We just returned from our honeymoon a few days ago and stayed at AKL for a week. I am a die-hard Value Resort guy, and have been for years since I have always only typically needed a room to sleep in. Plus I love the Value Resorts. But that's neither here nor there.
My question to anyone who may know is this: When moving forward with refurbs, does the company get any type of consumer feedback on proposed design changes? Maybe have a few choices and then take a survey on the parts of each that are good/not good? I can see where the OP is coming from, but can't say that I would share the same level of frustration. What I CAN say is that this was my first stay at a Deluxe and I was disappointed in 3 things:
1.) I received our text confirmation about our room being ready to check in and it had the room number. When we arrived at AKL, I double-checked at the front desk but was given a different room number. We walked all the way to that room to find out our MB didn't open the door, so walked BACK to the front desk, was told it was fixed, did it again, it didn't work, then went back again and was told that oops, our original, texted room number was the correct one. Not a big deal, but annoying, if nothing else.
2.) I had ordered from Disney Floral to have the 'Toast to a Happily Ever After' waiting in the room when we got there. We walked into our room and it wasn't there (Wifey did not know anything about it, though, since it was a surprise). I contacted the front desk and was told that they couldn't leave it in the room since it was alcohol (it wasn't...it was sparkling grape juice...). Since it was so late, I was welcome to come pick it up or they could deliver it to the room the next day. I wanted it (and our Mickey ears that came with it) to surprise the wife, so I walked down and got it. To piggy-back on that, I had ordered a Christmas floral arrangement to be delivered the next day (I wanted a small tree since we were going to be there over Christmas but was told they were out). When we got back to our room the next day: no arrangement. I had to call the desk again, and was told that one part of the two parts were delivered (they were waiting on the special, added personalized ornaments I ordered along with the arrangement), but they would go check. They got back on the phone and told me that everything was there now, and again, since it was late (this was after we got back from the parks, so it was around 11:45p) I could come down and pick it up or it could be delivered the next day. Again...annoying, not a deal-breaker by any means, but from what my visions of Disney service and a Deluxe Resort (and the cost of it), I would have expected them to have it a little more together than this...
3.) Finally, our TV was skipping out every night we were there. We couldn't even leave Channel 01 or 02 or whatever the one that plays the great music and scrolls through each part of the property with times, shows, etc. This was true for the first 12 channels. We couldn't watch the Must Do channel, which being the Disney nerd I am, I love to just have on in the background.
This was wife's first time to really experience Disney, and I was silently embarrassed about these few things. I think only the TV took a shred of enjoyment away from what otherwise was a stellar trip. Again, these things aren't deal-breakers at ALL...but not what I expected from the Deluxe.
I will say that I think the carpets are all due for a change, so I welcome that. And as others have said, it shouldn't impact guests at all, except for maybe lingering carpet glue smell. Small price to pay to enjoy the entire rest of the property.
That's all I've got.
I am a LOOOOONG time member here but rare poster. Just wanted to weigh in on this.
Thanks, all.