Thinking about DVC...what is best option

[mrsp1030]

We are seriously looking into resale of DVC and are strongly considering either AKV or WLV. We have stayed at both before and like both but was curious of opinions here. Also, we were thinking of starting with a smaller amount of points and adding later and when adding, do you usually try to add the same month of the year or does that really matter. Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[BigDaddySlick]

We bought small and added on over the years. We kept all of them in the same use month to make tracking easier

HH Extended Family Golf and Beach Blowout 6/2005
BCV MH Homecoming 5/2004
DCL 7-Day Eastern 1/2003
BWV 1/2002
DCL Cruise 4 day 9/1999
DVC Members 12/98 BWV
First married trip to WDW- Dixie Landings 8/98

 

[chalee94]

We are seriously looking into resale of DVC and are strongly considering either AKV or WLV. We have stayed at both before and like both but was curious of opinions here.

AKV contracts expire in 2057. VWL contracts expire in 2042.

AKV has giraffes and zebras. VWL is a boat ride away from the MK.

AKV:jiko::VWL:artist point

both are nice. if you need the longer contract, AKV is a better bet. you can pick up VWL resales more cheaply.

...do you usually try to add the same month of the year or does that really matter.

UY month is an issue if you need to cancel (it is riskier to travel in the last few months of your UY since you are past your banking window.)

UY month has nothing to do with when you can call to book. that is all about what home resort points you are using.

it is much easier to keep everything under one UY month - but if you are super-organized, then don't let a cheap resale get away just because it is a different UY month.

 

[juncker]

The number 1 rule that you will be told in these forums regarding where to buy is to purchase where you would like to stay. Now you sound like me and are flexible between AKL and VWL, so now you need to ask which makes more sense. In my mind there are two major factors: your vacation habits and money.

Your vacation habits, and the rooms that you want to reserve, may drive you to which resort. If there are specific room categories that you're going to want during heavy travel periods (i.e. Christmas/Easter), then you're going to want the 11 month booking window. This would mean AKL if you're looking for value rooms or Grand Villas. Those would be tough to get at 7 months. VWL rooms at Christmas are also tough to score. If you're going to have such requests, then this should be how you decide.

If you're not going to have such requests, then it should get down to the money. You can probably get a better price per point on VWL from what I see listed, however, the maint cost per point is a bit higher. I'd probably go VWL for the cheaper cost up front.

Reality should probably be that you should actually just shop for both and find the contract that feels right. Find something that has the right number of points and is priced where you feel that you are getting a deal. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the UY on your first contract, but others would differ with me on this. If at all possible, matching your UY for future add ons would simplify things, but really wouldn't matter that much as long as you can manage it.

As a thought, what about a small contract for each? 100 points VWL and then 100 points at AKV at a later time (targeting the same UY). This way you'll be able to get the 11 month mark booking advantage at both (you could only book 100 points at 11 months, not 200 in this example).

Buy either one that you want. Just feel good that you're getting a good deal. You won't go wrong with either. Look for a contract that is loaded up front with banked points so you have a trip ready to go when you close. That is a big difference between resale contracts.

Best of Luck!

 

[JWG]

So much personal preference goes into this decision. Some things to consider:

AKV has room categories, meaning some rooms will use fewer points and some more points than VWL (i.e. Value rooms and Concierge at AKV)

AKV expires in 2057 versus 2042 for VWL (15 years difference), you may want those years, you may not.

AKV and VWL are variations of a theme. Same design with the differences being in focus (U.S. lodges versus African).

I always stand by, buy where you're ok to stay. If non-home resort bookings were to go away - where would you want to be? This is contrary to some others view points, but we own at BWV and BLT by design. We wanted an Epcot area resort and BWV was available and then when BLT came online we knew we wanted that (CR was our favorite hotel). While we're ok with OKW, SSR and even AKV - we know we'll be disappointed if we always have to stay at OKW/SSR.

 

[browniemtb]

Both resorts are beautiful and as others have said buy where you want to stay so you can make sure you take advantage of the 11 month window. When we purchase my wife's only request was to be walking distance or a short ride away from a park. Luckily we ended up at the BWV with the option of walking to either Epcot or DHS, or a boat ride. WL offers you that with a short boat ride into the MK. Good Luck in your decision!

 

[disneynutz]

We are seriously looking into resale of DVC and are strongly considering either AKV or WLV. We have stayed at both before and like both but was curious of opinions here. Also, we were thinking of starting with a smaller amount of points and adding later and when adding, do you usually try to add the same month of the year or does that really matter. Thanks for any and all advice.

Do you have a car while at WDW? If not, then I would pick VWL with access to bus or boat with connecting access via boat to the monorail and all of the monorail resorts and Epcot.

Bill

 

[skelster]

One thing to be cautious on with the resale is hat different rules apply to point use than those who purchase (at higher prices) from Disney. Currently, the following policy applies:

"Under the new policy, Members who purchase from anyone other than Disney Vacation Development, Inc., on or after March 21, 2011, will not be eligible to use those Vacation Points to make reservations within the Concierge Collection, the Disney Collection or the Adventurer Collection. Those Vacation Points will instead be valid only for reservations at Disney Vacation Club resorts, as well as for RCI® exchanges, Club Cordial and Club Intrawest."

This means no cruises or disney hotel exchanges. Of course, you can usually find a better deal renting your points out and using the cash to pay for those...

 

[magicaldisney]

We are looking for an add on contract and what I have learned in my research is this: If you have different use years you will have different memberships. If you need to combine your points for a stay that requires more points than you have with the one use year you will need to transfer points from one membership to another. This may or may not be an issue for you. The negative about this scenario is that you are only allowed to make a transfer in or out of a membership account once per year.

As for resort, all of the above advice is wonderful.

 

[hugscot]

AKV is better option I think since you will have the points longer and buying resale is not as attraction as it once was since you are limited in what you can book now.

 

[5forDiz]

You might want to also consider that VWL does not have Grand Villas. Also, AKV is presently only onsite DVC that offers concierge villas so if you'd like that option it would be best to own there to have 11 month owner's priority booking window, and also at Kidani all 1 bedroom & 2 bedroom villas living rooms will have pullout sleeper chair in addition to pullout sofa and also 3rd full bathroom.

Best wishes on your planning

 

[msabol01]

I don't recall the exact amount but keep in mind that member dues at AKL is higher than VWL.