I need ASAP advice re: Changing Resorts!!!

[DisneyJColeMom]

Ill try to keep this easy but a lot of thoughts right now lol!
1. I have Sept 2020 booked at Wilderness Lodge. Wilderness Lodge is now not available for 2020 (or 2021!)
2. Back in April, I decided to book backup 2021 date for Wilderness Lodge for April 2021 just in case coronavirus messed up September 2020.
3. Coronavirus has messed up September 2020.
4. I thought Wilderness Lodge might still reopen in 2021. Was on the phone over FOUR HOURS today with 2 different people from Disney Reservations. The first person (who seemed awesome) ended up putting me on hold then never coming back on the line (i held on til my phone said i was on for 2 & 1/2 hours) then I disconnected & called again & got person #2 after an hour wait.
5. Person #1 said WL MAY reopen in 2021. Person #2 said WL WILL NOT reopen in 2021.
6. Person #2 recommended I switch my resort now, or if not it would be done for me eventually. Seemingly no hope for stay at WL. I offhandedly mentioned my runner up resort was Animal Kingdom Lodge. Offered me Savannah View room in Deluxe studio at AKL Villas- Kidani Village. Told me it was an upgrade. (My WL room was Nature View) I didnt feel ready to make decision on the spot! What should I do???!! I had my heart set on WL! She also suggested looking at Boulder Ridge & Copper Creek Villas. But I loved the WL main building rooms better!
She made me feel sense of urgency bc she said rooms are filling up fast.
What do you guys think of all this?? Should I do Savannah view Room? Should I holdout for WL? What if she’s wrong? ADVICE APPRECIATED!!!

 

[robinb]

Is this for April 2021?

 

[Dave006]

She also suggested looking at Boulder Ridge & Copper Creek Villas. But I loved the WL main building rooms better!

The Cooper Creek Villas (CCV) are part of the Main WL building!

I would pick it now if you really want the WL experience. The regular guest rooms are stuck in the middle of a remodel. When it shutdown in March, the 7th floor update had completed and they were working on the 6th / 5th floors!

The entire south wing of the WL main building was converted to be the CCV DVC offering.

Dave

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

Is this for April 2021?

Yes

 

[Ross Kratter]

The Savanna View rooms at AKL are gorgeous. I'd take that in a heartbeat. Also, you have Jiko and Boma at AKL, so that's an upgrade from the dining at Wilderness Lodge.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

The Savanna View rooms at AKL are gorgeous. I'd take that in a heartbeat. Also, you have Jiko and Boma at AKL, so that's an upgrade from the dining at Wilderness Lodge.

The AKL Jambo house Main building & Jambo house villas are not available ... the room is Savannah view at Kidani Village- The Villa rooms. Do you know about the Kidani village villa rooms? Are they also gorgeous? It seems some are upgraded and some are not.

 

[ClapYourHands]

I think there's way too much that can happen between now and April 2021 to freak out about it now. They can say WL won't open, but they don't really know. If your heart is set on WL, you don't need to make a decision now.

If you really need to know you have a guaranteed reservation right now, and you're okay with AKL, it's a fantastic resort. As long as the upgrade is a free upgrade, you might consider taking that with the thought that you might be able to "downgrade" back to WL, if it opens.

 

[Ross Kratter]

The AKL Jambo house Main building & Jambo house villas are not available ... the room is Savannah view at Kidani Village- The Villa rooms. Do you know about the Kidani village villa rooms? Are they also gorgeous? It seems some are upgraded and some are not.

Yes, they definitely are. AKL is a gorgeous resort in general. In a villa, you'll have more space and a kitchenette.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

The Cooper Creek Villas (CCV) are part of the Main WL building!

I would pick it now if you really want the WL experience. The regular guest rooms are stuck in the middle of a remodel. When it shutdown in March, the 7th floor update had completed and they were working on the 6th / 5th floors!

The entire south wing of the WL main building was converted to be the CCV DVC offering.

Dave

What are these rooms looking at? I picked my Nature view room with hopes of catching a fireworks view from my room... what kind of views do Copper Creek villas have? I also loved that there was a boat to Magic Kingdom, is that still running?

 

[Dave006]

The Savanna View rooms at AKL are gorgeous. I'd take that in a heartbeat. Also, you have Jiko and Boma at AKL, so that's an upgrade from the dining at Wilderness Lodge.

But just like the WL, AKL Jambo house is not available for 2021 booking now and Jiko and Boma are not open. The only food options are those in Kidani Village.

Dave

 

[Ross Kratter]

What are these rooms looking at? I picked my Nature view room with hopes if catching a fireworks view from my room... what kind of views do Copper Creek villas have?

Fireworks probably aren't going to be happening for a while, anyway.

 

[Dave006]

What are these rooms looking at? I picked my Nature view room with hopes of catching a fireworks view from my room... what kind of views do Copper Creek villas have? I also loved that there was a boat to Magic Kingdom, is that still running?

No fireworks from the room. Just the Courtyard / pool view or woods view. However you can watch the fireworks from outside Geyser Point Bar & Grill by the lake when they restart fireworks.

We don't know about the boat options yet but expect some boat options will open up as things improve beyond the initial opening phase since the MK does not open until July 11.

Dave

 

[Beachmom0317]

I am a DVC owner (at Copper Creek) and have stayed at CCV, AKL Jambo (main building) and Kidani. I’d normally say take the upgrade at kidani- but jambo isn’t currently open and there’s no definitive answer when it will be! That kills kidani for me because jambo has the quick service, jiko and boma and I love the huge merchandise store there. I’d just keep WL and hope for it to either be open or an upgrade at another deluxe resort...OR if you LOVE the lodge (and I get it, we own at CCV we just love the lodge) I’d just pay extra to secure a cash studio at boulder ridge or copper creek. Might be nice to stay there If the hotel side is closed since it’d have fewer people!

 

[robinb]

I'm a DVC owner at AKV and have stayed over at Jambo in studios a number of times and in a 1BR at Kidani once.

Pros:

1. Being able to walk out on your balcony and having animals RIGHT THERE is really wonderful. We love to relax with a cup of coffee in the morning or a glass of wine/beer at night and enjoy watching the animals.
2. You'll get a little kitchenette with a fridge, toaster and a microwave in your room. That makes for a really easy and quick breakfast.
3. The studio feels bigger than a regular Deluxe room. There is a queen sized bed and a fold out couch. The couch means there is a lot of room to move around when it is folded up.
4. The Kidani pool area is nice. They have a very nice splash pad area for younger kids.

Cons:

1. It is pretty far from everything but Animal Kingdom. I actually like it because I really feel like I get away from it all, but some people feel it is too remote.
2. There is no CS restaurant at Kidani. I think they have changed Saana to a CS right now but no one knows what it will be in April.
3. Kidani and Jambo share a bus so you'll stop at Jambo once in a round trip (IIRC, it's on the way home).

 

[sponica]

For April (not near Easter), I wouldn't worry about it until about 6 months out, that's when I'd look at making the change. I have a late April reservation and my "go/no-go" cutoff is probably Christmas.

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

Fireworks probably aren't going to be happening for a while, anyway.

Whenever fireworks & parades & character meets & greets are back is when we would be planning on going, even if we had to push the trip out further.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Whenever fireworks & parades & character meets & greets are back is when we would be planning on going, even if we had to push the trip out further.

In that case, don’t worry about changing. By the time Disney reintroduces those elements, park capacity will be large enough to have WL open

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

I think there's way too much that can happen between now and April 2021 to freak out about it now. They can say WL won't open, but they don't really know. If your heart is set on WL, you don't need to make a decision now.

If you really need to know you have a guaranteed reservation right now, and you're okay with AKL, it's a fantastic resort. As long as the upgrade is a free upgrade, you might consider taking that with the thought that you might be able to "downgrade" back to WL, if it opens.

Do we know if Disney Vacation reps are sales people? I ask bc ive worked in sales myself. The rep gave me this like “warning if you dont do it now youre not gonna get it” feeling... was it bc she wanted to secure a sale by booking my change? Maybe it counts in some way for them? I felt this sense of urgency lol! So Ive never stayed at any Disney Resort, but we really want to for this trip. We’ve vacationed in some different places & love the experience of luxury hotels & great rooms. Disney rooms seem like not “luxury” levels but definitely luxury prices! We want the experience anyway! I originally DID want a Savannah view room at AKL, but felt it was too much money. We loved what we were seeing about WL & noticed that some rooms there have partial fireworks views, which we love, and it was a good amount less per night. So for her to be offering me a Savannah view for same price seemed awesome!! I just keep holding out hope for WL to reopen. I really wanted to be connected by boat to one of the parks too. What other resorts would you guys recommend if maybe I ask for a comparable type of experience. A resort that connects by boat to one of the parks & has views of fireworks? I would love to be looking at the Castle preferably, which at WL, I at least had a chance to!

 

[DisneyJColeMom]

In that case, don’t worry about changing. By the time Disney reintroduces those elements, park capacity will be large enough to have WL open

So this is where the 2nd person I spoke to threw me off. I was surprised by the VERY definitive way she kept telling me that WL would NOT be reopening in 2021. Why not just say like the first representative did, that things could change? I even asked her that and she said NO. It wont be open. So do we think the same goes for fireworks & parades, etc?? 2022?!

 

[sponica]

So this is where the 2nd person I spoke to threw me off. I was surprised by the VERY definitive way she kept telling me that WL would NOT be reopening in 2021. Why not just say like the first representative did, that things could change? I even asked her that and she said NO. It wont be open. So do we think the same goes for fireworks & parades, etc?? 2022?!

Never trust anyone on the phone...they are sales reps, ultimately, and the last people to know anything. Trust what you see here more than what any phone CSR tells you.