Mixed reports on AKL

[cavecricket]

I have been getting a different story from every CM I talk to about the construction issues at AKL

While I have no problem w/ normal construction I do not like the idea of having to change resorts, All of my ADR's are based on resort location and the mess I will be in is almost unbearable.

Some Cm's are saying they know nothing about it

Others agree that AKL guests have been very vocal about their disappointment in the way everything is being handled.

I guess I'm looking for opinions here

We are confirmed for 10/7-10/15....should we be proactive and get on a waitlist or wait for Disney to make the first move?

Feedback greatly appreciated. I'm so worried over this

 

[global_mom]

Your October dates should be safe. The shuffling is mostly of guests who are due to stay at AKL in July/August. Have not heard anything about Sept. We are staying in the AKL (in the Villas) for Oct. 14-Oct. 21 and have no worries. I do agree with you about the problems with the rearrangment of your ADRs especially if you dont have a car with you. Hoepfully a relocation will not be an issue. It should all be OK!!

 

[raven69david]

Guests scheduled through 9/30/07 are being contacted by the specialized department handling this issue. Contact Guest Services for more info.

They may include October and other months in the future, but for now, it's only for guests staying through 9/30/07 per my conversation with Guest Relations on Sunday 7/8/07.

Whatever happens, you will still have a great trip.

 

[SB in KY]

There is really nothing you can do now...as stated above no guests with October stays are being relocated at theis time and very few with September stays are being moved. The plan is to have the bulk of the interior construction done by 9/1 to 9/12 and it should be back to business as usual at that point.

I suppose it is possible that they may get behind on construction and not get finished by early September, but they will not relocate anyone after those dates now...I think you will be fine.

 

[momof296&02]

Guests scheduled through 9/30/07 are being contacted by the specialized department handling this issue. Contact Guest Services for more info.

They may include October and other months in the future, but for now, it's only for guests staying through 9/30/07 per my conversation with Guest Relations on Sunday 7/8/07.

Whatever happens, you will still have a great trip.

We are staying 9/12-9/17 & I was told by a cm today that guests arriving before 9/1 are being contacted 7 that I should be fine?? Now i'm really concerned

 

[mika911]

We are staying 9/12-9/17 & I was told by a cm today that guests arriving before 9/1 are being contacted 7 that I should be fine?? Now i'm really concerned

I think it's ridiculous that all the weeks we've been talking about this they are still having to call people who are staying before 9/1. Please, I mean, 9/1 isn't far off, so these reservations are not far off Disney, nothing like ruining people's trips at the last second!

 

[kutchyone]

I would say that not many people consider the upgrades that they have gotten as a ruined trip. Disney is bending over backwards to ensure that people who had reservations at AKL will still have a great vacation even if it isn't at the AKL. I wish I could have stayed there because we had a wonderful rate making that possible but the move to the Poly should more then make up for it. Those 1 bedroom DVC's are wonderful. You have so much more room. Yes in some cases the resort themes don't compare but they are doing the best that they can. Let's face it there is always next year or the year after or the year after that.

 

[kaytieeldr]

We are staying 9/12-9/17 & I was told by a cm today that guests arriving before 9/1 are being contacted 7 that I should be fine?? Now i'm really concerned

I think it's ridiculous that all the weeks we've been talking about this they are still having to call people who are staying before 9/1. Please, I mean, 9/1 isn't far off, so these reservations are not far off Disney, nothing like ruining people's trips at the last second!

I think maybe you’re interpreting what momof was told a bit too literally. There may be Guests they haven’t been able to reach, or who booked through a Travel Agent – so Disney contacted the TA, but maybe can’t be absolutely positive the TA followed through. They’re not going to say, “We’re all done notifying…”

 

[KristenHoneymooner]

I think it's ridiculous that all the weeks we've been talking about this they are still having to call people who are staying before 9/1. Please, I mean, 9/1 isn't far off, so these reservations are not far off Disney, nothing like ruining people's trips at the last second!

My reservation at AKL is 8/20 to 8/25 and we have yet to be contacted. I don't know what this means but it would be really helpful if they'd contact us now if they want to move us. Someone on another thread was contacted less than a week before she left, so I'm not sure when to expect a call. I did the reservation myself, so the problem is not that they are trying to reach a TA instead of me.

 

[las3888]

We are staying in the villas checking in 9/19. We have a 2 y/o who needs to nap during the day so we were very concerned. We figured we would change our ressie if it would be bad while we still had time. Well, I spoke to a person who works at AKL who handles rooms (don't know her title, sorry). I spoke to her last Friday and she told me that they are having major demolition going on in the existing building right now. They are having to relocate people for now through the next 6 weeks is what she told me. She said the noise is very loud (jackhammers and such). I asked her what it was like as far as your lobby experience, i.e., do you hear the theming music, etc. She said no. She said after this 6 week demolition period, they will ramp back up again and fill the resort back up. At that point, most construction will be in rooms (imagine re-working rooms, paint, cabinets, etc.). She said you will hear music in the lobby and the construction should be pretty minimal. She does not expect you will hear any construction in your room at that time.

She told me that they changed how they were doing demolition and decided to get all the hard-core demo done like ripping off a bandaid, and I believe that's what's happening for 6 weeks. After that, I believe there will still be construction but it should not be a terrible experience for guests.

Now, I take some of this with a grain of salt, but she works in the AKL full-time and is very aware of what is happening all around her. My plan is to check in again with them closer to our check-in, and in particular at around 6-7 weeks to make sure the heavy noisy construction is done.

I hope this helps anybody. I guess from last Friday, 6 weeks would be Aug 16. I asked if construction was running behind, ahead or what and she told me it was pretty much right on. She said the workers do not work on weekends unless a certain trade is behind, and they will come in to get caught up.

BTW, they are pretty much done with the rooms on zebra train minus the Grand Villas, so that side of the resort should be pretty calmed down after 6 weeks (this is where any AKV guests should be located). The bulk of the work after the 6 week demo period would be re-doing the rooms along Kudu trail.

I hope this helps. I was getting frustrated talking to various cm's. General CM's working for DVC had very very little info. I was even told that the whole AKL was being converted to DVC (it's only the one floor). That's how little info these people sometimes have.

Good luck with your stays. Let's hope it isn't so bad.

 

[mika911]

I would say that not many people consider the upgrades that they have gotten as a ruined trip. Disney is bending over backwards to ensure that people who had reservations at AKL will still have a great vacation even if it isn't at the AKL. I wish I could have stayed there because we had a wonderful rate making that possible but the move to the Poly should more then make up for it. Those 1 bedroom DVC's are wonderful. You have so much more room. Yes in some cases the resort themes don't compare but they are doing the best that they can. Let's face it there is always next year or the year after or the year after that.

I understand that not everyone will view it as a ruined trip, but I will, if it happens to me. Everything has been about planning around AKL, for dining, park days, etc. Many of you plan your dining and whatnot even more than I do, so some have it even worst.

My trip is very very close, and if I still get called like I have read of some others within 2 weeks of going, I'll be very upset, and I might have to pass until next summer (the pain). ha-ha. There isn't even much availability on my week at this point, so there would be no great solution or even satisfactory solution. I just really feel they are contacting some people way too late, and even those contacted earlier I still feel for, because it can be a great disappointment, but I applaud anyone who can still be positive and enjoy the move because they'll have a great trip, and that is what it is all about.