OWn at AKV, discovered we liked BLT better... need advice

[ppony]

SO. Yeah. I know all the stuff we shudda wudda done, but we bought AKV last year (becuase DH wanted there and not BLT) and I was torn. Having seen the model, I actually loved BLT better but still, I like AKV. So, in the interest of peace in the house, we bought AKV. Well, long story short, we tried 1 night in a MK view 2 BR at BLT a few weeks ago and holy buckets!!!! Ds10 and I LOVED IT best. DH liked it a lot and I'm not sure if he's placating me and now saying he prefers it to AKV or is he truly does. Either way. There we go. Obviously we can gamble and try to get rooms at 7 months, BUT I'd rather own where I love. We still do love AKV, just not as much.

I know a few of my options.
1: stay w/ what we have and get what we can when we can. AKV isn't exactly a bad way to go.
2: Sell our AKV contract and buy BLT. We'd take a small loss on the AKV contract but one we could deal with.

Since we only go every 2 years (that's the plan anyway), I don't see the need for more than the 160 points we have now or adding on would be an option. It can actually be a relaly posh stay every few years on those points.


Any others? Other ideas? Yeah, I'm not the brightest bulb . I still have no doubts DVC was right for us, and given how much we LOVED AKV it seemed a solid choice. BLT still looks like a senior highrise to me. , but the rooms, location and room service more than help me forget that.

 

[kansas_wazzu]

Ok, I am a newbie. However, I would wait until you are truly boxed-out at the 7 month window for BLT, unless you are certain that you need the 11 month window to get the room category that you desire. Seems like a lot of extra cost to switch.

Good Luck!

 

[ppony]

Ok, I am a newbie. However, I would wait until you are truly boxed-out at the 7 month window for BLT, unless you are certain that you need the 11 month window to get the room category that you desire. Seems like a lot of extra cost to switch.

Good Luck!

THANKS!! Who knows...ya know? I'm pretty much thinking long-term. Right now, a 1 or 2 BR may not be as hard to get at the 7 Mo. window, but years down the road it might be. I dunno. And as much as I loved the decor in AKV, holy crud the lighting was worse than I remembered and with aging eyes , that will likely cheese me off the older I get.

Dunno!!!

 

[Dean]

We'd take a small loss on the AKV contract but one we could deal with.

That small loss will likely end up being around $5K on 160 points.

 

[drusba]

Only way to switch is to sell one and buy the other. That would result in a loss. You mention small amount; small is a matter of opinion. You will have lower asking price than what you paid for AKV which will likely be met with an even lower offering price for purchase from a buyer and then you have closing costs including any commission for the broker. You will then of course have the higher purchase price for BLT.

One problem you face is your apparent desire for MK view at BLT; that is likely going to be difficult to get at 7 months out many times that you want it. Otherwise, if you were usually looking at lake view, you will probably find availability at 7 months out most times of year except very high demand times. You are obviously going through some buyer's remorse for AKV at this point and maybe the better thing to do is wait a while before deciding.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I would personally sit tight. The resale market is not going anywhere and there will always be points for sale. I own them all except VWL, so you could go that route too!

I also would not sell after spending 1 night at BLT. Im sure you had a great view and that is a big part of the magic, but I would definitely spend more time there.

AKV has room service and some really cheap points, and with enough guest input, they could add some better lighting. I know the CL rooms received lighted makeup mirrors, so who knows?

 

[ppony]

One problem you face is your apparent desire for MK view at BLT; that is likely going to be difficult to get at 7 months out many times that you want it. Otherwise, if you were usually looking at lake view, you will probably find availability at 7 months out most times of year except very high demand times.

Not sure why you'd think I have an apparent desire for the MK view always. MK view was actually all I could get this last time when I booked it about 4 months out. It was nice, but actually, bay or theme view is fine by me. Really, anything would be nice, just to be there. Even if I keep going this route, I'll book my home resort and try to switch at the 7 month window. Flexibility will be key I think. Or one key anyway.

I am very aware of the considerably less price per point we'd get. closing fee, commissions, yadda yadda. The difference is, we might buy a BLT resale and something more like a 100 piont contract instead. Lots of options. Right now, we feel we have too many points for what we really need.

Lots to think about. I'll not be rash this time.

 

[ppony]

I would personally sit tight. The resale market is not going anywhere and there will always be points for sale. I own them all except VWL, so you could go that route too!

I also would not sell after spending 1 night at BLT. Im sure you had a great view and that is a big part of the magic, but I would definitely spend more time there.

AKV has room service and some really cheap points, and with enough guest input, they could add some better lighting. I know the CL rooms received lighted makeup mirrors, so who knows?

Good advice.
We actually didn't like the offerings at AKV's room service. We LOVED the BLT stuff. MMMMMMMMM I know, it's weird, my kids and I don't care for "exotic" food but we loved the decor.

Maybe I should at least write and tell them how dark it was in those rooms. THANKS! I suppose it was darker because there was more square footage to light with the same (or barely more) lighting than the studio we had the first stay years ago. hmmmm

 

[timandlesley]

I would stick with it. We own and AKL and LOVE it there, but have stayed at BLT and Boardwalk recently and love them a little more. We have gotten both BLT and Boardwalk NO problem at the 7 month window. For this next summers trip I even called a few days past our 7 month window and both Boardwalk, Beachclub and BLT were available.
Lesley

 

[JWG]

That is tough. We bought at BLT over AKV thinking we'd prefer it for location, amenities (CR within a short walk and Poly/GF within a short monorail ride), etc.

I don't think I'd sell - at least not now. I'd wait until you've proven you can't get BLT at the 7 month window. While getting a standard view at 7 months will likely be impossible, and MK view could be tough - I'd expect there to be some availability except at peak times. If you were wanting BCV, I may have a different opinion.

We own at Boardwalk and intentionally added on at BLT for access at the 11-month window. But, we like having Boardwalk as it can be hard to get into since it's a smaller resort.

If you do add-on or sell/buy - one recommendation I have is to look for 3 50 pt. contracts or 2 75 pt. contracts versus one large one. That gives you more options in the future if you change your mind again.

Best of luck as you think about it.

 

[ppony]

Great advice guys! I'll sit tight.

Would you believe that my DS10 already asked if he can have the king bed again when we go? We let him have it one night while DH and I both took the queens w/ the toddler on the floor between the beds. Can't go again for 2 years so we'll have points to burn, again.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Another option is to try and trade points with someone who owns at BLT but would like to stay at AKV. We did that this year and it worked great.

 

[DenLo]

Another option is to try and trade points with someone who owns at BLT but would like to stay at AKV. We did that this year and it worked great.

How do you trade points, especially since you only have one transfer per year. That means you can't transfer out and transfer in, in the same year. Did you make reservations for each other?

 

[DenLo]

As to the OP's question, I'd keep the AKV points for now. You'll probably lose money selling them at this point. After a few trips you might decide that staying more nights is more important than staying at BLT. We own both at AKV and BLT and have found that we like a view but are satisfied with a Lake View at BLT as we can always go up to TOTWL to watch the fireworks. We have not stayed in an AKV value villa as yet, but many DVCers think those villas are bargain and a great way to stretch your points. So if you stayed at AKV you could stay for a longer period than anything BLT offers.

 

[crisi]

Espcially with a ten year old and a two year old - I'd sit tight. The MK is great, but you are in this for the long haul, and your ten year old is quickly going to be fourteen and wanting to leave you and his little sister to head off to DHS for endless rides on Rock N Rollercoaster. As long as you don't HATE AKL, stick with what you have and switch at seven months. 5k (or so) is a lot of money, VAKL resales go for a lot less than BLT resales right now. And who knows, the next DVC resort might be even more attractive.

 

[ppony]

THANKS! I'm going to sit tight like I'm stuck to fly-paper. I ahve no regrets on buying in, just on the where. Changing before I even experience trouble is jumping the gun. There's always time. Unless of course, I'm hit by a Mack truck.

 

[psac]

There's always time. Unless of course, I'm hit by a Mack truck.

We just put a deposit down on a resale for our first buy in. Every cost-benefit analysis we could do says it's definitely worth it... except my wife said if one of us dies, the other won't want to go. What's with you people??

 

[ppony]

We just put a deposit down on a resale for our first buy in. Every cost-benefit analysis we could do says it's definitely worth it... except my wife said if one of us dies, the other won't want to go. What's with you people??

Um, what? What's with "you people"? I was just saying that with a bit of sarcasm meaning we shouldn't assume we always have "time". Wasn't sure how you wanted us to read it.

 

[tiggerguy2000]

If your only going every other year then i don't see the problem of what home resort I have.I would just buy more points at blt so you have the best of both worlds.

 

[AKV707]

I definitely would not sell. Have you stayed at AKV yet? I would stay with it and see how 7 months out is at BLT. And give AKV a chance. We love it!