Newbie questions

[JennyT2]

Dh and I have been toying more seriously with purchasing dvc thru Disney. I spoke with a guide after I watched the podcast and the deals to buy at akl are very temptingBut I do have a couple of non related questions .... How often do you get mousekeeping and does anyone know how much more per day it costs in a 1bdrm at akl? For anyone who's home base is akl or has stayed there - do you find the distance to the other parks too much, especially for going in for dinner and fireworks?

Also, they are offering a good perk with the 320 pts we are considering .... A 700 prepaid visa. Do you think it's too much to ask or to try to get some other perks such as the fast passes I have heard that others have received? Do the guides have more that they can offer that they only do if you ask?

Thanks everyone!

 

[chalee94]

How often do you get mousekeeping...

i think this is still up to date:

Housekeeping

Trash & Towel Service
For stays of seven or less nights, Trash & Towel Service is provided on day four, regardless of whether you're using Member-discounted cash, Vacation Points or a combination of both.

With Trash & Towel service, Housekeeping will:

Empty trash and replace liners in trash bins.
Provide fresh bathroom linens.
Replace shampoo, facial soap and bath soap.
Replenish facial tissues, paper towels and toilet paper.
Replenish coffee, sugar, cream and sweeteners.
Replenish dishwashing liquid, dishwashing detergent, sponges and laundry detergent as needed in one-, two- and three-bedroom Vacation Homes.

Full Cleaning Service
For stays of eight or more nights, Full Cleaning Service is provided on day four and Trash & Towel Service is provided on day eight. After that, the cycle begins again on day 12, regardless of whether you're using Member-discounted cash, Vacation Points or a combination of both.

With Full Cleaning service, Housekeeping will provide everything included with the Trash & Towel Service, plus:

Change the bed linens.
Vacuum and dust the Vacation Home.
Clean the bathroom(s).
Clean the kitchen/kitchenette and wash the dishes.

Pay As You Play
All accommodations offer daily housekeeping service with a 24-hour notice and an additional fee.

Pay As You Play
With Pay As You Play service, you'll be provided with the following amenities free of charge at the start of your stay. After that, you may purchase more for the following fees:

Toiletries Package, $5.00 - 1 facial soap, 1 bath soap, 1 shampoo, 1 conditioner, 1 shower gel
Coffee Package, $3.00 - 1 package of coffee, 8 sugars, 8 creamers, 8 artificial sweeteners
Towel Package, $6.00 - 4 bath towels, 2 hand towels, 4 washcloths, 1 bath mat
Laundry Detergent (only in One-, Two-, and Three-bedroom Vacation Homes), $1.00 - 1 box

Additional Full Cleaning Rates:
Studio/Inn Room - $30.00 per day requested
One-Bedroom - $45.00 per day requested
Two-Bedroom - $60.00 per day requested
Three-Bedroom - $75.00 per day requested

Additional Trash & Towel Rates:
Studio/Inn Room - $15.00 per day requested
One-Bedroom - $20.00 per day requested
Two-Bedroom - $25.00 per day requested
Three-Bedroom - $35.00 per day requested

Note: Rates are subject to change

and does anyone know how much more per day it costs in a 1bdrm at akl?

there are point charts in the top right-hand corner of the screen.

you cannot combine points and cash - if you have the pts for a studio, you cannot pay cash to upgrade to a 1BR.

For anyone who's home base is akl or has stayed there - do you find the distance to the other parks too much, especially for going in for dinner and fireworks?

it's a great resort. it is kind of a long way from the MK. that is a very real trade-off.

Also, they are offering a good perk with the 320 pts we are considering .... A 700 prepaid visa. Do you think it's too much to ask or to try to get some other perks such as the fast passes I have heard that others have received? Do the guides have more that they can offer that they only do if you ask?

usually the deals are one-size fits all. i would not count on having any success in pressing for additional deals.

if you want better prices, look resale.

 

[Kidanifan08]

AKV is our home resort. The ride to MK is the longest, but it goes by quickly. The bussing from AKV is great, since it does not go to other resorts. Plus, the busses to the parks stop at Kidani first, so they are usually empty when you bored.

You can pay for daily mousekeeping, as noted in the PP.

The incentives tend to be fairly standard, no matter who you talk to.

320 points gets you quite a bit at AKV, but it is best to look at the charts to determine when you are most likely to travel, how many days you will stay and what room type you will want while you are there. There are also some good threads that discuss which use year to choose, depending on when you usually travel.

Resales on AKV offer a big savings over direct purchase, but there are some restrictions with the resales and it can take 2 months from start to finish. Plus, it sometimes takes time to find a resale that meets your needs. Additionally, you need cash or some external loan to buy resale; with a direct purchase, you can finance with Disney, although the rate are insane. I know, because we bought direct initially and financed the purchase!

Good luck with your decision. There is alot you can learn on these boards!

 

[ToddyLu]

We bought our points in 2009 and just finshed our third stay two weeks ago. The buses were awesome. In my head I always think...the buses travel the same way as a car...yes buses are slower, but we get to the gate, not the TTC. We love Disney transportation. This is kinda evil but I enjoy seeing how frustrated people get when the buses are not there waiting on them....it makes me think and appreciate how lucky DH and I are to own a timeshare in one of the most coveted vacation spots in the world.

Mousekeeping has always been great and wit just he and I we have never needed to add extra service. I would have to agree with the PP, 320 seems like a lot to start out unless you always need the larger villa. With our incentive points buying direct from Disney--we have used 5 studios (1 standard for 8 nights, then 4 SV studios for us and MIL totallying 9 nights each of the four trips.). We are just now--over two years later having to begin borrowing points. We borrowed points for our trip coming in Oct. That trip will put us up with what would have been our OOP cost for the same room paying cash--around $24,000.

So if you purchase direct form Disney you will get your current UY points--so you will not have to buy as many. We purchased in June 2009--a Dec UY. We got our 2008 points banked for us, then got our 2009 points that Dec. So our first trip we could have had 420 points--we have now spread those points over several trips.

 

[briand1023]

This may be the best purchase you ever make...