Point Comparison

[eporter66]

Is anyone surprised by the difference in points at some resorts? I know you have to take into account a standard / preferred view, and location etc... I guess what surprised me the most was the points for a 1 bedroom in October between SSR, OKW, AKV (standard view) for a 7 day stay.

SSR - 197
OKW - 171
AKV - 158

I was surprised that SSR was so much higher? I am talking a standard and not preferred view for AKV, but I cant believe the point difference. We booked SSR (home resort) so we could reserve the week we wanted, but at the 7 month mark I think we will again try to get back into AKV - being able to save almost 40 points seems worth it to me. We have been able to switch the last two years.

 

[CarolMN]

I also think SSR is priced too high relative to some of the other resorts, at least for the 1 bedrooms, which is the size we prefer.

For example, a week in October at BWV is either 166 points (std view) or 213 (Preferred view). (Was surprised to see the BWV SV is less than OKW, assuming your numbers are correct. Guess the recent re allocations are the reason).

I don't hate SSR, but just can't see giving up the EPCOT resorts location and paying more points to boot (we do like the SV at BWV. Definitely can't see giving up the Boardwalk view for SSR - it's only 16 points more than SSR & you are guaranteed a great view.

I might change my mind about SSR once Disney finishes the changes it has in mind for the Downtown Disney/Pleasure Island area. Done right, that could tip the scale in SSR's favor - at least for us.

 

[JWG]

Keep in mind that standard view at AKV and BWV, etc. can be hard to get whereas there is only one view at SSR and no "preferred" views to offset a lower point cost in a "standard" view.

Whereas, AKV can have lower points on "standard" view rooms because they're offset by the higher end savannah and concierge rooms.

Same for BLT and BWV, you can have a lower point SV room that is offset by the higher points of preferred view and the extortion of MK view.

If you averaged the points of the various views at other resorts I wonder if they wouldn't look closer to the points for SSR and OKW where there are no room view categories.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Agreed! We love SSR but the points are out of line in comparison with other resorts.
When you do the math SSR is high and does not guaranty any choices. This is why it is last to fill with the exception of THV.
The other resorts have booking categories that are in demand because at 11 months out we want as much certainty as the system offers
I love it there and really wish they would change the point structure. If I could be guaranteed a section or anything except the Carousel section I would book there every trip.

 

[eporter66]

I love SSR too - but the points do seem high. I understand they dont have the options of preferred views etc..., but still - I'll take a Standard view for 166 pts at the Boardwalk for the location over 197 points at SSR any day. I'm still not sure I get the difference.

The AKV was a value not standard and here are the points for October 18-25 2011

1 Bedroom
AKV Value = 158
BWV - Standard = 166
OKW = 174
SSR = 197

The 197 just seems very high...

 

[chalee94]

I love SSR too - but the points do seem high. I understand they dont have the options of preferred views etc..., but still - I'll take a Standard view for 166 pts at the Boardwalk for the location over 197 points at SSR any day. I'm still not sure I get the difference.

The AKV was a value not standard and here are the points for October 18-25 2011

1 Bedroom
AKV Value = 158
BWV - Standard = 166
OKW = 174
SSR = 197

The 197 just seems very high...

there are not a lot of BWV standard rooms - if you're not a BWV owner, you might have trouble getting one at 7 months.

there are even fewer AKV value 1BRs...still not impossible to get at 7 months but not something you can count on if you are not an AKV owner. also, they are relatively small.

but i agree that SSR is too expensive. the point charts are pretty aggressive considering the location - i think a lot of it is just the new management trying to soak the new SSR owners for as much money as possible. OKW is a very good value for staying onsite - largely because it was the first DVC and they weren't sure it would work out at all. IMO there's a little more hubris in the point structure at SSR.

 

[drusba]

Is anyone surprised by the difference in points at some resorts? I know you have to take into account a standard / preferred view, and location etc... I guess what surprised me the most was the points for a 1 bedroom in October between SSR, OKW, AKV (standard view) for a 7 day stay.

SSR - 197
OKW - 171
AKV - 158

I was surprised that SSR was so much higher? I am talking a standard and not preferred view for AKV, but I cant believe the point difference. We booked SSR (home resort) so we could reserve the week we wanted, but at the 7 month mark I think we will again try to get back into AKV - being able to save almost 40 points seems worth it to me. We have been able to switch the last two years.

Actually AKV standard view 1 BR is 185 points during Oct. 158 points is for "value" and there are a small number of those and they are "value" because room size is small (and thus really should not be compared to any other rooms anywhere). So OKW is actually less than AKV standard. OKW, as the earliest created resort, has, overall, the lowest point values. Location wise, SSR is about the same as OKW and when SSR came along one of the earlier expressed concerns was its higher point structure than OKW, but it was a difference that likely resulted from time of building and costs at the time SSR was built (in the 2000s). BWV standard is also a limited number of rooms and it had the luxury, for creating number of points wise, to have been built in the mid-90s when costs were lower than the 2000s and before DVC became a boom in the sale market.

SSR is more expensive all year for all room sizes (studio, 1BR and 2BR) than AKV standard. It is lower than savanna view (80% of all rooms). Exactly why that decision was made is unknown but one can obviously view it as SSR is too costly in comparison. However, one could make the same complaint bewtween BWV boardwalk view (one of the best anywhere) and any of the following: (a) AKV savanna view which is usually higher; (b) BCV and VWL which have point stuctures very close to BWV preferred but no fantastic views; (c) and BLT lake view which is significantly higher. In other words, seeming point structure inequities can be found in several ways with several unrelated to SSR. It is what it is.

 

[skelooch]

Where can one find floor plans of where the value and standard view locations are at AKV Kidani, and the plans for the 1BR value and 1BR standard, to compare the size of the units.

Thanks

 

[briangib]

I've always thought OKW was reasonable compared to the others, especially with the size of the rooms.

 

[AKV707]

Where can one find floor plans of where the value and standard view locations are at AKV Kidani, and the plans for the 1BR value and 1BR standard, to compare the size of the units.

Thanks

There are no value rooms at Kidani. They are all at Jambo on the Giraffe and Ostrich trails. They are about 3' shorter hall to balcony than the standard and savanna rooms at Jambo.

At Kidani, the rooms are a little larger, the standard rooms face the front of the building, and the savanna views are on the back Some of the savanna views are on the front facing the smaller Pembe savanna.

 

[LIFERBABE]

However, one could make the same complaint bewtween BWV boardwalk view (one of the best anywhere) and any of the following: (a) AKV savanna view which is usually higher; (b) BCV and VWL which have point stuctures very close to BWV preferred but no fantastic views; (c) and BLT lake view which is significantly higher. In other words, seeming point structure inequities can be found in several ways with several unrelated to SSR. It is what it is.

You could complain, but VWL and BCV are 2 of the smallest WDW resorts, 1/2 the size of SSR combined, not to mention their locations. The other DVC all offer categories and choices taking into consideration views, size, location, etc.

SSR is all run-of-the house with the exception of THV. We really wanted to stay at SSR this Christmas, absolutely love it there, especially the 1 bedrooms. After doing the math, a SSR 1 bd totaled 529 points and AKV 1 bd Stan View totaled 473 points. I have to compare to Stan View because that's the best I can do at SSR until I check in. I have the 11 month booking window at both.

SSR offers awesome views but Im not guaranteed to get that so I used my AKV points and booked a CL studio for the entire stay and saved 190 points and guaranteed 1 of 2 views, guaranteed location, daily housekeeping, etc. Im not trading that for a 1 bedroom that could most possibly be located in the Carousel which is the part I dont love about SSR. If we have to "suffer" in a studio, let it be a CL studio!

If the other larger resorts can offer booking categories, SSR could handle it better than the other resorts. OKW has HH and it has not had a negative impact.

 

[Sammie]

OKW has HH and it has not had a negative impact

is this a request, or a booking category that does not require more points like the two beds at BCV

 

[chalee94]

is this a request, or a booking category that does not require more points like the two beds at BCV

booking category.

 

[Sammie]

booking category.

Thanks, never booked it and was just wondering as I have a friend that works at OKW management and something came up about what a headache it is and the number of complaints they get.

I will have to ask him again what the specifics were.