Family of Five (then Six) - Best Path Forward

[Bozni]

Yes, today for mid-summer 11 month booking, AKL value is completely booked, probably with all people walking. Value requires walking and paying attention. Still possible if you have time to plan and are planning a long trip and only have to manage it every few days, assuming walking stays allowed.

You'd have to plan this where your UY starts a few months before your trip. Walking doesn't play well with crossing UYs and it could take a few months to get in to even walk.

What is walking?

We're trying for Oct or Dec UY since our travel will be either early Dec or mid Jan.

 

[RoseGold]

You book way before your trip and then move it every few days to keep the reservation alive.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/what-is-walking-a-reservation.3774129/
For early December, this will be particularly hard, as you're up against Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm not even sure October UY would give you enough time to get in to walk to December. But once you get in to walk it, you only have to modify it every few days. No doubt that this would be a pain, but it is possible.

It's worth noting that even AKL standard is a good value in 2BR because of its legacy chart, even if you can't get the value booking. There's places in the chart it is cheaper than OKW. That one is much easier at 11 months, because there is so much of it. It shouldn't be a problem, assuming you have time to walk and walking staying allowed. And you can always use the AKL for OKW/SSR at 7 months, which doesn't always work for AKL, which does book up in cheaper categories.

 

[Sandisw]

What is walking?

We're trying for Oct or Dec UY since our travel will be either early Dec or mid Jan.

For hard to get rooms, people make a reservation to start sooner than their actual check in date and move it forward until the lock in the ones they want. If you are learning for SSR as a home resort, there are not any categories there that make walking necessary.

The rooms that people walk most often are AKV value and CL, SV at RIV, BWV, BLT, and VGF and CCV studios. This is prevalent from mid September until mid January. As long as one plans on a view at their home resort not in one of the above mentioned, booking right at 11 months should get you something at your home resort.

 

[robinb]

I would also suggest that you plan for the 2BR from the start and buy enough points to cover at least a week.

 

[Bozni]

You book way before your trip and then move it every few days to keep the reservation alive.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/what-is-walking-a-reservation.3774129/
For early December, this will be particularly hard, as you're up against Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm not even sure October UY would give you enough time to get in to walk to December. But once you get in to walk it, you only have to modify it every few days. No doubt that this would be a pain, but it is possible.

It's worth noting that even AKL standard is a good value in 2BR because of its legacy chart, even if you can't get the value booking. There's places in the chart it is cheaper than OKW. That one is much easier at 11 months, because there is so much of it. It shouldn't be a problem, assuming you have time to walk and walking staying allowed. And you can always use the AKL for OKW/SSR at 7 months, which doesn't always work for AKL, which does book up in cheaper categories.

Thanks for the explanation. Sounds doable.

Sorry to further display my ignorance, but what do you mean when you say "legacy chart?"

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks for the explanation. Sounds doable.

Sorry to further display my ignorance, but what do you mean when you say "legacy chart?"

Older resorts have nicer point Charts. This is why despite their locations, places like BCV and BWV are sooooo cheap.

 

[CraigInPA]

I strongly feel you need a 2 bedroom. While you can theoretically stay in a 1 bedroom for a number of years, you'll find it a bit of a zoo at bedtime with all the kids in the living room.

Let me suggest a "strategy" that you may find useful to help you afford a 2 bedroom... Note that the numbers are theoretical. You'll want to find out how many points are required in order to do the exact math.

Buy 200 points at AKV (because it has animals) or BLT (because you can walk to the MK, a valuable perk for those with children). Year one, book a 2 bedroom. Let's say it cost 300 points. You'll cover the missing points by borrowing 100 from the next year. Year two, you go again. You'll borrow 100 points again from the next year (so, 100 from this year and 200 from the following year). Year three, you will skip going. Year 4 works just like year 1, and so on.

If you want to lessen the number of skipped years, you'll buy more points (either initially or eventually). For example, if you started with 250, then you're only borrowing 50 each year. You'll then only have to skip every 6th year. You could also skip a weekend day and stay 6 nights (Sunday to Saturday) instead of 7, to lessen the number of points required.

Note that this calculation and plan should be done based upon an average booking category (like Lake View at BLT) versus a "value" or "standard" category. Every time you can actually book one of these lower cost categories, you'll be borrowing less. Those accumulated "extra" points may then allow you to not skip, or give you an upgrade (like MK view at BLT) in one of the years.

 

[eeg]

We're a family of 6 and bought SSR (twice now) for the lower price + lower maintenance. We decided getting *more* points at SSR was better than fewer somewhere else, especially since we need 2-bedrooms. More points = more flexibility for room types and seasons. We've been super tempted to do BLT because we do love it but keep going back to getting the best bang for our buck on points.

So far so good - we have stayed at AKL, BCV, BRV, BLT, OKW, VBR and AUL with our SSR points. And we've done SSR once and actually really liked it - I thought the pools were great, access to Disney Springs is awesome, and the renovated rooms are beautiful. While we definitely try to stay at resorts with better park access (and like to mix things up), I'd never be sad to be "stuck" with SSR.

 

[10CJ]

I would plan for 2 bedrooms, it is what you are going to need long term. I would probably go for at least 200 points at Animal Kingdom. Then you can always try for the values. You can also book Kidani which has 3 bathrooms in the 2 bedrooms suites.

 

[crisi]

Forgive me if I'm reading too much into what you posted, but be cautious. Your kids are soon to hit Disney adult age, at which point the difference in what you will pay for resorts or extra points is going to be small compared to the cost of six adult tickets every year. You are looking at the cheapest options - which often go first (and will be difficult to get in December), which makes me think that this is a purchase that is a little bit of a stretch to afford. Disney is an expensive proposition (and getting more expensive every year!).

Also, with when you are planning on going, I'm assuming kids would get removed from school. How well this is going to work will depend on your kids and your school district, but most parents think that in middle school, it is much more difficult to do this, and by high school, nearly impossible. Then you start moving your trips to school breaks, more expensive pointwise. If you are homeschooling, this isn't a problem.

If I am reading too much into this, and you are simply frugal, I would buy SSR - its a good value for both room cost and dues and the buy in is reasonable. Be aware that in December you will almost always end up staying at SSR - you may be able to move around a bit in January.

 

[Bozni]

Forgive me if I'm reading too much into what you posted, but be cautious. Your kids are soon to hit Disney adult age, at which point the difference in what you will pay for resorts or extra points is going to be small compared to the cost of six adult tickets every year. You are looking at the cheapest options - which often go first (and will be difficult to get in December), which makes me think that this is a purchase that is a little bit of a stretch to afford. Disney is an expensive proposition (and getting more expensive every year!).

Also, with when you are planning on going, I'm assuming kids would get removed from school. How well this is going to work will depend on your kids and your school district, but most parents think that in middle school, it is much more difficult to do this, and by high school, nearly impossible. Then you start moving your trips to school breaks, more expensive pointwise. If you are homeschooling, this isn't a problem.

If I am reading too much into this, and you are simply frugal, I would buy SSR - its a good value for both room cost and dues and the buy in is reasonable. Be aware that in December you will almost always end up staying at SSR - you may be able to move around a bit in January.

Thanks for your concern. Those are valid points, but we are just frugal. I imagine that our trips will be in January more often than December.

Regarding school--and really anything that life may throw our way--if things change to where the value is gone or we can't justify the cost we will sell. I look at it like buying a house. You decide your location, how big a house you need, and how much you can afford. If one of those things changes then you sell the place and buy something else...or maybe you go back to renting if that's a better fit for your current life situation.

 

[cellomom]

Questions – maybe I missed it but are you considering the resale market or direct from DVC? staying once a year, or every other year?

 

[jscottnc]

When we started out, we stayed Sun-Fri, avoiding the more expensive weekend nights. Park crowds are generally lower too. That way we could afford a 2 bedroom villa on our 200 point contract (a bit more complicated than that but not important for this discussion). Then my wife came down with a near fatal case of addonitis and our visits gained in frequency then length.

SSR is a reasonable resort as a home if you always drive or always have a car. We have stayed at SSR exactly once and will NOT do so again without a car.

With your growing family starting out in 1 bedroom, I highly recommend either AKV or BLT -- the extra full bathroom in 1 bedroom is important.

 

[Bozni]

Questions – maybe I missed it but are you considering the resale market or direct from DVC? staying once a year, or every other year?

Resale and every year.

 

[Bozni]

I strongly feel you need a 2 bedroom. While you can theoretically stay in a 1 bedroom for a number of years, you'll find it a bit of a zoo at bedtime with all the kids in the living room.

Let me suggest a "strategy" that you may find useful to help you afford a 2 bedroom... Note that the numbers are theoretical. You'll want to find out how many points are required in order to do the exact math.

Buy 200 points at AKV (because it has animals) or BLT (because you can walk to the MK, a valuable perk for those with children). Year one, book a 2 bedroom. Let's say it cost 300 points. You'll cover the missing points by borrowing 100 from the next year. Year two, you go again. You'll borrow 100 points again from the next year (so, 100 from this year and 200 from the following year). Year three, you will skip going. Year 4 works just like year 1, and so on.

If you want to lessen the number of skipped years, you'll buy more points (either initially or eventually). For example, if you started with 250, then you're only borrowing 50 each year. You'll then only have to skip every 6th year. You could also skip a weekend day and stay 6 nights (Sunday to Saturday) instead of 7, to lessen the number of points required.

Note that this calculation and plan should be done based upon an average booking category (like Lake View at BLT) versus a "value" or "standard" category. Every time you can actually book one of these lower cost categories, you'll be borrowing less. Those accumulated "extra" points may then allow you to not skip, or give you an upgrade (like MK view at BLT) in one of the years.

Craig, this got me thinking. If we were to buy a loaded 160 point contract (meaning a contract with 160 banked points). Assuming borrowing restrictions are lifted, and at current point chart numbers, those extra 160 points would enable banking and borrowing enough points for a 1BR at OKW/AKL/SSR for the first 3 years (while child #4 is under 3) and a 2BR at any of those same resorts for 7 years after that. At that point we could take a year off or buy more points. Thanks for the brain candy!

 

[Brian Noble]

Craig, this got me thinking.

Don't worry too much about getting such plans exactly right. If your life unfolds anything like mine has, your vacation plans for the next year or two will end up being fairly firm, but much less certain as things get farther out.

 

[kmorlock]

Thanks everyone for the detailed and thoughtful responses! You’ve all given me a ton to consider. We’re starting to lean toward 200 SSR.

Planning to buy DVC is as much an adventure as trip planning. Another nugget of thought for you…I’m all about saving $ buying resale. We have a mix of direct & resale OKW extended 2057. With the incentives for buying direct, plus the ability to buy (hopefully in the future) Gold Annual Passes might amount to a significant savings for a larger family. We try and get 2-3 trips out of each pass. I think the cost breaks even at around a 10 day hopper. There are blackout dates though. Current minimum for the “blue card” is 150 points. DVC is giving a promo discount of $ off each point based on resort and points purchased. The resale market prices are still in most cases less than direct but, getting higher and, with other considerations factored in, direct might give you long term savings.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I would be careful with making this decision… unless you are certain, life can change without warning. Even if you are able to pay cash … please research and consider everything besides love for Disney. It is crazy and everybody needs to have a little Disney in their life’s right now. But I think after the 50th , all of the off site construction I am seeing and all the timeshares… will probably create some bargains . Did you know Embassy Suites is planning a timeshare/ hotel location very close to AK connected to the Margaritaville Resort? That is just one example of how future availability can affect the desire to limit yourself to DVC . I love DVC but I joined in 2001 with cash after my children completed college… Today I am uncomfortable with belonging to DVC as I witness they can manipulate the price per point and the points charts and the maintenance. Obviously this has always been the way but now it feels they are playing with a new whole set of rules. Please be careful. You have many options to explore before you make this purchase.

 

[smisale]

AKL 1 bedroom is doable with the baby in the crib in your room but like everyone is saying you need to look to the future not just the present and buy 1 contact the small add on contracts are way more expensive. there is also so much more there so that you can have resort holiday and might alway need to go to every day to the park which will save money. Dues are little more but a lot less then theme park tickets.To me AKL is a theme park in its self and gives a lot of things for the kids to do then SSR just my opinion tho

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

Then my wife came down with a near fatal case of addonitis and our visits gained in frequency then length.

You had me laughing out loud!