want to add on- help me figure this out please

[coastiewifern]

I'd appreciate the insight of more experience DVCers. We bought in 2008 160 points at BLT. We choose this for the location and incentives at purchase time. We have not yet been "home" as we used points on a cruise. We are wanting to add about 100 more points. We have a March use year. Our children are 8 an 11 and we are hitting a time where it is getting difficult to take them out of school for vacation. I plan to book our 1st trip at the 11 month mrak for thanksgiving break. I imagine the next 10 years we will be traveling over school breaks and peak times. We have toured SSR and AKV. SSR was nice but didn't do it for me. We enjoyed the atmosphere at AKV with it being so different from BLT. Originally we were going to purchase add on at BLT but now we want to consider other resorts. BCV looks really nice with that pool area I know the kids would love. Sorry this is long
questions keeping in mind our situation
1. Should we just stick with BLT(maximize pts at 11 month window)?
2. What resale resort gives great bang for the buck?
3. What are the disadvantages of saying adding our 100 points at AKV?

 

[coastiewifern]

if we want to stay at BLT in 2011 and have 2011 and 2012 points for BLT and AKV, can I make a ressie at the 11 month window using my BLT 2011 and borrowing 2012 points. Then say bank my AKV 2011 points and in 2012 stay at akv using my 2011 and 2012 akv points?
They don't make you use your 2011 akv points before borrowing your BLT 2012 points do they???

 

[disneynutz]

IMO buying anything without staying there first is a mistake. There are many things that our out of our control with the DVC and we just have to accept them. Choosing the resort(s) that you really enjoy staying at is something that we can control.

As time goes on you and your family will spend less time in the parks and more time at your resort making your decision even more important. Booking at 7 months is becoming more of a challenge as time goes on and as Disney sells more DVC projects away from WDW, those members will be lining up to book at WDW at 7 months.

Bill

 

[BlackRock]

OKW give you the best bang for your buck since you have to travel in the high point times.

BlackRock

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

if we want to stay at BLT in 2011 and have 2011 and 2012 points for BLT and AKV, can I make a ressie at the 11 month window using my BLT 2011 and borrowing 2012 points. Then say bank my AKV 2011 points and in 2012 stay at akv using my 2011 and 2012 akv points?
They don't make you use your 2011 akv points before borrowing your BLT 2012 points do they???

That is correct as long as you are in the home resort booking priority period. If you lapsed into not booking prior to 7 months out then the computer does seem to require you to use any current points before borrowing.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

I've thought about this since we also own at BLT (185) and would like to add on eventually. The thing about keeping it all at BLT is that it would be easier for booking 1 & 2 bedroom villas for a week's time instead of just a studio without borrowing. I do like the idea of purchasing at AKV in order to get the 11 month priority booking for concierge.

 

[DVC SSR Owner]

A lot of people will tell you to buy where you want to stay. For us, ssr resale was cheap and we go at off times and have gotten what we want at 7 months twice with no problem. Not sure if I am lucky or not. Probably buy where you want to stay if you travel at popular times. We like to go May/ June. So far so good. But we paid $11,000 vs $18,000.

 

[cbnsoul]

Personally, I like having contracts at different resorts but I also like doing split stays which makes having separate resorts really helpful. I am able to book what I want during the home resort priority period and then change at 7 months if I'd like. Of course, booking early for peak times is a must. I have been speed dialing at 8:58, and 8:59 am at 11 months out many a time already trying to get the room I want. I have also called VERY close to travel with mixed results. (I am currently calling MS 3-4 times per day to get this coming Sunday added to a quick weekend trip.)

A lot of people like having an Epcot resort as well for when the kids get older and you might prefer the proximity to the International gate. We really like BCV and are staying in BWV this summer. Our next add on will almost certainly be one of the two as we essentially already own at the two MK resorts.

 

[Sandisw]

I think that you should first decide if owning 100 points at AKV will allow you to book what you want by either booking both resorts at 11 months and then trying to change things to one or the other at 7 months...or, given your every other year situation, enough to do BLT one year and AKV the other.

The biggest drawback in purchasing two different resorts, IMO, is not being able to book what you want when you want.

We had two resorts when we first bought, BLT and VWL. However, VWL was only 50 points and not enough to book 2 nights in a 1 bedroom. Our BLT was only 130 and not enough to book 4 nights in a 1 bedroom (we travel in the summer).

So, at 11 months, I didn't have enough points in either contract to book all 5 nights of my typical vacation without borrowing--which I did not want to do.

Now, had each contract been big enough to book the entire stay, we might have been okay with it but since they weren't, it didn't work. We sold VWL 2 months after buying it and then re-bought everything at BLT.

So, before deciding, make sure you run situations on what you could do with two different home resorts. If it fits your needs and you want home resort advantage at two different places, then go for it!

Thanksgiving is a busy time so booking at 11 months is important.

Good luck!

 

[coastiewifern]

keep the advice coming. Lots of things to think about. DH is saying if we buy at AKV we could probably buy 160pts. Although staying at all the resorts before buying would be great that probably would take us forever and we need more points now.
I should have mentioned that currently we only visit WDW every other year. Then every other year we do DCL. We don't plan on using the points for the cruise necessarily.

 

[cayman01]

Pros for BCV:
best pool of any of the DVC properties
Easy Epcot AND DHS access
Easy walk to Boardwalk
Many dining options
Lots of "action"

Pros for AKV:
Where else can you wake up and look outside and see Africa?
Excellent but few restaurants
Wonderful ambiance
lots of stuff for kids to do
nice pools
lower MF's than BCV
Easier to get in at 7 month window

Cons for BCV:
Higher MF's
parking can be a drag
very difficult to get at 7 month

Cons for AKV:
Pretty isolated from rest of WDW especially if you have no car
what if you don't like animals?
long walks for dining options between Kidani and Jambo

I'm sure others can add more. The question would be where would your family fit best. Your kids are getting to the age where the animals might
not matter as much as the social possibliltes of Stormalong Bay. I think you might be happier with BCV as a home resort and still be able to use those points occasionally at AKV. It's much easier to get into AKV at 7 months than BCV.

Maybe you could use your BLT points for a couple nights at each place and then decide. Only you guys will know where you would want to stay most.

 

[coastiewifern]

Pros for BCV:
best pool of any of the DVC properties
Easy Epcot AND DHS access
Easy walk to Boardwalk
Many dining options
Lots of "action"

Pros for AKV:
Where else can you wake up and look outside and see Africa?
Excellent but few restaurants
Wonderful ambiance
lots of stuff for kids to do
nice pools
lower MF's than BCV
Easier to get in at 7 month window

Cons for BCV:
Higher MF's
parking can be a drag
very difficult to get at 7 month

Cons for AKV:
Pretty isolated from rest of WDW especially if you have no car
what if you don't like animals?
long walks for dining options between Kidani and Jambo

I'm sure others can add more. The question would be where would your family fit best. Your kids are getting to the age where the animals might
not matter as much as the social possibliltes of Stormalong Bay. I think you might be happier with BCV as a home resort and still be able to use those points occasionally at AKV. It's much easier to get into AKV at 7 months than BCV.

Maybe you could use your BLT points for a couple nights at each place and then decide. Only you guys will know where you would want to stay most.

Thanks for the pros and cons format. Excellent info