Disney Travel Asking AKL reserv. to Move!!!

[princessellen]

AKL is the only Disney resort I have stayed in. All other trips we were at non-Disney owned hotels. So, I cannot comment on the other options, but AKL is truly awesome and the kids would love it. We got our room really cheap and faced what looked more like a service alley than the savannah. However, we still saw lots of animals from our balcony every morning, since they train the animals and place food strategically to spread them out advantageously.

Before you decide to stay at AKL, you might want to confirm whether the animals would be out as they normally are, or whether they will also be relocated due to construction!

How does the $600 back compare to what you would have paid at the other resorts if you had booked there originally? If they are normally cheaper than AKL, then $600 over 7 days is not a huge incentive. I would try to negotiate for more, maybe vouchers for a free stay at AKL in the future?

Good luck!
Ellen

 

[Magical JenK]

5. Now when I check in I want to be able to eat at Ohana's! It is booked that night and we are not getting on a tram to downtown disney etc! we planned to eat at the AKL. Not taking a tram there. I am sure after hearing our story they will find a table for us! That is what I am asking for. And I do not think they could say no after a long flight and a hungry bunch of KIDS!!!
oh and my luggage tags say AKL on them and I have to inform them when I get there that I am not staying there anymore! hope there is no mixup!
Lori

Lori-

First, I'm so sorry you're going through all this! What a nightmare, but everything happens for a reason & your reason is you get to stay at the Poly now! How great! That is our dream resort!! Have a great time.

As for ADRs, there are A LOT of table service restaurants around Disney World, not just DTD or at your resort. EPCOT has a lot of great restaurants, as do many of the deluxe resorts & honestly using the Disney transportation (whether busses or monorail) to other resorts, parks or DTD is great!

I'm just saying, I hope you don't get too upset if you cannot get into O'hana's as many ADRs book up months in advance. And while, yes, you did have to change your resort, it was all figured out before you got there, and you shouldn't expect them to make room for you when your resort issue was resolved.

Also, you are going during a fairly busy time of year so please keep that in mind too if you can't get the exact ADR you're looking for. If you're flexible with your date & time you may have a better opportunity to get in. Again, I am sorry for the headache you went through yesterday, I just know what it's like to be at Disney World for the first time with no ADRs & getting frustrated for not being able to eat where I wanted. But we've learned...albeit the hard way, but we've learned!

I'd really recommend looking at allearsnet.com to view the menus at the different table service restaurants.

Lastly, I saw that you mentioned your flight arrives late...depending on how late that is you may not want to put the yellow AKL tags on your luggage! We always arrive after 11pm & just grab our luggage at the baggage claim & then hop onto the DME. That way we know 1) we have all our luggage, 2) we won't have to worry about whether or not they'll wake us up at 3am w/our luggage. It takes some time, but it's something to think about...ESPEICALLY if they say AKL...if you don't get new ones printed I don't know how they'd know to send them to Poly....??? I guess I wouldn't want to chance it if it still says AKL. JMO.

Have a great trip & I'm so glad everything worked out for you!

 

[scanne]

To the OP: I think you'll be happy with the Polynesian - moreso than AKL. I've stayed at both and I feel that the Polynesian is much more kid-friendly and spacious.

However, I am a little concerned...we're booked at the Polynesian for 7/8 through 7/17. I usually check room availability beginning 3 weeks before we go to see about upgrading. But this year there has been NO availability at the Polynesin, Contemporary, GF or WL. So how is Disney making these adjustments? I mean, could they literally overbook and have no where to put their guests? We have 3 rooms booked at the Polynesian and I do not want to be out of a room. Does Disney hold rooms back for situations like these?

Sorry to hijack, but just concerned.

 

[bsusanmb]

If you have never stayed at SSR, you can't speak to the pros and cons.

Staying in one room with 3 kids isn't deluxe no matter where you are. You have no privacy, too crowded, and I know, I raised 5 kids.

I have stayed 7 nights at AKL concierge savannah view. Friends of ours, two young pediatricians, had advised us..."Yes, it is nice, if you like viewing animals in your pajamas." I was so gung ho on staying at AKL, but after the first few days, it was ho humm. It is dark, the rooms are small.

Having invested $50,000 into the DVC, staying at SSR is my home away from home. The staff are lovely, the grounds beautiful, and the rooms are quiet, roomy, and relaxing. Having a washer/dryer is a big plus to me. So is that huge jacuzzi tub and a king size bed. Having stayed at almost every Disney property, SSR is our favorite. We took 4 of our grown children and our grandchildren, all toddlers and stayed in two 2-bedroom villas and one studio. It was wonderful. SSR is a deluxe hotel, with deluxe amenities, room for kids to run and play, playgrounds, pools, all day activities...and when you are in your room, you don't hear anyone else.

The noise level at WL is terrible. You hear everyone running in the hallway, your next door neighbors, the elevators, the maids, every conversation going down the hallways. I love the beauty of the hotel, but too noisy and too confining to me.

Polynesian has one thing going for it - the monorail. Other than that you get a room, that's all, a room, just like any other hotel room. I didn't find it spectacular at all.

Well, to each his own, but don't put down SSR or any DVC when you don't know anything about it. I find it to be a great benefit and privilege to own my piece of the magic, and I get 4 vacations a year to a deluxe suite.

Enjoy your vacations.

 

[eeyore3847]

We have a lot of other adr's planned already Here is what we are doing.
8th - lunch - cinderella's Casstle - prepaid
9th - bfast Hollywood and vine with the playhouse dinsey charac.
10th - Lunch with Pooh at the crystal palace
11th - free meal day! - nothing planned
12 - lunch - Epcot Norway Princess Storybook
13th - Bfast lilo and stitch.

we though of chef mickeys that night but we will see all of the characters already throughout all the meals. We wanted to eat at the hotel we were staying in and go swimming as a relaxing late day when we get in from a 5 hour plane ride with 3 kids!

I also think that the ssr would have been great in the future when the kids are older and the sleeping arangements will want to be spread out. My 6 year old and 3 year old can not wait to sleep in the same bed. Our kids are great sleepers. and we will barely be in the hotel anyways. we thought the ssr was too far away to choose once we had to be moved. and did not want that as a option when we checked in!
Oh, we tried the GF, they said it was booked along with the contemporary and the villas. Glad they got a great room also! where is that thread?

Lori

 

[eeyore3847]

To the OP: I think you'll be happy with the Polynesian - moreso than AKL. I've stayed at both and I feel that the Polynesian is much more kid-friendly and spacious.

However, I am a little concerned...we're booked at the Polynesian for 7/8 through 7/17. I usually check room availability beginning 3 weeks before we go to see about upgrading. But this year there has been NO availability at the Polynesin, Contemporary, GF or WL. So how is Disney making these adjustments? I mean, could they literally overbook and have no where to put their guests? We have 3 rooms booked at the Polynesian and I do not want to be out of a room. Does Disney hold rooms back for situations like these?

Sorry to hijack, but just concerned.

your at the poly the same time as us! well hope to see ya there! MY kids will be the ones in their AKL custom clothes I had made. hehehehe
lori

 

[eeyore3847]

Well reservations, just called us to let us know they are putting in a request for a water view room or lagoon view she said. is that different than a garden view room? I said ok. and she said that she put us on the fireworks vip list for the thursday we are there!!! Should be fun!!

Lori

 

[cocowum]

Well reservations, just called us to let us know they are putting in a request for a water view room or lagoon view she said. is that different than a garden view room? I said ok. and she said that she put us on the fireworks vip list for the thursday we are there!!! Should be fun!!

Lori

Sounds like you are going to have a fantastic trip!!! Good job, not backing down and accepting something you didn't want.

 

[robinb]

5. Now when I check in I want to be able to eat at Ohana's! It is booked that night and we are not getting on a tram to downtown disney etc! we planned to eat at the AKL. Not taking a tram there. I am sure after hearing our story they will find a table for us! That is what I am asking for. And I do not think they could say no after a long flight and a hungry bunch of KIDS!!!

Oh, yes they could. I wouldn't get your hopes up on "convincing" them to give you a reservation at 'Ohana just because of a long flight with hungry kids. That describes 80% of the people checking in! I would either (1) Make a back-up plan at another restaurant. A lot of people like Kona which may be available when you check in. (2) Eat at the airport when you arrive at MCO. There are many restaurants there which may be open. Or (3) Plan on eating at Captain Cooks. It's not 'Ohana but it's not horrible and it's quick. Plus, you'll be able to pick up and use your refillable mugs I know you can't wait to buy!

I'm sorry that this sounds kinda negative, but I think you are taking this whole "When they hear my story" thing too far. First the upgrade to the Polynesian instead of SSR (which took many "squeaky-wheel" phone calls), now it seems that you might get an upgrade to a Lagoon View (a double upgrade) and you also want them to find a table for 5 at 'Ohana which has been sold out for months. It just seems to me that you were blessed by the Disney pixie-dust-upgrade-fairy already. Asking for more seems greedy to me. Sorry .

 

[minnie61650]

Oh, yes they could. I wouldn't get your hopes up on "convincing" them to give you a reservation at 'Ohana just because of a long flight with hungry kids. That describes 80% of the people checking in! I would either (1) Make a back-up plan at another restaurant. A lot of people like Kona which may be available when you check in. (2) Eat at the airport when you arrive at MCO. There are many restaurants there which may be open. Or (3) Plan on eating at Captain Cooks. It's not 'Ohana but it's not horrible and it's quick. Plus, you'll be able to pick up and use your refillable mugs I know you can't wait to buy!

I'm sorry that this sounds kinda negative, but I think you are taking this whole "When they hear my story" thing too far. First the upgrade to the Polynesian instead of SSR (which took many "squeaky-wheel" phone calls), now it seems that you might get an upgrade to a Lagoon View (a double upgrade) and you also want them to find a table for 5 at 'Ohana which has been sold out for months. It just seems to me that you were blessed by the Disney pixie-dust-upgrade-fairy already. Asking for more seems greedy to me. Sorry .

I agree with robinb.

Make other plans for dining.

When a Disney restuarant is sold out it is sold out not even club level guests can "walk up " and get a table at a sold out restuarant!

I think you have been very lucky to get these upgrades.

Go, relax, enjoy your upgrades, enjoy the Poly and have fun at Disney!

 

[eeyore3847]

Oh, yes they could. I wouldn't get your hopes up on "convincing" them to give you a reservation at 'Ohana just because of a long flight with hungry kids. That describes 80% of the people checking in! I would either (1) Make a back-up plan at another restaurant. A lot of people like Kona which may be available when you check in. (2) Eat at the airport when you arrive at MCO. There are many restaurants there which may be open. Or (3) Plan on eating at Captain Cooks. It's not 'Ohana but it's not horrible and it's quick. Plus, you'll be able to pick up and use your refillable mugs I know you can't wait to buy!

I'm sorry that this sounds kinda negative, but I think you are taking this whole "When they hear my story" thing too far. First the upgrade to the Polynesian instead of SSR (which took many "squeaky-wheel" phone calls), now it seems that you might get an upgrade to a Lagoon View (a double upgrade) and you also want them to find a table for 5 at 'Ohana which has been sold out for months. It just seems to me that you were blessed by the Disney pixie-dust-upgrade-fairy already. Asking for more seems greedy to me. Sorry .

I am not being greedy. there is a 9pm reservation and they said we may be able to move up. now when I called the ADR they said this may be an option, not all spots are booked up and they sometimes leave a few available for last minute travelers that need a seat!!!!
have no idea what a refillable mug is either - we have never been to the world.
I would not be asking for more, just asking and if they say no, they say no. Now I was PLANNING FROM SEPT. to eat at the hotel restaurant that night we checked in. They changed MY PLANS, And I want to stick with the plans weither or not we got changed to a different hotel or not!
I did not even ask for a lagoon view she randomly mentioned it when she called me back. I did not even know it was a better room till I looked it up just now. That was there bonus change not mine and if we get there and it is a garden view I don't care. But if they say it may happen then good for us!
Lori

 

[eeyore3847]

Sounds like you are going to have a fantastic trip!!! Good job, not backing down and accepting something you didn't want.

Thank you, I am not a person whom settles. I want what I booked or the next best thing. IN my mind the "disney magical experience" is a themed fun hotel. Everyone has there own idea of what their "experience" is. Mine may be different but it is what we planned for in Sept.
I am glad we got what we did and that Disney did try to make us happy. In the end they did!
Settling is not my thing and when I first told my hubby what was going on... he immedietly said """ OOOHHHHH NOOOOO we are not takeing SSR! You are not settling for that are you!" My hubby knows me well!

But on a side note, anyone else that took the upgrade to the ssr I say good for you! Some people love that hotel and cherish the upgrade. You have to go where you are comfortable and feel you are being compensated for your last minute move and change of plans!!!

Lori

 

[jlewisinsyr]

IMO...

If I booked something and you're not going to be able to give me it for what ever reason, I don't want money, I want you to inconvenience yourself to make me happy, and that means give me something better then what I have, regardless of the physical cost to you.

For example, I booked the GF in September. I have certain expectations. I now realize they are undergoing a remodel, but this was not announced until AFTER I made my reservations. So in short, it's NOT MY problem, it is their's to ensure I am happy. So if I get there, and my requests, which were made with my original reservation (ie. LV v. GV) are not met, then they need to move up the chain of room classes until they find one that is better then what I have.

I think too many people forget, we are THEIR client, they are there to make US HAPPY. That is what we pay them for, and that is what they need to do.

If they make an error or inconvenience me without telling me at the time I complete my initial request, then they need to kick it up a notch and go out of their way to make it better. Mediocry is not acceptable, and I nor anyone else should ever accept it.

Some on this site think the switch to the SSR plus $600 is a great deal, but if it were me, I know I would never have considered that a good deal. I don't want money, I want better. So I do not blame the thread starter at all for demanding more.

Now, granted, getting reservations for a sold out restaurant, may be a different story, but if you demand the best, and demand the service, asking for it is not out of the question.

 

[Miss Park Avenue]

I have to agree with Robin too. If I were you, I'd get on the phone to Disney Dining and make an ADR for your arrival night for any restaurant on the monorail loop. Something will be open! You could get Chef Mickeys, 1900 Park Fare, or about 10 other options, especially if you can get in the MK. You got a fantastic upgrade!!

And for those who are upset that some prefer Poly to SSR, when I recommended the Poly, I just looked at what she had. She didn't have a suite, she had a room with two beds in an awesome location with a great pool. Poly is very comparable to AKL in this way. SSR is not, it's very beautiful but very different. If you use your room to just sleep, who needs a suite with the kitchen? When you have little kids, you are going to spend most of your time at the MK, not at DD, so why would you want to be all the way over by DD?? I'd rather be just a monorail ride away at the Poly. I love sitting by the volcano pool and looking at the lagoon with the castle in the distance. I'd be willing to give up a kitchen and an extra room for that (but that is my preference, may not be others). I was just thinking that the Poly is very similar to what she was looking for in a hotel room.

 

[eeyore3847]

IMO...

If I booked something and you're not going to be able to give me it for what ever reason, I don't want money, I want you to inconvenience yourself to make me happy, and that means give me something better then what I have, regardless of the physical cost to you.

For example, I booked the GF in September. I have certain expectations. I now realize they are undergoing a remodel, but this was not announced until AFTER I made my reservations. So in short, it's NOT MY problem, it is their's to ensure I am happy. So if I get there, and my requests, which were made with my original reservation (ie. LV v. GV) are not met, then they need to move up the chain of room classes until they find one that is better then what I have.

I think too many people forget, we are THEIR client, they are there to make US HAPPY. That is what we pay them for, and that is what they need to do.

If they make an error or inconvenience me without telling me at the time I complete my initial request, then they need to kick it up a notch and go out of their way to make it better. Mediocry is not acceptable, and I nor anyone else should ever accept it.

Some on this site think the switch to the SSR plus $600 is a great deal, but if it were me, I know I would never have considered that a good deal. I don't want money, I want better. So I do not blame the thread starter at all for demanding more.

Now, granted, getting reservations for a sold out restaurant, may be a different story, but if you demand the best, and demand the service, asking for it is not out of the question.

Well said. It must be the New Yorker in us. I am originally from Rochester and most of my family is still there!
And by the way the $600 back is not money they are giving me back it is the money tecqnically that would have been overpaid to stay at the other lodging. It just meant that we were getting a cheaper priced room and here is your money back. They were selling the hotel at a 20% discount which the full price was still cehaper than what I had. I never wanted the $ it was not about that. 16 days before my trip they call me to put a wrench in my plans, darn straight they better offer me something better. I would have settled for the SSR and I think when we got there I would have been unhappy with that choice!
now it is all better.
And on the Ohana note. It never hurts to ask my mother taught me! "The worst they could say is NO!"
Lori

 

[eeyore3847]

I have to agree with Robin too. If I were you, I'd get on the phone to Disney Dining and make an ADR for your arrival night for any restaurant on the monorail loop. Something will be open! You could get Chef Mickeys, 1900 Park Fare, or about 10 other options, especially if you can get in the MK. You got a fantastic upgrade!!

And for those who are upset that some prefer Poly to SSR, when I recommended the Poly, I just looked at what she had. She didn't have a suite, she had a room with two beds in an awesome location with a great pool. Poly is very comparable to AKL in this way. SSR is not, it's very beautiful but very different. If you use your room to just sleep, who needs a suite with the kitchen? When you have little kids, you are going to spend most of your time at the MK, not at DD, so why would you want to be all the way over by DD?? I'd rather be just a monorail ride away at the Poly. I love sitting by the volcano pool and looking at the lagoon with the castle in the distance. I'd be willing to give up a kitchen and an extra room for that (but that is my preference, may not be others). I was just thinking that the Poly is very similar to what she was looking for in a hotel room.

You summed up the poly vs ssr perfectly! Could not have said it better myself.
Lori

 

[crazy_for_the_dis]

jlewisinsyr, GV versus LV is not a request, they are different reservations. And any request made with a reservation, is just that.......a request. They are never guaranteed. And if you go on your trip thinking it is Disney's responsibility to "make you happy" at all costs, you will be sorely disappointed. Remember that there are 1000's of people there staying the same time that all want their slice of happiness too. Disney just provides the backdrop........you and your family are responsible for the happiness and memories on your trip!

To the OP, I think they will be able to get you into O'hana's especially if it is late. But I would ask nicely for it though, I wouldn't suggest demanding it. I agree I would have a back-up plan too though.

 

[MissyDVC]

If you have never stayed at SSR, you can't speak to the pros and cons.

Staying in one room with 3 kids isn't deluxe no matter where you are. You have no privacy, too crowded, and I know, I raised 5 kids.

Having invested $50,000 into the DVC, staying at SSR is my home away from home. The staff are lovely, the grounds beautiful, and the rooms are quiet, roomy, and relaxing. Having a washer/dryer is a big plus to me. So is that huge jacuzzi tub and a king size bed. Having stayed at almost every Disney property, SSR is our favorite. We took 4 of our grown children and our grandchildren, all toddlers and stayed in two 2-bedroom villas and one studio. It was wonderful. SSR is a deluxe hotel, with deluxe amenities, room for kids to run and play, playgrounds, pools, all day activities...and when you are in your room, you don't hear anyone everything.

The noise level at WL is terrible. You hear everyone running in the hallway, your next door neighbors, the elevators, the maids, every conversation going down the hallways. I love the beauty of the hotel, but too noisy and too confining to me.

Polynesian has one thing going for it - the monorail. Other than that you get a room, that's all, a room, just like any other hotel room. I didn't find it spectacular at all.

Well, to each his own, but don't put down SSR or any DVC when you don't know anything about it. I find it to be a great benefit and privilege to own my piece of the magic, and I get 4 vacations a year to a deluxe suite.

Enjoy your vacations.

Yes!!!! We love SSR and can't believe people who have never experienced it would be given opinions about it. Although, if everyone who has a negative opinion about it stays away, the better for those of us who love it.

I do hope OP has a great trip and that some will try SSR and love it as much as we do!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

jlewisinsyr, GV versus LV is not a request, they are different reservations. And any request made with a reservation, is just that.......a request. They are never guaranteed. And if you go on your trip thinking it is Disney's responsibility to "make you happy" at all costs, you will be sorely disappointed. Remember that there are 1000's of people there staying the same time that all want their slice of happiness too. Disney just provides the backdrop........you and your family are

WOW, you missed the point and let me add a little something back.

I have been all over the world, and been to Disney many times (probably more then most on this board, despite my young age). I am not saying Disney has to make me have a good time, but they have the responsibility to provide what is being paid for. And if they fail or are unable to do so, they have the responsibility to ensure one is compensated accordingly by going out of their way to go above and beyond to achieve this.

I am also sorry I used the word requested so loosely...it was intended as reserved. However, in light of using the word loosely it brings up a good point. When I am on vacation, it is just my boyfriend and myself. I intend to sleep in the same bed as my boyfriend, and as such I always request a king or queen sized, but none the less one bed. I have on occasion arrived at hotels in the past and have not had my request honored, and each time, I made it clear that I was not going to accept the room or the entire reservation if my request was not honored, and each and every time, guess what happens. They have this amazing ability to find a room. Sometimes it results in an upgrade others just the same category, but never a down grade or a refusal.

I refuse to accept mediocry or responsibility for a companies in ability to forecast or resolve problems in a fair and equitable manner.

 

[crazy_for_the_dis]

Reserved is a lot different, and I understand your point if you reserved something and it was not honored. I'm with you all the way on the bed size too. I travel for business all the time, and even if it is just me, and I reserved a king bed room, I want a king bed room. Your first post came off as much more "demanding until you are satisfied" than this one. Sorry if I took it the wrong way. Too many people on here are looking for something for nothing all the time and it gets me all worked up!!!