SSR or AKV Which is the better Choice!

[ctydisneyfan]

Hello all,
I could use some advice! Hubby and I are in contract for 200 points for SSR UY Sept. We have two kids, 6 and 12 and would use points for school breaks and summer. With that said, My question is which deal is better? SSR has better incentives but AKV seems to have better trading, renting power? Which one is the better purchase? Is my UY good? I want to make the best purchase at this point and have intentions on an add on down the road at either GCV or HI. Please advise me, I really could use some solid advice...

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Hello all,
I could use some advice! Hubby and I are in contract for 200 points for SSR UY Sept. We have two kids, 6 and 12 and would use points for school breaks and summer. With that said, My question is which deal is better? SSR has better incentives but AKV seems to have better trading, renting power? Which one is the better purchase? Is my UY good? I want to make the best purchase at this point and have intentions on an add on down the road at either GCV or HI. Please advise me, I really could use some solid advice...

Don't choose one because it is easier to rent or trade. I don't have the numbers handy, but also consider the maintenance fees if you are really trying to determine the best monetary deal. Ultimately, it is the proverbial answer of buy the one you're going to most want to visit. Truly.

 

[REL1203]

Both places have advantages... SSR is right across from DTD (walkable i believe). Its almost brand new, and has the LOWEST monthly fees. AKL is not really near anything (and is kinda far out), but has much better options for renting rooms (Better views, more choices, and available concierage levels). The Animals are great. AKL has 2 good restaurants, plus Kidani is going to have another restaurant, fees are slightly higher than SSR ($0.50/point more i believe).

 

[salmoneous]

The only thing AKV has for better "trading power" is getting you into AKV. Other than getting into SSR and AKV, the two resorts are the same. If you like AKV and would want to stay there - especially in hard to get rooms like the values, concierges and GV's - it's worth buying in. Otherwise, I'd go with SSR, which will probably have lower maintenance fees in the long run.

 

[REL1203]

Otherwise, I'd go with SSR, which will probably have lower maintenance fees in the long run.

I can see AKL dues going up due to animal maintence cost... Think about it, one elephant or Giraffe gets sick and dies or something, and disney has to replace it, who is gonna pay???

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I can see AKL dues going up due to animal maintence cost... Think about it, one elephant or Giraffe gets sick and dies or something, and disney has to replace it, who is gonna pay???

But then, I understand that they are having to separate the males from females in some species because they are making babies really quick.

 

[abner1776]

The choice of UY is overblown in my mind, but IF you think that you will use DVC mostly during the summer, then Sept is the worst choice for a UY. You will have to use your points by 8/31/xx and IF you run into a situation where you have to cancel a summer ressie, then you could be limited in your ability to use those points.

If instead you think that you will spread out your vacation trips to the summer, Xmas, February and April then Sept may not be a bad choice. The rule of thumb is to choose a UY that ends BEFORE your expected vacation plans, so as to maximize your ability to use all of the points.

 

[ctydisneyfan]

OK, so with reference to my UY Sept, it would be better to use my points for during the school breaks of Feb April and end of June, these would be our optimal times. I was so confused by the term UY and wasn't very clear on the basics. But I understand that our points would expire on 8/31/xx if not banked. My only concern is that this was the only month offered from Disney, Can I request a different UY prior to my closing?

 

[Mtnman44]

If you will normally be traveling in late spring and summer, i would demand a different use year. If you insist that it is a deal breaker, they will be able to find a new set of points for you. Ideally, you want a UY month that is right before your normal travel window. This means that any reservations in your travel window are fresh, at the beginning of the use year rather than at the end of the UY when they may be close to expiring. The difference comes into play if you cancel your travel plans. The points are still "fresh" and useable for close to a year or bankable.

 

[culli]

AKL is not really near anything (and is kinda far out), but has much better options for renting rooms (Better views, more choices, and available concierage levels). The Animals are great. AKL has 2 good restaurants, plus Kidani is going to have another restaurant, fees are slightly higher than SSR ($0.50/point more i believe).

Can you walk to animal kingdom park from AKV?

 

[CarolA]

Can you walk to animal kingdom park from AKV?

No. (I guess you could in theory but it's a long walk and there are no sidewalks etc.) It's not a walker friendly area.

 

[culli]

No. (I guess you could in theory but it's a long walk and there are no sidewalks etc.) It's not a walker friendly area.

That is too bad, surprised they didn't allow some sort of walking path to the park . What a draw that would be - SSR has DTD and BWV/BCV has EPCOT.

 

[ScottakaMickey]

OK, so with reference to my UY Sept, it would be better to use my points for during the school breaks of Feb April and end of June, these would be our optimal times. I was so confused by the term UY and wasn't very clear on the basics. But I understand that our points would expire on 8/31/xx if not banked. My only concern is that this was the only month offered from Disney, Can I request a different UY prior to my closing?

As others have said, UY isn't really critical to your decision, as that is just the month that your points are issued for that year. So, once you become a member you'll get your points and plan your vacations. I see it as if you vacation before your UY then your actually using the previous years points for that years vacation. If you vacation after your UY then your using the current years points that year, or the begining of the next. We have a Feb UY, so it keeps it fairly simple most of our points we got in 08 are used in 08, except for our annual trip over for the Marathon in January, so each Jan we use the previous calendar years points for that trip.

To me, the more critical thing to analyze is exactly when you plan on vacationing and seeing if that is considered a premium, i.e. must book 11 months out, time frame. If its, then you need to choose a resort that you wan to stay at, as you can only book 11 months out at your home resort. If you vacation at non-high demand times, then you have more flexibility and your home resort isn't as critical.

We chose AK only because there was a full 49 years left on the contract. The cost and benfits were the same for me, yes there is a difference, but with they type of purchase DVC is, the differences were small in comparison. We vacation at all times of the year, so when we booked for this NYE, which is a very very high demand time, we had to stay at AK, which we were fine with.

Hope this helps.

 

[bluenosemickey]

We bought into SSR for the location, I liked the idea of being able to walk to DTD, it's not far depending on room assignment. You can also take to boat to DTD and to OKW and POR for something to do/poolhop or dining options.

It's a large resort and has a lot of availability, I have read that some people are placed on waiting lists at even the 11month window in peak times at the smaller resorts. I think the same thing happens at AKV because of the high demand for certain times of the year and room categories. I figured the last thing I wanted is to be waitlisted at my own resort 11 months out!

I also thought that for similar reasons SSR would be more forgiving with changing vacation plans ie. we want to add another room to the res or change the size of the room or add dates to the res. It's all based on availablity and with SSR there seems to be more available due to it's size.

The "glass is half empty folks" could say this is a negative, maybe it would be more advantageous to own at the most difficult to book locations? It's all in how you look at it.

Now, ATBS, you already own at SSR, if you like AKV (I put it in the "would like to at least do it once" category) why not buy enough points at AKV to book a modest length vacation during a peak season, and hope to expand it at the 7 mo mark, if not, you at least get some time there. If it is a resort you are placing high up on your wish list.

 

[hakepb]

No. (I guess you could in theory but it's a long walk and there are no sidewalks etc.) It's not a walker friendly area.

I am really looking forward to my upcomming AKV stay, but there seems to be several planning issues about AK that made me wonder "what were the Imagineers thinking?", including narrow park paths clogged with tons of strollers and no premium transportation (Boat, Jeep, zipline) to AKL/AKV.

 

[JW2]

The only other aspect to consider when deciding between AKV and SSR, especially if you already own at SSR; from what I understand, SSR is such a large resort that rooms are more likely available than AKV - thus, having some points at AKV would be beneficial for the 11 month bonus.

 

[culli]

I am really looking forward to my upcomming AKV stay, but there seems to be several planning issues about AK that made me wonder "what were the Imagineers thinking?", including narrow park paths clogged with tons of strollers and no premium transportation (Boat, Jeep, zipline) to AKL/AKV.

Zipline would be great Honestly we probably would addon to AKV if they had the ability to walk there. We are looking to addon to BWV or BCV due to the EPCOT walk.