AKL questions

[Natterjack9]

I have a couple of questions about AKL. We are SSR owners , but want to try a new resort. We are starting to look at plans for a vacation for NEXT Easter, 2012. It's going to be my wife's side of the family, everyone, a total of 10. We won't have the points for a Grand Villa, however we can do a Value studio for my mother and father in law, and a value two bedroom for my family and my brother in law's family, 8 in all.

My questions are:

1) Is the value studio going to be ok for my in laws? I want to make sure that they have enough room.

2) We want to go for 9 nights, from Good Friday to the following Saturday. This is when we usually go, so I know all about the crowds, etc . We go every other year at this time and love it , so I don't need advice about changing the time of year. What I am worried about is the 7 month window. . Am I going to have a hard time making these reservations come September? How fast do these rooms go? I am planning on making them exactly the day my window opens, but I am worried that we may end up getting stuck. . Any advice and opinions would be great, but like I said, I know all about the crowds and such, but it is our favorite time to go.

Thoughts?

 

[JBx3]

My guess is.

1. value studio should be fine for 2 people
2. problem may be since there are fewer of them, I am sure they are the first to go? Right on 7 mos., you may have a chance

 

[Disneycouple99]

1. It will be fine. The differences is that the value rooms are 3 ft. shorter.
2. Could be a problem. There are only 10 2-bedrooms L/O and 8 dedicated studios.

 

[arthur06]

I would think that a value studio AND a value 2 br would be almost impossible to get at that time...

There are only 10 - 2br equivalent at AKL, all at Jambo... and you are needing 1 of 10 on the 2 br and then 1 of only 17 on the studio.

 

[Natterjack9]

Ok, what about standard view? If we went for the standard view instead of the value, would I have a better chance of getting the reservations?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Ok, what about standard view? If we went for the standard view instead of the value, would I have a better chance of getting the reservations?

Yes. There are many more standard view rooms than value rooms.

 

[Natterjack9]

Ok, thanks. I really want this to go well, since this is the first full family vacation that we have taken, plus for my brother-in-law and his family it's their first Disney trip. His kids will be 6 and 4 at the time we go. With the amount of points we are dealing with we want to make sure this happens. I will plan on calling at the 7 month window and going for the standard view rooms.

Any other comments or suggestions are welcome!!

Does anyone think going for the standard may be an issue too?

 

[kristenrice]

If you go standard, try for Kidani. In the 2BR units, you will have a total of 3 full baths. We stayed in a standard 2BR at Kidani this past Easter and it was fine. We had a view of the front of the resort, but since the parking is all underground, I wouldn't really call it a "parking lot" view. There was no bus noise and it was close to the lobby. I think the savanna view is definitlely more fun, but for the point savings, the standard is great...no complaints.

The only advantage of a standard 2BR at Jambo is that you will have a pool view. For me, the extra bathroom at Kidani would outweigh the view of the pool at Jambo, especially when you put 8 people in one room.

 

[drusba]

Easter time: anything can be difficult at 7 months and value is highly unlikely, savanna view good chance, standard 50/50. Though the value studio is OK for two, you are being extremely optomistic in believing a value 2BR is OK for 8; that will be a very tight fit in the value 2BR. If you go for standard and will still have 8 in a 2BR would recommend you choose Kidani which has the much larger 1BR's and 2BRs with extra bathroom.

 

[Natterjack9]

Just so I have this figured out. There is a possibility they will be gone, but we have a fairly decent chance to get a standard view 2BR and standard studio. The value option is going to be out.

Jamba house is ok, but Kandini village is better if we have the option.

Honestly, I just want the reservations. We stayed with 8 in the treehouses at SSR last year, and were able to survive. Just want to have the reservations for all of us. .

Thanks for all the comments, any other suggestions?

 

[ToddyLu]

So you are planning on booking a TSV and/ or studio or some combination there of at 11 months at SSR, right? Then WL at AKV for a certain combo if it isn't available. What about using 3 studios as an option, or would that put too many in one of the studios? I am all for staying together but when at Disney, with all that is going on, I kinda would want my own space. If you get a 2 br lockoff...that would be a 1 br and a studio...then the studio for your inlaws. I think 3 studios is an economical option, points wise. I understand about wanting a common living room for visiting and a full kitchen....but I think 3 studios would also be a doable option. If AKV is where you want to be.

OKW has the room you are looking for from what I understand. So if I was set on a 2 bedroom and couldn't get it at AKV, then OKW would be my next choice.

I had a friend get 3-2br and 1-studio for her trip last year but she does own there and of course called at 11 months.

Wishing you the best and know you will have a great tiem no matter where you stay.

 

[cvjw]

Definitely try and get Kidani Village over JH for the extra space and extra bathroom.

 

[kristenrice]

Just so I have this figured out. There is a possibility they will be gone, but we have a fairly decent chance to get a standard view 2BR and standard studio. The value option is going to be out.

Although the savanna view rooms are generally considered the most popular, they are also the most plentiful. I don't have the numbers (LisaS....are you there?) but I think the resort is made up of something like 75-80% savanna view rooms. So, although the standard view might not be as popular, it is a small percentage of the available rooms which lessens your chances at 7 months. As a previous poster mentioned, there are only 10 2BR lock-off value villas and an additional 8 value studios, for a total of only 28 possible value units. The concierge category is even smaller....only 5 2BR lock-offs foa a maximum of 10 available units.

I own at AKV specifically for the 11-month booking window for those value rooms. I love Kidani Village, but the value 1BR is perfect for our family right now, and the value 2BR will be great when the kids get older and want their own rooms.

I wouldn't eliminate the possibility of standard villas at 7-months over Easter, but I would definitely have a back up plan, just in case.

HTH!

 

[Natterjack9]

I wasn't planning on booking at SSR first at 11 months, then switching. Is that something that I should plan on doing? This is the first time since we joined the DVC that we have decided to try to stay at a different resort.

The three studio option didn't even occur to me , but I will look into it. Honestly, I just want to have reservations. I would prefer the two bedroom, but you may be right and three studios may work better. I will look into that option.

Anyone have any input about the SSR booking first, then trying to switch over?

 

[lilpooh108]

I'm the odd man out and would that you get standard view at Jambo over Kidani.

Since you have family members coming who are first-timers, they will be impressed by Jambo--the lobby at Jambo is just gorgeous. I vote standard view (pool view at Jambo) over the possibility that you can get a view of cars and the parking lot at Kidani. I know that parking is generally under the building, but there is a section where you can get a view of just cars and it's kinda a big let down to stay there and see cars.

Plus with all these people, Jambo has more eating/dining (and even a CS) options if you decide to split up. The gift shop is also bigger, and there's just more to do (IMO).

And yes, I vote you book at SSR at 11mos to have a "back up" since you're all set to go. At 7 months, try to switch to what you want/need. Good luck!

 

[ToddyLu]

Lordy yes, by all means get something at your home resort to insure you have SOME place to stay for your planned dates. That way if everything is booked up or you do not get what you want----you will definitely have a place to stay. If you have a plan that you know what you dates are 11 months out---always get a reservation at your home resort. TSV are hard to get on their own and usually go quickly at the 11 month mark. They are at a good point cost so are at a premium. There are only 30 out of 60 released for point use.

 

[JBx3]

I'm the odd man out and would that you get standard view at Jambo over Kidani.

Since you have family members coming who are first-timers, they will be impressed by Jambo--the lobby at Jambo is just gorgeous. I vote standard view (pool view at Jambo) over the possibility that you can get a view of cars and the parking lot at Kidani. I know that parking is generally under the building, but there is a section where you can get a view of just cars and it's kinda a big let down to stay there and see cars.

Plus with all these people, Jambo has more eating/dining (and even a CS) options if you decide to split up. The gift shop is also bigger, and there's just more to do (IMO).

And yes, I vote you book at SSR at 11mos to have a "back up" since you're all set to go. At 7 months, try to switch to what you want/need. Good luck!

I agree with first timers that Jambo is a better pick even though Kidani has the room advantages.

We had 9 in a 2bdr. at Jambo in August and will never try nine again! I think 6 or 7 is a better fit in the 2bdr. The only reason we did Jambo over Kidani is that for 6 of the people in our party, this was their first trip.

 

[ToddyLu]

I also agree that Jambo definitely has the Wow factor over the lobby at Kidani...but Jambo is so noisy that Kidani is our favorite.

 

[drusba]

I wasn't planning on booking at SSR first at 11 months, then switching. Is that something that I should plan on doing? This is the first time since we joined the DVC that we have decided to try to stay at a different resort.

The three studio option didn't even occur to me , but I will look into it. Honestly, I just want to have reservations. I would prefer the two bedroom, but you may be right and three studios may work better. I will look into that option.

Anyone have any input about the SSR booking first, then trying to switch over?

Particularly for holiday times, you should book your home resort 11 months out to assure getting something and then try to switch at 7.
Nothing is definitely impossible at 7 months but value at AKV for Easter time is just highly unlikely and even standard has some chance of not being there particularly if you are trying for longer periods like 8 nights -- risk of failure during holiday time for anything at 7 Months out is much higher for long rather than short trips.

As for space, you mention that you stayed in a THV with 8 and "were able to survive." The AKV value 2BR gives up about 130 sq ft of space from a THV and that is a significant decrease in size. A 2BR at Kidani would add 100 sq ft to a THV and that is a very noticeable difference. Despite votes above about Jambo, I would still try for the Kidani 2BR if you can get it. I have taken relatives to a BWV 2BR and they were really impressed with the wow factor of BWV and its closeness to the parks. I then took the same relatives to a 2BR at Kidani and there was an overwhelming vote to stay there again if we take them again because the room was so large and nice (many are "wowed" by the space available in the room you have which they may consider far more important than any other "wow" factor of a resort.