AKL Value Studio review.

[nhdisnut]

Great to hear about your value experience! We will be trying out a value studio ourselves in just three weeks!

 

[queenie82]

I agree it is the best kept secret...so SHHHHHHH!!!!

Of course seeing is believing...
So for those curious...this is what we got

Our "savannah" view was the SUNSET savannah which truly is the sunset savannah. Other than our little grey friend who was right below us no other animals really ventured over except AT SUNSET!
BUT...given you aren't paying extra points for it...there are no complaints here

 

[Brandis]

Thank you so much, Queenie!

These are by far the best photos of AKL I've ever seen!

I'm getting really excited know!Will be there tomorrow evening!

The bed looks pretty small. I planned to leave the bed to my 2 friends and use the couch myself, but maybe the would be more comfortable on the couch. What do you think? Are both bed and couch about the same size or is one bigger than the other?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks for showing your pictures, they were great!

Bobbi

 

[queenie82]

Thank you so much, Queenie!

These are by far the best photos of AKL I've ever seen!

I'm getting really excited know!Will be there tomorrow evening!

The bed looks pretty small. I planned to leave the bed to my 2 friends and use the couch myself, but maybe the would be more comfortable on the couch. What do you think? Are both bed and couch about the same size or is one bigger than the other?

It is a bit deceiving. The bed is quite high, which in turn makes it look smaller.
Like all studios (with the exception of Old Key West) the bed is a Queen and the sofa is a double.
Now while these newer Disney sofas are VERY good. (no bar across the back) The Queen bed is the best of the 2. and bigger

 

[keishashadow]

we really enjoyed our stay too, not sure what the % of the units are savannah but the desk clerk told us 'congratulations' when we checked in

how can u beat opening your balcony curtains & seeing a giraffe

we had 3 in our party, 1st time we thought that 4 would be a tight fit though.

 

[Brandis]

Ok, I guess we will have to see and decide who gets to sleep where when we arrive. The ladies are rather small and I'm not sure how they like a high bed. I'll probably just let them pick what they want, I'm fine with either.

I heard that the chance of getting a pool or savannah view is about the same and that there is only very few with parking view.

 

[keishashadow]

Ok, I guess we will have to see and decide who gets to sleep where when we arrive. The ladies are rather small and I'm not sure how they like a high bed. I'll probably just let them pick what they want, I'm fine with either.

I heard that the chance of getting a pool or savannah view is about the same and that there is only very few with parking view.

link to map re types of rooms


http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-akv/floor5.php

 

[Brandis]

Yes, I know this map. Unfortunately, I can't get the map for the 6th floor, it just loads the 5th again.

Looking at this map it looks like there are only studios with parking view, then 21 pool view studios and about 90 or so savannah view studios. Though I'm not sure what the white room units mean, are they non DVC-rooms or is it unknown what kind of rooms they are?

This would mean the changes of getting a savannah view would actually be the biggest, wouldn't it? Or am I reading the map incorrectly?

 

[keishashadow]

Yes, I know this map. Unfortunately, I can't get the map for the 6th floor, it just loads the 5th again.

Looking at this map it looks like there are only studios with parking view, then 21 pool view studios and about 90 or so savannah view studios. Though I'm not sure what the white room units mean, are they non DVC-rooms or is it unknown what kind of rooms they are?

This would mean the changes of getting a savannah view would actually be the biggest, wouldn't it? Or am I reading the map incorrectly?

there is a better series of AKV maps floating about here somewhere (had them bookmarked then lost in a restore), believe LisaS/mod has posted?

maybe somebody else has them handy & can post for you.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Is this the same savannah that I saw from the room that's right by the DVC desk in the lobby? I used to love to sit in there and watch the birds (African storks, I think) playing with sticks in the little pond area. At first I thought they were building a nest, but a CM told me they were just playing. I'd love to get this view from my room next trip. Has anyone requested the savannah view in a value room and been succesful? I've had such bad luck being too specific on view requests. It seems as if, when I request a specific area, I get something as far away as possible. So it seems I'm better off not requesting, just hoping. Anyone else have luck requesting Sunset Savannah?

 

[Brandis]

Seeing that the parking view studios are a bit further away from the lobby, I put in a request for a room close to the elevator, so hopefully this will get me either a savannah or a pool view.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yes, I know this map. Unfortunately, I can't get the map for the 6th floor, it just loads the 5th again.

Looking at this map it looks like there are only studios with parking view, then 21 pool view studios and about 90 or so savannah view studios. Though I'm not sure what the white room units mean, are they non DVC-rooms or is it unknown what kind of rooms they are?

This would mean the changes of getting a savannah view would actually be the biggest, wouldn't it? Or am I reading the map incorrectly?

What you're not seeing on this map is what rooms are the values. Those are the ones on the Giraffe and the Ostrich trails and if you eliminate the 2 1BR's and 2 studios that face the parking lot then the remainder are divided equally between pool view and savanna view. That's 8 studios that face the savannah and 8 that face the pool. All of them probably considered close to the lobby but your request may get you one of the closer ones.

The 6th floor are only concierge rooms.

Have fun on your trip!

Here's one of the maps that shows the different room type locations. It's labeled by units, not by room numbers but you can compare to the other map to determine room numbers:

 

[Brandis]

Ah ok, I thought all DVC rooms in Jambo house were values.

 

[Brandis]

Just back from AKL and we got a great room on Ostrich trail with a view of Sunset Savanna.

 

[dollnmomo]

This makes me feel much better about the value we booked for August. Taking MIL and my DS (7) and DD (13) for a week and was afraid pull out bed would be hard to take for that long. We are staying at POP for three days before going to AKV so for us the room will probably seem huge. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Darn! I guess I shouldn't have been such a vocal fan of the value studios. I called this morning for late September, and I had to go on the waitlist. They had 3 of the 4 nights available, but rather than risk having to move (as it is, I'm moving after the 4 nights to another resort), I had to waitlist for the 4 night block in a value studio. I'm really looking for pisie dust that my waitlist will come through.

 

[Disbug1]

I agree it is the best kept secret...so SHHHHHHH!!!!

Of course seeing is believing...
So for those curious...this is what we got

Our "savannah" view was the SUNSET savannah which truly is the sunset savannah. Other than our little grey friend who was right below us no other animals really ventured over except AT SUNSET!
BUT...given you aren't paying extra points for it...there are no complaints here

Great Pictures of the "Value Studio"

Thanks for sharing

 

[DFD]

So are all AKV value studios "savanna views". I did not know that. Seems odd that any savanna view would be less points than a standard view even with a smaller room...

had the best use of points last year at AKL-Value... 2 weeks of Savanah view right infront of the only watering hall on that side so it was Animal Galore... February DBF booked Savanah and he never heard the end of it... I was teasing him the whole time since that was the 1st time I stayed in a Savanah view points.. I flip flop between Value and Standard... Am even happy with a car park view... I see alot of intelligent animals on that side.. the two legged kind who drives a red van well going back to his Savanah view not one day I saw any animal... on our last morning I saw a 2 two legged animal driving a pick up truck.. I was excited... !!!!!

 

[supersuperwendy]

We have a value 2 bedroom booked for this December! It will be our first stay at Jambo and we are so excited! It's an amazing use of points I think. It's one of the reasons we bought AKV vs. BLT a few years ago. I love the AKV point chart You can save points and book value or splurge and book concierge! I love it!

I also booked a value studio for my friend and her kids for this October! She has never been to WDW and I think she'll be totally amazed by Jambo House!

Thanks for those pictures Queenie! You've got me ever more excited!

I found a video on youtube the other day of a value studio and I think it looks plenty big enough. It's the same square footage as a room at POR I believe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sitigvfcpo