids will be getting older, maybe being close to DTD is a bonus. They are 9 and 12 now. any opinions out there?:confused3

If you really like AKV, having that home resort advantage of 11 month to make reservations will be a big factor for now. When the resort is completed, maybe not so much since it will be a larger resort. You can usually get what you want at 7 months at SSR. AKV will cost more for dues, but if that is really where you want to be, then buy there. They are different in theming and type of resort layout so you may want to take that into account as well
 
A agree with vandy. IMHO, SSR will almost always have availability at 7 months so if the kids want to be close to DD, you can always book SSR.

OTOH, there are some categoires of AKV that may very well require the home resort booking advantage to ensure getting what you want without waitlisting.
 
Keep in mind Saratoga is mostly finished now so you'll have much better availability in booking your trips. AKV is just under construction and will suffer some growing pains in the next couple years. There are rooms you will probably only get if you own and call at exactly 11 mos (namely Club/Concierge), but the majority of the resort will be savannah view. We're all thinking it will be large enough to accommodate bookings at 7 months. That is after Spring '09 when the full building opens.

AKV will probably be more expensive to own overall, but buy there if that is where your heart says you must return regularly. Your kids will just love being in Disney. Get them a room at All Star or Pop and they'll think they won the lottery.

The only reason I'd chose one over the other is theming vs. proximity to nonresort stuff. I love the uniqueness of the safari theme, but I love being able to walk to DTD even more. YMMV though.
 

My sons (11,14) love DTD and they really liked SSR. Then again, we are one of those families that seems to find something to love about every DVC we've stayed at so far. AKV and SSR both have the longer length of years left, so that is basically even. AKV will have higher maintenance fees, but that will matter more or less depending on how many points you have to make a real price difference between AKV and SSR. One thought would be to add on to one or the other at some point if you want both.

My final thought is that it is true at the smaller resorts that the 11 month window makes a difference, but both SSR and AKV will be at the larger end, making all fair game at the 7 month mark. It will depend on when you want to go (busy times?) as far as what accomodations will be available.
 
Ok we are currently trying to decide between Saratoga or Animal Kingdom! sounds like a no brainer! I would choose AK BUT the more I am thinking about it, the kids will be getting older, maybe being close to DTD is a bonus. They are 9 and 12 now. any opinions out there?:confused3


Let's look at this another way. You're considering buying approximately 50 years of prepaid lodging, and you're basing the location on where you think your KIDS might want to be?? At their ages, how much longer will they be taing their vacations with you.....10 years maybe?? My recommendation is to buy where YOU want - you can always book at Saratoga for some of the trips while the kids are with you if that's what they want (and you wish to accomodate their wishes). You're the one who'll be paying for DVC and using it long after the kids are grown & off on their own. Makes sense to have the points where you'll be using them the most.
 
SSR is the largest, so it should pretty much always have availability. If AKV suits you, buy there and I don't think you'll have trouble getting into SSR when you want.
 
I'd go with AKV for a couple of reasons:

1) Longer term, hey a few more years can't be so bad....

2) AKV is smaller so therfore a little tougher to get at 7 months. SSR can be had at 7 months very easily.

3) Distinct booking categories at AKV- if you want those concierge rooms you'll need the 11 month window, safari views make up 80% I'm told but I'd like to get one gauranteed.

4) Unique theme- some don't care but I love Disney theming. It makes the parks and the resorts for us. Really WDW is a pretty average place from a ride and attraction standpoint IMO, what sets it appart is the themes, cleanliness, and customer service. SSR is a nice resort but I don't quite FEEL the theme when staying there.

Good luck. Really you can't go wrong so don't sweat it either way.


Jay
 
I prefer SSR over AK and what I have seen of the AKV models. Plus, I would rather be within walking distance of DD and the LBV Golf Course. AK is too far removed from everything, IMO. The decor and grounds of SSR are much more appealing to us than AKV. Of course, it all depends on what your preferences are, only you can figure that out.
 
I, too, would favor the approach of buying at a location that YOU prefer rather than your kids. I have to kids myself and we both know they're fickle as can be and their tastes will certainly change over the years. You'll have plenty of opportunity to book the various resorts, but make sure your Home is a resort that you personally will enjoy in the long run.

I tend to weight the total cost higher that some folks due. The starting dues at AKV are about 13% higher than SSR, and with the savannah, I think the AKV dues are likely to be the more volatile of the two.

On a 200pt contract over the next 47 years, assuming equal 3.5% annual increases in dues, owning at AKV will cost you $11,000 more in dues than SSR.

The different room classes at AKV do muddy those waters a bit. Some room classes at AKV cost less points than a night at SSR, so even with the higher dues you could argue that your points go further. Still, I guess you'll have to determine if you would be willing to accept a Value room (smaller than normal, parking lot view) as opposed to always paying extra points for the Savannah view.

I'm not blown away by anything I've seen of AKV so far, so I'm content to stick with my cheaper SSR points and doubt I'll have any trouble booking AKV when the spirit moves me.
 
Im sure AK will be a smaller resort. I would opt for that.. SSR to big for me...
 
I would agree with AKV for most people. The exception would be those that wanted a 3 BR at SSR for part of their trips but even then with AKV having 3 BR units, that might not hold up. I can guarantee you that the long term resale and rental value of AKV will more than make up for the price difference.

But then what do I know having owned roughly 40 timeshare weeks/contracts with exactly two bought from the developer and they were 2 of my last 3 purchases and having sold many of them ALWAYS at a profit of 25-300%. These two developer purchases were a Marriott week where I also got the points options on my other Marriott weeks bought resale and 100 AKV points.
 
Im sure AK will be a smaller resort. I would opt for that.. SSR to big for me...

There will be about 40% fewer DVC units at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but the total number of rooms there (including the 1000 cash rooms) is nearly twice that of SSR.
 
Im sure AK will be a smaller resort. I would opt for that.. SSR to big for me...

We won't REALLY know how big AKV will be until DVC says it is done. SSR's original plans called for a much smaller resort. I don't see AKV being as spread out as SSR (would make sense to group rooms tightly because of the savanna), however I wouldn't be suprised if rooms are added on to the "original" plans.

I think Disney now subscribes to the "If we build it, they will come" philosophy! :) And how true it is!
 
Im sure AK will be a smaller resort. I would opt for that.. SSR to big for me...


Look at the map (it's been posted here) - when finished, the new AKV building will dwarf the existing AKL building!
 
Look at the map (it's been posted here) - when finished, the new AKV building will dwarf the existing AKL building!




Huh?????? AKV will have about 450 or so units and AKL has 1293 rooms.

Also TkRaz I believe talked about the two combined having more rooms than SSR, that is misleading at best. The two properties are completely seperate entities. It will require quite a hike to go from one to the other. They are also both self sufficient.

AKV is roughly half the size of SSR as a point of reference for a true comparison.

TkRaz should add the size of BCV,BC, and YC to the BCV totals if he wants to be fair. That would make the BCV the biggest DVC Resort and we all know that isn't true. This would be even more of a fair comparison because BCV is solely relying on BC/YC facilties. It shares the feature pool and resaturants, AKV does not.


Jay
 
Huh?????? AKV will have about 450 or so units and AKL has 1293 rooms.

Also TkRaz I believe talked about the two combined having more rooms than SSR, that is misleading at best. The two properties are completely seperate entities. It will require quite a hike to go from one to the other. They are also both self sufficient.

AKV is roughly half the size of SSR as a point of reference for a true comparison.

TkRaz should add the size of BCV,BC, and YC to the BCV totals if he wants to be fair. That would make the BCV the biggest DVC Resort and we all know that isn't true. This would be even more of a fair comparison because BCV is solely relying on BC/YC facilties. It shares the feature pool and resaturants, AKV does not.


Jay

Yes, but the AKV building will be larger as all the rooms are much larger than the AKV rooms.
 
Also TkRaz I believe talked about the two combined having more rooms than SSR, that is misleading at best. The two properties are completely seperate entities. It will require quite a hike to go from one to the other. They are also both self sufficient.

The fact that it is "quite a hike" to move between the two is exactly my point. Whether they are self sufficient or not is in the eye of the beholder.

Are you saying that guests staying in the Kindani Village will never want to dine at Boma or Jiko? Are you saying that guests staying in Jambo House will never want to use the new pool with the water play area?

Disney isn't marketing this as two separate resorts. People who book a room at AKV will have every expectation of being able to dine at Boma and Jiko. Whether they find it to be convenient or not remains to be seen.

AKV is roughly half the size of SSR as a point of reference for a true comparison.

If you'll look back you'll see that the original comment being addressed simply said "SSR to big" (sic). I qualified my response by pointing out that there will be fewer DVC rooms at AKV but more total rooms. Whether that is viewed as a negative or not depends upon what one truly values.

For instance, I think it's clear looking at the resort map that every room at SSR will be closer to a bus stop than many rooms at AKL/AKV. There are no less than 5 bus stops scattered throughout SSR while at AKL/AKV is likely to have only two stops since busses can only run along one side of the resort.

AKL busses are more likely to be overcrowded as well. It's a given that AKL and AKV will share busses (if BW/BWV shares with the Dolphin and Swan, these two certainly will share). So, AKL has comparatively more rooms being serviced by one bus route.

All SSR rooms will be closer to a pool than many rooms at AKL/AKV. SSR has four pools. AKL/AKV has two.

Although exact measurements are impossible, I would also bet that all of the rooms at SSR are closer to its restaurants (Artist's Palette and The Turf Club) than some of the rooms at AKV will be to Boma and Jiko. AKV rooms at the far end of Kindani Village will have to walk thru the entire building, outside along the parking lot and over to the main entrance of Jambo House to make it to those restaurants.

The point here being that while SSR may(?) cover more acerage, that may or may not be a negative depending upon your point of view. Without knowing the nature of the "SSR is too big" comment, it's difficult to specifically comment on it. However, I think I've successfully pointed out how many amenities at SSR are just as close, if not closer, to guest rooms at SSR as they are at AKV.

If nothing else, let's just say this: They are both d*mn big resorts!!! ;)

TkRaz should add the size of BCV,BC, and YC to the BCV totals if he wants to be fair. That would make the BCV the biggest DVC Resort and we all know that isn't true. This would be even more of a fair comparison because BCV is solely relying on BC/YC facilties. It shares the feature pool and resaturants, AKV does not.

The title of the thread is "Considering SSR or AKV". It doesn't seem like the OP is interested in bringing BCV into the debate.

But since you mentioned it, AKL/AKV is still larger.

BC/YC have 1200 rooms. Add the 208 Villas and you get around 1408 rooms.

AKL will have about 1000 rooms after the conversions, plus over 450 villas for 1450+ rooms. If you count all of the lockoffs as two units, then AKL/AKV is 15-20% larger than BC/BCV/YC.
 
Don't quote my numbers but when I bought into AKV on friday, I think my guide said there would be 430 studios,430 1 bedrooms, 50ish 3 bedrooms. He also said it would be the 3rd largest DVC resort. #1SSR,#2KeyWest, #3AKV,#4BWV, #5WLV, and #6BCV for on WDW property.
 
I think AKV look beautiful but after looking through pics and reading a lot of comments, I think I want to go with SSR. AKV is just not for me. I think I MIGHT want to visit one day, but SSR (and maybe OKW later) look like "home" to me! I love this site! It's been so helpful!:love:
 



















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