The DVC board official Animal Kingdom Villas discussion thread

[vonpluto]

I think we get it, you made yourself clear in your previous post -you won't be buying at the "zoo". Fine, it's not for you, if you don't like it - don't stay there. Enough said .

Hey, a theme song for VAKL! Dig out the old Peter, Paul & Mary tune and sing along as you head to WDW:

"We're going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo,
How about you, you, you,
You can come too, too, too,
We're going to the Zoo"

 

[CarolA]

Once again...I am more then happy with my 300 points at under 80$....and my 100 point add on at under $80 a point...paying what they are going to charge for a "view of the zoo" is IMO crazy....guess what, i will give it a shot for a week, and stay there with points I paid $25 a point less for....sometimes i just dont get it with DVC, unless you travel christmas week or april vacation why does the seven week window not work.....i have never stayed at disney in a resort i did not want to be in.....IMO I just dont get the fascination with a Zoo that is closer to 192 then epcot????

Here is a CLUE!

Perhaps you should quit telling people how "bad" you think this is... Look at it this way, if they stay at VAK, then you have a MUCH better shot at getting your first choice.

 

[Tigger031266]

Once again...I am more then happy with my 300 points at under 80$....and my 100 point add on at under $80 a point...paying what they are going to charge for a "view of the zoo" is IMO crazy....guess what, i will give it a shot for a week, and stay there with points I paid $25 a point less for....sometimes i just dont get it with DVC, unless you travel christmas week or april vacation why does the seven week window not work.....i have never stayed at disney in a resort i did not want to be in.....IMO I just dont get the fascination with a Zoo that is closer to 192 then epcot????

I think that everyone always trashes the new resort. I was a CRV fan but am just thrilled with AKL. I don't know how anyone can trash it until they give it a chance. I can see myself coming back from the parks to the AKL (droping my car off in vallet), sitting out on the balcony and watching amazing animals from my wonderful room. The resort has great theming, incredable animals, restaurants, one of the best pools in WDW (and a new one on the way)... I am sure that it will be one of DVC's best and most popular resorts for years to come.

 

[LisaS]

I'll say what I always do on those threads where people don't understand why we would want to go to WDW over and over again...

For those who understand, no explanation is necessary; for those that don't, no explanation will do.

Very well said, and so true!

 

[pilferk]

Screamscape has some interesting info and pictures up.

http://www.screamscape.com/html/walt_disney_world_resort.htm

Balloons floated to depict height and size of AKL DVC:

Possible AKV site on map:

 

[pilferk]

I think it is great if they will allow 5 in a one bedroom. That was the only thing that I found discouraging trying to plan our first trip. I definitely felt like WDW is a place for a family of 4. All the contests, accomodations, deals, etc. are for that number in a family. We had the choice of the Jr. Suite at WL or AKL or booking 2 rooms at a moderate. We chose the 2 rooms so we would have 2 bathrooms and 4 beds instead of one bathroom and 3 beds. None of the kids are too keen on sharing a bed, and DH and I don't do well in a full or queen bed together anymore.

Just as an aside: I've seen some relatively recent (though early) survey data at my place of employment. Given what we do, who we are, etc, demographics of the population is pretty important so we can estimate volume and the future needs of our....well, I'll be vague and say customers. That survey data seems to indicate that the 3 child family is becomine more and more prevalent. I'm sure Disney sees this type of data, and probably does their own surveys and research as well. If that trend is, indeed, coming to the forefront you'll probably see them make more decisions to cater to that family make up.

 

[pilferk]

I agree totally. Though our family has 4, it is easy to understand the position families of 5 find themselves in -- they often have to pay a disproportionate surcharge to accommodate that 3rd child.

I think it would be a big selling point for AKV, bigger than the savannahs. And frankly I think they will need another selling point. The savannahs can IMO at most negate the negative location factor. And there is a big difference between a suite that is actually designed to accommodate 5 and one where you're allowed to bring a sleeping bag.

I guess it all depends on who you are and what you like. For us, we were really interested in both CRV and AKV for entirely different reasons. For us, the resort atmosphere, the larger rooms, and the savannah views are enough of a sales point....heck, if we found out the 1 BR had 2, or even 1 1/2, baths....we'd be in pie-in-the-sky fantasy world...to buy into AKV.

 

[pilferk]

Once again...I am more then happy with my 300 points at under 80$....and my 100 point add on at under $80 a point...paying what they are going to charge for a "view of the zoo" is IMO crazy....guess what, i will give it a shot for a week, and stay there with points I paid $25 a point less for....sometimes i just dont get it with DVC, unless you travel christmas week or april vacation why does the seven week window not work.....i have never stayed at disney in a resort i did not want to be in.....IMO I just dont get the fascination with a Zoo that is closer to 192 then epcot????

Which is exactly the beauty of the DVC system. The flexibility to allow you to stay in accomodations YOU like at the price YOU paid when you bought in. You just won't get preference when bookng. Provided you don't care about the specific view, or are staying primarily in studios....that's probably going to work perfectly for you. For others, with different needs (or interests)..maybe not so much.

As for the 7 month window not being a problem...I'm not a member, yet (AKV will be our buy in). But I've heard anxiety ridden accounts of people trying to book a BWV Boardwalk OR standard view at the 7 month window. It's tough during any part of the year, but seeminly impossible during the busier seasons (like school vacation times). IF Savannah view, or the "cheaper" standard view, becomes popular like the BWV "views"...you may find the same sorts of issues booking at AKV if you don't buy there.

 

[MyGoofy26]

I think that everyone always trashes the new resort. I was a CRV fan but am just thrilled with AKL. I don't know how anyone can trash it until they give it a chance. I can see myself coming back from the parks to the AKL (droping my car off in vallet), sitting out on the balcony and watching amazing animals from my wonderful room. The resort has great theming, incredable animals, restaurants, one of the best pools in WDW (and a new one on the way)... I am sure that it will be one of DVC's best and most popular resorts for years to come.

You've nailed exactly why I'm so excited that this timed out perfectly with my being ready to buy in. We stayed a couple years ago and it was the most relaxing resort I've ever stayed in. The main lobby gets noisy, but not a peep near our room. I'd sit on the balcony and watch the animals wander around. Incredibly peaceful. Especially after a long evening of trying to zig when the Pop Warner Cheerleaders zagged.

Some people prefer more "activity" - and I understand that. But for me, there's already enough activity in my schedule. It was so nice to be able to have a respite from the "go! go! go!" of a typical Disney vacation.

 

[OneMoreTry]

If the occupancy is higher, I would bet the points will be, too.

If the "officially" 5 person 1BR happens, it will be interesting to see how the points compare to an OKW 2BR.

 

[jdg345]

If the occupancy is higher, I would bet the points will be, too.

If the "officially" 5 person 1BR happens, it will be interesting to see how the points compare to an OKW 2BR.

It's possible also that during the scheduled refurbishments of the other DVC's that they "upgrade" the reading chair to one of those fold-outs as well to bring them all up to par. In fact, perhaps it can even be one of those requested things in the future? Who knows?

 

[Slakk]

I spoke to my guide today and reaffirmed that points will probably be like BCV/BWV/VWL but the rooms on the conceirge floors will be more and have conceirge services too.

 

[CarolA]

I spoke to my guide today and reaffirmed that points will probably be like BCV/BWV/VWL but the rooms on the conceirge floors will be more and have conceirge services too.

And I was told by a guide that they won't have concerige services that they are being completly converted to normal DVC accomodations... Wonder what will really happen????? Guesss we have to wait and see! (And the guide at SSR would not let me break into the theatre, I asked!)

 

[jdg345]

And I was told by a guide that they won't have concerige services that they are being completly converted to normal DVC accomodations... Wonder what will really happen????? Guesss we have to wait and see! (And the guide at SSR would not let me break into the theatre, I asked!)

Any ideas on when the theatre will be available for viewing? I might just have to schedule a trip to visit SSR.

 

[Pluto 2]

anyone want to guess what the maint fees will be im guessing they will be one of the highest. we will have to do our part to pay for the animals. the transportation costs will be higher. since three theme parks is far away, they will have to run more buses or we will be waiting for a while. any way i dont care i will be buying when i can afford it. once i get my current dvc loan paid off.

 

[Slakk]

And I was told by a guide that they won't have concerige services that they are being completly converted to normal DVC accomodations... Wonder what will really happen????? Guesss we have to wait and see! (And the guide at SSR would not let me break into the theatre, I asked!)

Maybe our guides will mudwrestle and the winner is right

 

[jdg345]

anyone want to guess what the maint fees will be im guessing they will be one of the highest. we will have to do our part to pay for the animals. the transportation costs will be higher. since three theme parks is far away, they will have to run more buses or we will be waiting for a while. any way i dont care i will be buying when i can afford it. once i get my current dvc loan paid off.

I'm figuring that VB will still be higher -- with the beach erosion, hurricanes, etc ... time will tell though ...

 

[jdg345]

Maybe our guides will mudwrestle and the winner is right

Depending on who your guides are, this could be interesting ... or ... not ...

 

[OneMoreTry]

It's possible also that during the scheduled refurbishments of the other DVC's that they "upgrade" the reading chair to one of those fold-outs as well to bring them all up to par. .....[snip]....

I doubt it. And if they did, I wouldn't personally call it "up to par." I would call it "overcrowded." i can't imagine those small BRs with a foldout. [I'm not a strict occupancy puritan, BTW.]

Besides, it would REALLY screw up the occupancy thread.

 

[jdg345]

I doubt it. And if they did, I wouldn't personally call it "up to par." I would call it "overcrowded." i can't imagine those small BRs with a foldout. [I'm not a strict occupancy puritan, BTW.]

Besides, it would REALLY screw up the occupancy thread.

But if they're just replacing the existing chair with something of the same size that folds out ... what's the harm? It'd look crowded if it was in folded out, but so does the room with the couch folded out?

Besides, wouldn't it be fun to screw up the occupancy thread?