Purchasing for AKV Concierge?

[zavandor]

You also get housekeeping every day and turn down service.

 

[SL6827]

I was able to score two nights in a CL studio at AKVs last year due to a studio and a one bedroom being released from maintenance. I was just on the computer looking at the right time. It was nothing more than extreme luck. And then I still didn't get my first choice of dates, and I went with another set. It has been the only time that we have stayed CL. Not sure if we will ever cough up the funds needed to do that again. But we were blessed to get to be able to try CL like that.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

It’s the same as Club level. You get free food, including coffee, soft drinks, beer, wine etc.

It’s only free because you use a lot of points to stay in the rooms.

Correct.... it’s FAR from “free”.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I used to get value and concierge regularly. Then walking began to be possible. I don’t bother to try any more.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Correct.... it’s FAR from “free”.

I like the term "included."

 

[SL6827]

This makes me ask, do the AKV owners have to pony up dues towards the food and extras that go with those CL rooms?

 

[crvetter]

This makes me ask, do the AKV owners have to pony up dues towards the food and extras that go with those CL rooms?

Correct, which is an issue with CL rooms and DVC. Ideally the point spread between the non-CL rooms and the CL rooms is enough to cover that cost. Though I suspect this isn't the case and the cost is essentially spread across all rooms at AKV (though that is extremely small number compared to the number of rooms).

 

[SL6827]

Correct, which is an issue with CL rooms and DVC. Ideally the point spread between the non-CL rooms and the CL rooms is enough to cover that cost. Though I suspect this isn't the case and the cost is essentially spread across all rooms at AKV (though that is extremely small number compared to the number of rooms).

So all the owners do have a portion of their dues go to the CL even though many never get the opportunity to use it?

 

[crvetter]

So all the owners do have a portion of their dues go to the CL even though many never get the opportunity to use it?

Well that's a bit of a simplification and I stated it might be the case. We don't know the true cost of the lounge staff and food charged to AKV for the 5 CL 2 Bedroom Lockoffs. It could be that the spread between the CL Room Points and that of the Standard/Savannah View Points is enough. But at any rate the first come first serve (as it exists today) booking system guarantees that it is fair (everyone has the same shot at the room and the same ability to walk).

Also desirability (think view differences) and cost to run a room are likely considered when initially setting a point chart for DVC. So it probably already happens that some rooms are subsidized by other rooms because the points aren't exclusively dictated by costs. For instance studios and 1 bedrooms might be subsidizing 2 bedrooms because a lockoff premium does exist (so a studio and 1 bed with the same utility cost, hard goods cost, etc. costs more point wise than the 2 bedroom) or is that lockoff premium completely eaten by the cost to turn over a room to two parties vs 1 (I think that is doubtful). But the 1 bed and studio cost more together than the 2 bed because of desirability (people want to break them up and cheaper rooms are more desirable).

As it already is DVC is more a socialist system in that everyone is subsidizing someone somehow. For instance those that put 2 in a studio max are subsidizing those that put 5 in a studio, because your costs are based on room not occupancy. Though some line items of the MF are set based on occupancy usage (transportation, utilities, member activities, linen, towels, higher wear and tear, etc).

 

[SL6827]

Well that's a bit of a simplification and I stated it might be the case. We don't know the true cost of the lounge staff and food charged to AKV for the 5 CL 2 Bedroom Lockoffs. It could be that the spread between the CL Room Points and that of the Standard/Savannah View Points is enough. But at any rate the first come first serve (as it exists today) booking system guarantees that it is fair (everyone has the same shot at the room and the same ability to walk).

Also desirability (think view differences) and cost to run a room are likely considered when initially setting a point chart for DVC. So it probably already happens that some rooms are subsidized by other rooms because the points aren't exclusively dictated by costs. For instance studios and 1 bedrooms might be subsidizing 2 bedrooms because a lockoff premium does exist (so a studio and 1 bed with the same utility cost, hard goods cost, etc. costs more point wise than the 2 bedroom) or is that lockoff premium completely eaten by the cost to turn over a room to two parties vs 1 (I think that is doubtful). But the 1 bed and studio cost more together than the 2 bed because of desirability (people want to break them up and cheaper rooms are more desirable).

As it already is DVC is more a socialist system in that everyone is subsidizing someone somehow. For instance those that put 2 in a studio max are subsidizing those that put 5 in a studio, because your costs are based on room not occupancy. Though some line items of the MF are set based on occupancy usage (transportation, utilities, member activities, linen, towels, higher wear and tear, etc).

Ok, makes sense. I guess yes, it could be considered a socialist system. Why did Disney do the CL at the AKVs anyway? The haven't repeated such anywhere else, right? And why won't they put out any Zebra Domes in the evening desserts, now that is a true travesty right there.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Ok, makes sense. I guess yes, it could be considered a socialist system. Why did Disney do the CL at the AKVs anyway? The haven't repeated such anywhere else, right? And why won't they put out any Zebra Domes in the evening desserts, now that is a true travesty right there.

They had to based on layout when taking over part of Jambo.

It was not a real choice or design intent.

 

[SL6827]

They had to based on layout when taking over part of Jambo.

It was not a real choice or design intent.

Oh, ok.

 

[ppony]

When I owned AKL, I was able to secure a 1BR by calling immediately. Threw as zip available past that first day at the 11 month window. That was 8 years ago. I'd never count on or even hope being able to get any club level outside of that first day of the 11 month.

 

[Starwind]

And to complicate the availability situation even further... Disney makes some unknown # of the value rooms available to the public to book for cash at the earliest point that is possible (so around 10 months out +/-... right now there are many dates in November 2020 where the only AKL Jambo villas you can book for cash via the WDW website are value studio and 1 bed value villa, nothing available in other categories yet as they apparently haven't loaded the other categories into the system yet).

Also, from time to time a Club level villa at AKL Jambo will be available for the public to rent for cash directly from Disney, though not as often as the value villas seem to be.

 

[ziravan]

I bought a 100 point contract primarily for Concierge and Value use. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get it consistently, but we love AKV so would make great use of it in any case.

Plus it’s an add on contract to BCV and Poly points we already owned so all our eggs aren’t in that basket.

That said, going into year 3 and I’ve been able to book 4 nights in concierge, and another 5 nights, and 3 in a value.

If you work it, you can make them work. The 5 nights booked are for late October, 2020. Sure, people were walking the heck out of the concierge rooms. We picked up 3 nights in the wake of walkers and another two on waitlist, one right away (another walker dropping) and the last night about 2 weeks later.

You might not be able to work it all the time, but you have to have a ticket to play, and for value and concierge, that means home resort advantage.

 

[Renee H]

I bought AKV specifically to try for club level 2 bedroom. I tried constantly for a year! I was able to book it for 5 days after a whole year of religiously trying. So, yes it can be done but it is difficult due to the limited number of them. Definitely easier to find a studio or 1 bed.

 

[Sandisw]

I bought AKV specifically to try for club level 2 bedroom. I tried constantly for a year! I was able to book it for 5 days after a whole year of religiously trying. So, yes it can be done but it is difficult due to the limited number of them. Definitely easier to find a studio or 1 bed.

Since they are all lock offs, as soon as a studio is taken, it knocks out the option of a 2 bedroom, From what I have read, the 1 bedrooms tend to be the easiest of all options.

 

[SL6827]

And to complicate the availability situation even further... Disney makes some unknown # of the value rooms available to the public to book for cash at the earliest point that is possible (so around 10 months out +/-... right now there are many dates in November 2020 where the only AKL Jambo villas you can book for cash via the WDW website are value studio and 1 bed value villa, nothing available in other categories yet as they apparently haven't loaded the other categories into the system yet).

Also, from time to time a Club level villa at AKL Jambo will be available for the public to rent for cash directly from Disney, though not as often as the value villas seem to be.

Why would Disney do that? They know the CL and value rooms are the most sought after with the AKVs? That sounds like a real disservice to the owners at AKVs.

 

[Lovinallthingsdisney]

We just bought our first (and second) contracts at AKL. We chose this resort mostly because of CL. We visit 2-3 times a year and always stay CL ( at whichever resort we choose), so it made sense to buy here to at least have chance to book CL. I just booked our first stay for next October and was able to get a CL 1 bedroom for 6 nights. I was prepared to take whatever we could get and ended up with our first choice.

 

[Renee H]

We just bought our first (and second) contracts at AKL. We chose this resort mostly because of CL. We visit 2-3 times a year and always stay CL ( at whichever resort we choose), so it made sense to buy here to at least have chance to book CL. I just booked our first stay for next October and was able to get a CL 1 bedroom for 6 nights. I was prepared to take whatever we could get and ended up with our first choice.

This was us too...we have always stayed CL... we miss it!