Torn on where to buy?!

[jerseyduke]

Once you buy DVC, you will be at WDW very frequently. I bought in 2012 and have been to WDW every year since 2013 except for 2018, and with trips planned for this August and 2020. I have triplets who are almost 11, so we have done plenty of theme park time and commuting around WDW with them in tow. I still wouldn't trade our stays at AKV or OKW for BLT because we could have walked to the MK instead of driving to TTC and using the ferry or monorail or taking the bus directly to MK.

IMO, leaving the MK once per trip for fireworks is a minor benefit because it's something you do maybe once over the course of a week plus trip. Over time, most DVC buyers spend less and less time at theme parks and more time at the resort. So I'm taking the long view.

Perhaps I am atypical of many people who have a strong need to be as close to the theme parks as possible. I am looking for a more comprehensive vacation experience. Our family is OK with the theme parks not being in our face every moment.

You might be atypical, but really what fun is it being normal!
Everyone is different, although I do think a lot of BLT owners like its location My 2 sisters stay there for that reason, But me, BLT is actually the only WDW DVC resort i have not stayed in - it is not to my personal tastes.
Really up to the OP to decide what it is worth to them.

Still say if you want to stay (close to) equally at AKV and BLT, you are better off owning at BLT. Easier to switch into AK at 7 months than it is to switch into BLT

 

[skippytx]

Buy where you want to stay. Spending the significant amount of money it costs to buy into DVC, you don't want to be unhappy or regret your purchase. I spent probably 5 to 8K more buying at BLT than I would have at SSR, but I don't regret it at all. SSR was the better purchase on paper, but our heart was at BLT. The initial buy in cost is a small part of the overall DVC ownership cost.

 

[holden]

We bought BLT for two reasons. First, the walk to MK is priceless, especially after the fireworks when everyone else is fighting for a seat on the monorail, bus and ferry. Second, the extra full bath in the 1BR and 2BR units is necessary once you have teens (assuming you have or will have kids).

We bought resale several years ago and have never regretted it.

 

[TJ Bryant]

One other thing that will add up over time is that Bay Lake Tower has dues a little more than a dollar per point cheaper than AKV. While this may seem insignificant over thirty years it will add up.

 

[DougEMG]

I bought BLT for the sole reason of being able to walk to MK. While I really like AKV, it is fairly easy to get in there at 7 months. I expect RRR to also be hard to get into, but with the restrictions, high point cost rooms and high MF I would only consider it if you really want easy access to EPCOT and HS.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Buy the resort where you would be okay staying at if you couldn't change to a different resort at seven months out. If AKV is calling to you, buy there. If you would always want to change to a different resort at seven months out, don't buy that place as your home resort. Buy the home resort you like the best. Damn the fees, full speed ahead.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

I purchased where I would be loathe to pay cash (VGF, Aulani, VGC) and where if I could never switch out I would be completely happy. I never book studios but tried to at 7 mos a few weeks ago and it was a nightmare. I gave up and got a 1 bed. If you are looking to book studios, DEFINITELY buy where you love and try at 7 elsewhere or be prepared to spend a lot of time stalking and walking.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

When we were members we always bought on theme, not location. After all, what’s a few minutes of travel vs being transported into a fantasy world?
We initially owned at VWL (the original), and bought Vero shortly after (absolutely adore that place. We also bought for beach cottage bookings. Now we are building a house 9 minutes from the resort!!)
When AKV opened we bought that, and then VGC. It truly was a nice set up. All highly themed, but not the best locations.
To each their own I suppose.

We have sold all of our contracts, but I’ve been toying with the idea of picking up a resale at Vero. It’s 9 minutes away but still feel like you’re across the country.

 

[rjwhitman]

I own at Beach Club (small contract) and AKL (medium sized contract). We use our Beach club points only at Beach club every other year. We like AKL but like the ability to move it around to other resorts if we want. I appreciate the efficiency of AKL point requirements per night.

Comparing apples to apples, rooms are always cheaper at AKL compared to Bay Lake. Maybe you could do the same, buy a few points at BLT so that you can definitely stay there every other year and buy some at AKL that you can use there or transfer around where you like.

 

[kniquy]

- I know dues are lowest at BLT, highest at RR. I am very hesitant on purchasing RR due to resale restriction. By far, animal kingdom has the most authentic Disney theming (BLT and RR are modeled very hotel like).
- Anyone think Disney will reverse the resale restriction on RR?

Have you stayed at these resorts? I own AK and bought sight unseen essentially besides watching tons of resort and room videos. We had a budget to stick to which is why AK fit the bill for reasonable points cost and reasonable resale buy in. Our first DVC stay was a split between Poly and AK -- I think staying at both made us realized some things we didn't like about AK. It is clearly the most unique DVC resort, has great dining options and the resort is beautiful. After staying our first 3 nights at Poly we felt something was missing when we moved over to AK - it was the lack of grounds to stroll around and certainly looking out and seeing the castle from the poly make is a little more magical - which led us to buying a poly resale.

I don't think you really get to know what you like and don't like until you actually stay at a resort. Before we bought we stayed at SSR. It took a couple days for me to figure out what felt off about the resort -- then it hit me -- there was not a palm treee in sight. I'm from MA so when i go to FL i want to see palm trees.

I think out of your 3 i would rule out Riviera right now. Maybe it is something to look at down the road but the resale restrictions scare me. I know if i needed to get out of either of my contracts i could get more than what i paid for AK and poly exactly the same.

You really need to write a pro/con list. The points charts for the 3 resorts are different with Riveira requiring the most points, BLT is in the middle and AK requires the least points if you are comparing room categories. So that heavily plays into how many points you need to buy and this affects your buy in cost and your MF cost.

If you are really unsure then maybe buy points for stays every other year. Then if you really want another resort you can buy another smaller contract and own two resorts.

 

[DisneyDiana]

Just to add if you are happy with staying at Kidani or want a 1 bedroom, AKV is relatively easy to book 7 mos. out but within the last two years, Jambo studios have not been available at 7 months even in slower times of the year. Not all the time but you certainly can't count on it.

 

[the_grinch]

just 1 man opinion but but i think (maybe hope ) that the gondola system will work great and Disney will extend it to include all of the dvc sooner or later (next step would be akv )which would take away a lot of the argument about bay lake over akv

 

[Deb & Bill]

just 1 man opinion but but i think (maybe hope ) that the gondola system will work great and Disney will extend it to include all of the dvc sooner or later (next step would be akv )which would take away a lot of the argument about bay lake over akv

I think that Disney attorneys would have second guesses about putting the gondola system over the savannas at AK and AKL.

 

[the_grinch]

you go from Hollywood studio to blizzard beach from there to animal kingdom park from there to the resort .never go over savannas

 

[Deb & Bill]

you go from Hollywood studio to blizzard beach from there to animal kingdom park from there to the resort .never go over savannas

It wouldn't necessarily follow the roads. It goes over undeveloped land and the savannas at AK. Especially if you want to add AKL/AKV to the line.

 

[gharter]

Another vote for buying where you want to stay not where you don't mind staying.
Depending on when you will be traveling, booking at non home resort at 7 months or less has become very challenging to nearly impossible.
As far as Disney reversing policy on RR, I think it will depend on how well it sells. If the restriction stays in place, I'm sure it will have a big impact on the value at resale.

 

[Oozma_Kappa]

Buy where you want to stay. Booking at 7 months or less keeps getting more difficult as time passes. I'm not upset about this, since my timeshare is for 1 resort. Booking at other resorts is just a possibility, but it is not what I signed on my contract as a guarantee.

 

[Sandisw]

If I were buying more points right now, I would not consider Rivera unless I knew that I would have no problem staying there, as well as knowing that if I ever had to sell, the price I might get, due to restrictions, could be very very limited. Not that one should buy with resale value in mind, I do think its something to at least consider in this case with Rivera.

I love BLT..owned there for a while...only sold a few years ago because I am retiring and we decided to add on more points so we could stay monthly. While the theme is contemporary and hotel like, it worked for us because we couldn't beat the location!!! We loved being able to walk to MK. Loved that we had food and drink options just a monorail ride away. One reason we didn't like AKV was because the only option for parks is the bus and we are not bus people.

However, I have stayed at AKV...even considered adding on points there earlier this year...but only because I wanted the possibility of getting concierge occasionally. It is a very relaxing resort and if you have children or love animals, it is a nice place to stay. AKV will be easier to get at 7 months than BLT, but having said that, I have had luck getting pretty much either at 7 months, outside October to December time frame.

Good luck!

 

[vikequeen]

Reading these posts I think we must be very atypical DVC owners. We bought at Riviera. I'm very comfortable with that. DH wanted direct. I researched various other resorts and considered BLT or BC. But we wanted the longer contract year, love the look of the proposal, and believe the location with gondolas will be favorable. I personally think the Gondolas will expand and give us access to even more parks in the long term. I'm not worried about the resale restriction. And with the promotions, the price per point was much, much better than any other resort I was interested in. I also own at Aulani and have had good success using those points at 7 months at Disney. But we don't stay in studios.

We also don't go every year. We vacation other places and rent out our extra points when we can't use them. Buying DVC didn't increase our costs/disney visits at all. It just makes the visits we plan more comfortable and cost efficient. Its been very good for us and we hope will be good for our children in the long term.

I love visiting AK, but personally wouldn't buy there. I want to stay at a resort with better access to the parks. BLT would be my second choice after Riviera. I love the convenience of that resort relative to MK in particular.

As other's have said, everyone's situation is different. If you've done a lot of research, I would buy where I was going to be most happy staying on a regular basis.

Good luck!

 

[scot@dvcstore]

If your able to make reservations further out than 7 months best to purchase where your prefer to stay. With that being said, IMO Animal Kingdom is an awesome Resort.