Animal Kingdom Lodge -DVC

[jayduk]

It's my other halfs birthday on the 23rd Sept whilst we're out there. For the entire trip we're staying in a hotel on I-Drive which was nice and cheap. We plan on a chill out day on the 22nd so that we can make the most of her birthday and spend all day in Animal Kingdom, we then have a ADR at Rainforest Cafe and then we may go for a trip to DD to spend her Birthday card or we might head to a park that might be open late with fireworks (like Epcot)...see how we feel on the day.
I've been toying with a number of ideas for her birthday. My latest... Booking one night in the Animal Kingdom Lodge (night of 22nd). I think it would be cool to go for a drive and suddenly turn up at the hotel, spend the day enjoying the pool etc and then she can wake up to an amazing view of the savanna on her birthday. One problem, it's like £200 for one night!!...Does anyone know of any offers or anything i might be able to take advantage of? Or book it cheaper? Do last minute deals exist at WDW?
If not i'll have to think of something else that she won't expect....hmmm

 

[gemmybear83]

That sounds like a lovely idea! Try a few different hotel booking websites, I managed to book a room at WL for about a third cheaper than the UK and US sites - and got a better view

What about booking a cake for her birthday? You can do it at the disney restaurants, you can phone up Rainforest Cafe and see what they offer?

 

[karentan]

the other (and very much cheaper option) is to rent points off a DVC member, we're doing this for this trip through a DVC member we found on the rent/trade boards here on the disboards. i've just checked the points charts, and for the night of the 22nd, for a savannah view room it'd cost you (assuming an average cost of $10 a point), a whopping $110

 

[jayduk]

the other (and very much cheaper option) is to rent points off a DVC member, we're doing this for this trip through a DVC member we found on the rent/trade boards here on the disboards. i've just checked the points charts, and for the night of the 22nd, for a savannah view room it'd cost you (assuming an average cost of $10 a point), a whopping $110

Wow! $110! Cool, how does this work? I've not come across DVC member points, no idea what it is?...

I did wonder about getting a cake to come out...we are big fans of the Eruption desert at the Rainforest Cafe so we'll probably get that and i was thinking about telling a waiter/waitress that it her birthday and maybe they could sing happy birthday when they bring it out!!!

 

[torsie24]

Have you checked Expedia? I think thye've had some good deals lately. I don't think you'll beat the DVC $110 though!!

 

[karentan]

here's a good thread to read to get you started:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1709083

 

[jayduk]

Thanks!!! So if i post on there that i want one night on the 22nd at the Animal Kingdom lodge i can strike a deal with someone who will book it with their collected points and they will send me their confirmation etc for my arrival on the day?
So it's kinda like buying someones Tesco Clubcard points to use on a day out for your family? Allowing someone to have money rather than points and a family to have a cheaper than usual day out??

 

[karentan]

basically yes. you're renting the DVC points from a member who for whatever reason, cant use them themselves. instead of letting them go to waste they'll rent them out.
if you ask the DVC member, once its booked, they'll forward you the DVC confirmation with your reservation number, name and address on, as well as your reservation details.
you'll need to read the posting rules on the DVC rent/trade board before you post, as its a moderated forum and post titles have to meet strict guidelines or they wont get approved.
in the past i've found it more successful to reply to "points for rent", instead of you posting "reservation wanted" posts.

let us know how you get on

 

[jayduk]

basically yes. you're renting the DVC points from a member who for whatever reason, cant use them themselves. instead of letting them go to waste they'll rent them out.
if you ask the DVC member, once its booked, they'll forward you the DVC confirmation with your reservation number, name and address on, as well as your reservation details.
you'll need to read the posting rules on the DVC rent/trade board before you post, as its a moderated forum and post titles have to meet strict guidelines or they wont get approved.
in the past i've found it more successful to reply to "points for rent", instead of you posting "reservation wanted" posts.

let us know how you get on

Thanks!!!

 

[jayduk]

Been looking around, could someone tell me what rooms the DVC get? There doesn't seem to be a clear definition of the room types...i.e there's lodges, studios, 1bed rooms etc...Also, if we stayed on the 22nd for one night only would we be able to take advantage of EMH on the 22nd and 23rd? Finally if we rent a booking from a DVC member can we go on the Breakfast safari thing? Is this free?

Alot of questions i know, i'm just trying to work out if this is worth booking for a surprise and how it will impact our current plans.

 

[karentan]

not sure about the safaris (but i do know you have to pay for them), yes you can get the EMH with DVC bookings, you should be able to get in on both days.
the room type depends on what you book, as does the view you get. there are studios, 1 beds, 2 beds (basically a connecting studio and 1 bed), and grand villas

Studio Accommodations:
Sleeps 4, queen-size bed and full-size sofa bed. Flat panel TV and DVD. Wet bar, small refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker, private balcony.


One-Bedroom Villas:
Value one-bedrooms sleep 4, other categories sleep 5. There is no sleeper chair in the Value category. The Master Bedroom has a king size bed, master bathroom with whirlpool tub. There is a queen-size sofa bed in living room. Flat panel TV and DVD player in living room, flat panel TV in master bedroom. Full kitchen facilities. Laundry area with stackable washer and dryer. Private balcony. Non-value one-bedroom villa is 710 sq.ft.


Two-bedroom Villas:
Five of these rooms are in the value category (945 sq.ft.). Each two-bedroom villa sleeps up to nine. Master bedroom suite with king-size bed. Flat panel TV and DVD player in living room, flat panel TV in master bedroom. Full kitchen facilities. Laundry area with stackable washer and dryer. Private balcony. Non-value two-bedroom villas are 1,075 sq. ft.

Grand Villas - one-story - all have Savanna view. Sleep up to 12.

heres some more info:
http://allears.net/acc/akv.htm
heres a link to photos of the various room types:
http://allears.net/acc/g_aklv.htm

 

[jayduk]

karentan thanks so much for your help!!

One last question...If i book the one nights stay can we take advantage of resort guest benefits such as EMH and free parking on the arrival and check out days??

As we're staying off site i would imagine the plan would be to arrive at AK for rope drop, spend the full day in the park. Then check in at the hotel and freshen up before heading to Epcot for their late EMH. Then on the 24th when we would be checking out in the morning we would be visiting another park for the full day (MK is EMH but i think we would head to another park). So would i be able to get free parking on the 23rd (in the morning before we check in??) and again on the 24th (after checking out)?

If so it's definately a good price because for those two days we'd be spending $24 on parking alone!! I'm close to renting a vacation from a DVC member, i just want to check on the implications this booking would have on our park plan.

Thanks again

 

[karentan]

you need a KTTW card for the free parking, so you probably wont be able to avoid the parking fee on check in day unless you went to the AKV before you went to the park.
EMH and other onsite perks rely on you having the key card to prove you're staying on site. you'd need to check in at the hotel before heading out to the epcot EMH. and resort benefits extend to midnight on check out day.

 

[Becx N Gav]

You should also look at the Club level rooms at AKL they have a lounge with food and beverages that change throughout the day, they do cost more points per night though.
You may find at this late stage they are fully booked (people who own points at AKL can book at 11 months out and other DVC memebers can book 7 months out). But it is worth asking your DVC contact (who you are renting points from) if there are any Club Level rooms, they can enquire when they call member services.

This is such a wonderful treat - I do hope you get it all organised

 

[jayduk]

Excellent, thanks!!!

Probably just take advantage of the Epcot EMH on the 23rd and then free parking on the 24th after we check out in that case.

I'll ask about Club level, the studio savanna room is 11 points so i'm guessing that's not club level. I'll ask for her to check if any are available and how much they are!

Thanks!!

 

[karentan]

club level DVC rooms would be 13 points a night. there's only 5 2-bed rooms available on the DVC club level (these can be split into 5 1-beds and 5 studios). 3 face the sunset savannah and 2 face the pool. you can't guarantee a specific view.

 

[jayduk]

Thanks for all your help!! I've managed to get this booked now through a DVC member

They have sent me the booking number and have said that the paper confirmation should arrive in the post in the next two weeks so hopefully i'll get that before we go out there!!!

The day we check in we haven't got any plans so i'll probably suggest we go for some food somewhere at Disney or i might wrap up something that could relate to AKL and give it to her in the morning. Then enjoy the resort pool and have a walk around the grounds in the afternoon. The day after, when we check out (on her birthday) she wants to go AK (ideal!) then after we have a 5.30pm ADR at Rainforest Cafe. Then it's EMH until midnight so we make take advantage of that (if we can do even though we have checked out???)

Thanks again, any tips for Disney Resort virgins i'd be grateful!!

 

[karentan]

check out the schedule of events at the AKL, they have loads of things on during the day and evening!
have a great time, and hope she likes her surprise!

 

[jayduk]

check out the schedule of events at the AKL, they have loads of things on during the day and evening!
have a great time, and hope she likes her surprise!

Awesome! Is there anywhere to go and view what's on before we arrive?..The WDW website is very difficult to find what your after sometimes (US site is far better!)

Thanks, i hope she likes it too!

 

[karentan]

just did a quick google search and here you go:
they're a bit out of date but it'll give you a rough idea of what to expect

http://www.aklresort.com/content/activities-page-1-0?size=_original
http://www.aklresort.com/content/example-activities-flyer-september-08-back