Which resort is best for sleep around points?

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

We're looking for the best way to sleep around on the cheap

We currently own at Riviera, but since MF are high and we have a fixed week (right after Thanksgiving), we are thinking of adding on a resale contract to take additional, smaller trips throughout the year (we can drive from NC). It wouldn't be until sometime at the end of this year but I want to start keeping an eye on the different resale sites. By then I'll likely have saved enough for 150-200 pts depending on the resort, and I hear prices can come down at the end of the year before MF are due.

The question is: which resort? We are in our early 30s, don't have kids, and don't have a set travel pattern (except we tend to avoid the insane heat of summer). Sometimes we might want several days in a studio just the two of us, sometimes we might have family (parents and siblings live in S. FL) join us for the weekend and we might want larger rooms.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

Also, I've seen SSR and OKW are usually top contenders for SAP due to price but will expire sooner. I've also seen AKV and PVB in the mix, which might be nice as it provides home resort advantage near different parks than RIV. I also thought BRV might be a good option because contracts are less expensive, and I like the idea of staying there over X-mas at some point. But we also like Hilton Head (a 6 hr drive), and would like to see AUL at some point in the near future... it's difficult to narrow this down.

 

[ldo]

We bought AKV for, IMHO, best value. It's a great resort if we're not using points for somewhere else. Or booking in high season and cannot switch at 7 months--or swapping at 7 months gets a lot harder. Plus, at 11 months, I can frequently get value rooms and save on points. Even the Jambo standards (all pool view or "not as good" savannah view) are a great view IMHO. They're priced not that much more than SSR and I thought it was worth the small upfront difference in price. We've used AKV to stay at OKW, CCV, BCV.

 

[DVC Doctor]

avoid OKW and BRV

stick with SSR or BLT or AKV

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

avoid OKW and BRV

stick with SSR or BLT or AKV

Okay, how come?
I was thinking that BRV might get updated soon and that would make it more comparable to the rooms at SSR

 

[iflyjetzzz]

SSR. Lowest upfront price.
Very low MFs ($6.77); only properties with lower MFs are BLT ($6.58), VGC ($6.60), and VGF ($6.56). All of which are much more expensive up front costs than SSR. https://www.dvcresalemarket.com/buying/annual-dues/

BRV's MFs are ~$1 more than SSR. That'd be an extra $150-200/yr for you.

SSR's contract expires in 2057. That's 37 years from now; plenty of time.


However, with all of the excess points running around the system, my advice would be to buy points from other DVC members for a while (they should be on fire sale soon; I'd expect many to be priced below what members pay in MFs during 2021) and look at buying at the end of 2021. Dec/Jan seems to be the seasonal low point for DVC pricing due to the holidays and MFs being due.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

AKV will be easier to rent if you needed to. Before I'd never say SSR because more and more you have to stay "home" sometimes. Though the resort is lovely the rooms were ratty and now that's changing. The renovated rooms look fab and will feel in line with a newer room like you have at RIV. Plus the proximity to DS will be great for a couple with no kids. Walk to the all that the Springs has to offer. So in that light, I'd now say SSR.

 

[MICKIMINI]

If you are buying strictly for SAP, SSR is the cheapest, longest expiration resort with lower MF's. As long as you don't mind staying there if you can't get what you want, there are plenty of contracts out there. Prices on some resorts have risen but SSR seems to be stable in the $90's. Personally, I would make note of contracts and watch them for several weeks and then make your move. It will take patience, but if you have a list of "lingering" (2 weeks IMO) contracts, start making offers with a short (24 hr) accept/decline/counter window and move on if you don't get it and go to the next offer. Eventually you will get your contract, right now without ROFR interference. Prices usually dip in November and December but if you are considering SSR it might not be as dramatic a dip.

It took me six weeks to buy an add on in early June and a second in mid-June. I watched, bid, had a half dozen contracts that the owners held firm on or demanded a bidding war (nope) and I moved on. The two I landed lingered a bit on a smaller broker's site and I was able to get fair prices on both. Good luck!

 

[shoegal9]

My BF and I are in our 30s with no kids as well. We like to do a few long weekend trips each year and one longer trip in September at the Poly. We own at CCV, AKV and the Polynesian. But we are seriously considering adding on a resale at SSR. We like the ability to walk to Disney Springs, the 24 hour pool is actually fun with people there, and the room refurbs are awesome.

The Poly is our favorite for the monorail crawls, Trader Sams, Tambu Lounge etc. But the point charts are high... so we use our AKV contract for the weekend trips. It's also nice because the one bedrooms are pretty decent points-wise, and they have two bathrooms. So if others join you in your living room at least they have their own bathroom. That being said, AKV isn't difficult to book at the 7 month mark.

BLT isn't our style.. the rooms are meh. The theme park views are actually parking lot views. But, just our opinion.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

If It will take patience, but if you have a list of "lingering" (2 weeks IMO) contracts, start making offers with a short (24 hr) accept/decline/counter window and move on if you don't get it and go to the next offer. Eventually you will get your contract, right now without ROFR interference. Prices usually dip in November and December but if you are considering SSR it might not be as dramatic a dip.

It took me six weeks to buy an add on in early June and a second in mid-June. I watched, bid, had a half dozen contracts that the owners held firm on or demanded a bidding war (nope) and I moved on. The two I landed lingered a bit on a smaller broker's site and I was able to get fair prices on both. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing the strategy!

 

[a742246]

SSR makes the most sense for sap. It is also a excellent resort for non theme park stays because of DS.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

Also, I've seen SSR and OKW are usually top contenders for SAP due to price but will expire sooner. I've also seen AKV and PVB in the mix, which might be nice as it provides home resort advantage near different parks than RIV. I also thought BRV might be a good option because contracts are less expensive, and I like the idea of staying there over X-mas at some point. But we also like Hilton Head (a 6 hr drive), and would like to see AUL at some point in the near future... it's difficult to narrow this down.

We are just entering our 30s. How much are you looking to spend and how many points do you want? I honestly can't get my self to consider the 2042 resorts at all even tho BCV and BRV are our favorites. I'd considering AKV, BLT, POLY. SSR has 3 less years than AKV(2057) but I think AKV is much much nicer if you end up having to stay there. Poly if you can get it in the 130s can be a great deal it expires 2066. Poly beats out BLT(2060) for me since it has 6 more years on the contract and is cheaper than BLT. If you want super cheap get SSR. If you want slightly better home resort if you HAVE to stay there get AKV. If you want the best value get POLY.

 

[lovin'fl]

In 2006 we first bought at OKW for the low buy in. We were 33 and had 3 little kiddos. We hardly used those points at OKW, but they were our sleep around points. We eventually discovered that we liked some of the tough to get rooms so we added on in order to book those...HHI for summer trips (didn't end up doing many summer trips with them, incidentally) then BWV for the standard view for Food and Wine. Then added CCV because I just really liked it there. We recently resold the OKW. Just never liked staying there. We had a total of 650 points and mainly stayed at BWV so we sold the 200 OKW before they got too close to the end date (ours were 2042) while they were still worth some $$. Even made a profit on those. ANd just now we are in ROFR as sellers with the 125 HHI points. Those annual dues are soooooooo HIGH. We found we can book many many rentals on the island for less than our annual dues (IE: we just went and rented in SHelter Cove right by the Disney resort and paid $1400 for a 2 bedroom for a week while the same points for the DVC resort for that week would cost us like $3200 in dues. Sad to sell because that resort has THE best cast members of ALL DVC. But just too high in dues. Will use our BWV points to stay there in off season which we prefer anyway.

As to OP's question...I say SSR. We found we like to stay mostly at BWV with a little SSR and AKV on occasion. SSR is a lower buy in and has a longer life. You can book the preferred rooms and request Congress Park and walk to DS for eating, drinking and shopping. Which now that our kids are all 20-somethings we really enjoy that more than riding IASW at the MK. Why we like BWV as well since we can hop in and out of Epcot and all around the BW/BC/YC/Swalphin area. AKV is good to own if you want to ever try for a Club level room. We owned AKV for like 2.5 years but resold because we could always book there with our other points (we like savannah view). I have tried a few times for the club level. Even had it booked twice. One time our friends, who we were going with, changed the week they could go so I had to give up the club level and book savannah view instead. Then I just managed to have 2 nights club level booked for end of May and...cancelled due to COVID closure.

Another thought is if you think you may want a tough to book room frequently, then go for that resort. Like standard view studios at BWV or theme park view at BLT. The BWV and BCV studios will be tough tough tough since Star Wars land and all the festivals have been added. I even have trouble booking right at 8am of the 11 month window at BWV.

 

[ldo]

There are pros/cons for all DVCs and everyone has their fav. I'd still buy where you'd be happy to stay 50% of the time. DH would be unhappy staying at SSR (feels like a big condo complex to him) vs he really likes AKV--so we bought at AKV for slightly more than SSR. Others love SSR, esp. being able to walk to DS.

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

SSR makes the most sense for sap. It is also a excellent resort for non theme park stays because of DS.

This seems to be the consensus.

we bought at AKV for slightly more than SSR

I definitely like AKV much more than SSR, but as a RIV owner I already have high dues, and so far it seems to me that I can get AKV fairly easily and I don't need to try for club level. But I do understand your DH--emotionally, AKV would make me happier to say that I own there, even though it seems that practically it wouldn't make too much of a difference when booking as @lovin'fl points out. We are flexible about when we can take vacation so we can move our dates to when there is availability for the room type we might want at AKV

I honestly can't get my self to consider the 2042 resorts at all even tho BCV and BRV are our favorites.

It is too bad because if they were all the same expiration, I would just do BRV just because we like the resort so much and this would allow us to make sure we get a 2 bedroom for xmas. Also, it would fill the emotional aspect of the purchase. But we probably would only do xmas there a couple of times, so it's not worth it when SSR is many more years and comparable in price. As for BCV, I would book this if I had family joining us who like pools, but I wouldn't want to own there because I'm not big on pools. I was germophobic before that became popular . Though I will try Stormalong bay at some point to check off the experience.

In the end SAP is about practicality, it seems SSR is the most practical? Though you mention Poly... it would be nice to be on the monorail, and the restaurants there are some of my favorites...

 

[ChipNdale8887]

This seems to be the consensus.

I definitely like AKV much more than SSR, but as a RIV owner I already have high dues, and so far it seems to me that I can get AKV fairly easily and I don't need to try for club level. But I do understand your DH--emotionally, AKV would make me happier to say that I own there, even though it seems that practically it wouldn't make too much of a difference when booking as @lovin'fl points out. We are flexible about when we can take vacation so we can move our dates to when there is availability for the room type we might want at AKV

It is too bad because if they were all the same expiration, I would just do BRV just because we like the resort so much and this would allow us to make sure we get a 2 bedroom for xmas. Also, it would fill the emotional aspect of the purchase. But we probably would only do xmas there a couple of times, so it's not worth it when SSR is many more years and comparable in price. As for BCV, I would book this if I had family joining us who like pools, but I wouldn't want to own there because I'm not big on pools. I was germophobic before that became popular . Though I will try Stormalong bay at some point to check off the experience.

In the end SAP is about practicality, it seems SSR is the most practical? Though you mention Poly... it would be nice to be on the monorail, and the restaurants there are some of my favorites...

I would consider Poly. It has 12 more years than SSR. Just depends what you want. Do you want the cheapest possibly points that are good for 30 more years at least then go SSR. If you want 40 more years then I think the best buy is Poly. If you like BRV have you considered CCV(2068)? I've seen some contracts sell for $135 a point.

 

[Lorana]

In the end SAP is about practicality, it seems SSR is the most practical? Though you mention Poly... it would be nice to be on the monorail, and the restaurants there are some of my favorites...

Personally, I think Poly makes great sleep around points. yes, it has a higher buy-in cost but it also has 12 more years on its contract, and the dues are also only $.02 more than SSR. The downside if you get "stuck" there is that they only have Studios (or the highest

BLT is also a possibility. Its dues are $0.19 LESS, and it's 6 more years than SSR. Again, though, higher buy in cost.

 

[sethschroeder]

I honestly can't get my self to consider the 2042 resorts at all even tho BCV and BRV are our favorites

What people don't consider is the lower cost MFs and point charts though. As an example we had to cancel the trip (doing us only) but had a 2 bedroom for parents/kids trip in January. 9 nights at BWV Std was 307 (371 for BWV) vs RIV 411 Std/ 499 Pref.

There is a huge difference on upfront costs of points and MFs on that large of a delta. Yes I need to buy a contract in 20 years but I can choose to purchase at anytime a new resort or possibly just wait until BWV flips over and rebuy (yes the price will be higher).

I feel when people are breaking down the resorts this is the one big thing they miss. Yes if you go first week of December you might need to walk that reservation to have the Standard room (or just plan on Preferred) but even so you are still saving points off the lower tier price of the other resort. I also have to think long term RIV Std views are also going to go faster since thats just what happens because its cheaper.

I do wish that the expiration is not 2042. I look at RIV to possibly buy on and off but can't get past that yearly math.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I'm buying SSR resale for sleep around points. Mainly for cost, but I also don't mind being stuck there if I can't switch to another resort at 7 months. I love Disney Springs and want to be able to walk over there or use a boat. I didn't buy at OKW because of the 2042 end date. I personally wouldn't consider any with a 2042 end date.

 

[ChipNdale8887]

What people don't consider is the lower cost MFs and point charts though. As an example we had to cancel the trip (doing us only) but had a 2 bedroom for parents/kids trip in January. 9 nights at BWV Std was 307 (371 for BWV) vs RIV 411 Std/ 499 Pref.

There is a huge difference on upfront costs of points and MFs on that large of a delta. Yes I need to buy a contract in 20 years but I can choose to purchase at anytime a new resort or possibly just wait until BWV flips over and rebuy (yes the price will be higher).

I feel when people are breaking down the resorts this is the one big thing they miss. Yes if you go first week of December you might need to walk that reservation to have the Standard room (or just plan on Preferred) but even so you are still saving points off the lower tier price of the other resort. I also have to think long term RIV Std views are also going to go faster since thats just what happens because its cheaper.

I do wish that the expiration is not 2042. I look at RIV to possibly buy on and off but can't get past that yearly math.

Hey Sethschroeder I thought you didn't like Riviera? lol Are you warming up to the idea?