AKV - Disney Press Release from 1/25/07

[Caskbill]

This was announced last October, and in Oct/Nov we had a very lengthy discussion thread. You can find it here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1249265&highlight=official

The official name is Animal Kingdom Villas, or AKV for short. It is not VAKL, or AKLV, or anything like that.

On the DIS, we are using the term AKV to refer to the new resort.

The first section to open will be the rooms in the lodge that are being converted. These are the old concierge rooms in the main section of the lodge.

The new stand alone buildings will connect to the lodge somehow, will have their own savannah, their own restaurant, and their own check-in area.

Sales are to start sometime this Spring, with occupancy beginning this Fall sometime.

A point chart has not yet been released.

We do know that one new thing will be that there will be some 1-BR units with an official sleeping capacity for 5 persons.

Selling price is not known. DVC will be raising prices to $104/point in the near future. Whether AKV will go for that price, or will have some kind of incentive is not known.

I'm sure DVC will be releasing some information in the next month or so.

 

[sk8belle]

Ever so sorry to get the name wrong. I've corrected it in the original post, but don't know how to do so in the thread title. I only posted this press release from today as I thought people might be interested.

 

[rinkwide]

Looks like more outdoor concrete walkways, great.

 

[Caskbill]

Ever so sorry to get the name wrong. I've corrected it in the original post, but don't know how to do so in the thread title. I only posted this press release from today as I thought people might be interested.

No problem. If you want to change the title, as the thread's OP, you can. Go to your 1st post in this thread. At the bottom, click the edit button. On the next screen click the Advanced button. The next screen will show the thread's title which you may then edit.

All discussion of AKV is welcomed. There are still many who don't know it was announced, and posting the release again doesn't hurt, and will help inform others who may have missed some of the initial announcements.

 

[Longhairbear]

I am sure that we will get postcards in the mail once the sales begin.

 

[kdzgon]

This was announced last October, and in Oct/Nov we had a very lengthy discussion thread. You can find it here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1249265&highlight=official

The official name is Animal Kingdom Villas, or AKV for short. It is not VAKL, or AKLV, or anything like that.

On the DIS, we are using the term AKV to refer to the new resort.

The first section to open will be the rooms in the lodge that are being converted. These are the old concierge rooms in the main section of the lodge.

The new stand alone buildings will connect to the lodge somehow, will have their own savannah, their own restaurant, and their own check-in area.

Sales are to start sometime this Spring, with occupancy beginning this Fall sometime.

A point chart has not yet been released.

We do know that one new thing will be that there will be some 1-BR units with an official sleeping capacity for 5 persons.

Selling price is not known. DVC will be raising prices to $104/point in the near future. Whether AKV will go for that price, or will have some kind of incentive is not known.

I'm sure DVC will be releasing some information in the next month or so.

I spoke with my guide yesterday. The point charts are out - while she has seen one, she does not yet have one. All info is "unofficial" until she completes her training (briefing?) on Sunday. She told me to call her on Monday for the full "official" info. In the meanwhile, here is the "unofficial" info I was given so far (take it for what it is worth):

• Term is 50 yrs (ending 2057) as has been reported previously.
• Opening price (members only) will be $101 until March 4, with an possible incentive of $8 off OR extra one-time points (there is a small possibility it will be both, but she didn't believe so but was not sure)
• Price will be $104 for approx another month, also just for existing members
• After that, sales will open to the general public.
• It has not yet been announced if there will be a change in price for sold out resorts (currently $95 for BC, BW, & VWL; $92 for OKW; $87 for VB & HH)
• She did not have the MF amount yet.
• I can call on Monday to get full info on AKL and/or purchase points there.

I was in the process of adding on 50 pts under the SSR promotion ($91 per pt). Now I have to decide if it will make more sense to switch to AKL or leave it as SSR (I already have 300 SSR and 100 HH). As both will be very large resorts I suspect it will not make a large difference to me in the end, but I'll know better on Monday.

Laurie

 

[ADP]

My personal feeling about AKV is that it will be excellent. Even though the resort is/will be in a remote location now (right next to Animal Kingdom by the way) that part of Walt Disney World will eventually expand making AKL and AKV very attractive properties in the future.

The rumor mill has speculated that the Western Beltway portion that is in WDW will be developed into another shopping, dining, entertainment and resort district. You've also got to believe that the Animal Kingdom park will continue to expand with new rides and attractions.

 

[holcomb-mania]

It's gonna be an absolute jail-break when this thing goes on sale. And I'll be right in the middle.

I just booked a stay at AKL on points for the end of October, and the CM told me they were allowing bookings thru the end of November.

 

[LisaS]

• I can call on Monday to get full info on AKL and/or purchase points there.

Thank you kdzgon for posting that info!! Am I reading this point correctly that your guide told you we can purchase points at AKV starting on Monday?

ETA: And if the points are going on sale on Monday, kudos to whoever it was on these boards who first predicted (when the end date of the F&F incentive was announced) that AKV would go on sale 10 days after the end of the F&F incentive. While Monday is actually only 9 days, I think that's close enough!

 

[kimpossible]

Keep me posted.

 

[disneychic]

EXCELLENT! Can't wait to see it happen!

 

[lisareniff]

There are new photos (well, ones I haven't seen before), and there's a mention that it may open as early as fall 2007. My guess is that will be the section that's being renovated in the main lodge.

It is great seeing the new concept art! I like the look of the lobby!

 

[lisareniff]

Here are the concept art posted on Screamscape...

 

[jemiaule]

Thanks for postng those pictures. Has anyone sen concept drawings of the rooms?

 

[kdzgon]

Thank you kdzgon for posting that info!! Am I reading this point correctly that your guide told you we can purchase points at AKV starting on Monday?

ETA: And if the points are going on sale on Monday, kudos to whoever it was on these boards who first predicted (when the end date of the F&F incentive was announced) that AKV would go on sale 10 days after the end of the F&F incentive. While Monday is actually only 9 days, I think that's close enough!

Lisa,

That's my understanding. I have a contract in progress for SSR - she told me I can wait until Monday and decide if I want to complete the SSR purchase or switch to AKL instead, as she'll be fully trained and qualified for sales of AKL. Now, maybe she meant I can cancel SSR and wait to buy AKL at a later date, but that was definitely not my understanding at all.

Laurie

 

[LisaS]

Lisa,

That's my understanding. I have a contract in progress for SSR - she told me I can wait until Monday and decide if I want to complete the SSR purchase or switch to AKL instead, as she'll be fully trained and qualified for sales of AKL. Now, maybe she meant I can cancel SSR and wait to buy AKL at a later date, but that was definitely not my understanding at all.

Laurie

Your understanding appears to be correct! There are a couple of threads over on the Mousecellaneous board stating that AKV goes on sale on Feb 1st! Here are the links:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1337228
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1338337

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I spoke with my guide yesterday. The point charts are out - while she has seen one, she does not yet have one. All info is "unofficial" until she completes her training (briefing?) on Sunday. She told me to call her on Monday for the full "official" info. In the meanwhile, here is the "unofficial" info I was given so far (take it for what it is worth):

• Term is 50 yrs (ending 2057) as has been reported previously.
• Opening price (members only) will be $101 until March 4, with an possible incentive of $8 off OR extra one-time points (there is a small possibility it will be both, but she didn't believe so but was not sure)
• Price will be $104 for approx another month, also just for existing members
• After that, sales will open to the general public.
• It has not yet been announced if there will be a change in price for sold out resorts (currently $95 for BC, BW, & VWL; $92 for OKW; $87 for VB & HH)
• She did not have the MF amount yet.
• I can call on Monday to get full info on AKL and/or purchase points there.

I was in the process of adding on 50 pts under the SSR promotion ($91 per pt). Now I have to decide if it will make more sense to switch to AKL or leave it as SSR (I already have 300 SSR and 100 HH). As both will be very large resorts I suspect it will not make a large difference to me in the end, but I'll know better on Monday.

Laurie

This is great info Laurie. Thank you and it was so much earlier and succinctly reported than Greenban's post (which came much later and was probably just copied from you (how many infraction points for plagiarism?))

HBC

 

[lisareniff]

 

[kdzgon]

This is great info Laurie. Thank you and it was so much earlier and succinctly reported than Greenban's post (which came much later and was probably just copied from you (how many infraction points for plagiarism?))

HBC

thanks*you know him well, I see

lol

 

[JudyTL]

Does that mean, non-members are going to be unable to do the initial buy-in? Will there be a maximum number of points one can buy? Meaning will members be restricted to buying 160 points? Wow... I am still waiting to get through ROFR? I am sorry, I did not buy directly from Disney.

Judy