Question about booking at Kadani

[drakester]

I've been looking everywhere and I can't seem to find out when they are going to start booking Kadani Village. Does anyone know the answer?

 

[AKV707]

I don't think anyone knows for sure. Kidani is scheduled to open in Spring 2009, but it may open in phases. Some believe that as early as this December, the first phase may be open. But they may wait for the entire Kidani to be finished. I am hoping to stay there July of 2009.

 

[RLRDA]

I remember reading another thread a few weeks ago (of course, I can't find it now!) that a DVC guide mentioned to this particular member that reservations for Kidani 'should' start in August. This is nothing official but it would make sense since we've all heard it should open sometime in the Spring of '09 and it's ahead of schedule. That would be 5-7 months before the doors open.

Edit:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1769869 (after I posted I remembered that I had subscribed to the thread mentioned above! -- here it is)

 

[drakester]

I sure hope so. I'm hoping to stay there in June '09.

 

[tjkraz]

Right now the contracts for people buying into Kidani have an estimated occupancy of May 1st. That sounds like DVC's current target date for having the first units open.

If that dates holds true, they may simply begin accepting Kidani reservations starting on June 1, 2008. That would be 11 months out.

If they don't open it up until some later date, I'm sure they will give owners a priority window to book Kidani before non-owners are permitted to book.

I hope they have it ready 11 months out. If not, it's going to generate a lot of extra phone calls from members who booked Jambo House 11 months out and then try to change to the new building.

 

[Claire L]

The Dreams book from last year gave opening dates of early 2009, bearing in mind they are ahead of schedule I would of thought opening would be Jan 09 or sooner

Claire

 

[tjkraz]

The Dreams book from last year gave opening dates of early 2009, bearing in mind they are ahead of schedule I would of thought opening would be Jan 09 or sooner

Claire:

I'm not sure that there's any substance to the rumors that construction is ahead of schedule (not that we really know what the schedule was to begin with.)

What we do know is this:

1. DVC announced that the Sunset Savanna will be effectively closed from January 15 to April 15, 2009. Given that many of the savanna view rooms at Kidani will overlook the Sunset Savanna, I find it highly unlikely that those rooms will open to guests before April 15th. The closure is probably related to putting the finishing touches on the Kidani units (fencing, vegetation) before they open to guests.

2. As I said, Kidani buyers are being told that their units have an estimated occupancy of May 1, 2009.

Certainly both of those dates are worst-case scenario. The Sunset Savanna could re-open sooner and they could later announce that Kidani owners can use their points sooner. But I really don't see any evidence to suggest that DVC's estimates could be off by 30-40%.

I visited the resort about a month ago and Kidani is little more than structural steel. Not only do the guest rooms need to be ready, but all of the public areas too. We're talking about the lobby, the entire pool complex, restaurant, valet parking, bell services, landscaping, and so on.

I'd say we're looking at April / May '09. And with Easter falling in April next year, a May opening sounds most likely. Even Walt himself learned a valuable lesson after opening Disneyland in the middle of the summer. Throwing-open the doors to Kidani in the middle of spring break wouldn't be particularly wise for that reason alone.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Claire:

I'm not sure that there's any substance to the rumors that construction is ahead of schedule (not that we really know what the schedule was to begin with.)

What we do know is this:

1. DVC announced that the Sunset Savanna will be effectively closed from January 15 to April 15, 2009. Given that many of the savanna view rooms at Kidani will overlook the Sunset Savanna, I find it highly unlikely that those rooms will open to guests before April 15th. The closure is probably related to putting the finishing touches on the Kidani units (fencing, vegetation) before they open to guests.

2. As I said, Kidani buyers are being told that their units have an estimated occupancy of May 1, 2009.

Certainly both of those dates are worst-case scenario. The Sunset Savanna could re-open sooner and they could later announce that Kidani owners can use their points sooner. But I really don't see any evidence to suggest that DVC's estimates could be off by 30-40%.

I visited the resort about a month ago and Kidani is little more than structural steel. Not only do the guest rooms need to be ready, but all of the public areas too. We're talking about the lobby, the entire pool complex, restaurant, valet parking, bell services, landscaping, and so on.

I'd say we're looking at April / May '09. And with Easter falling in April next year, a May opening sounds most likely. Even Walt himself learned a valuable lesson after opening Disneyland in the middle of the summer. Throwing-open the doors to Kidani in the middle of spring break wouldn't be particularly wise for that reason alone.

I think your reasoning is sound, but when we were at AKV last month the animal curator said that announcement about the Sunset Savanna being closed from January to April was put there IN CASE they need to close it to acclimate animals. In reality, he doesn't want to close it at all if he doesn't have to, and his "best case" scenario would be that it would be closed for a week to 10 days while they tear down the barriers. So, I don't know if the savanna issues are going to be a main concern, but I do agree that the common areas need to all be done, and as far as I could tell last month, they haven't started on any of those yet....including the lobby and pool/water park.