Odds of being able to Rent AKV Value Studio in Late April/Early May?

[DisBabe94]

Hi everyone!! I am new to the DISboards, go easy on me

I am looking into renting DVC points for a late April/Early May 2018 onsite stay (My first ever!!! ) I have read through a few threads regarding rentals, and it seems as though certain rooms and times of year it can be near impossible to find an owner to rent from. I was hoping to use David's service, and am willing to book 11 months in advance with the up front payment and everything! Sorry if this is redundant (I'm sure you've heard it all a million times ) Anywayyyy..... what are the chances of me being able to secure a long stay (10 ish nights) in an Animal Kingdom Value Studio at that time of year? I know there are only a few of these rooms in existence, so I am looking for a dose of reality here. Is it more realistic for me to go after a standard view? Are these rooms "walked" by owners? Is this a particularly coveted time of year?

Thank you so much for any guidance you can give me!

 

[Flossbolna]

This thread gives you a good overview of typical availability for different DVC properties, AKL Value Studios is the first table in the second post:

Predicted DVC booking patterns - Studios/ some 1-bedrooms (VGC Update 10/21/15)

From this it seems that late April is a good time to try for this, early May not so much. You might take this into account when planning your trip.

And to the DIS! I hope you will have a lot of fun taking part in the community here while planning your first trip!

 

[drusba]

AKV values, particularly if seeking a studio or 2BR, can often disappear quickly once the 11 month window opens, although if start date is late April rather than early May chances should be very good getting it as an AKV owner. The issue you may face is simply finding an AKV owner willing to rent and do what is advised for value. If you are exactly 11 months out, the owner can book only 7 nights total. You can then add days thereafter by calling daily or waiting a few days to call and add the extra three you want. For value, particularly if seeking a studio or 2BR, you have some risk, less so with a late April start date rather than an early May start date, that unless the owner is online prepared to make the initial 7 night reservation at exactly 8 a.m. eastern at 11 months out from arrival date, he may lose the race to getting that initial 7 night reservation.

Thus, you (or the broker through whom you are renting) need to have not only an AKV owner who is renting points but one who is willing to go through the hassle of making sure he does the initial 7 night reservation at 8 a.m. 11 months out from date arrival, and then adds on the extra three nights shortly thereafter. If you wanted instead standard view, those will even be readily available at 7 months out when owners at other DVC resorts can reserve at AKV.

As to walking, owners do walk for values although it is likely not needed for a late April start date. As far as getting an owner to walk a value reservation for a renter, I would assume that would require a premium to the usual rental price.

 

[disneynutz]

Plan for the worse and hope for the best.

Bill

 

[DisBabe94]

This thread gives you a good overview of typical availability for different DVC properties, AKL Value Studios is the first table in the second post:

Predicted DVC booking patterns - Studios/ some 1-bedrooms (VGC Update 10/21/15)

From this it seems that late April is a good time to try for this, early May not so much. You might take this into account when planning your trip.

And to the DIS! I hope you will have a lot of fun taking part in the community here while planning your first trip!

Thank you for this thread!! It is quite apparent that those value studios are snatched up quickly. The standards are seemingly easy to get into and look like a safer option. I am happy to be here!! Been lurking around the boards for awhile and decided to just dive in. Maybe I will try my hand at a PTR!!

 

[DisBabe94]

AKV values, particularly if seeking a studio or 2BR, can often disappear quickly once the 11 month window opens, although if start date is late April rather than early May chances should be very good getting it as an AKV owner. The issue you may face is simply finding an AKV owner willing to rent and do what is advised for value. If you are exactly 11 months out, the owner can book only 7 nights total. You can then add days thereafter by calling daily or waiting a few days to call and add the extra three you want. For value, particularly if seeking a studio or 2BR, you have some risk, less so with a late April start date rather than an early May start date, that unless the owner is online prepared to make the initial 7 night reservation at exactly 8 a.m. eastern at 11 months out from arrival date, he may lose the race to getting that initial 7 night reservation.

Thus, you (or the broker through whom you are renting) need to have not only an AKV owner who is renting points but one who is willing to go through the hassle of making sure he does the initial 7 night reservation at 8 a.m. 11 months out from date arrival, and then adds on the extra three nights shortly thereafter. If you wanted instead standard view, those will even be readily available at 7 months out when owners at other DVC resorts can reserve at AKV.

As to walking, owners do walk for values although it is likely not needed for a late April start date. As far as getting an owner to walk a value reservation for a renter, I would assume that would require a premium to the usual rental price.

This is some great information, thanks!! I was not aware of the 7 night stipulation. I think I will plan to try for a value but settle for a standard if I am unable to get a value. It is not that much more expensive so that is alright with me!

 

[DisBabe94]

Plan for the worse and hope for the best.

Bill

That is great advice! I believe I plan for a standard, but hope for a value! Either way, it's Disney so I am just excited to be going at all.

 

[drusba]

This is some great information, thanks!! I was not aware of the 7 night stipulation. I think I will plan to try for a value but settle for a standard if I am unable to get a value. It is not that much more expensive so that is alright with me!

In choosing which room you may actually want to get, be aware, if you are not already, that the reason value requires lower points is not view but smaller room size, e.g., the value studios are about 315 sq ft, similar to a Port Orleans hotel room, while all other studios at AKV, including standard view, are close to 360 sq ft., a very noticeable difference. 40% of value rooms are pool view, 40% savanna, and 20% front area (looking toward parking lot but mostly seeing trees and bushes). Standard view is either pool view or savanna view (a number of savanna view rooms were converted to standard because the views were not considered that great)