Planning for a Grand Villa

[madelyn]

So for the currently sold AK Dec use, do you have 2008 points to use? Or is that why those developer points were given? I remember the guide saying that my sister's points could not be used until May 2009 but those are actually using 2008 points, right? And her 2008 points just can't be used at Kidani or not at all? So to use in Dec 2009, I am hoping she can use 160 2008 points, 160 2009 points and 160 borrowed 2010 points. But for Nov 2009 she would only have access to banked 2008 points and 2009 points, correct? And she would have to use 2008 banked points by 2009, right?

 

[hakepb]

Since you mentioned the parents and health, remember that some/most Grand Villa's have stairs (2 bedrooms upstairs). I think AKV is all one floor, but SSR, BWV and possibly OKW are 2.

 

[madelyn]

Currently my parents are able to climb stairs but there's no telling what their status will be the time of the trip. So is the master bedroom the one downstairs? I believe our guide told us that the Kidani GV's would be 2-story. I also read that the Kidani GV's have another living area (with a sofa sleeper) upstairs. So does this unit actually sleep 14? It mentions the master (sleeps 2), 2 additional bedrooms that sleep 4 each (each having 2 queen beds) and the 2 living areas w/ sofa sleepers. So it must be the ones currently available that are 1 story. I was curious that when reserving a GV at AK, can you only request the building you want to be in (meaning it would be either 1 or 2 story) or is it a sure thing? Also when reserving a 1 bedroom at AK, do you only request whether you get one in the newer buildings (the ones w/ the 2 bathrooms and larger rooms) or is it a sure thing? I can't see why anyone would want the older AK rooms unless the location is better to be in the older building.

 

[jbrowna]

So for the currently sold AK Dec use, do you have 2008 points to use? Or is that why those developer points were given? I remember the guide saying that my sister's points could not be used until May 2009 but those are actually using 2008 points, right? And her 2008 points just can't be used at Kidani or not at all? So to use in Dec 2009, I am hoping she can use 160 2008 points, 160 2009 points and 160 borrowed 2010 points. But for Nov 2009 she would only have access to banked 2008 points and 2009 points, correct? And she would have to use 2008 banked points by 2009, right?

I believe you are correct in most of this. The points your sister purchased are December 2008 UY points, but won't be available until the unit at Kidani that she actually "purchased" comes online in May of 2009. So that's why the developer's points were given, and they are the restricted points. After May '09 the points she purchased would be available for any reservation, given the limitations of the booking window. So, in other words, this October, I believe she could book a reservation for any other resort for May '09 -- the 7 month window. But right now she could book a stay at AKV for May or June of '09 (the 11 month window). The important thing is that the points be available at the time of your stay, not at the time the reservation is made. But what you outline I believe is correct: for a stay in December '09, she could have access to 480 points total -- 160 banked from her '08 UY, 160 from the '09 UY, and 160 borrowed from the '10 UY. In November of '09 she would only have access to 320 total points: 160 '08 UY points (not banked, since November of '09 is still the '08 UY for December UY points!) and 160 points she could borrow from the '09 UY.

Remember also that, once you bank points, you can't borrow them back. So, for example, if she banked her '08 UY points into '09, then she would only have 160 points available in November '09 (which is still in the '08 December UY), and these would have to be borrowed from her '09 UY.

I think I'm getting a headache!

 

[jbrowna]

Currently my parents are able to climb stairs but there's no telling what their status will be the time of the trip. So is the master bedroom the one downstairs? I believe our guide told us that the Kidani GV's would be 2-story. I also read that the Kidani GV's have another living area (with a sofa sleeper) upstairs. So does this unit actually sleep 14? It mentions the master (sleeps 2), 2 additional bedrooms that sleep 4 each (each having 2 queen beds) and the 2 living areas w/ sofa sleepers. So it must be the ones currently available that are 1 story. I was curious that when reserving a GV at AK, can you only request the building you want to be in (meaning it would be either 1 or 2 story) or is it a sure thing? Also when reserving a 1 bedroom at AK, do you only request whether you get one in the newer buildings (the ones w/ the 2 bathrooms and larger rooms) or is it a sure thing? I can't see why anyone would want the older AK rooms unless the location is better to be in the older building.

At the time of booking you are guaranteed either Jambo or Kidani -- that's not a "request", but an actual booking category. The second bathroom in Kidani will make those units desireable, to be sure, but lots of people do like the location of Jambo, and the atmosphere of the lodge. It should be noted, also, that the 1 story GVs at Jambo are actually a bit larger than the 2 story GVs at Kidani (according to the square footage), and instead of an extra space with another sleeper sofa, they have a rec room with a pool table.

 

[madelyn]

Thanks again for all the great info. Anyone have any links to photos of the AK Jambo GVs? Or really any of the GVs?

 

[BlakeNJ]

Thanks for all the tips. My sister's home resort is AK. So what happens if say we buy resale OKW and she transfers her points to our account. Do all the points have the 11 month booking priority for OKW? Or only the points that were originally ours? Now I understand how the points at an OKW Grand Villa can be so much cheaper. The point chart never changes. So would the best strategy be to try to book an AK Grand Villa at 11 months for fewer nights since those use more points and then if an OKW one is available later, book it and cancel the AK? Can you hold one reservation and then waitlist another?

Transfered points remain as their home resort so if your sister was to transfer her AKV points to your account, they would remain AKV points but in your DVC account and therefore could not be booked for OKW until 7 months out. My suggestions would be to use your sister's points to book 5 week nights in an AKV GV then waitlist at 7 months for the weekend using your OKW points. Or, just agree that since you are splurging on a GV, why not just agree to stay 5 week nights and save the weekend points for another trip. For example, if you travel early December (1-14), you spend 345 points for 5 nights in a GV. Your sister would have 135 points left for another vacation. I'd hate to see her use all her points for 3 years on one trip. I'd be having WDW withdraw if that was me!

Good luck!

 

[madelyn]

We are not DVC members currently. Always contemplating and now that sis owns at AK, was trying to see if it would work out best to own there or another DVC property or even purchase another timeshare to use as a trader through Interval to get into DVC. I've used my sister-in-law's timeshare week (one of the Royals in Cancun) to trade into DVC 4 times but always OKW or SSR in a 1-bedroom. At this point sis has planned to go to WDW no more than every 2-3 years but her desires could change. In past years she has always traveled with us and our most recent trips have been 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2008. She seems content w/ that type of schedule but I see the strategy in saving some points for another vacation. We would have to travel a bit later in Dec (Choice) since I have school age kids. Depending on who is able to travel, I also may recommend AK concierge in a 2 bedroom. That would make a special trip as well!

 

[castleri]

I have had a GV at OKW a couple of times and with the right number of people would do it again. The first time we had the GV for 4 nights and then changed to a 2 BR when we went down to fewer people. The group actually liked the 2 BR better. The second time I had the GV for 5 nights Christmas week (Sun-Fris) and then moved to BCV for weekend in 2 BR. 4 of the original people in the plans did not go and we ended up with 5 in the GV since it was too late to make changes for that time frame. If I reserved one again I would be very careful about who was sleeping where and who they might be sharing a room with as that could be a source of problems I think. I own OKW and will be looking at trying to get AKV for a GV if I can ever get the group to agree on a time frame that will be possible to get at the 7 month point in the next year or so. Have one son who thinks AKV is the best resort based on our one stay there on the weekend before the GV with 5 people.

I have a friend who owns at HH and who was able to reserve an OKW GV for one of the weeks around Easter at the 6 month point so it is possible but not something you want to count on. This was two years ago.

If you are looking at late December you are looking at the most number of points also.

I wish you and your sister well with your plans and hope we can say Welcome Home to you also very soon.

 

[jbrowna]

Thanks again for all the great info. Anyone have any links to photos of the AK Jambo GVs? Or really any of the GVs?

This is the official Disney 360 view. Click on the icons in the photo to bring up individual pictures of the rooms.

http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/virtual360/virtual360Landing?id=DAKV360Page

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I'd hate to see her use all her points for 3 years on one trip. I'd be having WDW withdraw if that was me!

Good luck!

For that reason, be VERY sure that enough people will actually go to justify the GV. There are reports on the DIS of relatives that backed out with less than 30 days to go. My group of 9 all went, but I was still a nervous wreck until we got in the cars and headed South.

and Good Luck!