Will AKV become the new SSR?

[plymouthmom]

What I mean to say is, with the opening of tons of rooms at Kidani, will AKV be the DVC resort that has room, like SSR? Don't get me wrong, I like SSR, stayed there in January,

I ask this question because, having just seen the awesome pix of Kidani on All Ears, I want in! But....do I have to buy there to stay there? I own at OKW and haven't stayed there yet?

Thoughts?

 

[AlexTina]

Hmmm, I don't know. SSR is huge and it seems that there are a lot of people who don't like it. We stayed there in November and I have to admit I was nervous and really didn't want to stay there simply because of all the negative posts I've read. Turns out we loved it!! As for Kidani I don't know if it's as large as SSR but again I know there are a lot of people who don't like AKL just because they read that it is so far from everything. We've stayed at AKL and go there for dinner often on our trips and I don't find it to be far at all. Then there's the animals which I think are a big draw. We are staying at Kidani in May and are really excited about it and we're definately glad we own there. I guess we'll have to wait and see what kind of luck people have booking at 7 months. I should add that we always rent a car so have never had to depend on buses and I'm sure that makes a big difference. If we had to spend a lot of time waiting on buses maybe we wouldn't have liked SSR so much.

Tina

 

[Laurabearz]

I think it will be easy to book AKV at the 7 month window

 

[dizney4us]

When I called for reservations for my fall trip, I was told that they only had availability at OKW, SSR, and AKV...so it will probably be a resort you can depend on in the sense you'll most likely get in when ever you call. It's a good thing to have resorts like that!

 

[TDC Nala]

I'll be glad to have another DVC that actually has space for last minute bookings.

 

[oakmanner]

That will be great to have a resort that has such an unique theme be available most of the time!

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

While I think there will be more availability there than at say BWV, BCV and VWL the closer you get, you might not get the specific view or building you want.

 

[ftballfan7]

Hopefully there will be last minute availabiltity.

The exceptions will be concierge , value and grand villa bookings. For those you will likely need the home resort booking advantage.

 

[Disney_Villain]

Since AKV opened, the 3 largest WDW DVC resorts are (in this order):

1. SSR
2. AKV
3. OKW

As SSR and OKW (overall) have been easy to book at the 7-month window, I would expect the same for AKV - now that it has bumped OKW for 2nd place as the largest WDW DVC resort.

We just have to wait for the initial excitement to die down over AKV being a new resort - probably around late 2010.

 

[plymouthmom]

I am planning a trip for 2012 for a Grand Villa....so, still not sure if that is doable at 7 months

 

[paulh]

Since AKV opened, the 3 largest WDW DVC resorts are (in this order):

1. SSR
2. AKV
3. OKW

As SSR and OKW (overall) have been easy to book at the 7-month window, I would expect the same for AKV - now that it has bumped OKW for 2nd place as the largest WDW DVC resort.

We just have to wait for the initial excitement to die down over AKV being a new resort - probably around late 2010.

next one to open is BLT in aug 2009
Paulh

 

[zulaya]

I am planning a trip for 2012 for a Grand Villa....so, still not sure if that is doable at 7 months

I'd not hold my breath on that one. There are only 16 at Kidani and 6 at Jambo. Fewer than the total at OKW.

But we just don't know yet what people will think. Pictures aren't the real thing and I think that there will be people who will feel it's too remote for them. Once you start getting reports on what people think of the transportation system and location, then you'll probably start to get a better feel. Right now everything is so new and there's a lot of buzz around it. And you never know, maybe the savannah view will trump any other real or supposed inconveniences that people may associate with AKV and they'll book there just for that reason, too.

 

[DVC Mike]

Since AKV opened, the 3 largest WDW DVC resorts are (in this order):

1. SSR
2. AKV
3. OKW

I thought it was:

1. SSR - 828 Units / 1260 Max. Available Rooms
2. OKW - 531 Units / 761 Max. Available Rooms
3. AKV - 458 Units / 708 Max. Available Rooms

 

[twinklebug]

AKV has Animals, Conceirge level rooms, Value rooms, even the standard rooms should have decent views as there is no gargantuan parking area to overlook (I believe bus stop view will be the least popular) There's an Awesome pool & water play area with a great slide, an incredible 'library' & community hall, not to mention it's a 4 minute bus ride away from one of Disney's best parks... well... they're all the best, but you kwim The theming and detail is amazing. There are long hallways, yes, but they're indoor and not out in the weather. All together, this makes for an incredible resort.

Now that I've seen images of Kidani I'm convinced it'll be one of the top locations for booking. Although I had doubts about buying in at AKV at first, all those worries have been squashed & I'm so glad to have the 11 month booking advantage. I just grabbed one of the few studios left open in December & am very sure those who don't own here will need to waitlist or be very lucky to find anything during the more popular times.

I have 3 reservations out there - all for AKV and although I'm considering switching resorts for one of the trips at the 7 month window, if I have to stay with my home I'll be perfectly content

 

[jco_direwolf]

I suspect that when the economy gets turned around and DAKV is more fully sold. It will be hard to get in. Right now it's a lot of units ready to go right now, plus the economy (I suspect that bookings are down.)

What is my basis for this?

When we bought into DVC, our guide was trying to sell us SSR. "Why wait on DAKV when you can buy SSR and use your points at DAKV?" "SSR will have a lower MF?" "Do you really want to book 11 months in advanced?"

I think with all the draws of DAKV, animals, pool, views etc... it will get a lot of inflow from SSR. But I don't see a lot of people who buy at DAKV trying to use there points outside of there home.

So right now, people aren't planning trips as far out as they had been. Lots of new inventory rooms. i think it will change.

johno

 

[bookwormde]

One thing to remember is that there is “artificial” demand at SSR right now, but that will go away once the developer point glut ends. I would be very surprised to see AKV developer points in any quantity.

AKV will always be popular, but not as “exclusive” as it was when there were a limited number of rooms at Jambo.

bookwormde

 

[MikeyNS]

We were going to purchase points at the AKV, but our thoughts are that availablility at 7 months (in the times *we* go) will be fine, especially for standard view rooms.. seems to be a tonne of them.

 

[DaveH]

I expect rooms like standard rooms will be booked up by owners. Boardwalk and standard view at BWV are hard to get. Once AKV sells out some of these could be hard to get.

 

[plymouthmom]

Hmmm....AK is by far my favorite park of all the WDW parks. I love the beauty, the animals, of course Expedition Everest! Flame Tree Barbeque! I could take a trip and just go there.....honestly!

I think that helps make my decision. Gonna watch the resale boards over the next year or so. Would like to buy 50 next year and 50 the year after.

 

[hakepb]

I am planning a trip for 2012 for a Grand Villa....so, still not sure if that is doable at 7 months

They are high points (compared to say OKW)
Last year when I was waitlisted for a Oct/Nov studio to complete my reservation, at one point MS said the only availability at AKV for my days was a GV

I assume a few days would be do-able but an entire week may be rather difficult..