Animal Kingdom Villas at an affordable price?

[Majesty1919]

I really have my heart set on Animal Kingdom villa for my Feb. 2016 trip. If renting points wasn't an option, how would you book this as affordably as possible?



Renee

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

look for discount codes on Orbitz. Right now they have 15% off and it includes Disney hotels. But it does not cover your travel time. Renting though is the best option. A DVC room is as cheap as 9 points per night at AKL if you get certain studio rooms and the going rate for points is any where from $11 - $15 a point.

 

[DisneyBee]

I booked AKL in hopes of a discount coming in the fall. It's expensive, but it's so worth it!

 

[eeyoreandtink]

As far as I'm concerned, there is no truly "affordable" way to book the villas outside of renting points. The lodge, sometimes in the lowest crowd times has discounts that pull it down to around $300 a night. I can almost always rent points for a studio cheaper. Why is points rental not an option? We are renting there in Feb through a service and came out at about $220 a night.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

If you want to chance booking at the last minute, you can wait for Expedia UK to release their rates in December or January is it? I got my 5 nights in the lodge(for November of this year) for just over $900 total. Not sure what the villa rates would be though. The Expedia UK thread is very helpful.

 

[Majesty1919]

Renting IS an option. I just wanted to hear others. I can't insure a loss should crappy weather occur. I work for the public school system and if we get too many snow days, we'll lose our winter vacation when I plan on going. I have no idea what kind of winter we'll have. That would be a problem. I'm leaving from CT in February. Ice and snow storms are a issue that time of year.

 

[Majesty1919]

I'd like to thank you guys for chiming in.

My first Disney Vacation with my own children was in 2010 Feb. The difference was I decided January 15 that I wanted to go a month out. I tootled over to AAA, paid them, and left. I was pleased with the job they did. I came home got maps and got busy planning all of the fun we'd have. It was all so new AND overwhelming. On my way home, Magical express ended up stopping at Animal Kingdom Village. I was intrigued at the architecture and there was something inside telling me I needed to go there. I vowed that if I ever came back I wanted to stay there or somewhere equally impressive. I'm just about at the point where I say, "If you don't go ahead and face the risk and uncertainty, you'll be disappointed. I just have to prepare myself to face that I might be looking into the face of my 2 children and say, "Mommy's sorry. We'll have to sort it out."

 

[ozliz]

I think one of the challenges you may have in getting the price low by stacking Disney and Orbitz or other online booking site discounts is that usually the best rates are still prepaid non refundable. Work out how much you are willing to pay with the flexibility of cancellation as that usually has a premium.

 

[mountdew1]

Renting IS an option. I just wanted to hear others. I can't insure a loss should crappy weather occur. I work for the public school system and if we get too many snow days, we'll lose our winter vacation when I plan on going. I have no idea what kind of winter we'll have. That would be a problem. I'm leaving from CT in February. Ice and snow storms are a issue that time of year.

Then book vacation insurance. I think one of the big rental agencies offers it directly, or you should be able to buy general vacation insurance for under $100 (I think). That's really the only affordable way I can think of to cover your tickets as well, otherwise you might end up losing whatever you paid for those.

Edit: And do you really need to book a villa? While renting points for a studio can be pretty affordable, AKL Jambo House does still have regular hotel rooms in addition to the villas. Just make sure to clarify what you really need/want to book as it may make a huge difference in price.

 

[Majesty1919]

I've tried insurance. They won't cover rental points. I'd like to insure the room and flight only. I can use the tickets and Disney GCs for a later date.
I could book just about anything. I went online to Disney directly and the cost $2500 for a room. Ohh nope.

 

[3angelsmom]

It's been 2 years since I rented points, but we got a 1 bedroom twice at Kidani and it turned out to be roughly the equivalent of 40% off what rack rate was both times. The man I rented from the second time allowed us some flexibility. The contract said that if we had an emergency, he would rebook it for us anytime up until xxxx date, when he would lose the points. So it's possible to rent points if you find someone equally flexible and you would be looking at rescheduling, not a cancellation.

 

[sunflare]

I've tried insurance. They won't cover rental points.

I think one of the rental agencies provides their own insurance for a price per point rented. I can't remember which one, offhand, so you might want to google it.

 

[MAO]

Is there a reason you want a Villa vs. a regular room? The 'official' AKL thread here on DIS claims that there's a small refrigerator in the regular rooms; you'd basically be losing just the microwave if you were planning on a Studio Villa room. (Obviously, if you wanted a one- or two- bedroom Villa you'd be giving up a lot more.) But a regular room reservation, it's my understanding, would have some insurance built in to it in terms of if you needed to cancel or reschedule. You're correct in feeling that DVC is designed for people who do not change their minds (or have difficulties getting there ) As an owner, I would not make a reservation using my points in the situation you find yourself in with so much uncertainty between the job and the weather. If you rent, you're putting all that stress on you so I can definitely see why you're shying away from it. I'm just wondering if a 'regular' room would be an acceptable compromise to get you the security you want as well as the location you desire.

 

[Minniesgal]

Discounts often don't include the Villas I think you would find it easier to find discounts on rooms. If you want a 1 or a 2 bedroom renting points will be your best bet otherwise look for a room discount not a villa discount

 

[Minniesgal]

It's been 2 years since I rented points, but we got a 1 bedroom twice at Kidani and it turned out to be roughly the equivalent of 40% off what rack rate was both times. The man I rented from the second time allowed us some flexibility. The contract said that if we had an emergency, he would rebook it for us anytime up until xxxx date, when he would lose the points. So it's possible to rent points if you find someone equally flexible and you would be looking at rescheduling, not a cancellation.

Yes but in reality cancelling and rebooting can be almost impossible depending the time of year and how close you are to your new dates. This flexibility is nice but not always functional.

 

[Majesty1919]

I think one of the rental agencies provides their own insurance for a price per point rented. I can't remember which one, offhand, so you might want to google it.

I did find them. The refund varies depending on when you cancel. I filled out the form this evening to see if they had anything. If I get what I'm looking for Studio standard @ their $14.50 per point. That's $1000 and add $125 (for 85 points or less it's a standard $125) for the coverage The room would cost me $1125. If i cancel 45 days or longer it's 100% refund. If I had to cancel between 30-45 days $724 refund and 3-29 days $448. It's something I guess. That covers only room. I'd need a separate policy for the flight.

 

[Majesty1919]

Discounts often don't include the Villas I think you would find it easier to find discounts on rooms. If you want a 1 or a 2 bedroom renting points will be your best bet otherwise look for a room discount not a villa discount

Right. It's just myself and the 2 children. So a studio is perfect. I don't see any discounted rooms.

 

[landheim]

We stayed at Kidani Village last year and although expensive, certainly worth it for a one-time splurge! If you want the the most flexibility I would suggest making your reservation now for the room you want. Historically, discounts for that time of year have come out in Oct (see the mousesavers website for LOTS of info on how to get the best discount as well as historical discuounts). Hopefully, a discount will come out for the days you are there (there was one last year for that time). You could either have the discount applied at that time or book another discounted room, if available. You could also save more (at least 12%) by buying Target gift cards online via cardpool and them using those to buy Disney gift cards via Target with the additional 5% redcard discount (if you haven't seen it there is a huge thread on this method). By doing this you could save 30-40% off rack rates in the end.

 

[Majesty1919]

We stayed at Kidani Village last year and although expensive, certainly worth it for a one-time splurge! If you want the the most flexibility I would suggest making your reservation now for the room you want. Historically, discounts for that time of year have come out in Oct (see the mousesavers website for LOTS of info on how to get the best discount as well as historical discuounts). Hopefully, a discount will come out for the days you are there (there was one last year for that time). You could either have the discount applied at that time or book another discounted room, if available. You could also save more (at least 12%) by buying Target gift cards online via cardpool and them using those to buy Disney gift cards via Target with the additional 5% redcard discount (if you haven't seen it there is a huge thread on this method). By doing this you could save 30-40% off rack rates in the end.

October, okay that's helpful information. I switched from Raise to Cardpool last week and have $300 so far. It's feeling more obtainable. Thanks for the great tips.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Is there a reason you want a Villa vs. a regular room? The 'official' AKL thread here on DIS claims that there's a small refrigerator in the regular rooms; you'd basically be losing just the microwave if you were planning on a Studio Villa room. (Obviously, if you wanted a one- or two- bedroom Villa you'd be giving up a lot more.) But a regular room reservation, it's my understanding, would have some insurance built in to it in terms of if you needed to cancel or reschedule. You're correct in feeling that DVC is designed for people who do not change their minds (or have difficulties getting there ) As an owner, I would not make a reservation using my points in the situation you find yourself in with so much uncertainty between the job and the weather. If you rent, you're putting all that stress on you so I can definitely see why you're shying away from it. I'm just wondering if a 'regular' room would be an acceptable compromise to get you the security you want as well as the location you desire.

A regular room at the time she is looking to go will cost almost twice what renting point for a studio would, with the best historic discounts for that time period. It is Mardi Gras/ Presidents' Day time, and in the 6 years we have been traveling that time period I have never seen any discount for a deluxe room that approaches what I pay renting points.