May 09 new AK building

[Kurby]

If we book for our May 2009 trip in June of this year and the new building opens do we get first dibs of transfering over or do the people booking at the time it opens get first dibs?

i would hate to have our reservations all complete and the new building opens in Jan and try to book day to day only to have a couple of days not available in the middle of our trip and we have to move again.

as it stands we're already spending 2 nights cash at another resort 7 nights AK and 7 OKW - i don't think i'd want to split AK up between 2 buildings

 

[LisaS]

I think they will give every AKV owner an equal chance at booking Kidani once they begin taking reservations. I don't think anyone who books Jambo House or is on the waiting list for Jambo House will be given priority to book Kidani for those same dates.

 

[Claire L]

I would hope those on a waitlist would get first refusal when Kidani opens, especially if earlier than planned, otherwise it seems a bit unfair to all those who are waiting and someone who hasn't gets a room.

Claire

 

[LisaS]

I would hope those on a waitlist would get first refusal when Kidani opens, especially if earlier than planned, otherwise it seems a bit unfair to all those who are waiting and someone who hasn't gets a room.

Claire

If Kidani was just another building at the resort with rooms identical to those in Jambo House then I would agree. But there are people waiting until Kidani opens to book AKV for the first time because they want the bigger room and the second bathroom in the 1BR villas.

Also I'm not sure it's fair to give preference to people on the waiting list. People holding reservations at Jambo House booked earlier than those on the waiting list so it would seem more fair to give them the option to switch rather than giving the rooms to those who were the last to call. Plus, preference should be given to AKV owners and some of those on the waiting list may not own at AKV.

 

[wildernessDad]

I totally agree with LisaS.

 

[Kurby]

Claire - are you saying that those who booked at the 11 month mark shouldn't be able to have pirority when the new building opens which would open up rooms in the original building for those on the waiting list

or are you saying that owners who booked 11 months should wait until those people making reservations 5 or 6 months out or shorter since those who booked at the 11 month mark already have reservations?

i have no problem staying where i've booked if it's a matter of cancelling my already booked trip to fight for rooms with every DVC member in January.

 

[pyrxtc]

I think those that booked first should have the option of moving to Kidani House if they like before they open reservations up to everyone and AKV's owners should get a month to book before owners of any other resorts can book there. There are a lot of AKV owners that ahve booked some days and have others on the waiting list to finish their reservations since it booked up so fast.

People bought AKV so they book their home resort before other owners can. I ahve booked 4 days and have been waitlisted for 3 more. I would love to move it all to Kidani, so long as I can move all 3 rooms I have reserved for those 4 days.

I would lvoe to have Kidani open by December for holiday reservations. I can walk over to the pool if I have to but I want to try out the new building!!

 

[drusba]

Whenever it opens they may give AKV owners a head start over non-owners because they have at least done that before.

However, I seriously doubt that those with Jambo reservations will be offered a switch before other AKV owners can reserve. The problem with the concept that those with Jambo reservations should get priority is that it is based on an implied assumption that DVC itself would never make in a million years or ever admit to by conduct or words: that Kidani is a better place than Jambo. In other words DVC will assume, even if told otherwise by a member, that everyone who has reserved Jambo wants to stay at Jambo and thus won't consider giving them first priority at Kidani.

 

[pixie08]

If Kidani was just another building at the resort with rooms identical to those in Jambo House then I would agree. But there are people waiting until Kidani opens to book AKV for the first time because they want the bigger room and the second bathroom in the 1BR villas.

Also I'm not sure it's fair to give preference to people on the waiting list. People holding reservations at Jambo House booked earlier than those on the waiting list so it would seem more fair to give them the option to switch rather than giving the rooms to those who were the last to call. Plus, preference should be given to AKV owners and some of those on the waiting list may not own at AKV.

I would have to fully agree.

 

[Claire L]

If Kidani was just another building at the resort with rooms identical to those in Jambo House then I would agree. But there are people waiting until Kidani opens to book AKV for the first time because they want the bigger room and the second bathroom in the 1BR villas.

Also I'm not sure it's fair to give preference to people on the waiting list. People holding reservations at Jambo House booked earlier than those on the waiting list so it would seem more fair to give them the option to switch rather than giving the rooms to those who were the last to call. Plus, preference should be given to AKV owners and some of those on the waiting list may not own at AKV.

I agree LisaS that those who have a confirmed ressie should have first refusal to move to Kidani, and then those who were waitlisted between the 11 and 7 months window should get next pickings. I don't care which building I get but think it would be bad PR if I was waitlisted and someone new was able to get the room before me.

I booked at less than 11 months but more than 10 months for a savannah view studio and am still waitlisted, for some nights, so would be mightily p'd off if a new ressie got first pickings for Kidani and I remained on a waitlist.

Claire

 

[JaxFLBear]

I would think that if there is going to be a priority booking window, it will be for all AKV owners. It shouldn't matter if you have a reservation, on the wait list or are looking for a new reservation.

 

[Tigger1]

I would agree that owners should get a little head start. At this point no one has a ressie for over 11 months out. With the size of the new resort will there really be a lack of rooms? I do not own at AKL but was able to get ressies last August once it was open season for all to reserve. Jambo does not have nearly as many rooms as Kidani will.

Will Kidani have Concierge rooms?

Tigger

 

[LisaS]

With the size of the new resort will there really be a lack of rooms?

Kidani will open in phases. There is a rumor that the first phase of Kidani will open towards the end of the year but it's not clear how many rooms would be available.

Will Kidani have Concierge rooms?

According to the public website Kidani will have Standard View and Savanna View rooms, no Concierge and no Value rooms.

 

[starbox]

I am slightly confused because there's nothing (that I know of) in the point structure that designates a reservation as Kidani or Jambo. I just assumed you could request one - but there would not be a guarantee.

 

[Kurby]

oh then that would be interesting. do you think it would be a first come first serve kind of thing?

 

[dcfromva]

I am slightly confused because there's nothing (that I know of) in the point structure that designates a reservation as Kidani or Jambo. I just assumed you could request one - but there would not be a guarantee.

Would that mean that it would be luck of the draw whether you have 1 or 2 bathrooms in your 1BR unit?

 

[JaxFLBear]

I am slightly confused because there's nothing (that I know of) in the point structure that designates a reservation as Kidani or Jambo. I just assumed you could request one - but there would not be a guarantee.

Jambo House and Kidani Village will be distinct booking categories once Kidani opens. You will be know at the time the reservation is made which section you will be in. You will also check-in at that location. Also, the assumption is that point values will be the same based on the room size and view.

All current reservations for AKV have Jambo as part of the room type.

 

[starbox]

Would that mean that it would be luck of the draw whether you have 1 or 2 bathrooms in your 1BR unit?

I think it would have to be luck of the draw if the point value is the same because everyone is going to want/request Kidani (bigger rooms, better pool, exclusive savanna).

Of course they could designate all of Jambo "value" once Kidani opens since the rooms are all going to be smaller.

Who knows. But even though I'm an owner and can make a request at 11 months - I'm not getting my heart set on being able to guarantee a Kidani reservation unless/until it's got a separate booking category.

 

[starbox]

Jambo House and Kidani Village will be distinct booking categories once Kidani opens. You will be know at the time the reservation is made which section you will be in. You will also check-in at that location.

How do we know that they are different booking categories?

I figured all DVC check-in will move to Kidani once it opens and they'll stop checking in DVC members at Jambo.

 

[JaxFLBear]

How do we know that they are different booking categories?

I figured all DVC check-in will move to Kidani once it opens and they'll stop checking in DVC members at Jambo.

DVC has said that they are.