AKV reservations...what did you get?????

[LisaS]

I can't believe it! Finally got through, only to be told I can't use my points until September 1st! Vacation is August 18-25! Told to call back June 5-most rooms are already gone! Funny, I could use my points in January for VWL, but not for AKV? I am boiling mad as I write this, also crying! DVC was very rude too! We were never told anything about when we could use our points! This stinks! I hope no one else has to go through this!

You reported on the AKV Ownership thread that you own in Unit 25. That unit is in the "Sep 2007" phase of AKV so those points aren't usable for stays prior to Sep 1st. (You should see something in your contract about a September 1st occupancy date.)

Part of AKV will open in July. Units 41-45 are in that section of the resort so only those who happened to purchase one of those Units can use their AKV points for a stay at AKV prior to Sep 1st. For the rest of us, if you want to stay at AKV prior to Sep 1st, you would have to book the stay with non-AKV points and you can only do that starting on June 6th.

 

[wingkng]

I called at 9 AM, and got in with a little wait. I got into the same hold up that many people got into. Penelope, the CM that helped me, was very helpful. After I waited patiently for 30 minutes on the phone for them to fix their "glitches", Penelope told me that I can hang up and go back to work, and she will make the reservation for me once they are back up. Lo and behold, and 10 AM, I got a call from her and got my reservation!

My wife and by then 6 month old baby will be staying in a 1 bedroom Villa on Feb 24-29, Savannah View. She did warn me that there will be construction noise, no matter where I stay.

 

[LisaS]

I was able to book in July 07 so there must be a difference in when the points were purchased.

The difference is based on which Unit you own. If you own Unit 41A, 42, 42A, 43, 44, 44A, 45 or 45A, then your occupancy date is July 2007 or later, so you can book a stay at AKV using AKV points for on/after that date. If you own any other unit, your occupancy date is Sep 1st or later so you can book a stay at AKV using AKV points starting on/after that date.

 

[mouseclick1]

I completely forgot to call this morning from work and didn't make my call until 4:45! I actually got on the DIS as soon as I got home, which is what reminded me to get on the phone! I was a little worried since I wanted a 2BR and a Studio for Easter week, but had no problem booking either. I now have 3 nights at the AKV and 3 nights at the BWV. I'll be adding on another night to BWV (hopefully!) at the 7 month window with my HH points - that is, if I remember!

 

[Figment56]

We were never told about a September 1st book date. We we told we could book when AKV opened, as we have a Feb. use year. My points (AKV) went through in January to make my ressies at VWV, no problem. I call today to make ressies and told no for AKV. I was at work when this all transpired. I got home to find a message from Member Services! They now inform me that they are taking my points away from AKV that we used for VWL! I told MS that I knew why she was calling and that was the reason why! I told her fine, take the points, borrow from next year and put me in a tent somewhere! This was their fault, not ours, so we are being punished both ways! To make matters worse, not one person in MS was very nice to me! This was to be for DD 18th b-day, graduation present-ha, what a joke! We are only one week away from the use of our points and can't go AFTER Sept 1, because DD starts college that weekend! Sorry for all the ranting, but I had to get it out!
p.s.-I called member services a few months ago to make sure that AKV was opening in July,she said yes, she looked up my account and never mentioned I couldn't book until Sept. 1! I never would have tried for an 1 1/2 to get through if I knew I couldn't book for August!

 

[graygables]

We were never told about a September 1st book date. We we told we could book when AKV opened, as we have a Feb. use year. My points (AKV) went through in January to make my ressies at VWV, no problem. I call today to make ressies and told no for AKV. I was at work when this all transpired. I got home to find a message from Member Services! They now inform me that they are taking my points away from AKV that we used for VWL! I told MS that I knew why she was calling and that was the reason why! I told her fine, take the points, borrow from next year and put me in a tent somewhere! This was their fault, not ours, so we are being punished both ways! To make matters worse, not one person in MS was very nice to me! This was to be for DD 18th b-day, graduation present-ha, what a joke! We are only one week away from the use of our points and can't go AFTER Sept 1, because DD starts college that weekend! Sorry for all the ranting, but I had to get it out!
p.s.-I called member services a few months ago to make sure that AKV was opening in July,she said yes, she looked up my account and never mentioned I couldn't book until Sept. 1! I never would have tried for an 1 1/2 to get through if I knew I couldn't book for August!

I'm sorry it isn't working out for you. Have you read your contract? It says: "You may immediately begin to make reservations at DAKV on May 16, 2007 (or at other DVC resorts as soon as you purchase) for stays beginning on or after your Unit is available for occupancy." (listed on the first page of Purchase Agreement). Seems to me it is a legal issue, not so much a CS one. They can't let you "use" real estate that isn't "built" yet. Again, I'm sorry it is stressful for you and I hope you are able to have a nice stay to celebrate with your DD anyway.

 

[Figment56]

I remember being told that it was ESTIMATED to be open for Sept 1, but things moved more swiftly and that it was opening July 1. Hence again, that is why I called a few months ago to confirm. I was led to believe that it was open to anyone as of July 1, not certain units for certain dates. March use year can book ahead of Feb use year, how fair is that?

 

[wdw1972]

I remember being told that it was ESTIMATED to be open for Sept 1, but things moved more swiftly and that it was opening July 1. Hence again, that is why I called a few months ago to confirm. I was led to believe that it was open to anyone as of July 1, not certain units for certain dates. March use year can book ahead of Feb use year, how fair is that?

Use year has nothing to do with when you can book - and it makes no sense to think that people with a Feb use year would get to book anything ahead of those with a March or April or later use year.

The bottom line - you had your documents where everything was spelled out, but you failed to read them. Instead, you relied on what you "heard" and it turned out to not be accurate for your case. If it was me I'd be frustrated too, but I'd be frustrated at MYSELF for not knowing the facts or reviewing my paperwork....not member services.

 

[JimC]

2 bdrm SV Sept 16-21. Took my wife an hour to get on and she started right at 9:00 am

 

[Eeyore77]

I feel really lucky!!! I called at exactly 8:59 and went through the menu the phone rang and a memeber services rep picked right up. No wait and no busy signals.... I must have had luck on my side today. I was able to get two seperate reservations for a SV Studio. One was for Sept. 1-3 and the other was for Dec. 7-9. I was so happy. I can't wait to stay there. I love that lodge it is my favorite.

 

[bcpage]

Use year has nothing to do with when you can book - and it makes no sense to think that people with a Feb use year would get to book anything ahead of those with a March or April or later use year.

UY does actually have something to do with booking...depending on what your UY is directly impacts the unit that you buy and it seems that only units that were opened before Sept. 1 could book before Sept. 1. So in booking AKV today, it seems that UY was a big factor for those that tried to book before Sept. 1.

 

[blueroses]

We got a one bedroom standard view for the marathon weekend - January 10 - 14. I called after I got to work today (8:30 Pacific time), got right through, and made the reservation in less than 5 minutes. Normally I'd want to stay longer, but we're going to back at the World 2 months later for another trip.

 

[graygables]

UY does actually have something to do with booking...depending on what your UY is directly impacts the unit that you buy and it seems that only units that were opened before Sept. 1 could book before Sept. 1. So in booking AKV today, it seems that UY was a big factor for those that tried to book before Sept. 1.

UY wasn't the factor, UNIT number was the factor. Some units will be ready in July, so their contracts specify that they can be booked when they are ready. The PP's contract stated their unit would not be available to book until Sept 1, but they had not received correct word of mouth. DH and I just watched an episode of American Gothic where an attorney failed to read the contract...cost him $600,000.

 

[WDWguru]

graygables, the unit number is directly tied to use year. Somebody was keeping a running total and the use years were all grouped in the same unit number(s). We bought AKV the very first day it was available, and since we have a September use year we bought into unit 34 (or maybe 35). So even though we bought the first day, our unit is one that won't be ready until September 1st (just coincidental that it's also our use year start).

To the point of the thread - started calling at 9, got a busy signal until about 9:05, then on hold until about 9:20. I was off the phone by 9:30 with my 1 bedroom savannah view for Dec. 23-29th!

 

[dianeschlicht]

DH and I tried calling from our cell phones from 8:59 on. We both did continuous redial for 40 minutes with no luck. Then we took about 10 minutes off and started again from the Epcot parking lot. I finally got through. I also got Penelope, who was very helpful, but sounded stressed. She made an error and borrowed more points than she needed to, but assured me it would be fixed in a couple of days. We are staying in a standard studio for the first Saturday night, and a SV 1 bedroom the rest of our trip in March.

Figment, your documents should have stated clearly when your "unit" of ownership was available for reservations. I'm quite sure you would be able to book before September with other points after June 5 if you have other points available. Just a word to everyone....READ YOUR DOCUMENTS!

 

[Figment56]

Read documents-duh! As I said it was an ESTIMATED opening! Buildings are opening sooner than expected. It was not hearsay, but from member services. I work at a High School, so I think I know what is going on. This is what member services told me. Also, why would my AKV points be taken out in January 2007, because THEY made the mistake not us. Please don't make me feel like I am stupid. I know this came from MS and my Guide. I called him yesterday and even he didn't know about this mess and just kept apologizing for the mistake!

 

[WolfpackFan]

The bottom line - you had your documents where everything was spelled out, but you failed to read them.

I have to say this situation would have never occurred to me. I would have just assumed you got the points, you can make the reservation. I would not have thought there would be a problem with "my" unit being finished. I do remember reading little tidbits here about this, but if I wasn't a regular reader here I might not have known anything about it at all. As far as reading the fine print in the documents, I wonder how many of us really do that. I know I didn't. I know that may be foolish, but having two other contracts, I would have just assumed everything was okay.

 

[hellerjw]

I wasn't a member during the first openings at SSR so I don't know if similar restrictions hurt the first bookings there or not. I suspect the hype around AKV and the pressure to get some units converted quickly played a big part in the disinformation game.

I luckily was able to book for Aug '07 and just assumed it was because I own in one of the first units (#45) to be available. I never actually asked the MS rep if that was a requirement, I just assumed it was from what my documents stated and what I had read here on the boards. I do know my guide never mentioned anything about "booking restrictions" and don't know that he would have had we owned in a Sept 1st availability unit.

From the few converstations I had with MS people about this I don't think many of them even knew what was going to happen until yesterday. I suspect many of the MS reps only learned about it when the computer system started denying booking dates for certain people.

I'm a detail oriented person by nature so the various dates listed in my documents were fresh in my mind well before I tried calling yesterday. I tend to agree with Figment56 in that these were 'estimated opening' dates in the docs and therefore carried enough ambiguity to confuse everyone involved.

It turned out favorably in my situation but I do feel for those who were hoping or expecting earlier bookings and were not able to get them.

 

[Inkmahm]

... I work at a High School, so I think I know what is going on. ...

Huh?

 

[LisaS]

Also, why would my AKV points be taken out in January 2007, because THEY made the mistake not us.

I assume you mean February 2007 since that is the earliest you could have had any AKV points in your account. You mentioned MS allocated some of your AKV points to book a stay at VWL. If that stay starts Sep 1st or later, that's OK. If that stay starts earlier than that, then MS did indeed make a mistake.

I can see where it was confusing if your guide or MS told you that you could book at AKV as soon as it opened. At the time you purchased your contract that statement was true because AKV's opening date coincided with your unit's occupancy date, but it was no longer true once they decided to open some units in July. It would have been better to use more precise language, such as "You can book a stay that starts on or after the occupancy date of your unit, Sep 1st".