Bit annoyed. Work at AKL

[NicholeB630]

I booked our September trip back like 6 months ago. I chose AKL because Ive always wanted to stay there and I know my kids would. I knew nothing about work being done when our trip was being booked. We are going Sept 8-17. It looks like if they plan to start work they should let you know when you book for certain times. I just looked at the website and it says work is being done to numerous floors at Kidani Village. I know it wont ruin our trip but I don't really want to be seeing construction or hearing it on vacation. As I know that it has to be done at times but it does effect the feeling of being at nice resort on vacation. We went to the Poly years ago to get a dole whip and check it out while it was being worked on and it was so obvious and really took away from the resort while the work was being done and I said to myself I was so glad i wasn't staying at a resort that was being worked on.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

The site says it is being refurbished when you check rates. Did you book through a TA?

 

[DisBuckMan]

The site says it is being refurbished when you check rates. Did you book through a TA?

Yep. There have been refurbishments ongoing at AKL since the first of the year, and they were announced last year. The Disney website lists it in bold red letters well in advance.

 

[NicholeB630]

I booked online at Disney site and it 100% did not say anything about it. I've always noticed it when it does say it bc it's in red. I don't remember exactly when I cooked but I know for a fact it didn't say it or I would have booked else where

 

[NicholeB630]

I just looked back I booked November 1st. Like I said it absolutely did not say anything about it.

 

[DisBuckMan]

We stayed at AKL from 5-20 to 5-23, on reservations we made in December. It was on the website then.

Don't know what to tell you otherwise.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Are you booked for Kidani, or for Jambo?

 

[NicholeB630]

We stayed at AKL from 5-20 to 5-23, on reservations we made in December. It was on the website then.

Don't know what to tell you otherwise.

I just know, I would have seen it I'm not a total idiot who can't read.

Anyways did it effect your stay? Was it noticeable?

 

[DisBuckMan]

I just know, I would have seen it I'm not a total idiot who can't read.

Anyways did it effect your stay? Was it noticeable?

No effect at all. Didn't notice a thing. We do parks during the day, when the work is ongoing, though.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Kidani might be different, but we were at Jambo during construction in January, and it felt like they took great pains to hide the construction from guests. The wing they were working on was closed off with heavy duty doors that seemed to be part of the normal look of the lodge. We did not see or hear construction the entire time. The only way we knew it was happening was thanks to a small sign posted by those doors. Our stay was not in any way lessened by the construction. Hopefully Kidani has a similar set up so you won't be impacted by their refurbishment efforts.

 

[NicholeB630]

We are at kidani. I feel as if it's just rooms maybe it won't be so bad. Since floors are closed. I just know when we visited the poly it was so obvious it was going on. But maybe Poly was doing a lot more in common areas and the resort areas?

 

[ariane37]

I haven't read up lately on the AKL refurb but when we were at Jambo in January, we barely noticed it going on. Also unless something has changed from when we were going and I was keeping tabs on it, I'm pretty sure the Poly's refurb was much more extensive than what they're doing at AKL. But I could be wrong there so don't quote me on that!

 

[Anthony1971]

From what I understand this is a normal DVC soft foods refurb. which means it is the rooms only and it is curtains, wallpaper, fixtures and the like... you are very unlikely to see or hear anything.

 

[nkereina]

This is the risk when you run when you travel during slow season. Both hotel and park refurbishments can and do pop up at any time, most frequently in September and January when crowd levels are at their lowest. The benefit of this time is obviously lower crowds. I understand it's a drag, but it's a trade-off. Every time of year has pros and cons, and this happens to be a con of September. Hopefully it won't impact you much while you're there.

 

[NicoleLarson]

I can't imagine this affecting your stay at all. As stated above, it's a soft goods refurb, New pillows, blankets, curtains and carpet. Nothing is being done in the common areas.

 

[megster1123]

Yep. There have been refurbishments ongoing at AKL since the first of the year, and they were announced last year. The Disney website lists it in bold red letters well in advance.

When I was pricing our October 2016 trip last fall it was listed there. We were wavering between AoA and AKL and the refurb was one of the reasons we didn't book there.

 

[NicholeB630]

From what I understand this is a normal DVC soft foods refurb. which means it is the rooms only and it is curtains, wallpaper, fixtures and the like... you are very unlikely to see or hear anything.

Ok that's really good to know thanks! I don't want to sound like a downer and I don't understand the time of year or things popping up. But I'd just hate to get there and see boat loads of construction everywhere or hear it during our mid day breaks. So glad it seems to be minimal! I've been so excited to stay here. Also they must recently have posted to kidani rooms bc back when I was looking for free dining and discounts it was not showing up then either. I always notice the red wording. I did know Jamba started but I had checked kidani rooms and at that time it said nothing.

 

[AngiTN]

We are at kidani. I feel as if it's just rooms maybe it won't be so bad. Since floors are closed. I just know when we visited the poly it was so obvious it was going on. But maybe Poly was doing a lot more in common areas and the resort areas?

The work done at Poly and what is being done at AKL is not even in the same stratosphere. I can't imagine, not even remotely fathom, how some construction can ruin a trip. Seriously asking why or how it could. Because I'm not seeing it. We stayed at WL, where there is construction close to what happened at Poly and seriously, it was of zero impact to us. If there hadn't been walls and some bare areas outside I'd have not even known. Yes we saw dirt but seriously not seeing how having dirt in your line of sight can ruin a trip to Disney. Or hearing a hammer for that matter. I'm always so buy having fun I just don't pay that stuff any mind.

 

[NicholeB630]

The work done at Poly and what is being done at AKL is not even in the same stratosphere. I can't imagine, not even remotely fathom, how some construction can ruin a trip. Seriously asking why or how it could. Because I'm not seeing it. We stayed at WL, where there is construction close to what happened at Poly and seriously, it was of zero impact to us. If there hadn't been walls and some bare areas outside I'd have not even known. Yes we saw dirt but seriously not seeing how having dirt in your line of sight can ruin a trip to Disney. Or hearing a hammer for that matter. I'm always so buy having fun I just don't pay that stuff any mind.

Well I live in Northern Virginia where construction is everywhere and when you're paying $8000 to stay at a resort I'd hope not to see or hear construction. No it would not ruin my trip but I did not know the extent of the work that's why I asked.

 

[NicholeB630]

I'm wondering since its work on villas is there a chance we won't get our initial room booked? Or they make sure to keep e ouch rooms not being worked on that people have indeed booked. May be silly but resorts over book at times and sometimes put you in rooms you did not request.