Help with First Reservation -- Pretty Please

[mricks23]

As of last week, my family and I are now proud members of DVC. We are looking to take her family for a getaway in November to AKV. I called this a.m. and DVC said that what we were looking for was not available.

Can you help a newbie out?

We will have a party of 8, four adults, four kids, 5 and under. Looking to stay concierge level at AKV so we can do the morning safari.

What are the chances of our waitlist to come through?

What about bartering for someone else's reservation?

I have 460 points available starting October 2009.

Thanks in advance.

 

[5forDiz]

There are only a total of 10 concierge level rooms at AKV when they are broken down into 5 one bedroom villas and 5 studio villas, if booked as 2 bedroom villas then there is only 5 total available. With the size of your group it is probably going to be difficult for this waitlist to come through. Maybe consider instead savannah villas which may be enjoyable for the little ones to see animals from balony & also at Kidani 2 bedroom villas sleep 9 and have a third full bathroom if you are thinking you'd all like to be together in same villa.

Concierge villas are very sought after & so limited in number and they are the reason many members purchased points at AKV so they can book them at exactly 11 months when their owner's priority booking window opens. Any inquiries about swaps, etc. you would have to post over on the Rent-Trade Board but again, don't count on anyone willing to do so.

Best wishes

 

[chalee94]

We will have a party of 8, four adults, four kids, 5 and under. Looking to stay concierge level at AKV so we can do the morning safari.

What are the chances of our waitlist to come through?

pretty much zero IMO.

i'd agree with the prior poster, plan ahead and call right when MS opens at the 11 month window. if you don't own at AKV, you'll have to be extremely lucky to get concierge at exactly 7 months, even on the waitlist.

if you'd settle for a savanna view and the sunset safari at 7 months, that would be more realistic...but if you can book anything at 3 months out with DVC, consider yourself fortunate. 3 months out is "last minute" in timeshare terms...

 

[mricks23]

Thanks for the replies so far. If I understand correctly, the only way to get on the sunrise (or sunset) safari is through concierge level. Any chances of getting just one night concierge level in order to get the safari?

 

[erionm]

Any one staying at the Animal Kingdom can do the Sunset Safari. Concierge level guests get a discount on the price. It's $160/person for Concierge guests and $210/person for all others.

 

[RLRDA]

Thanks for the replies so far. If I understand correctly, the only way to get on the sunrise (or sunset) safari is through concierge level. Any chances of getting just one night concierge level in order to get the safari?

From what I understand, the sunset safari can be booked by non-concierge AKV guests at a higher cost. The sunrise safari is only for concierge guests. As far as getting one night of CL to do the safari(s), I know the sunrise safari is only offered on Sundays and Thursdays so if the one night you were able to get was, say, a Tuesday - you'd be out of luck for the sunrise safari. I don't know what days the sunset safari takes place.

As others have said the CL villas at AKV are a limited number and in high demand. Could a wait list come through? Anything is possible, but not very likely. Your best bet would be to plan when you want to go in 2010 and call the day your 11 month window opens (if AKV is your home resort).

You've definitely found the right place to ask questions and find information. I've learned a lot from other members on the DVC DISboards. Good Luck

 

[mricks23]

Alright, now we are talking. So there is a chance I can get a regular room at AKV and still take the kids on a safari.

Thanks

 

[chalee94]

like i said, it is pretty last minute for this november, but with the economy being down, you never know. i would definitely be flexible and try to work something out with MS as soon as possible. if you find something, make sure to book the sunset safari as soon as possible.

let us know how it goes.

 

[mricks23]

Here's what I have right now, any feedback:

First night, 2 Bedroom at OKW
Nights 2 - 4, 2 Bedroom standard view, AKV
Night 5, 2 Bedroom standard at SSR.

How much hassle is it going to be jumping from resort to resort?

Thanks again, this forum is awesome.

 

[dgaston]

Children have to be 8 years old for the sunset safari, so that may not work for the OP.

I would probably try to limit resorts to only two, rather than moving twice. I might just try all nights at OKW if available, especially since that's the largest 2 br.

 

[chalee94]

Children have to be 8 years old for the sunset safari, so that may not work for the OP.

sorry OP. i didn't realize this.

 

[jekjones1558]

OP, congrats on your new DVC membership!
If it were me, I would try for all nights in one place. SSR or OKW would be the most likely to be available either now or through waitlist.
Arrange for someone to care for the kids so adults can do the Sunset Safari. If you happen to be doing a Sun, - Fri stay, I would waitlist the Thursday night for AKV 2 bedroom concierge so you could do Sunrise Safari on Thursday. If by some miracle it becomes available, you could pack all of your stuff like you were going home and keep stuff for the Thursday night in an overnight bag.
Good luck!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Alright, now we are talking. So there is a chance I can get a regular room at AKV and still take the kids on a safari.

Thanks

No, you stated your kids were all under 5 and they need to be at least 8 to do the Sunset safari at AKV/AKL. I'd limit your stay to one resort for this trip and worry about trying to get Concierge another time. Maybe you can exchange points with someone who owns at AKV so you can book CL at the 11 month window. We have always booked it right exactly at 11 months out, and it is VERY RARE that anything there would be available at 7 months out for most seasons. You might get lucky some time, but to guarantee it, I'd switch points with an AKV owner.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I like Jean's idea...Waitlist for Concierge, and if it doesn't come through, stay with the 2 bedroom at OKW this time around.

 

[bwvBound]

I'd recommend trying to get "any 2BR" for the entire stay without moving. Go for any available resort! Plan your AKV Concierge + Safari for next year when you can use the 11 month window. As Concierge is difficult to book -- it might become a goal that moves from year to year until you finally reach it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Both OKW and SSR are great resorts - and OKW has the largest villas of all. For a group of 8, OKW would be the best - but there are only three building at OKW that have elevators and they are reserved for medical needs. So you might have to walk up to the third floor with all your stuff (strollers, etc).

SSR has some great pools for little ones.

It if were me, I'd waitlist OKW and SSR if I couldn't get all the nights at one of those. Or you might try for the Tree House Villas (they sleep nine) and use the same number of points as a SSR two bedroom villa.

By the way, there is no standard at SSR. They are all the same booking category.

 

[lin7]

I bought into DVC two years ago in August, when I came back home, I called to see if there was any openings AKV concierge in mid december, I was able to get the whole week lol, by calling everyday for about a week and a half. So there is still hope for you. I made the call in mid-September, some of the days were in studio and one bedroom, by the end of the week and a half, I ended up getting one bedroom for the whole week and just ask that they linked everything together. We end up cancelling the reservation, couldn't make the trip. So maybe there's still hope for you, I don't know how much have changed since than, cause I think that was the first year concierge was available there.

 

[mricks23]

Thanks again for all the help. I'm going to try calling tomorrow and seeing what I can do. Maybe if I call enough, it will work out!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

I would recommend getting all your nights at one resort if you are able.
With kids, moving around is a little harder.
And don't worry about not getting first choice. You are an owner now, with many trips to look forward to.

 

[mricks23]

Thanks again (can you really say that enough?), I've changed my reservation to a 2BR at Old Key West and updated my two waitlist reservations.

Time to cross the fingers and see what happens.