SSR vs. AKL

[TammyAlphabet]

I want to add on some points early next year. When the VAKL were announced, I called my guide and asked to get on the waiting list right away. I am starting to have second thoughts.

If they build as many units as they are proposing, I am wondering if the home resort advantage will be all that "advantageous"?

Many have reported that they feel sure that the dues will be higher. Okay, if the the home resort advantage is important, then that is fine. If not, why pay more to own a resort that will most likely be rather easy to get at the seven month mark?

The great deal at SSR is calling me, and with the low dues, that is something to consider. I don't prefer to stay at SSR.

I absolutely love the AKL. The animals, restaurants, themed pool and everything is appealing to me personally. And the rumors of the extended sizes of the accommodations might make them a little harder to get at the seven month mark.

I am afraid that if I wait until all the information is available at AKL, the great deals at SSR will be gone.

Any thoughts for someone on the edge?

 

[starbox]

Many have reported that they feel sure that the dues will be higher. Okay, if the the home resort advantage is important, then that is fine. If not, why pay more to own a resort that will most likely be rather easy to get at the seven month mark?

The great deal at SSR is calling me, and with the low dues, that is something to consider. I don't prefer to stay at SSR.

I absolutely love the AKL. The animals, restaurants, themed pool and everything is appealing to me personally. And the rumors of the extended sizes of the accommodations might make them a little harder to get at the seven month mark.

It is true that AKV will be a larger resort - but whether or not the location and rumored ability to accomodate larger familiy size will make it more popular is up in the air.

My gut feeling is that the appeal will even out and will not be drastically more or less difficult to book than the other resorts. I am one of the more vocal voices for "it does not matter all that much where you buy".

HOWEVER, in your situation, I would tell you to wait for AKV for two reasons:

1. You said that you don't want to stay at SSR.

During peak travel times, there is a good chance you'll be at your home resort. The seven-month window and waitlist work best when you can (and do) have back-up reervations at 11 months. You should never purchase a home resort you would not want to stay in.

2. You said you love AKV and would always want to stay there.

Again, I think the 7-month window works well for the majority of DVC families that have numerous resorts that they like and want to try on a semi-regular basis. We own at SSR and take at least 2 trips to WDW a year. One trip will always be "home" and the second trip has been our "travelling" trip where we sample the other DVCs we like - we'll probably hit each one once every 3-4 years. IF I had one DVC that I love'd SO much that I knew in my heart atht I wanted to take every single vacation and stay in that resort - it would be very important to me that I owned home resort points there.

5-10 years down the line when I decided to take family and get a grand-villa, savanna-view for Christmas week - I sure would want to know I could get it.

 

[senecabeach]

Hello Tammy ....

I can understand your concern and don't worry about being on the list, there's no obligation to buy.
We all have different vacation styles and my opinion is a little different than those who own multiple "homes". You know me...I also love the AK..so its easy to share my thoughts.

IMHO:
Since there will be a total of 458 DVC accomodations @ AKV and the size of the DVC will be just shy of the OKW resort (525 rooms), I don't foresee any problem getting ressies @ the 7th, 6, 5 mo. window (except maybe X-mas)....OK, force me to stay at my "home" resort.

Yes...the price will probably be higher and the key, IMHO (and my guides also), will be .. will the mtc fees be the highest ..given location & animals to consider?

You know I added on to my BCV, because its small and I thought it would be the best value for me and gave me greater control/power in a small resort having all my eggs in 1 basket..not manage 2 "homes"..not needing to wait for the 7th mo. to add on days to a vacation..la..la..la.

So...you have lots to consider and plenty of time. I would wait at least till they announce the official ending of the current SSR incentive, which per my guide's gut is at least till EOY and possibly into 07 and maybe even run concurrently with the beginning of the AKV pre-sales...all my guides speculation BTW and he's been with DVC 18 yrs..

Have a wonderful Holiday...and say "HELLO" to your princess for me.

Ill be down again in May, 1-10, ready for another B&C lunch??

 

[Doctor P]

Hello Tammy ....

I can understand your concern and don't worry about being on the list, there's no obligation to buy.

Especially since there can't actually be a waitlist right now because of timeshare laws. There officially is no AKL DVC to be on the list for.

 

[DVC Grammy]

IMHO, a major factor in making a decision is when you plan on vacationing. If your plans generally fall into the most popular times, then, yes, that 11-month window is worth it. Also, if rumors are true, those savannah views will be snatched up (regardless of extra points) at 11 months. If that's important to you, factor that in.
We own 330 points in total, and the only time the 11-month window is important to us is if we want to stay in a standard villa at BWV during F & W. Otherwise, our travel plans are very flexible, so we never have a problem getting what we want. We're very much looking forward to staying at AKV, but savannah views aren't important to us, so given its size, I don't think there'll be any trouble getting reservations there. (If I'm wrong, I just might "convince" my DH to buy an add-on there ).

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Hello Tammy ....


Have a wonderful Holiday...and say "HELLO" to your princess for me.

Ill be down again in May, 1-10, ready for another B&C lunch??

Thanks, I will tell her hello. We won't be down there for the F&G this year, I can't get off work. But, we are thinking of going to VB for a few days in June, maybe even a week in South Beach or Key West. But, boy that B&C sure is good!!

Thanks for all the advice, due to my new "career" the only times that I can vacation are the last two weeks of December and the month of June. I know the last two weeks of December are hard to get but I will book early. Now, as for June, especially early June, I should be able to get what I need at the 7 month mark most of the time. I am still in indecision but at least I have a few more thoughts floating around in my head.

 

[Dean]

I feel comfortable in saying it will be a lot easier to get into SSR from VAK than the reverse. Still, one can likely get into the average room type at VAK form SSR as long as you go day by day at 7 months out. But the resale value of VAK will likely outstrip the difference in up front price. And while I doubt the same discounts for VAK, we don't yet know. There was a special initially for BCV if I recall correctly that made it cheaper than VWL had been.

Don't let the size fool you, it will be much harder to get into VAK than SSR and OKW. And the price difference isn't enough to make it worth taking the chance if you don't really plan on SSR routinely. We're talking at most $15 per point but my guess is only about $5-10 per point difference initially.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

Thanks Dean, I hadn't thought about resale value, I think you are right about that. I think my original thought of buying AKL may be the right course.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I have finally decided to wait until I have more information. But I really want the AKL, if the price is right and I have more info on the maintenance fees. Thanks for all the advice and I am sure that I am not the only one on the fence.

 

[Pluto 2]

for everyone there is no need to call your guide to get on a waiting lists there will be plently of points for all of us. probaly will have points open there for 2 years or so.

 

[crisi]

Since there will be a total of 458 DVC accomodations @ AKV and the size of the DVC will be just shy of the OKW resort (525 rooms), I don't foresee any problem getting ressies @ the 7th, 6, 5 mo. window (except maybe X-mas)....OK, force me to stay at my "home" resort.

I think demand will depend a lot on how many of those 458 rooms end up facing the Savannah. If they end up with the divided view situation that BWV has, you could find it very hard to get into AKL in the "right room" and very easy to be there looking at a parking lot.

I'll wait and see what Disney actually starts selling - the rumor mill on SSR around here had them building a palace - with an SAB like theme pool and OKW sized rooms, and wonderful fireworks views of the PI fireworks (which some people believed would be expanded for their new audience - since "Premature Ejaculation in the Sky" wasn't much of a fireworks show) - even SSR owner specific Spa discounts. We got smaller rooms than OKW with a higher point cost and a pool that may yet turn out to be too small for the total size of the resort, and PI doesn't bother with fireworks much anymore.

 

[Dis-best]

I wouldn't worry about the great deals at SSR. There are so many resales that are below the going rate, that you should not have an issue with picking up additional points. As AKL becomes available I think you will probably see even more resales from SSR owners wanting to to trade for a premier DVC.
Also, the SSR resale price will probably decrease as more people become interested in the new resort.

 

[spiceycat]

do you like to vacation at WDW during the first two weeks of Dec or Thanksgiving and would you like to be at AKV then?

if so buy it.

otherwise I think you will fine anywhere.

 

[dumbo71]

My advice would be to wait for the AKV.

SSR is so big that if you wanted to stay there you would have almost guaranteed success at 7 months. AKV will be tougher due to the size of the resort.

As for the other stuff: I do not belive points will be higher than the other resorts nor do I believe the price per point will be substantially higher either.

Also why would the dues be higher? If anything they should start out lower than SSR is right now and then follow the similiar pattern of small increases yearly.

Now, I've said this in another post but it might be relevant here. I do believe AKV will, in time, be viewed as a less than desirable place to stay. The location is terrible. Itr has direct ties to absolutely nothing. They could offset this some by building a super pool or other signature feature. Time will tell when the plans are realeased.

Even with the less than desirable location I'd still take AKV simply for the dining options and the theme.

Good luck with this.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I am really happy for all the input. I am mainly interested in the AKL because I love the theming and the great restaurants (Boma and Jiko) right in the resort. I love looking at the animals from the balcony too. So, I think that AKL is a good place to add on. I would add on at the BWV, but I am planning on leaving this contract to my younger daughter and I wanted her to have more time on the contract.

But, so far, I haven't been able to force myself to buy points at SSR. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with SSR. I just don't really care for the theming or location. But, there have been some tempting offers on points there, for sure.

 

[DVCPAT]

Also why would the dues be higher? If anything they should start out lower than SSR is right now and then follow the similiar pattern of small increases yearly.

I wonder how much it costs to maintain the animals on the resort grounds? I’m sure the cost will be added into the dues.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the costs of the animal upkeep, along with the lowest deluxe resort rack rates were the main reasons for Disney to convert AKV ahead of CRV.

 

[3DisneyKids]

lol...we are ALL anxiously waiting for this info. The SSR promotion goes until Jamuary 20th, so you have no real rush. Personally, I do not think that DVC will announce any new info. (points charts) for AKV until after the end of the promo plus 10 days. So, don't expect anything until Feb. 1st at the earliest.

And for all the nay-sayers....as we all know here on the DVC Boards...different strokes for different folks. Yes, location is better in some resorts than others, while theming is better in yet others, and then there is size, length of hallways, being to park right in front of your villa and so on.

They are all DVC and all fabulous in their own way...and I am sure AKV will be, too!

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I caved. We called our guide tonight and when she calls back, we are adding on at SSR. My husband has the habit of planning vacations at the last minute (within six months or less) and he likes the idea of having a golf course so close! And we like Vero Beach and getting a room there at the 7 month mark if we are not too picky should be too hard for June. Since we will be using these points for mostly reservations within the seven month mark and the cost of the points and the MF's are likely to be lower than VAKL, we have decided to take advantage of the offer. SSR is a nice resort and with 458 rooms planned for AKL, we will get the chance to stay there when the dust dies down. I am pretty excited and planning for 2008.

 

[dumbo71]

for everyone there is no need to call your guide to get on a waiting lists there will be plently of points for all of us. probaly will have points open there for 2 years or so.

I'd realy be surprised if it sells out in 2 years. That would be pretty quick for a resort of this rumored size.

SSR has been selling fairly briskly and the resort has been selling for close to 5years. (not positive but 5 is close)

I'd guess AKV will be selling for 3-4 years from the release of points.

No need for any waitlists, I agree.

OP, What about the location of AKV? I know this is real estate 101 but the location seems very poor with AKV. No direct ties to anything? Something to consider.

 

[Starr W.]

OP, What about the location of AKV? I know this is real estate 101 but the location seems very poor with AKV. No direct ties to anything? Something to consider.

That's why I seem to miss the hoopla over AKV. I can't wait to see the point charts, to see the upgrade in points for an "animal view".