I don't know what happened with SSR, but if AKV starts selling in March, I am assuming that they will offer buyers some sort of immediate point-usage deal, which will let them start making reservations before there is an AKV for them to stay in.
SSR was different in some ways than anything before. In some cases members got the previous use year points even though the resorts was not open for much of the time those points were usable. They also offered a bonus points package of ?100 pts which you could use at other resorts prior to SSR opening. Also a first with SSR, they offered the chance to borrow points for reservations prior to actually closing on your contract. Realize that traditionally there have been many times when a new buyer couldn't use points for several months after buying.
For those of you pre-SSR, how did this effect availability? It seems like it would flood capacity at other resorts until AKV is fully opened.
As SSR has started to book at or near-capacity, has availibility at the otehr resorts gotten better?
It is usual that when a resort starts taking reservations you are already inside the 7 month window. Any time a new resort opens you get a large percentage of new owners there plus current owners who want to stay there. After that initial newness things settle down there is a significant portion of people have "been there done that" and a smaller group deciding this is their favorite resort. People are more likely to latch on to their OWN resort partly because some buy there knowing it'll be their favorite and partly because those that own there have their decision colored by the emotions of what they own, much like many are about their college football team. So expect that after everyone has tried it and those that own there have stayed there a couple of times, usage will settle down and it is extremely likely that SSR will be the easiest resort to reserve for the life of DVC. The reason that it will be even easier than OKW is in part size but also the points differential.
For AKL I think you can parallel the current demand for the current deluxe resort itself. Long term likely less demand than BCV and BWV and about the same demand as VWL. The difference between VWL and AKL though will be the size, about 3 times as large. Of course the fact it's the only Deluxe location selling from DVC directly and the later expiration will shift demand from a sales standpoint with more people wanting to buy there than stay there. Look at my situation. I plan to downsize significantly and buying a smaller contract at AKL to have as my only remaining ownership makes the most economical sense due to the future resale value prospects compared to the others.
Here's a second question:
Clearly, there was quite a bit of hosility about SSR in the early days. It seems to be evening out now that the resort is nearing completion and people can experience the whole resort as it was intended to be experienced. I think the "first impressions" were probably especially bad with SSR because it was a stand-alone resort. VWL, BCV, BWV already had existing deluxe resort infastructures, so the dining/pool/grounds/etc. part of the resort was (for the most part) ready to go right away.
So - what do you predict for AKV? Will the connection with AKL and it's pool/dining/savannah even-out the first response we have to the villas?
First, I don't accept your premise that there was hostility toward SSR itself. I think there was hostility toward DVD for the tactic and situation of buy at SSR and use elsewhere. And I think there was, and still are, a number of people who had reservations about the resort including many that feel the locations is not as good as some of the other on property resorts and that the points structure is an issue compared to OKW of which is it most alike in many ways. And I think the resort is a complaint looking to happen in that there is a significant disparity in the demand and desirability in terms of view and location from some areas to others, more so than any other resort that you can't affect by your reservation itself.
For AKL I think it's pretty easy to know what will happen barring any major changes in economics that will affect all owners and resorts.
- There will be those who want to buy there because it is already their favorite location.
- There will be those who never want to buy there because it is already their least favorite location.
- Many will buy because it's what DVD is selling.
- Some will buy because of the expiration date, many more will likely add on for this reason.
- If they come up with special room types, some will go straight for those choices.
AKL will be a larger resort but it is actually going to be two resort in one. We'll see what the points structure ends up being and if there are any specialty rooms that will affect buying and/or usage options as well. Given the totally separateness of the two sides, one will have to be able to know on booking which of those areas you'll be in. While there have always been concerns from certain people from new resorts, I feel the idea that all new resorts are picked on to be wrong. I do think that people are more likely to discuss their views pro and con early on but that's not to say most people feel differently now, they're just less likely to post such and those that like a resort are FAR more likely to say so than the reverse. For VWL is was decor and location compared to BWV. For BCV it was room view and points compared to BWV, none of these issues have changed at all.
AKL is our very favorite Disney Hotel and the reason we didn't buy DVC sooner, we didn't want to give up staying at AKL. 
