Help deciding- BLT, GF, or AK?

[skippytx]

As always, buy where you really want to stay. With as busy as DVC is you need the 11 month booking advantage.

Traveling during spring break I wouldn't count on standard or value units being available.

If your heart is at AKL, buy there. Personally I like AKL but don't want to stay there, it's too far away for my personal tastes. Fun to visit though.

 

[DduzDis]

BLT is without at doubt the most convenient with little kids, but the studios are tiny (we actually have never stayed in them... too chicken)

We added on one day to our March trip just to try a BLT studio for one day. We didn't want to commit a whole trip but wanted to test run it ourselves with the girls to see for ourselves.

 

[kboo]

We added on one day to our March trip just to try a BLT studio for one day. We didn't want to commit a whole trip but wanted to test run it ourselves with the girls to see for ourselves.

Eagerly awaiting your report! We upgraded to a 1BR for both 2018 trips.

 

[DduzDis]

Eagerly awaiting your report! We upgraded to a 1BR for both 2018 trips.

Yes, I will indeed report back.

 

[The Jackal]

While you might not have success renting 30 points via a service. You could probably find someone on this board who you could transfer them too. Since you can only buy 24 one time points from Disney per year. You should be able to find someone looking for some here in the rent section. Good luck.

 

[pineapplepalms]

If you plan to stay in studios and buy one contract for now, I would consider holding out for an appropriate contract with enough points at your preferred/ideal resort (sounds like that would be one of the MK area resorts). Vacation time is precious and the initial difference in upfront costs won't be that much in the long run (especially when factoring in MFs). Down the road if you decide you want to move to larger room types at that resort, you could add on another contract and have more points to work with at 11 months. If you could be happy staying at any DVC resort and/or like Disney Springs, you could buy SSR for more points and lower MFs (we went this route for 7 month bookings and CCV/BWV for home resort advantage).

 

[igrsod]

I say buy where you really want to stay.... and a thought.... you can buy a smaller contract for now and add on another smaller contract later when/if your family grows.

 

[justme0729]

We are owners at BLT and VGF, so... take everything I say with a grain of salt! (We also love AKL/AKV, but we have 2 girls, 6 and 2, and we take afternoon breaks usually back at the room.)

It's hard to plan what you will vacation like when you have kids and strollers, but some potential reasons NOT to get AKV are: 1) your parents already own there, so buying another resort gets your extended family the option of 2 home resorts (ie you already could get 11 mo advantage at AKV, so why not get another resort); 2) strollers and buses are no fun, and afternoon breaks if you're at a faraway park are hard; 3) AKV savanna view is pretty readily availble at 7 mo, and standard is sometimes available; 4) dues.

BLT is without at doubt the most convenient with little kids, but the studios are tiny (we actually have never stayed in them... too chicken). 1BR std are pretty easy to get at 11 mo, and you can bank/borrow to work out a trip there. Also, I have found I get pretty frugal about Friday and Saturday nights. Our next stay is actually Mon-Sat. and we are staying at the Dolphin on points to get some Epcot/HS time. ALSO ALSO - what do you do? Are you able to travel at off times before your kids are in school? Easter break is actually one of the MOST expensive times to go, and we like to go in late summer despite the heat, because it's a little cheaper in points and parks are not crowded. BLT has the extra bathroom in the 1BR units, too, which may be nicer with kids. And dues are relatively low.

And VGF - costs a lot in points to stay there, but ... wow. And it's relatively undervalued (still) compared to BLT, it really varies contract by contract. The studios are a LOT more livable even with a family of 4 (and can sleep 5). The bathroom set up in the studios is great too. Walking distance to Poly, so even though you have to monorail to get to parks, if you want a low key resort stay, there is a lot to do.

BLT studios are great for you now without kids, but if you buy there, consider buying enough to get into a 1BR occasionally. Or, if your careers are such that you'll be able to afford an add on later, then do that.

VGF you could stay in studios pretty comfortably with up to 3 kids. They're big and well laid out, so yes, it costs more for the points and you need more points to stay, BUT it's a lovely resort and you could go a while with little kids without feeling like you would need to add more points.

I am a teacher so it is either Christmas, spring break, or June for us unfortunately! Thanks for your input. It’s hard to decide between BLT and GF too. I have stayed in a one bedroom at both and love the feel of the GF but loved how we could walk to MK from BLT and that they have theme park views

 

[justme0729]

Those are all good calculations but it's so mathematical. Vacations are not based on math as much as they are emotion and love.

AKL is best because I realized that I could have more points
More of something that isn't necessarily what I want doesn't sell me.
My parents own DVC at AKL
As @kboo said, why double up? Get something new so you can vary your experiences.
I absolutely love the MK area resorts
Soooo.... you know where this is going.

You said 150 AK = 120 BLT because the up front cost is the same. But the up front cost is only one component of the overall cost of ownership. For example... AK 150 x $100 = $15,000. BLT 120 x $125 = $15,000. So you're right, they cost about the same up front. But over 40 years... You'll spend $28,400 maintaining the BLT but $40,600 maintaining the AK (before inflation and alternative use of money) $12,200 more!

I could rent out at least 30 points a year for $445
I think you're overstating the value in converting points to $$ and the likelihood that you'll actually do this once you own. For one, AK points don't go for $15. They're the bottom of the barrel on the rental market. Yes I know the mantra out here on the Dis is that it's easy to rent them but it is a pain, it does take work, and if you're overbuying to rent, then you've overbought. I just got an email from a rental place offering me $14 for my BLT points so AK will be less than that!

You're putting all your eggs in one basket. Your parents own AKL... You'll own AKL... You'll get tired of AKL, value rooms, the parking lot view, and bussing to the parks. So different from owning at the GF where being across from the MK and on the monorail will never go out of style... or BLT where you can walk to the MK any time. You love the MK area so... buy there. Stay at the AKL on your parent's points every once in a while.

Between GF and BLT... It's hard to pick. Which resort do you love? Any reason the Poly is not in your selection list?​

We have stayed at GF and BLT through DVC and the poly in a regular resort room. I do love the Poly but I want to have the option to book a one bedroom through banking and borrowing and since it is the same pricing as GF, seems like GF would be smarter (or BLT).

 

[MrInfinity]

We have stayed at GF and BLT through DVC and the poly in a regular resort room. I do love the Poly but I want to have the option to book a one bedroom through banking and borrowing and since it is the same pricing as GF, seems like GF would be smarter (or BLT).

Yeah. That's the same reason we didn't consider the Poly. The bigger room options are why we got into DVC.

 

[kboo]

I am a teacher so it is either Christmas, spring break, or June for us unfortunately! Thanks for your input. It’s hard to decide between BLT and GF too. I have stayed in a one bedroom at both and love the feel of the GF but loved how we could walk to MK from BLT and that they have theme park views

We like going in late August right before school starts. It's super hot, but the parks are not crowded, and it costs a lot less points!

I was thinking about the BLT/VGF choice again - and I think the thinking comes down to this:

VGF dues will be slightly higher, and you will need more points at VGF than BLT for the same amount of time in a standard studio.
You mentioned having kids in the future - you will be able to stay in a VGF studio more comfortably even as a family of 4, for much longer than you would at BLT. For example, last August we had our 6yo in the pull down bed and the 2yo in a crib outside the bathroom, so the sofa bed could stay a sofa. It made the room feel much larger and more comfortable. At BLT, once you have a 3rd person who needs a non-crib bed surface, the sofa bed needs opening up, and you may start to feel like you need a 1BR.

Also - figure out points costs for a Sunday - Friday/Saturday stay, rather than a full week. Friday and Saturday nights are the most expensive and you can stretch your points by not staying 1 weekend night.

You may find that you can afford enough points for a BLT studio and will start saving for an add-on after you have kids and need a 1BR. Or you may decide that you can afford a VGF studio for now, perhaps paying a little more but not needing an add-on for a 1BR now, or ever.

Also - we may be in a bubble now, and asking prices vary wildly. Wait for a contract that looks like it will go for a price that is on the low end of reasonable.

 

[skier_pete]

Also, be warned, if you like DVC, you ARE going to want more points. I don't think I've met a DVCer that hasn't either (a) wanted to get more points,(b) has already gotten more points, or (c) both.