SSR vs. AKV

[worldfamous]

Okay...so if I take the developer points then SSR & AKV are the same purchase price.

Since AKV has different point schedules or may be more in demand than SSR, would it make sense to buy AKV?

AKV looks awesome but I'm not sure we'll want to stay so close to AK all of the time. We'd like to stay more in the mix at SSR sometimes. But is it a safe assumption that (so far) SSR will most always be available at 7 months?

 

[JerJan]

Buy where you want to stay................

 

[Amy5000]

Okay...so if I take the developer points then SSR & AKV are the same purchase price.

Since AKV has different point schedules or may be more in demand than SSR, would it make sense to buy AKV?

AKV looks awesome but I'm not sure we'll want to stay so close to AK all of the time. We'd like to stay more in the mix at SSR sometimes. But is it a safe assumption that (so far) SSR will most always be available at 7 months?

I don't have first hand experience, but from reading these boards, I have a similar impression that SSR will have more availability at 7 months. (The exception being if you need a GV or want to go at a peak time (like Christmas)).

I also have to say in doing the calculation I would probably go w/ AKV (even tho I own at SSR) b/c I'm intrigued by their "Value" rooms which are a bargain and will probably only be available to owners. The only downside I see to AKV vs SSR is that AKV has higher MFs and many feel that care of the animals is a bit of a wild card when it comes to future increases in MFs.

Good luck. Amy

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

I was just checking out the points chart for AKV and I would buy there if I had it to do over, just based on the value points for a week...169 per week in dream season and 189 per week in magic season for a one bdrm ...wow we could really stretch our time at disney, if we could book that room at 11-months

I don't much care where I sleep for me it's all about maximizing my vacation time.

 

[CarolAnnC]

This is a tough call. I have been examining the offers from Doorway to Dreams opening special in Chicago this week, and speculating as to which add on I would go for.

AKV would be my initial urge. Only problem I see here is the possibility of higher dues down the road. I know how much I pay to take care of my one little dog and it is very expensive. So that would be my only concern.

SSR, however, is a beautiful resort that we have enjoyed a few times now. I love the cherry wood furnishings and just the whole atmosphere. So, my dilemma here would be which one to go with as well...

 

[Disney Kim]

We bought a 100 add and I went back and forth between which resort to buy my points at, I knew I wanted AKL or SSR due to them being more years.
Originally I was leaning towards SSR because of the dues and it being closer to downtown Disney,
But in the end I went with AKL because of the booking catagories, and I love animals.

 

[flyerron]

Buy where you want to stay. The Decor at these two beauties as very different. Teh AKV are very dark & Safari like. SSR is bright & a bit more formal. IMHO you an't go wrong.

 

[AKV707]

I agree that you should buy where you most want to stay. The value rooms are an attraction at AKV. We bought at AKV becuase we loved the look of the rooms, love the animals, and like the fact that it is part of a larger resort.

In terms of MF, let's not forget that the cost of the savanna is shared with AKL which should help to keep the MF increases pretty much in line with everyone else.

 

[CarolAnnC]

In the case of the BWV for example, the boat transportation to the parks is also shared by other resorts, however, a proportionate amount is billed to the DVC as well.

In the case of AKV there are plans to outfit a savannah just for the new DVC being built. The MF's involved in maintaining this DVC savannah will be supported by the members, of course.

 

[Donald is #1]

It definitely is a touch decision. I was debating the same question myself in May. I really enjoyed both resorts but for me, the savannah voew rooms won out. Once the Kidani (sp?) building is complete, it will be hard to tell how easy or hard AKV will be to book. I beleive that it will be the third largest DVC resort (behind OKV & SSR). That being said, if you want conceirge or value rooms, I bet that they will be hard to book at 7 months.

 

[dmarino5084]

SSR will always be available under 7 months. Largest resort and has the most inventory.

Have a feeling many SSR owners are thinking of selling to buy AKV.

 

[angelmav]

This is an interesting debate, one in which we are having as well. On the one hand, Its my bet that AKV will be the more popular of the two, I like the dining options better and there is the added factor of the animals and the new Kidani village looks impressive. Of course the theming while amazing, is very dark and I still havent quite warmed up to it, still cant put my finger on what it is that I find offputting.
OTOH, SSR looks like a resort you can always get your desired vacation window at if you own, is close to DTD so that you can have trips that are about more than just the parks, and has several adult amenities that I think weigh in its favor over time.
I am really torn myself on making this call, still waiting for something to tip the balance!

 

[flyerron]

Angelmav, We felt the same way about AKV. We thing=k we would get very tired of the place because of the radical decor, dark environment, and after a while the animal thing would grow old. There is a readon why traditional decor lasts forever & themed decor needs to be changed after a while. If there is something not sitting right with you about AKV, go another direction. Buy where you would rather stay!

 

[AKV707]

DW and I bought at AKV for many reasons, one of which was we love the theming. We think that it has a warm, comfortable feeling, not so much dark.

As has been said, you should by where you will be most comfortable staying. Both SSR and AKV are great resorts.

 

[fletch1027]

This is an interesting debate, one in which we are having as well. On the one hand, Its my bet that AKV will be the more popular of the two, I like the dining options better and there is the added factor of the animals and the new Kidani village looks impressive. Of course the theming while amazing, is very dark and I still havent quite warmed up to it, still cant put my finger on what it is that I find offputting.
OTOH, SSR looks like a resort you can always get your desired vacation window at if you own, is close to DTD so that you can have trips that are about more than just the parks, and has several adult amenities that I think weigh in its favor over time.
I am really torn myself on making this call, still waiting for something to tip the balance!

We bought at SSR a couple of weeks ago. I really appriciated the input from folks on the board. A great addage I read on here was: "Don't buy where you would be unhappy if you were stuck there" as opposed to "Buy where you want to stay".

We bought at SSR because of the lower dues, proximity to DD & Golf, and it is a very relaxation-inducing resort. Grilling some steaks over at the Congress Park grill / quiet pool and sitting out listening to the PI music from over the lake makes for a very relaxing evening!

The restaurants are not an issue since we are not in a hotel room and bring our own food for the most part.

For us, there is somethng about AKL that we have never really meshed with. The park is great, but for some reason it seems hotter than the other areas of the property and it seeems like it it out in the middle of nowhere.

Although we may want to try and bounce to a place like BCV or VWL at the 7 month mark, we would be perfectly happy if we end up staying at SSR.

 

[Anthony1971]

SSR will always be available under 7 months. Largest resort and has the most inventory.

Have a feeling many SSR owners are thinking of selling to buy AKV.

This is not true there have been a number of reports here where SSR was not avilable.
Why would an SSR owner sell to buy at AKV? would it not make more sense to do an add on if need be as there is no information on the avaibabilty of AKV at this point and it would seem a lot of none owners are getting rooms.

I would say buy where it make most sense for you if you plan on satying at AKV most stays than this would make more sense. If on the othre hand you plan at staying at SSR more stays than this would make sense. I would not let the dues speculation bother wm to much.. However if you want to jump around you should go with the lower dues

 

[AKV707]

Then it sounds like you made the right choice. Enjoy!

 

[pennst8r]

Here's some advice we got on the boards when we were on the fence between AKL and SSR: split the points.

We bought 150 at each, and each year (by banking and borrowing) we have all 300 at one resort to book 11 months out.

 

[drusba]

Just some predictions based on the AKV plan:

Once everything is built and sold, you will will likely find that value rooms (only about 8% of all rooms and lowest point cost) will be very difficult at 7 months; likewise for many times of year for standard view (less than 20% of the resort and second lowest point cost); concierge and grand villas (limited number of rooms) will probably be unavailable at 7 months out almost all times of year. Thus, if your plan is to get one of the above when you travel, you will be better off with the 11 month window as an owner. However, savanna view (about 70% of all planned rooms) will probably be fairly easy to get most times of year at 7 months.

 

[Ratpack]

We weighed this same decision last month and decided on AKV for three reasons:

First we could get the 2007 points which meant another trip this year.
Second was the fact we would have it for 3 more years and last was the different levels of rooms.

One bonus I found out when booking for Christmas is that the value is a size difference only. It is slightly smaller than the other 3 categories and does not have the chair that pulls out to a sleeper. When you get a value room you may get a standard room or A savannah view.