The DVC board official Animal Kingdom Villas discussion thread

[3DisneyKids]

Ok...just back from a great trip at SSR (got off the plane about 4 hours ago ...miss it already!).

Anyway, our villa was truly right across from the theatre. I had to walk by it about 5 times a day...and each and every time, I stopped, and listened...trying to hear sounds of construction or something on the inside, etc. It was dead in there. I did not see anyone go in or out the entire time and I never head any sounds coming from inside. If this is where the new AKV models are going to be, they don't seem to be in a rush to get them done. And yeah...people definitely thought I was whacked as they saw me "eavesdropping" at the theatre!

I must have stopped at every DVC stand in the parks to talk about AKV and everyone was willing to talk--I didn't get even one "Gee, we can't talk about that yet." For the most part, they only reiterated what is already known here, but added some details:

SOME (and only SOME) of the 1 BRs will accommodate 5 and have a second bathroom. These are not expected to cost more points (points charts not available yet, so this is speculation on the CMs' parts), but these will be a confirmed ressie. The analogy they made was like a dedicated 2 BR vs. lock-off...same points, but you have to specify which type you want. That makes sense to me.

As for the second bath, they didn't know if this would be a powder room (just sink and toilet), full bath, 3/4 or what.

As for size, the CMs said that the 1-BRs will be about 2 feet longer in each room (living and bed)...though this may not sound like much, it will definitely add some space. DH is an engineer and though he did not have his measuring tape with us, he was able to look at the pics of the 5th and 6th floor and estimated that this would add about 70 - 85 sq. feet to each villa.

Pricing and points are still not available, of course, and at least 3 of the CMs I spoke with said that these cannot be made public--by law--until a certain percentage of the construction was complete (not sure how much). So, I think we are in for a bit of a wait when it comes to getting these answers. NONE of the CMs would even speculate as to what they thought the points and prices might be. They were all very excited to talk about the project in general, though.

Sales are predicted to begin in late Jan. - early Feb.

So, that's the news from the home front...

 

[LUV DVC]

One possible reason you did'nt hear any noise at the theater is because the units are being constructed off site and will be shipped to the theater at a later date. I have found that during the construction process of many new disney projects there seems to be very little activity then major progress seems to occur overnight. As an architect, this would leed me to think that most of the construction is occuring off site and delivered to the site overnight. I would guess that if they intend to start selling AKV (first of all, they would'nt need a full size unit mark-up to do so - most people would by on speculation alone) this January or February, the units would already be designed and possibly already constructed. Most, if not all of Disney's projects are extremely well thought through and a long time in the making. Just a thought.

 

[WDWguru]

Wow, 3DisneyKids, you've had much better luck than we have. We're still here at BWV and called the DVC number on the in-room phone to inquire what to do to talk to our guide about AKV. Apparently ours now works from home, so they told us to just pop over to the sales center at SSR and we could talk to anyone there.

So we made a special trip and the guy at the desk said basically what we've heard on the internet is all the information out there now (confirmed essentially that this board has all the facts) but that's it. He said we could call our guide and get on her waiting list for information when she is allowed to talk to us about it, but that's it. Not much help at all.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

We just got back from SSR Saturday also and I have the same info as 3DisneyKids - everyone was excited to talk about it but didn't know anything other then what was being reported here already. Even had a meeting with our guide and he had the same info we already knew!

 

[3DisneyKids]

One possible reason you did'nt hear any noise at the theater is because the units are being constructed off site and will be shipped to the theater at a later date. I have found that during the construction process of many new disney projects there seems to be very little activity then major progress seems to occur overnight. As an architect, this would leed me to think that most of the construction is occuring off site and delivered to the site overnight. I would guess that if they intend to start selling AKV (first of all, they would'nt need a full size unit mark-up to do so - most people would by on speculation alone) this January or February, the units would already be designed and possibly already constructed. Most, if not all of Disney's projects are extremely well thought through and a long time in the making. Just a thought.

This makes total sense...thanks for the info!

And yeah, all of the DVC CMs in Advance Sales (those at the kiosks around the parks) were happy to talk, but said that we here on the DIS knew pretty much everything. Thpse few details that I posted above were the only new pieces of information...and I don't really think they were that new...some had already been posted.

 

[lisareniff]

3DisneyKids (or anyone that has talked to your guide),
Do you know if DVC is going to take AKL's 5th floor rooms
(a) only on the Kudo Trail
(b) on the Kudo and Zebra trails (all deluxe rooms)
(c) the whole 5th floor (which includes standard rooms)

HTH

 

[OCDisney]

One thing I've not seen discussed yet:

The recent All Star suites were developed simply by remodeling pairs of ajoining rooms. I expect this will be the pattern for AKV as well.

This both explains the 5 person occupancy and how they can quickly convert to 1-Bed/2-Bath & 2-Bed/3-Bath configurations without extensive plumbing rework. I bet the kitchens will be similarly arranged. Anyone have a All Star suite layout drawing?

 

[Dean]

OPricing and points are still not available, of course, and at least 3 of the CMs I spoke with said that these cannot be made public--by law--until a certain percentage of the construction was complete (not sure how much). So, I think we are in for a bit of a wait when it comes to getting these answers. NONE of the CMs would even speculate as to what they thought the points and prices might be. They were all very excited to talk about the project in general, though.

that's not quite accurate. They can't discuss it until it's registered with FL. They can't actually sell until they are a certain amount of the way toward having that unit inhabitable.

 

[Dean]

One thing I've not seen discussed yet:

The recent All Star suites were developed simply by remodeling pairs of ajoining rooms. I expect this will be the pattern for AKV as well.

This both explains the 5 person occupancy and how they can quickly convert to 1-Bed/2-Bath & 2-Bed/3-Bath configurations without extensive plumbing rework. I bet the kitchens will be similarly arranged. Anyone have a All Star suite layout drawing?

There is a world of experience in the timeshare world of turning hotels into timeshares. As a rule, every room has a bath prior to the conversion and this usually is incorporated into the finished unit. The only reasonable ways to have a 1 BR that sleeps more would be a second pull out, murphy bed or an alcove with bunk beds or the like. I doubt we'll see a true sleep 5 1 BR unit.

 

[PrincessJasmine08]

....
SOME (and only SOME) of the 1 BRs will accommodate 5 and have a second bathroom. These are not expected to cost more points (points charts not available yet, so this is speculation on the CMs' parts), but these will be a confirmed ressie. The analogy they made was like a dedicated 2 BR vs. lock-off...same points, but you have to specify which type you want. That makes sense to me.

...

That's really interesting. For me that would definitely be a reason to own at AKV, to ensure getting a 1 bedroom 2 bath.

 

[lenshanem]

SOME (and only SOME) of the 1 BRs will accommodate 5 and have a second bathroom. These are not expected to cost more points (points charts not available yet, so this is speculation on the CMs' parts), but these will be a confirmed ressie. The analogy they made was like a dedicated 2 BR vs. lock-off...same points, but you have to specify which type you want. That makes sense to me.

Good reason to do an add on so I can book at the 11 month window.

 

[3DisneyKids]

that's not quite accurate. They can't discuss it until it's registered with FL. They can't actually sell until they are a certain amount of the way toward having that unit inhabitable.

Thanks for clarifying this, Dean!

 

[starbox]

The only reasonable ways to have a 1 BR that sleeps more would be a second pull out, murphy bed or an alcove with bunk beds or the like. I doubt we'll see a true sleep 5 1 BR unit.

I'm betting on a queen bed, a bunk-bed alcove, and a convertible sofa or lounge chair-type configuration.

 

[lenshanem]

Do some of the rooms at AK have bunk beds like at WL?

 

[DonnaL]

I can't see DVC changing the 1 bdrm configuration all that much......I think the bdrm will remain a King with probably a pullout sofa and maybe a pullout loveseat or larger sleeper chair than at All Stars. If the square footage is larger in the living room even by 10 square feet there would be enough room to fit a loveseat. I know every family differs, but, personally I can't see a family with older kids (teenagers, young adults) trying to fit 5 in a 1 bdrm. We had 4 last year (DH, myself, and DS's, one 24 and one 17.....one slept on an inflatable bed and the other on the pullout) and felt like we were crawling over one another. Small kids......no problem......when our kids were small (we have 3) we all fit into hotel rooms meant for 4, so, I really think DVC will use their data to determine just how many members fall into which category and go from there. I know I've seen a lot of questions on the boards about MS allowing 5 in a 1 bdrm, so, there may even be two separate categories of 1 bdrms, which would be fine with me, but, don't take away the King in the Master........DH and I stayed in a studio at SSR last week and had a very difficult time adjusting to a Queen since we have a King at home. I think in the future we'll use the extra points for a 1 bdrm even when it is just the two of us.

 

[pilferk]

I'm betting on a queen bed, a bunk-bed alcove, and a convertible sofa or lounge chair-type configuration.

I'm betting on a queen or king bed, pull out sleeper sofa and one of those pull out "chair beds" like they have at the all star family suites. Then it's just about where everything is actually located physically.

 

[surfer_ed]

From the info I've seen, it sounds like VAKL will have it's own feature pool and some sort of "water play island"...whatever that means...as well as at least one new resturaunt.

I have to say I also think the present AKL pool is a little ho hum.

 

[disneyaggie]

Bumping!

 

[lenshanem]

I have to say I also think the present AKL pool is a little ho hum.

Really? I think the AKL pool is quite nice! Love the feeling, slide is a decent size - not too big, not too small and I love the zero depth entry.

 

[glewis1123]

Really? I think the AKL pool is quite nice! Love the feeling, slide is a decent size - not too big, not too small and I love the zero depth entry.

I do too - it is supposed to resemble a watering hole in a savannah - so I think it fits very well for the AKL