More SSR vs. New AKV?

[Mean Queen]

We already have 315 points at SSR and are looking to add on a few more. We're just trying to figure out should we add more at SSR or add a new home of AKV? We're only looking to add 50 (for SSR) to 100 (for AKV) points. I just wonder if it's worth getting AKV for so small an amount. I'd only be able to book a short stay at AKV, but with the 11-month window I'd at least be able to book there. I have a feeling us non-AKV members won't be staying at AKV for a long time since the rooms are very limited. I just wanted to see what other DVC members had to say about the choices.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think a small AKV contract is workable. We only bought 69 points there, but I already have a 1 week stay in a 1 bedroom savanna view planned. It will take two years worth of points, but that is exactly the way I wanted to use this purchase anyway. I would plan a little more carefully than just saying "100" points and leaving it at that. If you plan to use them every year or every other year or every third year, take the total number of points you need to use and divide it by 2 or 3 and buy that amount. That's why we have such an odd number.

 

[Starr W.]

Personally the AKV theme doesn't do anything for me, so I can happily wait until the whole new building is finished. When that is done I don't think getting in AKV is going to be that big of a problem. Also from what I have concluded from all the threads all the ded, 2br villas are in the new part(our preferred room type).

 

[pilferk]

Personally the AKV theme doesn't do anything for me, so I can happily wait until the whole new building is finished. When that is done I don't think getting in AKV is going to be that big of a problem. Also from what I have concluded from all the threads all the ded, 2br villas are in the new part(our preferred room type).

Dedicated 2 BR's will be in the new building only.

2BR lockoffs will be in both places (current building and new Kidani House bulding).

 

[dwelty]

we had the same delima last month. We decided to go with an SSR add on for 3 reasons:

Better Incentives: lower per point price

Got this years points as well as next years.

Lower Maintenance fees per point. (It scares me that AKL MF's are so high right from the start)

 

[fishermouse]

We already have 315 points at SSR and are looking to add on a few more. We're just trying to figure out should we add more at SSR or add a new home of AKV? We're only looking to add 50 (for SSR) to 100 (for AKV) points. I just wonder if it's worth getting AKV for so small an amount. I'd only be able to book a short stay at AKV, but with the 11-month window I'd at least be able to book there. I have a feeling us non-AKV members won't be staying at AKV for a long time since the rooms are very limited. I just wanted to see what other DVC members had to say about the choices.

Had a similar situation we have 325 SSR points and opted to go with a 100 point AKV add on. That gets a at least a one bedroom every other year, Plus all our SSR stays Can do better with proper planning but every other year at AKV should be enough. Not sure what incentives they arre offering now at AKV, we got in as soon as they went for sale.

 

[Mean Queen]

we had the same delima last month. We decided to go with an SSR add on for 3 reasons:

Better Incentives: lower per point price

Got this years points as well as next years.

Lower Maintenance fees per point. (It scares me that AKL MF's are so high right from the start)

Those are the 3 main reasons we're starting to lean more towards more SSR. I just would love to be able to stay at AKV and call it "home." But that isn't really a sound financial reason. We get so much use out of our DVC membership, we need to make sure we don't let the addiction get the better of us and just start buying willy nilly.

 

[pilferk]

Those are the 3 main reasons we're starting to lean more towards more SSR. I just would love to be able to stay at AKV and call it "home." But that isn't really a sound financial reason. We get so much use out of our DVC membership, we need to make sure we don't let the addiction get the better of us and just start buying willy nilly.

Just a quick couple of points. AKV actually made better financial sense for US even at the higher price point, and here's why.

We're a family of 5. I can't tell from your siggie, but you may be, too.

You can fit 5 in a 1 BR at AKV (officially) while other resorts have a max occupancy of 4. Yes, I know that resorts let that 5th person "slide" if you provide your own bedding....it wasn't worth it to us to "assume" they would continue to do that once AKV opens.

So, because we can fit 5 in a 1 BR, we need to use (and thus buy) fewer points. We were able to do 200 points, and not 250-ish. So, for us, AKV actually worked out to be LESS expensive than buying SSR...not per point, but per "accomodation", if you get my drift.

In addition, it's a nice benefit to get the extra bathroom in a 1 BR in the new Kidani building. That certainly doesn't offset the financial differences, but....it's a nice boon.

 

[Mean Queen]

In addition, it's a nice benefit to get the extra bathroom in a 1 BR in the new Kidani building. That certainly doesn't offset the financial differences, but....it's a nice boon.

I forgot about that extra bathroom! And DH really likes AKV because of the flat screen TV's while I love the huge bathroom tub in the 1 bedroom. We are a family of 4, and will stay that way so we fit fine in the studio's or preferably the 1-bedrooms at any of the resorts, so that's not a factor for us. I guess I need to sit down and take a look at the points for each room o see what we'd get more out of. Of course, either way we go, we win because it's DVC!

 

[pilferk]

I forgot about that extra bathroom! And DH really likes AKV because of the flat screen TV's while I love the huge bathroom tub in the 1 bedroom. We are a family of 4, and will stay that way so we fit fine in the studio's or preferably the 1-bedrooms at any of the resorts, so that's not a factor for us. I guess I need to sit down and take a look at the points for each room o see what we'd get more out of. Of course, either way we go, we win because it's DVC!

I like the flat screens too...they seem to open up the rooms since the TV "armoire" isn't taking up so much space.

On the bathtubs....I think SSR's are deeper (oval shaped) tubs, but it looks like the AKV tubs, at least in the new building, might be longer.

Even being 4, you might want to consider having the "extra" bed in the 1 BR (pull out sleeper and pull out chair) a nice benefit. It means each kid gets their own bed, and considering the age difference between your two DD's.....it might be a good thing.

 

[colleenc]

AKL is our favorite, and that's why we're considering buying there. I love the dark theming, and the grounds. SSR seemed like an apartment complex to me, and the fact that you can only fit 4 in a one bedroom is a negative for our family.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

Since we are only going to add on 50 pts., we decided we were better off adding on at SSR. I would love to own at AKL, but 50 pts. didn't seem worth it since we actually need them for our regularly scheduled trips and it would defeat my purpose if I had to start banking them, etc.

 

[jennz]

That's the same dilemma we're having! What a coincidence! We love SSR and AKL is our favorite resort so we're torn. We're also leaning toward SSR add-on so that we'll have enough points to get a GV if ever needed. I didn't realize we'd get 2006 points right now - that's a definite plus!

 

[Mean Queen]

I was also told that the minimum for SSR to get the discount was 50 points, while the AKV minimum is 100 points. And we'd get my 2006 points now, and 2007 in December (my use year) for SSR but we'd only get AKV points in December... none now. Since we've already borrowed from next year and haven't done all the trips we want this year, the extra 50 at a lower price is making it an awful good bargain. DH is now saying buy SSR and wait for the Contemporary.

 

[Starr W.]

DH is now saying buy SSR and wait for the Contemporary.

I hear the same thing from my DH! Though we already own at SSR & VB.

 

[wisbucky]

I honestly believe that you will enjoy have the option of two different resorts to book at from the 11 month window. As DianeSchlicht explained you might want to think about the number of points to purchase at AK so that depending on your stay time and type it will work for you. Finding out later that you should of purchased ten more points only can be very disappointing.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[BroganMc]

I was also told that the minimum for SSR to get the discount was 50 points, while the AKV minimum is 100 points. And we'd get my 2006 points now, and 2007 in December (my use year) for SSR but we'd only get AKV points in December... none now. Since we've already borrowed from next year and haven't done all the trips we want this year, the extra 50 at a lower price is making it an awful good bargain. DH is now saying buy SSR and wait for the Contemporary.

We own 320 SSR points. We initially bought 200 but then added on 120 last December. We knew AKV was coming down the pipeline, but between the deal at the time and our goal of getting larger accommodations and longer trips it made sense to consolidate our points.

When I did the math on how much of an add-on we needed, I figured enough to do 5 days in a 1-bedroom in May (for us) and 5 days in a 2-bedroom in October (to bring family). Knowing that family wouldn't be coming with us every year, we figured the extra point savings would just go to fund a studio for a small trip. Also we figured we could blow our points for the year on a grand gathering and get 5 studios, 2 2-bedrooms, or the Grand Villa on a future Halloween / Fall trip.

So with 315 you're in the comfortable zone to do all that. 50 extra points will get you an extra night or extra week in a studio, but it's not that big of an issue.

For us, we figured since we have enough now to do 12 nights in a 1-bedroom in Fall (and a week in Spring), our only add-ons would be for short adjunct stys at other resorts. Like 50-100 points for studios or 1-bedrooms. We debated AKV but held off primarily because of location concerns (I don't like that there's nothing walkable close by). Now we're waiting on CRV.

Until then we can stretch our points by doing studios at other resorts and just waiting out the 7 month window. I expect AKV will be fairly reasonable to book when Kidani opens in 2009. (And we have no desire of fighting for value or concierge rooms.)

 

[Darkside]

SSR is our home resort, but we are considering adding on 50 points with AKL. We have 3 girls and would eventually "gift" these properties to each daughter. The other reason I would would like to have a different property is that if we had to sell I think it is easier to sell a smaller contract than to try and sell one big contract at the same location, which we see on this board frequently. Just our 2 cents.

 

[Mean Queen]

We own 320 SSR points. We initially bought 200 but then added on 120 last December.

We did almost the same thing. We bought 200 points then added on 115 more. Since we live nearby, we take many little trips. I figure if we add on 50 it'd let us get a 1 bedroom most of the time rather than a studio. Since we have 2 kids to give the memberships too, it would make the most since to try to make them into 2 even amounts to avoid fighting down the road. But I'm not sure I can convince DH to buy 85 more SSR right now.