Will the opening of AKL...

[veenstra56]

...make it easier to book into otherwise hard-to-reserve BCV and VWL past the 7 month window?

I'm no expert when it comes to DVC, but it seems to me that among the primary complaints when SSR was announced was that it was:
a) too big and
b) not married to any park.

These two factors combined to make other resorts such as BCV and VWL that much more difficult to reserve at 7 months because of all the new SSR members wanting to book these smaller (and very popular) resorts. It is also my opinion that these two reasons are mostly to blame for the general dislike of SSR by many veteran members initially (although that opinion seems to have changed over time).

Anyway, how do you think the opening of AKL will affect the above mentioned? Will it draw attention away from BCV and VWL, at least initially? And for that matter, how difficult do you think it will be to reserve AKL at 7 months?

 

[ADP]

AKL and AKV are/will be married to the Animal Kingdom. Although the only transportation methods from the lodge to the Animal Kingdom is bus or car. I don't think AKV will have that much of an impact on BCV and BWV bookings

It will really depend how the new AKV will be built. Some of the things that I've heard about the new DVC sound very exciting. If the pool area is built very well, the rooms as big as they say, and most savannah view rooms then it will be tough to get into AKV 7 months out.

I personally feel that the Animal Kingdom Lodge is a destination in itself. I love the place. I could make an entire vacation just hanging out at the Lodge and enjoying the amenities. Having the parks, resorts, restaurants and other WDW amenities available is a bonus.

 

[fishermouse]

AKL is going to be small, probably about the size of VWL, and IMO will sell out quickly and book up at the 11month window by AKL owners. Doubt if you will see any significant change in booking patterns as a result of AKL. I do think that once SSR is finnished and sold out it will no longer be "a sure thing" any time of year. Being so larg it may always be the easier to book along with OKW but no DVC resort will be a sure thing during peak seasons past the 7 month window once everything is sold out. Of course this is all speculation on my part.

 

[Dean]

It will likely have no effect on others getting higher demand resorts at 7 months out or less. The numbers outside trying to get in are overwhelming and it's likely most who buy there will do so to stay there most of the time. Even when they trade out, it will be a small number plus they will mostly be going to the other high demand options/resorts which doesn't really create any additional availability overall. They only way this will change is if the largest part of the rooms available are of similar demand. Given the number of points for HH, OKW, SSR and VB; I'd think the higher demand resorts would have to be at least 80% of the total points before one would see this change. The other way to affect it would be to find a way to even out the demand which is currently no equal in spite of some people's hopes to the contrary. Basically by increasing the demand to the 4 above which I don't see happening and don't see a good way to do so at this point.

 

[Dean]

AKL is going to be small, probably about the size of VWL, and IMO will sell out quickly and book up at the 11month window by AKL owners. Doubt if you will see any significant change in booking patterns as a result of AKL. I do think that once SSR is finnished and sold out it will no longer be "a sure thing" any time of year. Being so larg it may always be the easier to book along with OKW but no DVC resort will be a sure thing during peak seasons past the 7 month window once everything is sold out. Of course this is all speculation on my part.

I believe it was 458 units overall, larger than even BWV from a number of rooms standpoint. Still not enough to make a difference unless they figure out a way to decrease the demand, which would also affect sales.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

AKV is supposed to be the size of VWL and BWV combined so I think it will have an impact. I don't know if it will take pressure off of VWL and BCV or add to it. It all depends on what they do to add to the AKL/AKV experience.

Make it a bit like Boardwalk but with an African twist and I think it could relieve some of the pressure on VWL because the hotels are so similar. If the pool is competitive with SAB (not the sand bottom but exciting water features) and the pool hopping restrictions remain in place then it could also relieve some of the pressure on BCV.

I really hope they work hard to make the resort some place DVC'ers will want to flock to. So far I don't think they achieved what they could have with SSR. I was really disappointed to hear they were going to turn the theatre into models rather than an attraction of some kind. I like the resort well enough but with such a base to start from I think they could have done better.

 

[Slakk]

...make it easier to book into otherwise hard-to-reserve BCV and VWL past the 7 month window?

I'm no expert when it comes to DVC, but it seems to me that among the primary complaints when SSR was announced was that it was:
a) too big and
b) not married to any park.

These two factors combined to make other resorts such as BCV and VWL that much more difficult to reserve at 7 months because of all the new SSR members wanting to book these smaller (and very popular) resorts. It is also my opinion that these two reasons are mostly to blame for the general dislike of SSR by many veteran members initially (although that opinion seems to have changed over time).

Anyway, how do you think the opening of AKL will affect the above mentioned? Will it draw attention away from BCV and VWL, at least initially? And for that matter, how difficult do you think it will be to reserve AKL at 7 months?

Well I am a BCV and VWL owner who plans to change their habits and primarily stay at AKV so you have one less to compete with

I think IF the rumors are true that some rooms will be conceirge those rooms will be dificult to get at 7 months (like standard view at BWV) I also think the GV and 1 BR will be booked fast, GV because well can you imagine the views!!! and for 1 BR the 5 people and 2 bathrooms will be very popular.

So that leaves studios and 2 BR in my mind as the 7 month window easy to reserve.

I think AKV lovers (like me) will probably stay there a lot - I really see no need to resort hop and I have stayed at every resort other than OKW. No need anymore as AKL was my favorite resort.

 

[gppnj]

I think walking to EPCOT will remain the Holy Grail for a lot of DVC members, so I don't see the popularity of BWV and BCV fading.

 

[Sammie]

I think walking to EPCOT will remain the Holy Grail for a lot of DVC members, so I don't see the popularity of BWV and BCV fading.

 

[Sammie]

AKL is going to be small, probably about the size of VWL, and IMO will sell out quickly and book up at the 11month window by AKL owners. Doubt if you will see any significant change in booking patterns as a result of AKL. I do think that once SSR is finnished and sold out it will no longer be "a sure thing" any time of year. Being so larg it may always be the easier to book along with OKW but no DVC resort will be a sure thing during peak seasons past the 7 month window once everything is sold out. Of course this is all speculation on my part.

Are talking about the new DVC part being small.

There are going to be over 400 units making it the 3rd largest I believe, definitely larger than VWL.

 

[DonnaL]

We own at VWL and SSR....our last few stays have been at SSR, which is a really nice resort.........but, VWL is ALWAYS our first home away from home and I believe AKV will run a close second. Haven't decided yet if we will simply add on more points when AKV begins selling or sell our SSR points and then buy AKV. We currently have 270 total and so far that's been enough, but, we ARE getting closer to retirement age and it MIGHT be nice to have some more AND be able to book at the 11 month window for trips several times a year, staying in 1 bdrms. I have to agree with above poster about the possibility of it being difficult to book AKV at the 7 month window......maybe not early on, but, as the resort gets closer to selling out, maybe 4 or more years down the road and more and more people stay there, it definitely will get more difficult.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I think walking to EPCOT will remain the Holy Grail for a lot of DVC members, so I don't see the popularity of BWV and BCV fading.

LOL, I have NEVER thought that BWV and BCV were the Holy Grail, and I don't care to stay there. I DO think AKV will be my second favorite DVC resort once it's online, and it is the only place I can see myself doing an add-on to what I already own.

 

[DVC Grammy]

IMO, because of its size, I think AKV will be fairly easy to book at the 7-month time-frame, as long as it's off-season (Jan., Sept., etc). During holidays, or when schools are out, that'll be a different story! Even during F & W, a DVC favorite time, I think it would be a possibility at the 7-month mark, due to its distance from Epcot.
These are just my opinions..............we'll all have to see what the true impact will be.

 

[Stitch 03]

IMO, because of its size, I think AKV will be fairly easy to book at the 7-month time-frame, as long as it's off-season (Jan., Sept., etc).

Unless of course you want one of the concierge rooms. Otherwise seven months should not be to big of a deal to get into AKLV.

As far as BCV and BWV, expect demand to intensify at peak times (F&W festival). As DVC adds members, many will want to try and stay at these resorts during those peak periods.

 

[fishermouse]

Guess we'llhave to wait and see, Wonder how many AKV haters there will be?

 

[Dean]

IMO, because of its size, I think AKV will be fairly easy to book at the 7-month time-frame, as long as it's off-season (Jan., Sept., etc). During holidays, or when schools are out, that'll be a different story! Even during F & W, a DVC favorite time, I think it would be a possibility at the 7-month mark, due to its distance from Epcot.
These are just my opinions..............we'll all have to see what the true impact will be.

That's true to a large degree for every resort and almost every room type. I suspect AKL will be a little easier than BCV & VWL or BWV standard or BW view simply because of numbers, but likely as hard or harder than BWV preferred view. IMO, one must judge how hard it is to get in for any of the resorts during the higher demand times. For HH it's summer (mid June to mid August). For VB it's Xmas, Feb to mid April. For WDW it's March to mid April, middle of the summer, Thanksgiving and Xmas. Of course there are a few other specialty times like F & W for the EPCOT resorts. Personally I wouldn't include early Dec in that group but I know some would. Not directed at you but just a general statement. I always laugh when people state they don't have trouble getting in to a resort like their experience has any meaning to the demand of that resort then they state a time that's obviously not high season. It ONLY has meaning if you consistently can't get in OR it is truly high season, the rest is absolutely meaningless.