AKL Villas Too Disconnected to Main Lodge?

[Brian430]

Since I already bought at AKL site unseen, I was looking at some of the photos of the Villas under construction - and a couple of things struck me:

1. Boy does it seem like long a walk to get to the main "Jamba House" from the villas.

2. It also seems like the only way over there is to take long trek along side the parking lot. Not the prettiest path I would imagine.

In other words, I guess I forgot there can't be any landscaped walkways along the back of the report since that will be a savannah. So the only options is a looooong sidewalk along the front of the resort and next to the parking lot. And I guess I assumed they could have had the buildings a little more accessible to one another.

Does anyone know if they will find a way to make this walk somewhat pleasant?

 

[Cruelladeville]

Disney ALWAYS makes their walkways pretty. They haven't failed to do that in 35 years that I have been going down there. Of course, if you don't like the walkways at AKL, stay in Jambo, where you won't even have to worry about that!

 

[JaxFLBear]

It's about a half mile from the main entrance of Kidani Village to the main entrance of Jambo House. Kidani Village will have everything except for quick service dining which would be the main reason to go from one to the other.

 

[Brian430]

I know they can landscape on side of walkway but based on the artist sketches I'm looking at you're talking about a mile walk alongside a parking lot.

I guess I'm surprised they didn't put even a small buffer between that walkway and the parking lot.

 

[lugnut33]

If you end up at the end, I think you'll have a long walk for anything.

 

[Brian430]

It's not the long walk I have a problem with.

It's a long ugly walk next to a parking lot that disappoints me.

 

[bethy]

Didn't I read somewhere that the parking lot was going to be underground? Or was I imagining things?

 

[simzac]

So you're saying the walkway will be between the parking lot and the savanah, sounds like one side will be very pleasant to look at.

 

[Mississippian]

It's about a half mile from the main entrance of Kidani Village to the main entrance of Jambo House. Kidani Village will have everything except for quick service dining which would be the main reason to go from one to the other.

I've got a gut feeling that Kidani won't have Signature dining. The people who design DVC resorts apparently think the customers like crapy food.

 

[tedisney]

You can actually have pretty long walks staying at Jambo house.

We were in a GV, room number 5394, which is at the very end of the long hallway to the upper left as you look at the resort map. From self-parking to our room was about a half-mile.

The room was incredible, btw.

 

[CraftyMouse]

It's not the long walk I have a problem with.

It's a long ugly walk next to a parking lot that disappoints me.

Don't you think you're jumping the gun a bit? Nobody has seen the path, only artists' sketches of the property. You're assuming it will be a "long, ugly walk" when, in reality, I am sure it will be just fine. I can think of very few places at WDW where they don't make the pathways pleasant. I think you're getting all worked up over nothing.

 

[theoarn]

You are right AKV is terrible. I recommend that you stay at SSR. You would never be happy at AKV. You can still use your points for other places but just be sure that you avoid AKV it is horrid and will just get worse as the construction is completed.

 

[JaxFLBear]

This is what the members website has on dining at Kidani Village:

Dining at Kidani Village (scheduled to open 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. Wait for your table in the comfortable 24-seat lounge that is adjacent to the spacious dining room. Savor breakfast and dinner here.

Since that section of AKV doesn't open for nearly 7 months, there is no way to really know what the restaurant will be like.

 

[lugnut33]

Didn't I read somewhere that the parking lot was going to be underground? Or was I imagining things?

There won't be any underground parking due to the water table in Florida. However, I did hear there will be parking on the ground under the buildings. I still don't like what the parking situation looks like. I think most people will end up having to park out by the main lobby.

 

[SandrainNC]

The parking is the only thing that really worries me a little about AKV. We drive so if we stay at Kidani and have to park at Jambo, that is a long haul every single day to get to our car (we prefer to drive to the parks). The walk will not bother me between the two for the pools, restaurants, etc. but getting to our car will be a hike. Not the end of the world though, we walk further in the parks than that. I am just always in a hurry to get to the parks! We are staying at Jambo house this first visit (as DVC members anyway) so we can check everything out.

Sandra

 

[JR]

We stayed at AKL on points two weeks ago. Was told that parking will be on the ground floor under the building. Having stayed at both the Boardwalk and Beach Club Villas I can say that I prefer a DVC resort where the check in/common areas are dedicated, not shared with another resort.

JR

 

[DeeCee735]

You are right AKV is terrible. I recommend that you stay at SSR. You would never be happy at AKV. You can still use your points for other places but just be sure that you avoid AKV it is horrid and will just get worse as the construction is completed.

 

[DeeCee735]

The parking is the only thing that really worries me a little about AKV. We drive so if we stay at Kidani and have to park at Jambo, that is a long haul every single day to get to our car (we prefer to drive to the parks). The walk will not bother me between the two for the pools, restaurants, etc. but getting to our car will be a hike. Not the end of the world though, we walk further in the parks than that. I am just always in a hurry to get to the parks! We are staying at Jambo house this first visit (as DVC members anyway) so we can check everything out.

Sandra

Valet parking is free for DVC members. I imagine this will be for AKV as well? BW is a hike to parking lot too, but we still love it and figure with all the walking in the parks, what's alittle more? Most large resorts, Disney and non Disney entail lots of walking.

 

[pilferk]

It's about a half mile from the main entrance of Kidani Village to the main entrance of Jambo House. Kidani Village will have everything except for quick service dining which would be the main reason to go from one to the other.

I was told (and we'll see if it's true) that both the gift shop AND the "pool bar" would have some limited grab and go selections (think sandwiches, fruit cups...that sorta thing). But for anything like a HOT CS meal, you'll need to head over to Mara at Jambo House. At least as things were explained to me.

 

[pilferk]

I've got a gut feeling that Kidani won't have Signature dining. The people who design DVC resorts apparently think the customers like crapy food.

You're right, to some extent. It won't have Jiko's, or it's equivalent, on site. But Saana sounds incredibly appealing, from the descriptions I've read. Maybe more geared toward family dining, but then....so is Boma's.

We might do OK on this one.....