AKL Jambo House Reservation Changes?

[pkrieger2287]

Getting a report over on the DVC Fan Facebook Group that someone had their Jambo House reservation switched to Kidani in August without any notice.

Wondering if anyone here has seen a similar thing happen?

I find it crazy they would make such a change without contacting a member regardless of the situation.

Thanks everyone!

 

[The Jackal]

My guess would be that they are trying to just use Kidani. If they open up Jambo, they need a lot more CM for not that many rooms. Just my opinion. I haven seen a official Disney notice that states Jambo would open. All I can see is they say DVC resorts at WDW will reopen. AKV/AKL is a little different than all the rest, with a few rooms in a cash hotel building and Kidani is a stand-alone resort. WL has a wing for VWL and a wing for CCV.

 

[Sandisw]

There was something that went to CMs...posted in another thread on these boards...and Jambo was missing from the list.

Many thought just an error..but now I wonder. But, it was also posted today that CMs from Mara were called back, so that looks to be opening.

 

[DisBuckMan]

My Jambo reservations for November are still intact.

 

[DaveNan]

I saw a report that Jambo was going to be the NBA "bubble". Based on the NBA playing games on property.

 

[momtwoboys]

our Sept Jambo studio is still showing. No changes for us. Just another aspect of our vacation to keep watch on now!

 

[Sandisw]

Supposedly there is a vote this week by NBA about the entire thing..so, I think we should hear something. But, most up to date is them staying at CSR...which makes more sense so not to involve DVC...

The only reservations I think we could see changed if no NBA would be those prior to when they open all of AKL to cash guests,

It is possible they will move guests to Kidani from late June or early July so they keep only the food courts. But, again, won’t know that until people check in and report.

 

[AnteUp0824]

I saw something that said Coranado Springs for the NBA is probable and AKL Jambo for the MLS.. these were speculation and not factual.

 

[JOLT]

I still have our July 10th reservation showing as Jambo house.

 

[foreUT]

I have a Jambo 1 bdrm booked for a December reservation. I made the reservation exactly 11 months out for a reason. I also own points at three other resorts, but this is the Resort I love at Christmas time. I have never stayed at Kidani (direct purchase of Jambo points.) And I will not be happy to be displaced for a sports team. It makes no sense to me to take DVC, even if it is only a portion of the accommodations, to lure in sporting groups, when there are other options.

 

[jennypenny]

Did anyone see Tim's post about Riviera now showing no availability also?

I was more sympathetic than most when it came to DVC trying to navigate the closures and handle the 'lost' points of members. I thought they were doing what they could within the rules given the crazy circumstances. But I gotta say, Disney can't claim they can't make extra inventory available to members because of 'rules' and then invite two different sports leagues to WDW *and* bump members to make room for them. That's outrageous IMO.

My reservation isn't affected, but I'd be tempted to sue if it was (and I never sue anyone). Either DVC is a different entity from Disney and they can't do this kind of back and forth with the inventory or it isn't. They can't claim they are separate when it comes to dealing with members but then share inventory when Disney wants the rooms for something they deem important.

I'm done with DVC.

 

[Yinn]

Did anyone see Tim's post about Riviera now showing no availability also?

I was more sympathetic than most when it came to DVC trying to navigate the closures and handle the 'lost' points of members. I thought they were doing what they could within the rules given the crazy circumstances. But I gotta say, Disney can't claim they can't make extra inventory available to members because of 'rules' and then invite two different sports leagues to WDW *and* bump members to make room for them. That's outrageous IMO.


My reservation isn't affected, but I'd be tempted to sue if it was (and I never sue anyone). Either DVC is a different entity from Disney and they can't do this kind of back and forth with the inventory or it isn't. They can't claim they are separate when it comes to dealing with members but then share inventory when Disney wants the rooms for something they deem important.

I'm done with DVC.

I'm not a DVC rules expert but if they're using their points to make the reservations on behalf of NBA/MLS and abiding by the availability timelines, then it'd be no different than me making a reservation for my friends to stay at.

The bumping however is something that doesn't quite line up in terms of following the rules. The resorts would either be open or closed right? And if it's open, can it be "closed" for what I'll call a private event?

 

[JOLT]

We aren't 100% sure if they are actually going to displace anyone or just maybe fill in the open reservations.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

But I gotta say, Disney can't claim they can't make extra inventory available to members because of 'rules' and then invite two different sports leagues to WDW *and* bump members to make room for them. That's outrageous IMO.

My reservation isn't affected, but I'd be tempted to sue if it was (and I never sue anyone). Either DVC is a different entity from Disney and they can't do this kind of back and forth with the inventory or it isn't. They can't claim they are separate when it comes to dealing with members but then share inventory when Disney wants the rooms for something they deem important.

I'm done with DVC.

I agree that any attempt to bump DVC members from rooms would be ripe for a legal challenge. I can't imagine they'd try that. If they opened up the undeclared part of Riviera, I don't think there is any way they can create a bubble by bumping DVC members.

 

[jennypenny]

My point is that if Disney was going to go out of there way for any group, it should have been the members, at least before other unaffiliated groups. Why didn't they just open up all of Riviera to booking on points (not declare it officially, just allow it to be used)? That would have solved points issues for people and been a good will gesture. Instead, they are making that gesture towards sports leagues.

Ultimately, it may all be above board but it's convinced me that I'm better off using cash reservations and not being beholden to DVC.

 

[Sandisw]

I'm not a DVC rules expert but if they're using their points to make the reservations on behalf of NBA/MLS and abiding by the availability timelines, then it'd be no different than me making a reservation for my friends to stay at.

The bumping however is something that doesn't quite line up in terms of following the rules. The resorts would either be open or closed right? And if it's open, can it be "closed" for what I'll call a private event?

Correct they can use points to secure rooms. In addition, they actually don’t really have to abide by the same Rules as other members

Since AKV is one resort with two buildings, they could take all Jambo out of service, and move people. However, where it could get tough is those that have reservations if the reason is a sports team and not the pandemic. So, the don’t have to open Jambo on June 22nd since no other WDW owned resorts are opening...much of Jambo is.

Once they do, then it becomes harder to say the rooms were taken out of service for a valid reason.

IMO, that is why they may have stopped further bookings to see if they can legally move anyone, assuming they decide they need to.

 

[Sandisw]

Did anyone see Tim's post about Riviera now showing no availability also?

I was more sympathetic than most when it came to DVC trying to navigate the closures and handle the 'lost' points of members. I thought they were doing what they could within the rules given the crazy circumstances. But I gotta say, Disney can't claim they can't make extra inventory available to members because of 'rules' and then invite two different sports leagues to WDW *and* bump members to make room for them. That's outrageous IMO.

My reservation isn't affected, but I'd be tempted to sue if it was (and I never sue anyone). Either DVC is a different entity from Disney and they can't do this kind of back and forth with the inventory or it isn't. They can't claim they are separate when it comes to dealing with members but then share inventory when Disney wants the rooms for something they deem important.

I'm done with DVC.

Actually, as long as DVD uses points they own to secure the rooms, they can. They can shut down a DVC room for valid reasons and move guests.

What they are not allowed to do...that I can see..is move another DVC owner who booked at RIV somewhere else unless they have a legal reason move them...ie: maintenance, etc.

They can pull inventory from members as long as they own the points to back it up..they do not have to compete with the same timeline as other owners..

Point is, if DVD just pulled everything from more than 60 days forward, and have enough points to do it, it’s legal.

Anything within 60 days is fair game for them too as it goes toward breakage.

 

[Yinn]

My point is that if Disney was going to go out of there way for any group, it should have been the members, at least before other unaffiliated groups. Why didn't they just open up all of Riviera to booking on points (not declare it officially, just allow it to be used)? That would have solved points issues for people and been a good will gesture. Instead, they are making that gesture towards sports leagues.

Ultimately, it may all be above board but it's convinced me that I'm better off using cash reservations and not being beholden to DVC.

Maybe it didn't affect you, but IMO Disney has already gone and done the right things for members. The extension of banked points, expired points, that's a huge amount of goodwill gesture. It may not seem like it to us, but it's costing them significant sums to make us happy when legally they weren't necessarily required to. So if I'm looking at the thing as whole, I'm ok with Disney doing this - assuming they are. If I was asked directly if I'd be willing to trade banked/expired/held points for the right for Disney to move me, I'd say yes.

Disclaimer: *I have a Jambo Value reservation. So anywhere they move me, I will be getting more value than my already value reservation. Although, I'm going to reserve my right to complain when this comes back to bite me in the butt when I end up 6 miles past Pumba in standard room 7x8x. I'm going to want a complimentary zebra ride to the lobby.

 

[Sandisw]

My point is that if Disney was going to go out of there way for any group, it should have been the members, at least before other unaffiliated groups. Why didn't they just open up all of Riviera to booking on points (not declare it officially, just allow it to be used)? That would have solved points issues for people and been a good will gesture. Instead, they are making that gesture towards sports leagues.

Ultimately, it may all be above board but it's convinced me that I'm better off using cash reservations and not being beholden to DVC.

Do you believe that the NBA or any other sports team...if they go there are being given the rooms for free without Disney getting a financial benefit out of this?

Disney, the company, who own those rooms, can do with them what they want, Again, it has really nothing to do with us if that is what they do..except for the money we will get for breakage,

It would be like me booking a bunch of rooms and another owner being upset because they couldn’t book and I gave a bunch away.

Really no different.

In terms of letting us use points without declaring, it would have required them to give them to us for free.

 

[MBTigger]

At this point I am sure Disney is looking for any way it can to bring in revenue. If the NBA or MLS is willing to cough up money to fill rooms with folks who WON'T be going to the parks that seems like a no brainer. Keeping Jambo closed when only a small percentage of the rooms are available to book also makes sense.