More Points?

[IsDVCForMe?]

Recently had our offer for a 50 point contract at AKV get accepted, which is now in the ROFR stage. Have been thinking what the next steps will be if it does get taken.

Have noticed people saying to get more points than you think you will need. With AKV, we plan to go every 2 years which would give us 100 points. With those points, we’d be able to stay in a resort view deluxe studio for 6 nights through travel period 6. Could even stay in a savanna view deluxe studio for 6 nights depending on travel period.

Would we need more points if we stick to this plan? I understand points fluctuate, so that would make sense. But if they do, we’d just work around them if we had to. Guess it sounds better than it might be, so your experiences may help with this question.

 

[intamin]

I would wait for the dust to settle on your first one. Inevitably you will likely add points just because you'll probably want to go more frequently after trying it or want to upgrade room types after trying a 1BR but you don't need to pre-buy before that point. Who knows if when using your AKV points you find another resort you like and might want to add there instead and diversify your portfolio?

 

[airjay75]

Just depends on how much you want to do Disney. If you're like most of us on these boards, you'll quickly find yourself wanting more points. And, if you ever splurge to stay in a 1 BR, you'll likely want even more points!

I think your contract is unlikely to get taken by ROFR. But, if it does, just go back to the drawing board and start making offers on contracts that work for your current plan.

After that, the cautious, slow thing to do is to get your points, do your first stay, and get a feel for things. Then, take it from there. Especially with resale points - resale contracts aren't going anywhere. No deal on resale is too good to pass up because you will eventually find another great resale deal if you're patient.

The less cautious thing to do is, spend a lot of time on these boards, and quickly talk yourself into more points - that's what I did .

 

[CraigInPA]

Replying on getting a resort view at AKV every other year is risky, at best. These very low point rooms are in high demand, and you may need to "walk" the reservation, depending upon your desired travel dates. You should plan on Savanna view and be happily surprised if you can get the resort view. You may need more than 100 points for 6 nights at many times of the year for savanna view. I'd suggest you decide when your preferred travel time is, look at the points chart, and go from there. The charts don't really change after the first few years the resort is in operation, except for Disney's attempt to redefine the lock off premium a few years ago (which was squashed by members correctly stating that it inflated the number of points for the resort).

 

[IsDVCForMe?]

I would wait for the dust to settle on your first one. Inevitably you will likely add points just because you'll probably want to go more frequently after trying it or want to upgrade room types after trying a 1BR but you don't need to pre-buy before that point. Who knows if when using your AKV points you find another resort you like and might want to add there instead and diversify your portfolio?

Yep, changing to a 1BR is def on the table. So thanks for this insight.

 

[IsDVCForMe?]

Just depends on how much you want to do Disney. If you're like most of us on these boards, you'll quickly find yourself wanting more points. And, if you ever splurge to stay in a 1 BR, you'll likely want even more points!

I think your contract is unlikely to get taken by ROFR. But, if it does, just go back to the drawing board and start making offers on contracts that work for your current plan.

After that, the cautious, slow thing to do is to get your points, do your first stay, and get a feel for things. Then, take it from there. Especially with resale points - resale contracts aren't going anywhere. No deal on resale is too good to pass up because you will eventually find another great resale deal if you're patient.

The less cautious thing to do is, spend a lot of time on these boards, and quickly talk yourself into more points - that's what I did .

I think that’s my problem. Reading the past threads on here lol. A 1BR could def be in the mix in the future.

 

[bakerworld]

Years ago I was at a gathering where a woman said her husband joined DVC with an every 3-year vacation plan. This drove her nuts. OMG. From '04 we went like 3 times a year (long weekends - airfare was cheap then).

 

[IsDVCForMe?]

Replying on getting a resort view at AKV every other year is risky, at best. These very low point rooms are in high demand, and you may need to "walk" the reservation, depending upon your desired travel dates. You should plan on Savanna view and be happily surprised if you can get the resort view. You may need more than 100 points for 6 nights at many times of the year for savanna view. I'd suggest you decide when your preferred travel time is, look at the points chart, and go from there. The charts don't really change after the first few years the resort is in operation, except for Disney's attempt to redefine the lock off premium a few years ago (which was squashed by members correctly stating that it inflated the number of points for the resort).

I was under the impression resort and savanna view deluxe studios were pretty much a guarantee at 11 months out? Seems like most people want the value and club level rooms.

If you look at the point chart for AKV between 2026 and 2027, they do redistribute the points between value, savanna, and club level deluxe studio rooms.

 

[intamin]

I was under the impression resort and savanna view deluxe studios were pretty much a guarantee at 11 months out? Seems like most people want the value and club level rooms.

If you look at the point chart for AKV between 2026 and 2027, they do redistribute the points between value, savanna, and club level deluxe studio rooms.

You are correct that resort and savanna view is easy at 11 months generally at AKV, especially savanna view with it having the largest inventory of rooms

I think they're mistaking resort for value.

https://dvcfieldguide.com/akv-j-s-standard2

 

[IsDVCForMe?]

You are correct that resort and savanna view is easy at 11 months generally at AKV, especially savanna view with it having the largest inventory of rooms

I think they're mistaking resort for value.

https://dvcfieldguide.com/akv-j-s-standard2

Thank you! Yes, that’s the guide I use. Appreciate it!

 

[CarolynFH]

I was under the impression resort and savanna view deluxe studios were pretty much a guarantee at 11 months out? Seems like most people want the value and club level rooms.

If you look at the point chart for AKV between 2026 and 2027, they do redistribute the points between value, savanna, and club level deluxe studio rooms.

They can also reallocate points between seasons. They did just that over a three-year period that finished a couple of years ago, in general making summer cheaper and October-December more expensive. I think right now they’re evaluating the effects of those changes on demand. They’re required by terms in the POS to reallocate based on demand, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s another reallocation in a few years. But I don’t think it’s reasonable to make current purchases based on that speculation; I’d pay more attention to current points costs for studios and for 1BR for the seasons when you’re most likely to travel now.

 

[Sandisw]

When we bought we looked at the point chart for the highest season outside of premium and used that as guide for what cushion I should have.

But, I’d see how things go for at least your first trip before getting more!

 

[Cfabar1]

When we bought we looked at the point chart for the highest season outside of premium and used that as guide for what cushion I should have.

That's the way to do it!

 

[VGCgroupie]

Take your first trip then decide. Id be money you will want to go more than every 2 years and will need more points.

 

[sndral]

I was under the impression resort and savanna view deluxe studios were pretty much a guarantee at 11 months out? Seems like most people want the value and club level rooms.

If you look at the point chart for AKV between 2026 and 2027, they do redistribute the points between value, savanna, and club level deluxe studio rooms.

That’s the problem with making generalizations about AKV availability, there’s a lot of nuance involved. As you note club & value villas are extremely high demand & generally not open even at 11 months. Jambo villas are harder to get than Kidani mostly because there are fewer of them, but generally you can get them w/out walking during DVC high demand times if you book right at 11 months.
Starting small & seeing whether DVC is a good fit for you is basically the approach that I took - although I started out wanting 1 br.s for longer stays once once a year so my ‘starter’ contract was a bit larger.
When I bought I also figured that w/ banking my first set of points & then borrowing I wouldn’t run out of points for a couple of years so I had a bit of a cushion time wise before I’d need to decide whether I wanted to buy more.

 

[Genie+]

We started the same way with 50pts over at BWV which was great, just like AKV it can book many nights. It also gave us experience to see how DVC worked for us personally.

It was our ‘safe’ route since we knew we’d at least being doing that amount WDW over time.

As it turned out we took more trips than those points could cover and we were still paying cash and renting points along with owning. It’s all good though. That whole process made us more confident about buying more points.

Be prepared for that lol. Using that first 50 points is like proof of concept. Once you start enjoying your DVC points don’t be surprised that you’re going to want more! Disney knows what they’re doing

How many of us enter DVC because the studios can be such a great deal! Then once you get comfortable using the system, decide you’re going to try something new. Maybe switch which season to go and now you’re going back within 18 months instead of 24. And then the next trip is an anniversary or big birthday and you ‘treat yo self’ with a point splurge at Poly. It is because DVC works so well that makes it dangerous haha. Leaves you wanting more.

 

[muppets3d]

I have owned AKV for 4 years now and the only time of the year I see walking going on for resort view studios is during early December. At all other times of the year, resort view studios are available well into the 11 month window. They're pretty easy to get at 7 months much of the year as well.

I'm not really sure why people are saying that they might be hard to get. That has never been my experience. I don't even sweat having to get up at 8AM to book them. Never had a problem. I guess some people just have to be contrary sometimes?

Now value studios, they are very difficult to get. Value 1 bedrooms are somewhat easier. Club studios nearly impossible. Club 1 bedrooms probably on par with value 1 bedrooms.