When the hoopla fades away a bit...

[Mom B]

Who else is going to just "wait and see" before buying into AKV? Financial issues aside...DH is really excited about AKV and so am I to a certain extent, but being a BIG OKW fan and loving many features of that particular DVC resort (in addition to our beloved home VB, of course), I'm inclined to wait until there's more information available. As cool as it would be to get on the tapestry and be one of the "first" members, I'm just gonna have to get more details...AKV might be a nice place to "visit" when it's done, but will it have the "at your door" parking like OKW? Will the rooms be laid out better than SSR? I can kind of guess at the decor, but...guess I'd rather be sure before I lay out my money for an add-on. I'm still leaning towards OKW or VWL for my second DVC "home" and even though I'm sure AKV will be SPECTACULAR, I'm not sure it will feel right! Just let me see the floor plans and the map and I'll think about it then. Anyone else out there?

 

[WDWorld2003]

You know what's funny.... I knew you were from Minnesota when I read hoopla!

We would love to own at AKV but financially it's not in the cards for us right now. We even thought of selling our smaller contract to buy there but we're waiting until the "hoopla" is over too! I love the idea of being able to sleep five in a 1 bedroom, the location with the animals and the theme of the resort. It all appeals to me and it's killing me not to buy in!

 

[Mom B]

That's incredible that you knew...doesn't the rest of the world say hoopla? Great to see another Minnesotan here, I know there's a number of us. Maybe when the time comes I'll see you at AKV!

 

[dianeschlicht]

LOL, Yep, another Minnesotan here, but I'm going to join the "hoopla" by adding on a small amount of points at AKV to begin with. We are thinking somewhere between 50-70. We love the idea of AKV, and I know we will want to spend at least a couple of nights there at teh end or begining of a trip, but we will wait until it opens to decide if we will do more than just a small add-on. We too, LOVE OKW, and if AKV ends up being a hotel type resort, it will not be where we will want to stay for entire trips. If we love it, we might think of selling our smaller OKW contract sometime in the future to buy more AKV points, but I don't want to do that before we know what it will be like.

One scenario we have talked about involves switching from OKW to AKV about 5-10 years from now. The reason being, that OKW should still have some resale value in 5 years, but after that, it will likely decrease as it gets down to half the years left in the contract. We figure we could sell our OKW contracts at that point, buy at AKV where the expiration is 50 years from now, and still have marketable contracts there in 20 years, when we are likely to want to sell DVC. It all depends on how we are doing in our 80's.

 

[DeeCee735]

I, too am waiting for the hoopla to fade away. We were really really considering this when we got the card in the mail. Especially because it's 15 years longer than our home resort of BW and we'd like to buy two small contracts to leave one for each child. But.....the one thing we aren't really crazy about is the fact that we'd have to drive everywhere or take the bus transport. We always have the car as we drive down from NY, but that's the reason why we don't want to drive when we are there. We are used to being able to walk or take the boats from BW into two of the parks, and the fact that we cannot do so from AK is starting to weigh heavy in our decision, so we will wait, let all the excitment die down a bit, and then decide.

 

[lisareniff]

Well I want to buy...but I can't buy an idea. I need more details. I also need the details to sell DH.

 

[spiceycat]

just don't know. and I am a big animal lover.

still love OKW plus my other two - VWL and BWV.

the budget can't stand another one. but after reading these posts I might consider selling some of my OKW to buy at another resort. just not sure.

also still waiting and hoping for the CRV. my first memories of WDW were close to that (Polyn not CR) so it holds a special place.

of course the rest of the family loves OKW and won't even consider BWV or VWL much rather anything else.

I am the solo owner. so the decision is mind.

I have gotten my money out of OKW - been a member since 93.

 

[erikthewise]

After the brou-ha-ha fades away....

Looks like it will be a nice place to visit. No I don't feel a need to own there. The resort is large enough that it will not be impossible to get at 7 months. And I don't think the current promotional discount will be the last.

I suspect AKV may have some competition before it sells out...

 

[lisareniff]

I suspect AKV may have some competition before it sells out...

I was thinking of that too. If we don't get any details before the $93 deal is up (or can't sell DH) then maybe we will wait for that competition.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was so much on the fence of buying a smaller 75 point add on at BCV, that I would go back and forth, get it settled in my mind, and then change it.

When these points became available, for me, it was no contest...I now have another resort with accomdations that will please my extended family, and that DH and I will enjoy for as long as we can. There would have been a wait for BCV points, and so the wait for these doesn't bother me at all, and it will be a brand new resort.

I am following the hoopla, but I understand the "wait and see attitude" too! Something at the Contemporary wouldn't have tempted us at all.

Bobbi

 

[erikthewise]

Well I want to buy...but I can't buy an idea. I need more details. I also need the details to sell DH.

Lisa,

Since the link would be blocked, I will just share intact a post I made elsewhere in cyberspace. It was supposed to be funny, but in the context of your post, it's just agreeing with you.

------

Hold on-- I'm on the hotline direct to DVC Marketing:
"Floor plans?! Oh, the architect has those. Was there a reason you wanted to see them?"
"Well, I was thinking of spending $30K on your timeshare development and I was curious what I might actually be buying."
"Hmmm... you're the first one to ask. Most people just send us their money. I guess we could call the architect and see if they can fax us a copy. And I'll have to clear it with my boss, and her boss, and of course Jim Lewis. It may take a couple weeks."
"Never mind. I'll just wait for CRV."
"For what?...."
click

 

[JodyTG]

Just let me see the floor plans and the map and I'll think about it then. Anyone else out there?

I'm with you. I need maps, floor plans, picture and all that. I'm more of a visual/tangible person. I need to see and touch it all first.

 

[spiceycat]

I'm with you. I need maps, floor plans, picture and all that. I'm more of a visual person. I need to see it all first.

that is one thing I don't understand.

DVC generally provides all of this when sales start....

this is the first time that I know of that sales have started and we still don't know the layout of the rooms, or even seen a model room.

and it is hard to say in AKL exactly where it will be. go look on the posts for those if you want to get confused. It say entire 5th floor - but that is not what it is showing....

I want to see a model room - not buying until then!

 

[greenban]

When the AKV whoop-de-doo (New Jersians don't say hoopla!) dies down, it will be replaced by the CRV brou-ha-ha! Then you'll really see Hoopla!

-Tony

 

[shovan]

On this last trip, we made our first visit to AK to eat at Jiko. Well, I absolutely loved the resort! The ambiance reminded me of everything I loved about the Polynesian. Very calming & soothing enviroment. The CM's were so friendly. I was totally gung-ho to purchase there asap.

We inquired with the DVC guy at the BC about when it would go up for sale. He couldn't tell us, but did give us some info on how many rooms, new rest. etc.. All info that's now been posted here. Well as soon as we get home & I get back on the Dis I see it's up for sale! I didn't get the mailing until a week later.

I guess that was divine intervention, to give me some time to mull it over. Besides my DH was looking at me like I was crazy when I told him I wanted to buy right away!

I don't think it's a big deal to be on the tapestry. We might go there once every other year. I'm sure even if we don't purchase, we'll be able to book it. Down the road when all of the "hoopla" dies down. Or hoorah as we say in N'awlins!
So, yeah we're going to take a wait & see attitude, right now.

 

[diznyfanatic]

that is one thing I don't understand.

DVC generally provides all of this when sales start....

this is the first time that I know of that sales have started and we still don't know the layout of the rooms, or even seen a model room.

and it is hard to say in AKL exactly where it will be. go look on the posts for those if you want to get confused. It say entire 5th floor - but that is not what it is showing....

I want to see a model room - not buying until then!

Just curious, but what information is being given to prospective new members interested in AKV at the resort DVC desks (particularly the one at AKL), the park kiosk locations or at the SSR Sales Center? No model, no info sheets, no pictures...?????

I mean, they were supposedly already working on the model at SSR when we were there in October after the announcement had already been made. I've had whole houses built in less time than this AKV model is taking!

I just find it rather strange, but we haven't been members long enough to have been around to experience the process and procedures for other new resorts that have opened.

 

[CarolMN]

I just don't think you are going to need home resort advantage to stay at the AKV. I do understand that there are only a few conceirge rooms and that you will need the home resort advantage to get those, but concerige rooms at Disney hold no appeal for me. And getting my name on a tapestry and another giclee print isn't worth anything to me, either.

So here's yet another Minnesotan waiting for the hoopla to die down. Even though she thinks the AKL is a very cool resort, she is not sure that when push comes to shove, if a very cool resort & exotic animals will trump a very cool resort with LOCATION!

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm not from MN but I've been known to say Hoopla before...not so much on the brou-ha-ha tho. Panties in a wad - now THAT'S my catch phrase.

Anyway, AKV is so-o-o tempting but just bought SSR so we can't buy AKV now...but LOVED AKL (the Boma was great) and I am really hoping the 7 mo. window is not a problem. We stayed in a savanna view before & were actually sorta disappointed with our view - so also want to get some feedback on that before we even try to go - make sure it's worth the extra pts. We were down at the end & had like 1 lonely giraffe out there all week.

We're summer vacationers - it seems a lot of DVC owners travel in the "off" seasons...which we won't do 'cuz of school - so hope that helps our odds. Also, prob. wouldn't spend that many pts. for Xmas or Spring break - but might one day. So am just crossing our fingers & toes that there will be room at the inn for us once the whole thing is done.

Maybe we can buy one day on a future promo...we're still new members so don't know for sure how many pts. we'll really end up needing.

 

[jade1]

Another sideline Minnesotan here. It all looks very nice to us but 2 things derailed it for us. Sounds too far from the main AK lodge, and no walkway or boat to AK. Oh yea and the possibility of CRV. We will stay on occassion though.

 

[Figment56]

We have stayed at many different resorts at WDW, but AKL has ALWAYS been my favorite! It killed me that once we bought into SSR, I knew we would probably never stay at AKL ever again-too expensive to stay for a few nights or to "waste points on". Once I found out that it had become AKV-we jumped-yeah! We only bought 50 points, but that is enough for now. DD will be off to college in the fall, leaving just DH and myself. What better way to get reacquainted! We just love the atmosphere at AKL and watching the animals from the Savannah View rooms-the only way to go! We have loved all the resorts we have stayed in, but everyone has their own personal preferences and AKL is ours. We enjoy being able to experience all the different resorts Disney has to offer and hopefully they will keep adding more on for us to experience! We had one bad experience at the Grand Floridian and that was just the cast members, not the resort itself, other than that, we have enjoyed every stay at WDW! We can't wait to go back in August!