AKV Concierge = FIVE units?!?!

[Sammie]

I'm looking at that differently. If a 2br equals 3 hotel rooms, than a 2br would take the place of 6 adults using your guidelines.

MG

How many concierge rooms are being taken out to make the 5 two bedroom units for DVC? Is it 15?

 

[jemiaule]

.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

No, my point is that it is the CL lounge, not the DVC lounge - if it was the latter, all DVC members would be allowed to use it. And, yes, I know it is a dollars thing - WDW wouldn't do it if it didn't think it would make more money for the company. You all are likely underestimating the number of AKV CL rooms - they are converting those rooms on the 5th floor too, many of which were AKL CL rooms. I'm guessing that what this does for WDW is get more people to stay there at non-peak times plus of course, it gets lots of money up front. Look at how many people on these boards jumped in to buy a ton of points the very first day they could without even knowing all the details yet.


As for the 11 month window, it is your choice to buy the points so you have to accept that limitation. We have stayed in villas before but decided we preferred the greater flexibility of renting whenever and wherever we choose. I expect there will be AKV villas for non-members to rent too.

Yes, we are already well aware of the limitations and decided to purchase. I'm not complaining, but it seems as though you are not happy.

As far as knowing all the details, well here's what we did know before we bought:

-- We have stayed at AKL club level twice in the past, and eat at Jiko every trip. Because of this we know the resort, and theme pretty well.

-- We also know the DVC system pretty well. We know they do just about everything top notch, as do all components of the Walt Disney Company.

Putting those two things together, we can make a highly educated guess that purchasing at AKV is a good choice for us.
No, we don't know the exact room layout, or where the walkway will be. We are also uncertain of exactly how many rooms of which type there will be.
With that said, to suggest that we made a impullsive choice to purchase, is incorrect.

I'm sorry if DVC somehow impedes upon your resort, and your concierge lounge.

MG

 

[Maistre Gracey]

How many concierge rooms are being taken out to make the 5 two bedroom units for DVC? Is it 15?

I'm really not sure. I'm just going by the "One 2br = three hotel room" formula.

MG

 

[jemiaule]

MG - you may want to go read this thread to get some background:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1349889

 

[LisaS]

As a long time fan of AKL, especially its CL, but not a DVC member, I have to say it is very interesting to read the DVC thread on this and compare it to the Resort Board threads on our wonderful AKL CL. The 6th floor lounge is CL's space and it is being taken over by DVC - we long-time AKL CL'ers are terribly upset about it. The AKL CL and IPO staff are the absolute best in all of WDW and we all sure hope the service doesn't suffer due to its change in management to DVC. We were devastated to learn that our access is being limited and our room choices downgraded to "standard" rooms because of DVC. CL access has always been limited and it is a "lottery" now in many ways. You guys just have to join the rest of us who want CL access and have to book it far in advance to get it. As for those who only want it to do the Safari, join the other non-DVC owners who want the same thing and think the safari should be open to anyone staying at AKL.

It is interesting to hear from someone on the other side of this issue. As happy as we are that DVC members will have access to concierge level for the first time, it means loyal AKL CL fans are losing the convience of having a room close to the lounge, giving up the larger rooms at AKL, and competing for fewer CL rooms. I can certainly understand why you would be disappointed over these changes.

From what we've heard so far, there won't be many concierge spaces reserved for DVC members. It sounds like the majority of them will still go to hotel guests so you will have an easier time booking AKL CL than we will I think.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

MG - you may want to go read this thread to get some background:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1349889

Nice.

Thanx for the link...

MG

 

[mydogdrew]

You can reserve them at 11 months, guaranteed.

Don't give me that typical BVC condescending attitude!

Let me know how booking a Grand Villa works at 11 months for you........oops that's right, there are none!

Not that I want any but I can book any room at SSR at 7 months. You are making my point...and I don't own BCV it was just an example. Any resort other than SSR has a booking advantage for it's owners. I guess you should have researched this a bit more before your purchase.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Not that I want any but I can book any room at SSR at 7 months. You are making my point...and I don't own BCV it was just an example. Any resort other than SSR has a booking advantage for it's owners. I guess you should have researched this a bit more before your purchase.

Not trying to speak for tomandrobin, but I think one point they are making is that SSR has grand villas. The 11 month window at SSR will likely be needed to book a GV.

MG

 

[tomandrobin]

Not that I want any but I can book any room at SSR at 7 months. You are making my point...and I don't own BCV it was just an example. Any resort other than SSR has a booking advantage for it's owners. I guess you should have researched this a bit more before your purchase.

I love when I read ignorance of others, especially when they try to pass off thier opinion as facts. SSR is large, but to state that all rooms types are always available at the 7 month mark is rediculous. You are pulling that out of your........thin air. When is the last time you called and asked about room availability at SSR. Probably never, but that's just a guess on my part. I know what amenities and features each resort has and does not have. Apparently more then you, since you were not aware of the dedicated 2 bedroom at SSR. What about the Grand Villa situation. Three replies to my posts, but you skip over that aspect.

Humor me and list what you apparently feel is the home booking advantage at each resort, that SSR does not have.

And reread my last post, I didn't write that you owned at BCV. Just had the attitude, which you do!

 

[Bytor01]

And reread my last post, I didn't write that you owned at BCV. Just had the attitude, which you do!


Why player hate BCV owners...is it because you can never get a room there? Only kidding, c'mon DVC owners unite!!!

Tim

 

[keys2kingdom]

we long-time AKL CL'ers are terribly upset about it.

Apparently not so much...there are all of five (including you) non DVC people on that thread. In the scope of things that's not very many upset people.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Apparently not so much...there are all of five (including you) non DVC people on that thread. In the scope of things that's not very many upset people.

And I only see one or two people in that thread that are "terribly upset" about it.

MG

 

[keys2kingdom]

And I only see one or two people in that thread that are "terribly upset" about it.

MG

And only 1 upset enough to compare us to animals!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

And only 1 upset enough to compare us to animals!

MG

 

[Sammie]

And only 1 upset enough to compare us to animals!

You know this is one arguement I have no desire to really get into, as I have no desire to stay at AKL.

But I can see both sides. Those that are DVC and think it is no big deal, have you stayed at AKL concierge before? If not, not sure you can state whether or not it will have an adverse affect as you will have nothing to compare with.

Personally even though I enjoy my DVC I think DVC when it was added to BC and WL brought some negatives to a resort we had enjoyed many times prior to DVC. Again unless you were frequent guests at BC and WL prior to DVC, not sure you would understand.

As to the animal reply if you go back and read the entire thread, a DVC member stated that many DVC members are territorial and hence the comment about animals, as many animals are territorial also.

Mainly time will tell if DVC can provide the same quality experience at the AKL concierge as it has in the past when Disney resorts had it.

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

I love when I read ignorance of others, especially when they try to pass off thier opinion as facts. SSR is large, but to state that all rooms types are always available at the 7 month mark is rediculous. You are pulling that out of your........thin air. When is the last time you called and asked about room availability at SSR. Probably never, but that's just a guess on my part. I know what amenities and features each resort has and does not have. Apparently more then you, since you were not aware of the dedicated 2 bedroom at SSR. What about the Grand Villa situation. Three replies to my posts, but you skip over that aspect.

Humor me and list what you apparently feel is the home booking advantage at each resort, that SSR does not have.

And reread my last post, I didn't write that you owned at BCV. Just had the attitude, which you do!

I love a good BCV v. SSR debate, but back to the Topic at hand!

 

[keys2kingdom]

You know this is one arguement I have no desire to really get into, as I have no desire to stay at AKL.

But I can see both sides. Those that are DVC and think it is no big deal, have you stayed at AKL concierge before? If not, not sure you can state whether or not it will have an adverse affect as you will have nothing to compare with.

Personally even though I enjoy my DVC I think DVC when it was added to BC and WL brought some negatives to a resort we had enjoyed many times prior to DVC. Again unless you were frequent guests at BC and WL prior to DVC, not sure you would understand.

As to the animal reply if you go back and read the entire thread, a DVC member stated that many DVC members are territorial and hence the comment about animals, as many animals are territorial also.

Mainly time will tell if DVC can provide the same quality experience at the AKL concierge as it has in the past when Disney resorts had it.

Oh it could very well have an adverse affect and it might be a very big deal but, I was simply commenting on the fact that there didn't seem to be too many upset people in that thread. That poster acted like there were legions of AKL CL people up in arms over there and then when I went to the thread there were 5.

As a frequent BC guest over the years I was less than thrilled at the thought of DVC going in there. I can remember being initially upset at the crowding in the lobby and the relocation of the bus stop among other things however, people need to get over their snobishness and move with the times, DVC is hot and like it or not (and I do like it) it's here to stay. That's why I decided to get on board before I got runover! Get over it or become bitter. I got over it and joined DVC. BC/BCV is still a lovely resort any way you slice it, as are all the others. DVC going in somewhere is not the ruination of the place.

Things change, AKL was not being utilized to its potential so it bit the bullet and did what it needed to do to boost occupancy and make more money.

I read the entire thread and the animal comment, although preceeded by spiceycat's, still had a snarky tone as did the earlier one about 'crying in their soup'. Looks like she's trying to .

 

[Beca]

Okay, JMHO....but, I don't see the "overcrowding" of the lounge by DVC as a problem, especially when you consider they are putting in 5 2-bdrm lockoffs. I tend to think that when you have a full kitchen, you will be less likely to "raid" the lounge. Maybe it's just my family, but when we pay for a 1 bdrm, we really do use our kitchen a lot.

I first assumed that the concierge level rooms would ALL be studios, as those are the people for whom the CL lounge would be a "big benefit". Maybe that is why DVC decided NOT to make them all studios....they were hoping many people would NOT use it.

I also think the REAL asset to CL in this case is the safari. I wonder if AKL will increase the number of days the safari goes? If so, I could see a lot of people being much happier if they only get one or two nights in AKV CL. Otherwise, the nights touching that safari will be INSANE to get.

I am glad to see DVC building a DVC resort with so many "options" though....it does make the resort much more desirable for many more people.

 

[Beca]

Um, SSR has Dedicated 2 bedroom and grand villas! BCV does not have any Grand Villas. So I think there is advantages at SSR for home booking.

Not trying to start anything, but everytime I have booked a 2 brdm at BCV, the CM has asked if I want to book a dedicated or a lock-off. I thought the option was available at every resort that has dedicated 2 bdrms.

Am I missing something?