Thoughts on Animals and AKL Dues

[TinkAgainU]

I'm in the process of adding Animal Kingdom to my DVC home resorts, and since my family is minimum 5 occupants, will always need a 1 bedroom (savanna view, of course) - so that meant significantly more points than we've been able to pull off, even with views, at our other resorts (Boardwalk and Grand Floridian).

While in the 10 day grace period, I'm second guessing myself about the annual dues (already about two dollars higher per point). While I can live with the $2/per point, I have concerns about future dues there - specifically as they relate to increases for animals - or heaven forbid - if there was a challenging animal crisis such as birds experienced with the tragic bird flu. We are always a bit aware of the possibility of special assessments (if you've ever been in an HOA you may have been hit with them) for the resorts being in Florida with climate change, but anyone have thoughts about AKL risk assessment they'd be willing to share?

Thanks!

 

[atthebeachclub]

I estimate the animals cost about 50 cents to 1 dollar extra per point. With the decent point chart and the fact that the animals are awesome, I consider it a wash. I wouldn’t want all my points there but having some there isn’t bad. Animal illnesses are a fact of life but aren’t likely to affect all species the same; I really don’t worry about outbreaks, especially as these are uncommon species for North America so there are fewer vectors likely.

 

[mort1331]

Buying at another resort with cheaper dues will still let you get AKL view. Now you may not get Value or Club level,,but all others should be fine at 7 months.

 

[teamsamant]

Buying at another resort with cheaper dues will still let you get AKL view. Now you may not get Value or Club level,,but all others should be fine at 7 months.

yup especially in a 1br!!

 

[atthebeachclub]

Are these direct or resale points? How many points compared to your overall points? If resale, you could consider BLT or subsidized Aulani as an alternative where you could likely still book Savannah 1 bedrooms at 7 months.

 

[OKW Lover]

I don't think I'd be too concerned about the animals and their impact on AKL dues. While I don't know how much of the annual dues the animals comprise I don't think it would be significant unless the entire animal population was wiped out.

FWIW, I do own at AKL.

 

[davidhr]

I don't think I'd be too concerned about the animals and their impact on AKL dues. While I don't know how much of the annual dues the animals comprise I don't think it would be significant unless the entire animal population was wiped out.

FWIW, I do own at AKL.

Looking at the 2024 statement, it looks it’s around 5% of the dues.

Not insignificant, but not outrageous.

I used to own AKV and sold it because, while I like the resort, booking there is easy so I prefer to own elsewhere and book AKV at 7 months.

 

[Chili327]

I'm in the process of adding Animal Kingdom to my DVC home resorts, and since my family is minimum 5 occupants, will always need a 1 bedroom (savanna view, of course) - so that meant significantly more points than we've been able to pull off, even with views, at our other resorts (Boardwalk and Grand Floridian).

While in the 10 day grace period, I'm second guessing myself about the annual dues (already about two dollars higher per point). While I can live with the $2/per point, I have concerns about future dues there - specifically as they relate to increases for animals - or heaven forbid - if there was a challenging animal crisis such as birds experienced with the tragic bird flu. We are always a bit aware of the possibility of special assessments (if you've ever been in an HOA you may have been hit with them) for the resorts being in Florida with climate change, but anyone have thoughts about AKL risk assessment they'd be willing to share?

Thanks!

Buying at another resort with cheaper dues will still let you get AKL view. Now you may not get Value or Club level, but all others should be fine at 7 months.

Yep, i have been on that fence thinking i may want more AKV points, but I know I'm never going to stay there without it being a Savanna View, and since there is almost always SV availability at 7 months, I would just buy BLT or CCV for more (SAP+) points.

 

[sndral]

Animal programs cost $.46 & a half cents per point this year https://cdn2.parksmedia.wdprapps.di...do-association/2023-Condo-Notice-AKV-AKV2.pdf
In my case, my VGF dues are comparatively cheap, so in my mind that helps offset the higher AKV dues. Interestingly the WDW resort w/ the highest dues this year is OKW (not counting the new cabins which have really high dues) https://dvcnews.com/dvc-program-menu/financial/annual-dues-by-resort
While I agree that if staying at Kidani I’d book savanna view, if staying at Jambo many of the standard views also have savanna views & I often save points at Jambo by booking standard view. There are so many booking categories at AKV that it’s tough to say ‘you can always get X at 7 months’ since availability is more nuanced. Jambo is harder to get than Kidani, for example. That said 1 br. savanna views at Kidani are likely the easiest to get & likely will be available at 7 months in all but the highest demand times.

 

[Chili327]

Year	OKW	BWV	VB	VB(s)	HHI	BRV	BCV	SSR	AKV	BLT	VGC	AUL	AUL(s)	VGF	PVB	CCV	RIV	VDH	CFW
2024	9.87	8.67	13.86	10.89	11.31	8.68	8.63	8.14	9.08	7.59	8.55	9.76	7.34	7.57	8.23	8.09	8.85	9.53	12.16

Technically VGF could be great SAP (add to your current allotment) if you could get the price down on the purchase. (I had to make the list, I hate when they're not in order. lol)

1. VB - $13.86
2. CFW - $12.16
3. HHI - $11.31
4. VBs - $10.89
5. OKW - $9.87
6. AUL - $9.76
7. VDH - $9.53
8. AKV - $9.08
9. RIV - $8.85
10. BRV - $8.68
11. BWV - $8.67
12. BCV - $8.63
13. VGC - $8.55
14. PVB - $8.23
15. SSR - $8.14
16. CCV - $8.09
17. BLT - $7.59
18. VGF - $7.57
19. AULs - $7.34

 

[CastAStone]

Hi. This is my industry. An animal health crisis where a huge percentage required intensive care, died, and needed to be replaced with new animals could run into the low 8 figures.

Figure on a $2-$3/point assessment as worst case scenario.

Now, the wildlife at AKL is pretty diverse, few of them are going to be impacted by the same disease, and surprisingly few diseases are easily transmitted between species to begin with (for example, most of the bacterial and viral diseases you and your dog get now and then can’t be passed from one of you to the other). These animals basically only encounter each other, their handlers, and things that can fly; they’re also quarantined before they’re introduced to ensure they’re not bringing diseases in with them.

As such they’re unlikely to encounter diseases transmitted mammal to mammal, and they’re likely being treated with something like what your vet recommends for your dog to ensure they’re not picking up diseases from mosquitos or ticks.

Even when something does break through, like how certain zoo animals were getting Covid from their zookeepers, or avian flu as you reference, vaccines are being made available increasingly quickly, and the FDA / USDA have updated their procedures for approving things conditionally in an emergency to ensure these things are expedited to market (the first animal Covid vaccine was introduced just a month after the first human one, despite being made by a completely different company).

Which is a long, long way of saying, if you should be worried about anything impacting those animals to the point where it hits your pocketbook, worry about a natural disaster or an act of war, not disease.

 

[TinkAgainU]

... Which is a long, long way of saying, if you should be worried about anything impacting those animals to the point where it hits your pocketbook, worry about a natural disaster or an act of war, not disease.

Thank you - that's the logical approach I needed. Although, then I went, wait, war? ... I was only thinking about hurricanes lol. Guess we have to let a little angst slide if focusing on long term happy places

 

[muppets3d]

AKL is not difficult to book at 7 months if you are concerned with dues. It's not quite as wide open as Saratoga, but not far behind. Actually my very first DVC stay on points was a Jambo savanna view studio which was booked around a month before arrival. Provided at least, you are not interested in value or club rooms. Those do require ownership.

 

[Ruttangel]

Just spent a week in AKV-Jambo Club level, honestly the art work, the animals, the cultural representatives, the drums, the noises, the lobby it’s honestly more immersive than a theme park
Kidani with its stunning savannah outlook, beautiful lanterns inviting you in to your home

To own here is a privilege, the most outstanding resort in WDW which could be transported anywhere in the world and still be a dream location

There’s nothing like it to me and my family, already dreaming of when I will return

 

[disneylandtour]

The main perk is the value and club rooms. I use value rooms regularly. If you use those, it’s more than worth it. Otherwise, BLT is a bargain on the resale market right now.

 

[Chili327]

The main perk is the value and club rooms. I use value rooms regularly. If you use those, it’s more than worth it. Otherwise, BLT is a bargain on the resale market right now.

Are value and club all savanna view or a mix of different views?

 

[CastAStone]

Are value and club all savanna view or a mix of different views?

Value is a mix. Requests are explicitly not accepted for value rooms.

 

[disneylandtour]

Value is a mix. Requests are explicitly not accepted for value rooms.

Club is a mix as well. About half and half.

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I’ve always been concerned Disney would cheapen DAK/AKL by reducing either the quantity or variety of interesting animals as a cost-cutting measure.
Respectfully, I think that’s a much more probably event than effects from climate change.

 

[eticketplease]

The Mickey Mouse attached to my computer is never fast enough at 8 am so the advantage of owning for CL or Value is out. I would rather own SAP to stay here and book AKL.
Yes Jambo might be more difficult than Kidani to snag but since we like to stay in 1 BR it provides the extra bathroom anyways. The hallways may also be considered long at Kidani but they are in AC and then I just take the elevator down to grab our car. On the other hand Jambo I'm getting my steps in as well to retrieve the car but doing so in the hot Florida sun.