When can you book Kidani Village for 2009?

[Minnie824]

We're debating between going in 2009 to AKV for either spring break (last week of March, first few days of April) or in June for a week. We really want to stay in Kidani Village and want to go to the new pool. Does anyone know when this will be opened? Will we be able to book for Kidani in April, for next March? Thanks!

 

[drusba]

Still no offical announcement when it will actually open. However, be aware they have announced that the sunset savanna (which will be the main savanna for Kidani) will not have any animals in it from about mid-January through mid-April 2009 to acclimate the animals, meaning essentially they will be completing the savanna, laying grass, trees, etc., during that time -- probably early during that time so it has a few months to "take." In other words, if you are hoping to go in March and see lots of animals outside a savanna view room at Kidani, it is likely not going to happen. Whether the buildings will be open for occupancy then is unknown but that is an indication they expect to be close to done with the building by mid-January (or at least limited to inside work after then), but right now you should still assume opening is sometime in spring. Most likely you won't be able to start calling to reserve until a few months before it actually opens -- that is what they have done before and usually give owners an earlier date to start calling than non-owners. Thus, for whatever time you want, you should reserve Jambo well in advance and then wait to see if you can switch later.

 

[Minnie824]

So, if we were to do June, hopefully all the animals should be out, Kidani done, new pool, etc, right?

 

[spiceycat]

So, if we were to do June, hopefully all the animals should be out, Kidani done, new pool, etc, right?

with disney no guaranteeds.

but the Kidani might be open then. don't think that MS can make reservations until the section is open.

that shouldn't stop you from trying. Just make sure MS knows you only want Kidani not Jambo house.

 

[DebbieB]

They have not announced when they will start taking reservations for Kidani. Usually when something new opens, they give members who own at that resort first chance but not necessarily at 11 months, it maybe only 6 months or even less.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

They have not announced when they will start taking reservations for Kidani. Usually when something new opens, they give members who own at that resort first chance but not necessarily at 11 months, it maybe only 6 months or even less.

When would they allow for the 7 mos booking? I need to ressie for May 2010 at GCV, and they said they would probably be ready by end of 2009.

 

[DebbieB]

When would they allow for the 7 mos booking? I need to ressie for May 2010 at GCV, and they said they would probably be ready by end of 2009.

It depends on when the open date is finalized and when they start taking reservations. Usually they give the owners at that resort a 1 or 2 month lead time if they start taking reservations less than 7 months prior.

 

[podsnel]

So...if I understand you all correctly, for Nov 2009 AKV Kidani, if I own AKV (which HOORAY I do! ), I should book Jambo at 11 mos (in Dec '08) and then wait for them to make an announcement later in the year and try to switch? And let them know my preference for Kidani when I initially book?

 

[pilferk]

So...if I understand you all correctly, for Nov 2009 AKV Kidani, if I own AKV (which HOORAY I do! ), I should book Jambo at 11 mos (in Dec '08) and then wait for them to make an announcement later in the year and try to switch? And let them know my preference for Kidani when I initially book?

Your timeline is right but....

I'll eat my shirt (and post it on youtube for all to see) if they haven't started taking bookings for Kidani by December of 2008.

Edit: To be REAL clear (because, as nice as my shirt is, I don't think it would be too tasty) I mean that, by December of 2008, they are taking reservations for Kidani to be satisfied at some point "in the future". I do NOT mean that Kidani will be up an running by December of '08. I THINK it will...at least part of it...but I'm not willing to bet the shirt eating on THAT.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

If everybody tries to get a ressie for Kidani in May 2009, if I put in a waitlist for studio concierge in Jambo for May 2009, do you think my chances of getting it at 7 mos. might be better because Kidani will be opening up?

 

[owensamo]

If everybody tries to get a ressie for Kidani in May 2009, if I put in a waitlist for studio concierge in Jambo for May 2009, do you think my chances of getting it at 7 mos. might be better because Kidani will be opening up?

Probably not, because there aren't any concierge rooms in Kidani, so anyone who wants a concierge room will have to be in Jambo.

This is kind of an odd situation, actually - since it's more like SSR opening the Grandstand section than a new resort opening. AKV is already taking reservations - but cannot guarantee that if you request a Kidani room, you'll be able to get one. Does anyone know when they started accepting requests on reservations for rooms in Grandstand before it opened?

Personally, I'd go ahead and book the room and not worry about the building. Then, when the Kidani dates are better defined, I'd call to add that to my reservation. I doubt you'd need to rebook - the points for equivalent level villas are the same for both buildings. It *should* be a request that you can just add to your reservation later - I'd be shocked if you'd need to "rebook" to get a Kidani villa once they start taking requests for them. And since the resort is already open - and all they're doing is opening a new "building" - I doubt owners will have much (if any) advantage to book Kidani beyond the normal 11mo booking window (since you can already book AKV at that date anyway).

I wouldn't be surprised if Kidani was not a guaranteed request for the first year or two, and that they'll only add it as a guaranteed bookable request after a couple of years (like Boardwalk views at BWV and rooms near HH at OKW) - if only to just make things easier for when the building opens.

Amanda

 

[JaxFLBear]

Probably not, because there aren't any concierge rooms in Kidani, so anyone who wants a concierge room will have to be in Jambo.

This is kind of an odd situation, actually - since it's more like SSR opening the Grandstand section than a new resort opening. AKV is already taking reservations - but cannot guarantee that if you request a Kidani room, you'll be able to get one. Does anyone know when they started accepting requests on reservations for rooms in Grandstand before it opened?

Personally, I'd go ahead and book the room and not worry about the building. Then, when the Kidani dates are better defined, I'd call to add that to my reservation. I doubt you'd need to rebook - the points for equivalent level villas are the same for both buildings. It *should* be a request that you can just add to your reservation later - I'd be shocked if you'd need to "rebook" to get a Kidani villa once they start taking requests for them. And since the resort is already open - and all they're doing is opening a new "building" - I doubt owners will have much (if any) advantage to book Kidani beyond the normal 11mo booking window (since you can already book AKV at that date anyway).

I wouldn't be surprised if Kidani was not a guaranteed request for the first year or two, and that they'll only add it as a guaranteed bookable request after a couple of years (like Boardwalk views at BWV and rooms near HH at OKW) - if only to just make things easier for when the building opens.

Amanda

When they start taking reservations for Kidani Village, it will be a guaranteed booking category. You will know when you make a reservation which section you are in. You will checkin at that location. This information is posted on the public DVC information page. Currently all reservations state that they are in the Jambo House.

 

[pilferk]

Probably not, because there aren't any concierge rooms in Kidani, so anyone who wants a concierge room will have to be in Jambo.

This is kind of an odd situation, actually - since it's more like SSR opening the Grandstand section than a new resort opening. AKV is already taking reservations - but cannot guarantee that if you request a Kidani room, you'll be able to get one. Does anyone know when they started accepting requests on reservations for rooms in Grandstand before it opened?

Personally, I'd go ahead and book the room and not worry about the building. Then, when the Kidani dates are better defined, I'd call to add that to my reservation. I doubt you'd need to rebook - the points for equivalent level villas are the same for both buildings. It *should* be a request that you can just add to your reservation later - I'd be shocked if you'd need to "rebook" to get a Kidani villa once they start taking requests for them. And since the resort is already open - and all they're doing is opening a new "building" - I doubt owners will have much (if any) advantage to book Kidani beyond the normal 11mo booking window (since you can already book AKV at that date anyway).

I wouldn't be surprised if Kidani was not a guaranteed request for the first year or two, and that they'll only add it as a guaranteed bookable request after a couple of years (like Boardwalk views at BWV and rooms near HH at OKW) - if only to just make things easier for when the building opens.

Amanda

Just keep in mind that Kidani is NOT just a request...it's a booking category. You'll know what building you're assigned to when you make your reservation....which makes sense since the two buildings have their own, seperate, check-in desks.