SSR v. AKV for add-on, how did you decide?

[Melrosgirl]

It just comes down to the 11 month window. Sometimes it is very important to have the few extra months.

I don't own at either of those places (at the moment, LOL - ya know never!), but for me I'd choose AKV. I like SSR and have stayed there twice (not by choice though), but for me AKL is where I'd rather stay, so that's where I would buy.

 

[CNMooner]

Just remember that saving a few bucks per point may sound great, but it's truly pennies on the dollar when looking at the life of a DVC contract.
Also, developer points are nice, but after the first year they are gone forever.

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't be concerned about the pennies on the dollar.
I also wouldn't want one year of extra points, followed by 49 years of owning at my second choice resort.

I think you should purchase at whatever resort you like best, but that's only my opinion.

MG

I agree with this 100%. DVC is a long-term purchase, and developer points, '06 points, a few bucks won't mean much in 10 years, but you'll have 40+ more years of scrambling to book at the 7 month window (if you want to stay somewhere besides SSR that is...)

Of course, we're selling our SSR to buy AKV, so I'm biased!

 

[dwelty]

It's too bad you have to make this decision without the benifit of staying at SSR first. We love both resorts, but have the majority of our points at SSR. We like the fact that all of the great dinning options of Downtown Disney are just a short walk away.

I would also check with your guide to see if you can get another use year at AKL. We just bought a feb 07 use year, and got this years points to bank into next year.

 

[lisaviolet]

Hey OP,

How about a 50/100 split if you decide on 150? 50 points at SSR getting you in with the DDP and your 2006 (I've heard 50 is the minimum for DDP at SSR )

And 100 at AKV which is the minimum for the DDP there. Giving you some 11 month window advantage for the studios and maybe every two/three years for a larger suite.

There both. No decisions.

Congratulations either way you go. Enjoy those points.

Lisa

 

[DMKEDM]

We just did an add-on at SSR last month, and chose the double developer points over the dollars-off incentive...at the time (mid-July), the minimum add-on to qualify for the double developer points was 100...so if it's 50 now, it's been lowered in the past month...

 

[global_mom]

How about a 50/100 split if you decide on 150? 50 points at SSR getting you in with the DDP and your 2006 (I've heard 50 is the minimum for DDP at SSR )

Does anyone know if the minimum point purchase has been lowered to 50 points at SSR? That would change everything b/c we could do SSR and AKV.
Anyone?

 

[ScottakaMickey]

Does anyone know if the minimum point purchase has been lowered to 50 points at SSR? That would change everything b/c we could do SSR and AKV.
Anyone?

I think it is still 100 point minimum add-on to qualify for the double developer point. Where I think the 50 point confusion comes in, is that some folks took a 100 point add on and broke it into 2 50 point contracts, which when purchased at the same time, qualifies for the 100 point minimum and therefore the double developer points.

So, you could always do 50 at AKV and 50 at SSR add's under the same purchase and qualify.

Always check with your guide to verify, or tell your guide this is what you want to do and they'll confirm or check on it and let you know.

 

[global_mom]

So, you could always do 50 at AKV and 50 at SSR add's under the same purchase and qualify.

Always check with your guide to verify, or tell your guide this is what you want to do and they'll confirm or check on it and let you know.

I will call about this today as it would make our decision a cinch, we could do both. THanks!

 

[JimC]

We own points at three DVC resorts- VWL, AKV, and VB.
We chose VWL and AKV for one reason only... We love the theme, and attention to detail of the theme.

Deals, developer points, extra years, annual fees, yada yada yada, played absolutely no role in where we purchased.

MG

As MG indicated, the incredibly well executed theme of AKL and now AKV was our primary reason to add on at AKV.

 

[JimC]

I agree with MG. If you want the developer points, that deal is a good one, and the small per point savings means nothing in the long run.

Agree. But if you want to focus on getting a "deal", you should calculate the total cost of ownership on a PV basis -- including the purchase price for the points over the life of the contract and the maintenance fees over the life of the contract.

 

[global_mom]

Agree. But if you want to focus on getting a "deal", you should calculate the total cost of ownership on a PV basis -- including the purchase price for the points over the life of the contract and the maintenance fees over the life of the contract.

DH and I both love the idea of the DDP b/c we can really use them. However, he is thinking that we are paying an inflated point price to get the DDP. Are the DDP worth paying the higher price per point? I think that it really comes down to doing what provides the most value for each individual's situation but we dont want to pay top of the market in order to get one extra vacation. Am I making sense? THoughts?

 

[dianeschlicht]

DH and I both love the idea of the DDP b/c we can really use them. However, he is thinking that we are paying an inflated point price to get the DDP. Are the DDP worth paying the higher price per point? I think that it really comes down to doing what provides the most value for each individual's situation but we dont want to pay top of the market in order to get one extra vacation. Am I making sense? THoughts?

If you can use those points, I think they are an excellent idea. If you would not be able to use them in the allotted time, the money off might make more sense. I see them as points at a huge discount.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would pick the resort first, and then look at whatever "deals" are available for that resort.

Bobbi

 

[Maistre Gracey]

However, he is thinking that we are paying an inflated point price to get the DDP. Are the DDP worth paying the higher price per point?

Yes, the double points are a better deal if you can use them.
Points actually cost between $6 and $7 per use, so unless your saving $12+ per point by not taking the points, you're getting a good deal.

MG

 

[global_mom]

Yes, the double points are a better deal if you can use them.
Points actually cost between $6 and $7 per use, so unless your saving $12+ per point by not taking the points, you're getting a good deal.

MG

Over the past 5-10 years, have the promotions at the end of the year been any better than the current DDP? We dont have anything to compare to since we are new to the whole DVC thing. Thank you for the good advice!

 

[MrsG]

We were just on the Med Cruise and they had a great add-on incentive. We decided on SSR for a few reasons.
1. We visited AKL on our last trip and found the decor was too dark for us, although we love the animals and the restaurants.
2. Dues will probably always be higher at AKV because of animal maintenance.
3. You have to take a bus from AKV no matter where you want to go. At SSR you have access to DD as well as a ton of busses (although I know the bus situation is a sore spot because a lot of non-SSR people are using their busses). We do like SSR's location better than AKV
4. We really wanted the points to use for cruises/Adventures by Disney/etc. so the 11 mo window was not really an issue for us. We adore BCV and will probably only stay there.
5. The point discount incentive was better at SSR so that was the deal maker.

 

[global_mom]

We were just on the Med Cruise and they had a great add-on incentive. We decided on SSR for a few reasons.
1. We visited AKL on our last trip and found the decor was too dark for us, although we love the animals and the restaurants.
2. Dues will probably always be higher at AKV because of animal maintenance.
3. You have to take a bus from AKV no matter where you want to go. At SSR you have access to DD as well as a ton of busses (although I know the bus situation is a sore spot because a lot of non-SSR people are using their busses). We do like SSR's location better than AKV
4. We really wanted the points to use for cruises/Adventures by Disney/etc. so the 11 mo window was not really an issue for us. We adore BCV and will probably only stay there.
5. The point discount incentive was better at SSR so that was the deal maker.

Do you know if the incentive offered on the ship was different from the incentive that is currently available?

I dont know why we cant seem to make this decision. Maybe we are overanalyzing. This should not be so hard!

 

[veenstra56]

I offered to purchase an add-on at any DVC resort that my wife chose. To my surprise, she chose SSR. I was surprised not because she liked SSR, but because that she liked it more than any of the others. The incentives to buy SSR was icing on the cake (Developer points).

I thought about arguing with her about resort size, availability, etc., but in the end I realized that she just likes SSR, and she didn't care much for all the so-called reasons not to buy there. In the end, we went with SSR.

I know it is said all the time, but you really should buy where you'll be happiest. Besides, it's not like you'll never be able to enjoy the other resorts.

Good luck with your decision.