Just got off phone with CRO about AKL

[dismom3]

I just got off the phone with CRO about the AKL construction. They told me that one entire wing is closed and the zebra trail is the only one that is open. That is the one by the pool. She said you can't see the construction at all because they closed that wing entirely. She said she was just there during the day and you can't hear or see anything from the pool or any of the open rooms. I'm going to stop stressing. They only calling people to move that were supposed to be in that closed wing. She promised me that if you stay at the hotel, you will not notice anything. What do you guys think?

 

[SharonLowe]

I just got off the phone with CRO about the AKL construction. They told me that one entire wing is closed and the zebra trail is the only one that is open. That is the one by the pool. She said you can't see the construction at all because they closed that wing entirely. She said she was just there during the day and you can't hear or see anything from the pool or any of the open rooms. I'm going to stop stressing. They only calling people to move that were supposed to be in that closed wing. She promised me that if you stay at the hotel, you will not notice anything. What do you guys think?

We were there the end of June and all the construction was on the Zebra Trail side so I find it hard to believe that is the trail that is open. We were on the Kudu Trail, Arusha Savanna, near Arusha Rock on the 4th floor; the CL is temporarily in the Presidential Suite which is on the Kudu Trail too. The entire 6th floor was blocked off and all of the 5th floor from the center around Zebra Trail; Kudu Trail 5th floor was completely open.

 

[SB in KY]

Dismom3...I have decided to let this one go...we are booked for a concierge room the first week of August and I am going to take them at their word that the rooms that remain open will be fine. I do not think they would leave people in rooms that were affected by the construction since they have gone to all of the trouble of relocating so many.

I do not know which savannah we will be on, but I really don't care too much anyways, and whichever one it is will be undisturbed by the construction so the animals will be there to enjoy. Also I think it might be nice to be in a resort that is only 1/2 occupied....chairs by the pool, seats on the bus, fewer lines in Mara, etc, etc.

I really think we will be fine. I promised myself I wasn't going to call them anymore!!

 

[dismom3]

Oh man - this is ridiculous! Everyone says something different, so that's why I worry. I can't believe they told me the Zebra trail was the one open and someone that just stayed there says it's the opposite. This is ridiculous. I want to move now. I really do.

 

[grannyminnie]

I think you should let them call you, since they seem to be calling those whose stays will be affected by the construction. Maybe yours will not be, and that's why they're not calling you. I do however understand your anxiety because I always want my trips to be perfect too!

 

[TammiMcMan]

Dismom, I've noticed that reports about the construction are all over the place. CM's and even a few recent guests have come back saying that they barely noticed a thing, while others were bothered by some very loud construction noises. I think it's just a matter of what they happen to be working on that day. I'm not sure if I'd be willing to risk my vacation on a "what if" scenario. Regardless of whether or not they have called you, I think you are well within your rights to call them and ask to be moved. What I would suggest is going on line first and seeing what is available for your dates. Considering that you are calling, they may not be quite as flexible with what they'll offer you in trade. It sounds like for those being called, they are offered SSR the first time around and if they push it, then it's followed up by another offer. You may need to stand firm, but stay pleasant with them.

 

[BCV23]

A DVCer checked into a villa on the 5th floor of Zebra Trail yesterday. THe first part of her report is up on allears. I think she said only 10 villas opened yesterday but still if they are beginning to open the villas on Zebra Trail it could be that wing is starting to open on the lower floors as well.

Someone reported on the DVC board that she read on another site that the entire DVC conversion should be finished by 9/1....supposedly according to the manager of AKL. I know that is very secondhand but it certainly sounds like things are going much faster than originally intended

 

[mprewitt]

Someone reported on the DVC board that she read on another site that the entire DVC conversion should be finished by 9/1....supposedly according to the manager of AKL. I know that is very secondhand but it certainly sounds like things are going much faster than originally intended

That rumor is not true.

 

[BCV23]

That rumor is not true.

Which part...that Jambo House will be finished by 9/1 or that the conversion is ahead of schedule?

 

[BroadwayGirl]

We were there the end of June and all the construction was on the Zebra Trail side so I find it hard to believe that is the trail that is open. We were on the Kudu Trail, Arusha Savanna, near Arusha Rock on the 4th floor; the CL is temporarily in the Presidential Suite which is on the Kudu Trail too. The entire 6th floor was blocked off and all of the 5th floor from the center around Zebra Trail; Kudu Trail 5th floor was completely open.

Yes but the first phase of the AKV opened yesterday and IIRC, that phase was to be along Zebra Trail. So it is entirely possible that when you were at AKL they were still completing the work along Zebra trail and now have completed the work so they could open the first AKV rooms yesterday.

Someone reported on the DVC board that she read on another site that the entire DVC conversion should be finished by 9/1....supposedly according to the manager of AKL. I know that is very secondhand but it certainly sounds like things are going much faster than originally intended

While this is not accurate as far as the ENTIRE DVC project goes, I know they have pushed the conversion dates to finish the work in Jambo house sooner than the original schedule. I hadn't heard the 9/1 date but certainly I can see them trying to get all of Jambo house completed before the holiday season begins.

 

[mprewitt]

Which part...that Jambo House will be finished by 9/1 or that the conversion is ahead of schedule?

It is not true that all the AKV rooms in Jambo house will be completed by 9/1. I've heard it will definitely be sooner than the original date of May 2008, but not Sept 1, 2007. The end of the year is more likely.

 

[dismom3]

UPDATE UPDATE!! They moved us to the GF!!!!!! I finally got through to someone who put me through to guest services. I asked if we could be moved, and they said, "What hotel would you like to stay at?" I said the GF and she said she would check if it's available, which it was!! No price increase. I'm so happy. By the way, our dates are 8/28-9/4. I would call people because by the time they get to you, the hotels you would want to switch to might be gone. Lots of luck!

 

[Jen66]

I realize the construction at AKL may be a distraction, but if it is only during the day and you're evening at the resort people, I would say stay. Has anyone else thought how great the pool and hot tub will be with practically no one at the resort? I would think you could easily have that type of stuff almost all to yourselves. Won't the other resorts be even more crowded with AKL's overflow?

 

[Jen66]

UPDATE UPDATE!! They moved us to the GF!!!!!! I finally got through to someone who put me through to guest services. I asked if we could be moved, and they said, "What hotel would you like to stay at?" I said the GF and she said she would check if it's available, which it was!! No price increase. I'm so happy. By the way, our dates are 8/28-9/4. I would call people because by the time they get to you, the hotels you would want to switch to might be gone. Lots of luck!

Congrats, ignore my post! LOL

 

[grannyminnie]

Well done! I'd consider that a very big upgrade!!

 

[TammiMcMan]

UPDATE UPDATE!! They moved us to the GF!!!!!!

Congrats to you Dismom... I'm so glad you called them. Other than a few bunnies and maybe some deer in the area, the GF won't quite hold up to the animals at the AKL, but I think you'll be happy none the less. Not to alarm you or anything though, the GF is currently rehabbing their guest rooms. At check-in, you may want to ask about the availablity of a new room, or at the very least, avoid any buildings where the rehab is currently taking place.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I worked through the Wilderness Lodge rehab.
2) This wasn't major construction, just an update.
3) However, there was a lot of hammering and sawing going on.
4) When in use, there is NO WAY to halt the noise of either.
5) it was OK at times, since it was during the daytime.
6) But, near the end they worked 14-hour shifts to get completed.
7) People did complain about noise until about 9:00pm.
8) Noise at AKL will depend upon what they are doing, and when.
9) After all, in new housing developments, saws and hammers are heard for blocks.

NOTE: As TammiMcMan said, I would not bet my vacation on a :what-if".

 

[kutchyone]

I was told in the past 24 hours by three different CM's that everyone was being moved. Two of the CM's were in a special unit called Outbound that is responsible for moving people from AKL to other resorts. I was proactive because I had a standard view and I was told by the CM's that they are calling in chronological order by check in date by room level. I didn't want to have to few options to pick from She also said that they have taken over the majority of the 1 bedroom villas at SSR just for this purpose. I requested the Poly because that was my daughters second choice. We got it. Call if your dates are included. Our reservation is for 8/15 to 8/19.

 

[marlower]

Just got off the phone with a CM at AKL and with Customer Service.

I dialed directly to AKL and she said that my room will not be affected(pool view) but that she would connect me with customer service.

Got customer service on the line and they immediately said yes, I will need to be moved and they would move us to SSR for $107 per night. I asked if the whole resort will be closed and she said no that a small percentage of the rooms will remain open, all the restaurants, room service, the pool etc will remain open as well. I asked well then why do I need to be moved if you are leaving some rooms open, I asked if I could stay and she said "of course" The cm went on to tell me that there will be construction noise from 9am-5pm daily (i don't know about weekends) and that I may be able to hear the noise, but if it didn't bother me than I am welcome to stay. I again confirmed with her that all the restaurants, room service (very important to me) and especially the pool will remain open and she again said yes! So I have decided to stay for now, she said I am welcome to call back anytime if i change my mind but that she could not guarantee what resort I would be moved to. At this time, she said the only resorts they could move me to are SSR (cheaper rate of course) or BC/YC(same rate). I have stayed at BC last August so I think I will stay at AKL for now. I asked the CM that perhaps the pool, etc will be less crowded at AKL and she said yes, definitely.

So, I guess my advice to those wavering about staying at AKL right now would be to wait if they call and if you don't mind the daytime construction noise, then I would say stay. The resort will definitely be less crowded. I know for our family, we will be out and about by 9am and probably not back to the resort before 5pm so I hope to not be affected at all by the construction.

One more thing, I asked what trail they are doing construction on and she said Kudu--who knows for sure?! Anyone?!! If I have a pool view, what
trail(s) do you think I will be at?

 

[marlower]

Dismom,

Exactly how did you get GF, they told me the only thing available for my dates was BC/YC or SSR. Do you have any tips on getting into GF? What were are your travel dates? TIA