New AKL DVC Resort officially confirmed

[joanne]

Disney Vacation Club Members to Find African Adventure in New Time-share Resort



Members Will Own a Piece of the Magic Near Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. -- Disney Vacation Club is developing a new time-share resort on Walt Disney World property to meet ongoing strong demand for its unique vacation-ownership program.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas will be located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, which readers of Travel & Leisure Family magazine recently honored with the No. 4 spot on their list of the 50 greatest family resorts in the United States and Canada.

"We continue to see strong demand from families who want to build a lifetime of unforgettable memories by vacationing in ways they never dreamed possible," said Jim Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club. "I am delighted to announce that our members will have yet another place to call home with Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas. This begins another exciting new era for Disney Vacation Club as we continue to explore future destination possibilities both domestically and internationally."

The Disney Vacation Club accommodations will feature intricate African-inspired details and home-like amenities, and most will offer sweeping views of an expanded savanna inhabited by a variety of African animals. Members who call this resort "home" will live their very own true-life adventure in a setting inspired by the intrepid explorers and historic expeditions of 19th century Africa.

Walt Disney Imagineers are designing the new village of Vacation Homes to feel curiously at home in the natural world. The architectural style will evoke the look of a thatched-roof, hewn-timber structure that will appear to emerge organically from the land beneath it, drifting in and out of view from lush landscapes like a giraffe hiding in the tall grasses of the savanna. Add authentic artwork, imaginative architectural details and Disney's world-class brand of storytelling, and the result will be an immersive village unlike any other.

These new accommodations are scheduled for development in phases with an anticipated opening beginning fall 2007, with completion scheduled for spring 2009. The project's first phase will include 134 remodeled accommodations on the fifth and sixth floors of the existing Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge building, and subsequent phases will include the construction of 324 Vacation Homes in a new building on the resort property, for a total of 458 Vacation Homes.

The highly anticipated project also calls for construction of a new table-service restaurant, themed pool and water-play area, fitness center, merchandise shop, sports-and-recreation facilities and more.

Disney Vacation Club, now celebrating its milestone 15th anniversary, is an innovative time-share program that lets families enjoy flexibility and savings on future vacations at Disney destinations and more than 500 other popular vacation sites around the world. Since 2000, Disney Vacation Club membership has doubled to include more than 300,000 individuals from more than 100 countries and every U.S. state.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas will be the eighth Disney Vacation Club Resort, joining five others at the Walt Disney World Resort, one in Vero Beach, Fla., and one in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Disney Vacation Club has sold out of memberships at its first six resorts, and sales remain ahead of schedule at its seventh property, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, which opened in May 2004 near the Downtown Disney area at the Walt Disney World Resort.

[joanne]

Concept art

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/photos/akldvc/SavannaView.jpg

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/photos/akldvc/LobbyApproachView.jpg

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/photos/akldvc/lobby.jpg

[PaulaK]

I wonder when they'll start taking ressies? I've got no desire to stay there whatsoever, but wouldn't mind a few nights on points to keep the kids happy. :hehe:

[joanne]

If they're planning to open this fall, I should imagine it won't be too long before they open the ressies :)

[OKWTink]

Oh wow. I'll be making plans to stay there! :yes: I love AKL.

They will be putting those villas up fast. :unsure: Not always a good portent for the quality. :worried:

[PaulaK]

I wonder how they'll work the initial bookings if they haven't even started selling it yet? :unsure:

[The Blue Fairy]

I would love to stay there :hehe: My biggest worry is that I'll never get a ressie with the 7 month window!

And I don't usually go in the peak season either :whistle:

[dcfromva]

I would love to stay there :hehe: My biggest worry is that I'll never get a ressie with the 7 month window!

And I don't usually go in the peak season either :whistle:

The Blue Fairy,
You could always buy an add on and book at the 11 month window. :wink:
(I'm thinking about talking to DH about a small add on... Silly man, he thinks we have enough points. :D )
-DC

[The Blue Fairy]

Can you do that? Wasn't sure if you could have 2 'home' resorts :unsure:

[PaulaK]

If you buy at 2 resorts, you can't combine points though can you :unsure:

[dcfromva]

Can you do that? Wasn't sure if you could have 2 'home' resorts :unsure:

The Blue Fairy,
Yes, you can. As Paula points out you can only use the 11 month booking advantage for the number of points that you hold at a particular resort.
If you add less than 150 points, you would have to add it to your same use year that you already have.
But, let's say you purchased a small 25 point add on (the smallest increment you can add on). You could bank and borrow to get up to 75 points and use the 11 month booking window for those points. ( I haven't seen the points structure, so I'm not sure how far 75 points would go. :D )

-DC

[steery1]

These new accommodations are scheduled for development in phases with an anticipated opening beginning fall 2007


They're gonna throw these up pretty quick! Reckon they'll be fantastic though.

[PaulaK]

The ones opening in 2007 are the old concierge rooms on the 5/6th floor which are just being redone. :)

[PaulaK]

Very interesting.....I was on the DVC site earlier and the AK points are loaded in to the calculator. The options were studio/1 bed/2 bed all with a choice of either standard, savannah view or concierge!! There are also Grand villas. I think I could stay now :D

[dcfromva]

Very interesting.....I was on the DVC site earlier and the AK points are loaded in to the calculator. The options were studio/1 bed/2 bed all with a choice of either standard, savannah view or concierge!! There are also Grand villas. I think I could stay now :D

Paula,
I was just looking at that the other day in terms of a 25 point add on. I think the concierge ressies are going to be really hard to get even at the 11 month time frame because I don't think they have very many units and the point amounts are so reasonable.
25 points banked and borrowed (75 points) would be enough for a 5 night sunday thru Thurs stay (in a studio) at the AKL Concierge adventure, choice and dream seasons every 3 years (or 3 nights every 2 years). That would be perfect for DH and I to have a little get away during off peak times. :D (You can see where I am going with this campaign. :wink: )

Are you going to add on?

-DC

[PaulaK]

:D I did have a think about it. I really want the CR though. Do you know what the 'value' rooms are going to be DC? It's interesting that the 1 bed's will sleep 5 too. Our 2 hate sharing a bed, so that set up would work better for us. :yes: So are you going for it? :hyper:

[dcfromva]

I was also looking at the dues at around 4.50 per point (I don't know what it is going to be for real,yet)--25 points X 4.50 = 112.5 / 12 = about $10.00 per month extra in dues. That is just two Starbucks cappucinos (when you add in the tip)!


-DC

[PaulaK]

I was also looking at the dues at around 4.50 per point (I don't know what it is going to be for real,yet)--25 points X 4.50 = 112.5 / 12 = about $10.00 per month extra in dues. That is just two Starbucks cappucinos (when you add in the tip)!


-DC

:lol: very true!

Is it $84 for add on's?

[dcfromva]

:D I did have a think about it. I really want the CR though. Do you know what the 'value' rooms are going to be DC? It's interesting that the 1 bed's will sleep 5 too. Our 2 hate sharing a bed, so that set up would work better for us. :yes: So are you going for it? :hyper:
Paulak,
I believe the value rooms will be made over from some of the current AKL rooms and they will be smaller than the new AKL villas that they are building from scratch. The new villas room sq footage are supposed to be larger than most other DVC resorts. (I'm not sure if they will be larger than OKW, though).

I really want CR (and the Grand CA) points, too! I am getting so tempted to do a 25 pt add on for AKL (Disney DVC are marketing geniuses! :D )

-DC

[dcfromva]

:lol: very true!

Is it $84 for add on's?

PaulaK,
I think it is $101.00 per pt (no discount for fewer than 100 points).

-DC

[The Blue Fairy]

You're right, that 25 point add on does sound tempting....I soo want to stay at AKLV!!

[dcfromva]

You're right, that 25 point add on does sound tempting....I soo want to stay at AKLV!!

:rotfl: :rotfl: Are we talking ourselves into more points? :rotfl: :rotfl:

I was thinking how easy it is to call my guide (give him a CC number) and he would send the paperwork so fast! .... ( The only hard part would be getting DH to sign the papers. :lol: )

-DC

[The Blue Fairy]

Yeah, I think we are!! :rotfl:

I'd have the same problem as you though DC...getting the signatures!

I didn't realise AKLV would be available to buy so soon otherwise I would have held off and not bought SSR. But still, I reckon the dues will be more expensive for AKLV....

[dcfromva]

But still, I reckon the dues will be more expensive for AKLV....

I just saw (an unofficial source) that the starting dues are to be $4.62 per point... (That is still well within the two Starbucks cappucinos per month price range for 25 pts. :D )

-DC

[The Blue Fairy]

oh geeze....don't tempt me!! :lol: I've only just bought SSR! :rotfl:

[The Blue Fairy]

Do you think this DVC resort will sell out quickly? I wonder if there will be many re-sales....

[dcfromva]

Do you think this DVC resort will sell out quickly? I wonder if there will be many re-sales....

I wonder, too. VAK has generated a lot of interest. :D

-DC

[PaulaK]

DC, would we have to pay closing costs? DH is understanding (and more importantly agreeing!) with all your points :wink:

[mom2munchkins]

Very tempting for me to try and convince dh to do the DVC thing :D .I'd love to stay at AKLV.

[dcfromva]

DC, would we have to pay closing costs? DH is understanding (and more importantly agreeing!) with all your points :wink:

PaulaK,
I do not believe current members pay closing costs--just new members. :D

-DC

[PaulaK]

We went over to the open house at Saratoga Springs where they have a mock up of the VAK. WOW!! :wow: They are amazing. The 1 bed has 2 full bathrooms and a single sleeper as well as a double to sleep 5. I took lots of pics so i'll upload them later. Very tempted to buy in. :hehe:

[The Blue Fairy]

We went over to the open house at Saratoga Springs where they have a mock up of the VAK. WOW!! :wow: They are amazing. The 1 bed has 2 full bathrooms and a single sleeper as well as a double to sleep 5. I took lots of pics so i'll upload them later. Very tempted to buy in. :hehe:

Can't wait to see pics Paula :thumbs: I'm glad to hear you thought it was nice as I've heard a lot of people say that they thought the interior decoration was too dark.

[PaulaK]

I like the darker colours, they fit the theme more IMO. :D The rooms also had no windows in, so that won't help. They had put a false balcony rail and photos of the savannah behind. The rooms at the Poly are darker colours, but with the curtains pulled back, we don't find it too dark at all. I have cream and light colours at home, so I like a change. :D

[The Blue Fairy]

I like the darker colours, they fit the theme more IMO. :D The rooms also had no windows in, so that won't help. They had put a false balcony rail and photos of the savannah behind. The rooms at the Poly are darker colours, but with the curtains pulled back, we don't find it too dark at all. I have cream and light colours at home, so I like a change. :D

Yes, I also think the darker colours suit the resort. I'm pretty excited about these rooms actually! Just hope I can get a ressie within the 7 month window :blush: