Alv club level

[jimim]

We wanted to stay club level next may when we go for stars war weekend. For those who have stayed before what r the chances of getting the full week 11 months out at the window for the week of Memorial Day would you say? Studio.

Thanks. And I know it's kinda a blanket question but just was wondering some history background.

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[cwdefouw]

Your chances are probably good since you have the home booking priority. However, anything can happen, it just depends on the reservations made in advance of yours. Definitely try to be online right at 8:00 EST on the 11 month day. We had no problem getting a one bedroom for four nights in the main spring break week last year at the 11 month window. You could also monitor inventory with the web site for a few days in advance of your booking day to see what availability looks like, this might give you an idea if you need to have a backup plan or not.

As far as the actually Kilimanjaro Club goes, it is nice. The best benefit is the the ability to book the Sunrise Safari. When we stayed, we were not running to the parks everyday, only did one day at AK, the day we did Sunrise Safari. For us it was a trip to just enjoy the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort and as such we enjoyed the club benefits. If we were trying to be park warriors, I don't think I would book the concierge level as you just don't spend much time at the resort when you are in the parks from sunrise to midnight everyday, and as such you would not get to experience much of the benefits that the club level provides.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We wanted to stay club level next may when we go for stars war weekend. For those who have stayed before what r the chances of getting the full week 11 months out at the window for the week of Memorial Day would you say? Studio.

Thanks. And I know it's kinda a blanket question but just was wondering some history background.

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It may depend on when you start your reservation. If you start it on Sunday, you might miss out. You might need to "walk" the reservation. There are only five studios and some of them might be reserved as part of a two bedroom villa.

 

[jimim]

Thanks guys. I would start it for sat checkin and sat checkout. I didn't know u can check rooms before hand. I usually don't use the web site.

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[drusba]

You can reserve up to 7 nights 11 months out. Thus, you can start seeing on-line whether the first night of your trip is available 11 months and six days before your actual date of arrival. You may want to seriously consider walking the reservation. I have been tracking AKV's 11 month window for concierge for some time. It is the only class of rooms I have found anywhere where there is a real risk of not getting what you want exactly 11 months out many times of the year (the risk also exists for AKV value and BLT standard but only for a quite short time of year, mostly in Dec). There are 5 2BR lock-offs for a potential of 10 rooms total, five 1BRs and five studios, and one of the 2BRs is an HA unit.

Because others are reserving your start time shortly before you do when they are arriving shortly before you do, you can often find that your start date and even some days thereafter are already gone even if you go on-line to make a reservation at 8 a.m. exactly 11 months out from your intended date of arrival. As a result, you may want to consider walking that reservation if you can find a start date to begin the walk that is three to five days before your desired arrival date.

 

[jimim]

It may depend on when you start your reservation. If you start it on Sunday, you might miss out. You might need to "walk" the reservation. There are only five studios and some of them might be reserved as part of a two bedroom villa.

So when u say walk it I mean prob start out further than what I a really plan on staying and cx as the days go on to cover is for the week we a trial want?

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[drusba]

Walking example: your desired arrival date is Saturday, May 24, 2014. On June 18, 2013, you reserve May 18 to 25, 2014, capturing your first desired night, May 24. The next day, June 19, 2013 you call and drop May 18, 2014 and add the night of May 25, with May 26 as your new departure date. You can continue that exercise daily until you have May 24-31. Some believe it is not necessary to call and make the change daily because once you lock in a room no one can get that particular room for the nights you already have and thus theoretically you can wait until June 24 to make your second call and reserve all the nights you actually want. I personally disagree with that theory because DVD may have extra rooms designated for non-use for some minor rehabs or other servicing some of the nights of your trip and you don't want to risk being blocked out for that reason.

Also, for that first reservation, for whatever date you start, I advised that you become very familiar with how to do a reserrvation on line. The daily changes after making the initial reservation have to be done by phone, but you should do an on-line reservation for the first block of dates you get. The reason: on-line reservations begin at 8 eastern while you cannot call until 9. For AKV concierge, I have seen on a number of occassions 11 months out rooms that are available disappear betwen 8 and 9 a.m. eastern.

 

[jimim]

You can reserve up to 7 nights 11 months out. Thus, you can start seeing on-line whether the first night of your trip is avaialble six days before you actually go. You may want to seriously consider walking the reservation. I have been tracking AKV's 11 month window for concierge for some time. It is the only room class of rooms I have found anywhere where there is a real risk of not getting what you want exactly 11 months out many times of the year (the risk also exists for AKV value and BLT standard but only for a quite short time of year, mostly in Dec). There are 5 2BR lock-offs for a potential of 10 rooms total, five 1BRs and five studios, and one of the 2BRs is an HA unit.

Because others are reserving your start time shortly before you do when they are arriving shortly before you do, you can often find that your start date and even some days thereafter are already gone even if you go on-line to make a reservation at 8 a.m. exactly 11 months out from your intended date of arrival. As a result, you may want to consider walking that reservation if you can find a start date to begin the walk that is three to five days before you arrive.

That's the part I don't understand if I start 3 days earlier how do I then get rid of them when I get the week I actually want? I will have say 3 earlier days that I do t want. So I need 3 days past the 7 days which is 3 days early. I thought u can't add one day at a time each day without cx the whole week first?

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[drusba]

That's the part I don't understand if I start 3 days earlier how do I then get rid of them when I get the week I actually want? I will have say 3 earlier days that I do t want. So I need 3 days past the 7 days which is 3 days early. I thought u can't add one day at a time each day without cx the whole week first?

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See my second post above. After making a reservation you can call daily and drop a day at beginng and add a day at the end. Example: reserve on June 21, 2013 the time May 21-28, 2014; on June 22, you can call and drop May 21 and add night so new departure date is May 29 and reservation is now May 22-29; on June 23, you can call and drop May 22 and add night to make new departure date May 30; on June 24, you can call and drop May 23 and add new night to get a May 31 departure date, leaving you with the reservation you wanted in the first place, May 24-31.

When changing a reservation, you keep the same reservation when all you do is drop or add days at beginning or end of reservation. You lose all of the prior reservation only if you want to drop days in the middle of the reservation or change resorts or room categories (view or size).

 

[jimim]

See my second post above. After making a reservation you can call daily and drop a day at beginng and add a day at the end. Example: reserve on June 21, 2013 the time May 21-28, 2014; on June 22, you can call and drop May 21 and add night so new departure date is May 29 and reservation is now May 22-29; on June 23, you can call and drop May 22 and add night to make new departure date May 30; on June 24, you can call and drop May 23 and add new night to get a May 31 departure date, leaving you with the reservation you wanted in the first place, May 24-31.

When changing a reservation, you keep the same reservation when all you do is drop or add days at beginning or end of reservation. You lose all of the prior reservation only if you want to drop days in the middle of the reservation or change resorts or room categories (view or size).

Thanks for all the info. Very helpful.

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[mopee3]

It may depend on when you start your reservation. If you start it on Sunday, you might miss out. You might need to "walk" the reservation. There are only five studios and some of them might be reserved as part of a two bedroom villa.

For studios you will have to "walk" the reservation and be on line at 8 am EDT sharp! I have found, like others, the studios and hence the 2 bedrooms are gone by 9 am most of the time even at 11 months.
But if you afford the points for a one bedroom you can get them later. The 1 bedroom side of the 2 bed room walk off are much easier to book.



Moe

 

[Happy99]

we booked AKL 2 bedroom club level for NYE 2013. I booked it at 8am online exactly at the 11 month window opened up. I had been watching it for two weeks but every day the first day wasn't available and I couldn't reserve it / walk it. I didn't think I had a chance but I was able to get it at exactly 8am eastern time of my 11month window for the dates wanted

 

[jimim]

we booked AKL 2 bedroom club level for NYE 2013. I booked it at 8am online exactly at the 11 month window opened up. I had been watching it for two weeks but every day the first day wasn't available and I couldn't reserve it / walk it. I didn't think I had a chance but I was able to get it at exactly 8am eastern time of my 11month window for the dates wanted

How can u watch it. I thought u can only see from the 11 month window of tha day and backwards? When I tired to look at dates further than my 11 month window today I couldn't select dates

i'm on the site now and can only see for 2/28 to march 7th. i cant see further so there in no way to really watch future inventory
Jimi

 

[Deb & Bill]

How can u watch it. I thought u can only see from the 11 month window of tha day and backwards? When I tired to look at dates further than my 11 month window today I couldn't select dates

i'm on the site now and can only see for 2/28 to march 7th. i cant see further so there in no way to really watch future inventory
Jimi

If you are going May 25, you normally book your home resort on June 25. But if you want to walk it, start checking each morning when online booking opens for the day about a week or two early. So about June 10 or so, you check the website. If it looks like it will be hard to get, you start walking as soon as you can. Then each morning you call MS to drop the first day and add the last day until you have the days you need.

 

[jimim]

If you are going May 25, you normally book your home resort on June 25. But if you want to walk it, start checking each morning when online booking opens for the day about a week or two early. So about June 10 or so, you check the website. If it looks like it will be hard to get, you start walking as soon as you can. Then each morning you call MS to drop the first day and add the last day until you have the days you need.

Ok totally got it now. What a pita! Lol

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[Best Aunt]

Great thread, good explanations.

 

[Hollymom1229]

We have a studio for a week at AKV-Club Level this December, and it's the only reservation I have ever stressed over getting. I messed up and failed to try until 9 AM on my 11 month mark and the room was already gone. I waitlisted and then watched the site like a hawk. Everytime a night would come available I would book it and adjust my waitlist, after about two weeks I got the whole week, but it was a stressful mess.

 

[jimim]

We have a studio for a week at AKV-Club Level this December, and it's the only reservation I have ever stressed over getting. I messed up and failed to try until 9 AM on my 11 month mark and the room was already gone. I waitlisted and then watched the site like a hawk. Everytime a night would come available I would book it and adjust my waitlist, after about two weeks I got the whole week, but it was a stressful mess.

Oh ya cause if u wait list they don't fulfill ot unless the whole week frees up. That's why u had to watch it still?

 

[Hollymom1229]

Oh ya cause if u wait list they don't fulfill ot unless the whole week frees up. That's why u had to watch it still?

Exactly, if I was waitlisted for the whole week they would only fulfill it if the whole week came available. This way I was able to book individual nights as they came available and had a two different waitlists come through. One was for the first night, and the other was for the last two nights.

 

[Sandisw]

Just one piece...once you capture your first night via the walking, you do not have to call daily to add and. You can make one call to MS on the day before your initial first day and add/drop a bunch of days.

For example, on June 18th, you book May 18th through May 25th since May 24th is your target start date and this reservation captures that night. On June 24th, you call drop the day at the front end and then add the ones you really want. As along as you call before June 25th, the first day someone can book the room you have reserved, you will be guaranteed to get the room.

There is no need to make daily calls to MS>