AKL Villas Too Disconnected to Main Lodge?

[pilferk]

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.

"Underground", no.

But from the looks of things, parking will be, essentially, on the "ground level", under each wing (but not the lobby, obviously). Basically like a 1st floor parking garage sorta set up. At least that's the way the artist renderings looked, and what I had heard.

 

[Mississippian]

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.....

I hope you're right. I know every restaurant can't be a Signature restaurant, but after they put the food service in at SSR as an afterthought, it causes me to have a lack of trust.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Other than wanting to eat at Mara, why would you need to walk to Jambo from Kidani? Kidani will have it's own lobby and own pool area plus it's own restaurant. At first, I was bothered they would not have a Mara type restaurant but I guess the reason is that since this is all DVC, that most folks who might eat Mara type food would be cooking simple stuff in their units.

 

[SandrainNC]

Valet parking is free for DVC members.

I completely forgot about that!

Sandra

 

[Mattsmommy]

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.

You seriously have to be kidding! I stayed at SSR in August and will never stay there again. Everything is too far. I had to drive to the pool. I'm glad I own at AKV!

 

[CraftyMouse]

You seriously have to be kidding! I stayed at SSR in August and will never stay there again. Everything is too far. I had to drive to the pool. I'm glad I own at AKV!

<whispers...>

He/She was kidding.

 

[theoarn]

<whispers...>

He/She was kidding.

I wasn't kidding but MATTSMOMMY was kidding!...???? Right she was kidding?

 

[theoarn]

I wasn't but kidding but MATTSMOMMY was kidding!...???? Right she was kidding?

Well yes I was kidding. I don't have and AKV points yet and I want to make sure I can get a reservation at 7 months.
I think it is going to be great. But you know what? If someone thinks it is going to be unsuitable for their needs, then don't stay there and complain!
Stay somewhere else and be happy! Then I will stay there and everybody will be happier!

Theo

 

[jfinke]

I hope you're right. I know every restaurant can't be a Signature restaurant, but after they put the food service in at SSR as an afterthought, it causes me to have a lack of trust.

I concur.

 

[adminjedi]

I really can't figure out why they didn't add a quick service restaurant, and especially why not more CONCIERGE rooms?! ?!

 

[pilferk]

I really can't figure out why they didn't add a quick service restaurant, and especially why not more CONCIERGE rooms?! ?!

Because more concierge would require 2 things, and cause one snag:

1) It would require a new concierge lounge over at Kidani to really be useful/effective...which means less space for villas.

2) It would require more concierge STAFF to be located at Kidani, which is costly.

And it causes one little snag:

The Sunrise Safari's capacity is finite. Right now, the current concierge rooms are a nice balance to that capacity. If you increase the concierge capacity by adding more rooms at Kidani, you either have a loggerjam at the Sunrise Safari resulting in some concierge guests being left out OR you have to end that program all together in order to prevent the problem altogether.

The Sunrise Safari is one of the BIG selling points, IMHO.

 

[dzorn]

Do they do the sunrise Safari every morning? If not wouldn't they need to just add days. I do not know if the lack of quick service would bother me. I would rather they expand the full service to carry out orders. A quick meal I could cook in the villa but the chance it pick up a full service dinner and bring it back to the room when the kids are tired would be great.

Denise in MI

 

[pilferk]

Do they do the sunrise Safari every morning? If not wouldn't they need to just add days. .

Denise in MI

Nope, but increasing offerings increases costs, etc, and thus, likely, dues (though I agree....some of those costs are probably offset by the additional fee you pay). And there may be good reason they only offer it on Sunday and Thursday's...I don't know.

But it's a hurdle you'd have to overcome, all the same. I think...well, actually we know...Disney decided it wasn't worthwhile to expand those offerings.

 

[JaxFLBear]

Nope, but increasing offerings increases costs, etc, and thus, likely, dues (though I agree....some of those costs are probably offset by the additional fee you pay). And there may be good reason they only offer it on Sunday and Thursday's...I don't know.

But it's a hurdle you'd have to overcome, all the same. I think...well, actually we know...Disney decided it wasn't worthwhile to expand those offerings.

I don't see how adding more days for the safaris would impact dues. There are still some concierge rooms in AKL that are not part of DVC. Those rooms can also book the sunrise safari.

 

[twinklebug]

I had heard Disney's contemplating fencing off a special lion area right out in front of Kidani so that the few lazy folk who want to get to the other building by cutting across the savanna (those who believe the rules are for everyone but themselves) would be put to good use and no longer be an issue in the parks themselves.

 

[dzorn]

I had heard Disney's contemplating fencing off a special lion area right out in front of Kidani so that the few lazy folk who want to get to the other building by cutting across the savanna (those who believe the rules are for everyone but themselves) would be put to good use and no longer be an issue in the parks themselves.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

again, just a matter of preference, just like OKW, I don't mind being in the back 40 away from HH. I feel the same about AKV, it's just a personal thing. I can understand how the poster would prefer it the way he wants it. Will it hinder my future decisions to stay there, no!

 

[pilferk]

I don't see how adding more days for the safaris would impact dues. There are still some concierge rooms in AKL that are not part of DVC. Those rooms can also book the sunrise safari.

The "fee" for the Sunrise Safari is "split" (I don't know the actual %) between the increase in the room rate for Concierge hotel rooms/increased dues generated by a greater number of points to book the AKV Concierge villas AND the fee the guest pays per person.

Right now, assumedly, you have balance.

Any additional days, because you add additional rooms at Kidani, would increase the burden toward DVC. Actually, at this point, ALL of Concierge is supported by our dues...DVC runs the service...and then we get a "charge back" from the hotels division. So any increase in services would likely NOT be matched by an increase in the hotel charge back. Why should it when the current offerings meet their needs?

So that leaves AKV owners dues to offset the difference.

Pretty much ANY DVC specific resort or services addition or improvement increases our dues. Maybe marginally, but it does.

 

[pilferk]

again, just a matter of preference, just like OKW, I don't mind being in the back 40 away from HH. I feel the same about AKV, it's just a personal thing. I can understand how the poster would prefer it the way he wants it. Will it hinder my future decisions to stay there, no!

I'm with you.

The benefits of Kidani (more sq footage, extra bathroom, etc) outweigh the walking (which I actually enjoy) to get to Jambo when I want to use their services. The ONE annoyance would be access to Mara, but...we ALWAYS do a 1 or 2BR. We'll just use the kitchen more.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

We stayed at AKVCL in July and our balcony faced Kidani.

I was actually surprised to see how close it was, since from the drawings and such, I had assumed it was farther away.

Of course, I like to hike around SSR, so maybe it's just me.