AKV Concierge = FIVE units?!?!

[tjkraz]

Multiple sources have confirmed that there will be exactly five units in the AKV Concierge category. All are lockoff Two Bedrooms, making for a maximum of 10 rooms.

Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculously short-sighted? With the Concierge rooms often being only 3-4 points more than a non-concierge alternative, it sure seems like there will be a lot of demand.

I'm already seeing this as a CRT-type situation. People will be calling day-by-day for these rooms. If you're not on the phone at 9am on a given day, forget it. In fact, it seems like it will be nearly impossible to put together any significant string of dates in one of these rooms. For any given day there are likely (IMO) to be well more than 10 AKV owners hoping to stay Concierge. Even those who are successful in booking, say, Monday and Tuesday could find themselves locked-out come Wednesday or Thursday.

IMO, DVC should either have offered more rooms in this class or set the points much higher to help control demand. Opinions?

 

[bobbiwoz]

My opinion is that there should be more! There are only a few GV at the BWV, so MS sometimes does think small. I agree, short-sighted.

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

I totally agree, but I probably wont be interested in the club level because of the point schedule there now.

 

[crisi]

Multiple sources have confirmed that there will be exactly five units in the AKV Concierge category. All are lockoff Two Bedrooms, making for a maximum of 10 rooms.

Am I the only one who thinks this is ridiculously short-sighted? With the Concierge rooms often being only 3-4 points more than a non-concierge alternative, it sure seems like there will be a lot of demand.

I'm already seeing this as a CRT-type situation. People will be calling day-by-day for these rooms. If you're not on the phone at 9am on a given day, forget it. In fact, it seems like it will be nearly impossible to put together any significant string of dates in one of these rooms. For any given day there are likely (IMO) to be well more than 10 AKV owners hoping to stay Concierge. Even those who are successful in booking, say, Monday and Tuesday could find themselves locked-out come Wednesday or Thursday.

IMO, DVC should either have offered more rooms in this class or set the points much higher to help control demand. Opinions?

Or not offered them at all. I agree, that is incredibly short sighted of them. They seem to be creating more problems for themselves. You have to wonder if they are paying attention to their own booking problems re: Standard Views at BWV.

They might as well give us ONE honeymoon suite in the Grand Floridian for us to all fight over.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

If DVC offerred a whole series of club level rooms. then the club level would be overwhelmed. Having been on club level when it is at full capacity I can assure you thats not very relaxing.
It is a very low number. but given the quality of club level at AKL. It is necessary. I am glad they offered this as an alternative.

I look at it simply as If you want certain dates you have to get on the horn and start calling at the open of bussiness at your 11 month window. Everyone dial for dollars and take your chances. Perfectly fair and perfectly equitable. I consider thois a perk and I if I am lucky enough to snag a room Thanks DVC. If not I move to a regular 1 bedroom. No harm no foul. try again next time.

I also have to say.. consider the fireworks cruises. There are a very limited number of these available as well. You must start dialing and hope to score one. Again limited number and perfectly fair.

 

[LisaS]

In fact, it seems like it will be nearly impossible to put together any significant string of dates in one of these rooms. For any given day there are likely (IMO) to be well more than 10 AKV owners hoping to stay Concierge. Even those who are successful in booking, say, Monday and Tuesday could find themselves locked-out come Wednesday or Thursday.

This is the issue that I've wondered about. How could any member hope to get more than a day or two of their stay? Competition will be especially fierce for the nights associated with the sunrise safari.

I have visions of people checking in and checking out of Concierge villas every other day -- inconvenient for members and will cause additional housekeeping expenses if those villas end up getting a full cleaning every day due to members ending up with fragmented stays.

So I'm wondering if they will have a lottery for those villas. For those who were members at the time, how did the lottery system for holiday stays work?

 

[tjkraz]

I also have to say.. consider the fireworks cruises. There are a very limited number of these available as well. You must start dialing and hope to score one. Again limited number and perfectly fair.

The difference being that when you book a fireworks cruise, you're only calling for ONE cruise. Getting 5 or 7 (or more) consecutive nights in a concierge room is going to be virtually impossible most of the year.

I never said that it wasn't an equitable system. Obviously everyone has the same access to the same block of rooms.

But it IS a poorly-conceived system.

If lounge capacity is an issue, they should have considered opening a second lounge or expanding the existing facilities. Instead of having a fixed block of Concierge rooms, why not offer lounge access as a pay-for-play option. Why even bother with this separate category? To me, it looks like the only reason for the concierge rooms is to use it as a sales tool. "Hey, now all of you concierge fans have a DVC option." Then they just hope people don't do their homework before buying.

I'm usually willing to give the benefit of the doubt to Disney and DVC, but this is just a bad idea all around. In the long run, I predict the disappointment and outrage from members unable to book these rooms will far outweigh the satisfaction expressed by those who are able to book.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

I ahve to say as far as day by day calling. I am one of the peopel who called in day by day for the rooms over the millenium. WDW was booked solid. then with Boardwalk we had DVC rooms come into play.
my brother had one contract, wanted all of us to spend that holiday together/ So he bought a seperate contract for cash. So we both could call.
We had 2 memberships calling day, by day.. same drill. And we wound up with all 3 of out BWV studios. It can be done.

It wasn't easy and we still laugh about how many phones we had dialing at the same time. but we did it.

This time same thing. If I can't get club level strung together. Then its all that more of a treat. if I can't get it say night 3 and 4 and I have gotten it for 1 and 2. Then I will simply book another level.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I think the point levels required should have been higher to help alleviate the issues we all see coming. I am glad they are low...but also realized that as a 7 month bookee...I will probably not be able to book those rooms for a long time.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I am one who will (attempt to) book AKV club level at every opportunity. I know there will be times that I'm shut out, but that's the way it goes. I do wish they planned more club level rooms.

Anyway, about concierge lounge overcrowding, am I mistaken that the 5th and 6th floor of AKL are club level?? If that's true, will there be fewer AKL club level rooms now that those floors will be AKV? If so, overcrowding wouldn't be an issue.

MG

 

[keys2kingdom]

Or not offered them at all. I agree, that is incredibly short sighted of them. They seem to be creating more problems for themselves. You have to wonder if they are paying attention to their own booking problems re: Standard Views at BWV.

They might as well give us ONE honeymoon suite in the Grand Floridian for us to all fight over.

I totally agree, they should have just scrapped the whole idea altogether. It's going to lead to frustration more than anything else.

I was initially very excited about it until I saw the number of rooms and figured out it would NEVER happen for me (or anyone else) at the 7 month mark. Heck, it won't happen for most AKV owners let alone non-owners.

Kinda served as a buzz kill on my AKV excitement.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I totally agree, they should have just scrapped the whole idea altogether. It's going to lead to frustration more than anything else.

I'm of the opposite mindset. I feel some club level units are better than none at all. Heck, this way we at least have a chance at getting it. If we don't get it, we are no worse off than we would be if they didn't have it at all.

MG

 

[Starr W.]

I totally agree, they should have just scrapped the whole idea altogether. It's going to lead to frustration more than anything else.

I was initially very excited about it until I saw the number of rooms and figured out it would NEVER happen for me (or anyone else) at the 7 month mark. Heck, it won't happen for most AKV owners let alone non-owners.

Kinda served as a buzz kill on my AKV excitement.

As I gaze into my crystal ball, I see many angry threads about this in the future. . I'll just wait and see as I am not that big of an animal fan, but the real lack of "official" details made me not want to jump in on the first wave. I'd rather pay a little extra down the road and see more clearly what AKV will be.

Also if they decide to presell CRV next week, I wouldn't buy unless I felt really comfortable about the whole plan.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

You know, now that I'm thinking about it, how hard would it be to increase the number of club level rooms? It seems like a very easy stroke of the pen. I mean, there is no difference in the rooms, just the services offered. They could just increase the points required for a regular room and turn those into cash to pay for it, sort of like the Disney Collection.

MG

 

[tomandrobin]

If DVC offerred a whole series of club level rooms. then the club level would be overwhelmed. Having been on club level when it is at full capacity I can assure you thats not very relaxing.
It is a very low number. but given the quality of club level at AKL. It is necessary. I am glad they offered this as an alternative.

How many "club" rooms did the hotel give up for DVC? Each two bedroom DVC room takes the place of three hotel rooms. DVC room occupancy is 8, the hotel rooms is 12. So I am not really sure about DVC over whelming the lounge.

 

[LisaS]

Anyway, about concierge lounge overcrowding, am I mistaken that the 5th and 6th floor of AKL are club level?? If that's true, will there be fewer AKL club level rooms now that those floors will be AKV? If so, overcrowding wouldn't be an issue.

MG

Currently at AKL, the 6th floor is concierge along with some rooms on the 5th floor. Once AKV opens, only the 6th floor villas will be DVC club level. There will also be some number of concierge "slots" available to AKL hotel guests. There will be only one lounge -- the current concierge lounge on the 6th-floor. DVC will operate the lounge and be compensated by the hotel for the use of it by hotel guests.

 

[crisi]

On the plus side, the rule of thumb for AKL - unlike almost any other resort - is "high floors are bad." Lower floors put you closer to the Savannah. We stayed in a fifth floor room at AKL last time and it would have been far nicer to be on a lower floor. So conceirge level may turn out to be a trade.

 

[LisaS]

I'm of the opposite mindset. I feel some club level units are better than none at all. Heck, this way we at least have a chance at getting it. If we don't get it, we are no worse off than we would be if they didn't have it at all.

MG

I agree -- I would rather have a shot at getting it rather than not even having the option. I hope they do some kind of a lottery. At least that way, you either get it for your entire stay or you don't get it at all.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

My understanding from the club levels perspective. Is that while they have given over rooms and thus numbers of people to DVC rooms. They have NOT substantially decresed thier own CRO club level rooms. In giving up part of those floors. They have created a new club room. Called the "Standard concierge" this is where that new category came from, the redirection of club level guests to other rooms " other meaning on floors other than 5 and 6.

As far as non AKL guests getting shut out. Thats why if you need the 11 mt window you have to buy at that resort. I can't get WL at Christmas and thats fair, Because it is not my home resort.

MGracie. You have the right attitude here... AKL owners will have the same oppurtunity to call day, day. Easy come easy go!It will all work out in the wash.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

The only thing that worries me just a bit, is the day by day thing. I don't mind calling day by day, but let's say you are able to book club level on days 1, 2, and 3, but it's not available on day 4. Now you have to change the whole booking to non club. Now what if day 2 is unavailable? I guess we would just have to move rooms!

MG