Animal Kingdom Lodge SHUTDOWN!

[racinjunkie]

I'm due to check in to AKL (Savannah View Bunk Bed Room) on 8/4 and stay until 8/11. My travel documents have arrived at my TA's office and we still haven't been contacted. So we're assuming we'll be able to stay. I believe we're taking our lap top so I should be able to update. Also there's a post in another thread on this topic from someone who just got back from staying at AKL for anyone who's interested in a first hand report of the construction and supposed closings.

 

[housemouse]

We're scheduled to stay from 9/11-9/19. It will be our first time staying on property. All the conflicting info is maddening to say the least. I'm holding on to the hope that since September isn't a high volume time that everyone booked there will be OK then.

 

[Tink3Belle]

I would pick Poly also!

 

[foofooesq]

I was called by a CM today, I was booked at AKL from August 17-25th. She gave me a bunch of resort options to choose from. SSR, BCR,YC, BWI. I asked if we could just stay at AKL, we wouldn't mind the construction. (we've been at BWI when they were building the villas there a few years ago, the construction didn't bother us at all.)

She said unfortunately everyone staying at the lodge from July 20th until Sept 1 will be moved to other various location. They aren't letting anyone stay at AKL now. I was really upset when she told me this because I have read other PP that have opted to stay and they've let them. But she said those guest will be called back and given the options as well. She went on to tell me that we would be receiving a partial refund,and disount on the new room to help makeup for any losses. and a few other "perks" upon checking in for the inconvenience of switch resorts. ( I m wonder what the perks are???? )

She was very apologetic, and very accommodating to our needs. She assured me that WDC was concerned for guest satisfaction and they wanted everyone taken care of. She also Mentioned that they were doing this also because of the animals, she told us a good amount of them were going to be moved either off site to a different location, or to the park.

( she was wonderful help and even gave me the extention of the office to reach back at for this particular situation for AKL guest relations If anyone booked at AKL would like it, PM for the # and ext #)

Im just hoping for a magical vacation, at this point I dont care where we stay as long as we have a good time, and I know that WDC will take good care of us. As far as im concerned they met, even exceeded my expectations in meeting any "demands" we were making. They really want to make up for this I think. They didnt really anticipate all this to happen and are trying to make it better before t gets worse.

I would love to have the AKL contact info that Cricketmint has ... I cant seem to send a private post at this time.

 

[Angrypenguin]

Hey everyone, I just thought I'd chime in my experience here. I had two rooms (standard view) at AKL for 8/29-9/3 (hooray for free dining), and I got a call today from Disney reservations essentially kicking me out. He offered me any deluxe resort for the same price, so now I have two rooms at the Grand Floridian for those dates.

Kinda bummed about not being at AKL, but I'm excited to stay at the GF as well

 

[momtoPrincessA]

I'm now an official AKL refugee. We had 6 nights booked at AKL, then 4 at WL. They allowed us to split, 4 at Poly then add an additional 2 to WL, then my 4 night package at WL has Free Dining. So we are happy to still get to try resorts we have never stayed at!

 

[clownfish1452]

No, I am savannah view.

Sarah

 

[clownfish1452]

Well to tell you the truth I will be on vaction. I have very stressful job and anything is better than being at work.

Sarah

 

[clownfish1452]

I guess if I am changed I would want GF only. That is where I planned on staying to begin with, but my sister really wanted AKL. I guess we will see what happens.

I am kind of getting worried though I leave in 18 days and I have not gotten my documents yet.

Sarah

 

[momtoPrincessA]

I guess if I am changed I would want GF only. That is where I planned on staying to begin with, but my sister really wanted AKL. I guess we will see what happens.

I am kind of getting worried though I leave in 18 days and I have not gotten my documents yet.

Sarah

GF is very nice, I guess it depends what experience you are going for. I loved GF for my girls trip with my daughter. DH and DS would definitely not appreciate the GF! DS would have loved AKL, but now I have an excuse to take him back after it re-opens! I never would have booked the Poly on my own, so I'm looking at the whole re-location as an opportunity I wouldn't have otherwise had!

It is wierd you haven't gotten your documents. My sister is arriving at WDW on 8/17 and she got her documents yesterday. I was told mine would be re-sent because of the resort changes.

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

GF is very nice, I guess it depends what experience you are going for. I loved GF for my girls trip with my daughter. DH and DS would definitely not appreciate the GF! DS would have loved AKL, but now I have an excuse to take him back after it re-opens! I never would have booked the Poly on my own, so I'm looking at the whole re-location as an opportunity I wouldn't have otherwise had!

It is wierd you haven't gotten your documents. My sister is arriving at WDW on 8/17 and she got her documents yesterday. I was told mine would be re-sent because of the resort changes.

I received my documents yesterday also. My stay begins 8/20. Of course, my documents are wrong now because they say AKL. I'm hoping they'll send updated ones. Also, I'm wondering if I will get the mini-golf coupon again in the second package, and if so, if I will be able to use both the old and the new ones. We are mini-golf nuts, so it would be a nice perk!

 

[foofooesq]

Noah 8/30

Our stay is planned for 8/31 - 9/3. Tonight at 8:57pm our phone rang. From the tone in the CM's voice she was probably bombarded with nasties when she had given the new to others. Since we knew what it was all about I cut her off and said. I know, I understand and since I will be travelling with my 1 year old (birthday boy) and my two year old, I appreciate being told in advance and having some options. It took a few minutes to hook up with the right reservation person but she helped us ... She first offered Poly or GF - garden views (we had booked standard at AKL). We also asked about WL. It too was available. Ultimately we took GF b/c of the monorail to the parks and to our friends hotel ... contemporary. If our friends were not in the equation we would probably gone WL.

Regardless ... We are content.

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

Noah 8/30

Our stay is planned for 8/31 - 9/3. Tonight at 8:57pm our phone rang. From the tone in the CM's voice she was probably bombarded with nasties when she had given the new to others.

I feel really sorry for the CMs stuck with the job of making these calls. They (presumably) had nothing to do with the decision to close AKL, but they are having to deliver the bad news. I'm glad that you had a positive attitude with the CM - you probably made her evening!

 

[mika911]

I wonder if they're not calling me cause it's when the deluxes are sold out, and SS is the only place they could stick me in! ha-ha!!!

 

[clownfish1452]

Maybe I will get my documents today or maybe a call. They could be waiting to send my documents, because they do not know what they are going to do with me.


Sarah

 

[dadog]

I received my documents yesterday also. My stay begins 8/20. Of course, my documents are wrong now because they say AKL. I'm hoping they'll send updated ones. Also, I'm wondering if I will get the mini-golf coupon again in the second package, and if so, if I will be able to use both the old and the new ones. We are mini-golf nuts, so it would be a nice perk!

I just received updated documents and yes there was a new set of vouchers with my documents.

 

[Cookie5nupe]

Was just over on the passporters board and apparently a couple just got back from AKL......

http://www.passporterboards.com/forums/staying-style-resorts-hotels/132896-just-returned-akl.html

Hi All!
We just got back from AKL, so I thought I would pop in here and let you know our thoughts.

First, we were very happy with our room. We stayed in room 4513 on the Zebra Trail overlooking Arusha Rock. We saw lots of animals; kudu, giraffe, ankole cattle, blesbok, bongo and more. None of them seemed concerned or bothered by the consruction.

Secondly, there are still people checking in to the resort. It seemed well attended, especially on the concierge level, where we were lucky enough to stay this time. We were told that the construction is ahead of schedule.

As far as hearing any contruction noise, I am very happy to report that we heard nothing in our room. There was some noise that could be heard in the lobby area. Sometimes, if we were out on the balcony, we could hear a saw in the distance. That was it. It never disturbed our naps, our enjoyment of the resort or the animals.

And we bought DVC at AKLV, so it is now our home resort!

Here are a few pictures from our balcony...
As you can see, the animals came quite close!



So it looks like people are still being allowed to stay.....

~~cookie

 

[clownfish1452]

This is good news I was worried about the animals. That is the only reason we are staying at AKL.

Sarah

 

[patsal]

I've stayed AKL savannah view, AKL CL Savannah view, and Poly CL--hands down for me I LOVE Poly--sure no animals, but seriously with kids location, location, location--plus IMHO the lounge and staff were much better at Poly than AKL.