ForEver2016
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2017
Anyone have updates on construction going on around AKL? I remember hearing it was just room refurbs. We arrive in a couple weeks and just wondering what to expect. Thanks!
Thanks @gillep and @pepperandchips
So my plan is to rent DVC points for a 9-night AKL stay in a two-bedroom villa for January/February 2020. My window for booking will open soon so I’m hoping to address some of my questions/concerns:
1. There will be a total of 5 of us (me, my husband, our son who will have just turned two years old, and my mother and father who are in their 50s). My father may not be able to stay the entire 9 nights - probably only 4 or 5. Will this interfere with our rental of points? What about our tickets and dining plan?
2. Has anyone had any experience buying trip insurance for a DVC point rental? And a policy that not only covers the point rental but also the cost of tickets and dining plan? Would ideal like a plan that would allow us to get most of our money back in case of cancellation due to illness, weather, family reasons, etc.
3. My son will be two on this trip and will still be sleeping in a crib. Can I request a crib in our room with a DVC point rental? Or should I look into paying to rent one?
4. I think I read somewhere that most of the 2 bedroom villas at AKL are at Kidani. Is that true?
5. Anything you think I should know about AKL and/or DVC point rental? I’ve been to WDW twice (2014 and 2016) with my husband. This will be the first trip for my parents and my son. Looking to make it a memorable trip and I think AKL will help a lot with that!
Thanks @gillep and @pepperandchips
So my plan is to rent DVC points for a 9-night AKL stay in a two-bedroom villa for January/February 2020. My window for booking will open soon so I’m hoping to address some of my questions/concerns:
1. There will be a total of 5 of us (me, my husband, our son who will have just turned two years old, and my mother and father who are in their 50s). My father may not be able to stay the entire 9 nights - probably only 4 or 5. Will this interfere with our rental of points? What about our tickets and dining plan?
For a trip as long as you are considering, have you considered what dining discounts might be available to you? Disney Visa, annual pass, etc. I know a lot of people like the dining plan but we are always better served by Tables in Wonderland. I know it's not for everyone. Also, not every rental broker will add the dining plan for you. That's definitely something to check on as you are looking at different options.1. There will be a total of 5 of us (me, my husband, our son who will have just turned two years old, and my mother and father who are in their 50s). My father may not be able to stay the entire 9 nights - probably only 4 or 5. Will this interfere with our rental of points? What about our tickets and dining plan?
I have never purchased trip insurance for a DVC points rental but I am usually booking a studio for a long weekend. I have read good things about Travel Guard. If you search for DVC Points Rental Travel Insurance you will probably get a lot of threads (I did through google as well). Also generally the dining plan is something extra you arrange to add on so I would think that portion at least could be refundable. The owner can add it on much later so it may be possible to wait on adding dining as well depending on who you rent through. Unused tickets can always be saved and used later also as long as they are not expired.2. Has anyone had any experience buying trip insurance for a DVC point rental? And a policy that not only covers the point rental but also the cost of tickets and dining plan? Would ideal like a plan that would allow us to get most of our money back in case of cancellation due to illness, weather, family reasons, etc.
Renting DVC points can save a bundle but is not for the faint of heart! If you listen to the Dis Unplugged podcast Pete mentioned a particular DVC Resale company this week - that is the broker I usually use for point rentals but they will not add dining for you. I find them to be the most cost effective of the brokers I've looked into. I have also rented through an owner I found on the rent boards here on the Dis and one of the other major brokers who I think is not a sponsor here so I won't mention. I never had problems with any of those options.5. Anything you think I should know about AKL and/or DVC point rental? I’ve been to WDW twice (2014 and 2016) with my husband. This will be the first trip for my parents and my son. Looking to make it a memorable trip and I think AKL will help a lot with that!
....niiiiiiiiiiiiice!My husband and I are currently on ME heading to Jambo House for our annual week in a club level studio!!!!!!
Does anyone know what time The Mara switches over to the "late night" menu?
Thanks for the info.. 1/11 seems fairly late for the decorations & tree to come down.FYI for those that track these things, according to my DW who is at AKL right now, the tree and decorations were taken down overnight last night.
Does anyone know if there is a place to purchase milk, etc at AKL?
I was trying to figure out if I need to send breakfast foods ahead of time, use a grocery service or if I could just purchase it there. Thank you-the website tells me about things like where a smoker can smoke-but I didn't see anything about shops on-site!
Does anyone know if there is a place to purchase milk, etc at AKL?
I really love staying at AKL, but... if they are the same sleeper sofas as the ones in the 1 br.s, I have not found them to be very comfortable.How comfortable or uncomfortable are the sofa beds in a standard deluxe studio?
This may be a problem. Right now we have a standard studio room with 1 queen and a sofa bed . I have been thinking of getting a standard view room just to get the two queen beds. There may be a fight on who has to sleep on the sofa bedI really love staying at AKL, but... if they are the same sleeper sofas as the ones in the 1 br.s, I have not found them to be very comfortable.