AKL or AKL VILLAS? Which would you choose?

[FairyDust2008]

I'm not a DVC member but I like the idea of the villas providing more of a home style environment, being more spacious. What would I look for in order to stay away from the construction if I chose the AKL Villas? What is the main difference between the AKL standard and the AKL villas value studio? If anyone has any pictures of staying at the AKL value studios and would like to share, I would love to see the pics. Thanks in advance

 

[daisyduck123]

We stayed in an AKV Standard Studio Dec. 20-26.
We were in room 5401...5th floor (main lobby is on the 3rd floor), first room off of the elevator.

We loved our room. Our front door directly overlooked the main lobby...the giant Christmas tree was right outside our door. Out the back door, we had a full view of the pool. This was our first time staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and we loved it.

 

[llmurphy17]

We tried a villa the first time in Dec. 07 and now I don't know if we can ever try a regular vacation room again. With 3 kids having a washer and dryer was a dream. Also being able to take our time and eat breakfast comfortably made our vacation very enjoyable.

We didn't feel like we were in a hotel but in our little house.

 

[Anal Annie]

I'm not a DVC member but I like the idea of the villas providing more of a home style environment, being more spacious. What would I look for in order to stay away from the construction if I chose the AKL Villas? What is the main difference between the AKL standard and the AKL villas value studio? If anyone has any pictures of staying at the AKL value studios and would like to share, I would love to see the pics. Thanks in advance

The "value" units are slightly smaller by a few SF than either the "standard" or "savanna" view units. If you go for a studio over a regular lodge room you add a small microwave (& toaster I think) to your amenities and a "wet bar" type of sink which is much better than trying to use the bathroom sink. We really don't eat anything other than breakfast in the room - but the microwave is handy say if you want to take packets of oatmeal or something like that for a quick in-room breakfast. And of course you could make other things in the room if you're creative with a microwave.

The value units have a mix of either a view of the sunset savanna (the side where the new construction is of the new Kidani Village building), a pool view or the parking lot. The standard view units I believe face either the pool or the parking lot while the savanna view units all have a view of a savanna (there are currently 3 savannas).

The other main difference is of course 1 bed & 1 sleep sofa VS 2 beds. If you go for a 1 bedroom unit or larger you will get a full kitchen, washer, dryer, larger bathroom & of course more privacy. People post a lot of pictures over on the DVC boards so I would recommend you spend some time over there. There's a lot of info. available.

 

[DVC Mike]

What would I look for in order to stay away from the construction if I chose the AKL Villas?

You have the same chance of seeing the Kidani Village construction whether you are staying in the Animal Kingdom Villas or the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

The construction site is right across the the Sunset savanna.

 

[Disney grandma]

We are staying in a value 2 bedroom later this year. When the reservation was made we requested a standard pool view but were told that some standard rooms do face the parking lot so a pool view couldn't be confirmed. I thought I read somewhere that all standard view rooms did in fact face the pool. So are the savannah view rooms all value? Is there a map that shows where each section of the rooms are located?

 

[Turtlegirl]

Mousekeeping Service only every 4th day in villas as opposed to everyday in hotel room.

 

[cobbler]

Mousekeeping Service only every 4th day in villas as opposed to everyday in hotel room.

That is only if you are staying on points. If you rent from CRO then you will have mousekeeping everyday.

 

[Anal Annie]

We are staying in a value 2 bedroom later this year. When the reservation was made we requested a standard pool view but were told that some standard rooms do face the parking lot so a pool view couldn't be confirmed. I thought I read somewhere that all standard view rooms did in fact face the pool. So are the savannah view rooms all value? Is there a map that shows where each section of the rooms are located?

The Standard view rooms face either the parking lot or the pool - you can ASK for a pool view but they won't guarantee it - you will get whichever is available at time of check-in. The Value rooms can be of any view (pool, parking lot or savanna). There is also a Savanna view which would guarantee a view of a savanna (for a price of course)! Sometimes you can find maps on the DVC boards...

 

[DisneyJosh]

The Standard view rooms face either the parking lot or the pool - you can ASK for a pool view but they won't guarantee it - you will get whichever is available at time of check-in. The Value rooms can be of any view (pool, parking lot or savanna). There is also a Savanna view which would guarantee a view of a savanna (for a price of course)! Sometimes you can find maps on the DVC boards...

Actually, the Standard booking category rooms at AKV only have views of the pool. There are no parking lot views, so if you book Standard it is assumed that you are guaranteed a pool view room.