Thinking about more points!

[Elephantay]

Right now, we are owners at Animal Kingdom Lodge. We love it! But we don’t have many points and are thinking of getting some more. We bought this so long ago and have never had a guide or talked to anybody about options.
I would love some thoughts and advice because I’m sure I’m not thinking things through as well as more experienced people

We love split stays, often staying at BC, AK, or BLT for a part of our trips. We have also stayed at the Floridian, in BPK but have not used a pool there. We looked at the main pool and it looked pretty small and crowded when we were there, but we love the location and dining options.

We typically spend a lot of time at the resort and pool, and a good pool slide would be a bonus ( WL was disappointing). And we want a resort that has a big lobby/indoor dining/spaces - GF and BLT are fine because options are close, not interested in staying at SS or OKW too huge and we don’t rent a car.

We aren’t sure if we should just get the cheapest points anywhere, I really don’t want a huge annual due bill, so this seems possibly like a good idea now because we typically don’t travel during the holidays or very busy times.

So, where we would like to stay:
Animal kingdom Lodge
Grand Floridian
Beach club
Bay Lake

Not interested in staying at:
Old Key West
Saratoga Springs
Riviera
Boardwalk ( nothing indoors)
Copper Creek or Boulder Ridge ( pool)
Probably not Polynesian as it always seems so crowded to us

Any advice would be much appreciated! And how do I find a good guide?
Thank you!

 

[muppets3d]

Are you interested in buying direct points or resale points? If resale, you don't need a DVC guide. Just go to dvcforless.com and find a contract you like and submit an offer.

 

[VGCgroupie]

So your goal is to add on direct points not resale?

Based on where you want to stay I recommend resale.

 

[byurick]

It kinda sounds like you aren't married to owning a specific resort, maybe to keep it simple just get more AKV points.

 

[Elephantay]

The contract I have now is direct, sorry for not mentioning that. So I guess it does not matter to me if it is resale or not except for not being able to use the points for future resorts.
And while we do love AKL, we also prefer to have part of our trip more convenient to a park.

I have read that keeping the same user is important but I honestly don’t understand why. And thank you. I did not know I didn’t need a guide if I was buying resale.

A studio really doesn’t work for us anymore as the kids got older, but since we do spend a lot of time in the resort, the one bedrooms are tricky also with everybody having different sleep schedules and not having much privacy for those in the Murphy bed, but the extra bathroom in Bay Lake Tower is so great.
I will research more about the resorts. We are interested in to see about their specific set ups.

Does anyone have pros or cons to share about them?

 

[VGCgroupie]

BLT and AKV are very expensive direct, resale makes more sense. If you don’t want to stay at RIV and don’t like the wilderness area resorts there’s no immediate or even distant need to own more direct points when you would have to pay significantly more for them.

 

[muppets3d]

The contract I have now is direct, sorry for not mentioning that. So I guess it does not matter to me if it is resale or not except for not being able to use the points for future resorts.
And while we do love AKL, we also prefer to have part of our trip more convenient to a park.

I have read that keeping the same user is important but I honestly don’t understand why. And thank you. I did not know I didn’t need a guide if I was buying resale.

A studio really doesn’t work for us anymore as the kids got older, but since we do spend a lot of time in the resort, the one bedrooms are tricky also with everybody having different sleep schedules and not having much privacy for those in the Murphy bed, but the extra bathroom in Bay Lake Tower is so great.
I will research more about the resorts. We are interested in to see about their specific set ups.

Does anyone have pros or cons to share about them?

If you have the same use year, you can combine your points for 7 month bookings at any resort you can use the points at. With different use years - you would have separate memberships, and would have to transfer points between the memberships to combine the points for one booking. You can only do one transfer per year. You would also have multiple banking deadlines to keep up with.

It's worth it to find a contract at a resort you want, with the number of points you want, in your use year - unless you have a very good reason to deviate.

It took me about a year to find the right HHI contract for me, for example. Resale is a slow process. Finding the right contract, making an offer, closing, getting your points - it's a multi-month process. Whereas if you want direct, you basically call a guide, put down your down payment, and the points are in your DVC dashboard later on that day with the Docusign contract in your email to complete at your leisure.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I do think it's great to have 2 bathrooms in a one bedroom. I believe you'll only get that at Kidani, BLT and the Polynesian.

If you think you want to stay at Beach club on the regular, I believe you'll appreciate the 11 month booking window there.

 

[airjay75]

I was just about to ask whether we're talking studios or 1 BRs. Sounds maybe like we're talking 1 BRs and possibly headed toward 2 BRs?

If you don't have enough AKV points to secure your desired number of nights in a 2 BR, then I'd probably just go for more AKV points - and definitely resale since you don't have any interest in newer resorts. Then, you secure the nights you want there during the home resort priority period and switch out at 7 months as you'd like. Outside of BCV, you can probably use those AKV for 1 and 2 BRs at VGF and BLT without too much difficulty during many times of the year, especially if you're doing split stays and flexible on view category.

If you have enough AKV points, I think resale VGF or BLT could both make sense for you.

And definitely match your UY. Unless you have a compelling reason why you'd want two UYs, I wouldn't do it. And you'd know if you had a compelling reason for two UYs.

 

[Elephantay]

If you have the same use year, you can combine your points for 7 month bookings at any resort you can use the points at. With different use years - you would have separate memberships, and would have to transfer points between the memberships to combine the points for one booking. You can only do one transfer per year. You would also have multiple banking deadlines to keep up with.

It's worth it to find a contract at a resort you want, with the number of points you want, in your use year - unless you have a very good reason to deviate.

It took me about a year to find the right HHI contract for me, for example. Resale is a slow process. Finding the right contract, making an offer, closing, getting your points - it's a multi-month process. Whereas if you want direct, you basically call a guide, put down your down payment, and the points are in your DVC dashboard later on that day with the Docusign contract in your email to complete at your leisure.

Thank you… I am a little impatient lol
We are planning a trip over the summer or fall and I think due to the renovations at Animal Kingdom Lodge we will be paying to stay in the lodge proper and that got me thinking why don’t I just put that money towards more points…
There is not much availability there at all! We’ve never had that problem.

 

[Elephantay]

I do think it's great to have 2 bathrooms in a one bedroom. I believe you'll only get that at Kidani, BLT and the Polynesian.

If you think you want to stay at Beach club on the regular, I believe you'll appreciate the 11 month booking window there.

Thank you it has been a few years since we’ve stayed at beach club, but since our travel is typically late summer or fall and that is food and wine… It’s a tough place to get for sure!

 

[eticketplease]

We aren’t sure if we should just get the cheapest points anywhere, I really don’t want a huge annual due bill, so this seems possibly like a good idea now because we typically don’t travel during the holidays or very busy times.

So, where we would like to stay:
Animal kingdom Lodge
Grand Floridian
Beach club
Bay Lake

When you’re talking cheapest are you talking up front or long term?

Of your 4 VGF will be the most expensive upfront but will be lowest on dues. However even if booking the standard/resort category it will still require a lot of points.

Since you are looking at 1 bedrooms now and aren’t traveling during holidays or popular times you should be able to get into all 4 at 7 months. Since that is the case I agree with many that have already posted and would just add on at AKL. This way if you wished you good book a larger accommodation at 11 months.

Split stays right now might be fun but you will grow out of that eventually and just want to unpack and settle in at “home”

 

[muppets3d]

Thank you… I am a little impatient lol
We are planning a trip over the summer or fall and I think due to the renovations at Animal Kingdom Lodge we will be paying to stay in the lodge proper and that got me thinking why don’t I just put that money towards more points…
There is not much availability there at all! We’ve never had that problem.

They have a lot of rooms out of commission right now on the DVC side for the refurbishment, they may open up more as the refurbishment progresses so keep checking back. I don't keep up with the cash side availability though so can't advise on that. I do know that AKL is a popular resort for cash guests and is only getting more popular it seems.

 

[Elephantay]

I was just about to ask whether we're talking studios or 1 BRs. Sounds maybe like we're talking 1 BRs and possibly headed toward 2 BRs?

If you don't have enough AKV points to secure your desired number of nights in a 2 BR, then I'd probably just go for more AKV points - and definitely resale since you don't have any interest in newer resorts. Then, you secure the nights you want there during the home resort priority period and switch out at 7 months as you'd like. Outside of BCV, you can probably use those AKV for 1 and 2 BRs at VGF and BLT without too much difficulty during many times of the year, especially if you're doing split stays and flexible on view category.

If you have enough AKV points, I think resale VGF or BLT could both make sense for you.

And definitely match your UY. Unless you have a compelling reason why you'd want two UYs, I wouldn't do it. And you'd know if you had a compelling reason for two UYs.

It really depends on who is going. Sometimes we can get by with a one bedroom, we have also at times tried two studios which is less points than the two bedrooms. If no kids come along then a studio is fine for at least part of our stay…
We do not have an interest in Riviera, but have our eye on the new lodge, mainly because of the pool and boat transportation to Magic Kingdom.

I think this is why I need help lol I do not know what a compelling reason for two use years would actually be, but obviously there’s much more availability if I am not confined to our current use year.

 

[Elephantay]

When you’re talking cheapest are you talking up front or long term?

Of your 4 VGF will be the most expensive upfront but will be lowest on dues. However even if booking the standard/resort category it will still require a lot of points.

Since you are looking at 1 bedrooms now and aren’t traveling during holidays or popular times you should be able to get into all 4 at 7 months. Since that is the case I agree with many that have already posted and would just add on at AKL. This way if you wished you good book a larger accommodation at 11 months.

Split stays right now might be fun but you will grow out of that eventually and just want to unpack and settle in at “home”

Good question… I am talking about not spending too much money now for sure but definitely don’t want to have high dues.
We have been doing split days for almost 20 years and absolutely love them! We enjoy so many resorts and just pack accordingly and don’t find moving to be a problem at all. We actually find it exciting!

 

[airjay75]

It really depends on who is going. Sometimes we can get by with a one bedroom, we have also at times tried two studios which is less points than the two bedrooms. If no kids come along then a studio is fine for at least part of our stay…
We do not have an interest in Riviera, but have our eye on the new lodge, mainly because of the pool and boat transportation to Magic Kingdom.

You might want to think about waiting until LSL goes on sale. If you buy resale, I think it is all but a certainty that those points will not be able to be used at LSL.

I think this is why I need help lol I do not know what a compelling reason for two use years would actually be, but obviously there’s much more availability if I am not confined to our current new year.

I think a compelling reason is that you will be using the points in different UYs completely separate and possibly at different times of year. For example, I think there are people who always have a December trip and use September or October UY, but then also have a summer trip in July or August, so they get a different UY where there isn't as much risk of points going wasted if they have to cancel. I think people sometimes get different UYs if they own points at WDW and at a non-WDW resort where their travel patterns might be quite different. It doesn't sound like anything you've described about you travel patterns would warrant this IMO. That said, since you really like split stays, it could work, you would just lose some flexibility from combining those points for a single reservation (although that will still be possible with a once per year transfer).