JAMBO! The UN-official AKL Thread ~ UPDATED(short film/pg 8 & slideshow/pg 12) Part 3

[kimmar067]

...bumping...

 

[kgc07]

Does anyone actually see any type of CL villa being available for a cash reservation?

 

[kimmar067]

 

[kimmar067]

 

[pilferk]

Does anyone actually see any type of CL villa being available for a cash reservation?

Honestly, I'd be pretty shocked to see it very often.

There are SO few of them...I suppose CRO is "supposed" to have some of them, at some point, during the year (they get a % of inventory through DVD and trade outs), but the number is gonig to be so astronomically low, you'd almost have to book a trip around IT, rather than dates. Since they're listed, and there are rack rates for them, I'm sure SOMEONE will get one through CRO eventually.

 

[sajetto]

I have no idea HOW I have missed this thread in the past, but these AKL pics are making me so excited for our upcoming trip!

 

[kimmar067]

I have no idea HOW I have missed this thread in the past, but these AKL pics are making me so excited for our upcoming trip!

...that's great news....and, !!

 

[SharonLowe]

Honestly, I'd be pretty shocked to see it very often.

There are SO few of them...I suppose CRO is "supposed" to have some of them, at some point, during the year (they get a % of inventory through DVD and trade outs), but the number is gonig to be so astronomically low, you'd almost have to book a trip around IT, rather than dates. Since they're listed, and there are rack rates for them, I'm sure SOMEONE will get one through CRO eventually.

I checked to see what was available for our next trip in May 2008, and it was letting me reserve a studio if I wanted one. I didn't - we're doing the 2BR CL suite since it is my 50th b'day - but I was curious to see if any villas were available.

 

[TyRy]

Here's the rates.

Room Type Value Regular Peak Holiday
Studio
Studio $265 $310 $380 $430
Studio $325 $370 $440 $490
Studio $395 $440 $510 $560
1 BR Villa
1 BR Villa $375 $435 $515 $585
1 BR Villa $435 $495 $575 $645
1 BR Villa $505 $565 $645 $715
2 BR Villa
2 BR Villa $550 $735 $945 $1080
2 BR Villa $610 $795 $1005 $1140
2 BR Villa $680 $865 $1075 $1210
2 BR Villa $850 $1110 $1405 $1595

3 BR Grand Villa
$1485 $1695 $1910 $2155
2008 Room Rates with Concierge Service Available (per night, tax not included)‡
Room Type Value Regular Peak Holiday
Studio $455 $515 $615 $685
1 BR Villa $610 $690 $805 $900

And before anyone asks...I'm not sure WHAT the 4th type of 2 BR Villa is...maybe they lumped in concierge there instead of breaking it out with the Studio and 1BR Villa?

That makes much more sense - with the other rates why would anyone have booked anything but DVC Now it's much more in line with room rates.

 

[kgc07]

I checked to see what was available for our next trip in May 2008, and it was letting me reserve a studio if I wanted one. I didn't - we're doing the 2BR CL suite since it is my 50th b'day - but I was curious to see if any villas were available.

I also checked what was available for cash reservations for our May '08 trip. They had a 2 BR suite available, but not a 2 BR CL villa.

 

[Flossbolna]

Here's the rates.

Room Type Value Regular Peak Holiday
Studio
Studio $265 $310 $380 $430
Studio $325 $370 $440 $490
Studio $395 $440 $510 $560
1 BR Villa
1 BR Villa $375 $435 $515 $585
1 BR Villa $435 $495 $575 $645
1 BR Villa $505 $565 $645 $715
2 BR Villa
2 BR Villa $550 $735 $945 $1080
2 BR Villa $610 $795 $1005 $1140
2 BR Villa $680 $865 $1075 $1210
2 BR Villa $850 $1110 $1405 $1595

3 BR Grand Villa
$1485 $1695 $1910 $2155
2008 Room Rates with Concierge Service Available (per night, tax not included)‡
Room Type Value Regular Peak Holiday
Studio $455 $515 $615 $685
1 BR Villa $610 $690 $805 $900

And before anyone asks...I'm not sure WHAT the 4th type of 2 BR Villa is...maybe they lumped in concierge there instead of breaking it out with the Studio and 1BR Villa?

Thanks for the rates! As I understand it, the first studio will be the value studio which is smaller than the other studios but as big a standard room as the AKL, and can have a view of either parking, pool or savannah. As it is actually cheaper than a savannah view room, this might be a chance for a "cheap" savannah view room, but with a chance of ending up with a parking lot view if you have bad luck.... Might be an interesting room option actually!

 

[SharonLowe]

I also checked what was available for cash reservations for our May '08 trip. They had a 2 BR suite available, but not a 2 BR CL villa.

The 2BR suites are much nicer and have better views than most of the 2BR villas with CL so I wouldn't book at 2BR villa anyway.

 

[pilferk]

Thanks for the rates! As I understand it, the first studio will be the value studio which is smaller than the other studios but as big a standard room as the AKL, and can have a view of either parking, pool or savannah. As it is actually cheaper than a savannah view room, this might be a chance for a "cheap" savannah view room, but with a chance of ending up with a parking lot view if you have bad luck.... Might be an interesting room option actually!

Correct.

In the listing it goes:
Value
Standard
Savannah


Again, I'm not sure WHAT the extra 2BR listing is....I'm assuming maybe concierge, since there's no listing for concierge 2BR in the Concierge category. I'm guessing, though.

 

[Angel16]

Oh....I just can't wait until they get AKL Villa Suites DONE and we all can start experiencing them.
I am anxiously awaiting the first reviews from the new Villa's. I have it on pretty good authority to wait until after October of this year for a visit. Not a problem for me, we would like to go next year during the Food and Wine Festival.

Not sure how I am going to make it for over a year without a WDW visit. I am living through all who head to the world this year.

Does anyone have pictures of the new rooms (Villa's) Huh, huh, I would love, love, love to see them.

Waveing HI to all in the Jumbo AKL Thread

Angel16

 

[SharonLowe]

Thanks for the rates! As I understand it, the first studio will be the value studio which is smaller than the other studios but as big a standard room as the AKL, and can have a view of either parking, pool or savannah. As it is actually cheaper than a savannah view room, this might be a chance for a "cheap" savannah view room, but with a chance of ending up with a parking lot view if you have bad luck.... Might be an interesting room option actually!

None of the rooms on the 6th floor have a good view but my understanding is that all of those are CL rooms. The 5th floor views aren't that much better IMO - some are obstructed and you are too high to get a really good look at the animals. I'm guessing there aren't many value studios and I would assume any of the savanna view ones would be on the sunset savanna facing the new construction.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Just popping in to say HELLO! I missed a ton on the thread and don't have time to catch up...but have read the last few pages-exciting news about the villas!

As you can see by my ticket our little one is due veryyyy soon. Hard to believe 9 months have already flown by!

DH and I think about WDW and AKL daily! Just the other day we were riding to work, sipping coffee out of Mara mugs and DH says "I want to go back to Mara..." Oh me too, sweetie, me too! But we both know it will probably be at least another year. We are on the 'get out of debt track' plus with little one arriving, we want to take him when he's a bit older to run around and such.

Someday we'll be back...someday! Until that day, I'll just drool over the stories and pictures and keep dreaming!

 

[pilferk]

Oh....I just can't wait until they get AKL Villa Suites DONE and we all can start experiencing them.
I am anxiously awaiting the first reviews from the new Villa's. I have it on pretty good authority to wait until after October of this year for a visit. Not a problem for me, we would like to go next year during the Food and Wine Festival.

Not sure how I am going to make it for over a year without a WDW visit. I am living through all who head to the world this year.

Does anyone have pictures of the new rooms (Villa's) Huh, huh, I would love, love, love to see them.

Waveing HI to all in the Jumbo AKL Thread

Angel16

There's reviews up in the DVC Misc board already, with pics.

You can also head to allears.net blogs and see pics and a rundown of opening day from Linda Mac.

 

[pilferk]

None of the rooms on the 6th floor have a good view but my understanding is that all of those are CL rooms. The 5th floor views aren't that much better IMO - some are obstructed and you are too high to get a really good look at the animals. I'm guessing there aren't many value studios and I would assume any of the savanna view ones would be on the sunset savanna facing the new construction.

Just to give a different perspective:

I like the 5th floor views. They're different than the lower floors...less intimate, but more expansive and more panoramic. I can't say I PREFER the 5th floor views...I like both sets of views pretty equally, for different reasons.

That's what's sort of nice about the AKV "plan". With Jambo, you have the upper floors only, but with Kidani, you'll get both...which means you can get both types depending on what you want for any given trip.

The only obstructed 5th floor view I know of is the pool view (with Boma's right below it). I'm sure there are more, but I don't know of them.

 

[Flossbolna]

Just popping in to say HELLO! I missed a ton on the thread and don't have time to catch up...but have read the last few pages-exciting news about the villas!

As you can see by my ticket our little one is due veryyyy soon. Hard to believe 9 months have already flown by!

DH and I think about WDW and AKL daily! Just the other day we were riding to work, sipping coffee out of Mara mugs and DH says "I want to go back to Mara..." Oh me too, sweetie, me too! But we both know it will probably be at least another year. We are on the 'get out of debt track' plus with little one arriving, we want to take him when he's a bit older to run around and such.

Someday we'll be back...someday! Until that day, I'll just drool over the stories and pictures and keep dreaming!

Hi brookelizabeth! I was just wondering the other day how you are! I am glad to hear that you and little one are well and wish you all the best!

 

[John's Mom]

We are on the 'get out of debt track' plus with little one arriving, we want to take him when he's a bit older to run around and such.

Hi Brookelizabeth,

I'm glad that you are doing well. I'm assuming by the above quote that you and your DH are expecting a boy. I hope that everything turns out perfectly.