AKL Update 7/12

[Summer-Caitlin]

raterfly - I am the other UK poster that they speak of Yes, I did have great difficulty in getting moved, but I persisted and they moved me at no extra cost. I don't know if the fact I am having a Disney Wedding swayed it as i told her my wedding coordinator was unhappy that I was so stressed about the situation (as if I didn't have enough to deal with!) I think if you are really worried about it, as I was, then persist, I know of a few other UK'ers that have been moved, FOC. Good Luck ixiedust:

 

[mom2mykids]

I'm not staying at the AKL but for all of you that are going through all of this I am so sorry! So much goes into planning a Disney vacation and/or honeymoon and to have this happen is terrible, so out of your control. I hope you get things arranged as best as possible, what they should do is move you at another resort and offer you a re-booking at AKL at the same rate you originally paid good for at least the next 5 years because lets face it not everyone can get back within a year, I know I couldn't....not with as a family of 5 anyways, LOL.
Good Luck everyone and for those of you celebrating special days, Congrats!!

 

[amelia1]

and I am really praying we don't get moved!


QUOTE=mika911;19757383]Ok, we'll there's two of us with no concierge trying to hold on.

Thing is there is almost no deluxe availability in the mid August timeframe for a long stretch of time (there is some for individual days here and there), so SSR might be about the only option.

I'm hoping for the best.[/QUOTE]

 

[TheLastPrincess]

(said in a distinct Cinderella-type voice) "I wish....I could stay at the Grand Floridian!"

We could not possibly afford to stay there for our honeymoon, but ever since I was a little girl, I would stand in the lobby underneath the majestic chandeliers as the pianist played and wish for a GF honeymoon with all my little heart.

So if we have to move, it really would be a dream come true.

Are you listening, Disney?

 

[jhryb]

(said in a distinct Cinderella-type voice) "I wish....I could stay at the Grand Floridian!"

We could not possibly afford to stay there for our honeymoon, but ever since I was a little girl, I would stand in the lobby underneath the majestic chandeliers as the pianist played and wish for a GF honeymoon with all my little heart.

So if we have to move, it really would be a dream come true.

Are you listening, Disney?

I hope that your dream comes true - it is certainly a possibility

 

[EEyorelover22]

When and where were you moved from POFQ? I hope it worked out for you then.

You're right that it very hard not knowing, but I feel a little better since I actually spoke to one of the CMs doing the moves. I'm paid in full, I got my package yesterday with luggage tags, etc. I just don't know what else to do. I guess if we get moved when we get there, we'll have to live with it. I'm just hoping for some Disney Magic.

It did...thanks. It was back in 2003 and we were moved for only $20 more per night to a savanna view at AKL. $94 per night

 

[luvdzny]

To me this is getting really nerve racking!! I cant believe all the mixed info being told to everyone! Its making me wonder what is true and what isnt?
I think they need to come out with an official statement stating whats going on with the resort! How are guest supposed to be at ease if were all getting mixed messages from CM? The Animals are moving one day and there not the next, the resort is shut down completely/ then its not!!

I do not think that this is Disney's or the CM's fault at all. I think it is because of boards like this one that people are confused. Disney has a system in place and the CM's that know what is going on are calling the people that are affected; it is because of boards like these that the confusion is taking place. If we weren't reading these boards we would have no way of knowing that people were being moved. We were booked at POFQ shortly after 9/11 and I remember reading on this board that POFQ was closing and they were moving people. A lot of people called in a panic and were giving rooms at other moderate resorts. I decided to wait until Disney called me and we were given a great upgrade to AKL.

This board is great, but I think sometimes people get too much info from it.

 

[Sammie]

I do not think that this is Disney's or the CM's fault at all. I think it is because of boards like this one that people are confused. Disney has a system in place and the CM's that know what is going on are calling the people that are affected; it is because of boards like these that the confusion is taking place. If we weren't reading these boards we would have no way of knowing that people were being moved. We were booked at POFQ shortly after 9/11 and I remember reading on this board that POFQ was closing and they were moving people. A lot of people called in a panic and were giving rooms at other moderate resorts. I decided to wait until Disney called me and we were given a great upgrade to AKL.

This board is great, but I think sometimes people get too much info from it.

Exactly, sometimes ignorance is bliss. And you would not believe how much Net forums have created havoc for Disney.

Not only does all the info sharing cause confusion and chaos it causes many to expect things that are never going to happen for them, simply because it happened for someone else.

So with the good comes the bad.

 

[ellenec]

I had 3 nights booked at AKL for August 23, 24 and 25th next 3 nights at GF. I am going out of the country in a few days and if I was not a huge fan of these boards I would have never known. I did call the AKL Outbound number and we were one of the rooms they were going to move. I would have been really disappointed if they called to move me while I am out of the country. By the way we took the BC for those 3 nights!!! Can't wait. Thanks again to all who post on these boards!!!

 

[TheLastPrincess]

I talked to my Disney CM friend the other day and told him I follow the Disney message boards.

(silence)

It is a general rule that Disney does not like the message boards because they "spoil" some of the surprises and make people think they can "beat" the system somehow. He said people come in there expecting to be made the Grand Marshal just because they talked to a CM first thing in the morning. In other words, these boards DO make their job harder.

With that in mind (since I feel SHAMED by Walt Disney himself), let us remember that people who demand their wishes come true generally lend themselves to Wicked Queen, Jafar, and Malificent-like tendencies.

Don't be a Disney Villian. Use your head!

 

[mika911]

At least the message boards give you some warning. Disney is calling some people within 2 weeks of leaving, talk about a shock.

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

I do not think that this is Disney's or the CM's fault at all. I think it is because of boards like this one that people are confused. Disney has a system in place and the CM's that know what is going on are calling the people that are affected; it is because of boards like these that the confusion is taking place. If we weren't reading these boards we would have no way of knowing that people were being moved. We were booked at POFQ shortly after 9/11 and I remember reading on this board that POFQ was closing and they were moving people. A lot of people called in a panic and were giving rooms at other moderate resorts. I decided to wait until Disney called me and we were given a great upgrade to AKL.

This board is great, but I think sometimes people get too much info from it.

I would agree with you except that people are being called extremely close to their arrival dates and being told that they need to move. This then may require last-minute rescheduling of ADRs and possibly developing a new itinerary (I had to do this, as we are now at a monorail resort and our options have changed). If people move to SSR and get a huge refund, they then can schedule massages or other expensive treats for themselves with the extra money. Also, some people aren't being told they need to move until they get there. They do then get great upgrades (like the guy who got GF plus $500 cash - it'd be nice to be him) - but I bet they then end up spending the first day of their vacation trying to figure out how to get to the other resort (as resort to resort Disney transport sucks) and trying to get their luggage which was routed to the wrong resort.

 

[luvdzny]

And you would not believe how much Net forums have created havoc for Disney.

I know!!!! My niece works for Disney and she is always amazed at the stuff people expect because they read about it on these boards. a friend of hers works at the front desk at AKL and she says so many people come in expecting free upgrades because "they read about them on the internet."
I read the boards for fun and I get some good info from them but some of the stuff I figure if Disney wants me to know about it I will wait and let them tell me.

 

[kutchyone]

By reading these boards I was able to get a great discount on our AKL rooms, $27.00 less for the four days, 3 adults then I was paying at CSR. By reading these boards I was able to secure the Poly instead of of SSR for that same price, $163.84 per night with tax for 3 adults. Thank goodness for these boards and keep providing the information as you get it.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I would agree with you except that people are being called extremely close to their arrival dates and being told that they need to move. This then may require last-minute rescheduling of ADRs and possibly developing a new itinerary (I had to do this, as we are now at a monorail resort and our options have changed). If people move to SSR and get a huge refund, they then can schedule massages or other expensive treats for themselves with the extra money. Also, some people aren't being told they need to move until they get there. They do then get great upgrades (like the guy who got GF plus $500 cash - it'd be nice to be him) - but I bet they then end up spending the first day of their vacation trying to figure out how to get to the other resort (as resort to resort Disney transport sucks) and trying to get their luggage which was routed to the wrong resort.

They were when I was moved too. If I didn't have CM friends at our old store that told me about disboards, I would have been in the same boat and called only a couple weeks before we left.

I'm sure they can only dedicate a certain number of CM to call about changing people and it seems like it changes daily.

Don't get me wrong...I would be upset, but I think in the end, Disney will make it right. We were not long time Disney goers either...it was only our second trip in 03.

wanted to add: I don't remember the timeframe at all...but it was a shock when POFQ closed because as I remember, people arrived and were moved and not upgraded either...CSR or CBR.

The number to call has been posted so if it were me, I'd call. But that's me. I'm very Type A.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Why all the gripes?
2) People get moved all the time is real life.
3) At least they are trying to make it as pleasant as possible.
4) I can't see where this would spoil a vacation.

NOTE: For those saying they still want to stay because they want to see the animals, well, many of the animals have already been moved because the construction was allegedly" bothering those animals. So, even remaining at AKL would not have been the same.

 

[TheLastPrincess]

1) Why all the gripes?
2) People get moved all the time is real life.
3) At least they are trying to make it as pleasant as possible.
4) I can't see where this would spoil a vacation.

Staying at Your Favorite Resort is 50% of the WDW experience for some people. I, personally, WANT to be moved due to convenience of staying closer to the parks (only chose AKL because it was the cheapest deluxe with free DDP). However, if I had booked GF, and then told I had to move elsewhere, well, I might just break down in tears.

But I do think that, given the circumstances, Disney allowing guests to "pick" their next choice of resort is very, VERY generous. For some (like me) staying at a monorail resort is completely out of our budget. But should we get moved, it would be a true dream come true.

 

[mika911]

1) Why all the gripes?
2) People get moved all the time is real life.
3) At least they are trying to make it as pleasant as possible.
4) I can't see where this would spoil a vacation.

NOTE: For those saying they still want to stay because they want to see the animals, well, many of the animals have already been moved because the construction was allegedly" bothering those animals. So, even remaining at AKL would not have been the same.

Well when they tell you just days before your trip, you have your schedule, ADRs planned etc. It's a very big deal. You're spending hard earned and a substantial amount of money with them.

If the resort didn't matter either, they would not build different theme resort, they'd make 20 contemporaries, if no one cared about something different.

Just my take. Also during my stay there is no availability at WL, any MK resort, etc. so there isn't much for me.

 

[Lewanc]

marlower,

When I brought up the issue of needing two bed because we were three adults and the third person was a 6'4" guy over 200 lbs. who would not be that comfortable on a sofa bed the CM suggested a studio at OKW. I changed the subject very fast at that point since I didn't want a studio and was looking for a two bedroom villa instead. I'm sure everything will work out for everyone.

Hi Kutchyone -- Good for you on changing the subject at the mention of a studio at OKW. I'm definitley confused, what is the advantage of a studio at OKW (or any other studio on property), as all studios have a sofa bed???, unless something has changed. In my opinion, a studio is only suitable for 2 adults and 2 children.

I noticed in reading through your different posts, you mentioned a suite. I guess you were referring to a suite at the AKL. If so, they are really nice, and you wouldn't have to hold out for a two bedroom (if offered), as a one bedroom would accommodate your group nicely. My 6'1 adult son has slept on the sofa bed in the one bedroom with no complaints, and of course the bedding
is much better than that of the studios. Even though not completely private, the one bedroom suite offers a 1/2 bath off the living area, which allows the person using the sofa bed not having to access the master bath at night.

Should you be extra lucky and get a two bedroom, you will be more than happy. The 2 bedroom suite we occupied was a one bedroom with an adjacent 2 Queen Deluxe Room on the 5th floor, which was an upgrade from a one bedroom. Of course as my luck goes, we didn't need the the 2 bedroom on that particular visit as it was only my hubby & I. I was at the AKL the week of July 4 for dinner and heard they were using the Vice Presidential Suite for the concierge lounge. Things seem to be changing from day to day, and I think it's even hard for Disney to project what exactly will be happening and when, as it's all a guesstimate. Not sure, I think some if not all of the suites may be in jeopardy of a move as they are located in the DVC construction area.

All the resorts are nice, but none can compare with the AKL as there is no comparison. What other resort (except in Africa) allows you to wake up in the morning, go to your balcony and see a savanna filled with exotic animals? Even without a savanna view, the animals are just a short walk outside the lodge, and of course, the AKL is an experience in itself.

I know it must be quite frustrating for all of you who are planning to visit during this construction period. Hope you won't be moved, but if it should happen, do your homework before hand on all resorts, and ask for what you want if it's not offered.

Have a great trip!!!

 

[kutchyone]

Not frustrated at all, we (3 Adulst) are staying at the Poly for $27.00 less then what I originally booked Coronado Springs for. As I have said a few times, the Disney Gods were watching over us this trip. I could not afford the Poly without this big discount.