July and August AKL Guests -- Were You Moved?

[kutchyone]

The Boarwalk was very nice and the location is great for EPCOT and MGM. The only thing I really disliked about the BW was the ugly clown slide. I hate that slide and I think the pool area could have been a beautiful area had they not put that clown in. The BW area at night is beautiful too.

Dining locations in that area are very good too.

So glad that I was proactive and called prior to them calling me or we would have been in the same boat as the folks getting the calls now, "no rooms available."

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

I called them a week or so ago about our August 31st reservation - 1 night with a pool view room and a savanna view room after our week at WLV. I called the 1800 line and they put me through to the relocation people who told me I needed to move - she asked what we wanted (since we are DVC members and SSR is a BTDT and know we'll do it again!) and we were able to choose between both our 1st choices - GF or YC - we chose GF..... pool view room got a lagoon view and savanna view room got club level.

 

[racinjunkie]

And you have every right to be sad and mad! Did they at least give you some money back? I know you are going through your TA but you should at least get some money back for this move. I would recommend writing an email to customer service to voice your disappointment. I emailed and received a call within 5 days of sending it, the cm I spoke to was very kind and basically just listened to me voice my concerns about the lack of consistency among the cm's. I didn't ask for anything and she didn't offer. I just wanted to know the truth about the "closing" of AKL and she said that only a select number of rooms will remain open (some concierge and the suites) Now we will see if that is the truth because I have a friend staying savannah view at AKL starting on Aug 16th and she has not received a call, she has called twice and they keep telling her they don't know what she is talking about, that everything is fine with her ressie! Best of luck to you!!

Nope no money back. I'm going to check the room rate differences today but I'm probably not due any money going from one room at a deluxe to two at a moderate.

 

[robinb]

I had a savannah view room booked at AKL, now I don't even have a balcony.

I'm sorry that you don't have a balcony, but you were offered two resorts with balconies. I know that you did not choose the YC because of the lack of food court (due to your DD's diet), but SSR has quite a nice food court. It is exactly the same as the other deluxe snack bars like Mara and Captain Cooks ... in fact it's better since it also includes a small grocery store with food you can cook back in your villa. I don't know if you were caught up in the anti-SSR hype and bashing here on the DIS or why you didn't choose SSR but I would guarantee that I would choose a 1 BR at SSR over two rooms at POR in a heart beat.

The only thing you gain from POR is a bigger food court, but you didn't have that at Mara either! The location is about the same between the two but you lose the zero-entry depth pool and you don't have a balcony to relax on. In addition, since your DD had dietary issues, what better solution than to have a place where you can cook for her should you need to? Or warm up leftovers in the microwave in your villa?

I know that you're leaving in just a couple of days but you may want to reconsider SSR. Sure, your TA will want to kill you but that's what she's being paid for!

 

[robinb]

Here is the view from our studio at SSR last December:

 

[racinjunkie]

Thanks for your thoughts. We didn't choose SSR for a few reasons, dd would be sleeping on a sleeper sofa, and ds would have to sleep on a sofa, we weren't happy with that. It's also very spread out, and according to my map it would be rare to be near a bus stop.

 

[asmarykay]

Had AKL standard view 8/31 - 9/9. Received the call on 7/18 (2 days after final payment). I had called proactively and was told our ressie was fine .....

We have been moved to garden view at the Poly. We are very pleased with the move.

 

[dis-me]

I'm getting mad as we've booked AKL for 21st-28th Aug and have heard nothing.
I've called the TA (Virgin Holidays) who didn't know anything about it. Called Disney, who told us we weren't being moved but might be nearer the time and sent TWO emails via the UK 'Contact Us' site and didn't receive a response.
I'm very concerned as a) we don't want to settle for a lesser property (we booked AKL Savannah view rooms for a reason so would really only take a monorail property as an alternative) and b) we've made our first/last night dining reservations around Boma.

Does anyone have any advice? I really don't want to find out at the last minute that we are in fact being moved and for their to be no availability anywhere suitable.

 

[Summer-Caitlin]

I'm getting mad as we've booked AKL for 21st-28th Aug and have heard nothing.
I've called the TA (Virgin Holidays) who didn't know anything about it. Called Disney, who told us we weren't being moved but might be nearer the time and sent TWO emails via the UK 'Contact Us' site and didn't receive a response.
I'm very concerned as a) we don't want to settle for a lesser property (we booked AKL Savannah view rooms for a reason so would really only take a monorail property as an alternative) and b) we've made our first/last night dining reservations around Boma.

Does anyone have any advice? I really don't want to find out at the last minute that we are in fact being moved and for their to be no availability anywhere suitable.

I definately recommend being persistant with your UK TA. I have written extensively on this predicament. I was booked AKL, standard room for Aug 23rd-Aug 30th. I was told by my TA we didn't need to be moved. I wasn't happy with this and called Disney myself 6 or 7 times. Eventually I got a Disney CM to say she would easily move me but because we booked through a TA they had to do it. I gave my TA 1 wek to move me or I was gonna complain big time. This is our wedding/honeymoon and I wasn't willing to take the chance of being disturbed by construction.
I told my TA my requests, The Poly of GF. On the Sat afternoon I received a call saying I was being upgraded to GF at no extra cost for the whole 7 nights.

My advice, don't let it lie, my being proactive allowed me a choice of where to stay, I hear many places are now booked solid.

I hope you manage to get this sorted to your satisfaction ixiedust:. Keep us updated!

 

[racinjunkie]

Call 407-939-7919 and be sure you tell them why you're calling, not just to check on your ressies.

 

[robinb]

Thanks for your thoughts. We didn't choose SSR for a few reasons, dd would be sleeping on a sleeper sofa, and ds would have to sleep on a sofa, we weren't happy with that. It's also very spread out, and according to my map it would be rare to be near a bus stop.

Thanks for the clarification. I forgot that you had booked at bunk bed room and that you needed 3 beds. Unfortunately, a one bedroom wouldn't work for you then .

I do wish you a good and safe trip!

 

[racinjunkie]

Thanks Robin! I appreciate that!!

 

[stalkingmickey]

Had AKL standard view 8/31 - 9/9. Received the call on 7/18 (2 days after final payment). I had called proactively and was told our ressie was fine .....

We have been moved to garden view at the Poly. We are very pleased with the move.

These are my exact same dates. We also took the Poly garden view. See you there.

 

[SleepingBet]

I'm getting mad as we've booked AKL for 21st-28th Aug and have heard nothing.
I've called the TA (Virgin Holidays) who didn't know anything about it. Called Disney, who told us we weren't being moved but might be nearer the time and sent TWO emails via the UK 'Contact Us' site and didn't receive a response.
I'm very concerned as a) we don't want to settle for a lesser property (we booked AKL Savannah view rooms for a reason so would really only take a monorail property as an alternative) and b) we've made our first/last night dining reservations around Boma.

Does anyone have any advice? I really don't want to find out at the last minute that we are in fact being moved and for their to be no availability anywhere suitable.

My observation from reading this board and others is that the UK guests are not being moved unless they specifically ask for it. The same goes for standard club level. Don't know if that's accurate or not, but only my best guess. There are still people staying at AKL during all of August, so if you haven't gotten a call, it's probably because you aren't going to be moved.