Animal Kingdom News

[Simba's Mom]

Hopefully, someone who stays at AKL in the next few weeks will report back on what they do/don't see. I know I'm not staying there until May, but I'll certainly be aware of what's to be seen. So bring on those first-hand reports!

 

[BellaBuggy]

The post on DVC member site says closed untill April 15 2009 effective now till then

I am waiting for a return call from a dvc suprviser to confirm the time frames and dates.

Here is the link http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/member...bersLanding?id=DVCNewsArticle_SavannaViewPage

Theyy are editing that page right now - it's been removed and isn't linkable from the DVC member site.

 

[AKV707]

Right, this is Jan 2009 - April 2009. This has been discussed in another thread.

Well if that is the case, there is no reason for disappointment. DVC has given us plenty of notice, so savanna view rooms will be more difficult to get for 4 months. Then there will be tons of them!

There may be many reasons that they are doing this. Acclimating new animals, work being done on the savanna, etc. And approximately 11 months notice is fair.

 

[LisaS]

Just checked the DVCmember site and the link to this news story has been removed. The text ("Animal Acclimation Affects New Sunset") is still there but the hyperlink has been removed. I assume they are updating the story.

From viewing the source for that page, they attempted to comment out the text as well but they put the comment characters in the wrong place.

 

[JPS439]

This is an outrage! Everyone should immediately cancel their reservations for December 7th to 12th in a studio or 1 bedroom in protest!

 

[DBorges]

The Dvc word about this is Animal kingdom has no given DVC the actual time frames and the orginal post did not reflect the email sent to Dvc it should have said theat it was to be closed as of Jan 15 2009 to April 15 2009 But after talking to my guide and dvc superivisers they all said they think it is closed now..

This does affect anyone with a savanna view and it does affect the 50% chance of getting one in the club level they will however compinsate the savanna level with the points but not the club level(which is just wrong)..

When I get the call I will Foreward more info on it


Dave

 

[kerickson]

I'm so upset as well, for my own selfish reasons. I was planning on booking VWL at the 7mo mark for an end of Jan 09 stay, this will be much more difficult now with all the AKV Savanna bookees trying to change too
I guess I'll need to start training now...get up at 6am to make a phone call, practice my speed dialing...

 

[JoanneNC]

sorry to barge - we are traveling down to AKL in a non DVC CL level room - floor 4 and we were told all CL rooms were savannah rooms - does this mean I have a 1 in 3rd chance of NOT having animals on my Savannah view OR are the resory CL rooms only on one savannah..

Again - hopefully someone knows even those this is not a DVC issue.

Thanks

 

[pilferk]

sorry to barge - we are traveling down to AKL in a non DVC CL level room - floor 4 and we were told all CL rooms were savannah rooms - does this mean I have a 1 in 3rd chance of NOT having animals on my Savannah view OR are the resory CL rooms only on one savannah..

Again - hopefully someone knows even those this is not a DVC issue.

Thanks

ALL the HOTEL Concierge rooms (on the 4th floor) are savannah view.

NOT ALL the DVC Concierge rooms (on the 6th floor) are savannah view.

You should be fine as, if memory serves, all the HOTEL concierge rooms overlook the Arusha Savanna and not the Sunset Savanna.

 

[pilferk]

The Dvc word about this is Animal kingdom has no given DVC the actual time frames and the orginal post did not reflect the email sent to Dvc it should have said theat it was to be closed as of Jan 15 2009 to April 15 2009 But after talking to my guide and dvc superivisers they all said they think it is closed now..

This does affect anyone with a savanna view and it does affect the 50% chance of getting one in the club level they will however compinsate the savanna level with the points but not the club level(which is just wrong)..

When I get the call I will Foreward more info on it


Dave

I just spoke to Carly at the AKL front desk (well, she SAID she was at the front desk). If the Sunset Savanna is CURRENTLY closed and devoid of animals, it's news to them.

 

[global_mom]

subscribe

 

[bobbiwoz]

...
I would say the only people that should/could be disappointed are the ones who booked a guaranteed savanna view villa and won't get one as a result of the closure. Hopefully they will allow you to bank the point credit.

I agree with this.

I may have some savannah view studios booked with borrowed or banked points. To give them back to me in the UY won't help, but I think DVC will work something out.

Also, as strange as it seemed to me, there's something in the POS about not guaranteeing to have animals in the savannah. I read and re read that part, and in the end decided to buy into AKV anyway. Paragraph 5.f (4) of POS. (It's on p. 15)

Bobbi

 

[DBorges]

I just spoke to Carly at the AKL front desk (well, she SAID she was at the front desk). If the Sunset Savanna is CURRENTLY closed and devoid of animals, it's news to them.

I have been on the Phone with DVC all morning they are working on this I am merly reporting what I am getting told so bear with me.

 

[Inkmahm]

You should be fine as, if memory serves, all the HOTEL concierge rooms overlook the Arusha Savanna and not the Sunset Savanna.

Definitely NOT true. I've stayed at AKL many times before buying DVC and there are LOTS of rooms that are hotel rooms facing the Sunset Savanna. Also the Uzimi (sp?) Savanna. Arusha is the largest, but only one of 3.

Edit: I missed the word "concierge". I'm NOT sure if all concierge hotel rooms are Arusha view. The few times I have stayed as concierge hotel guest, I have gotten Arusha. But as I recall, they didn't guarantee savanna view, either. Could have been concierge pool view.

 

[JoanneNC]

ALL the HOTEL Concierge rooms (on the 4th floor) are savannah view.

NOT ALL the DVC Concierge rooms (on the 6th floor) are savannah view.

You should be fine as, if memory serves, all the HOTEL concierge rooms overlook the Arusha Savanna and not the Sunset Savanna.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.
I thought all HOTEL CL rooms were Arusha - I will be there Saturday so i guess I can post then if the Sunset looks bare

 

[Inkmahm]

I emailed AKV concierge this morning as soon as I saw the other thread. Just got a response from Steve:

"I bring you good news! We have been getting a lot of e-mails and phone
calls about that particular piece of DVC news and I am here to assure
you that I have spoken with our Animal Programs Cast Members and they
have confirmed for me that the animals on the Sunset Savanna are not
going anywhere for the time being. We are thinking that what DVC is
talking about is the NEW savanna that will be visible from the Kidani
Village. Hopefully, we can find out who we need to contact to get the
right information on the DVC website soon."

 

[JoanneNC]

Definitely NOT true. I've stayed at AKL many times before buying DVC and there are LOTS of rooms that are hotel rooms facing the Sunset Savanna. Also the Uzimi (sp?) Savanna. Arusha is the largest, but only one of 3.

I am curious - have you stayed since DVC remodeled the rooms? I thought post-DVC - they changed where the rooms are? I don't want to call reservations and waste their time if I don't need to - but panic of disappointing 3 men/boys in my family is starting to set in.

 

[pilferk]

Definitely NOT true. I've stayed at AKL many times before buying DVC and there are LOTS of rooms that are hotel rooms facing the Sunset Savanna. Also the Uzimi (sp?) Savanna. Arusha is the largest, but only one of 3.

Hotel rooms, yes.

Hotel CONCIERGE rooms? Are you sure?

I think the Concierge rooms ONLY face the Arusha savannah, now.

 

[Inkmahm]

I am curious - have you stayed since DVC remodeled the rooms? I thought post-DVC - they changed where the rooms are? I don't want to call reservations and waste their time if I don't need to - but panic of disappointing 3 men/boys in my family is starting to set in.

Yes, I stayed as a concierge hotel guest last December (and had a wonderful Arusha view room on the 4th floor). I will be staying as DVC concierge guest in April. BUT, see my edit above. I missed the word "concierge" in the original question.

I'd still call and put in a request for Arusha view specifically, if I were you.

 

[Inkmahm]

Hotel rooms, yes.

Hotel CONCIERGE rooms? Are you sure?

I think the Concierge rooms ONLY face the Arusha savannah, now.

I already had edited before you posted this.