dvc_john
DVC since 1993
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2000
What airport would be the best to fly into?
Honolulu International (for Ko Olina)
I also like the reports of other new development at Ko Olina, and the new shopping mall at Kapolei
What airport would be the best to fly into?
I am sure the resort will be great, I just do not care for the location and if I am going to spend the expense of getting there and the time, I want to stay elsewhere.
I hope everyone loves it though and it sells quickly, but it is not for me.
The number one complaint about HHI is the location on the island, I am afraid this is the same situation. Not the best location if one is going to Hawaii and not like it is not a major expense to get there and stay there.
Honolulu International (for Ko Olina)
I also like the reports of other new development at Ko Olina, and the new shopping mall at Kapolei
I have only been to Maui, stayed at the Westin Resort.
I won't be buying either. Living in Maryland, its just to far to travel on a regular basis. I don't think the resort will be a quick seller. But I will try it, booking at the 7 month mark with my SSR points!
Honolulu International (for Ko Olina)
I also like the reports of other new development at Ko Olina, and the new shopping mall at Kapolei
People who are hard on the location (in this thread and in other threads about DVC in Hawaii) seem to fall in two categories:Resort looks awesome! I know many of you are hard on the location. Maybe Disney has more info then we do. Maybe the land was much cheaper, so we might get lucky and not see outrageous points per night needed. (I doubt it though). Maybe they know of future development that will evolve that area!
People who are hard on the location (in this thread and in other threads about DVC in Hawaii) seem to fall in two categories:
There are those who have been to Ko Olina, and genuinely prefer other locations in Hawaii, such as the crowded, urban craziness of Waikiki or fully-developed, master-planned resorts on the less populated islands. Fair enough.
Then there are those who have never been to Ko Olina (or have never even been to Hawaii), but have somehow heard that the location is "bad." Actually, Ko Olina is a master-planned resort community in the tradition of resorts like Kaanapali and Wailea on Maui. Ko Olina guests can stay in the resort complex and relax, swim, walk, dine, etc., but they also have access to all the attractions of Oahu.
There are still development sites available at Ko Olina. Disney could not have built at either of the two major Maui resorts areas because those developments are fully built out.
If someone knows of a better site that Disney could have bought, I'd be interested to know the details.
As far as the land at Ko Olina perhaps being "much cheaper" is concerned, Disney paid $144 million for the site at Ko Olina. For 21 acres, that's almost $7 million per acre!
Then secondly- not sure if they factored this in or not, but Oahu is a very popular attraction for Japanese visitors, and I'm wondering if Disney is planning on marketing to their loyal fan base in Japan, less from a timeshare ownership level and more from a hotel/Disney experience level (since it is a hotel/DVC hybrid).
I myself am looking forward to Hawaii! Great Pictures!! My family is already planning a trip in 2011 or 2012 for a great trip! Never been to Hawaii, but ALL people I talk to say go see Oahu first, so that is what we will do. With the Costco/Walmart/Target nearby, just rent a car, buy groc at Costco/Walmart and go to the resort... A trip to Hawaii for a week for $3500 or so (airfare), NOT BAD!! I am already thinking of renting points to cover the airfare, so All we pay for is rental car, and groceries and etc..... Not bad for a week or maybe 8 days in Hawaii!!!
NOW, if I can get the resort at the 7 month mark......
DeerH
I was so excited about a DVC in Hawaii, but I really doubt we are going to be able to afford any points there. I also really doubt it will be very easy to trade into it with other DVC points. I have a hunch it's going to be fewer points to trade into an RCI exchange than it will be to trade in-system to Ko'Olina. Frankly, I'd rather go to Kauai, Hawaii, or even Maui before Oahu anyway. We went around the Ko'Olina side last time we were there, and I wasn't so impressed with the area.
Yesterland has a new article with current construction pictures of the resort that DVC is building in Hawaii:
See http://www.yesterland.com/disneykoolina5.html