My head wants AKV but my heart wants BWV...

[MamaBear12]

BWV- 25 points
AKL- 100 points

We also own Wyndham so stay there frequently.

We are in Orlando several times a year. Until last year we would usually just stay 1 night at BWV in a studio (would get 2 studios and my parents would stay also) This will be the first year we will stay about 10 days split between BWV and AKL. We banked and borrowed points in order to do this. We stay at Wyndham a lot. We LOVE the location of BWV but because of the cost of points right now we don't have more there. I think we'd actually prefer BCV because of the pool but when we bought our 25 points we were just dipping our toe in the water and the small contract popped up for BWV for a lot less than BCV. Have tried for 3 years to stay at BCV with no luck.

Thanks! I think my kiddos would definitely love the BCV pool, but I can’t justify the price/point combined with the higher point cost for rooms either. If we were committed to staying there every trip, I could see buying there, but I would rather sleep around a bit

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I guess a question is why you think you need to own BWV to stay there periodically in a 1BR? If you would plan on that for your Jan trips I'd feel pretty comfortable saying you'll be able to. BCV could possibly be an option too. For Oct you might get a 1BR pool/garden view at BWV now and then. For studios I wouldn't necessarily say that although in Jan pool/garden view studios can happen but 1BR's are different than studios.

 

[MamaBear12]

I guess a question is why you think you need to own BWV to stay there periodically in a 1BR? If you would plan on that for your Jan trips I'd feel pretty comfortable saying you'll be able to. BCV could possibly be an option too. For Oct you might get a 1BR pool/garden view at BWV now and then. For studios I wouldn't necessarily say that although in Jan pool/garden view studios can happen but 1BR's are different than studios.

Good question that goes back to the head v heart. I know we’ll be in good shape to book 1bed at BWV with our cheaper AKV points, but I love the boardwalk and for whatever reason my heart wants to own there Head is winning though. Heart does not have a strong argument.

 

[exchanger]

Have you considered that you'd get an additional 15 years of use by purchasing AKV? At some point the prices for those contracts that are expiring will fall hard and fast, and I'd hate to be the one holding the bag.

 

[MamaBear12]

Have you considered that you'd get an additional 15 years of use by purchasing AKV? At some point the prices for those contracts that are expiring will fall hard and fast, and I'd hate to be the one holding the bag.

Absolutely. The longer contract is definitely a plus with AKV, which is where I think we’ve landed on purchasing.

 

[gharter]

We own at both BWV and AKV. We *love* them both! If I had to sell one and keep the other, I would keep BWV. Why? I love walking to Epcot and DHS and miss it when we stay somewhere else. I love having a Boardwalk View villa. One thing to consider is that the Epcot resorts will become harder and harder to get into with every new resort DVC builds.

Thats what we did.
Purchased BWV, then added AKL. Love them both, but if we could only keep one it would be BWV. Walking distance to 2 parks, great restaurants at EPCOT, Boardwalk and Swanand Dolphin.

 

[limace]

I own a small AKV contract-we love that resort-and was able to use those points to book a BW studio March of 2019 for flower and garden. I don’t think the waitlist took long to come through.

 

[Pinnochio]

Always follow the heart...its what will ultimately make you happiest ....go with BWV

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Buy where you want to stay. Dvc is kind of a heart purchase anyway.

 

[RoseGold]

I think exit strategy matters. I would only buy a 2042 resort if you plan to run out the clock. If you want to sell when the kids hit high school (like me), then obvious AKL choice. If you plan to pass down your DVC, I’d pick neither and get a longer contract.

 

[Lee Matthews]

We battled with the same dilemma as the OP but went with Animal Kingdom Lodge. Wanted to be near to our favourite park and also a quieter resort overall. We are a family that will probably use 1 bedroom Villas so know we will probably get a stay in at Boardwalk at some point in the future

 

[My3kids1989]

I know this is an old thread but...I didn’t realize I couldn’t book 11 months out at the other AKV. I haven’t asked but appears to be the case online. I own Kidani but Jambo has the concierge levels. Did I screw myself out of those and not even know it?

 

[eandt]

I know this is an old thread but...I didn’t realize I couldn’t book 11 months out at the other AKV. I haven’t asked but appears to be the case online. I own Kidani but Jambo has the concierge levels. Did I screw myself out of those and not even know it?

Not an owner yet but from reading here I don't think that is true. If you own AK you can book either Jambo or Kidani at 11 months. We are torn between several resorts too with AK being one of them, if I am wrong in my above answer that would eliminate AK for us.

 

[My3kids1989]

I think you might just have to buy the right one. I’m gonna call and ask, I’ll be back in about 2 hours

ETA it was only 50 minutes and it’s all the same

 

[sndral]

I know this is an old thread but...I didn’t realize I couldn’t book 11 months out at the other AKV. I haven’t asked but appears to be the case online. I own Kidani but Jambo has the concierge levels. Did I screw myself out of those and not even know it?

Online has glitches relating to Kidani/jambo sometimes, but you absolutely can use ‘Kidani’ points to book Jambo & vice versa. I have 2 AKV contracts, both are at Kidani, I’ve never stayed at Kidani, I always book Jambo right at 11 months - indeed, I currently have a Jambo reservation for 12/21 booked at 11 months. However, those concierge/club stays are really tough to get even at 11 months.
Edited to add - Jambo also has fewer villas than Kidani, thus Jambo typically fills up faster than Kidani. My observations of typical availability from hardest to get to easiest is Jambo club, Jambo value, Jambo standard/savanna, Kidani standard/savanna. Size of villa matters as well, but this is the booking pattern I’ve noticed.

 

[gharter]

I know this is an old thread but...I didn’t realize I couldn’t book 11 months out at the other AKV. I haven’t asked but appears to be the case online. I own Kidani but Jambo has the concierge levels. Did I screw myself out of those and not even know it?

Have owned at AKL for several years. You are allowed to book at either Jambo or Kidani at 11 months.
The concierge are few and difficult to get (right at 11 months), , so you might have not have screwed yourself out of something you couldn't get.
But now you know for the future.

 

[RoseGold]

I think you might just have to buy the right one. I’m gonna call and ask, I’ll be back in about 2 hours

This isn't right. Jambo and Kidani are the same for 11 month purposes. There have been technical issues with the website and stories like this.

Everyone in general screwed themselves out of concierge because its so scarce though.

 

[My3kids1989]

This isn't right. Jambo and Kidani are the same for 11 month purposes. There have been technical issues with the website and stories like this.

Everyone in general screwed themselves out of concierge because its so scarce though.

the only reason I was thinking this is because the only two that show up under my 11 mo booking are kidani and Boardwalk. Jambo shows up with the other resorts.

I bought them for SAP instead of SSR because I had 2SSR contracts taken. And I thought it might be kind of a fun chase. I’ve always enjoyed AKL and I love the club level at all the resorts.

 

[Sandisw]

the only reason I was thinking this is because the only two that show up under my 11 mo booking are kidani and Boardwalk. Jambo shows up with the other resorts.

That is because those are where your deeds are. So Kidani is your home resort but for that reason only.

For booking purposes, you can book both but it keeps Jambo with the others as you don’t technically own there.

As reported, sometimes there are glitches online but it’s because it’s a glitch!!