AKL Grand Villa, 2BR availability experience?

[SarahAndMike]

Hi Everyone, I've only used my DVC points once so I'm curious about availability from those of you who have more experience. My wife and I will be blowing a lot of points on a BIG family trip the first week of Dec. 2008. I'm trying to decide where to book and I know the family we're bringing would LOVE to stay at AKL. So here is my question:

ALK is NOT my home resort. Should I at all expect to be able to book a Grand Villa or 2BR Concierge or do they fill up quickly with Home Resort guests?

THANKS!

 

[LisaS]

I don't know about availability of GVs 7 months out but I think getting a Concierge 2BR for December at 7 months out will be next to impossible. There are a total of five 2BR lockoffs in Concierge. Some of those get "locked off" and rented as 1BRs and studios. Let's say they split them up as two 2BRs, three 1BRs and three studios. At 7 months out you would be trying to get one of only two Concierge 2BRs at one of the busiest times of the year.

AKV owners who are calling now (at the 11 month window) for early December are reporting that Concierge studios are gone within minutes after MS opens in the morning. The 1BRs are lasting a little longer. I haven't heard about the 2BRs but with only a couple of them available, I can't imagine they will still be available at 7 months out.

 

[SarahAndMike]

WOW! Looks like I should think of a plan B. SSR is my home resort so I could go there. We'll be with my younger niece and nephew and thought they would enjoy the animals. I'm thinking maybe VWL as a plan B.

 

[LisaS]

Why not try for a Savanna View 2BR then? There are a lot of those and you would stand a decent chance of booking one at 7 months out. I would still book SSR now so you have something guaranteed, then try to switch 7 months out.

Another thing about Concierge is that you are NOT guaranteed a savanna view. Of those five 2BR lockoffs in Concierge (6th floor of the Lodge building), two of them face the pool area and three face the Sunset Savanna. You can request a savanna view but it is not guaranteed.

In my opinion, you will get a better view of the animals from the Savanna View 2BRs. They are on the 5th floor (a bit closer to the animals) and are scattered throughout the resort. The Concierge rooms are right in the lobby area so you have a more limited view. I prefer to be further out along the horseshoe.

 

[AKV707]

You would have better luck going for a 2 br savanna or standard. You could get a 2 br and a studio. I don't know about the GVs, but I hear they are going to be pretty impressive!

 

[SarahAndMike]

Yeah, I'm thinking you're right about all this. This does bring up another question though. How simple is it to switch resorts if I book SSR now?

PS. THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the advice and help here.

 

[drusba]

Understand that "first week of December" is one of the highest demand weeks of the year for DVC if not THE highest demand week of the year. For example, owners are already reporting that BWV standard and boardwalk view are booked full for that week. Thus, the ability to get anything anywhere at WDW at 7 months out is not a certainty. I would get your home resort and call to get that immediately and then try to switch at 7 months out. If you can find something else at 7 months out, switching is not that difficult, they just cancel your current ressie and immediately book the other on the same call.

 

[SarahAndMike]

Thank you thank you thank you! I will be booking today!

 

[Inkmahm]

And this is why I follow the "buy where you want to stay" approach to DVC. We go every year in early December and I have my choice of 3 resorts that we love to book since we own at all of them. I did my 2 bedroom villa day by day reservation at VWL already for the first week in December. I'd be really surprised if any were left to book at 7 months.

 

[roadtripper]

I was able to book a 2BR savannah view at AKV for President's week at 7 months. Possibly it was because the word wasn't out yet, but it's certainly worth a shot. Good luck!