DVCers - AKV?

[Saxton]

I have always loved the Animal Kingdom Lodge and although I've never stayed there I usually try to stop by for a drink and some quality animal viewing. When rumors started popping up about the Villas I thought it would be nice but I really don't need the points ... but it would be nice ... and I do like it a lot ... well, at least I have some time to think about it ... ok, maybe not so much time after all! I came home from work a few nights ago and the future was in my mailbox, not only giving me the evil eye but also hitting me on the back of the head saying "do it!!!" I even called a friend and asked her to talk me out of it but her response was that I had a great plan and it was completely logical (of course this friend just bought a new house so in hindsight she may have not been the right one to ask!). So I did, I jumped in head-first with no regard for common sense. I called my guide yesterday afternnoon and bought 150 more points that I don't really need ... but I AM happy!! So have any other GLBT DVCers taken the plung? Come on in, the water is fine!

 

[Kevin&Randall]

Looks like we are going to pass for now. While the pictures look wonderful, we have more points than we know what to do with right now. Maybe we can unload a SSR contract to pick up AKV.

If DVC ever builds at the Contemporary, I'm in. If DVC ever builds in Hawaii, I'm in.

Randall

 

[dvcbnd]

Congrats on the additional points!
We've stayed at AKL CL this past summer. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!!!
I'm having a hard time resisting an add-on myself, especially since receiving the mailing a few days ago. Still working on talking hubby into it. We could use the additional pts. since we're a family of five. Wish me luck!

 

[wallyb]

Looks like we are going to pass for now. While the pictures look wonderful, we have more points than we know what to do with right now. Maybe we can unload a SSR contract to pick up AKV.

If DVC ever builds at the Contemporary, I'm in. If DVC ever builds in Hawaii, I'm in.

Randall

I think they just started at the Contemporary.
In preparation for the new DVC Tower, demolition of the North Wing at the Contemporary Resort is now very much underway. The tennis courts are completely gone, and the main building of the North Wing is now being demolished - from WDWmagic
So get out the check book!

 

[Boston5602]

I've never even seen AKL , well I have from a bus heading to AK park.

BUT I am going to wait for a week or two and purchase just 25 points.

I figure I'd like to just add a night or two to my BWV vacations to just relax !!!

Congrats on 150 points and being a founding member !

 

[vascubaguy]

I haven't bought in, but have been debating. It's just the 2 of us and we have all the points we really need. However, with the conceirge level and the "value" room options, it would be nice to have that booking advantage.

I was thinking about selling my SSR points and buying at AKV, but that would involve a bit of a cost and the cost per point for SSR on the resale market isn't exactly grand right now. Going that route would cost more money that it was worth. So, for now I'm thinking I might wait... I'll just have to check at the 7 month mark to see if I can get rooms... sounds like the savannah rooms will be plenty when the new building is complete.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Haven't bought in, either. We tend to not have enough points now, but not sure I want to add more? Does that make a quirky sort of sense?

We live so close now, we (I) like to visit other areas of the world (imagine that!) for some of our holidays instead of taking them all at WDW.

We tend to use our points on the weekends when they don't go as far.

I've heard that the Contemporary is on the docket too!

Now, if they open a DVC in California, I might have a real decision to make!

 

[Boston5602]

vascubaguy , for all the reasons you stated for adding on plus for my family it would be nice to be able to have 5 in a 1 bedroom and save the points from a 2 bedroom. If needed !

I was thinking of 25 points but if I do 30 that will get me the two nights I want every year for the season I want , yeah thats it 30 not 25 !!!! <G>

 

[iankh]

We're going to pass on AKV. While it is sure is tempting, we have more than enough points, and I would have to sell off some of my VWL points to buy there.

Given that there will be so many units, we'll just take our chances with the 7 month window.

I know that on the plus side, you get an extra 12 years on the contract, but quite frankly, I'll probably be dead by the time my current contracts expire. Either that or sitting in a corner and babbling to myself, while occassionally breaking out into a ditty by the Village People.

On a positive note, I've update Mouse Manager and the new version went out to the little band of alpha testers today.

 

[Psychometrika]

As my other contracts were relatively small I decided to jump in. AKL is my favourite resort and rather than wait the 10 years or more it may take to actually build a DVC at the Contemporary (if indeed it ever happens) I went for V-AKL. Amazing new features when the villas come online in 09 - include parking UNDERGROUND (duh) rather than 2,000 miles away (aka BWV) or a giant parking lot surround virtually everything (aka OKW, SS, etc). Not sure if they took their cue from projects including the Mus of Science and Ind in Chicago or not, but it is nicer on the eyes and provides green space (imagine that).

For those awaiting a DVC at the Contemporary...I wouldn't hold my breath. Apart from the fact that such rumours have been circulating for the 15 years of DVC's existence, there are many problematic issues that face such a development not least of which are transportation in an area that is hard to expand, environmental impact problems with building new additions that would substantively increase the capacity on the lake, the existence of a convention facility that also wants to expand in the area, an antiquated monorail system that would currently cost millions to upgrade in order to handle significantly increased traffic (I can't recall the figure per foot) ... they will follow the same pattern as the other developments and reach the point of getting close to selling out before moving on. There has been some suggestion that a couple of remodelled floors would become part of a DVC-based enterprise, but not quite in the same way.

So for now ... V-AKL is where THIS lion sleeps at night.

 

[NewJersey]

How expensive is "buying into" DVC?

 

[Psychometrika]

If you already have a DVC membership, you can buy any number of points. If you're new, you'll have a minimum required purchase. I can't remember if it's 100 or 150 at this point, but the points are sold at $101 per. Right now, as I understand it, they are only selling to current DVC owners and until the end of Feb, you'll get $8 per point back as an incentive.

If you're looking to get your feet wet with DVC, look for small contracts on the secondary market. Often, you'll pay more per point (once you add closing costs, etc.) but you can get away with buying far fewer points. I've seen contracts as small as 25-45, though the usually are snatched up. eBay ads searching for "disney vacation club" in "real estate" will usually pull up several, including two major brokerage houses (including the sponsors of this board). They offer additional contracts on their own sites.

I'd love to know how much money the people must make to have purchased 1000 point contracts! Geesh. You could buy half a house in many parts of the country for that. Granted, you could then stay at the Diz for months and months....perhaps a cool way for a snowbird to buy a vacation place...but the taxes and fees would kill ya.

 

[Viki]

We know we're buying in - in fact, we've got 300 points now between BCV and BW, but our target is 500 points, and we love AKL, so this is super, BUT we're going to wait a bit.

We just finished remodeling one bathroom we've got another and a kitchen to go - all very expensive.

Still, we love taking our families for vacation and now that the kids are older we're looking forward to some weekend get aways, so 500 points - with maybe 100 at AKV and 100 somewhere else - we love VB too - will probably do it.

 

[dkostel]

For those awaiting a DVC at the Contemporary...I wouldn't hold my breath. Apart from the fact that such rumours have been circulating for the 15 years of DVC's existence, there are many problematic issues that face such a development not least of which are transportation in an area that is hard to expand, environmental impact problems with building new additions that would substantively increase the capacity on the lake, the existence of a convention facility that also wants to expand in the area, an antiquated monorail system that would currently cost millions to upgrade in order to handle significantly increased traffic (I can't recall the figure per foot) ... they will follow the same pattern as the other developments and reach the point of getting close to selling out before moving on. There has been some suggestion that a couple of remodelled floors would become part of a DVC-based enterprise, but not quite in the same way.

So for now ... V-AKL is where THIS lion sleeps at night.

Hey Mr. Parade Rainer - the North wing is all but gone so something is going to be built there. I'm just sticking my fingers in my ears and saying "lalalalalalalala" to any evidence against DVC. Besides, SSR is due to sell out in the fall, and with all the buzz and size of AKL that should sell out quickly (no idea what quickly means but certainly less than 5 years) so they will need something else.

Still holding out for CRV (although considering a BWV to tide me over).

 

[Psychometrika]

I'm just a little black rain cloud....

I would be first in line (well maybe behind you!) if the Contemporary goes DVC. However, don't forget V-AKL is a two phased thing. First, the top two floors of AKL, then come the Villas themselves, due in 2009. So we'll see...It's a totally fab idea and I hope your enthusiasm energy helps!

(BTW a castmember in accounting, a friend of mine, told me a couple years ago that a couple floors in the Contemp were being renovated for DVC. So far, nothing has come of it. It's hard to renovate the original building as they're trailers on top of one another, but let's cross our fingers!)

 

[wallyb]

aaaah guys... I posted this here before ...but here it goes again...
wdwmagic say the DVC at the Contemporary is happening.

 

[dkostel]

Thanks for the sunshine Wally - by the way, is your dog an Ibezan?

 

[wallyb]

English Bull Terrier.

 

[DVCajun]

I think there's somethin' in those points that makes them addictive. Added nicotine, maybe? I just know that the only thing that keeps me from compulsively collecting points from every known DVC resort is my checkbook.

 

[Kevin&Randall]

Thanks for the sunshine Wally - by the way, is your dog an Ibezan?

I read this too fast, too early and without any coffee flowing through my veins.

I read... "by the way, is your dog a lesbian?" And I kept right on going as if that was the most logical question ever asked on the G&L boards. And Wally's response didn't trigger anything.

On to the Drinking Around the World thread, and I stopped dead in my tracks. Why would Wally refer to his dog as a bull ... wait a minute... Is your dog a lesbian? HUH? Go back, re-read. Sigh heavy.

I'm going back to bed.

Randall