What's is going on with getting booted from AKL? Update post #20

[IMGONNABE40!]

Sorry I have not been on this board much to hear the buzz.

We are a 3 family grand gathering and have 3 standard savannah view rooms booked at AKL. We booked through AAA. We leave in 27 days .

A big part of the dream/magic for all of us (many first timers) is the AKL itself. Given that there are 2 two year olds in our group, heading back to AKL and chilling by the pool is in the schedule every afternoon. That and naps for the little ones.

Now I am reading about being asked to change to a different resort. I am not opposed to this, as long as the 3 families can stay together. Has anyone with multiple rooms been getting contacted? If the reservation is made through AAA if the TA contacted instead? If so, should I call the TA and instruct her to tell Disney they have to contact me prior to making any changes?

Any other advice?

TIA!

 

[lesliewitt]

Well, I would look at the other threads that discuss this, because it definitely sounds like you are going to be having a problem. There are varyiing reports from CMs about how bad the noise is going to be, but it sounds as if they are going to be shutting down three floors and there is only going to be a few Savannah view rooms. Accordingly, it would be less likely that they will get you adjoining rooms, if that is important. Moreover, there has been the issue raised about the animals-will the construction noise keep them away? Further, the faster you act on this the better, since you have three rooms. I think that you need to be proactive on this.

It depends on what you want and whether you think that your TA will ge aggressive in securing it for you as to whether you go through the TA or work on this issue for yourself. For example, it appears that they are generally offering SSR and $600-$800 credits. There are definite advantages to SSR and you will read about them in the other threads that discuss AKL construction. However, if you had a different idea for your vacation, like some posters did, than you might want to negotiate something different. Some DIsers have been able to get Poly and GF for the same price. If you are going to be going back in the middle of the day for naps and playtime, the ease of the monorail would be a benefit.

Before you call, I would talk to the other members of your party, decide what your ideal scenario is, and what the lowest is that you will be willing to settle for. I would make it very clear to Disney that you have spent alot of time and money on this vacation and that you had a specific expectation (i.e. a themed hotel, a quiet place to nap young children, a nice pool area, ease of transportation, etc), and that if they are not able to provide what you had paid for, you should expect comparable or even better for your inconvenience. I would not get upset or yell, because it is not the CMs fault on the phone, but I would be firm. If s/he can't help you I would politely request to speak to a supervisor. I would keeping going up the chain or specifically ask for the person that can help you until you get fair compensation.

Once you have done that, sit back and enjoy your vacation and time with your friends/faimly! Disney's great, but I do think a lot of vacations are what you make of them.

 

[minnie61650]

The 5th and 6th floors are under construction.
For some reason the 4th floor is closing down.
AKL did not foresee the closing of the 4th floor and had booked guests for that floor.

Now they have to move some of the guests. They are not moving all the guests.

If you have not been contacted chances are your group is fine.

It might be a good idea to contact your TA just to make sure.

Have fun at Disney!

 

[EEyorelover22]

Here is some advice from a person who was moved once from POFQ when it closed to AKL. Ask for where you want to stay and don't let Disney put you where you don't want to go. We picked POFQ because it was smaller and my step mom was coming with us and cannot walk long distance and they wanted us to go to CBR. We had stayed there before and wanted to try somewhere else and CBR is too large. Because of disboards I knew people were being moved all over to deluxe resorts so I pressed the issue and we were moved to AKL and made a request to be close to the lobby and we were. I would request where YOU want to stay and don't take no for an answer. I would call CRO directly and then ask for a supervisor. I'm sure they have a CM dealing with this issue as they did when POFQ closed.

I hope it works out for you.

I would make a point with Disney too that if you are like us our dining reservations are all made around AKL and Boma. I would be very unhappy about this, but as the 2nd post indicated ask for where you want to stay not where they want to put you. It's your money!

 

[EEyorelover22]

here's a good thread on the topic and from a couple posts I've read, the people are being moved and perhaps getting some money back too depending on where they are moved to. Good Luck.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1492744

 

[yourgoingagain?]

The 4th floor is being closed down so that they can get to the plumbing on the 5th floor. they are supposed to be doing the construction on one wing (although that still represents a large number of rooms) and completing that before starting on the other wing.

 

[SB in KY]

If your group does not have a great emotional investment in staying at the AKL you might call and offer to be moved...for the reason that there IS construction noise during the day and that might be annoying at nap time. Also SSR or OKW or any of the other DVC's would be so nice for multifamily grand gatherings.... each family could have a 1BR villa with a full kitchen, jetted tub in the bathroom and a nice living area so the babes could nap and the adults still have a nice place to visit. Not to mention washers and dryers in the units, TV's withDVD players, etc. Also I think most people have been getting rather hefty refunds...like $600 - 800 depending on the length of stay. The DVC's all have nice themed pools as well.

If your heart is set on AKL then stay put, but if you are open to the villa idea I do not think you would regret it....and that $600+ could go a long way toward another trip when the AKL isn't in the midst of construction...or toward paying for a lot of extras for this trip. I am sure they could accomodate all of your party in the same building at SSR or any of the other DVC's. I think it would be worth at least a phone call to see what the options are.

 

[EEyorelover22]

If your group does not have a great emotional investment in staying at the AKL you might call and offer to be moved...for the reason that there IS construction noise during the day and that might be annoying at nap time. Also SSR or OKW or any of the other DVC's would be so nice for multifamily grand gatherings.... each family could have a 1BR villa with a full kitchen, jetted tub in the bathroom and a nice living area so the babes could nap and the adults still have a nice place to visit. Not to mention washers and dryers in the units, TV's withDVD players, etc. Also I think most people have been getting rather hefty refunds...like $600 - 800 depending on the length of stay. The DVC's all have nice themed pools as well.

If your heart is set on AKL then stay put, but if you are open to the villa idea I do not think you would regret it....and that $600+ could go a long way toward another trip when the AKL isn't in the midst of construction...or toward paying for a lot of extras for this trip. I am sure they could accomodate all of your party in the same building at SSR or any of the other DVC's. I think it would be worth at least a phone call to see what the options are.

I agree!! 100%

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thanks, everybody! I did call earlier and got the grand gathering department based on the buttons I selected. That CM did not think staying at AKL would be a problem. She said the construction is limited to the Sunset Savannah, and that the entire Kudu and Ostrich trails are shut down, with only the Zebra and Giraffe trails open for guests. Then I read on another thread from someone who has just returned that the Zebra Trail is shut down! Before I heard about the construction I had requested that my TA make room requests for Zebra Trail, Arusha Savannah, 3d floor. The CM I spoke with today said we would not be bothered by the construction from over on that side of the hotel

I think I would like to contact another CM to get another voice on this. If the noise is an issue, ideally we would move to another deluxe. The only ones showing availabilily now are GF and Boardwalk. Wouldn't you know that I thought Yacht or Beach would be perfect so the kids could play at Storm Along Bay! Oh, and they definately want to deal with the TA...

 

[CanadianGuy]

Basically.. this is a very expensive purchase (your vacation) if you think the construction could even slightly tarnish your trip.. MOVE your resort choice now while the pickings are good.

The longer you wait.. the fewer choices you will have. And I understand having your heart set on a resort but all indications are that AKL isn't going to be very much fun for the next while.

Example: Even tho the number of guests will be reduced.. what will the noise from the construction be like at the pool? How will all the noise and hubub affect the animals? Etc.

My personal advice ... take another resort and save AKL for a future trip when AKL is working at 100% ..



Knox

 

[EEyorelover22]

Our family LOVES AKL and we just bought AKV, but I am really glad we aren't there this summer even though we are all dying to get back there. I don't think the atmosphere would be the same. It really is like being in another world when you're at AKL. We had major construction going on inside our school building too and for most it wasn't an issue. I, however, had a room about 50 yards from renovations and it was not fun for the last 2 months.

You know...maybe you'd never get another chance to stay at the Grand either.

Good luck with your decision, but as the last posted wrote...I wouldn't wait too long.

Good idea to get another opinion and did you talk to a supervisor?

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I called again and asked to speak with the CM in charge of arrangements for guests at AKL. I was given the # for guest relations. They were all "busy planning vacations for other guests" but did ask me to leave a # so I did that.

One of my travel mates has been through this before with the hotel under construction and definately does not want to do it again. Her words--I felt cheated.

THe one bedroom villas will not work for us since no one wants a King and a sofa bed--though having a washing machine in the room would be nice! So, it would have to be a 2 bedroom...but, I am a bit put off by the size of SSR, and I don't really want to be out there in DTD. We were happy to make the trade off being all the way out there at AKL since we really like the idea of the AKL, but we don't want to be that far from the parks if we are not AKL.

So, I am going to try for a switch to another deluxe. GF is sounding good.

 

[SharonLowe]

Thanks, everybody! I did call earlier and got the grand gathering department based on the buttons I selected. That CM did not think staying at AKL would be a problem. She said the construction is limited to the Sunset Savannah, and that the entire Kudu and Ostrich trails are shut down, with only the Zebra and Giraffe trails open for guests. Then I read on another thread from someone who has just returned that the Zebra Trail is shut down! Before I heard about the construction I had requested that my TA make room requests for Zebra Trail, Arusha Savannah, 3d floor. The CM I spoke with today said we would not be bothered by the construction from over on that side of the hotel

I think I would like to contact another CM to get another voice on this. If the noise is an issue, ideally we would move to another deluxe. The only ones showing availabilily now are GF and Boardwalk. Wouldn't you know that I thought Yacht or Beach would be perfect so the kids could play at Storm Along Bay! Oh, and they definately want to deal with the TA...

The construction is definitely on the Zebra Trail; all sides - you cannot use elevators on that side of the resort to get to either floor 5 or 6. Your best bet is to ask for Arusha Savanna view away from the construction rather than trying to guess which one is under construction. We heard very little noise other than occasionally in the lobby since the hallways are open to the lobby. But, we also weren't there very much during the day. The good news is that there are fewer people there so the on-site activities don't get as crowded.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

Thanks, Sharon. Any update on the noise level at the pool during the day?

 

[LWcalif]

I'm not worried about the noise, but we booked two savannah rooms & requested connecting rooms on Arusha Savannah. When we booked, figured there were so many savannah rooms at AKL, it wouldn't be a problem getting connecting. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe I'm just worrying too soon.

We aren't arriving until 9/8, but if we are asked to move to another resort, I won't be happy unless it's an Epcot resort, as most of our dining ressies are there and we spend the most time at Epcot & MGM. No kids in our group, so close proximity to MK doesn't matter & we have no desire to be as far out as SSR & don't want to stay there.

We are going back to AKL b/c we (and extended family traveling with us) are considering purchasing AKV so we can do a "family" trip each year. I'm convinced, but the others have not stayed at AKL before, so I wanted everyone to experience the "magic" of the resort. Since they are not WDW fanatics like we are, I would hate to have a last minute move to a resort we don't want to stay at spoil our chances for them to fall in love with the thought of buying AKV.

 

[EEyorelover22]

We were there twice and requested connecting rooms and we did not get them. Not to be party pooper, but I don't know how good your chances are. They do exist because the next time we had a room that connected and we didn't need it

 

[LWcalif]

We were there twice and requested connecting rooms and we did not get them. Not to be party pooper, but I don't know how good your chances are. They do exist because the next time we had a room that connected and we didn't need it

Were the connecting rooms you requested savannah view?

 

[EEyorelover22]

Yes. We were pretty bummed. We were several rooms away too.

 

[SharonLowe]

I'm not worried about the noise, but we booked two savannah rooms & requested connecting rooms on Arusha Savannah. When we booked, figured there were so many savannah rooms at AKL, it wouldn't be a problem getting connecting. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe I'm just worrying too soon.

We aren't arriving until 9/8, but if we are asked to move to another resort, I won't be happy unless it's an Epcot resort, as most of our dining ressies are there and we spend the most time at Epcot & MGM. No kids in our group, so close proximity to MK doesn't matter & we have no desire to be as far out as SSR & don't want to stay there.

We are going back to AKL b/c we (and extended family traveling with us) are considering purchasing AKV so we can do a "family" trip each year. I'm convinced, but the others have not stayed at AKL before, so I wanted everyone to experience the "magic" of the resort. Since they are not WDW fanatics like we are, I would hate to have a last minute move to a resort we don't want to stay at spoil our chances for them to fall in love with the thought of buying AKV.

I wouldn't worry this early, especially for a September after Labor Day trip. Much of the internal construction should be done by then and more rooms should be up and running. I would check in early August.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I went to my TA before work this morning. She had not heard anything about construction at AKL, and surely not about people being contacted about switching resorts. She was mad because Disney is supposed to contact the AAA offices with that type of info. She was even more upset to hear that the CM I spoke with yesterday told me they weren't contacting TA's, just leaving those reservations alone...Now, her ire was really up!

So, she calls. Spoke with the same CM I spoke with yesterday...the CM wanted my TA to call the same guest relations # I called. And we have been switched...GF Lagoon view! I'll miss the animals...but...


A big thank you for all the help and advice I received from this board!
Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go read up on the Grand Floridian!