To the member that apparently just recently canceled their AKL Concierge room for the night of May 9, 2009: Thank you! 
Thank you, as well, to all you VWL and AKL owners who decided not to go at the beginning of May so that there would be a 2-bedroom available for me at the 7 month window.
We've never stayed at VWL or AKL, but we like them and almost always plan a meal at one or both of them just so we can enjoy and experience the atmosphere of those two resorts (and enjoy some good food, of course). My parents loved them the times we've eaten there when they were with us. In fact, the last time they were with us my father actually went to the front desk at each of those resorts and picked up information about staying there and made the comment that he and my mother would have to come down to WDW for a couple of days sometime just to stay at one of those resorts.
Also... my parents love AK. Of the four parks it is a close second to Epcot for their favorite park. They especially love the safari and all the other live animal attractions.
When we decided we'd be going in May 2009 we decided to invite them again, and I decided that I would try to split the stay between VWL and AKL so that my father could get his wish to stay not only at one of those resorts but both of them (without having to spend his own cash to do it). Not to mention my wife and I getting a chance to stay at them for the first time. In addition, I also realized that we had enough points that I could book one night in an AKL concierge room; so I decided I would try to do that so that we could experience at least one of the special safaris that are only available to concierge guests.
Of course I first reserved the entire trip at our home resort (BWV) within the 11 month window so that we'd at least have a reservation, but right at the 7 month window I called and successfully switched the first half to VWL. Then right at the 7 month window again I successfully booked AKL savannah view for the second half - but, unfortunately, at that time they didn't have a 2 bedroom concierge room available for May 9 (a Saturday night, so we can do the sunrise safari on Sunday) so I waitlisted.
I didn't hold out much hope since there are so few AKL concierge rooms; and I thought that if it did come through it probably wouldn't come through in enough time for me to book a special safari before they are filled up. But, of course, every few days I would log onto the member web site anyway to check to see if it came through.
Well, today I logged in again - expecting no change this soon - and to my surprise there it was: "2 BR L/O Concierge Jambo" for May 9!
Not only does my father not know that we'll be staying at VWL and AKL, but neither does my wife. Only my mother and I know - and my mother doesn't know about the concierge night and the special safari! My 4 year old son, who will be 5 then, doesn't even know that we're going to WDW at all - and hopefully my wife can keep quiet without bursting at the seams, so that we can completely surprise him. (Then there's our infant son who has no clue now... and will have no clue then.)
I can't wait to see the my father's and my wife's reaction
yay:
) when we pull up to VWL instead of BWV... and then the next reaction banana:
) a few days later when I tell them to pack because we're moving to AKL... as well as everyone's reaction (
) when I tell them to get to bed early Saturday night because we will be experiencing a special safari early the next morning!
(
<-- me enjoying the "show")
So, again, to the person who so graciously canceled their AKL concierge room for the night of May 9, 2009 (even though you didn't realize you were doing it to help me); as well as to all you VWL and AKL owners who decided not to go at the beginning of May:
Thank you!
Now I just have to figure out a creative way to keep it a secret when my father and my wife start asking if I've reserved BWV or if we're going to try a different resort this time.
Thank you, as well, to all you VWL and AKL owners who decided not to go at the beginning of May so that there would be a 2-bedroom available for me at the 7 month window.
We've never stayed at VWL or AKL, but we like them and almost always plan a meal at one or both of them just so we can enjoy and experience the atmosphere of those two resorts (and enjoy some good food, of course). My parents loved them the times we've eaten there when they were with us. In fact, the last time they were with us my father actually went to the front desk at each of those resorts and picked up information about staying there and made the comment that he and my mother would have to come down to WDW for a couple of days sometime just to stay at one of those resorts.
Also... my parents love AK. Of the four parks it is a close second to Epcot for their favorite park. They especially love the safari and all the other live animal attractions.
When we decided we'd be going in May 2009 we decided to invite them again, and I decided that I would try to split the stay between VWL and AKL so that my father could get his wish to stay not only at one of those resorts but both of them (without having to spend his own cash to do it). Not to mention my wife and I getting a chance to stay at them for the first time. In addition, I also realized that we had enough points that I could book one night in an AKL concierge room; so I decided I would try to do that so that we could experience at least one of the special safaris that are only available to concierge guests.
Of course I first reserved the entire trip at our home resort (BWV) within the 11 month window so that we'd at least have a reservation, but right at the 7 month window I called and successfully switched the first half to VWL. Then right at the 7 month window again I successfully booked AKL savannah view for the second half - but, unfortunately, at that time they didn't have a 2 bedroom concierge room available for May 9 (a Saturday night, so we can do the sunrise safari on Sunday) so I waitlisted.
I didn't hold out much hope since there are so few AKL concierge rooms; and I thought that if it did come through it probably wouldn't come through in enough time for me to book a special safari before they are filled up. But, of course, every few days I would log onto the member web site anyway to check to see if it came through.
Well, today I logged in again - expecting no change this soon - and to my surprise there it was: "2 BR L/O Concierge Jambo" for May 9!
Not only does my father not know that we'll be staying at VWL and AKL, but neither does my wife. Only my mother and I know - and my mother doesn't know about the concierge night and the special safari! My 4 year old son, who will be 5 then, doesn't even know that we're going to WDW at all - and hopefully my wife can keep quiet without bursting at the seams, so that we can completely surprise him. (Then there's our infant son who has no clue now... and will have no clue then.)
I can't wait to see the my father's and my wife's reaction
yay:) when we pull up to VWL instead of BWV... and then the next reaction banana:) a few days later when I tell them to pack because we're moving to AKL... as well as everyone's reaction () when I tell them to get to bed early Saturday night because we will be experiencing a special safari early the next morning!(
<-- me enjoying the "show")So, again, to the person who so graciously canceled their AKL concierge room for the night of May 9, 2009 (even though you didn't realize you were doing it to help me); as well as to all you VWL and AKL owners who decided not to go at the beginning of May:
Thank you!
Now I just have to figure out a creative way to keep it a secret when my father and my wife start asking if I've reserved BWV or if we're going to try a different resort this time.
May 9th is our older DS's birthday, and that has nothing to do with your wonderful happenings, I'll throw it in because it is!
). So the Wanyama (Sunset) Safari doesn't really make sense for us this time. (Maybe I'll plan an anniversary trip for just me and my wife in the next few years and we'll do it then.)
