Why is AKL lagging so far behind in sales?

[disneynutz]

AKV has a great theme, but if you have an infant or toddler, it may be too remote, and the food choices too limited. If AKV has a walking path to AK, then I would have easily considered this as an option.

BLT was my original choice due to proximity to MK and the monorail. The dues are much less, as well. My sister owns there, and she said that they do not maintain the rooms very well (ie very dirty). For a fairly new property, this is disturbing.

If I were to choose between the two, I would end up choosing BLT b/c I would rather walk to a park, have access to the monorail, and have a lot of food choices. Also, the dues are much less.

At the end of the day, we've decided to go the resale market route, focusing on BWV (location). Ideally we would want BC but the price is much higher and the due nominally less.

My question is: Why is BWV's due/maintenance so high relative to the other properties????

IMO the dues at BLT will be adjusted higher as the costs to fix and maintain the property is realized. There have been reports that DVD approved several cost cutting items like HVAC design, quality of interior and exterior finishes and plumbing design.

I also feel that the dues were set lower than really required as a selling enticement.

Bill

 

[Vickis3js]

When we bought they were pushing both AKL and BLT. We went with AKL. We love the remote location and the heavy themeing and the fact that we can spend all day at the resort and have so much to see and do. As far as maintence fees go my bill would be about the same if not more if I bought BLT since I would have needed more points to vacation the way we do. I love that I have so many options at AKL for room choices. I know when we added on at SSR they tried talking us out of if it and buying BLT I kindly said no thanks I want my THV!!

 

[DebbieB]

At the end of the day, we've decided to go the resale market route, focusing on BWV (location). Ideally we would want BC but the price is much higher and the due nominally less.

My question is: Why is BWV's due/maintenance so high relative to the other properties????

The reason it's slightly higher than VWL and BCV is the lower standard view points, less points to spread the costs. Before the point reallocations, preferred boardwalk points per night were the same as BCV & VWL. BLT has lower dues but the cost per night is much higher, which spreads the costs farther.

 

[tjkraz]

IMO the dues at BLT will be adjusted higher as the costs to fix and maintain the property is realized. There have been reports that DVD approved several cost cutting items like HVAC design, quality of interior and exterior finishes and plumbing design.

I also feel that the dues were set lower than really required as a selling enticement.

Bill

To the latter point, time will tell but I doubt it. It would have been illegal for DVC to misrepresent the annual budget to buyers. We're now on the 3rd year of the resort's budgeting and any deliberate undercharges would have come up by now--either notice by DVC's own external auditors or state auditors.

What remains to be seen is the long-term impact of design choices made. Some items do not appear to be particularly durable. If quality was misrepresented by the suppliers, they could end up eating the cost of replacements. Or DVC could end up having to make changes to items as they are replaced.

With about 6.5 million points represented by BLT, a dues increase of just one cent increases annual revenue by $65,000. Major projects would funnel though the capital improvements budget and have the cost spread over 5-10 years.

In the end, DVC could theoretically spend thousands of dollars on upgrades to each villa room with a dues impact of $.03 - .04 per point, per year.