Thoughts on Animals and AKL Dues

[bakerworld]

The Mickey Mouse attached to my computer is never fast enough at 8 am so the advantage of owning for CL or Value is out. I would rather own SAP to stay here and book AKL.
Yes Jambo might be more difficult than Kidani to snag but since we like to stay in 1 BR it provides the extra bathroom anyways. The hallways may also be considered long at Kidani but they are in AC and then I just take the elevator down to grab our car. On the other hand Jambo I'm getting my steps in as well to retrieve the car but doing so in the hot Florida sun.

Our 'key' to the Jambo Value is adaptability. Never have the patience to 'walk' so I just see what is available in the Value at the 10.5 month and grab it. I've had more luck like this than the 8am. I wait until 2 weeks after the 11 month window for the walkers to move on. We've done the CL before at GF and YC so we know it's not for us.

Have to say, if we'd known what we were doing when we bought, we'd've picked BC or SSR - OKW also not for us.

 

[TinkAgainU]

Are these direct or resale points? How many points compared to your overall points? If resale, you could consider BLT or subsidized Aulani as an alternative where you could likely still book Savannah 1 bedrooms at 7 months.

Resale, so ended up with nearly double the number of points as Direct would have cost - which is helpful for the number of points needed for the Savanna 1 Br. We (okay, I) like the Christmas Holiday period trips, so booking priority is a consideration. The 5 person occupancy challenge makes a lot of the Resorts (like BLT and AUL) less flexible for us.

 

[atthebeachclub]

Resale, so ended up with nearly double the number of points as Direct would have cost - which is helpful for the number of points needed for the Savanna 1 Br. We (okay, I) like the Christmas Holiday period trips, so booking priority is a consideration. The 5 person occupancy challenge makes a lot of the Resorts (like BLT and AUL) less flexible for us.

Sounds like you have your answer. Welcome home!

 

[eticketplease]

The 5 person occupancy challenge makes a lot of the Resorts (like BLT and AUL) less flexible for us.

I’m confused about what you mean with this.

You are a family of 5 and both of those resorts sleep 5.

In fact all one bedrooms technically sleep 5 if booked on points (yes it is not ideal to have to bring your own bedding) with the exception of CCV.

 

[TinkAgainU]

I’m confused about what you mean with this.

You are a family of 5 and both of those resorts sleep 5.

In fact all one bedrooms technically sleep 5 if booked on points (yes it is not ideal to have to bring your own bedding) with the exception of CCV.

We like the flexibility of being able to rent Studios (especially with a view) for lower points, and a number of the resorts, like BLT and AUL, have 4 person occupancy limits for Studios. Even when we only had 4 - it was nice to be able to move one kid to their own bedspace. Maybe at the major refurb some of these will go from 4 to 5, but I don't have high hopes.

 

[eticketplease]

We like the flexibility of being able to rent Studios (especially with a view) for lower points, and a number of the resorts, like BLT and AUL, have 4 person occupancy limits for Studios. Even when we only had 4 - it was nice to be able to move one kid to their own bedspace. Maybe at the major refurb some of these will go from 4 to 5, but I don't have high hopes.

That makes sense except AKL is also in the same situation as those others with only sleeping 4 as well in the studios.

I understand trying to stretch points but I also like to have the extra room and the washer & dryer.

The good news is that you have plenty of points now to make that hard choice of stretch or splurge

Congratulations on the add on!!

 

[MarkNC2Disney]

I’ve always been concerned Disney would cheapen DAK/AKL by reducing either the quantity or variety of interesting animals as a cost-cutting measure.
Respectfully, I think that’s a much more probably event than effects from climate change.

Whether penny pinching or external pressures or whatever the cause, the writing is on the wall IMO.

My children love those dolphins.

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/s...epcot-animals-moving-tours-ending-suspending/

 

[Chili327]

Whether penny pinching or external pressures or whatever the cause, the writing is on the wall IMO.

My children love those dolphins.

https://www.disneytouristblog.com/s...epcot-animals-moving-tours-ending-suspending/

Ahh, that will suck not having the aquariums in Epcot, but as long as they move them to AK or something I guess I'll survive.

 

[davidhr]

Ahh, that will suck not having the aquariums in Epcot, but as long as they move them to AK or something I guess I'll survive.

If I’m reading correctly, the aquarium will remain (they’re doing some unknown infrastructure work).

They’re just moving the dolphins and manatee to another reserve.

 

[Cyberc1978]

Before 2024, I booked value studios on a regular basis at the 8am mark. It was easy peasy.

This year I wouldn't say it became more difficult but instead all the rooms were constantly booked, no chance of getting your foot in the door. Normally I would at least have a fighting chance. I did see a few openings in May or June I think, but I wasn't fast enough.

Then come today, I saw a new opening, checked number of rooms, 1 was bookable today and 1 for tomorrow.

I tried to book right at the 8am mark and bam I got the reservation. Now I just need to decide when to walk it to.

I purely use my AKV points for value studios and sometimes I add on 1-2 nights in a Club level studio.

Oddly enough booking Club level studios this year has been easier than value rooms.

With that being said, if you are going for standard view or savanna views room types then I wouldn't buy AKV. Those can almost always be booked during the 7 month window. If you want to try for value or club level rooms then it can make sense.