Advice Please: Rethinking 100 AKL Add On

[danielle782001]

Hi All:

I need the wisdom of my fellow DVCrs....We have been waiting to purchase an add on at the AKL for a while now...We knew we wanted 100 points there for short stays or a split stay vacation...Last week I (along with most) received the email about adding on at AKL...

I called my guide right away...He said I would get a $500 Visa gift card, $500 rewards on my Disney Visa, it would only cost $500 OOP on my Visa, 100 Developer points at SSR, and 100 to start booking at AKL when it openned next June and I would have to pay half the dues for AKL in June for half the year...I thought this is great and I went for it....

The next day he called back to say I could not get the 100 AKL points now because they were not available but I would get them in my 09-10 use year (we are Aug to Aug) to borrow if we wanted....He told us we were still being given the 100 developer points and he thought it was still a good deal...I wasn't happy about not getting the 100 but I still agreed that it was a good deal....

Next night I was reading the boards and found out developer points could not be booked until 7 months out...Something I did not think to ask and I really just assumed I could book with them at 11 months...So I was not happy about that...And I was starting to rethink the 100 points that I was not getting now at AKL...

I receieved my papers in the mail last night....Now I am rethinking the whole thing...So I need to know if I am thinking about this the wrong way....

So here is my problem.....
Why should I be paying for points now when I do not really get them until August of 2009??? Yes, they are "giving" me developer points but I do not want 100 points at SSR, I want them at AKL...And if I am paying for them now, why can't I book with them now??? They are not really "giving" me developer points at all, I am paying for something now....And about those dues that I will be paying for in June...I don't start getting points until August so why am I paying for dues on something I don't really have yet...Yes, I can "borrow" but I don't want to and why am I paying dues on something I don't have yet???

I think I should be getting the 100 AKL available to book for after AKL opens, now....I am I wrong...Or at least let me book the developer points at 11 months....

I am wrong? I need a voice of wisdom here....Please help me

 

[drusba]

Whether you decide to accept or not is ultimately your decision but your concept of the deal is accurate. Why you cannot get Aug 08 points at AKV is the following: (a) units at Jambo, the open part of AKV, are sold out; (b) they are now selling points related to units in Kidani; (c) Kidani will not open until May 2009; (d) if they were to give you 08 points that you could then use now, they would face a potential legal violation, namely it would be considered an "oversell" of the resort; by law they are prohibited from selling more points than it would take to fill the available units of the timeshare for a year; because Kidani is not done, selling you Kidani points for year 2008 that can be used now would mean there are more useable points out there for the year for the resort than rooms currently available. As a result, what is occurring with Kidani is essentially a pre-sale -- they can sell points from the same year that Kidani opens but none can be used until the units to which they are attached become available for occupancy, May 2009. The SSR deal is what it is. The June start for dues relates to the fact that dues are based on calendar year and the rule is basically that you will start paying dues for new resorts when the unit in which you purchase an interest is deemed available for occupancy (apparently the particular unit that will be reflected in your contract will be transfered into the DVC system on June 1, 2009).

 

[ejsteg]

Please bear with me as I am new to disboards and to DVC. Your threads have me a little confused about our purchase. We bought into AKV in Aug of 07 (aware that Jambo house was available and that Kidani village was being completed). My question is -- when we bought into it we did we buy into the entire Animal Kingdom Villas or just Jambo house? Meaning - is our home resort Jambo house or the entire AKV's? It is my understanding that our home resort is the enitre AKV (jambo and Kidani) am I correct? thanks

 

[chalee94]

Please bear with me as I am new to disboards and to DVC. Your threads have me a little confused about our purchase. We bought into AKV in Aug of 07 (aware that Jambo house was available and that Kidani village was being completed). My question is -- when we bought into it we did we buy into the entire Animal Kingdom Villas or just Jambo house? Meaning - is our home resort Jambo house or the entire AKV's? It is my understanding that our home resort is the enitre AKV (jambo and Kidani) am I correct? thanks

you technically own a unit in jambo house. jambo house units have been ready for use for some time, so that means you can book and stay at AKV immediately (unlike buyers of a unit in kidani.)

but yeah, your home resort is AKV and (once kidani is completed) you can choose to stay in either jambo or kidani if you book at 11 months.

 

[ejsteg]

Thats what I thought - thank you for helping me clear that up and for your quick reply

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

You better confirm the $500 Disney Visa rewards with your guide as well...the promo specifically says its for purchases of 160 or more points (not 100) and it's also been reported from more than one person it can't be combined with the other $500 prepaid Visa offer -- supposedly you have to choose which one you want.

 

[drusba]

Please bear with me as I am new to disboards and to DVC. Your threads have me a little confused about our purchase. We bought into AKV in Aug of 07 (aware that Jambo house was available and that Kidani village was being completed). My question is -- when we bought into it we did we buy into the entire Animal Kingdom Villas or just Jambo house? Meaning - is our home resort Jambo house or the entire AKV's? It is my understanding that our home resort is the enitre AKV (jambo and Kidani) am I correct? thanks

The distinction is what the actual legal transaction is when you buy and then what you can actually do. When you buy, you actually purchase a small percentage real estate interest in a particular unit in the resort, in your case Jambo. A unit is actually a group of rooms. If you look at your contracts you will see that you own an actual real estate interest in a unit plus an interest in any common areas of the resort. You, in fact, do not buy points. And, in fact, the legal documents declare that points have absolutely no monetary value. Points are deemed to be mere symbols that represent your actual ownership interest.

That is the legal side of ownership. Then you have how the system actually works and what you can do as spelled out in the official documents. That is the one most people are familiar with where all believe (and in most ways rightly so) that points are the most valuable things in the world and second most valuable is the home resort booking advantage. AKV is set up as one DVC resort that includes both Kidani and Jambo and all of AKV is the home resort of every AKV owner. Thus, any AKV owner can use points 11 months out to reserve any room at either (you may never even stay in a room that is in the particluar unit your purchased). All owners will also share equally (per point) in any dues for AKV.

 

[JMLBrats]

You better confirm the $500 Disney Visa rewards with your guide as well...the promo specifically says its for purchases of 160 or more points (not 100) and it's also been reported from more than one person it can't be combined with the other $500 prepaid Visa offer -- supposedly you have to choose which one you want.

actually my email does say 100 developer point $500 gift card and $800 flex credit. 200 points gets you double the incentives.

 

[Wigit12]

Ask your guide if you can waitlist for 08 points. That's what we're doing. We're on the waitlist now. If they come through, we'll take them. If they're not available by the end of the month, we're buying 09 points.

I wasn't happy about the Dev Points @ SSR but that's the deal

And we were told we had to choice between the $500 Visa OR $500 Disney Rewards.

We just decided we should do it now before they raise prices since we know for a fact we wanted more points eventually. This promo sold it.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

actually my email does say 100 developer point $500 gift card and $800 flex credit. 200 points gets you double the incentives.

That incentive is for a prepaid Visa card...OP posted their guide said they would receive that *and* 500 Disney Visa Rewards, which is a separate promo and supposedly the two can't be combined.

 

[hakepb]

DVC ownership has many of the same advantages and disadvantages of home ownership.
With Kidani, you are like buying a new home. The contractor/developer will want some money right now, even though you cannot occupy the house until it is declared for occupancy.

On the plus side, you are getting a bit of a discount, and might be among the first to experience the new rooms! But, like the first night moving into a new house, you might find a few items not finished.
If the "new house" disadvantages are too troubling, then you may be like many home owners and prefer moving into a "used" home that is immediately available and should have everything completed.

 

[jerseygal]

My telephone guide told me that the developer points, minimum 160 purchase was a point for point match...160 you would get 160 developer points which you could book immediately at deposit date...

I was told you had up to 1 yr from contract date to use developer points at either SSR, through Interval, or at the three Disneyland hotels.

I also was told that the promo is EITHER $500 of Disney Rewards OR $500 Visa Gift Card if you were referred by DVC Member..The DVC Member got a $250 Visa Gift Card as well.

Anyone able to shed some light? Thanks!

 

[Wigit12]

My telephone guide told me that the developer points, minimum 160 purchase was a point for point match...160 you would get 160 developer points which you could book immediately at deposit date...

I was told you had up to 1 yr from contract date to use developer points at either SSR, through Interval, or at the three Disneyland hotels.

I also was told that the promo is EITHER $500 of Disney Rewards OR $500 Visa Gift Card if you were referred by DVC Member..The DVC Member got a $250 Visa Gift Card as well.

Anyone able to shed some light? Thanks!

You've got it right. This is the current promo as I was told also.

 

[Splat25]

You can rent out your developer bonus SSR points, then use the sale proceeds to replay the loan if you have one. Thats what I'm doing with mine currently. They are sellign for about $10/point now on the rental boards.

 

[mydogdrew]

So you get 100 developer points but no 2008 points plus the $500 and $96 pp. I don't view that as an outstanding deal - just average, particularly in this economy.

The spin on the offer makes the the developer points sound like an extra!

 

[Wigit12]

I waitlisted for 2008 points and I think they've come through. They showed up today on the website. I'll wait to see if I get the paperwork though.
So we should be getting 2008 points and developer points as well as the $500 Visa.

 

[danielle782001]

I wanted to clarify a few things before sending back our documents...

He assured me that we will be receiving BOTH the $500 Visa gift card via and the $500 rewards $$$ on our Disney Visa Card...We had to give him a code off of our statement and he said the $$$ should appear on the statement in two billing cycles...We had to put the deposit on the Disney Visa to get that incentive...We also received the $800 credit (gift card) for the down payement (that was clear in the documents)...

I am still upset that we were only able to get developer points at SSR and that we cannot book them until 7 months out..I now understand why we could not get points of AKL for this use year...It stinks but I can deal with it....

Now I am just confused the best way to go about booking the trip we want to take because of those developer points...If I book what I can now when does the 7 months start on the rest of the trip? In other words, I am booking most of my trip now and then we add on days to the end when the developer points become available at the 7 month mark...But when does the 7 months start? From the date of my original check-in or for the dates we are adding on? Because we are booking 6 nights now at 11 months out and adding 3 nights at the 7 month mark.

 

[roxmic]

I don't think your getting an awsome deal, but I don't think your being taken for a ride either. the developer points are to make the deal look sweeter but they are doing everything they can to sell points. I bought 150 at AKV as soon as they were open for sale, so my intrest is in Jumbo which alows me to stay now. you can look at it like this: 1. you can take the deal as you have it now, at the price you have it. or 2. you can wait until next Aug and risk paying an unknown price and with unknown incentives
Good luck!

 

[danielle782001]

Thanks for all the great information and advice....I went for it...I sent back the papers today...I am okay with the "deal" now...I am just glad that we now have 100 more points and that we can book at least part of our trip at AKL at 11 months...

Still don't love the developer points part but I can get past it...

Thanks again!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Thanks for all the great information and advice....I went for it...I sent back the papers today...I am okay with the "deal" now...I am just glad that we now have 100 more points and that we can book at least part of our trip at AKL at 11 months...

Still don't love the developer points part but I can get past it...

Thanks again!

I hope your guide isn't steering you wrong about the $500 Disney Visa rewards as it clearly stated right on the offer that it had to be a minimum purchase of 160 pts. I've got my fingers crossed for you that it turns out the way it was presented. This is the actual wording from the DVC website:

(1) This 500 Disney Dream Reward Dollars bonus offer will be awarded to Disney Rewards Visa Cardmembers upon the completion of the purchase of a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club Resort equal to 160 or more Vacation Points ("Contract"). In order to receive these bonus reward dollars, the Cardmember must provide their unique Cardmember ID, must be a Disney Rewards Visa Cardmember prior to 6/1/08 and must complete the purchase of a Disney Vacation Club Contract. Bonus reward dollars will be credited to your rewards account up to two billing cycles after the Contract close date. Disney Dream Reward Dollars are subject to the terms and conditions of the Disney Rewards Program. Limit one 500 Disney Dream Reward Dollars bonus offer per household. The use of a Disney Rewards Visa Card for the initial down payment is required to receive the Disney Dream Reward Dollars bonus offer. Offers cannot be combined with select Disney Vacation Club offers or discounts, such as the existing Disney Cast Member discount. Offer expires 9/15/08.