AKLV- when can we check in?

[dclfun]

I have gotten conflicting information from MS. Before the 16th I was told we could only book for stays between Sept. 1-30th, then of course on the 16th I find out otherwise. I have also been told that concierge is not available until May 08. Then I hear from a friend that they were able to make ressies for this July in the current building and that a limited number of rooms will be available in July. Soooo...I write again to MS and am told that we can't check in before Sept. and that I can't use my "other points" until May 07. I have no idea what was meant by my "other points" so I wrote back to get a clarification. Anyway, anyone truly have the scoop? Can we check in during July or not...can we book concierge or not, and if not, when? Thanks for anyone who can clear this up for me. ---Kathy

 

[drusba]

From what we have seen, you can book for a time before September only if your contract shows that you have purchased an interest in a unit that will itself be available for use before Sep 1. Concierge rooms will not be availble until later (probably May) as they appear to be among the last group of rooms at AKL on the conversion schedule. I don't know what the reference is to "other points."

 

[Poohs Pal]

I'm also confused about when AKV(main Building) will be available. I was on the member website yesterday and it say's for stay's STARTING after 7/2/07. I must be reading it wrong. Susan

 

[dianeschlicht]

Soooo...I write again to MS and am told that we can't check in before Sept. and that I can't use my "other points" until May 07. I have no idea what was meant by my "other points" so I wrote back to get a clarification. Anyway, anyone truly have the scoop? Can we check in during July or not...can we book concierge or not, and if not, when? Thanks for anyone who can clear this up for me. ---Kathy

The "other points" would mean developer points if you made a purchase of enough points and at the price point that got you "developer points". I don't believe the developer points can be used for a stay at AKV until after September. When is your use year? If it is May, then perhaps the building your ownership is in doesn't get moved into the system until then. I don't believe you can reserve until your unit is in the system, but that might be wrong.

We have a March use year and added on less than 100 points back in March when they were first available for pre-sale. We didn't get the developer points, but we did get '07 points, and I had to bank those and then turn around and use them for our next March ressie that I made on the 16th, as well as use our '08 points and a few from '09.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm also confused about when AKV(main Building) will be available. I was on the member website yesterday and it say's for stay's STARTING after 7/2/07. I must be reading it wrong. Susan

I'm not sure what you mean by "main building". If you mean the units in the current AKL that will become AKV units, they will be available starting in July. If you mean the new building which will be exclusively AKV, I don't think that is going to be open until '09.

 

[Poohs Pal]

By main building I did mean the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I didn't realize we could stay as DVC members starting in July 07 at the lodge. I had thought we could only book for stay's starting september and after. Susan

 

[wildernessDad]

I didn't realize we could stay as DVC members starting in July 07 at the lodge. I had thought we could only book for stay's starting september and after. Susan

Some can stay starting in July and some can't. It depends on your unit number. I am a founding member, but I cannot stay until September of this year. Ironically, I have a vacation for September of this year.

 

[LisaS]

If you own points in units 41-45A, then your occupancy date is in July '07 and you can use your AKV points for stays at AKV or elsewhere that begin in July or later. If you own points in units numbered in the 20s or 30s, then your occupancy date is Sep 1st and you can use your AKV points to book a stay at AKV or elsewhere that begins on Sep 1st or later.

The strange part of this is that if your occupancy date is Sep 1st, you can actually book a stay at AKV for dates in July or later using "other" points (points from resorts other than AKV: BCV, or OKW or wherever) by calling on June 6th, and subject to availability of course.

Hope that helps!

ETA:

Anyway, anyone truly have the scoop? Can we check in during July or not...can we book concierge or not, and if not, when? Thanks for anyone who can clear this up for me. ---Kathy

As far as I know, the concierge villas will not be available until May 2008. That is based on the fact that the concierge villas will be on the 6th floor of AKL and that part of the AKL/AKV conversion will not be completed until that time. If you hear otherwise, please let us know!

 

[dclfun]

Whew...I think I understand. To be more clear on my situation, we purchased an additional 200 points and have an April use year. I have no idea which unit/building the points came from. I guess there really won't be any kind of an "opening" ceremony anyway that I was hoping to join in on by being there when the first rooms opened up. We've done that before in different resorts and at least gotten a special pin or certificate for opening day arrivals. It's all sort of underwhelming since we've stayed at AKL before so many times with cash. I'm really excited to see the rooms though as they look gorgeous and am even more excited about Kidani Village. ---Kathy

 

[DisneyPoly]

Can you tell me what 2 bedroom units are renting prior to September 1st?

Thanks!

 

[Inkmahm]

Just to throw in another wrinkle... I've had two different CM at MS tell me that the concierge rooms won't be available until May, 2009. Not 2008, but 2009. I'm hoping they are confusing the rooms in the AKL with the rooms in the new DVC building. Maybe the new building will have concierge beginning May 2009?

 

[LisaS]

Can you tell me what 2 bedroom units are renting prior to September 1st?

Thanks!

This post lists the villa types in each Unit declared thus far. Units numbered 41-45 are in the section scheduled to open in July: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=18661689&postcount=199

 

[Dusted]

Just called MS as well, prior to seeing this thread. Wanted to know when I could book a AKV concierge in the original building. We own at vero beach with a Oct use year.

She told me June 6 call date with travel after Sept 1.

I wrote it down, asked unrelated questions, and hung up. Looked it over, and got confused. I can't figure out how our 7 month out window comes into play.

 

[snyderla]

I was hoping to get some clarification here, too. The website says DVC members who own at resorts other than AKV can begin calling June 6th for stays after July2nd. I thought I might try waitlisting for our July 31- Aug 4th trip with my grandkids (ages 4 & 6). They would love it. I guess I will just have to call and try! Anyone have a trip confirmed for July 2007?
Lori

 

[dclfun]

I got an email back from MS with clarification- I own in unit 30 and thus cannot book at this time for a stay before Sept. 1st. I can use my OKW points on June 6th to book a stay beginning on July 1st, based on availability which will probably be slim to none.( the slim to none part added by me, not MS) Since the confirmations I got for the trips I made in Sept. say that we WILL hear construction noise, I'm not as excited as I once was. Guests who are staying there now are being placed away from the DVC construction area, but our villas will be in the midst of it. I guess it won't really matter though at night for sleeping but forget sleeping in! Now I have to decide whether to use my 7 month window and choose another resort or stick with AKLV and the noise.---Kathy

 

[dclfun]

I have one more question that popped into my mind before I sent the last post...how is it determined which building our points are purchased in? Does it relate to use year?---Kathy

 

[pilferk]

I have one more question that popped into my mind before I sent the last post...how is it determined which building our points are purchased in? Does it relate to use year?---Kathy

The contract you signed (specifically, the filed deed) lists your number of points, and then translates that into a % ownership in a specific unit. Specific units correspond to specific use years.

 

[hmmerr02]

The sections listed that are scheduled to open in July....will they be completely done? I mean will anymore construction be going on in that part of the lodge? I don't want to book and have construction going on above me or below me, you know? I understand the whole lodge will have extra noise/etc because of them building the new villas only section. What would your expectations be of the first openings?

 

[LisaS]

The sections listed that are scheduled to open in July....will they be completely done? I mean will anymore construction be going on in that part of the lodge? I don't want to book and have construction going on above me or below me, you know? I understand the whole lodge will have extra noise/etc because of them building the new villas only section. What would your expectations be of the first openings?

If you are staying in the July section prior to Sep 1st, there will be construction going on further down the Zebra trail hallway from you.

 

[LisaS]

I have one more question that popped into my mind before I sent the last post...how is it determined which building our points are purchased in? Does it relate to use year?---Kathy

It's a function of when you purchase and your UY. It was a little strange at AKV because the first units sold (starting back on Feb 1st) were in the Sep 2007 phase of the resort so they all had an occupancy date of Sep 1st. As those units sold out, they started selling units in the July 2007 phase of the resort, so some of the people who purchased later (many of whom were new members rather than members adding on at AKV) got earlier occupancy dates than those who jumped in on the very first day. Now since your dues begin on the later of your occupancy date or the start of your UY, unless you were hoping to book a stay at AKV starting earlier than Sep 1st, if your UY is Aug or earlier you are better off owning in the Sep phase because you will save a little on your dues this year.