AKL question (Lodge VS Kidani Village)

[tjkraz]

I'm going to guess mid-range and family-friendly (WCC, O'hana) with a character breakfast.

I doubt you'll see a character breakfast.

Disney hasn't added a character meal to a resort restaurant in years. In fact I believe OKW was the last resort to lose a character meal--they had a Pooh breakfast until about 5 years ago.

Many deluxes are without character meals--BoardWalk, Wilderness Lodge, AKL, OKW, SSR, Yacht Club (if you want to get technical. )

At the same time, Disney has added quite a few in-park character meals. Just in the last couple of years they have added lunch and dinner to CRT, all three meals at Akerhaus, Playhouse Disney characters at Hollywood and Vine and there are rumors of a pirate meal in the next couple of years at MK.

While Disney appreciates the fact that they can charge a couple bucks more for a character meal than one without the characters, if they put them in parks you have to buy park admission, too. Double-whammy!

I don't know quite what they have planned for Kidani, but IF they wanted to add a character meal to AKL, I think Boma would be a better location. If the only restaurant at Kidani featured characters for at least one meal per day, I think you'd get a fair amount of blow-back from members who dislike that sort of experience. If you put it at Boma, at least you've still got Jiko and Mara as non-character dining alternatives.

 

[BCV23]

I agree that a character breakfast seems like a better fit at Boma but who knows. SSR, and OKW are not in WDW deluxe category and as you noted it is beyond technical to say YC lacks one....the resorts are often referred to as Y&BC, share the same manager, restaurants, pools etc.. BWI/BWV does not have one but the restaurant situation there is so different anyway...outside ownership for some, outside access. BWI is a relatively small hotel too I think. AP did lose their character breakfast but WCC has characters of a different type.

As to the parks, character meals seem to come and go. I suspect decisions are made individually. For instance, years ago King Stephan's had characters at lunch and dinner but did not serve breakfast. Over the years it added a character breakfast, removed the characters from lunch and dinner for the most part, changed the name to CRT, added characters back to the other meals. All of these changes took place over years. There was a character meal in the Studios where Playhouse Disney is now located that many loved. There also was a character breakfast for a time at H&V, it disappeared and now there is a new one....or is that one lunch or dinner now? Anyone else remember the breakfast at FW with Chip and Dale or the one on the Empress Lily? Or when Chef Mickey's was at the Marketplace?

Character meals seem to evolve as WDW perceives a market. With that many new rooms at AKL/AKV, there may be a market there. But who knows..maybe not if many DVCers choose to do breakfast in their rooms.

 

[starbox]

Character meals seem to evolve as WDW perceives a market. With that many new rooms at AKL/AKV, there may be a market there. But who knows..maybe not if many DVCers choose to do breakfast in their rooms.

I think Princess Maddie will need a breakfast - and there is not a place to do it at POR. Actually, I think it would be really cool to have a "cool-girls" breakfast with Pocohontas, Maddie, and Mulan (and DD just chimed in that she wants Elizabeth Swan too). My DD would be way more into them than Cinderella and Co.

 

[LisaS]

In Kidani Village, the restaurant will serve B,L and D, correct?

I just took a look at the AKV Dining page on the public DVC website: http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortDetail?id=ProspectsDAKVDiningPage It looks like the Kidani Village restaurant will serve breakfast and dinner. Here is the info:

Dining at Kidani Village (scheduled to open in early 2009)

Sanaa
Indulge your senses! Sanaa, meaning "work of art," defines the atmosphere and the cuisine at this restaurant — with beautifully prepared food and an atmosphere simmering with style. Relax in the comfortable lounge that is adjacent to the spacious dining room. Savor breakfast and dinner here.

 

[BCV23]

Lisa, thanks for the info even if it's not what I hoped to read. I think it's a shame that there will not be a full service choice at AKL&V for lunch. Mara is very nice for a deluxe/DVC QS with a more extensive menu than the others but not the same as being able to sit and order. AKL is the only deluxe without a sitdown lunch option.

 

[Inkmahm]

I'm actually a Jambo house lover. I am still not convinced Kidani village will replicate the feeling and ambiance of the Lodge and maybe more difficult to get around (those loooonnng hallways!) We are a family of 4 that is spoiled with staying in 2 bedrooms so the extra space and bathroom do not mean so much to us. So if given the choice I would choose Jambo.

As far as the names... I think they both sound silly. I sure in time the silliness will wear off and I'll be able to say either without giggling. I'm a DAK Lodge girl.

I agree- I think I'll be a Jambo house lover. I've loved the AKL for years and that likely won't change. Jiko's is our favorite restaurant at WDW!!!

I know how long the hallways are at AKL and they look MUCH longer for Kidani. I'll probably try it once just to see for myself but I won't be a bit surprised if I still love Jambo House more.

 

[pilferk]

In Kidani Village, the restaurant will serve B,L and D, correct? And it is table service. Having a restaurant that serves lunch will be nice. Does anyone think it will be another signature restaurant like Jiko? My guess is midrange like Olivia's, Turf Club, Kona, etc. although it will probably have a better view than Jiko. I wonder if there will be anywhere in Kidani Village to grab a quick sandwich?

I like both names BTW.

From the DVC website:

Sanaa
Indulge your senses! Sanaa, meaning "work of art," defines the atmosphere and the cuisine at this restaurant — with beautifully prepared food and an atmosphere simmering with style. Wait for your table in the comfortable 24-seat lounge that is adjacent to the spacious dining room. Savor breakfast and dinner here.

Edit: Eh, Lisa beat me to it!


So no lunch.

I asked our guide and he said "Family Table Service". So not "signature"...something more akin to a Kona Cafe-type place, I think.

The pool bar, he said, would serve hot items, though, for lunch...so at least you don't have to trek to Mara to pick up a quick lunch. I'm hoping, though, that the "pool bar" quickly morphs into some sort of CS offering at Kidani....there, or somewhere else on the premises.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks for the info on the pool bar, pilferk. Something like Hurricane Hannah's, perhaps.

I suppose they've done their homework and there just aren't enough people around at lunch to support a TS restaurant. Is Olivia's usually dead at lunch? We have lunch at GF Cafe no matter where we're staying and sometimes at Kona too but maybe the vast majority are in the parks.

 

[zumbergc]

We are looking at buying into DVC.
Had a question about the AKL points.

There are the Value, standard, and savannah view.

Are the value and standard views of the pool or the parking lot?

Just curious.

THanks
Connie

 

[pilferk]

We are looking at buying into DVC.
Had a question about the AKL points.

There are the Value, standard, and savannah view.

Are the value and standard views of the pool or the parking lot?

Just curious.

THanks
Connie

Standard = pool and parking lot views (mostly pool at Jambo, more of a mix at Kidani).

Value = smaller rooms (about 50 sq ft in a studio smaller) but views could be ANYTHING: Savannah, pool, even parking lot (though there are different plans showing that the # of parking lot views are minimal or may not even exist). You'll never know (a la Forest Gump) what you're gonna get.

Savannah = exactly what you'd expect.

 

[lisareniff]

I added the bold comment to pilferk's most excellent reply...

Standard = pool and parking lot views (mostly pool at Jambo, more of a mix at Kidani).

Value = smaller rooms (about 50 sq ft in a studio smaller) but views could be ANYTHING: Savannah, pool, even parking lot (though there are different plans showing that the # of parking lot views are minimal or may not even exist). You'll never know (a la Forest Gump) what you're gonna get. These are all in Jambo

Savannah = exactly what you'd expect.

 

[LisaS]

Value = smaller rooms (about 50 sq ft in a studio smaller) but views could be ANYTHING: Savannah, pool, even parking lot (though there are different plans showing that the # of parking lot views are minimal or may not even exist). You'll never know (a la Forest Gump) what you're gonna get.

I love that last comment!!