JAMBO! The UN-official AKL Thread ~ UPDATED(short film/pg 8 & slideshow/pg 12) Part 2

[kimmar067]

I am feeling pretty good about my standard view room I booked for July 07 right now. I am thinking of upgrading to pool view though. I really don't think the noise will be that bad. Although, I do plan on afternoon pool or rest breaks, so hopefully we will be ok...

...are you reffering to the construction noice, or the noise generated from the pool area?? Actually, I wouldn't be concerned with it...

 

[PolyAddict]

...are you reffering to the construction noice, or the noise generated from the pool area?? Actually, I wouldn't be concerned with it...

I was refering to the possible construction noise during afternoon downtime.

 

[kimmar067]

I was refering to the possible construction noise during afternoon downtime.

...unless you are an extremely light sleeper, it shouldn't bother you....the pool area is opposite to where the construction will take place...

 

[Babyboo]

I apologise if this has been answered early on this thread.

I have a CL room booked for Dec this year & I have just read on another thread that the entire 6th floor will be DVC rooms. I thought that there were only going to be a handful of DVC CL rooms how can they take up the entire 6th floor? Is the CL moving?

Where are the AKL CL room likely to be located? I would rather know now if I am going to be disappointed and maybe look at booking another resort.

Sorry for all the questions.

When I originally booked the room I specifically requested a 6th floor room and was told it would be possible even after all the changes

 

[Cinderella1122]

I was just looking at the AKL resort map and it shows locker rentals by the pool...Does anyone know off hand how much it costs to rent?

 

[d4est]

Sorry, asking againg, in case anyone has an idea...

What are the chances of an upgrade to concierge at check in. FYI, I am willing to pay ($35? $50? extra/night) for it. I just don't know if they do anything like that.

I have been calling for weeks trying to switch, but with the 40% code I used, I keep getting told that there are none available.

 

[SharonLowe]

I apologise if this has been answered early on this thread.

I have a CL room booked for Dec this year & I have just read on another thread that the entire 6th floor will be DVC rooms. I thought that there were only going to be a handful of DVC CL rooms how can they take up the entire 6th floor? Is the CL moving?

Where are the AKL CL room likely to be located? I would rather know now if I am going to be disappointed and maybe look at booking another resort.

Sorry for all the questions.

When I originally booked the room I specifically requested a 6th floor room and was told it would be possible even after all the changes

The only rooms on the 6th floor (which never had many rooms to begin with) will be DVC units. There will be 6 2BR lock-offs (a 1 BR unit combined with a studio unit). They are also taking over many of the rooms on the 5th floor, but I don't think it will be all of them. Standard (size not view) CL rooms are on the 4th floor Savanna view. The CL will stay on the 6th floor and the DVC guests who stay on that floor only will also have access to it.

To be honest, the 6th floor rooms have horrible views so I would never request a room on that floor. The only benefit is that you would be on the same floor as the CL but it isn't a big deal to take the elevator or stairs to get to it. I don't know who told you that you could have a room on the 6th floor but they are not even available for DVC members to book until mid-May so whoever told you that information was wrong.

 

[SharonLowe]

Sorry, asking againg, in case anyone has an idea...

What are the chances of an upgrade to concierge at check in. FYI, I am willing to pay ($35? $50? extra/night) for it. I just don't know if they do anything like that.

I have been calling for weeks trying to switch, but with the 40% code I used, I keep getting told that there are none available.

To be honest, probably not likely especially with the discount you are getting on your room. CL rooms go at rack rate and there are fewer available now with DVC going to AKL.

 

[kimmar067]

I was just looking at the AKL resort map and it shows locker rentals by the pool...Does anyone know off hand how much it costs to rent?

...honestly, I never realized that this was even available.....as many times as I have lounged by the pool, I can't, for the life of me, recall exactly where those lockers ARE....

 

[johnsonet]

...honestly, I never realized that this was even available.....as many times as I have lounged by the pool, I can't, for the life of me, recall exactly where those lockers ARE....

They are along the exterior wall as you walk from Mara, past the restrooms/changing rooms, toward the arcade

Sorry, I do not know what the charge is to use the lockers.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

So much helpful info! We are planning on staying at the AKL the beginning of Nov 2007. We have stayed at POR, WL, BC and CR, but I have always wanted to try the AKL.

I know the top floors are being turned into DVC and should be done by the fall, but does anyone know if construction has started on the other buildings or when the target start date is?

DH really loves the CR with the WL being a close second since he is not a big fan of the busses. I think he will love the AKL, but don't want the experience spoiled by a lot of construction.

Thanks!

 

[Babyboo]

I don't know who told you that you could have a room on the 6th floor but they are not even available for DVC members to book until mid-May so whoever told you that information was wrong.

I was not making a DVC booking for Dec so I was quite able to book a CL room with CRO.

But I did ask the question if we would be able to be on the 6th floor once the conversions had been done and asked them to confirm that people booking hotel rooms would still be able to stay on the 6th floor as we like the proximity to the lounge, I guess that's the bit they got wrong.

 

[pilferk]

So much helpful info! We are planning on staying at the AKL the beginning of Nov 2007. We have stayed at POR, WL, BC and CR, but I have always wanted to try the AKL.

I know the top floors are being turned into DVC and should be done by the fall, but does anyone know if construction has started on the other buildings or when the target start date is?

DH really loves the CR with the WL being a close second since he is not a big fan of the busses. I think he will love the AKL, but don't want the experience spoiled by a lot of construction.

Thanks!

From what I've heard, they've not started actual construction on Kidani Village (the new AKV building) yet. They've only done (or are currently doing) site prep. It's far enough across the sunset savannah that you'd likely not hear the noise from it, anyway. You'll probably be able to SEE it..but no word on when actual building construction begins. Since they're aiming for opening phases begining in '09, I'd think they'd start some of the construction by mid to late this year (pool area, parking, etc, at least).

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Okay, I have to admit I'm nervous. We had booked a Savanna Room for our September (free dining!) trip back before the first of the year when we were there over NYE. I just called today and upgraded to the concierge level because of the outstanding experience we had with the Polynesian and their concierge as well as really wanting the Sunrise Safari.

But I'm very nervous right now! The whole reason we booked AKL was to get a Savanna view room! Now we can get either a Pool view or a Savanna room and I'm seriously kinda freaking out about it! The reservation CM put it in that we request a savanna view, but if we don't get it both FH and I are going to be so heartbroken!

Does anyone have any experience with this or any advice? I'd love to get it all the advice I can at this point... especially since we won't be at AKL until at least 2 because of magical express!

 

[hastrobb]

Did I miss something about the announcement for free dining?

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Did I miss something about the announcement for free dining?

No, we booked our trip with the bounce back program, which is why we got free dining... we booked before January 1st while we were there

 

[hastrobb]

oh okay, very cool. Enjoy!!

 

[5DisneyNuts]

From what I've heard, they've not started actual construction on Kidani Village (the new AKV building) yet. They've only done (or are currently doing) site prep. It's far enough across the sunset savannah that you'd likely not hear the noise from it, anyway. You'll probably be able to SEE it..but no word on when actual building construction begins. Since they're aiming for opening phases begining in '09, I'd think they'd start some of the construction by mid to late this year (pool area, parking, etc, at least).

Thank you! Guess I will watch and see

 

[SharonLowe]

Okay, I have to admit I'm nervous. We had booked a Savanna Room for our September (free dining!) trip back before the first of the year when we were there over NYE. I just called today and upgraded to the concierge level because of the outstanding experience we had with the Polynesian and their concierge as well as really wanting the Sunrise Safari.

But I'm very nervous right now! The whole reason we booked AKL was to get a Savanna view room! Now we can get either a Pool view or a Savanna room and I'm seriously kinda freaking out about it! The reservation CM put it in that we request a savanna view, but if we don't get it both FH and I are going to be so heartbroken!

Does anyone have any experience with this or any advice? I'd love to get it all the advice I can at this point... especially since we won't be at AKL until at least 2 because of magical express!

This is the room information from AllEars:

"Standard View (facing the parking lot) 135 rooms; Pool View 136 rooms; savanna View 724 rooms; Deluxe Pool View 33 rooms; Deluxe savanna View 191 rooms and 55 Concierge rooms. The deluxe rooms are bigger than the standard rooms. There are also Presidential and Vice Presidential suites, as well as five one-bedroom suites and 12 two-bedroom parlor suites."

All of this is before DVC so the number of rooms is changing. But, the point of showing you this is that the vast majority of the rooms are savanna view. In the past, the only people with CL rooms who got pool views were the smokers. We are booked into a standard CL room for June and the IPO told me that those rooms are all on the 4th floor and all have savanna views. September isn't busy so you will likely have your choice of rooms. When you hear from the IPO, put in your room/view request with them too.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

This is the room information from AllEars:

"Standard View (facing the parking lot) 135 rooms; Pool View 136 rooms; savanna View 724 rooms; Deluxe Pool View 33 rooms; Deluxe savanna View 191 rooms and 55 Concierge rooms. The deluxe rooms are bigger than the standard rooms. There are also Presidential and Vice Presidential suites, as well as five one-bedroom suites and 12 two-bedroom parlor suites."

All of this is before DVC so the number of rooms is changing. But, the point of showing you this is that the vast majority of the rooms are savanna view. In the past, the only people with CL rooms who got pool views were the smokers. We are booked into a standard CL room for June and the IPO told me that those rooms are all on the 4th floor and all have savanna views. September isn't busy so you will likely have your choice of rooms. When you hear from the IPO, put in your room/view request with them too.

Thank you! I feel much better now, we're definitely not smokers so that puts my fears to better rest. I've never done concierge from the get-go, we were upgraded to it at the Polynesian because they thought it was our honeymoon (we said Anniversary... it was our dating anniversary! Go figure! ) so I didn't get any of the time before with them and didn't check in with them either. So I'm a bit of a newbie to the ins and outs of how the contact beforehand works, but I'm sure it will work out in the end!

Does anyone, by the way, know the number for booking the Sunrise Safari? I'd like to go ahead and do that 180 days out so we know for sure that we can take it! Also, does anyone know if since you're already in the park, if you have park tickets you can just stay in the park? We'd like to run over to Everest after breakfast if we're allowed to, since we don't have as much time in Animal Kingdom as we'd like!