The DVC board official Animal Kingdom Villas discussion thread

[DVC Grandpa]

Orlando Business Journal - Walt Disney World plans to add 456 new Disney Vacation Club units at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, to be built in phases through the spring of 2009.

 

[Steve's Girl]

but that's not on the monorail?!?!

 

[Stitch 03]

What can I say:




I thought CRV would be next, but am glad to be wrong.

Heading to OKW next week so will try to find out more. I guess I'll be buying AKV points and selling some (but not all) of my OKW.

 

[sweet48]

If they want to relieve congestion they need to build at least 1 more major ride at Animal Kingdom to attract more people there

Just my opinion

John

 

[gcbsdad]

I'm sure that eventually we will stay at VAKL but initially I like the fact that it will make the availability better at the other DVC resorts. We have not stayed but we visited AKL and it just seems so far away from everything.

I imagine the fact that AK is our 4th favorite park at WDW, might have something to do with it.

Oh and I did get the email from our guide about the $15.00 off per point if you aded on 115 points or more.

 

[DonnaL]

DVCGrammy,

According to the weather report it's going to be too hot for caps and trench coats.......I think I'll just wear a big pair of sunglasses instead!!

 

[nevertez]

EE is more than enough to attract me to AK.

But a Monorail to TTC I would love.

 

[jmatias]

Thanks for the link!

Showed it to my DH this morning and he said "How do we get on the list"

This was me.....

Jen

 

[Twingle]

Thank you so much for all the replies! Would you mind posting what you see? I would really appreciate it!

Thanks again!

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

I'm in Disney right now, we're going to check it out.

 

[ADP]

The really big question is will the second phase be Savanah or just a side building with a view of woods and a quiet pool? I am guessing Pool and woods. Which would make them more resonable point wise. It would also make Savanah views about as likely as a boardwalk view.

An e-mail with details would be so helpful.

I read in one of the articles that the savannah would be expanded which leads me to believe that the villas will have savannah view rooms.

 

[msdis]

No time to look and see if this is out yet (on lunch) but just in case



Disney time shares are coming to the Animal Kingdom, with a plan for 458
units, the company said Wednesday.

According to Disney, the time shares will be a mix of new construction and
renovated accommodations in part of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. They'll
feature African-inspired details and most will offer views of a savannah
inhabited by a variety of animals.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas will be the company's eighth time-share
property -- the sixth at Walt Disney World -- and was hailed Wednesday as a
smart business decision.

"It's a major plus," said Michael Hewell, a former Disney employee who now
escorts guests through the parks with his company, Michael's VIPs, and owns
the online Web site, TourGuideMike. "Disney's going to sell every single one
of them."

As for the choice of Animal Kingdom, Hewell said, "It's the true retreat,"
and added, "For those people who want to rest away from the theme park
madness, they now have a choice."

Time shares have long been popular in Central Florida, but more so in recent
years. In 2001, 10 percent of Orlando visitors stayed in time shares. Last
year, that number had increased to 15 percent.

From 2001 to 2005, the number of time-share units jumped 26 percent, from
15,157 to 19,099, according to the Orlando/Orange County Convention &
Visitors Bureau. Hotel-room growth, on the other hand, grew only 2 percent
during the same five-year period.

Disney's entry into the time-share market was a big help to the industry,
said Robert J. Webb, a veteran real estate and time-share industry attorney
with the Baker Hostetler law firm in Orlando.

"Disney's entry was part of a paradigm shift" in the 1990s, Webb said, when
brand names such as Marriott and Disney entered the time-share field, long
dominated by small operators. "It helped bring a lot of credibility to the
industry."

The expansion of the Disney time-share holdings is a reflection of the
strength of the industry and Disney's commitment to its resort business,
said Webb, who has represented Disney as an outside counsel in the past.

"It's an excellent example of the evolution," Webb said, of hospitality
companies relying on a mix of hotels and time shares for accommodating guests.

Disney historian Michael Broggie said the new time shares are a continuing
affirmation of Walt Disney's decision to build in Central Florida.

"It also is a reflection of the confidence that [Disney chief] Bob Iger has
in Central Florida and investing the company's assets there," Broggie said.

Development of the Animal Kingdom Villas is scheduled in phases, with units
to begin opening in fall 2007. The project is scheduled to be completed by
spring 2009.

The first phase will include 134 remodeled accommodations on the fifth and
sixth floors of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and additional phases will include
the building of 324 vacation properties in a new building at the resort.

 

[Sammie]

I think the Contemporary project was delayed due to cost. I don't think it is out of the possiblity yet. I was told when AKL was built that infrastructure for DVC was laid. I would guess that would be mean the area for the new lodge.

I was told this summer it will lie to the left of the Lodge where that dead end cove is in the drive up to the Lodge.

I was also told that SSR is selling very quickly and something quick was needed to keep the momentum going. Contemporary would be a slow going project to build.

 

[NewBaloo]

Sounds great! Any word on when sales will start?

 

[liznboys]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1248774&page=2&pp=15

Tikiman posted a rendering of AKV on that thread.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I'll save people the trouble of going thru the link:

 

[chris1gill]

I'm in Disney right now, we're going to check it out.

Oh GOOD! We've got a DVC'er on site!!! Report back what you find okay???

 

[lenshanem]

I called my guide cause we leave Sunday and asked if there was any model room we could see and he told me as of right now not yet.

 

[jmatias]

I'm really excited about VAKL but thought it strange how the "news" got out.

I was expecting some big press release with fan fare type thing.

 

[Sammie]

I totally agree, I think it was pretty shotty. I think members should have gotten an email or update to the site or something.