Animal Kingdom Lodge Partial closer till Sept. 1

[PrejeanPrincess]

I called CRO today around 2 pm. CST and the CM told me they were not aware of AKL closing. Is a matter of fact, he said he just booked a stay for AKL this morning. He also said he personally had ADRs for Boma for this Monday night. So, then I called AKL directly and the CMs there were not aware of any temporary closing either.

I guess, for those of us staying at AKL in the near future, we get to sit and wait for the phone to ring, or not. It seems the only people who really know they are moving people around are the actual CM calling the guests. I guess Disney does not want to start mass confusion / hysteria by telling all CMs what they are doing.

If anyone get further information, please keep us all posted.

BTW, congrats to all who have taken upgrades to the different resorts, I am sure all your vacations will be magical.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

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!

You do realise that WL IS a DELUXE? It costs exactly the same as AK and looks out to the MK and the castle.

 

[ducklite]

You do realise that WL IS a DELUXE? It costs exactly the same as AK and looks out to the MK and the castle.

WL doesn't look out at the MK and the castle. not sure where you got that idea from. While you can see some of the fireworks from some of the rooms, there are no rooms with a castle view.

Anne

 

[Irishhockey]

WL doesn't look out at the MK and the castle. not sure where you got that idea from. While you can see some of the fireworks from some of the rooms, there are no rooms with a castle view.

Anne

Well I might slightly disagree... but politely of course

Actually there are in fact rooms that do have a partial view of the castle, not so much the magic kingdom entirely though. The view can be seen through the brush of trees and the monorail can be scene as well. Only a handful of rooms have this view though and it is a fluke scenerio. As ducklite said though, the resort does not overlook the Magic Kingdom like the other MK resorts do.

Wilderness Lodge "Woods View" -- Room #: 5032:

 

[kim]

Where did you get your information from??? We're checking in tomorrow at AKL.

kim????? ?????????????

 

[cocowum]

WL doesn't look out at the MK and the castle. not sure where you got that idea from. While you can see some of the fireworks from some of the rooms, there are no rooms with a castle view.

Anne

Taken from a WL thread

All I can say...What a GREAT TRIP!
I can't imagine being in any other resort @ Disney for Christmas, it is beautiful!
We arrived around noon and DH and DS thought we were staying at PoP, DH almost made the turn, I told him I had to go to WL first to try to make dinner ressies(yea right). Boy you should had seen the surprise on both their faces when I told them we were staying here.

Upon arrival, we were upgraded to a woods view...A CASTLE VIEW! We had a corner room facing the Castle, the pond and a partial view of bay lake(Room 4034). Since it was a corner room view, we had a partial view of the service area, but it wasn't much and we loved it.

I will post more about our trip soon.

Here are some pics upon arrival:

Pic of our Castle View Room, looking straight:

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I wonder if BOMA is still going to be open???

This had not crossed my mind. We are staying at CBR, but have a dinner ressie at Boma on 8/29. I wonder if they're hoping the construction will pretty much be completed by the end of August?

 

[ducklite]

OK, I stand corrected on rooms looking at the castle--although I still contend that you can't see the MK like you can from the Polynesian, CR, and GF. I'm assuming that was a top floor room in the photo?

How many rooms are there that would have a partial castle view? I"m assuming getting one is luck of the draw?

Anne

 

[stephbillalec]

You do realise that WL IS a DELUXE? It costs exactly the same as AK and looks out to the MK and the castle.

Yes, I know WL is a deluxe. We weren't interested in that one. Especially at the same price as AKL. I asked if we could have applied the BUL code and gotten it for $140 per night and then we would have taken it. However, it was a no go so we went with SSR. Financially, it's a much better deal.
Plus, we like the zero entry pool ~ a definite plus for our family and the CM couldn't confirm if WL had one or not.

 

[Minnie]

Just so that peeps don't get confused....

Although the pic that has been quoted is not my own we had basically that same view 2 yrs ago. That is a HIGHLY zoomed in picture. That is not what you will see when you step out on the balcony. And Ducklite is right that it is a very slim chance of seeing the castle at all from the WL.

Yes it is a deluxe resort and one of our faves. However it is not exactly the same price depending on which view you paid for at the AKL and in MOST cases you cannot see the MK from the WL.

It is a fantastic resort but not for the reason of "seeing the castle."

Personally, if I had booked AKL and got told they were sending me to SSR I'd be ticked. I think that they took the ressies and should provide alternative options as the guest would prefer based on availability be that at the WL or the GF. This is not something that Disney wasn't aware of such as a flooding at a resot. This is construction and they do have options. This is there choice and should compensate guests fairly for their choice. Providng the SSR as a comp is not a fair IMO - as always your mileage may very

 

[keliblue]

 

[mcgypsy]

I am checking into AKL on July 13th. I called last week when I saw threads about folks being asked to move. I was told that floors 4-6 would be closed. The concierge lounge is being moved into the presidential suite. People staying concierge who have a sunrise and/or sunset safari scheduled are not currently being asked to move. I volunteered to move to save $ if I could still do the safari, and they would provide the transporation to get me to the sunrise safari on time, and was told that it would not be necessary. I have an ADR for Boma and was assured that it would be open and funtioning normally.

All of that said, I am still expecting the phone to ring any minute with someone telling me that I have to move. I won't be very happy as we only booked there to be able to do the safari and that would be out if we move. However, I was thinking of booking next year's stay for there while I'm at Disney and asking for a break on the $ because of the inconvenience if we do have to move! I say - roll with it and use it to your advantage!

 

[simonkodousek]

Wow, I am very glad I didn't book there! I had no idea about the construction until after we booked the Poly.

AKL was our #1 choice, but our TA got us a VERY good deal on the Poly MK View (~$240.00/night) so we booked that instead.

~Simon

 

[kim]

I just called and was transferred by a very nice CM to another area that was handling the AKL issues. She informed me that they were open, and had not closed the resort down. All restaurants were open their normal hours and bus service has not been interrupted. We are arriving tomorrow.

She did advise me that construction was going on during the day, but not at night as we all have already read. She did offer to move me to another resort if we were concerned that this would affect our stay.

I didn't ask which resort she would offer, as we really like AKL. Hopefully all will be fine when we check in tomorrow.

kim

 

[John's Mom]

Kim,

Relax and enjoy the Animal Kingdom Lodge!

 

[tnkrbell]

I just made ressies for Bomas in a couple weeks!! hmmmm??!! They didnt mention it being closed. I wonder if they will call those with dining ressies??

 

[mcgypsy]

I just called AKL too, but before I go into that I just wanted to mention that Mousesavers has taken that info off their website in the last few minutes...

The CM I spoke to told me not to worry..He said just like the other one had that only floors 4-6 are closed. He also said that if there was a problem in the next few days that necessitated my moving we would be transported to the sunrise safari courtesy of Disney and would be compensated for the inconvenience.

I'm just gonna hold my breath and hope for the best I guess!

 

[wdw4pwe]

We called based on info here and were switched to "a special number" by original CM who would not confirm or deny AKL closing. On hold for quite some time and then offered SSR for 120/night. Refused, absolutely not, but we could NOT stay at AKL as there had been an "executive tour of AKL and decision construction was way behind schedule, so close it." We held our ground and were finally given POLY as a substitute.


CM said animals are being moved, there is an expectation that AKL may not reopen until December (!), although the pool and restaurants will remain open.

CM was very nice considering they are looking at making lots of calls to fix this.

We are sad not to get AKL but we wound up there in November 2001 after POFQ was closed. That turned out great for us so hopefully this will too.

Good luck to everyone and pixie dust to all as well!

 

[SB in KY]

We are booked at AKL for Kilimanjaro Club (concierge) the first weekend in August. I called about 15 minutes ago and a very nice CM took our info, said they had recieved an "update a couple of hours ago about what to do with calls from guests with AKL reservations" she read the update and then connected me to the "special number" which got me another very nice CM (that is unusual in itself to get 2 knowledgable, competent people at CRO!!), who was handling AKL relocations exclusively (noe if that poor woman doesn't have the job from you know where, I do not know who does!!), then she pulled our ressies and said the Kilamanjaro Club rooms were not being relocated. They were on the other side of the hotel from the interior construction and would remain in the AKL...guess I will take my chances and hope they were correct. She said your room code determines whether or not you will be relocated and for whatever our room code was the answer was no, we did not need to be relocated.

In spite of the construction it might be nice to be in a half empty resort (no lines at Mara or for buses, chairs by the pool, etc)...

This is just the weekend between 2 DVC weeks at OKW and BCV for us this trip...we love the AKL concierge so it was to be a treat for the family (we were going to do the sunrise safari too), but if it doesn't happen we will go someplace else...not the end of the world either way....there is always next year!! I called because I figured our options of places to stay might be greater now than later when they called us...but on line the only place with concierge availablility that weekend was GF anyways.

Ahhh nothing like a few unforseen events to throw us obsessive planners into commando mode!!

 

[kim]

I plan to have a great time--AKL here we come.

kim
(I am now packed, and ready!)