When are they going to build AK Villas?

[vbfamily]

This discussion started again in another thread and I'm sure it has been asked before?

Do you think they will ever build Animal Kingdom Villas?

Anyone heard any rumors or have any reasons why they would or wouldn't?

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Nope. Don't think it will happen.

Perhaps Eagle Pines will be the last.

 

[Doug Wolfe]

They are currently building new DVC villas on the old site of the Disney Institute. This new site will be called Saratoga Springs, and I think it will open in 2004.

There are still units available in the new Beach Club Villas, which opened in July 2002. In the fall of 2001, a news release was issued for a DVC project at the Eagle Pines golf course, but that is currently on the back burner.

As long as DVC can keep selling, I really think they will continue to build to meet the demand. And frankly, I think your idea of a DVC property at Animal Kingdom is the best I have heard yet! What a great concept!!!!

 

[Doug Wolfe]

Right now DVC is building the new Saratoga Springs Resort on the site of the old Disney Institute. These open in 2004. There are also units still available in the new Beach Club Villas, which opened in July 2002.

In addition, during the fall of 2001, DVC issued a press release indicating it had plans to build villas at the Eagle Pines golf course.

My opinion is, as long as there is demand, DVC will keep building. And frankly, your idea of villas at Animal Kingdom, is by far the best idea I have ever heard. I hope DVC is listening, because you have a GREAT concept.

 

[vbfamily]

I think that Animal Kingdom Villas would be a hit-it seems like there are a lot of people who would like to see that. I thought maybe if they built Eagle Pines and extended the year DVC ends then they would be more likely to build another new resort.

Would anyone rather see AK Villas than Eagle Pines? What is Eagle Pines slated to be like. Is there a central theme?

I thought that Eagle Pines was pretty much never gonna happen according to earlier posts on these boards.

It seems like VWL has been a success and that would only carry over to another heavily themed resort like AK Villas. VWL has done well despite a weakened economy, etc. and I think that AK Villas would be able to have a strong showing-even if Disney says they are not going to build any more resorts because of the economy or something.

Who knows, maybe someday.

 

[tiberius]

I agree.
Given its unique and popular theme, an AK Villas development would be a sure hit. Inow my family would "have" to stay there and maybe even "need" to buy there also!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CaptainMidnight
Nope. Don't think it will happen.

Perhaps Eagle Pines will be the last.

I agree, I don't think it will ever happen. Frankly, I doubt EP happens, at least not in the scale it was announced of around 600 units. My guess is SS is the last or possibly a scaled down EP. If they go with the full EP project and open in in 2006 or later, it will take some 8-10 years to sell out most likely. No way they can have that ending sales in 2042 with only 26-28 years remaining on the RTU.

 

[vbfamily]

I know a lot of people have said it will never happen and that could very well be true, but would you buy points there if by some miracle they did build it?

 

[friskykitten]

I agree with Dean and Capt Midnight. Saratoga Springs came along as a great deal for Disney. Rebuilding on an old site. And they already have a 'golf' resort in OKW, although I am sure it isn't nearly what EP would have been. Still, they may rethink thier plans due to that.

Noone knows how the sales figures for SS will work out yet. And that could be the big factor on whether DVC decides whether it needs to build another property or not.

We probably wouldn't even be interested in an AK villa. But that is only because I live with animals everyday and would rather have a break from them. Yes, I am talking about my family.....and the four dogs and two cats.....

I myself would love to see a gulf coast resort out of DVC.........but I know that won't happen.

 

[Richyams]

I have to believe that there are plans laying someplace with VAK stuck in there somewhere, probably in a real nice place, all with savannah views.

I wouldn't be so quick about dismissing either EP or VAK.

They were happy enough with the pace of OKW sales to build BWV. They were then happy enough with sales to add VWL, BCV and annouce the hugely ambitious EPV. 9-11 threw in a curve and the less ambitious SS was pushed forward..also to get some better use out of the DI.

If sales keep up and SS moves quickly, EP and a new ending date are almost a certainity, once it is near completion, VAK will be announced and groud broken on June 1, 2013

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by vbfamily
Do you think they will ever build Animal Kingdom Villas?

Anyone heard any rumors or have any reasons why they would or wouldn't?

I have heard somewhere...maybe here on this board....that they won't be building any more at AKL. Something about wanting to keep the human population down there for the good of the animals.

Same basic reasoning that they restricted pool hopping from there.

Just more grist for the mill.

 

[FredS]

Villas at Animal Kingdom would most definitely get my vote. They can permanently shelve EP for all I care about another golf resort.

No one can rule out AK as a possible location for a DVC resort, as I am sure that the "powers that be" at Disney don't yet know for certain what the future holds regarding rates of sale, location and themes of resorts, possible extensions of DVC leases beyond 2042, etc. I would be very, very happy if they did indeed build a DVC resort with savannah views and a wonderful staff like AKL's.

 

[ncligs]

IMO if you don't see it with- in the next 7-10 years you probably won't.I think WDW likes the set up there just like it is.

 

[vernon]

Don't think it will happen, if there were any plans it would have been included from the start. Building now would be costly and would upset the animals. There is also the problem of having land in available areas to make the most of the "serengetti" attraction. I don't think it would be possible to build any more that would have a view over the animals, so that would rather detract from the idea. When I was talking to the DVC rep at AKL that was his view.

 

[anniet]

I really don't think it would happen either.

I also have to question how many more DVC's and regular resorts for that matter that Disney is going to build on their property.

Right now they have 4 parks and probably more hotels than they can fill...I would imagine building another DVC villa probably doesn't attract many people who have never been to Disney before. I have to imagine that it pulls from their own hotels. I would think (and this is just my opinion) that if Disney is going to continue to build accomodations from scratch, they would eventually have to add another park to attract a larger number of people to put in those accomodations.

 

[crisi]

Count me among the nevers.

I don't think Disney will risk disturbing the animals in the manner that major construction overlooking the savannah would take. They took too big a PR hit when the park first opened for animal deaths associated with stress.

I've been wrong before, but if indeed the true rationale for no pool hopping is not disturbing the animals, they aren't going to do any major construction that close to the savannah.

 

[vbfamily]

I forgot about all of the trouble they had when they were building the AK Lodge. I guess we'll never see AK Villas but I wouldn't complain if it ever came to be and they could do it without any problems.

I am in the group that doesn't think EP will ever be built.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[erikthewise]

No, I don't think they will build VAK, nice as it might be.
Like another poster, I don't particularly care if they build EPV or not.
But as long as people keep buying, they WILL keep building.
I'm holding out for Polynesian Villas!

 

[WDWguru]

As DH and I have said every time this topic has come up here, we'd be first in line for AK villas and would buy as many points as we could afford!

I do think the concerns about the animals would likely nix construction, but Disney owns plenty of land on the "back" side of the savanna where they could build essentially a mirror image of the existing lodge in a smaller scale. There's also the possibility they could build it adjacent to the lodge with its own separate savanna.

I agree with those who say EP will never happen. It just sounds too similar to OKW and SS. If they build another one I think it'll be attached to an existing on-site hotel since those have done so well for them. I could see a Yacht Club Villas happening (don't know that there's room on that side) since the BWV and BCV have been so popular. Anything in that Epcot area would do well.

 

[Greg K.]

...I think DVC should look westward.

The Disneyland Resort would be helped immensely by a DVC-exclusive property. Anaheim is not exactly hurting for hotel properties or time shares, of course -- but what about Disney doing something near Long Beach, or along the coast? With shuttle service to the DL resort?

Imagine spending a week at a California resort -- do two or three days at Disneyland, pop down to San Diego for another day, maybe explore LA another couple days...all while being able to stay at a Disney Vacation Club home.

Would I do it? You bet!