What to choose

[mcap2004]

I am a newbie and I am still in the researching phase. We plan on being dvc members but maybe not for a good while along the road. By the time we decide to buy (resale) my boys will be 5 and 10. We've been doing a lot of research and love SSR and AKL. Mainly SSR is an option because MFs are lower than AKL. Afte reading other threads, I now know that dvc is slower in the summer because its more points. It is ok with me because we are only a family of 4 and we only travel during the summer and never during school time.

So my question is... if I go the SSR route as my "home" resort for the lower MFs and travel during the summer but want to use my points for AKL, what are the odds that I will be able to book at AKL at the 7mth window??

 

[Dean]

I am a newbie and I am still in the researching phase. We plan on being dvc members but maybe not for a good while along the road. By the time we decide to buy (resale) my boys will be 5 and 10. We've been doing a lot of research and love SSR and AKL. Mainly SSR is an option because MFs are lower than AKL. Afte reading other threads, I now know that dvc is slower in the summer because its more points. It is ok with me because we are only a family of 4 and we only travel during the summer and never during school time.

So my question is... if I go the SSR route as my "home" resort for the lower MFs and travel during the summer but want to use my points for AKL, what are the odds that I will be able to book at AKL at the 7mth window??

I'd say close to 100% if you plan right at 7 months out and will accept standard view. Pretty close to that for savannah view. Essentially no chance for concierge or value, a few have reported successes here and there but it's not that common.

 

[mcap2004]

I'd say close to 100% if you plan right at 7 months out and will accept standard view. Pretty close to that for savannah view. Essentially no chance for concierge or value, a few have reported successes here and there but it's not that common.

So I probably wouldn't be able to get the studio for 4 during the summer 7 month window? Is therr a difference between the value studio and a standard room

 

[com_op_2000]

I am a newbie and I am still in the researching phase ... we decide to buy (resale) my boys will be 5 and 10...

IMHO you should be to thinking about what happens in @12 years, when the kids are off to college and/or out of the house. You will still have 30+ years of DVC to deal with.
What will DW and you do for Disney vacations?
When will the two of you want to go? Will you want to be staying on-site in the summer or would you like to try something different like the winter holidays, which make WDW so different.
What are you planning for as travel at that time? Will you be happy with SSR or do you want to "see" the other resorts that Disney has to offer?

 

[com_op_2000]

So I probably wouldn't be able to get the studio for 4 during the summer 7 month window? Is therr a difference between the value studio and a standard room

Value studios at AKL are 3 feet shorter than a standard room.

 

[mcap2004]

IMHO you should be to thinking about what happens in @12 years, when the kids are off to college and/or out of the house. You will still have 30+ years of DVC to deal with.
What will DW and you do for Disney vacations?
When will the two of you want to go? Will you want to be staying on-site in the summer or would you like to try something different like the winter holidays, which make WDW so different.
What are you planning for as travel at that time? Will you be happy with SSR or do you want to "see" the other resorts that Disney has to offer?

Yes, we actually have discussed all this. My husband and I do plan on still going when my 2 boys are all grown up. I would also like to go during the slower season but with them being in school I would not feel comfortable them missing school. I guess that's just the mom in me. And I would also like to take a trip now with my DH without the kids but I feel like it's wrong to go to Disney without them.

I really love AKL though and SSR is beautiful but I think that if I were to choose and be thinking about it like a kid would, I would really like AKL to be my home resort. So many decisions!

 

[Dean]

So I probably wouldn't be able to get the studio for 4 during the summer 7 month window? Is therr a difference between the value studio and a standard room

You could get a regular studio likely either standard or savannah view but unlikely to get value view. For most situations it's cheaper and safer to buy SSR and pay the higher points when staying there for AKV compared to owning AKV and getting value. You've got to use the value almost all of the time to come out ahead paying the higher dues for AKV andusually slightly higher purchase price. So for someone trying to get into the system and try different things SSR is almost always the best value and best option. For someone who owns and is simply trying got get value as a cheaper way for part of their trips but use the contract only for value, it may be different.

 

[mcap2004]

You could get a regular studio likely either standard or savannah view but unlikely to get value view. For most situations it's cheaper and safer to buy SSR and pay the higher points when staying there for AKV compared to owning AKV and getting value. You've got to use the value almost all of the time to come out ahead paying the higher dues for AKV andusually slightly higher purchase price. So for someone trying to get into the system and try different things SSR is almost always the best value and best option. For someone who owns and is simply trying got get value as a cheaper way for part of their trips but use the contract only for value, it may be different.

Thank you Dean. I do get what you're saying and see how getting SSR is better in the end. I do love AKV but their dues are a whole dollar and change more per point compared to SSR. Thinking about it now and about what the kids would like, I didn't see SSR like it was kid friendly compared to AKL, environment wise. But once they are out into colllege and out of the house, I would prefer SSR for just my DH and I.

 

[Dean]

Thank you Dean. I do get what you're saying and see how getting SSR is better in the end. I do love AKV but their dues are a whole dollar and change more per point compared to SSR. Thinking about it now and about what the kids would like, I didn't see SSR like it was kid friendly compared to AKL, environment wise. But once they are out into colllege and out of the house, I would prefer SSR for just my DH and I.

In large part my point is that owning and staying are 2 entirely different things. Many have posted about owning SSR and never having stayed there. Certainly there could be changes that alter the landscape for any situation or plan but one can easily own SSR and stay at AKV and vice versa. Whether SSR or AKV or anything else is better totally depends on the situation and preferences. The trick is to figure out what's better for you before you commit the dollars realizing that for many, it may be a moving target. My feeling is it takes at least 6 months of active investigation and getting past the emotions to get there for those new to DVC and that those new to DVC and on property will not get there without more experience. Our preferences in order are AKV savannah, OKW and BWV standard with little separation between them and a little variation between my wife and I. There's not a single DVC resort I'd be unhappy staying at as long as it's not a HC unit.

 

[mcap2004]

In large part my point is that owning and staying are 2 entirely different things. Many have posted about owning SSR and never having stayed there. Certainly there could be changes that alter the landscape for any situation or plan but one can easily own SSR and stay at AKV and vice versa. Whether SSR or AKV or anything else is better totally depends on the situation and preferences. The trick is to figure out what's better for you before you commit the dollars realizing that for many, it may be a moving target. My feeling is it takes at least 6 months of active investigation and getting past the emotions to get there for those new to DVC and that those new to DVC and on property will not get there without more experience. Our preferences in order are AKV savannah, OKW and BWV standard with little separation between them and a little variation between my wife and I. There's not a single DVC resort I'd be unhappy staying at as long as it's not a HC unit.

Well, I just finished looking through the other threads about SSR and their maps and FAQ. That alone might have scared me..lol SSR is SO big and has many different areas and I didn't like the fact that some are so spread out and far from the check-in location or main pool. Hmmm? I need to do some more homework on this

 

[disneynutz]

Thank you Dean. I do get what you're saying and see how getting SSR is better in the end. I do love AKV but their dues are a whole dollar and change more per point compared to SSR. Thinking about it now and about what the kids would like, I didn't see SSR like it was kid friendly compared to AKL, environment wise. But once they are out into colllege and out of the house, I would prefer SSR for just my DH and I.

Buy SSR, sell later if you can't get the resort and category you want at 7 months. Until you try all of the resorts during your favorite travel times, you won't really know where you want to stay or how hard it is to get what you want.

Bill

 

[DizBub]

Thinking about it now and about what the kids would like, I didn't see SSR like it was kid friendly compared to AKL, environment wise. But once they are out into colllege and out of the house, I would prefer SSR for just my DH and I.

I would like to assure you that SSR is very kid friendly. My grandkids ages 14, 12, 10 and 7 absolutely love SSR. Lots of things to do. Plus I can't see you having any problems getting into AKV at 7 months.

As a couple DH and I go to SSR often and enjoy the easy access to DTD. We don't own there but it seems to be our resort of choice. AKV seems to be our least favorite.

 

[mcap2004]

I would like to assure you that SSR is very kid friendly. My grandkids ages 14, 12, 10 and 7 absolutely love SSR. Lots of things to do. Plus I can't see you having any problems getting into AKV at 7 months.

As a couple DH and I go to SSR often and enjoy the easy access to DTD. We don't own there but it seems to be our resort of choice.

Thank you =) I don't really think right now at a young age my boys would care where they stay as long as they get to experience WDW. The only thing that got me also was how big SSR is and how spread out it is. Seems like some places might be quite a walk to the main lobby depending on what side you stay on.

 

[DizBub]

Thank you =) I don't really think right now at a young age my boys would care where they stay as long as they get to experience WDW. The only thing that got me also was how big SSR is and how spread out it is. Seems like some places might be quite a walk to the main lobby depending on what side you stay on.

We thought it was going to be too big also but haven't found that to be the case, for us. You can take the bus to get around the resort.

You could request to be in The Springs section which is right in the middle of everything but it is the 5th and last bus stop within the resort. Grandstand section is close to the Springs but it's the 1st bus stop coming from the parks. We like Congress Park for the DTD water views and regularly walk up to the Carriage House (check-in/lobby) and the restaurants and store.

 

[Dean]

Well, I just finished looking through the other threads about SSR and their maps and FAQ. That alone might have scared me..lol SSR is SO big and has many different areas and I didn't like the fact that some are so spread out and far from the check-in location or main pool. Hmmm? I need to do some more homework on this

That you had to go to that distant of info and don't have direct experience alone to have an idea of what you like and don't suggests you need to get more first hand info as well as the other investigation you're doing. But rest assured that owning there isn't any more limiting than owning anywhere else. OKW, SSR & AKV are all easy to reserve at 7 months out in the absence of difficult things like AKV value and concierge. IMO it's the safest resort to own at going forward.

 

[mcap2004]

That you had to go to that distant of info and don't have direct experience alone to have an idea of what you like and don't suggests you need to get more first hand info as well as the other investigation you're doing. But rest assured that owning there isn't any more limiting than owning anywhere else. OKW, SSR & AKV are all easy to reserve at 7 months out in the absence of difficult things like AKV value and concierge. IMO it's the safest resort to own at going forward.

Yes I know. Obviously I don't know what I want. I have never done something like this. We have gone to Disney before but have only done AoA because my kids are little. I'm just trying to see and figure out what DVC I want as my home and see what is a good fit for a family of 4 and see how many points I would need. I've researched almost all of the DVC resorts and I love them all but I want something that is a good fit for us.

 

[mcap2004]

We thought it was going to be too big also but haven't found that to be the case, for us. You can take the bus to get around the resort.

You could request to be in The Springs section which is right in the middle of everything but it is the 5th and last bus stop within the resort. Grandstand section is close to the Springs but it's the 1st bus stop coming from the parks. We like Congress Park for the DTD water views and regularly walk up to the Carriage House (check-in/lobby) and the restaurants and store.

Thank you so much for that info. Bus wise, I don't see that being a problem because we usually drive to the parks. All this is so much info that it's quite overwhelming. My DH and I are still quite young and paying it is not a problem. The only thing stopping us right now is our credit. We were very stupid at 18 but now are working on getting it fixed. The other problem is of course what route to go "home" wise.

 

[Dean]

Yes I know. Obviously I don't know what I want. I have never done something like this. We have gone to Disney before but have only done AoA because my kids are little. I'm just trying to see and figure out what DVC I want as my home and see what is a good fit for a family of 4 and see how many points I would need. I've researched almost all of the DVC resorts and I love them all but I want something that is a good fit for us.

Rent for a couple of trips. The price difference between renting and buying now using your own points isn't that much on a per trip basis and if it helps you make a better decision it'll be far worth the investment and delay.

 

[mcap2004]

Rent for a couple of trips. The price difference between renting and buying now using your own points isn't that much on a per trip basis and if it helps you make a better decision it'll be far worth the investment and delay.

Thank you Dean. Your replies seem a little harsh at times (lol) but I love that!! By the amount of your replies, it seems you've been at this for a while. I just want to make the right choice for my family and I because this is definitely going to be a long commitment. Thank you and good night!

 

[Dean]

Thank you Dean. Your replies seem a little harsh at times (lol) but I love that!! By the amount of your replies, it seems you've been at this for a while. I just want to make the right choice for my family and I because this is definitely going to be a long commitment. Thank you and good night!

Not harsh, just factual and without emotion. Our goals are the same, for this to be a blessing to you and your family.