Hello! This is my first post! My wife and I were about to purchase, last month, 160 AKL points directly from Disney, and finance them to boot. I am so glad that I decided to buy resale instead, so we are now purchasing 250 AKL points, and financing them with a home equity loan at 3% for 24 months. Now we just need to clear ROFR. Here is my question-- I noticed that older areas, like BCV points, sell for much more than AKL and BWV is in the same ball park. Seems to me that AKL would be worth more, since it is a newer facility and the points don't expire as soon. Is something wrong with AKL? Is it less desirable and that is why it's priced in the high $50s and low $60s per point on the secondary market? I know it's a bit farther away than the other resorts- just wonder what I am missing here. BTW, I understand that points are good anywhere. One other question-- is it really difficult to get reservations in California and Hawaii if your home resort is in Florida? My wife is a teacher, so we would typically be vacationing in the summer (very flexible in terms of the specific dates), or maybe at Christmas/Easter break. I understand the 11 month/7month thing, but at 7 months what are your chances? Thanks.
I'm sure some of the experts will weigh in ... but my understanding is that it is simply supply and demand. AKL is big and has lots of points available out there. It is very easy to secure a room at AKV/AKL after the 7th month mark unless you're looking for Concierge or Value. BCV/BWV on the other hand have prime locations being very close to Epcot and DHS. They're smaller so during F&W and F&G, it is very difficult to secure rooms unless you own and can get ressies at 11months. So, they're more expensive because there are less points and more people wanting to buy there. And then there's SAB for BCV and the Boardwalk view for BWV. But maybe my understanding is wrong
I can't comment on the AKL issue but for VGC it seems fairly easy to get a summer reservation at 7 mos right at the 7 month mark. Christmas time is much harder. I own at Aulani and don't know what it's like to try to book there at 7 mos. I'm sure someone will know.
I also cannot comment on the resale price difference between points at different resorts in WDW. Regarding VGC I tried to book a studio or 1 bed for October this year right at the 7 month window using my BCV points and there was nothing to be had except a 2 bedroom, which was way more points than I wanted to use but we went ahead anyway. I loved the resort so much that we have now bought points there also we will be able to book at the 11 month window for our next stay.
It is all about supply and demand, BCV had the best pool by most accounts and in walking distance to 2 parks. AKV points were sold relatively recently so that causes more second thoughts sales. AKV is perceved as being a long way from most parks, it has some of the higher maintinance fees. Of course it has the amimals and the only CL and Value rooms. I think BWV was attractive to older guests so some of them are aging out so that puts more supply on the market.
If you check the ROFR thread, it looks like BCV & AKV are getting through ROFR at similar selling prices, with BWV getting through at slightly less. I agree with the longer right to use AKV should be worth more, but the ability to walk to parks at the Epcot resorts, as well as the fact that there are generally less BCV & BWV points available on the resale market, combine to even out the market prices a lot. But, no, there is nothing "wrong" with AKV, it is just bigger & thus easier to book at 7 months than the Epcot area resorts. Sent from my iPad using DISBoards App, please excuse any typos or autocorrects!
Regarding your question about the Villas at the Grand Californian, unless you own at this resort, it will be difficult to book. It is the smallest DVC resort, with approximately 42 villas, and extremely popular because of Disney California Adventure's reopening. Regarding the latter point, Grand Californian guests can enter and exit Disney California Adventure through a private resort gate located in the Grizzly River/Golden State area. Recently, I used the DVC member website to check availability at the Villas at the Grand Californian, every week for the entire 7-month booking window. For a studio, there were about 12 possible reservation dates, most of which were a 1-night stay while two or three were for 2-nights during the week. Needless to say, it is difficult to book. I am certain other discussion board members will weight in, but when it comes to the Villas at the Grand Californian, do not select another home resort with the expectation that you will be able to use your points for a yearly Disneyland vacation. I sincerely hope this post is helpful to you.
the safest rule is to buy where you want to stay and book at 10-11 months out. other options are possible but you do risk disappointment. from the stickied "DVC resource center" thread for reference:
If you're able to be online and ready right at 8 a.m. eastern time, you have a chance of booking VGC at the 7 month mark. Any later and you could miss out. I own at VGC and have experienced this myself. I got sloppy and, a few days after the 7 month window, I decided to add some days to my reservation. The studios were all gone. This was for the end of April, early May. Something else to consider is that VGC is a high point villa so 160 points will only get you a studio for 5 nights in the summer months. If you're willing to bank and/or borrow, you could go for a one bedroom, which are usually easier to reserve than a studio.
Nope, there's nothing wrong with AKV. Many people don't like the distance from parks but others find that a nice respite from the hustle and bustle - really it's just preference. I think there are a lot of factors that play into the price of resale for the various resorts. One of the biggest IMO is the size of the resort. Larger resorts have more points and owners which from a percentage standpoint will mean more potential resales. And with more on the market the price can get driven down. Supply and demand. And there are other factors but length of contract doesn't matter to everyone and with 30 years left on the old resorts it doesn't seem to have become more than a minor factor in pricing yet.
Maybe also a concern for MF? AKV is a new resort and it has one of the highest MF at WDW. The animals are a great attraction for that resort, but MF pay for their care. Add that it is a big resort and it's easy to get a standard or Savannah view most of the year, and many people ask themself if it's not better to book AKV using cheaper points. I did.
AKV is one of my favorite resorts. I have to remind myself we're at Disney when we're there because we feel like we have been transported somewhere exotic! Sitting on the balcony watching the animals roam the savanna is a unique experience. The restaurants there are some of the best on property. AKV is the only DVC resort with Concierge Level rooms. The Value rooms are an incredible deal. Both of those booking categories are hard to get unless you have AKV points and can book 11 months out. The downside? Disney buses are the only Disney transportation option. You cannot walk to a park like you can from BLT, BCV or BWV or to DTD like you can from SSR and OKW. There are is no boat transportation like you get at VWL, OKW, SSR and BLT. Fortunately the bus service at AKV is very good so it's not a problem. We also own points at BWV for use during the Food & Wine festival in October. Having BWV points is a must if you want to book either a Boardwalk View or a Standard View room there during F&W, having BCV points is important if you want to book any room there at that time because BCV is a small resort with a great pool area. Being able to walk to Epcot and DHS (or take the boat) makes both BWV and BCV desirable, keeping resale values up despite the 2042 end date. We added on at AKV when it became available because we loved staying at AKL before becoming DVC members and wanted the option to book Concierge Level once in a while.
Simple as the breakdown of DVC rooms in a previous post show- supply and demand! There are so many more points available between jambo and Kidani. We own at AKV and we love it. We are a very young couple, and although I would love to own BCV or BWI because of location (almost bought BWI)the is too old at this point (not enough years).We haven't even started a family yet (soon) so we wanted the 50 years. We bought before BLT cam out, so that may have been an option for us but there is always the GF We have been lucky enough to get almost any reservation we have wanted. It is harder to book at high times at BLT or BCV, but we have always gotten BWI with no problem. However, AKV is never a dissappointment so buy where you want to stay and then if you can get elswhere that is always great.
We bought AKV resale 2 years ago, at $84/pt...it wasn't that much off the other newer resorts. I think it's dropped off alot since the dues are creeping up at a faster rate than the older resorts and it's farther away from the parks.
In addition to the supply/demand and MF issues, from what I gather reading on various sites, people seem to either LOVE AKV/AKL or don't care for it much at all - there doesn't seem to be too many folks "in the middle". You can tell by my siggie where my family lies ... And as a previous poster kind of noted - staying at AKV/AKL is like two vacations in one - WDW and the resort itself ... AKV/AKL is not just a place to sleep or go for a swim!!
Just wanted to say that we have stayed in AKL in a three bedroom and it was great! It is a nice resort just a haul. My sister in law has points there and has stayed at every resort with their 7 month window. They are flexible and there is only two of them.
