Need opinions on home resort selection

[izzy]

I apologize in advance for this long post.

I'm 95% sure that I'm going to buy into DVC, whether it be through Disney directly or by resale. I keep going back and forth between doing a resale with BWV or going with the AKV. Regardless of which one I do, I'll probably almost always go with a studio. By the way, I'm 44 and single with no children. I also normally like to vacation at WDW during October. The Food and Wine Festival isn't really my thing, but I do love MNSSHP! It doesn't bother me having to book 11 months ahead of time, because I love to plan vacations. I'm not a spur-of-the moment type of gal. My job currently allows me to plan like this, but I never know what the future may hold if I get a new boss. My boss now is great and although she doesn't really understand my Disney obsession, she tolerates it -

I've made a list of pro's and con's - some of them are personal to me - but I'd like other people's opinions on other things I should consider or if any of my assumptions are just plain wrong. Here goes:

AKV

Pro's

* Newer - flat screen TV's and DVD players
* Sofa beds are probably nicer (I'll be taking friends when I go, and I want to make sure they have a comfortable place to sleep)
* looks like the studios have double sinks from the pictures I've seen
* cute theming - love the carpet!
* have a nice variety of rooms - value (fewer points), savannah (get to see the animals), concierge (if I did that option, I'd probably never have to buy breakfast or dinner - LOL!)
* longer life to ownership (2056) - I'm thinking that if I would have to resell it in the future, that this property would hold it's value better in the long run than BWV since I'd have an extra 14 years of use. Since I'm sure I won't still be going to WDW when I'm in my 90's (and doubt that I'll even by alive then!), if I left it to one of my nieces, she would get an extra 14 years of use out of it, or could possibly resell it at a better price than I think BWV would get.
* quieter location (as I'm getting older, I may appreciate this more!)

Cons

* visited AKL once and I only thought it was "OK"
* the location is pretty far from everything
* restaurant availability that won't break the bank (or at least my pocketbook!)
* more expensive at $96 a point, and I'd have to buy a minimum of 160 points
* unsure of how animals might affect annual fee in the future


BWV

Pro's

* can get as a resale and it would be cheaper (from what I've seen, probably around $83-$86 a point)
* location - my two favorite parks are Epcot and MGM
* more eating options for me - I know a lot of people seem to complain about this, but within walking distance you have all of Epcot as well as the YBC, the restaurants around the Boardwalk, as well as the Swan and Dolphin
* no minimum points to buy, although I'd probably buy at least 150 anyway

Con's

* older resort - probably has more wear and tear
* from a lot of reports that I've read, the bus service is less than stellar at this location - while Epcot and MGM are my favorites right now in life, I do still enjoy the MK, AK, and DD
* it also sounds like this resort is a little louder overall
* I like to vacation in October, and I wonder how much difficulty I'd have in getting a standard studio unless I do it at exactly 11 months out


As you can see, I am an over-analyzer. Knowing me, I'll probably end up buying into both!

TIA!

Izzy

 

[Donald is #1]

Well let's see. I thought about buying into one of the EPCOT DVC's since EPCOT is my favorite park, but I decided that I wanted to buy into one of the newer resorts. So I ended up checking out both SSR and AKV. I liked both of them but for me the savannah view won out!

I did think about the additional years. (By the way, we are both about the same age). Since I am in my 40's and most likely I won't be using my DVC points in 50 years, I also had the same approach that you did. I decided that a resort with a longer contract would probably hold its value a bit better in the future.

When I was looking between SSR and AKV, SSR definitely had an advantage since it is cheaper than AKV. But I decided that I really loved AKL/AKV. So I decided to buy into AKV.

OK, so my recommendation for you is: If your impression of the AKL is that it is "OK", then I wouldn't buy there. If you want the advantage of the add'l years, then I would look at SSR instead. Otherwise, since you love the EPCOT/MGM area, then go for BWV.


By the way, once I have used my DVC points a bit and try some of the other resorts, I may end up getting a small contract at BWV if I like it so that I can do F&WF every other year or so and stay in the EPCOT area.

 

[salmoneous]

The two big differentiators with home resort are (1) cost and (2) 11-month windows. I know it's not perfect, but I might lump the higher upfront and maintenance costs for AKL witht he higher resale / more years and call it a wash.

That leaves the 11-month window. The question you need to ask yourself if which resort you would rather get "stuck" at if everything books up and have to stay at your home resort. If the answer is AKV, then I would buy there. If the answer is BWV, or if it is a tossup in your mind, I'd go with BWV. My guess is that it will be a lot easier to get AKV at the 7-month window than BWV.

One more thing to think about. You have to buy at least 160 points at AKL. If you really want to buy at multiple resorts, and you don't want a ton of points, your best bet is to buy a smaller BWV contract resale, then plan to add-on AKL points.

 

[Chic]

Izzy-I recommend buying into Saratoga Springs. Why? Saratoga Springs has lower maintenance fees and the contract lasts slightly over 47 years. That means you will be 91 years old when your timeshare expires. Even if you're still alive at 91, do you think that you will physically be able to go enjoy the parks? I'm 43 years old and my wife and I just bought into Saratoga Springs last week. We were originally planning to hold out until the Contemporary opens their "officially unannounced" vacation villas in 2011. Even if you have no interest in staying at Saratoga Springs like myself, you can still book any of the other resorts 7 months in advance. So what about availability? I just booked a vacation less than 3 months out and got Old Key West, I booked another one 5 months out and got a studio at Wilderness Lodge. I'm getting ready to book Boardwalk Villas as soon as my 7 month window arrives in a few weeks and according to Disney when I talked with them this morning, there are still studios available. Like yourself, we always plan to stay in a studio room because there is ample space for us and it costs less vacation points per night. If you plan to use your DVC membership for many years to come, keep in mind that Boardwalk will expire much sooner than Saratoga Springs. I'm already wondering how I can buy another DVC membership when mine expires in 2054 when I'm 90 years young!!! Good luck with your DVC membership, we love it! P.S.-I understand your obsession with Disney, I've had the "fever" for years.

 

[Diznut84]

I think it is an easy call. You like the location at BWV better. Buy there. You can buy either directly through DVC or resale.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you aren't into animals, the lodge embiance, or Jiko, then if I were you, I would buy at BWV. LOL, some on this board would LOL at that statement, since I do NOT like BWV at all....but for you, it might be right.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I just thought of something else though that might make a difference to you. If you plan to take friends with, I wouldn't want to saddle them with sleeping on a pull out. In that case, the rooms with 2 real beds at OKW would be better (if you insist on sticking to studios), or an occational 1 or 2 bedroom might do the trick. The great thing about DVC is how flexible it is. You can do a studio one trip and a 3 bedroom grand villa the next as long as you can bank and borrow the points for it.

If I were in your shoes, I'd be drawn toward the AKV because of the embiance, but since you don't care for the animals, I'd likely think BWV or BCV for the proximaty to your favorite parks or SSR or OKW for relaxation and to "get away" from the hubub of the parks.

 

[Chester's Mum]

I'm new to the dvc boards, but just thought I'd offer my 2 cents. I recently made an offer to purchase a resale at BWV. I looked at the new resorts and think it would be nice to be in shiny new rooms, lower maint fees (SSR), (savanna view) AKV, but chose BWV for the location. We usually finish our days at EPCOT and for me it's a real plus to be able to walk back to the resort after a day at the parks. Thats not every day but most days.

I understand that with an older timeshare, there may be wear and tear, and the maintenance fees on my small contract will be slightly higher than at SSR (not a huge amount). The view at AKV may be awesome, but we really don't spend that much time in our room. I do like to have a balcony as the early riser in the family, I can drink my tea without disturbing everyone else, but I don't really care what I'm looking at.

I've read many many posts on these boards that recommend, "buy where you want to stay", so I took their advice. That's what I did. Good luck with your decision.

 

[PEANUT1]

for us it is all about the extra years...if you don't plan on going during really peak times (christmas and other holidays) you should be able to book pretty much anywhere at the 7 month window.

i would do animal kingdom bc it is the best value (more years and same cost) that's why we did ssr.

 

[Anthony1971]

What can I sell you on
If you wnat to stay at BWV in a standard view during October you need to buy there...
If you are flexable with dates and do not care what type of studio then you have a good chance of getting a studio in OCT but there may be a time you will not....
I do not own there.. all of the DVC resorts have something to offer and it is nice to try them all at some point or another.. Buy where it makes most sense to you period you can not go wrong with any of the resorts..
Bythe way you are asking a question that the answer soley depends on how many owners of the resorts you choose decide to respond and how many non-owners will bash those resorts

 

[ZekeKelso]

I would strongly recommend against buying at a resort where you don't intent to stay frequently. I believe there is growing evidence that DVC is becoming unbalanced, that it is and will continue to get harder and harder to get reservations at non-home resorts. AKL is only going to make things worse.

Hopefully, I'm wrong. But I don't see the need to take a chance. Buy where you want to stay. And if you are truly worried about 2042, set aside a few bucks now that will allow you to buy another 50 years in 2042, or an extend-your-years package if Disney offers it.

 

[Muushka]

Bythe way you are asking a question that the answer soley depends on how many owners of the resorts you choose decide to respond and how many non-owners will bash those resorts

Truer words were never spoken!

PS to the OP, you have sure done your homework!
Good luck in your hunt. I have no opinion, you didn't ask about VWL!