Ko Olina Hawaii: More Details Revealed

[wdrl]

Dvcnews.com has posted some more details about DVC's Ko Olina resort (see http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/hawaii--ko-olina-resorts-175/1048-hawaii-photos-artwork-from-d23-expo). There are drawings of the lobby, the pool area, and even a simple drawing of a villa's floor plan.

[JasonDVC]

Cool! :thumbsup2. Thanks for posting!

[Coach81]

Someday... some day....

[dianeschlicht]

I like the design of the balcony/door spaces. It will insure that your unit feels private when you are on the balcony.

[kerickson]

These plans look amazing! The studio rooms seem a bit small (comparing kitchen/bathroom vs bedroom-not sure if these are to scale or not) but given the amazing pool area (lazy river, snorkling experience:banana:) I don't plan on being in the room much :yay:..

I feel so fortunate that we will be able to stay here some day, thanks to our DVC membership! Hopefully at the 7mo mark for my 40th in 2012!

[princessfionasmom]

How hard do you think it will be to get a reservation there if you don't own there? My DH turns the big 50 in 2011 and I am hoping that I'll be able to take him there on points for his big bday either later in 2011 or begining 2012.

[chepic]

It looks fantastic. I have to save for 8 more years and we will be there!!!!!!!!

Cheryl

[kerickson]

How hard do you think it will be to get a reservation there if you don't own there? My DH turns the big 50 in 2011 and I am hoping that I'll be able to take him there on points for his big bday either later in 2011 or begining 2012.

Hard to say, but with 480 DVC units, there should be some opportunity to book at 7mo, especially in the 1st year or two before it's sold out. Hawaii is also pretty great year round, so as long as you are flexible with your dates it probably won't be an issue.
The unknown is how many Hawaii owners will use their points only in Hawaii, vs WDW owners who move around from resort to resort.
We did think that BLT & VGC would be more difficult at 7mo, but so far there have been many successfull 7mo bookings...

[Dean]

How hard do you think it will be to get a reservation there if you don't own there? My DH turns the big 50 in 2011 and I am hoping that I'll be able to take him there on points for his big bday either later in 2011 or begining 2012.I don't think HI will be too difficult long term at the 7 month window for most of the year. Certainly Xmas, Feb to early April and mid summer will be tough; some times will be downright easy in all likelihood.

[allflgirl]

Thanks for the update and link. I've never been to HI and it will be my first trip, once this resort opens. Now the question is, will my 200 pts be enough to stay there or will I need to bank and borrow to stay even 5 nights.

[chepic]

Thanks for the update and link. I've never been to HI and it will be my first trip, once this resort opens. Now the question is, will my 200 pts be enough to stay there or will I need to bank and borrow to stay even 5 nights.

good question

[lugnut33]

Anybody else think it will be between 300-500 points for a weekly 1 bedroom depending on the season?

[Thumper4me]

Thank you for the wonderful update!! :yay:
I am hoping to spend my honeymoon there in late 2011. I hope Dean is right about being able to get availability. Now, I just need to make sure I will have enough points. :)

Kelly

[dianeschlicht]

How hard do you think it will be to get a reservation there if you don't own there? My DH turns the big 50 in 2011 and I am hoping that I'll be able to take him there on points for his big bday either later in 2011 or begining 2012.

I'm thinking VERY difficult. My best friend is also an OKW owner, and we were thinking of pooling points from both her contract and ours to book there at the 7 month window, but I'm not going to hold my breath!

[dianeschlicht]

I don't think HI will be too difficult long term at the 7 month window for most of the year. Certainly Xmas, Feb to early April and mid summer will be tough; some times will be downright easy in all likelihood.

Well, I hope you're right Dean, but I think the early interest is going to be huge.

[liznboys]

Thanks for the heads up on that, wdrl.

And thanks Tim!

It looks great! I was wondering how the side-facing rooms would see the ocean, now I see the windows and balconies are angled.

[Dean]

Well, I hope you're right Dean, but I think the early interest is going to be huge.To a degree but remember when they are in actives sales there's always a little more inventory than membership there. Plus HI is a lot more seasonal than some think. If you're limited to school holidays or looking at truly peak times like Feb to around Easter, there will likely be difficulty but if you're not, it shouldn't be too difficult.

Anybody else think it will be between 300-500 points for a weekly 1 bedroom depending on the season?300 to 500 for a 1 BR is not an unreasonable range for a 1 BR and is consistent with BLT currently. Ultimately it's likely to come down to the quality of the views as to where it will end up within that range. Maybe 400-600 for a 2 BR.

[rentayenta]

:cloud9: I am so going to need more points.

[jmatias]

Can't wait! We finally won't have to catch a plane to visit a Disney Resort :cool1: :banana::cool1::banana:

The trend for Hawaii timeshares is to have better availability in months like Sept, Oct, Nov, early Dec, Jan. But that was mostly on weeks. With the DVC points system, it will be interesting to see how things go.

I know everytime we've visited Marriott Koolina for a stay and asked how busy, its never been below 95% capacity, even in January.

And I'm sure the locals are looking forward to a stay at this Disney resort.

Jen

[nunzia]

Well, I hope you're right Dean, but I think the early interest is going to be huge.

That's what I thought about VGC :confused3

[kmcrosby]

DVC reported during the Member Cruise that vertical construction has started and that the building should be topped out sometime in April 2010. A short video of the current construction was also shown. There seemed to be a lot of positive talk from the members about the Ko Olina project. With the large number of rooms dedicated to DVC, we're hoping there won't be a problem with the 7 month window.

[Jaaron2]

When do you think they will start selling points? Late 2010?

I need to resist add on urges until then..... I am also very curious to see how much a week will cost. We want to buy enough to bank and borrow so we can go every three years.

[Nikisha421]

so i think this is looking beautiful...i cant wait to head back to hawai'i

[tinkerbellmom1]

Our youngest will be graduating from HS in 2012. We're hoping to use our DVC points to visit Hawaii for the first time and let him invite a buddy. I'll keep my fingers crossed with everyone else that the 7mo window will look good!

On the topic of the villas at the Grand Californian, I was able to get a 1 br at GCV at the 7 month mark for our spring break in April! I was so thrilled! I'd been thinking that we'd be unsuccessful with the small # of units.

Hopefully with the size of the new resort in Hawaii we'll all get a chance to use our DVC points and have Disney in Hawaii!:banana:

[Dean]

When do you think they will start selling points? Late 2010?

I need to resist add on urges until then..... I am also very curious to see how much a week will cost. We want to buy enough to bank and borrow so we can go every three years.At the earliest, I'm thinking more like early 2011.

[disneymom8589]

It's going to be absolutely gorgeous!! The pool area is phenomenal! DH and I each turn the big 5-0 in 2011. We can dream about being able to stay there at the 7 month window!! :cloud9:

[Kris10luvsDisney]

I love the pictures! The resort looks like it will be amazing when it's completed. I'm turning 40 (:scared1: ) in 2012 and this would be a perfect birthday present!!:rotfl2:

[DenLo]

These plans look amazing! The studio rooms seem a bit small (comparing kitchen/bathroom vs bedroom-not sure if these are to scale or not) but given the amazing pool area (lazy river, snorkling experience:banana:) I don't plan on being in the room much :yay:

I have to admit I really had trouble figuring out from the floor plan which room was a studio. I'm assuming it will be the bottom one. It does look a bit crowded. Since this project was developed before BLT opened; Disney probably thought the square footage was adequate and made Ko Olina similar to BLT's studios. Sigh.

Anybody else think it will be between 300-500 points for a weekly 1 bedroom depending on the season?

I think are you dead on based on the 2010 point chart for BLT. However, can Hawaii demand more?

When my DH and I saw the model video of the pool--wow! That pool area is hugh! On top of that, the ocean right out the back door. :cloud9:

[supersuperwendy]

2011 is the 40th anniversary of WDW! I'm banking points so we can have a great trip there in Dec. 2011!

I think we are going to hold off on Ko Olina until 2013..but oh man..I can't wait!

[SuzanneSLO]

Not sure if this is news but, on the Webcast for VGC, they reported that there will be character meals and character photo ops at the Ko Olina resort. They also confirmed the Fall 2011 opening. -- Suzanne

[wdrl]

Not sure if this is news but, on the Webcast for VGC, they reported that there will be character meals and character photo ops at the Ko Olina resort. They also confirmed the Fall 2011 opening. -- Suzanne

Its news to me, although I expected all along that Disney will have Lilo & Stitch as permanent residents at Ko Olina. Did they mention on the webcast when they might start selling points for Ko Olina?

[disneydawn6]

Don't know how true this is, but when I went to the D23 Expo the guide showing the Hawiian model said they were tweaking the units and that 75% of the rooms would now be DVC and only 25% would be regular hotel rooms. Too bad they didn't do that with GCV. I would have loved a few more DVC units instead of 203 hotel rooms. Especially studios. It would have been nice just to make them all lock offs so that there could have been more studios available instead of just the 20 something they have now.

[Nikisha421]

Not sure if this is news but, on the Webcast for VGC, they reported that there will be character meals and character photo ops at the Ko Olina resort. They also confirmed the Fall 2011 opening. -- Suzanne
this is awesome amazing great news I will def. be one of the ppl heading there in the summer of 2012 if life spears

[supersuperwendy]

I'm so curious what view categories the point chart will have. If you look at this video of the model from D23 it look's as though there are not a lot of ocean views. Looks like a lot of garden views..and standard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGiL7U95YtA

[Dean]

I'm so curious what view categories the point chart will have. If you look at this video of the model from D23 it look's as though there are not a lot of ocean views. Looks like a lot of garden views..and standard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGiL7U95YtAI think it depends on how they want to proceed. They could go with OV vs SV with about 60% being OV. They could go with OF, OV and SV with around 10% being OF and 50% OV. I think anything where you can get a decent glimpse of the ocean above the trees will be at least OV. Just as I suspect much of the year will be magic season or higher.

[Pardo714]

:cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1:

[supersuperwendy]

A lot of it reminds me of Courtyard View at WL

[SuzanneSLO]

I think it depends on how they want to proceed. They could go with OV vs SV with about 60% being OV. They could go with OF, OV and SV with around 10% being OF and 50% OV. I think anything where you can get a decent glimpse of the ocean above the trees will be at least OV. Just as I suspect much of the year will be magic season or higher.

I woudl expect that only the two sides of the wings that face the parking lots surrounding the entrance drives will not be Ocean View and those will probably be called Mountain View.

When viewing the model, we were told that becuase of the shape of the coastline to the right of the resort (as you stand in the lobby looking towards the lagoon) that all the rooms on the outside of that wing will have fairly amazing ocean views. Not sure if that will be mostly hotel or DVC rooms. -- Suzanne

[dairyou]

I'm so glad DVC is going to be in Hawaii! We live in the West Coast but don't travel to DL because we'd rather go to WDW.

So excited to buy into Hawaii. We've never been yet!

Deb

[tink,too]

The trend for Hawaii timeshares is to have better availability in months like Sept, Oct, Nov, early Dec, Jan.

That's great news for us because October is our favourite time to travel. :)

Not sure if this is news but, on the Webcast for VGC, they reported that there will be character meals and character photo ops at the Ko Olina resort. They also confirmed the Fall 2011 opening. -- Suzanne

How could they open a DVC resort in Hawaii and not have Lilo & Stitch there? :)

The resort models look great and to be honest, I won't care what view we have as long as I can finally get to visit Hawaii! :goodvibes

[dsneygirl]

I cannot wait for this! Hawaii is my favourite place on earth. 2012 here we come!

[Mouser76]

The lobby reminds me of AKL. The pool area looks incredible. I can't wait.

[jade1]

Another great addition to the DVC portfolio. :thumbsup2

[Dean]

I woudl expect that only the two sides of the wings that face the parking lots surrounding the entrance drives will not be Ocean View and those will probably be called Mountain View.I agree, that and the lower rooms that would be blocked were the basis for my percentage estimates.