Here's a Question For You...

[kristenrice]

This is probably a stupid question, but my brain is not really functioning well tonight and I am having a "lackofknowledge" moment...

Let's say I book a 2BR concierge for 2 nights at AKV (OK, remember, this is hypothetical ) and then switch to 3 nights in a 2BR standard room. As I understand it, you can check in as early as 7am. With a check IN of 7am and a check OUT of 11am, would I have access to BOTH units from 7-11am? This is assuming that both were available? I am just wondering how you would move/store any of your refrigerated stuff in between rooms.

The reason I ask...

I am planning on taking my parents with us in 2010 for our first trip "home" as owners at AKV. I was intending on 5 nights in a savanna view 2BR in Kidani. Now, after looking at the points charts, I see that it would actually be 20 points less to do 2 nights in a 2BR concierge followed by 3 nights in a 2BR standard view. IF we were able to get the concierge reservation, it would be a very hard decision to make. My parents have never seen the AKL before and I don't know what would have the bigger WOW factor...a savanna view room at Kidani or 2 nights of concierge followed by those great "standard" pool views at Jambo. (FWIW, I would do the standard 2BR for 3 nights and then, SUPRISE!!!, We're moving to concierge for the last 2 nights!)

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

My first thought is that I'm not certain that they would allow you to check into another room without checking out of your first one.

My second thought is that if you have your Concierge reservation as the second part then you probably won't be able to access that room until later in the day since it sounds like those are usually occupied at 100% so it's VERY unlikely that you would be able to get into one at 7am.

And my final thought is more of a question to you.....are you certain that you wish to have your whole group pack up and possibly be without a room for the day?

We currently have two stays booked and both are split between two resorts. I checked with our guests before booking the first one and they thought it would be good b/c it would be like two different vacations (we're moving from OKW to BCV). The second trip is just DH and I and actually includes an AKV concierge stay - but it's just the two of us and we'll be ok with moving. Just something to think about.

I'm not quite certain what I would do but think I would lean towards all nights in a Savanna view. Of course Concierge brings with it the option of the Safari. If you're not considering the safari at all then I would definitely not do the move. Also, for me the most special part about AKV is the animals. You may have a Savanna view with your concierge room or your whole stay may be looking at a pool. Tough decision and I probably haven't helped at all!

 

[SamSam]

You can 'check in' to your new room at 7am, but you won't be able to actually move your things to it. The room probably won't be ready till mid-afternoon. If there is a gap between your 11AM check-out and the time your next room is ready,you just check your luggage and any groceries with bell services. If you have items that need refrigeration, be sure and have those packed together and let bell services know what needs to be refrigerated.

 

[bookwormde]

I have done what you are talking about at different resorts several times and if you are lucky enough to have a room ready it is very convenient. I have never done it at the same resort but as long as they are separate reservations there should not be a problem. I guess I have always been lucky because I have always had my room ready when I checked in even when it was 7am.

bookwormde

 

[tinkerbell102]

We were there this past may and had to actually move to 3 different rooms
because there was not the same catogory available for the entire length of our 8 day stay. Unfortunately none of the rooms were ever ready at 11 when we checked out, rather later in the day...4 pm. Bell services are wonderful in taking your luggage and storing it, and this also includes anything that needs to be refrigerated. It did get old though with the 3rd room change. We were a party of 6 and you are basically without a room
for a good part of the day if it is not ready early. CM's make it very easy to move, but if you don't have to, you might want to think twice about it. It can
be a hassle packing everything up several times during your trip.

 

[Dean]

If you did Concierge second, you would have access to the concierge area upon "checkin" even if your room was not ready.

 

[LisaS]

You can go though the check in process as early as 7am but DVC's policy is that your room may not be available until after 4pm. DVC operates at close to full capacity much of the time. The only rooms available at 7am would be those that were not occupied the night before. Concierge will likely be fully booked the night before your stay so plan on being homeless until mid afternoon. As Dean said, you will have access to the lounge that day. There will be cold drinks and snacks available there.

Bell Services have a refrigerator so they can store things for you. Pack up any groceries that require refrigeration into grocery bags, making sure any open containers of milk or juice are sealed up tight and eggs are double bagged so that if any get broken it confines the mess to just the egg carton. They will put a sticker on each bag just as they do with the luggage that you store with them and put your grocery bags in the refrigerator. When you check in to your new room, call Bell Services for your luggage and remind them about the groceries.

I wouldn't want to go through this when you're only there for 5 nights because of the time lost to packing, moving and unpacking again. Plus I think a Savanna View room has a greater "wow" factor for a first-time guest.

 

[edk35]

My first thought is that I'm not certain that they would allow you to check into another room without checking out of your first one.

My second thought is that if you have your Concierge reservation as the second part then you probably won't be able to access that room until later in the day since it sounds like those are usually occupied at 100% so it's VERY unlikely that you would be able to get into one at 7am.

And my final thought is more of a question to you.....are you certain that you wish to have your whole group pack up and possibly be without a room for the day?

We currently have two stays booked and both are split between two resorts. I checked with our guests before booking the first one and they thought it would be good b/c it would be like two different vacations (we're moving from OKW to BCV). The second trip is just DH and I and actually includes an AKV concierge stay - but it's just the two of us and we'll be ok with moving. Just something to think about.

I'm not quite certain what I would do but think I would lean towards all nights in a Savanna view. Of course Concierge brings with it the option of the Safari. If you're not considering the safari at all then I would definitely not do the move. Also, for me the most special part about AKV is the animals. You may have a Savanna view with your concierge room or your whole stay may be looking at a pool. Tough decision and I probably haven't helped at all!

We did an OKW split this past July with BCV and we use our checkout/check in day to head to DTD for lunch and shopping then take the bus over to the new resort around 2 or 3. It has worked out nicely for us two times already doing this. We always make this our no park/lazy day. We don't rush checking out either......

 

[edk35]

You can 'check in' to your new room at 7am, but you won't be able to actually move your things to it. The room probably won't be ready till mid-afternoon. If there is a gap between your 11AM check-out and the time your next room is ready,you just check your luggage and any groceries with bell services. If you have items that need refrigeration, be sure and have those packed together and let bell services know what needs to be refrigerated.

ALSO...if you have anything frozen...You better mark that bag and tell them. We had frozen stuff and even though we told them, had it in another bag...it got refrigerated and ruined. Just a FYI.....