AKV models will open next week...and...

[tjkraz]

I think it is. Even with SSR, we knew very little until the resort opened.

I disagree. When SSR points went on sale they already had model rooms open at the BoardWalk sales center. They also provided current and potential members with a 10+ page brochure that provided a lot more details about the resort than the animal cutout thing we received. Here are some scans from that brochure:

Artist rendering of pool complex:

Photos of model rooms:

Floorplans of units with sizes and amenities:

Resort map / development plan:

 

[mydogdrew]

Clearly AKV is rushed from a disclosure standpoint. I don't think they are misleading just not where they should be when they opened this up for sale. For us it wasn't worth losing 2007 points over. We figure at ~ $83 (assuming renting 2007 points) vs. $96 for new members next week, we can sell and recover our money next year, even after commission, if we are not thrilled with it. There is risk but DVC has done well by us in the past and we love the location.

 

[spiceycat]

this delay is very unDVC.

it might be as I believe - someone did not like the first few versions of the rooms - they finally got the okay.

remember they have been fooling around with the rooms since the summer.

they would generally announce to us with a brochure - showing not only the points and outside of the resort - but what it will look inside.

this is the first time they hadn't.

Now I can definitely take pictures - but I can't post my pictures until I get back.....

so hopefully someone will be back sooner!!!

 

[Granny]

Clearly AKV is rushed from a disclosure standpoint.

Probably because every plan of theirs gets posted on public internet forums before they have a chance to announce it! Maybe they feel compelled to announce things quickly while they still have some newsworthiness?

Or maybe they just figure that they can sell points without showing anyone the resort, so why go to the expense of printing brochures!

 

[Sammie]

So are they saying when you book you will not know if you are being placed in the exisiting lodge or the new building?

If that is so, I would have a definite problem with that and that pretty much assures we won't be staying there.

 

[tjkraz]

Probably because every plan of theirs gets posted on public internet forums before they have a chance to announce it! Maybe they feel compelled to announce things quickly while they still have some newsworthiness?

Sorry, I don't buy it. DVC would have lost nothing by waiting until March 1st to begin sales...hopefully with a more educated sales staff and better presentation materials. Sure there would have been another month's worth of speculation about point charts and dues amounts, but the additional wait wouldn't have done anything to diminish interest.

I suspect this was entirely driven by some combination of disorganization and your second suggestion...

Or maybe they just figure that they can sell points without showing anyone the resort, so why go to the expense of printing brochures!

I doubt any of the emerging details have had much impact on the die-hards who spent thousands of dollars largely due to the resort affiliation. But speaking as someone who is on the fence, DVC's actions have been very disappointing thus far.

 

[pilferk]

So are they saying when you book you will not know if you are being placed in the exisiting lodge or the new building?

If that is so, I would have a definite problem with that and that pretty much assures we won't be staying there.

No, "they" are not saying that. "They" haven't said, one way or the other, yet. Some people here are just wondering....

I'd be completely SHOCKED if that becomes the case. It was one of the concerns I expressed early on, and I guess it still is, a bit, but I'm relatively sure Disney would NOT open itself up to that logistical nightmare.

 

[Starr W.]

I just took a survey on dvcmember.com and voiced this exact same concern, but we don't have a contract on AKV. But still I think it is pretty weird for them to say-"Hey, you can buy AKV now" and then give virtually no info about it. On the first day of sales official points charts were not even posted- but that didn't stop people from buying- so I guess DVC figures it isn't that important- 1 month later and still no official floorplans! I am just so DANG curious!

I mentioned this on another thread about capacity at AKV, that nothing is really known. When I talked to my guide about another resort a few weeks ago, I swung the conversation over to AKV. All I really got out of him was that 2br dedicated villas would be in the new section(our preferred type of room). Kind of avoid the subject of concierge/club room numbers. Also noticed that he was not as sure sounding about talking about AKV as he was VB, HH or BCV, the resorts I called about. That threw up a red flag for me.

DVC probably knew that a % of owners would jump on the deal with a bare minimum of information. What we have seen here is from a couple of people who dug info out of the official papers that had been filed with the county.

As much as I would love to see CRV, would buy points there, but if it was presented as AKV has been I would wait until I saw something a little more concrete.

 

[diznyfanatic]

I disagree. When SSR points went on sale they already had model rooms open at the BoardWalk sales center. They also provided current and potential members with a 10+ page brochure that provided a lot more details about the resort than the animal cutout thing we received. Here are some scans from that brochure:

Artist rendering of pool complex:

Photos of model rooms:

Floorplans of units with sizes and amenities:

Resort map / development plan:

Wow. That is impressive and exactly the kind of thing I was really kind of thinking we would see when AKV was announced.

Buying sight unseen is not a Disney trust issue for us. We've never had a disappointing stay so I would expect to feel the same about AKV.

The issue for us is that lacking official detail information, there have been enough unofficial reported differences at AKV from the other DVC resorts that it weighs in our decision to purchase there or whether to simply take our chances at the 7 month window.

Seriously, what do you all think is the real reason that nothing similar to what was at least released for SSR as provided by tjkraz, hasn't been provided for AKV?

This just really seems strange to me. What is DVC giving people who are brand new members, have NO knowledge of DVC and/or the DIS, and want information to go over at home?

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I think there will be brochures available by the time the model opens.-Hopefully in a few days. Although there does seem to be a serious lack of information available, we should remember they have not begun public sales. If they do begin sales to the general public this week I would be extremely shocked if they have not prepared with a nice literature package that can be acquired at the model location. I think we will all see the photos and floor plans we have been waiting for this week.

 

[BCV23]

My guess is that what some are calling "lack of disclosure" may just be a case of following the law.

Isn't this the first time that members have been able to buy into a new resort before the general public? I know for certain that when BCV went on sale, it was the same day for existing and new members.

At this point AKV is only for sale to current DVCers.

My husband was talking to our guide on Thursday (from the Blue Bayou which will be another fun memory if we end up buying points at AKV). Anyway, he had seen the models the day before I believe and my DH quoted him as saying they were "stupendous." He said the models were opening March 5. He can't show them to anyone until then. Aren't sales opening to the general public next week as well? And I will be checking the DVC website when I can this weekend to see if pictures and/or floor plans appear.

 

[LisaS]

I think we will all see the photos and floor plans we have been waiting for this week.

I agree. There have been glimpses of the new website pages for AKV this past week as, I assume, the pages were being tested. I expect the website will be updated as of March 5th.

I am disappointed they did not provide more detailed info before now. I asked my guide a lot of questions before purchasing so I felt I had a fairly good idea what I was buying. We love AKL and always said "if they build it, we will buy", provided of course there were guaranteed savannah views available and the rooms were a decent size. I was convinced enough on both of these points to go ahead with my purchase. And, I didn't want to lose out on either incentive pricing or 2007 points so we went ahead with the purchase even though I was disappointed we were not given floor plans and at least artist's renderings of the rooms.

 

[Simba's Mom]

So are they saying when you book you will not know if you are being placed in the exisiting lodge or the new building?

If that is so, I would have a definite problem with that and that pretty much assures we won't be staying there.

Before you get there, they do have to tell you which place, since there'll be separate check-in places and you have to know where to check in! However, they don't have to tell you when you make your reservations, they could say they'll let you know (perhaps by Email or send something) a few days or whenever before you check in, not at the time of booking. If not at the time of booking, I'm with you!

 

[CarolA]

All I cared about was view. At AKL I spend practically NO time in my room LOL! I don't see that changing. Once they guranteed a Savannah View I was IN!

(That said I will be in Orlando the weekend of 3/17 and will go by to see the models!)

 

[tjkraz]

My guess is that what some are calling "lack of disclosure" may just be a case of following the law.

I don't see how that's possible. I wouldn't have expected to see anything on the public website, but there's nothing prohibiting DVC from providing additional details to existing members who are eligible to purchase.

Besides, it's not like DVC is prohibited by law from selling to non-members. That's their own doing. DVC needs to be registered in a state to sell to any residents, regardless of whether they are existing customers or not. If DVC is LEGALLY able to sell to current members living in FL, CA, OH and many other states, then they are LEGALLY able to sell to non-members as well.

Isn't this the first time that members have been able to buy into a new resort before the general public? I know for certain that when BCV went on sale, it was the same day for existing and new members.

I can't speak for BCV specifically but I've frequently heard that DVC has offered new resorts to current members before non-members.

I think the irony to all of this is that DVC apparently spent more effort working out the specifics of this tapestry thing than they did putting together useful information for those contemplating add-ons. Pretty arrogant, IMO.

 

[SimbaCub]

I know for VWL I was able to have my guide set up the contracts for me but the day they began selling it was open to ALL people, existing DVC members and new members. The price was the same for all too if I am not mistaken.

SimbaCub

 

[pilferk]

This just really seems strange to me. What is DVC giving people who are brand new members, have NO knowledge of DVC and/or the DIS, and want information to go over at home?

Remember, NOTHING goes on sale to the GP until Monday. For all we know (though I doubt it) there COULD be promotional material ready to be mailed out on Monday to anyone who inquires. We'll have to wait and see.

I agree...the lack of "official" floorplans, resort mock ups, etc is a little odd.

 

[BroganMc]

Speaking of DVC arrogance:

My guide in December did say they had enough people pre-signed for add-on purchases of AKV they fully expected it to be a big sale with members. For some, just saying the next DVC was at the AKL was more than enough to encourage an automatic buy.

CRV will pretty much be the same. I guess doing full marketing isn't needed then.

The only gamble they risk are the ones who bought and find themselves dissatisfied with the resort. A case I can see happening if buyers are attached to the Lodge's amenities and find the DVC building too inaccessible, or are attached to the larger rooms and find the ones available are smaller than expected.

 

[BriarRose59]

We are also going on the 11th. I hope to be able to see the model as well as get some more info. I am going ahead and buying 100 pts. tomorrow, sight unseen. I wish I hadn't waited. Its too late for the tapestry thing for 150 pts. isn't it?

 

[Psychometrika]

I bought sight unseen, as I love AKL. While the new AKV will be a separate building, it will be attached by walkways. My guide showed me the pics and plans when I signed the contracts. What I find a great feature is the UNDERGROUND parking! No more 3000 degree cars and no more endlessly long parking lots. They must be building the new villas up on the second floor, like the MK in order to create that "underground" parking. Disney going a bit green. How nice.

My only complaint is the size. I wish it were a wee smaller, like the Wilderness Lodge. AKV will actually be bigger than Boardwalk. Oh well...it's an AWESOME place and has been my favourite since they built it...even over the Contemporary.