Some DVC and AKV Questions from someone probably about to buy DVC

[Golden Rose]

So DH and I have gone back and forth about buying DVC, and have finally decided to go ahead and do it. Probably.

We are probably going to get the minimum number of AKV points to get started (160). We're probably going to add on ~100 BWV points (not sure whether to go resale or from Disney) in a few months.

But we definitely have a few issues we're still concerned about. We do go to WDW fairly often, and, since some version of it has existed, we always stay at concierge level at deluxe resorts. It sounds like AKV Concierge level is very popular and hard to book.

Will there be Concierge level rooms in Kidani, or are they all in Jambo House? If we buy now, we're buying in Kidani, according to our guide. Does that mean we could only book in Kidani at the 11 month window and Jambo House at 7 months, or are all AKV owners considered equivalent once Kidani Village opens?

We don't always plan our vacations 11 months out... sometimes not even 7 months out, but we're generally pretty flexible about when we go. Are we going to have a terrible time with DVC? (And I don't generally want to stay at SSR or OKW, although maybe I'll change my tune after we try SSR with our 160 limited use developer points.) We'll generally want 1 and 2 bedroom villas, if that makes a difference.

 

[Deb & Bill]

No concierge rooms in Kidani Village. Only the five two bedroom lockoffs in Jambo House on the sixth floor (concierge lounge floor). Your AKV points will be good at 11 months out at either Jambo House or Kidani Village. They will be good at all other DVC resorts at 7 months out.

It will just depend on when you want to go. Holidays, from Oct thru mid Jan, Spring break, etc, all get booked up fast.

 

[Ratpack]

I believe the CL villas are all in Jambo house. Kidani will have STD and SV. And just becase you buy in Kidani doesn't mean you have to stay there. AKV includes both Kidani and Jambo.

As far as planning, the 11 month window just gives you a better chance at getting what you want when you want it. But you can always find a place open for when you want to go or at least I have been able to, even 3 months out.

 

[NSL]

Were you aware that currently or at least a couple of weeks ago you could get the minimum at AKL at 100 points instead of 160? Although, you do not get the matching developer points. (Just thought I would let you know if you did not know already.) Although I have never tried I have heard that concierge is hard to get at anything less than 11 months. I believe those go fairly quickly as there are not many of them. Once you buy into AKV, Jambo or Kidani doesn't matter. The only difference is right now because if you buy Kidani you can not book a stay until after May 2009 where as Jambo you can book now. (The good news with that is you do not pay maintenance fees until May 2009.) However, once Kidani opens you can book either one at the 11 month window. Kidani, as I understand it, will not have concierge. But maybe I am wrong

 

[Golden Rose]

That's too bad that they'll have so few Concierge rooms. I wonder if they'll ever increase it, now that they've seen how much demand there is for it... Guess we'll stick with Savannah View unless we get lucky.

We generally will be going at off peak times, I suspect. But if it won't help us with Concierge, maybe at least we'll be able to get whatever resorts we want.

Does anyone know which of the DVC resorts have room service? (I don't care, but my mother, who will sometimes be traveling with us, really does.)

 

[Chuck S]

That's too bad that they'll have so few Concierge rooms. I wonder if they'll ever increase it, now that they've seen how much demand there is for it... Guess we'll stick with Savannah View unless we get lucky.

We generally will be going at off peak times, I suspect. But if it won't help us with Concierge, maybe at least we'll be able to get whatever resorts we want.

Does anyone know which of the DVC resorts have room service? (I don't care, but my mother, who will sometimes be traveling with us, really does.)

All WDW DVC resorts so far, except OKW and SSR offer room service.

No, they are unable to increase the number of concierge DVC rooms at AKV unless they also redo the point chart for the entire resort, as the total number of available points for the resort is already set. Ano word as to whether the Contemporary tower (assuming it is DVC) will offer concierge rooms. At the moment, the 5 AKV 2 bedroom units are all the only concierge rooms in the DVC system. You can book conceirge level using points at some WDW non-DVC resorts, but the point costs are extremely high.

 

[drusba]

That's too bad that they'll have so few Concierge rooms. I wonder if they'll ever increase it, now that they've seen how much demand there is for it... Guess we'll stick with Savannah View unless we get lucky.

We generally will be going at off peak times, I suspect. But if it won't help us with Concierge, maybe at least we'll be able to get whatever resorts we want.

If your heart is set on concierge, you should assume going in that you will get it only if you call exactly 11 months out; it will sometimes be availalbe otherwise but do not depend on it.

Also be aware that DVC peak and and off-peak times differ from those for Disney in general. For example, all of December (not just Christmas Week) is a very high DVC demand time. October, holidays, most spring break weeks are also high. Much of summer (some of the worst Disney in general weeks), Sep (sans Labor Day time), and much of Jan are lower DVC demand times.

 

[Golden Rose]

We are very flexible on when we go, so we can plan to go at off peak times of the year for DVC. I assume the off peak times are when the point cost is lowest. I don't mind pulling our 3 year old out of day school now for a trip, although once he is older it may be more of an issue, depending on the school he attends.

 

[mikesmom]

Nope, the off peak times for DVC are NOT the low point times. Those low points have made those times the most in demand. For instance, early December is very low points - very difficult to impossible to book DVC resorts if you don't book in a timely fashion. You are still 5 months out from December and there are waiting lists everywhere.

As Drusba said, off peak for DVC is summer, September and January.

 

[Golden Rose]

We'll probably go first in January, then. Looks like a good combination of low points and not generally as busy for DVC... I'd be happy to go sometime this fall, but I don't want to fight those doing free dining for restaurants and then it sounds like it gets crowded until the end of the year.

We'll probably try to go during the food and wine festival next year, though, even if it is a crazy time for DVC. We're planning to buy either BWV or BCV (in addition to our AKL) at some point this year, but we'll see if the timing works out for us to use the 11 month window next year.

 

[jerseygal]

Does anyone know if there are Dedicated 2 BR Units at Jambo House or just Kidani Village?

Much thanks!!!!!!!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Does anyone know if there are Dedicated 2 BR Units at Jambo House or just Kidani Village?

Much thanks!!!!!!!!!

No dedicated two bedroom villas in Jambo House. Kidani Village will have dedicated two bedrooms.

 

[jerseygal]

Thx...Do you think they'll be hard to book if AKV is your "home resort"?

Also, seems like info is "vague" as to the depth of the pool being built at Kidani Village..

The telephone rep told me that the Kidani Pool will be smaller than the AKResort Pool...She said that it will have an interactive area for younger kids.
She thought that the interactive area will almost be outside the regular pool?

Anyone have any specifics on the pool? Since we would be more interested in booking a dedicated 2 BR, then it is more likely that our bookings would be limited to Kidani rather than Jambo....Pool looks lovely at Jambo...Our rep did tell me that because of proximity you wouldn't want to go "back and forth" to use pool by Jambo if you were staying at Kidani...

Any insight on the pool would be appreciated!!!!!!!!

 

[Laneychris]

I thought the pool at Kinadi was suppose to be the better of the two pools.