Thanks for your response Tim!
I must say that I was a bit disappointed by the response from the board. Maybe my post came out wrong? I know MOST people on this board go to WDW a ton, but the REST of the world considers it a huge expense. Just wanted to express that I know how fortunate we are to be able to afford the activity we enjoy as a family.
Whenever I'm lurking or posting on the resort boards, people are so helpful! But people do get flamed--or shunned in my case! Just never happened to me before!!
I'd like to get to WDW once a month if I could! But realistically, a timeshare could "force" us to use those points as much as possible. There always seems to be a different trip to plan, and making it back to Orlando gets pushed to the "next time". I grew up going every year, but my husband needs a bit more motivation. Once he is there, the pixie dust is all over him!
I have loved all the resorts we have stayed at, but have never done a "home away from home" stay. The convenience of the monorail and conceirge is well worth the cost when you are traveling with special needs kids. They don't handle the food courts well. That $200 cup of coffee can be priceless after a sleepless night and 2 kids melting down at 7 am for no apparent reason with the other whining because she just wants to get to the MK!
I was so excited when I heard that AKL was starting a DVC program. We got the brief SSR talk on our last trip, but that property just wasn't for us. I don't want to miss the new chance to buy into AKL, but I thought I would get info on peoples past experiences here that I wouldn't even know to ask a sales person.
I think the logical step for us would be to stay in a home-away resort, preferably AKV, and see if that type of vacation would be as enjoyable for us as the GF. In the meantime, I'd love to get an idea on how many points a new member would need to buy to enjoy 2.5 weeks/year in a 1 BR AKL. 200?300?400? Is it better to overbuy or underbuy points? How early do you need to reserve at your selected resort to get dates that may be high season? Is it better to go with a resale or with Disney and why? Would any of the DVC properties have more hotel-like amenities or access to club levels? What is the difference between club and conceirge anyway? Maybe I am using the term interchangeably when they are totally different. When can you actually begin staying at AKL DVC?
Well, thanks in advance. I appreciate your helpful advice. You can keep the whole $200 for your kindness!
Marlene
Wow. You posted less than 24 hrs ago, on a holiday weekend, yet somehow this translates to "being shunned"?
BTW, much of what you asked here has been addressed in great detail and can be found with a few simple searches on this board while you wait for some responses. The advice you have been given so far with the limited posts is good: you will get much varied (and conflicting) "advice" on the "best" resorts and it will really help you get a better "feel" by visiting the resorts in person. "Home" resort can become important if you are particular about which resort you book and you book in a (DVC) busy season (can sometimes vary from WDW busiest times). In the busiest seasons, you may well need to book 11 months out to best ensure you chances of getting exactly what you want. There is always a possibility you can luck in to an "impossible" reservation at 7 months or less, but you certainly will not be able to count on it.
I agree you should try a stay first, either by renting points or booking direct through Disney (more expensive, but easier - and arguably a little safer - than renting points). If that $200 cup of coffee is "priceless", a more home-like setting where you can brew a whole pot of coffee at a time (along with a number of other advantages such as more room, full kitchen, whirlpool bath, in-room laundry machines, etc) might suit your situation well. However, you have raised other issues such as concierge service and monorail locations that might negate the advantages of a DVC stay for your situation, depending upon how high on your list of priorities those choices fall. IMO, staying at a DVC is really nothing like staying at a deluxe WDW resort. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. Riding the buses "everywhere" is the largest negative for us, and unless you rent a car that will be your only mode of transportation from AKV. We like being able to walk to a park, which is an option with both BW and BCV DVCs (and to DTD with SSR).
As to the number of points needed, I would suggest you download Caskbill's free program, DVC-Planner (
http://web.nalu.net/~wneth/dvcplanner.htm). Many more-experienced people can make suggestions re: the "best" number of points, but you know your situation best - playing around with potential configurations (dates, resorts, room preferences, etc) will give you a "feel" for what might work.
Under- or over- buying would be a personal choice, and obviously buying the "right" number is best but not always possible. Would you be willing to rent out your excess points, or give them away? There are a myriad of possibilities for each scenario. Remember you can add on in increments as small as 25 pts (50 if financing) on short notice directly through Disney should you find you need more points on a regular basis.
Gathering opinions can certainly help, and many of us have done so. However, ultimately only you can decide what is best for your situation and IMHO your posts include some conflicting priorities that makes it difficult for a reader to give much concrete advice re: the "best" DVC and/or "best" number of points for your family.
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! I believe that you know your family's needs best anyway but I just wanted to list what I think is a good amount of points.
