Newbie

[kcdivine]

I have a few question?


I have 3 kids all under 5 and want to start going to disney maybe every other year. I figure now might be a better deal to look into DVC because we like to stay at disney and now would have to spend more $$$ anyhow because the 5 People. I have been looking at AKV maybe getting 75 to 100 point resale so Icould have enough point to do a week every 2 years. I know points are less resale for SSR but would like to do AKV. The thing is how hard @ AKV without the 11 months during early summer or late summer.

Thanks

 

[Disneycouple99]

Savanna view rooms are the most abundent of all of the rooms at AKV. When you say a week are you talking 7 days or 5 days? Can you book at the 11 month window? Do you want to book concierge? I would get enough SSR points to cover a stay in a savanna view every 2 years if you can't book until the 7 month window.

 

[maburke]

I have a few question?


I have 3 kids all under 5 and want to start going to disney maybe every other year. I figure now might be a better deal to look into DVC because we like to stay at disney and now would have to spend more $$$ anyhow because the 5 People. I have been looking at AKV maybe getting 75 to 100 point resale so Icould have enough point to do a week every 2 years. I know points are less resale for SSR but would like to do AKV. The thing is how hard @ AKV without the 11 months during early summer or late summer.

Thanks

Buy where you want to stay. If you would be disappointed to stay at SSR, don't buy there. You've got the right idea.

 

[kcdivine]

Savanna view rooms are the most abundent of all of the rooms at AKV. When you say a week are you talking 7 days or 5 days? Can you book at the 11 month window? Do you want to book concierge? I would get enough SSR points to cover a stay in a savanna view every 2 years if you can't book until the 7 month window.

SUN-FRI or SAT.

I was wondering how hard would be to book @ AKV one bedroom because hold 5 and how many hold 5. Would be able to do one bedroom for now Kids are young. What is concierge????? Sorry am new to this!!! [

 

[Disneycouple99]

All one bed rooms at AKV excpet for the Value category sleep 5. Look at the point chart for the number of points you need and divide by 2 the add some extra for a buffer. There are 240 rooms that can be booked as a one bedroom. AKV is the third largest resort. If you need a one bedroom that sleeps five, OKW is also rumored to be getting a sleeper chair as well. Concierge is a room category which offers a concierge lounge and special tours.

 

[kcdivine]

All one bed rooms at AKV excpet for the Value category sleep 5. Look at the point chart for the number of points you need and divide by 2 the add some extra for a buffer. There are 240 rooms that can be booked as a one bedroom. AKV is the third largest resort. If you need a one bedroom that sleeps five, OKW is also rumored to be getting a sleeper chair as well. Concierge is a room category which offers a concierge lounge and special tours.

Why divide by 2???????

 

[5forDiz]

Why divide by 2???????

If you are going to travel every other year then you can purchase half the amount of points needed for the trip you will typically take because you can bank (&/or borrow) one Use Year's allotment of points into the next Use Year (or previous UY if you borrow) and that gives you the amount of points you need for when your trip will take place.

ie, if you needed 200 points to stay 5 or 6, etc. nights at xyz Resort in whatever size unit you'd like during the particular season you'd like to travel (points charts will list seasons - click link upper right to points charts) then with banking &/or borrowing you can purchase 100 points and have enough to travel every other year; with BOTH banking & borrowing you can have 3 Use Year's allotments of points to use to travel every 3rd year too.

So this gives you ability to buy into DVC with less points but just note, you will want to check this with guide, if I am recalling things correctly I think presently if you want to make your purchase directly through Disney you can only buy in at 100 points at AKV & maybe SSR; if you wanted to own at BLT or any other DVC Resort then you'd need to buy in at a higher minimum (might be 160 pts) when directly purchasing through Disney. But you can also purchase your contract on the resale market and then you can buy in at whatever size contract is available (could be as little as 20 points, etc. - whatever happens to be listed on the resale) and if you purchased resale you don't have to meet the minimum buy in Disney sets if you direct purchased through them. A member who buys in via a resale contract is never treated any differently than a member who purchased directly through Disney so no worries that your membership is flagged or treated in a lesser way. And if you start out with a small contract you can always add on additional points in the future either by purchasing those points directly through Disney or via resale market; it doesn't matter how your first purchase was made, you can always buy additional points through Disney at a minimum of 25 pts with cash or 50 pt minimum if you want Disney's financing or shop the resale market for a great deal for additional points too.

Poster Disneycouple9 gives you good advice too in recommending that you buy some extra points as a "buffer" in case you decide to travel during a different season when more points per night may be needed or if you decide some years that you may want to stay in a larger sized villa than you would typically pick or also, if you want to stay at a resort where the points per night tend to run higher like at BLT.

Good luck

 

[kcdivine]

Just not sure if better to go SSR or AKV. I like Akv because can have 5 in room for now do to young kids. But SSR is cheaper resale per pt. I worry having problems booking @ AKV only 7 months out???

 

[momhmmx2]

I own at SSR and just booked a trip at 5 months out for the end of August at AKV. I think if you are somewhat flexible with your travel dates and will most likely not take advantage of the 11 month booking window then SSR is a better choice for you. JMO

 

[kcdivine]

I own at SSR and just booked a trip at 5 months out for the end of August at AKV. I think if you are somewhat flexible with your travel dates and will most likely not take advantage of the 11 month booking window then SSR is a better choice for you. JMO

I am flexible would plan trip around getting room. Thinking about just getting a 75-100 pt resale right now

I know AKV are alittle bit more per pt. Am I right???

 

[Disneycouple99]

AKV does cost more per point than SSR. A week at AKV in a savanna view one bedroom durning Magic season is 272 points. I would get 125 to 140 SSR points and bank one year into the next for 250 to 280 points to book a room every 2 years.

 

[Sandisw]

I am flexible would plan trip around getting room. Thinking about just getting a 75-100 pt resale right now

I know AKV are alittle bit more per pt. Am I right???

AKV does cost more than SSR, but if you are buying with the intent of staying at AKV, then I would buy points there. It is great that you are flexible and there should not be a problem getting something at AKV 7 months out. However, if you can't get all the nights in a 1 bedroom, same view, then what would you do?

To me, DVC is a big investment and investing in something that is not your first choice, just to save a little bit upfront, may not be worth it in the long run. Not that this is likely, but if DVC ever decided to not allow owners to stay at other resorts, you would not be allowed to do AKV.

We thought about the same thing last year, and could have saved about $5000 going with SSR over BLT. However, in the long run, it was worth it. Even if I take that and spread it out only 10 years, I paid $500 extra to ensure that I would get exactly what I wanted at BLT. I did not want to chance the 7 month window.

Now, if you are never going to book prior to 7 months, then SSR is the best value.

Good luck!

 

[arthur06]

I would def. go with AKL... with Value, Standard, Savanna, and Concierge you have 4 categories that you can take advantage of at 11 months that you cant always take advantage of at 7 months! AKL value and BWV standard are some of the best DVC values out there!

 

[maburke]

Just not sure if better to go SSR or AKV. I like Akv because can have 5 in room for now do to young kids. But SSR is cheaper resale per pt. I worry having problems booking @ AKV only 7 months out???

The advice here is consistently to buy where you want to stay. You are in an even tighter position, because not only would you prefer to stay at AKV over SSR, your family won't fit at an SSR 1br where you will fit at an AKV 1br. It may cost a little more up front, but it will REALLY cost you if you end up having to sell what you bought cheaper (SSR) and buying what you want (AKV) later, as some here have felt the need to do.

If you will be able to book between 11 and 7 months out, and you are worried about it, put your mind at ease and go with AKV.

 

[dbs1228]

Agree with the post buy where you will stay. We bought in Feb 160 BLT points and wanted a 2nd contract somewhere else (well actually just wanted at least 300 - 350 points) and our guide sort of talked us into VCG since it had good incentives at the time and lower maintance fees/closing costs.

After coming home and doing much research we have decided to also add on at SSR because we really want the Tree House Villas to stay at from time to time. (3 bedroom accomadations for point values of 2 bedroom and our beloved outdoor space) We did purchase 160 point resale at SSR (glad I waited and did research for this one) we saved over 4000.00! We are now planning 1 week BLT 2 bedroom unit every other year and SSR THV the opposite year. We do have 3 teenage daughters so we did know eventually we wanted 3 contracts just was not planning it so soon! lol

We have decided in the short term to use the VGC as our "where ever there is availability extra trip" for the year so we hopefully can try all the resorts at some point. Our daughter in college is already thinking spring break get away for next year! It is a great place for her age since she cannot rent a car everything is self contained and she can order groceries to be delivered to the room!

Buy where you want to stay!

 

[kcdivine]

Okay think might be better to do AKV. The price per pts resale are not alot so would only save a few hundred $$$$ so I think not worth it!

I never really plan trips 11 months out mostly never more than 8 months. If i buy 100 pts SSR can I add points to AKV later????

 

[momhmmx2]

Yes, you can always add more points later..I am like you..I don't plan our trips more than 7months out. For me, I'm happy to be at Disney, so where I stay doesn't really matter..I am a family of 4 so that does make things easier..If some day I do plan at 11 months out (say Christmas, Thanksgiving, etcc.....) then Yes, I am happy to stay at SSR. 'cuz that means I'm at Disney!!

Please don't flame me, this is just what I have seen posted!!! Someone please comment on this..I have read that on these boards that you CAN put 5 in a 1 bedroom at other DVC resorts even though the occupant limit says 4.. is this true??? If this is true than that solves all your problems!!

Here is a link to the info on 5 in a bedroom(hope I do this right as I have never added a link before
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=901569&highlight=5+in+a+1+bedroom


How you ask?? Well you put a blow up mattress on floor and viola sleeping for 5! We keep our blow up mattress in our owners locker (the kids hate to sleep together) so no fighting..other than who gets to sleep on the blow up mattress


Good luck with your decision!

 

[kcdivine]

Yes, you can always add more points later..I am like you..I don't plan our trips more than 7months out. For me, I'm happy to be at Disney, so where I stay doesn't really matter..I am a family of 4 so that does make things easier..If some day I do plan at 11 months out (say Christmas, Thanksgiving, etcc.....) then Yes, I am happy to stay at SSR. 'cuz that means I'm at Disney!!

Please don't flame me, this is just what I have seen posted!!! Someone please comment on this..I have read that on these boards that you CAN put 5 in a 1 bedroom at other DVC resorts even though the occupant limit says 4.. is this true??? If this is true than that solves all your problems!!

Here is a link to the info on 5 in a bedroom(hope I do this right as I have never added a link before
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=901569&highlight=5+in+a+1+bedroom


How you ask?? Well you put a blow up mattress on floor and viola sleeping for 5! We keep our blow up mattress in our owners locker (the kids hate to sleep together) so no fighting..other than who gets to sleep on the blow up mattress


Good luck with your decision!

Yes then i would not mind Getting SSR. Kids are young now so would be fine in a 1 BR

Do they ask for kids names are check to see how many in party?

 

[Disneycouple99]

MS does ask for everone's name for the reservation. Everyone needs to on the reservation to use ME and to get a KTTW card to use EMH.

 

[Sandisw]

Yes, you can always add more points later..I am like you..I don't plan our trips more than 7months out. For me, I'm happy to be at Disney, so where I stay doesn't really matter..I am a family of 4 so that does make things easier..If some day I do plan at 11 months out (say Christmas, Thanksgiving, etcc.....) then Yes, I am happy to stay at SSR. 'cuz that means I'm at Disney!!

Please don't flame me, this is just what I have seen posted!!! Someone please comment on this..I have read that on these boards that you CAN put 5 in a 1 bedroom at other DVC resorts even though the occupant limit says 4.. is this true??? If this is true than that solves all your problems!!

Here is a link to the info on 5 in a bedroom(hope I do this right as I have never added a link before
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=901569&highlight=5+in+a+1+bedroom


How you ask?? Well you put a blow up mattress on floor and viola sleeping for 5! We keep our blow up mattress in our owners locker (the kids hate to sleep together) so no fighting..other than who gets to sleep on the blow up mattress


Good luck with your decision!

MS has allowed people to book the 1 bedrooms at the other resorts with 5 people. However, they provide no bedding or extra towels for that person. You are responsible to take care of that. So, someone would have to sleep on the floor, unless you bring your own aerobed, sheets, etc.