AKL 1 bedroom 2 queens

[Cloudboy]

It has been a few years since I was last in the World. But I have been toying with a bit of a grand trip idea. Unfortunately it has been so long that I forget what is available for rooms, and I am not sure they have what I am looking for.

I would like to take a large group of familly members to the Animal Kingdom Lodge (that resort only, as the whole point is having rooms on the savanna). Everyone is adult (4 over 65, 5 over 35). Only one couple, so we are going to need separate beds. I would like to eliminate as much as possible sleeper sofas.

Looking at floor plans for the villas, it looks like all the one bedroom villas only have 1 king bed, and none have two queens or doubles, is that correct? Are there any 2 bedrooms that have two beds in each bedroom? I know some have foldaway couches, but no one likes to sleep on those.

 

[keaster]

You are correct the AKL 1-bedroom villas have a king in the bedroom plus a queen pullout sofa and single pullout sleeper chair.

None of the two bedrooms have two queens in each bedroom. If you get a "dedicated" 2-bedroom, the master has one king, the living room has the pullout sofa & sleeper chair, and the 2nd bedroom has 2 queens. If you get a "lock off" the master has a king and the lock off (which is a studio) has a queen bed and a queen pullout sofa.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Because of the bedding configuration you need, your best bet would be to just book savanna view rooms on the resort side. The rooms there will have 2 queens each. If the younger people in your group are willing to sleep in bunk beds, you could consolidate and book savanna - bunk bed rooms so you could get 3 people with separate bedding in there instead of the 2 queens in the regular room.

 

[Hopefully]

1 bedroom and larger DVC Villas all have one King in the Master Bedroom

 

[shellyj]

If no one wants a pullout bed, you're going to have to get 4 studios and you should try to book right at your 11 month mark.

Would anyone consider a sofa bed with a mattress topper or thin air mattress on top? If you are renting points, a 2 or 3 bedroom villa will likely be the most economical choice. A 3 bedroom would get you a king and 4 queen beds, leaving 3 guests on sofa or air beds. If you consider a 2 bedroom, go for Kidani to get the 3rd bathroom.

 

[Cloudboy]

11 months...

I am considering this as booking far ahead trying to book a month away. I used to book about a week ahead, but then was only ever one room.

Unfortunately I just don't think the idea is going to work. I just don't have the money to afford Disney these days.

Thanks Everyone!

 

[Cloudboy]

Can you even book a 3 bedroom villa at Kidani without being a vacation club member?

 

[baler31]

I think availability for the 3br would be a problem on a cash booking. However, the 3br would be much more expensive than multiple rooms or studios. You would have 5 beds (4 queens and 1 king) and 2 sleeper sofas in the 3br. As another poster mentioned you would just be better of with regular rooms with 2 queens.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Three one-bedroom villas =

• couple in one bedroom + two individuals in living room;
• three individuals on separate sleeping units in second room;
• two individuals on separate sleeping units in third room

Two one-bedroom villas + one studio =

• couple in one bedroom + two individuals in livng room;
• three individuals on separate sleeping units in second room;
• two individuals on separate sleeping units in third room

One two-bedroom villas + one one-bedroom villa =

• couple in master bedroom;
• two individuals in second bedroom;
• two individuals in living room;
• one individual on each sleep surface in second unit

 

[shellyj]

Can you even book a 3 bedroom villa at Kidani without being a vacation club member?

Don't get discouraged!! A month out is short notice for that many beds at most destinations, definitely at Disney, but that doesn't mean it's not doable.

Studios at AKL seem to book far in advance, that's why the advice for 11 months out. Never hurts to try, though.

You just have to rank your priorities. You want to take a trip in about a month for 9 people to AKL, savanna view, and need 8 real beds. How would you rank those?

If they are equally important, presuming you can't get 4 studios on short notice and/or they aren't affordable, are you willing to push your travel dates?

If the beds are the most important, are you willing to consider other resorts? For perspective, we usually rent DVC points to stay deluxe in 2 bedroom villas, but we had a wonderful experience at All Star Music last fall. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again (but renting points usually makes a deluxe 2 bedroom a better value for us). And there are lots of resort choices in between those two.

If savanna view is most important, are you willing to deal with sofa beds or travel with mattress toppers/air beds to make sleeping more comfortable?

If a Disney vacation in comfort is the goal and savanna view is the cherry on top, would you consider renting a house off-property? You will give up some onsite perks, but you can find a large house with private pool or a condo with amenities within a short drive.

 

[Cloudboy]

I think, logically speaking, a 3 bedroom plus a studio is our best bet. But, looking online, they do not even present the option of a 3 bedroom through the normal booking website. Can you only do these through the Vacation Club using points?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think, logically speaking, a 3 bedroom plus a studio is our best bet. But, looking online, they do not even present the option of a 3 bedroom through the normal booking website. Can you only do these through the Vacation Club using points?

Grand Villas are almost never available for cash. And they are never available a month out. Any DVC points booking a month out is going to be unlikely, really, save possibly some Saratoga units in high summer. DVC is designed to be full capacity year-round, and after 60 days availability is usually scant, especially highly desirable units like a Grand Villa.

 

[Deb & Bill]

With nine people and only two a couple, get four hotel rooms. Two people in three of the rooms, three people in the fourth room.