I'm not sure whether to post this here in the AKV master thread or in a separate one, so please be patient with me if this isn't the right place.
I've convinced my sister to go w/me on a WDW trip this fall! The goal is to stay 4 nights at AKL at either Kidani Village or Jambo House in a savanna view studio in Oct or Nov.
We're considering the following 3 sets of dates. Which of these do you all think would be most ideal in terms of ability to get a savanna view studio at the 7 month booking window AND balance out w/crowds in the parks? Needs to be a Wed-Sun trip so sister doesn't have to use more than 3 days of time off from work. Plus, since she's not a huge Disney person like I am, we're sticking to a 4-night/5-day trip this first time. Want to hit up the Epcot food & wine festival while we're there!
If WDW has extended evening hours this fall for deluxe resort guests, we'll definitely be taking advantage of that.
- Wed 10/28-Sun 11/1: pro of these dates would be ability to go to a Halloween party at MK 1 night
- Wed 11/4 - Sun 11/8
- Wed 11/11 - Sun 11/15: sister prefers these dates because she gets 11/11 off as a holiday. Is WDW often busier around Veterans Day?
Originally we were going to do the trip 10/21-10/25, but the fall food & wine marathon (or maybe it's a half marathon?) is that weekend and we kind of want to avoid that.
Haven't seen anything that indicates the Jambo room refurb will begin prior to the current May, 2026 date they've been showing. And even when they do start, there's no reason to assume the Value rooms would be the first to be worked on. It also seems like it could be less likely anyone would be asked to change resorts during a very busy Easter week, unless it's absolutely necessary, because capacity around the resorts is going to be high.
Some additional info. I was trying to get a December 2026 value room and noticed 100% of the value rooms for all room sizes were being removed from inventory starting Dec 7th. I can’t 100% confirm the 7th but by the 8th I was checking daily at 12:01am est when you can first see this date as 11 months + 7 days. The rooms were all gone by then before they were actually bookable since was the 7th day before the 8am. This is either a glitch or they pulled full inventory that week which would put the value room refurb estimate to start that first week in December.
I have a similar story, but a little less detailed, for the AKL club level rooms. I was trying to book club level rooms for any dates in Nov or Dec when we could plan a quick trip for Jollywood nights. I was finally successful today, but here is how my whole story might indicate when the AKL club level rooms are taken out for refurb (though I wish I would have thought to do a few more checks).
Our arrival date is Nov 29th, leaving on Dec 9th. When I was looking at room options, I could have booked a club level for 2 nights of my stay. I cannot remember if it was 1 or 2 bedroom, though. And I don't know the exact dates of those 2 nights because I wasn't interested in splitting the stay.
I was thinking this also. No sign of blue at all. Although it's strange they are allowing you to wait list.
I was able to get call with someone who understood booking issue above not possible. They were able to confirm all value rooms of every booking category are being pulled from inventory until Jan 20th. Didn’t get start date but from my booking was around Dec 7th.
Great to know! Good idea for people to waitlist ASAP so they get priority if rooms open up early they are at the top of the queue.
