AKL construction does not exist!!! Official!!!

[Merryweather]

Hey JoiseyMom will you be able to post once you are at AKL or will you return prior to August 30th? We are due there Monday September 3rd but are going to CSR August 30th for four nights.

It's been so quiet here regarding AKL news we are hoping that is a good sign? We are taking DN-13.5 who is chomping at the bit about returning to AKL. I don't want to disappoint him but I also don't cherish construction noise as we intend spending considerable time within the resort.

 

[DznyDreamz]

I am scheduled to be at AKL 9/14 - 9/21. I sure am hoping things improve substantially in the next 25 days!! I have waited for a loooooong time for this trip and like everyone else, don't want to be discouraged by excessive noise. I am trying to be optimistic, but I've spent a great deal of money and want everything to be perfect. When I spoke to Disney last, they said I could easily transfer to another resort if I arrived and was dissatisfied. What they don't understand is that I have waited a year specifically to stay here, I want to dine with the giraffes off my balcony. Hopefully there are areas of the resort which are less affected by the construction and we will be able to live our dream!!

 

[psu1978]

Just thought I'd put my 2 cents in and tell you what I was told by a woman at the lodge. It goes like this.....
Construction is going on, inside and outside. The 5th and 6th floors are being converted to the vacation villas, which she told me are "almost" done on the Zebra trail, but are started on Kudu trail. (apparently they are doing a wing at a time?) That is the reason that guests with savannah views have been moved to other resorts.There is also construction to build new animal bldgs at the end of the Kudu trail.
So I guess you can take that with a grain of salt, since everone seems to get a different story.

Maybe this is a stupid question, but if the 5th & 6th floors are being converted to villas, what about the deluxe rooms and concierge level rooms that were located there? It is my understanding that levels 1-4 are all standard rooms. Am I missing something? We are seriously considering our first visit to AKL next summer and I am trying to decide where to request a room.

Thanks!

 

[Ellie_loves_Minnie]

Your TA should be visiting the Disney Travel Agent website for the latest info on construction at the resorts.

Can you imagine all the families who've saved up for their trip of a lifetime and arrive in the AKL when it's all torn up.... I can't even imagine.

Well, sadly they still aren't returning any emails...

Do you happen to know the address of this website so I can suggest they go look there?

Thanks...

 

[bytheblood]

Well, sadly they still aren't returning any emails...

Do you happen to know the address of this website so I can suggest they go look there?

Thanks...

It is were me, I would let your that TA know you want your reservation back and you would like control of it. Not returning phone calls or emails is completely unacceptable. You are a customer just the same. This is why I REFUSE to use a TA. I will even pay more money and not use AAA just to have control of my own reservation.

 

[shyjade]

I am scheduled to be at AKL 9/14 - 9/21. I sure am hoping things improve substantially in the next 25 days!! I have waited for a loooooong time for this trip and like everyone else, don't want to be discouraged by excessive noise. I am trying to be optimistic, but I've spent a great deal of money and want everything to be perfect. When I spoke to Disney last, they said I could easily transfer to another resort if I arrived and was dissatisfied. What they don't understand is that I have waited a year specifically to stay here, I want to dine with the giraffes off my balcony. Hopefully there are areas of the resort which are less affected by the construction and we will be able to live our dream!!

Don't get your hopes up too high that you'll be able to dine with giraffes off your balcony. Even if you have a Savannah room doesn't mean you'll be in a location with giraffes nearby. We had a Savannah room last September ("slow season") and only once did we see animals from our balcony. Not only that, we were a very far walking distance from the main "hub" of the resort which can be discouraging after a long day at the parks. One evening I had to go without dinner because my DD8 was too tired to walk with me down to Mara for a quick bite and the room was too far for me to leave her in there alone. (After a day in the parks, the bus ride back to AKL and the long walk to our room, she was wiped out.)

I'm not trying to burst your bubble, maybe you'll get exactly what you looked forward to. But after many months of excitement and planning for our first onsite stay at our dream, the AKL, I was truly let down. It's a beautiful resort, but I was disappointed in our room location and we also had problems with the room at check in (we were placed in a dirty room, one that hadn't been used in weeks and it was disgusting; management never even got involved with the problem, we ended up getting moved by Housekeeping 8+ hours after checking in, even though the problem was reported immediately and I was assured the room would be cleaned right away).

Good luck to you, I hope you have better luck than I did.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Hey JoiseyMom will you be able to post once you are at AKL or will you return prior to August 30th? We are due there Monday September 3rd but are going to CSR August 30th for four nights.

It's been so quiet here regarding AKL news we are hoping that is a good sign? We are taking DN-13.5 who is chomping at the bit about returning to AKL. I don't want to disappoint him but I also don't cherish construction noise as we intend spending considerable time within the resort.

Well we leave tomorrow, and cruise on Thursday . We check into AKL on Sunday morning. I am sure my DH will connect tothe internet at some point. If he does I will do my best to post what is going on. It will also be a Sunday, and they don't do construction on that day. But I will do my best to post when he is online.

 

[JoiseyMom]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but if the 5th & 6th floors are being converted to villas, what about the deluxe rooms and concierge level rooms that were located there? It is my understanding that levels 1-4 are all standard rooms. Am I missing something? We are seriously considering our first visit to AKL next summer and I am trying to decide where to request a room.

Thanks!

Those deluxe rooms are now gone. The level 1 - 4 are standard rooms with different views. I am not sure which rooms they will be putting concierge guests in now. I would assume in the standard rooms.

 

[SharonLowe]

Maybe this is a stupid question, but if the 5th & 6th floors are being converted to villas, what about the deluxe rooms and concierge level rooms that were located there? It is my understanding that levels 1-4 are all standard rooms. Am I missing something? We are seriously considering our first visit to AKL next summer and I am trying to decide where to request a room.

Thanks!

The CL rooms are on the 4th floor now and are standard sized but savannah views. The DVC villas on the 6th floor only also will have CL access; the ones on the 5th floor will not. Once construction is done, the CL will move back to its permanent location - currently in the Presidential Suite. You may be able to rent a villa if that interests you. Disney keeps some in its inventory but they are in short supply so book up quickly.

 

[Merryweather]

Well we leave tomorrow, and cruise on Thursday . We check into AKL on Sunday morning. I am sure my DH will connect tothe internet at some point. If he does I will do my best to post what is going on. It will also be a Sunday, and they don't do construction on that day. But I will do my best to post when he is online.

Bon Voyage! I hope you enjoy your cruise and AKL.

 

[DznyDreamz]

Not only that, we were a very far walking distance from the main "hub" of the resort which can be discouraging after a long day at the parks. One evening I had to go without dinner because my DD8 was too tired to walk with me down to Mara for a quick bite and the room was too far for me to leave her in there alone. (After a day in the parks, the bus ride back to AKL and the long walk to our room, she was wiped out.)

I am sorry to hear your stay didn't live up to your expectations. Hopefully that is the exception and not the norm. Did you consider room service rather then going hungry? I sure would have!!! I have a call into Guest Services to inquire about the impact of the construction. We will see. I'm not going to let it ruin our magical stay, thats for sure!

 

[shyjade]

I am sorry to hear your stay didn't live up to your expectations. Hopefully that is the exception and not the norm. Did you consider room service rather then going hungry? I sure would have!!! I have a call into Guest Services to inquire about the impact of the construction. We will see. I'm not going to let it ruin our magical stay, thats for sure!

I should have, but we were on the dining program so I didn't. Next time I will!