Animal Kingdom Lodge Partial closer till Sept. 1

[mickeysaver]

When is your birthday? Mine is October 26th and I am staying at the AKL. I am keeping it in hopes they won't call. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

November 2nd for me. I am thrilled to be able to be at WDW on my 40th. I hope that all will be well at AKL for your visit and that you have a wonderful trip too! Maggie

 

[Brave teacher]

lShe has also taken movie footage to show the noise levels & they were incredibly loud, banging and a loud drilling noise which she filmed walking down one of the corridors on the 4th floor towards reception where it was loudest, she also went down to Boma and said she could hear it clearly in there too.
This was around the middle of the day so I guess if you are out at the parks all day you might be ok if not it could be unpleasant.

Our trip is not planned to happen until February 2nd, but this is the very reason why my DH and I decided this week that it might be best for us to wait until the construction is over to be able to enjoy this resort. We want our kids to be able to enjoy the animals outside without the construction noise. We were also concerned because our youngest will be 17 months old at the time and still be taking afternoon naps. There is nothing that would upset me more than a cranky boy throughout the whole trip because it's too noisy to take a nap.

We have decided to be proactive in our planning and decided to stay at either WL or the Poly. We plan to stay at AKL the following February instead.

 

[mizlady]

We had 2 rooms booked for AKL July 9-17. We were contacted Friday that we needed to change resorts, and were offered SSR 2 bedroom villa and a $2700 dollar refund. It took us about 3 seconds to decide to take the offer. We have 3 teenage boys, and the full sized refrigerator sounds like a very nice thing to have. We still plan on staying at AKL some day, but this seemed like a very good deal to us for right now.

Paula

 

[grannyminnie]

Wow, mizlady! Sounds like a deal to me!!! With that extra $$$, you can either pay for all your incidental expenses or bank it for your future AKL stay!!!

 

[CTDis4]

l have been reading this thread with interest, we are due to go to the AKL on 3rd October, we were unaware of the construction when we booked with a ta last year. I have been worried as we are planning to spend a lot of time in the resort this holiday as I will be having major knee surgery immediately after the holiday so cannot walk far and was looking forward to lying by the pool & just enjoying the resort.

My daughter returned home from her disney holiday last weekend, she had spent a couple of hours walking around the AKL in her last few days in Orlando and had taken photos of the construction both inside & out.
She has also taken movie footage to show the noise levels & they were incredibly loud, banging and a loud drilling noise which she filmed walking down one of the corridors on the 4th floor towards reception where it was loudest, she also went down to Boma and said she could hear it clearly in there too.
This was around the middle of the day so I guess if you are out at the parks all day you might be ok if not it could be unpleasant.

We are going in December and staying Club level. It's my reward to myself after (August 30th) a complete knee replacement. Hoping everything is cleared up by then. I'll keep my fingers crossed that construction in the main building is done by your trip and good luck with your surgery.

 

[d-hlaw]

I cant help but feel resentful towards the DVC and all of the inconvienance that this is causing. They are getting a whole new lodge next year and they need the top 2 floors of the existing lodge, cancelling reservations too?? Listen Disney, if you want to turn the resorts into timeshares than fine...... count my $$ out. I am sure there plenty of other people that feel the same way. I spend plenty on an annual basis at WDW but I dont like feeling as though I have to buy DVC in order to not be inconvienanced. Big thumbs down for such a bad idea.........

 

[mprewitt]

I cant help but feel resentful towards the DVC and all of the inconvienance that this is causing. They are getting a whole new lodge next year and they need the top 2 floors of the existing lodge, cancelling reservations too?? Listen Disney, if you want to turn the resorts into timeshares than fine...... count my $$ out. I am sure there plenty of other people that feel the same way. I spend plenty on an annual basis at WDW but I dont like feeling as though I have to buy DVC in order to not be inconvienanced. Big thumbs down for such a bad idea.........

Unfortunately, the AKL wasn't filling up with cash-paying customers. It seemed like AKL was the deluxe you could always find a room in. Disney wasn't going to sit around and let that continue. They make the decision to convert part of the AKL into AKV.

As for the construction, I think Disney made the right choice. The construction noise was impacting guests more than Disney wanted, so they moved guests to other resorts (in many cases giving partial refunds or upgrading guests to more expensive accomodations).

 

[PEANUT1]

We are staying at AKV in October and I am not worried in the least about the noise level. I'll just be happy to be in Disney.

 

[TheLastPrincess]

We are staying at AKL in a standard room for our honeymoon 9/14-23. Anyone know if the construction will be OVER by then, or is there a possibility that we might be transferred to another resort? Should I call and ask? I'm afraid to call and ask because I'm sure they're probably getting flooded with questions, and besides, I wouldn't know who to call besides the 401-WDISNEY number. If anyone could give me some help or advice, I'd be most grateful.

 

[pilferk]

Unfortunately, the AKL wasn't filling up with cash-paying customers. It seemed like AKL was the deluxe you could always find a room in. Disney wasn't going to sit around and let that continue. They make the decision to convert part of the AKL into AKV.

As for the construction, I think Disney made the right choice. The construction noise was impacting guests more than Disney wanted, so they moved guests to other resorts (in many cases giving partial refunds or upgrading guests to more expensive accomodations).

Couldn't have said it better, myself.

Two other quick points: DVC was ALWAYS planned for AKL....maybe not in this specific manner, but it was always part of the plan. During construction of the original resort, all the prep work/utility prep/etc was done to support DVC.

Second, to poster you responded to: The new builiding is actually closer to 2 years away, not one. That, from reports, is one of the reasons for the Jambo conversion...to ensure that DVC has something to sell over the next couple of years, since SSR is closing in on sell-out. That, combined with (as mprewitt said) lower than optimal occupancy rates (especially in the deluxe rooms, from the reports), meant the existing lodge was a prime candidate for the conversion.

I understand many people don't like the inconvenience that's being brought on by the construction. Obviously, Disney didn't set out with this result in mind...it obviously wasn't their intention to have to relocate and give huge refunds to guests. But I agree with mprewitt. Disney is doing this right and making sure guests are satisfied.

 

[Cass]

We are staying at AKL in a standard room for our honeymoon 9/14-23.

Isnt' that your wedding photo in your siggie?

 

[TheLastPrincess]

Isnt' that your wedding photo in your siggie?

Yessssss....we got married a month ago but we are waiting to take our honeymoon until September for a number of reasons, like free dining, etc.

 

[Cass]

Ahhh, I see! so what did you do right after your wedding, just go to work?

 

[TheLastPrincess]

Ahhh, I see! so what did you do right after your wedding, just go to work?

No, we took a short trip to a log cabin a few hours away. And then we went back to work. But we consider our 10-day trip to WDW our official honeymoon. We wanted to wait because:

1) Free Dining. You just can't beat it.
2) My DH just started a new job and didn't want to take off right away.
3) The CM who arranged my DH's proposal at the MK will be there (he only works there seasonally) and he wanted to see us again, as he did not even get to meet my DH.

But I'm really concerned about the AKL. We can't afford to switch to another resort (and we don't want to lose our free dining). But I'm afraid the construction will bother us. I wish I knew what we could do. Anyone have the number for Guest Services?

 

[Cass]

To be honest with you, if they plan to open Sept 1, then I expect you will be fine. By August they will know if there will be more delays and they will have to assist you with alternative accommodation, so don't worry

I think you will be okay though, by entirely closing AKL they can really go to town on the construction, and get so much more done than working around guests on the property.

 

[jhryb]

I am currently booked in a Pool View room (not a bunkbed room) at the AKL from Aug 12 - 26th. Do you think I will be asked to move? The main reason we wanted to stay at AKL was because of the Animals. I don't think I want to stay there if the animals are not going to be around as much. I am booked on a Disney Cruise on August 26 (with transfers from the Resort to Port). There are only transfers from a few of the resorts, so I would need to be moved to either the Poly, GF or BC. I would be happy with any of those options. I booked my vacation last year because I like having things well planned. This is driving me crazy. My TA is on Vacation and Disney will not talk to me directly. I want to know where I will be staying so I can change a few of my dining reservations before it is too late.

 

[Nancyg56]

While our stay isn't until the end of October, I really was thrilled that AKL was an option because it's my dream resort. With all of the initial rumblings about construction, I got cold feet and decided that we could wait and keep the dream resort a dream for a bit longer. I would hate to have my stay ruined by construction noise or spooked animals. Also, this is my birthday trip, so I wanted it to be special.

We ended up proactively switching over to OKW and shaved a day off of our stay and took another night at the Hilton Garden Inn (FREE thanks to Gabby's reward points from work!) before we arrive at WDW. I have become excited about staying at a DVC resort in a one bedroom suite, but I was seriously bummed in the beginning though.

I am looking forward to a relaxing vacation with no worries. I am hoping that everyone that is being asked to switch can quickly make peace with the change and embrace the challenge of staying somewhere new. Maggie

We made the same decision that you did. DD and DSIL are taking their DD for her 6th birthday in the middle of October and invited me along. We really wanted AKL but I am not good with glitches and my DD is worse, so we decided that we would go to CBR this time, save the money and use it another time. AKL is beautiful and tranquil and I'm almost sure that it would have been fine, but we were not willing to take the chance.

I'll admit that hearing that some folks are being upgraded to the BC had e thinking we should have taken our chances........Just kidding. I also think that you are going to love a suite.

 

[eliza61]

I cant help but feel resentful towards the DVC and all of the inconvienance that this is causing. They are getting a whole new lodge next year and they need the top 2 floors of the existing lodge, cancelling reservations too?? Listen Disney, if you want to turn the resorts into timeshares than fine...... count my $$ out. I am sure there plenty of other people that feel the same way. I spend plenty on an annual basis at WDW but I dont like feeling as though I have to buy DVC in order to not be inconvienanced. Big thumbs down for such a bad idea.........

OK let's not lose perspective here.
It's not really a bad idea. They closed the haunted mansion for rehab during the summer and folks were mad about that. Unfortunately adding/maintaining any property involves construction and as much as any one would love to be able to predict how construction will go, it's impossible! Just ask anyone who has had a kitchen remodeled. AKL is temporarily experiencing a set back, they are not turning the entire resort into a time share and you certainly don't have to become a DVC member to enjoy the magic.

To all the disney Brides,
Congratulations and enjoy your honeymoon where ever you stay. Try not to stress about making it "perfect". It already is perfect, you're marrying the man of your dreams. Enjoy the magic that you two will make where ever you park for the night.
I say this as a women who got stuck on a cruise ship in the middle of the western carribean during a hurricane, 25 years later still stuck to my dh.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Has anyone heard any confirmation of this report by Disney? Has Disney ever closed a resort before? Any is the resort really fully closed as the report seems to imply, or only partially closed??

YES. Our first Disney trip EVER -- was after 9/11. We were booked and paid in advance at French Quarter (PO). They called and said we needed to pick another resort........there were too many people who had cancelled their travel so we needed to move so they could close FQPO.

We had taken about 6 months to pick a resort and plan for our vacation -- down to the last detail. We were not too happy but understood and the vacation was fun anyway. OUr kids were sad we didn't get the "dragon" slide though!

It has happened.

 

[eliza61]

But I'm really concerned about the AKL. We can't afford to switch to another resort (and we don't want to lose our free dining). But I'm afraid the construction will bother us. I wish I knew what we could do. Anyone have the number for Guest Services?

Try 1-407-824-2222 Ask for guest services or they can connect you to AKL where you can ask for the general manager. You may have to call a few times.
Good luck with your decision.