Disney`s Animal Kingdom Villas

[arlene22 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close arlene22]

Thanks Arlene.....I wonder how long it will be, before they start showing up in II. I'm sure the demand is going to be extremely high.

Did they give you a definite completion date?

I just went to look in my DVC shopping bag that has all the info in it and found the slip that says the TSA inspected my luggage. That was a funny place to put it!

I thought she said the first units would be ready for October, which is why the maintenance fees would start in October. The pamphlet says something a little different. Basically, they are retrofitting the top one or two floors of the lodge into DVC units and these will be ready first. The others are scheduled to come online (according to the pamphlet) in December '07 and May '08

There will be studios, 1 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms, and 3 bedroom grand villas. Within each room type, there will be four categories. They are, in ascending order of points: value accomodation, standard view (euphamism for parking lot view, I think), savannah view, and kilimanjaro club concierge. For the savannah view, there will be different savannahs, featuring giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and lots of other exotic animals. That is the part of this that I think is so unique and will be very attractive to people. The kilimanjaro club concierge offers daily housekeeping, complimentary food, and access to safaris that no one else can book (these cost extra). The value accomodations require the least points, but I think they are smaller than the others (for instance, I don't think the value 1 bedroom would necessarily sleep 5).

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Thanks Arlene, they sound great!! My DH keeps asking me when we're going back to Disney, but I think it's gonna be a long while, before I start to see these on line.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas


Rori the Baby Giraffe

A 6-foot-1 inch, 151-pound baby giraffe was born
at Disney's Animal Kingdom on March 26, 2007.

The calf, named Rori, was the first born to Nikki, a 10-year-old
giraffe, which became pregnant through natural breeding
in late 2005 (the normal gestation for a giraffe is 15 months).

Both the calf & Nikki are expected to rejoin the herd on the
savanna at Disney's Animal Kingdom in the next few weeks.

Disney's Animal Kingdom currently is home to six giraffes,
including Baby Rori, the most recent addition.
This was the fifth giraffe birth at Disney's Animal Kingdom,
but the sixth overall at the Walt Disney World Resort.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Now's the time to book your stay at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas


Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas Members

can now make reservations for stays beginning
on July 2, 2007 at this exciting new Resort.

Starting June 6, 2007, other Disney Vacation Club Members
can book for stays beginning July 2, 2007. Space is limited
for the initial dates, but more rooms will be available as
these distinctive Resort accommodations are introduced.

[shopgirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shopgirl]

I will be watching for those exchanges, but I would bet I will be waiting a long time.

[cindi Member Find all posts View Profile Close cindi]

I will be watching for those exchanges, but I would bet I will be waiting a long time.

I think you will too. People on the Disboards are literally counting down the minutes until they can call to get reservations. I think that between all the AKL owners and then the DVC owners, there isn't going to be much around to deposit for quite some time.

I am hoping to get a few days in there myself.

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

I got on the waitlist today for a day in December to try AKL out. I'm hoping as they open up more of the rooms in July, September, and throughout the fall that my waitlist will grab a night. I think I've got a good chance.

[cindi Member Find all posts View Profile Close cindi]

I got on the waitlist today for a day in December to try AKL out. I'm hoping as they open up more of the rooms in July, September, and throughout the fall that my waitlist will grab a night. I think I've got a good chance.

Did you buy points at AKL? I somehow managed to resist, although I had to hold myself back on more than one moment.

I decided before I add on anymore points, I want to actually see the different resorts, and preferably even stay there before I buy anymore points. It was hard though, and still is, with the incentives calling my name.

I have awhile to go before the 7 month window but I am going to try to add on 3 nights to an already booked trip in Orlando.

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

Did you buy points at AKL? I somehow managed to resist, although I had to hold myself back on more than one moment.

I decided before I add on anymore points, I want to actually see the different resorts, and preferably even stay there before I buy anymore points. It was hard though, and still is, with the incentives calling my name.

I have awhile to go before the 7 month window but I am going to try to add on 3 nights to an already booked trip in Orlando.

No, we added on 55 SSR points back in March. We had sold a couple of small VWL and BWV contracts and I wanted a longer end date on at least one contract for our kids. I thought about adding on at Animal Kingdom, but I'm afraid the dues will be more with the care of the animals on the savannah - it scared me off. Besides, I actually really liked the decor at SSR (we stayed in the new Grandstand section) The Grandstand section at SSR really surprised us. Grandstand had great views of the canal, golf course, and one building had perfect pool views off the balconies (reminded me of preferred view at BWV).

On my Animal Kingdom waitlist, I just need one night (December 27th). We check in at Marriott's Cypress Harbour the next day - yippee. We've got 34 family members coming to Orlando for New Years for mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary.

[cindi Member Find all posts View Profile Close cindi]

No, we added on 55 SSR points back in March. We had sold a couple of small VWL and BWV contracts and I wanted a longer end date on at least one contract for our kids. I thought about adding on at Animal Kingdom, but I'm afraid the dues will be more with the care of the animals on the savannah - it scared me off. Besides, I actually really liked the decor at SSR (we stayed in the new Grandstand section) The Grandstand section at SSR really surprised us. Grandstand had great views of the canal, golf course, and one building had perfect pool views off the balconies (reminded me of preferred view at BWV).

On my Animal Kingdom waitlist, I just need one night (December 27th). We check in at Marriott's Cypress Harbour the next day - yippee. We've got 34 family members coming to Orlando for New Years for mom and dad's 50th wedding anniversary.

What a wonderful occasion in a wonderful place! Wow, is that going to be some party, huh? Where is everyone staying? Did you coordinate the whole thing?

That is another good point about AKL. It is going to have the highest cost per point of all the timeshares, I think. I am hoping that I will be able to exchange into there on occasion, or else use some of my points to stay there. It is going to be large, so I ~think~ at some point the availability should be there.

[littlestar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close littlestar]

What a wonderful occasion in a wonderful place! Wow, is that going to be some party, huh? Where is everyone staying? Did you coordinate the whole thing?

That is another good point about AKL. It is going to have the highest cost per point of all the timeshares, I think. I am hoping that I will be able to exchange into there on occasion, or else use some of my points to stay there. It is going to be large, so I ~think~ at some point the availability should be there.

New Years week so far: Grande Vista, (2) Cypress Harbour's, VWL, BCV, and a 3 bedroom at Cypress Pointe. I've got one more Marriott exchange to come in during flexchange (using my Horizons Branson silver 1 bedroom for a Marriott to Marriott exchange - hopefully I can pull Horizons Orlando with it). My sister, me, and mom have coordinated all the trades and direct reservations with DVC (we called day by day for New Years for DVC).

Cindi, it looks like Animal Kingdom's point chart is not too bad. They will have value and standard view studios. Value studios are the same amount of points as OKW - 40 points Sunday through Thursday in Adventure and Choice seasons. I was very surprised. They are also going to offer Concierge with points. An adventure season studio concierge is 13 points Sunday through Thursday. Not bad. And of course, a lot of the 1 bedrooms will sleep 5 with the new sleeper chair in the living room. Disney must have been listening to the wish list for families of 5 by adding that sleeper chair.

[cindi Member Find all posts View Profile Close cindi]

I really do like the flexibility of being able to chose different point levels for your stay. That is something I really like about Boardwalk.

But what I meant to say was that the cost per point in $$ for MF is going to be one of, if not the highest of the Disney resorts.

Sure does sound like a fun trip.

[cindi Member Find all posts View Profile Close cindi]

[QUOTE=littlestar;147111]New Years week so far: Grande Vista, (2) Cypress Harbour's, VWL, BCV, and a 3 bedroom at Cypress Pointe. I've got one more Marriott exchange to come in during flexchange (using my Horizons Branson silver 1 bedroom for a Marriott to Marriott exchange - hopefully I can pull Horizons Orlando with it). My sister, me, and mom have coordinated all the trades and direct reservations with DVC (we called day by day for New Years for DVC).

This is what I found at Horizons using my Marriott week. I excluded the studios.


Dec 28 2007 - Jan 04 2008 1 4 4

Dec 28 2007 - Jan 04 2008 2 6 8

Dec 29 2007 - Jan 05 2008 2 6 8

[TomandRobin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TomandRobin]

And of course, a lot of the 1 bedrooms will sleep 5 with the new sleerper chair in the living room. Disney must have been listening to the wish list for families of 5 by adding that sleeper chair.

Plus the 1 bedrooms will have two bathrooms.

[Becky Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Becky]

We will be there in January for three nights to try it out. Can't wait. We bought an addon here.