AK or Contemporary DVC?

[lenshanem]

I'm curious to read everyone's opinions on DVC at AK and possibly the Contemporary. If you were to do an add on which would you choose, and most importantly WHY?

I'll start by saying AK is BEAUTIFUL and has fantastic theming. Cons would be location and possibly higher maintenance fees.

The Contemporary is a concrete blob, but has monorail access, sidewalk to MK, marina and MK views.

DH votes for the Contemporary, but I'm still a tad torn. We do spend most of our time at the MK, but I've never been impressed with the theming there.

 

[ADP]

I'm curious to read everyone's opinions on DVC at AK and possibly the Contemporary. If you were to do an add on which would you choose, and most importantly WHY?

I'll start by saying AK is BEAUTIFUL and has fantastic theming. Cons would be location and possibly higher maintenance fees.

The Contemporary is a concrete blob, but has monorail access, sidewalk to MK, marina and MK views.

DH votes for the Contemporary, but I'm still a tad torn. We do spend most of our time at the MK, but I've never been impressed with the theming there.

Although the location of AKL and AKV is a con now, looking ahead I personally believe that portion of WDW will be heavily developed in the next 10 years making AKL and AKVs location very desirable.

 

[pilferk]

How about "both"?

We're going to buy in to AKV (our initial buy in).

We're going to add on at CRV, if/when it's available.

 

[dwelty]

The Contemporary is a concrete blob.

Amen to that! While I am not into VAKL, At least it will have some great theaming. Contemporary offers NO THEAMING at all! Theaming is what sets DVC apart from other timeshares.

 

[dwelty]

You forgot to add Villas at the Grand Californian Hotel. That is where I am planning to add on!

 

[jakenjess]

Contemporary -- location, location, location!

 

[spiceycat]

the Cont - it is on the monrail and you can walk to the MK.

although I am also considering the AKV too - depends upon the budget at the time.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Size matters. It is my understanding that the AKV is going to be a large development. I think that 7 month availability may be possible as a result. I'd like to sit back and see what's really going to happen.

My only thought of concern is that if you think it's hard now to get a reservation at Boma, you better put disney dining on speed dial at 180+10 once the AKV's open.

HBC

 

[pilferk]

Amen to that! While I am not into VAKL, At least it will have some great theaming. Contemporary offers NO THEAMING at all! Theaming is what sets DVC apart from other timeshares.

It's funny...my wife and I have this same conversation.

Contemporary "themeing" is spartan, austere "concrete and chrome" sorta thing.

Which really means, to me, it's not themeing at all....it seems like a contemporary theme is a "lack of theme", if you get my drift.

In any case, we like it (to stay in, that is.....our home is as far from contemp as you can get! I'd classify it as early provincial Natural Disaster (note: 3 young kids). Maybe that's why we like it. )

 

[spiceycat]

I
The Contemporary is a concrete blob, but has monorail access, sidewalk to MK, marina and MK views.

do not under estimate the DVC designers - they have done alot with little before. while making the building blend with the current Cont.

but I don't think it will be just a concrete blob like the Cont tower is.

more windows for a start, probably more greenery - make the entire building a slightly different color - like WL/VWL, BC/BCV.

they are good at what they do.

I am expecting no less at the Cont.

although even I admit they don't have alot to work with right now.

 

[Hollymom1229]

From the day they announced AKV DH and I started saving to do a 115 point add on. AKL was our first on property resort and remains our very favorite. So the sheer idea of being able to own some of that magic was perfect. Also having 300 points a year to play with doesn't hurt. We've never been interested in the Contemporary, and the only reason we stop here is for the CA Grill. Too spartan for us.

 

[lenshanem]

Sorry pilferk. I thought about adding both after I posted.

 

[Cricket2]

Added both for you, if you want it removed let me know.

 

[cocoswife]

I voted for both. I'm thinking that we can add on enough points for a 5 night stay in a studio. This way we have the advantage of the 11 month window at 3 different resorts and enough points to book a 2 bedrooms at the 7 month window. I am dying to see the point chart at AKL, so, that I can know how many points we need to do this. I also know I need at least 3 weeks to a month to convince DH that we need more points

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Funny, I like the spartan, concrete jungle theme of the Contemporary. Feels like a Sci Fi movie...Colussus, the Forbin Project, more recently Minority Report or the Fifth Element. Not Children of Men, however...altho' that might make for a different twist for the DVC structure.

I'd be even happier to stay there if they went for cutting edge in modern design (unlikely). The one downer is that

The AKV design looks like an extension of existing designs so it'll be great for a place to stay occasionally. I won't have a need to own there, CRV I'd consider especially if it gets its own 50 year times span (mainly for resale reasons, I'd be pushing 100).

 

[bigsmooth]

I voted neither. If Grand California Villas was there, might have selected that.

I liked the themed resorts, so can see giving AKV a try. I'm sure I'll see plenty of CRV Giganto Towers from inside the Magic Kingdom, to offset the view of the Dirty White Pyramid that you can also see from inside the Magic Kingdom.

The Contemporary is a concrete blob, but has monorail access, sidewalk to MK, marina and MK views. .

Interesting. How will they theme the CRV pool? Perhaps with leftover concrete from construction, it could be called the Concrete Blob pool? Or the Contemporary Art pool, with some modernistic white concrete art? Or they could make a pool slide using a hollowed out old monorail train. This has the making of its own thread.

 

[doombuggy]

I voted for Contemporary. I would add on there...I love the closeness to the MK, my park.

 

[pilferk]

Sorry pilferk. I thought about adding both after I posted.

No problem!

And thanks Cricket for adding it! I voted.

 

[Granny]

Size matters. It is my understanding that the AKV is going to be a large development. I think that 7 month availability may be possible as a result. I'd like to sit back and see what's really going to happen.

Hate to be boring but once again HBC posted my first thoughts and I agree with him. Given the size of AKL, I think it probably won't be all that difficult to get at the 7 month window. I think a wait & see attitude would sum up our thoughts. If they have different guaranteed views, that would probably be a little more motivation.

The CRV may be a much tougher 7 month booking, and again may have different guaranteed views.

We aren't especially motivated to buy either since we really like our home resorts of VWL and BWV. But if I had to choose which of these two were more likely candidate for an add-on for us, I'd probably say CRV.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Here's the difference, AKV is definately happening; they are building it right now, starting with the conversion of parts of the Concierge floors at AKL. CRV or VCR, whatever, could still just be a pipe dream. They are building there now, but no plans are yet announced for anything DVC; sure we've got cool design pix, but there is still no announcement, and they are there building right now, which indicates to me that the CR project is an extension of the existing hotel, rather than DVC.

It is fun to fantasize tho. And since it's the "Year of a Million Dreams", maybe they can grant the wishes of a large subset of DVC owners and build DVC at CR. Still, AKV looks great, and I can't wait to get a chance to stay there.