SO Confused please read and comment

[Debrn]

We purchased BLT 3/24. We chose it for proximity to MK and monorail kids are 9,& 6. We just got back from Poly and loved the monorail. My friend purchased AKV. I really love the rooms at Akv, not so much into contemporary style. So I called today to cancel BLT contract and sign up with the new incentives, and My Vac guide, broke down the figures 96 per point for AKL/ more expensive Fees, 98 points for BLT lower fees, 3 more years on contract. Less rooms at BLT and stated it is usually easier to get into AKV since there are a lot more rooms. Dvc rooms at AKV=458
DVC rooms at BLT=281. I need some input please. Thanks Deb.

ps my husband says a happy wife is a happy life, so he is not much help but he is right.

 

[ThePecks]

Where would you be most comfortable if you can't get any other resort. Personally I liked BLT over AKV, though both are GREAT! I'd probably go with BLT, and use the points everywhere. I personally want to stay at as many DVC resorts I can over the next 15 years.

 

[redrosesix]

I'm a little confused about the points difference between the 2 -- exactly what size and season were you planning on?

 

[alice99]

Many people on the boards get very attached to their resort and LOVE it.... so, I don't want to insult anyone, by saying something negative about AKV. I think AKV is beautiful and can't wait to stay there, the pool looks awesome.

But, I love the location of BLT and believe AKV is too far removed from 3 of the parks.

As your guide spelled out there are more AKV DVC units than there are BLT, therefore making BLT harder to book, at the 7 month period. I see his point that having BLT as a home resort has more benefits. You have a greater chance of getting AKV at 7 months than you do BLT, because there are more units.... and , in my opinion there will be more of a demand for BLT.

I wouldn't let BLT having 3 years longer on the contract be a decision making factor.

The longer contract for BLT was a factor for me because the only other resort I was interested in was Boardwalk, which ended 18 years earlier.

But, on the other hand if AKV is where your heart is and you absolutely love it, then let that be your determining factor.

 

[Sandisw]

I bought at BLT because I really want to be near the MK. Matter of fact, that is the reason we didn't buy in sooner--we really didn't want to be at the other places.

I just changed my incentives on my BLT contract as well. I had a reservation at SSR using DP's. When I called today to cancel that out and rebook, I was able to book the 4 nights I needed at AKL for August in a studio (and both value and standard view were available).

I was excited given the fact that my vacation is only 4 months away and was able to book at AKL. I contemplated booking at BLT but since we were planning on doing SSR anyway, I figured we would try AKL and save some points, now that we are using our own and not DP's.

I do agree that getting rooms at AKL vs. BLT, depending on when you travel may be easier. However, if you will be OKAY at BLT, but LOVE being at AKL, then I would go with AKL as WDW vacations are about SO much more than the cost and the number of points being used. My vote is to go with your heart!!!

 

[5forDiz]

If you haven't as of yet, take a look at points charts for both AKV and BLT (there's a link at upper right page under Timeshare Store banner) beginning with 2010 (when adjustments have been made to number of points needed for weekday and weekend nights). Calculate how many nights/type villa/season(s) you'd most like to travel for both resorts....AKV in many cases will require less points than BLT stay so you may be able to get extra nights out of each trip. I'm a firm believer in living in the moment & the right now....for me 3 extra years on the BLT contract wouldn't be enough to sway me ( do you know if 40+ years from now you'll want to still be travelling to WDW ? and years from now there could be an extension offered for AKV & other DVC resorts as is case with OKW now ).

Concerning booking, would you regularly book 8 - 11 months before check-in date you'd want ? If not and would typically be booking at 7 months or less to check-in date then Home Resort advantage will not be as important.

It's a tough call, both resorts have much that make them unique and special.

jmho, go with BLT :
if monorail is your preferred mode of transportation
if MK & Epcot favorite parks
if you like resort hopping (monorail to Polynesian, GF; boat to WL & FW resort).

go with AKV :
If you don't mind bus transportation
really want to feel like you've been transported away from it all
the savannahs
the unique feature pool at Kidani and
if you'd want to take advantage of DVC's concierge level villas at Jambo House

( I think AKV's Grand Villas are most impressive too ).

Good luck on your decision & post back !!!

 

[AKV707]

The old adage is to buy where you want to stay. And I believe that means the whole experience.

I am an AKV owner and love it. But with young children BLT is located right there at the MK. Of course, at AKV, we have those animals on the savanna.

I also want to say that AKV is not far from things. It just feels like you are in a different world when you are there.

It is true that AKV has more DVC rooms. So logic would say that availability would be easier at AKV. But hard to say in this economy and with Kidani not open yet.

I think that it comes down to what makes you happy and where you really can see yourself staying on most of your trips.

 

[disneynutz]

We purchased BLT 3/24. We chose it for proximity to MK and monorail kids are 9,& 6. We just got back from Poly and loved the monorail. My friend purchased AKV. I really love the rooms at Akv, not so much into contemporary style. So I called today to cancel BLT contract and sign up with the new incentives, and My Vac guide, broke down the figures 96 per point for AKL/ more expensive Fees, 98 points for BLT lower fees, 3 more years on contract. Less rooms at BLT and stated it is usually easier to get into AKV since there are a lot more rooms. Dvc rooms at AKV=458
DVC rooms at BLT=281. I need some input please. Thanks Deb.

ps my husband says a happy wife is a happy life, so he is not much help but he is right.

The fees at BLT are lower because DVD is currently subsidizing them as a sales tool. They will go up as soon as the resort sells out.

I will say it over and over, Buy Where You Love To Stay.

Most people don't look at the immediate future either. Right now you like the MK but in a few years when the kids are a little older, what will be your favorite Park then?

As a seasoned DVC owner you will also find that the Parks loose their luster and the Resorts become your favorite. Access to Resort amenities and food should be considered in your decision.

 

[alice99]

I have one other factor that was a part of my decision making.

I figured that my kids, at some point, will want some independence. They are 10 and 11 now. When they are 16 and 17 they will want the freedom of walking around on their own. They may want to go to Epcot or Magic Kingdom without us.

I looked at it from 2 points of view:
Where would I want them to be? Closest to MK and Epcot seemed most appropriate.
Where would I NOT want them to be? We did not consider SSR because there is too much access from the public @ Downtown Disney. There are some reports of undesirables accessing SSR from DTD.

When they are teens, AKV may be too isolated.

Your children won't always be 6 and 9. AKV might not be the best option for them when they are bigger.

 

[alice99]

"As a seasoned DVC owner you will also find that the Parks loose their luster and the Resorts become your favorite. Access to Resort amenities and food should be considered in your decision."

Disneynutz - I totally agree with this statement. That's why we love Boardwalk the most. Access to great restaurants and quiet/active nighttime activities.
We chose BLT because 18 years longer on the contract was too much time not to consider.

 

[5forDiz]

going OT here a bit, Alice99 your photos from Spaceship Earth, did you purchase them there ? ( if so, on our last trip we didn't realize that could be done )

 

[DebbieB]

The fees at BLT are lower because DVD is currently subsidizing them as a sales tool. They will go up as soon as the resort sells out.

I will say it over and over, Buy Where You Love To Stay.

Most people don't look at the immediate future either. Right now you like the MK but in a few years when the kids are a little older, what will be your favorite Park then?

As a seasoned DVC owner you will also find that the Parks loose their luster and the Resorts become your favorite. Access to Resort amenities and food should be considered in your decision.

A reason dues at BLT are lower is because the points per night is much higher. A week at AKV during dream season in a savannah view studio for 2010 is 119, a BLT bay lake studio is 137, MK view is 167. So bay lake view is 15% more, MK view is 40% more.

I stayed at AKV last summer and was concerned it was too far out of the way but I found that really wasn't the case. Even bus transportation was quick, perhaps because they have a dedicated bus with one stop (will be 2 stops when Kidani opens).

 

[AlexTina]

going OT here a bit, Alice99 your photos from Spaceship Earth, did you purchase them there ? ( if so, on our last trip we didn't realize that could be done )

I was wondering the same thing!! Ours were hilarious I wish I had know you could get them somehow.

Back on topic. Either I missed it or you didn't say how many points you were looking at buying. Maybe you could split them, have you thought of that possibility? Our first contract was at AKV because we love it, BLT hadn't been announced yet and so we intentionally bought to few points that way once BLT was announced we could add on so now we have the 11 month window at both resorts. I have 160 pts. at AKV and 125 at BLT (will be adding another 60 there as soon as I've got the money saved up). As another poster mentioned be sure to look at the points charts AKV's point requirements are a bit lower than BLT.

Tina

 

[Hazzard101]

I started out wanting BLT in the worst way. I went to DVC and checked out the models. With the incentives at the time AKV was the way for me to go. The rooms are a bit smaller at BLT and the deal breaker for me was when we saw that in the BLT studios bathroom they have only a toilet and bathtub in it. You have to go out of the bathroom and into the kitchenette to use the bathroom sink across from the kitchen sink. Gross me out.

 

[redrosesix]

I started out wanting BLT in the worst way. I went to DVC and checked out the models. With the incentives at the time AKV was the way for me to go. The rooms are a bit smaller at BLT and the deal breaker for me was when we saw that in the BLT studios bathroom they have only a toilet and bathtub in it. You have to go out of the bathroom and into the kitchenette to use the bathroom sink across from the kitchen sink. Gross me out.

Why do designers miss these things? They should have focus groups. That will be at the top of the list for the first refurb.

 

[alice99]

going OT here a bit, Alice99 your photos from Spaceship Earth, did you purchase them there ? ( if so, on our last trip we didn't realize that could be done )

I emailed them home to myself. You can send yourself the email at the end of the ride (where the photos show up on the wall).
They get sent in the jpeg format, so I just put them into my photo folder on my computer.
They are there like any other photo that gets emailed to me.

 

[redrosesix]

I'm still not getting how the same size unit would be 458 points at AKV and only 281 at BLT?

I looked at the point charts and I just don't see it. If this is correct, could somebody please enlighten me?

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

I tend to agree that you might want to purchase where you want to stay.

We own at three properties because it gives us an 11 month window at each property at the time of year we are most likely to stay there. However, we've stayed at all of them at different times of the year with relative ease.

As far as the AKV remote location. We've found their transportation to be among the best on property, which often compensates for the distance from the parks.

 

[Debrn]

I'm still not getting how the same size unit would be 458 points at AKV and only 281 at BLT?

I looked at the point charts and I just don't see it. If this is correct, could somebody please enlighten me?

It is not the points it is the number of rooms that are dvc rooms.

 

[redrosesix]

It is not the points it is the number of rooms that are dvc rooms.

thanks.