Got the call from AKL - Bit New Story Given

[mika911]

Ok, so I got the dreaded call this morning. My iPhone began to ring, I saw it was the 407 area code, and I got nervous!

I answered, and the lady immediately said she was calling about my stay at the AKL - Oh no!! This nightmare is happening to me too I thought.

She said they were *adding* a third and fourth floor to the resort! ha-hahaha Who knew the AKL was only two stories?

I then told her it was my mum's first trip to WDW, and she really wanted to stay at the AKL. She then told me "let me tell you something about AKL." This is one big building in how it was designed and when they are doing drilling it resonates throughout the entire resort, and your mom won't be able to get any rest. Also, *IF* they have to move you when you get here, you might not have a choice where you're moved to.

I then said well we're very aggressive in our planning, so we won't be resting very much.

I then said where were you going to move us, and she said the option was to go to the 1 bedroom villa at SSR and get a partial refund. I said I do not like the DVC resorts, and she said "ok, I'll make a note on your reservation that you do not want to move."

Then we wished each other a good day and hung up!

Cool huh? I mean, I hate that I was called, but at least she didn't force me out. She also said those staying at the resort now are asking to leave!!!!

Yeah but I was happy because besides saying they are adding floors, she didn't try to lie and say the entire resort was shutdown. She was pretty nice, a bit forceful on trying to make me leave, but not too much. One time she even worded it as an "option," to leave. Overall, I thought she did a good job, and it was a better experience than some have described here.

I really hope I get to stay!

 

[the.leonhardts]

Thanks for posting the info. . . I was wondering if calls were continuing -- it looked like they might be slowing down. . .

When are you scheduled to stay at AKL? (from those of us in mid-Sept., currently holding our breath)

Hope you truly get to stay -- it sounds like those who have been allowed have really enjoyed their visit.

We arrive Sept. 12. . . Starting Sunday, 45 day mark, I'll be giving the phone the "fishy eyeball" everytime it rings. . . But, we're flexible. . .

Judy

 

[mika911]

The second week of August.

I hope September people will be safe.

I feel pretty good. In a way, I wouldn't have hated a move to the Poly, but I've done so much planning for AKL that I want to enjoy it, and of course they might not even have the Poly available, so I really hope I get to stay at AKL.

We're also vegetarian, so Boma & Jiko are great for us. I told the representative this too.

I will say though, if I do get to stay, all the worries really made the planning less fun.

I'm still very happy the representative didn't say I "had" to move. She didn't even say that would make me move when I arrive. She just said *if* I still had to be moved then I might not have a choice, but I'm hopeful I'll get to stay. I think they're moving so many out that it should be ok.

I think a big reason they are doing this is because of the noise during the daytime. People are spending hundreds of dollars or some even thousands, and Disney knows hammering and whatnot is not what people call a dream vacation, so they'd rather make people happy by moving them, if possible, instead of have problems once they get there.

At least I hope my thoughts are accurate!

 

[LilGMom]

Do you mind me asking why you don't like the DVC resorts? I've stayed at all of the moderates and at almost half of the deluxes but I will take a DVC resort any day because of the extra room. A one bedroom villa is more like getting two bedrooms at a deluxe or moderate because of the space. I'm not trying to slam the moderates or deluxes and am in no way trying to push the DVC resorts. I'm honestly just curious why you'd be so against staying in a bigger room for a cheaper rate than what you are currently booked at. I do understand having your heart set on a certain resort and then staying somewhere else and it just not feeling the same But the big difference is that it happened to us because of extended family wanting to stay at a particular resort and we weren't offered an upgrade through WDW for less money.

Regardless... if you stay at AKL hopefully the ongoing construction won't take away from your stay and your mom's first *magical* trip.

 

[mika911]

LilGMom - Good question.

True. Getting money back in my pocket for SSR wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world. I told the representative flat out that I didn't like DVC because I wanted to see how forceful she would be in making me move, or if they'd offer other resorts.

However, this is my mum's first trip, and she wants (and I for her) a more total immersion experience. We want to walk into the beautiful lobby, hear the sounds of Africa, and taste Africa at Boma and Jiko.

The rooms at SSR are gorgeous, but they do feel like a condo, and there is so much less to eat there than the deluxes.

If this was her second, or third, etc. trip, and we were offered such a low rate at SSR for a 1bedroom villa, we might very well take it. However, it is the first, and you never know for certainty if and when you'll be back, so it was best to stay put this time and truly enjoy the AKL experience.

Maybe that is the wrong decision, I don't know, but I hope not.

 

[mprewitt]

I then said where were you going to move us, and she said the option was to go to the 1 bedroom villa at SSR and get a partial refund. I said I do not like the DVC resorts, and she said "ok, I'll make a note on your reservation that you do not want to move."

The only reason to turn down a 1-BR villa is if you aren't planning on spending much time at your resort, but you will be in the parks all day.

The 1-bedroom villas are very luxurious and include a full kitchen (with all the basic cooking utensils, pots, pans and dishes supplied), and living room in addition to the bedroom, plus a large marble bathroom with whirlpool tub and a washer/dryer in a closet. The Master suite has a king-size bed, plus you get a Queen-size sleeper sofa in the living room, so you can sleep 4.

For Disney to offer you a better room and to still give you a partial discount is a great offer!

 

[mika911]

The SSR offer is the standard offer everyone gets. I guess if you knew my story all along you'd know I just want to stay at the AKL, so the result of the call was fantastic. The offer wasn't really the point of my post, I'm really happy actually that they didn't make me leave.

I knew the offer before they even called effectively. Again, it's not a bad offer at all, but I want to take advantage of the things at the AKL and have places to eat. If I could book the SSR at the $110 or whatever for next year, I would! ha-ha. However, being the first trip for my mum and with so much planning into the AKL, I didn't want to move. It's so close to the trip too.

 

[Quinn222]

The only reason to turn down a 1-BR villa is if you aren't planning on spending much time at your resort, but you will be in the parks all day.

The 1-bedroom villas are very luxurious and include a full kitchen (with all the basic cooking utensils, pots, pans and dishes supplied),

That alone is reason enough for me to not want to stay there. I have all those things at home. I have no intention of cooking, cleaning or doing dishes on my vacation. I know lots of people love them but a condo doesn't interest me at all. We're never crowded in our room, we usually get two connecting.

 

[Merryweather]

Thanks for sharing your experience. We are due at the Lodge the first week in September. I've been stalking this forum ever since people started posting about the construction and moving. We are fortunate to live in close proximity to the World which means we don't have to "go commando" each visit but rather enjoy the resort. That's what our upcoming trip was about: slow, lazy, enjoying the resort. Now with all this construction commotion I feel like I need to add a few days to include major spa time. It's also annoying to know what you want and have other people try and tell you what you want and why you want it. If we wanted a timeshare/condo experience we'd have reserved that in the first place. It's unfortunate that you took the time to write a well-thought-out post only to be heckled by a troll. - Just ignore it. - Those of us waiting with baited breath appreciate your thoughtfulness and empathize.

Do you intend taking a laptop to update us once you are actually down there?

 

[Nicole786]

nteresting development! Glad to see you got the option to stay

by the way I'm typing this from my iPhone too!

 

[mika911]

nteresting development! Glad to see you got the option to stay

by the way I'm typing this from my iPhone too!

Nicole
Fantastic. I love my iPhone. It will be handy at WDW, with Google Maps and everything too.


Merryweather - Not decided, if I will take my computer yet. I'm a bit scared security will scratch it. ha-ha. However, if I don't, I'll still have my iPhone, so I'll most certainly try to post an update or two.

Hopefully we'll see some more trip reports before then too. I'm also curious how things are going for those staying there as we move towards August.

Thanks for the kind posts. I feel better.

 

[Sammie]

I hope this works out for you. Everyone that has been there recently says the noise is really bad.

Also it is possible when you check in, you will find out you have been moved without a choice.

 

[clownfish1452]

I really hope you get to stay I was told I had to move.

Sarah

 

[kutchyone]

Good luck and I hope you don't have to move.

For those who do get the call too remember that to make a decision now will help to avoid problems when you are there. Know in advance which resort you would love to stay at besides of course AKL and go for it. I would hate to see people "stuck" in a location because that was all that was left. But really being stuck at a Disney resort would still be a great experience.

 

[mika911]

Good advice.

I will say though the representative acted very much as though I would get to stay. Overall, the message was there may be some noise, so here is an option.

Maybe disney has read the boards, or at least told the representatives to no longer say you had to move, or that the resort was completely closing.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I come home everyday, and am very glad that I don't see I have a message blinking from my TA. Since we booked a room with bunk beds, I need a room with three beds, and a 1 bedroom DVC doesn't do that, it has 2 beds. So my options are more limited. Poly would work, or a 2 bedroom DVC, which I doubt they will give me. I don't want to stay at WL. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get that dreaded call. We are there in just under 5 weeks.

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

Well, if you get there and are to move start looking into a choice. I love walking into the WL. It has a great lobby with the music and fireplace and brook with a bridge inside it. My husband loves the sound in the Poly with the sounds of water and birds and all the plants.

 

[LilGMom]

It's also annoying to know what you want and have other people try and tell you what you want and why you want it. If we wanted a timeshare/condo experience we'd have reserved that in the first place. It's unfortunate that you took the time to write a well-thought-out post only to be heckled by a troll. - Just ignore it. - Those of us waiting with baited breath appreciate your thoughtfulness and empathize.

Did you read the same responses that I did? I don't think anyone was "heckling" the OP or telling the OP what the OP really wants. While I don't want a "timeshare/condo" when I go to WDW I will take the extra room that a DVC resort offers and I still feel very much immersed in the WDW magic and transported to another place. Guess that is why WDW offers so many options of resorts.... something for everyone.

 

[declansdad]

She said they were *adding* a third and fourth floor to the resort! ha-hahaha Who knew the AKL was only two stories?

I find this statement strange. From my undertanding, you enter the resort on the third floor and there is still two floors above that.

 

[maelstrom]

When she offered Saratoga Springs, you could've told her that you don't want to stay there, but how about the Polynesian / Wilderness Lodge / Yacht Club / wherever else you'd like to stay. A lot of people have gotten a more suitable resort that way. I understand that you really want the African theme, but do you really want to stay in a construction zone?