Calling all non AKV owners

[LisaS]

I though value was open in Sept?

There are only Standard View and Savanna View rooms open in Sept. I think the Values will be located along both sides of the Giraffe and Ostrich trails (the two short trails along the front of AKL). Those are in the May '08 section of that construction phase map. Apparently they are ahead of schedule and that section (or at least some part of it) will be open in December.

 

[MdmMim]

I'm going to try for a week in a studio in Sept. I have a reservation at SSR right now, but I'd love to give the AKV a try.

 

[MrsNick]

Does anyone know if non-AKV owners would be allowed to book for a stay on July 24th? I currently have a one night ressie at BWV PV and would consider switching to AKV.

I thought only AKV owners were allowed to book in July, but if that isn't accurate, maybe I'll call tomorrow AM!

Thanks DISSers!

 

[LisaS]

Does anyone know if non-AKV owners would be allowed to book for a stay on July 24th? I currently have a one night ressie at BWV PV and would consider switching to AKV.

I thought only AKV owners were allowed to book in July, but if that isn't accurate, maybe I'll call tomorrow AM!

It's actually the reverse: many AKV owners could not book in July during the owner's booking window because their AKV points are not valid for stays earlier than Sep 1st. So while there are not many rooms available in July, there were also not many AKV owners able to book those dates. So I think you have a good chance of getting what you want. Good luck!

 

[MrsNick]

It's actually the reverse: many AKV owners could not book in July during the owner's booking window because their AKV points are not valid for stays earlier than Sep 1st. So while there are not many rooms available in July, there were also not many AKV owners able to book those dates. So I think you have a good chance of getting what you want. Good luck!

Thanks, Lisa!

Just spoke to DH, and he's in favor of NOT switching because of possible noise issues. I was thinking (maybe wishful thinking?) there wouldn't be noise factor in Jambo house since it's an existing structure, and that noise would really be confined in the Kidani house construction zone.

Anyone know if construction noise is an issue in Jambo house? I won't be able to convince DH to move if there is that possibility, so I need to have my ducks in a row

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks, Lisa!

Just spoke to DH, and he's in favor of NOT switching because of possible noise issues. I was thinking (maybe wishful thinking?) there wouldn't be noise factor in Jambo house since it's an existing structure, and that noise would really be confined in the Kidani house construction zone.

Anyone know if construction noise is an issue in Jambo house? I won't be able to convince DH to move if there is that possibility, so I need to have my ducks in a row

Yes, if you are on the wing that is directly in front of Kidani village, you WILL have construciton noise. That whole side of jambo has rooms facing the construciton area. They are the windows from which we took our pictures of the construction.

 

[LisaS]

Thanks, Lisa!

Just spoke to DH, and he's in favor of NOT switching because of possible noise issues. I was thinking (maybe wishful thinking?) there wouldn't be noise factor in Jambo house since it's an existing structure, and that noise would really be confined in the Kidani house construction zone.

Anyone know if construction noise is an issue in Jambo house? I won't be able to convince DH to move if there is that possibility, so I need to have my ducks in a row

I expect there will be noise during the day. They will be doing construction further out along the Zebra trail from your room, on the 6th floor and also along the Kudu trail. If you look at the construction phases map (http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc/languagespecific/eng/resorts/animalKingdomVillas/DAKVMap.pdf) you can get some idea of where they will be working. The "July '07" section (marked by white dots) will be done but they would still be working on the Sep '07 (blue dots), Dec '07 (white dashes) and May '08 sections (red dashes). They are apparently ahead of schedule so that May '08 section is supposed to open in Dec '07 now.

For the best idea re: the noise, I would look for threads on the Resorts board to see what it has been like for recent guests at AKL. I expect the noise level will be similar to what people staying in the Zebra trail are reporting. The only difference I suppose is that you will be on the same floor as the construction rather than below it.

ETA: If you were assigned a room at the end of the July '07 (white-dotted) section closest to the lobby, you might hear the construction going on close to you up on the 6th floor if they are working in that area at that time.

 

[MrsNick]

Thanks to both Lisa and Diane for your input. Since there is the possibility of noise, I will keep our BW ressies -sigh-. DH would be a tad upset with me if I switched to AKV after he expressed concern about noise and then we ended up in a room with construction noise, lol.

That's ok. We have dinner ressies that night at Jiko, so I'll get my AK fix anyway and can look forward to another trip when we can stay there.

 

[granolacruncher11]

So just to be clear, if I call tomorrow for stays early Dec. 07 I can only book the Savannah or Standard categories, but I can then call June 24th was it? for Value category?

 

[johde]

Another reason why Value rooms might be opening in December is that they are changing the order of renovation that was shown on http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc/languagespecific/eng/resorts/animalKingdomVillas/DAKVMap.pdf . They could be doing ostrich and Giraffe trail renovation before Kudu trail. This would give AKL access to deluxe rooms for 1 more christmas season.

 

[LisaS]

Thanks to both Lisa and Diane for your input. Since there is the possibility of noise, I will keep our BW ressies -sigh-. DH would be a tad upset with me if I switched to AKV after he expressed concern about noise and then we ended up in a room with construction noise, lol.

That's ok. We have dinner ressies that night at Jiko, so I'll get my AK fix anyway and can look forward to another trip when we can stay there.

I wish we had a better idea of exactly how far along they are with the construction along the Zebra trail and whether they have actually started work on the 6th floor. It's possible that the majority of the work might be going on in the Kudu trail while you are there and you wouldn't be bothered at all.

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

Wow, everyone is so knowledgeable with AKV!!!! Here are my questions, we are HOPING to switch our BCV ressie to AKV, from Dec 5-10, Wed thru Monday, I checked on the member service website and it says 79 points for a standard studio. Is that right? What is value, is it less points? Also, if I am able to get the standard studio what section would I be in? How would the noise level be, not that I care

Thanks

 

[keishashadow]

Any owners know if Saturday, Dec. 1st looks good for a savannah studio?

 

[spaddy]

Well, I got a CM on the phone that would tell me if my days were available and they still are. She said there are some Savannah and Standard for the 2 nights in August I wanted. Now I need to decide if I really want to try for the savannah or just go with the standard view. My DH is not very excited about AKL so I don't know if I should try for the savannah to wow him or save the points for the standard. Of course, it could take me 2 hours to get thru tomorrow and this could all be pointless.

 

[LisaS]

Wow, everyone is so knowledgeable with AKV!!!! Here are my questions, we are HOPING to switch our BCV ressie to AKV, from Dec 5-10, Wed thru Monday, I checked on the member service website and it says 79 points for a standard studio. Is that right? What is value, is it less points? Also, if I am able to get the standard studio what section would I be in? How would the noise level be, not that I care

Thanks

"Standard" means "standard view". In Jambo House that would be a pool or garden view. In Kidani Village, the "Standard View" villas will be pool, garden or parking lot views.

Jambo House also has Value villas which are smaller than the other villas. A Value studio will be 49 sq ft smaller than a Standard studio (316 sq ft vs 355 sq ft). A Value 1BR will be 81 sq ft smaller than the other 1BRs in Jambo House (629 sq ft vs. 710 sq ft) and will sleep 4 instead of 5 (no sleeper chair in the Value 1BRs). The Value villas will be located on either side of the Giraffe and Ostrich trails (the two short trails along the front of AKL) so the views will be parking lot, pool or savanna.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

I do not want to book at AKV but I am really hoping that anyone who wants a studio and is booked at BCV from Nov 18-21 gets their room. Then maybe I'll get my waitlist. Good Luck everyone !!!!!

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

Spoonfulofsugar,
I am kind of with you, we are booked at BCV and although we LOVE IT there, we are hoping for somewhere else. Wilderness Lodge is our first choice, so I really hope someone cancels that and I can get it, but would not mind AKV as my second choice

 

[RoseJ]

I booked 2 studios for 12/2 to 12/7 with my AKV points 2 weeks ago. The member services rep said there were plenty of rooms at that time I just ran out of AKV points. I am looking for a studio at BCV for the same time period. I am hoping all of you get your reservations at AKV so I can get my waitlist for BWV!!!

 

[rlduvall]

I booked 2 studios for 12/2 to 12/7 with my AKV points 2 weeks ago. The member services rep said there were plenty of rooms at that time I just ran out of AKV points. I am looking for a studio at BCV for the same time period. I am hoping all of you get your reservations at AKV so I can get my waitlist for BWV!!!

When I called last Thursday for a studio for that week, there was nothing available on 12/3 or 12/6, so availability is no longer there. I also called yesterday and the same thing.

 

[RoseJ]

I am disappointed that there is no longer availability. I am going to be on the waitlist forever...