Animal Kingdom Lodge Partial closer till Sept. 1

[keliblue]

According to a reliable source, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World will be essentially closed for guests from now until Sept 1, 2007. (This date is subject to change.)
The temporary closure is due to disruption caused by the construction of Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas units within the main structure of the Lodge. Apparently the disruption was greater than anticipated and Disney has decided to move guests rather than inconvenience them during their stays.

Disney is calling guests who are currently booked at the Lodge in chronological order to assist them with moving to another resort. Guests have been offered rooms at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and at various Disney Deluxe resorts for the same price they were paying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Each case is handled differently, based on the room type booked and availability at other resorts for the dates in question.
If you booked through a travel agency, your travel agent will receive the call and will contact you with options.

It is believed that the restaurants will remain open but perhaps with limited hours.
I will post more information as it becomes available.

 

[ToyStory]

Wow! I am glad I decided not to book our trip there.

I hope all the are effected get accomadations that they would like.

 

[pooksma]

Just want to say that if this happens to us-I WILL NOT BE HAPPY!!!

 

[stephbillalec]

We were booked for AKL in August. We got the call yesterday I was given two options...move to WL for the same AAA rate ($182 per night) or move to a one bedroom villa at SSR for the bargain price of ($107 per night). I wasn't too thrilled with either option and asked repeatedly for another deluxe...but none were available. I checked the website, too, and there was no availability anywhere. I hope the crowds aren't too bad! So we decided to save money and take SSR. We'll be getting over a $700 credit ~ not too shabby. But I'm still heartbroken about AKL. At least the pool at SSR looks good. I'm glad it has zero entry, a plus with a two year old!

 

[dcr]

We just checked out a few hours ago and that would be news to the people that we passed who were checking in!

Other than a few noises (and I mean few), there is currently no disruption. Don't know about future construction, but it was quiet for the past 8 days, and lots of people were checking in this morning.

 

[catalexander]

I think it's great that Disney is being proactive and trying to make their guests' stay as pleasant as possible.

It amazes me what people will get upset about... would you rather stay at AKL and be disrupted by construction (and not experience the animals due to said construction).... or would you rather Disney call you and try to be proactive about a situation they believe will make a guest unhappy?

We LOVE AKL.... and while we would be *slightly* disappointed if we were booked there and had to move, I'd been even UNHAPPIER if we were allowed to stay and have a less than wonderful stay due to construction!

Sometimes, even when Disney tries to "make it right" it seems like people are STILL unhappy.

 

[pooksma]

Cat-

I hope you understand that in our case, we've never stayed there before and it has always been our "dream resort". While I too applaud Disney's being proactive, it would be disappointing when you've been hoping to surprise your child with this. Not trying to be rude, just expressing MHO.

 

[CarolMN]

We just checked out a few hours ago and that would be news to the people that we passed who were checking in!

Other than a few noises (and I mean few), there is currently no disruption. Don't know about future construction, but it was quiet for the past 8 days, and lots of people were checking in this morning.

This makes me wonder if Disney is planning on accelerating the construction so that they can be completely done in the Lodge Building by September 1.

There have already been reports of the construction being ahead of schedule. There have also been reports that they have had to delay some sales because there aren't enough units ready for occupancy to support them.

 

[keliblue]

This makes me wonder if Disney is planning on accelerating the construction so that they can be completely done in the Lodge Building by September 1.

There have already been reports of the construction being ahead of schedule. There have also been reports that they have had to delay some sales because there aren't enough units ready for occupancy to support them.

Hmmmm Supply and Demand.. makes sense to me... I do feel for those that are being moved thou it's hard when you have poured over resorts for months to find your perfect fit and then have to move.. Pixie dust to all.. make the magic happen

 

[zalansky]

We were booked for AKL in August. We got the call yesterday I was given two options...move to WL for the same AAA rate ($182 per night) or move to a one bedroom villa at SSR for the bargain price of ($107 per night). I wasn't too thrilled with either option and asked repeatedly for another deluxe...but none were available. I checked the website, too, and there was no availability anywhere. I hope the crowds aren't too bad! So we decided to save money and take SSR. We'll be getting over a $700 credit ~ not too shabby. But I'm still heartbroken about AKL. At least the pool at SSR looks good. I'm glad it has zero entry, a plus with a two year old!

Your two year old will also love the quiet pool, there is a water spray play area with horses that shoot water out at the kids. Its great, you may just really love SSR.

 

[mprewitt]

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??

 

[crazy4wdw]

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??

Port Orleans French Quarter was closed after the downturn in tourism occurred after 9/11. I can't remember exactly how long the resort was closed down - maybe 9 to 12 months?

 

[keliblue]

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??

we have already heard from some that they have been contacted and moved. If "I" had a ressie in the time frame indicated, I would be on the phone with a CM to find out..

 

[Snookies]

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??

WDW has closed resorts and portions of resorts before. Port Orleans French Quarter was closed completely after 9/11. Guests booked there were accomodated elsewhere. During a number of trips to Port-Orleans Riverside, I've observed Magnolia Bend effectively closed or entire areas within Alligator Bayou effectively closed. By effectively, I mean that the entire area was empty, with all guests being checked into other areas.

 

[stephbillalec]

Your two year old will also love the quiet pool, there is a water spray play area with horses that shoot water out at the kids. Its great, you may just really love SSR.

Thanks! I also have a 7 year old and a 4 year old. I just showed them pics of the pool area and they were pretty excited. They just want to go to Disney! I don't know too much about SSR yet but everything I've read about has seemed pretty good. We definately can't beat the deal they gave us. We didn't get our dream resort but at least the new price tag made us smile

As for the resort being fully closed...when I talked to the CM yesterday, she stated that we had NO CHOICE but to move and that the "majority of the rooms would be shut down at AKL" during our time frame.

 

[Scraper]

We were booked for AKL in August. We got the call yesterday I was given two options...move to WL for the same AAA rate ($182 per night) or move to a one bedroom villa at SSR for the bargain price of ($107 per night). I wasn't too thrilled with either option and asked repeatedly for another deluxe...but none were available. I checked the website, too, and there was no availability anywhere. I hope the crowds aren't too bad! So we decided to save money and take SSR. We'll be getting over a $700 credit ~ not too shabby. But I'm still heartbroken about AKL. At least the pool at SSR looks good. I'm glad it has zero entry, a plus with a two year old!

It's a nice resort. take some time to enjoy the large geese and ducks also there are some very large fish which my step kids loved to feed from the bridge.

 

[catalexander]

pooksma-
I'm sorry... I really wasn't trying to sound snippy or rude... I was trying (not well, I guess) to put a positive spin on a difficult situation.

I just think that it's a good thing that Disney is stepping up and saying: look, we recognize that this resort isn't up to our guests standards right now, so let's do something about it.

Plus, some people are getting pretty great deals, to boot.

That's all I meant, and I'm sorry if I didn't say them well.

I hope ya'll have a *magical* trip!

Cat

 

[pooksma]

thanks Cat and I also apologise if I was snappy-Im such an OCD when I plan that this is freaking me out. That and the fact that Dh is saying he will only stay at certain other options. Who knew someone whose been twice could become a resort snob!

Ta!

 

[cocowum]

I got the call a few days ago, I was offered SSR and turned it down. Said I'd take my chances with AKL. They then offered me BC, boy am I glad I took it, while I still had the choice! I wonder if BOMA is still going to be open???

 

[jmom]

Ok, so now I'm really confused! We're staying at AKL in under 4 weeks and have not been contacted. Further, I rang a couple of days ago and the CM assured me that AKL was functioning pretty much as 'normal' apart from the construction stuff during the day. Should I try again? We're only staying for the weekend, do you think that's why we've not been contacted?