Just got booted from AKL

[SharonLowe]

We loved our 14th floor 1BR suite at CR at the end of June but I didn't like looking over the construction site where the North Wing was demolished. I would not accept a Garden View/wing room there nor would I recommend WL - the bus service there is the pits!! A Tower room would be okay at CR but I too would try to get into an Epcot resort before accepting the CR or anything else.

 

[ducklite]

In defence of the South Garden Wing their renovated rooms are amaizing. I understand that going from the AKL Savannah room to the South Garden Wing is not everyones 1st choice. However others who were booted from the Animal Kingdom Lodge had to take rooms at Sarartoga Springs and others thought that was not a fair trade off. At least with the Contemporary you're still staying at a Deluxe Resort and you're at the closest Resort possible to the Magic Kingdom.

Um, SSR is a deluxe resort. All DVC are considered in the same category as the other deluxes. Refurbished or not, the wing rooms at the CR are a step down from a savanah room at the AKL. I'd cancel if I was given the choice of a garden wing room or nothing, and rebook at the Hilton and save throusands. The rooms in the two resorts are basically the same--right down to the Mickey lamp.

At least at SSR you get a private bedroom, a full kitchen, a washer/dryer, and a huge jetted soaking tub. In a Garden room you get a generally lousy view in a room that's decorated like every business hotel in the world.

Anne

 

[John Shanebrook]

Any response from your TA yet?
What's the status of the Grand?

 

[G8r4evr]

IMHO Contemporary Garden wing is a HUGE step down from AKL savannah view.

I'd try for any of the Epcot resorts first. I wouldn't accept CR garden wing. If they want to up the ante to Tower, I'd consider it.

Anne

Agreed. I would accept the CR, only if they offered a theme park view. Other than that, I would ask for something else...Considering you have been booked for a year, they should be able to work some magic and find you a better option.

 

[JulyGirl]

I would try to get a Tower Room if they made me stay at the Contemporary.

Hugs to your DD. If I had to change resorts, I could handle it, but kids really do look forward to seeing those animals.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We stayed at the Contemporary before and the only thing I liked about it was the monorail. It was just a blah resort to me

 

[dce123]

Thanks for all the input from everyone.
You guys are great.

My TA is great and is doing everything she can to help us.

She's going to keep checking on cancellations for me, but there's just not any alternatives right now.

But you know what?
Even though we won't be at AKL, in 2 weeks I'll be in Disneyworld with my wonderful daughter.


I couldn't ask for more than that.
I am truly blessed.

Thanks again for all the advice.
God bless and Happy Independence Day.

 

[marlower]

My main reason for choosing AKL was so that my daughter could have a savannah view room. She's a big animal lover, and was really looking forward to that part of the trip.
My understanding is that there will be few, if any, animals around the AKL during this time. So a pool view there is not especially appealing.

I've contacted my travel agent about getting a different location, but with only 2 weeks time, I don't have much hope of getting another resort.

My first request after I found out about this was the Polynesian. But they said nothing was available.
Not sure about the GF yet.
I'm going to ask my travel agent to check on Beach or Yacht club.

My daughter (Savannah) is 9, and has been to DisneyWorld before, but this is/was our first attempt at staying at AKL. We've only been to the All-Star resorts in the past, so I have no past experience with the Deluxe resorts.

Thanks for all the responses.
And any further suggestions are appreciated.

We have never stayed at AKL either. Usually stay offsite but last Aug we stayed at BC and loved it. I think your daughter will love the BC pool and being so close and walking to Epcot is a huge bonus. We took the boat to MGM which wasn't bad either and the bus service to MK was fine, sometimes we would walk through Epcot (had a park hopper obviously) and then rode the monorail to MK too! If you can't get Poly or GF then my next vote would be for BC or WL, although I have never been to WL I hear it is very nice with a nice pool too. Good luck, I know all will work out for the best! This will just mean you will have to book another trip to AKL!!

 

[vassar36]

Even though the Contempoaray Garden wing is not in the tower, I think its has many ++++'s. You get to use the Monorail (sp?) which is a major benefit. You can also see the Electric Water Parade on the lagoon at night...

I stayed in the contemporary as a kid, and it is a classic disney resort. There is nothing like trying to guess what color monorail is comming next while you are waiting....Also I would much rather stay there then in SSR which it appears many others were offered, but that is just IMHO.

Reguardless of where you stay i hope you and your daughter have a magical vacation.

 

[fla4fun]

I always booked garden wing over tower at CR, so it's more of a personal preference which one you like more. One thing about the wings though, is that you don't get a balcony, if that's important to you. But you are closer to the pool and marina, and I actually like the "parking lot" view because I can watch the monorails go by.

However, they are doing construction at CR as well, and although it won't be as intrusive as what is happening at AKL, it could present a noise issue at some times. Kind of like out of the frying pan and into the fire with that one.

If I were having to give up my first choice of resort, I would definitely try to get one that wasn't also going through construction.

Oh, and I've never had trouble with the WL/VWL bus system, so it's not always bad. You would have been using buses at AKL as well, so don't let bus service put you off. I've had worse luck with buses at the Epcot resorts than at WL/VWL.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We stayed in a Garden Wing room two years ago (before they finished renovation and while they were renovating our floor) and I adored it. The room was huge, beds were comfortable and we had a wonderful view looking out towards the pool and the lake. I would stay there again in a minute.

I don't care for the tower rooms because I hate elevators, especially when they cover so many floors.

 

[kutchyone]

Our next trip scheduled for 8/15/07 to 08/24/07, has been crazy to plan so far to say the least. We rented DVC points for a studio at the Beach Club Villas for the second half of our trip, 8/19 to 8/24 (5 nights). So far, and I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed as I write this until we check in, that portion of the trip has been uneventful. Well not totally uneventful. The cost of renting made it very affordable and possible for us to stay there. The five nights in the studio for 3 adults was $682.50, $136.50 per night total, YEAH! What a great deal, pretty happy with the savings and would have been pretty happy with just that but hoped to get free dining for Part 1 of the trip 8/15 to 8/19. I originally booked CSR on 1/21/07, this is one of our favorite moderate resorts, for 3 adults (additional $10.00 or $15.00 per day for the extra adult), 7 Day MYW Waterpark and More tickets and the MYW dining plan for $1999.71. I was a little down when I found out that this year free dining started later in August.

On 5/8/07, a friend on TGM contacted me via a PM & e-mail to tell me that someone on the DIS had provided a code for a decent discount. I called that morning to see if it could be applied to our CSR reservation but I couldn’t do that. I could use it at POFQ, our other favorite moderate resort, savings us around $300.00. I could also upgrade to the BWI for a decent price but of course more money then my original reservation. I knew my daughter Eryn would just rather stay at CSR this trip so I decided against moving to POFQ even though I would have saved the money. The next morning I was still thinking about that discount code and decided that if it was only about $200.00 more total for the Poly or CR with the discount I would go for it. Nothing was available with that code at those two resorts. Just for the heck of it I asked about AKL. The discount could be used and I would save $27.00 from my original reservation at CSR for the 3 of us. I didn’t bother to check in with my daughter, I took the deal!

A few days ago I was contacted again by my TGM Fairy Godmother Guardian Angel telling me that AKL was moving their guests to other resorts due to the construction. I called and was transferred directly to AKL. The CM said our reservation was OK an dif we had not received a call already we wouldn’t have to move. YEAH again! Still I kept reading others accounts about being required to change resorts. I called back a second time on another day and was told there was no note on my reservation so no move was necessary. Still reading about the moves I called again last night and spoke to a CM who said the notes she had concerning AKL said that everyone was being moved and contacted in order of their check in date and room category. I explained that I was being proactive and she put me through to a special number at Guest Services knows as “Outbound” that was handling all the AKL moves. I left a message and was promptly called back. Another great CM pulled up my reservation and confirmed that we would have to be moved and also when asked confirmed that everyone was being moved. Now I’m not sure if this is just for the same period of time that I had reservations or until September 1. The CM offered SSR (1 bedroom) at 120.00 per night which probably would have given me back a little refund making it a GREAT deal but one that we are not interested in having stayed at a DVC and knowing we were heading to a DVC for Part 2 of this trip. WL was the next offer and I said no that that one too. I know many love the WL, I love the lobby but really dislike the look of the rooms. She asked where we had never stayed and I said the CR and the Poly. She checked CR, Eryn’s first choice and said she could get us in for two nights then we would have to move. I don’t mind moving once but twice in such a short trip would be a bit much. She then checked the Poly and said they had availability and we could make the change at no cost to us. I wanted to modify my reservation last night but for some crazy reason even though I made my own reservation as a TA the owner of the agency got listed as the TA on my reservation. Because of that I couldn’t make the change. I spoke to the owner of my agency last night and she had an early appointment this morning so she told me to call back as her to me the modification myself. I called this morning, left a message again and a couple of hours later received a call back. We now are staying at the Poly, garden view for $27.00 less then what we originally booked at CSR back in January! I backed out the dining plan and the tickets from the package and we are paying $168.53 per night with tax for 3 adults at the Poly.

Even though we wanted to really, really, really stay at the AKL I am happy to be staying at the Poly, especially at that price. I feel like we have hit the DW lottery with this deal. What a trip, planning this trip has been.

If you are staying at AKL for the time period mentioned in this thread and you have not received “the call” you should call them and keep calling until you speak to the Outbound staff. If you want a 1 bedroom villa at $120.00 per night, they will probably offer that first at SSR. It’s a really great deal and you will have so much room with the full kitchen and stackable laundry right in your room! I was told that they have taken over most of the 1 bedrooms there just for this purpose. I was also offered YC at no additional cost, another great deal, but since we are staying at the BCV’s we wanted something a little different. Remember you can negotiate, just ask. I am almost positive that I could have gotten the GF if rooms were available in the category that I was eligible for, I just am not interested in staying there. Be persistent and you should get a

 

[disneyfan19712006]

Um, SSR is a deluxe resort. All DVC are considered in the same category as the other deluxes. Refurbished or not, the wing rooms at the CR are a step down from a savanah room at the AKL. I'd cancel if I was given the choice of a garden wing room or nothing, and rebook at the Hilton and save throusands. The rooms in the two resorts are basically the same--right down to the Mickey lamp.

At least at SSR you get a private bedroom, a full kitchen, a washer/dryer, and a huge jetted soaking tub. In a Garden room you get a generally lousy view in a room that's decorated like every business hotel in the world.

Anne

The studios only have a gueen bed and a pull out bed, a microwave and small fridge. They would have to offer you a one bedroom unit to have all this.

 

[kutchyone]

I was told last night and this morning that the default offer is a SSR 1 bedroom not the studios. They have taken over most of the 1 bedrooms at SSR jus for this reason, to move the AKL folks into them. If you don't want that I was also offered OKW, BWV and BCV 1 bedrooms. We opted for the Poly because we are doing a split stay and have a reservation at the BCV's. Our original reservation was 8/15 to 8/19, AKL standard view not a savana view at all and we were offered the 1 bedroom villa.

 

[famsen]

We stayed in the CR garden wings twice and loved it. I just loved staying at the Contemporary because of the monorail and proximity to MK.
Now with the construction and the demolition of one of the wings, I just don't think it will be the same. There is no way I would stay there at this time. Maybe I would give it a try after construction but from the pictures I have seen, there is some serious magic missing.

 

[ducklite]

The studios only have a gueen bed and a pull out bed, a microwave and small fridge. They would have to offer you a one bedroom unit to have all this.

I've owned DVC for a decade now, and am well aware of this. "AKL refugees" have been offered a 1BR DVC unit, not a studio.

Anne

 

[mom4graceandlogan]

How many days are you going for? It might be that you are only a day or two off from the poly beiling available. This could be a great opportunity for you to do a split stay and try two different deluxe resorts. Maybe first few nights at GF, WL etc. last nights at Poly etc. They will transfer your bags for you. We have done this before when WL was not available for full stay. With the age of your daughter it should be fairly easy. YOu just check out on way to parks, have Bell Services get your bags,bring a backpack for the day, and when you get to your next resort that afternoon, call bell services and have them send it on up. They can transfer your tickets, dining plan etc. from the room key to your new room keys.You may find more options this way. Regardless, you have a Great attitude and you will have a great time!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Um, SSR is a deluxe resort. All DVC are considered in the same category as the other deluxes. Refurbished or not, the wing rooms at the CR are a step down from a savanah room at the AKL. I'd cancel if I was given the choice of a garden wing room or nothing, and rebook at the Hilton and save throusands. The rooms in the two resorts are basically the same--right down to the Mickey lamp.

At least at SSR you get a private bedroom, a full kitchen, a washer/dryer, and a huge jetted soaking tub. In a Garden room you get a generally lousy view in a room that's decorated like every business hotel in the world.

Anne

While SSR and the other DVC Resorts give great amenities and etc, in WDW's view they are not officially Deluxe Resorts. That is why they have them listed as DVC Resorts. I agree what they provide is Deluxe Resort service, but in the end they are not a Deluxe Resort.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

I guess its true what the old addage claims...you learn something new everyday....Now I know they "group" resorts by value, mod, deluxe and "home away from home/Vacation CLub resorts"....I always considered OKW and SSR (well since 04) deluxe resorts..DVC or not

 

[d-hlaw]

Well, when you get to the resort be sure to stop by the DVC timshare sales stand and thank them for causing you all of this heartache.