AKV... are the points worth the view??

[rescuetink]

I was looking over the points chart and the differance for each room and there's a noticable difference. I am looking to go in May 2010 and here are the points for the different rooms...

169 pts V – Value Accommodation
199 pts S – Standard view
233 pts SV – Savanna view
279 pts C – Kilimanjaro Club Concierge

Is it really worth the extra points for a better view?? Do you really spend that much time in the room that it's worth the extra points?? I will be traveling with my son who will be 6 1/2 at the time, and a daughter who will be 2 1/2 at the time.

I purchased 200 pts per year at BLT, and I was given the full 200 pts for 2009, which I've banked already, and I'll have my 2010 points. So it's not that I don't have the points to use, it's just that I don't want to waste pts where I don't need too!! I originally figured we'd get a Standard View and just use the 200 pts for 2009. But if it's REALLY REALLY worth it with my kids at their age, then I'm willing to use the extra points!!

Thanks all for your imput!!!

 

[rescuetink]

Does anyone have experience trying to get a room in May for AKV at the 7 month mark?? I'm wondering if I should just book BLT now and then try and get AKV at the 7 month mark!!! It doesn't seem like a busy time there, but I want to get the week we're planning!!

Thanks again all!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I see no reason to stay at AKV and not get the savanna view. That is what AKV is all about...the animals and watching them from your balcony. Believe me when I say that staying AKV is a destination in itself. That is especially true staying in a savanna view room. Also, the value rooms are SIGNIFICANTLY smaller than the other rooms.

 

[DebbieB]

Does anyone have experience trying to get a room in May for AKV at the 7 month mark?? I'm wondering if I should just book BLT now and then try and get AKV at the 7 month mark!!! It doesn't seem like a busy time there, but I want to get the week we're planning!!

Thanks again all!!!

You shouldn't have a problem. I got it for late April at 7 months (Jambo studio) and then moved it to mid June (Kidani studio).

I just loved the savannah view, I could see alternating it with the boardwalk view at BWV. I wouldn't get a standard view, I'd rather have BWV and get the quick walk to Epcot and the boardwalk atmosphere.

Just to compare - BWV standard view would be 210 that week, 254 for preferred/boardwalk.

 

[Sandisw]

I would certainly book something at BLT now and then call at 7 months and switch. But, if you book a room, you will at least have something.

I think you should go for the SV room at AKV--at least this first time. It is only an extra 33 points and then you will know whether it will be worth it in the future.

Good luck!

 

[rescuetink]

We'll go for the Savanna View!!!

What's the difference between Jambo and Kidani?? And which would you all recommend?? Is that something I can request at the time I book??

I can't thank you all enough!!! Your experience and guidance is a tremendous help for us newbie’s!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

Out DGC (ages 4, 5 and 6) had their first stay in a Savannah view room in May and it was definitely worth it. They loved seeing the animals, we do too! Sometimes DH and I will go for "value" when we're low on points, for weekend stays, for instance, but for the most part, we book savannah view at the AKV.

Bobbi

 

[Deb & Bill]

I see no reason to stay at AKV and not get the savanna view. That is what AKV is all about...the animals and watching them from your balcony. Believe me when I say that staying AKV is a destination in itself. That is especially true staying in a savanna view room. Also, the value rooms are SIGNIFICANTLY smaller than the other rooms.

You have that right, Diane. You might as well stay anywhere if you are not going to get the savanna view. We've stayed at AKL twice in the past (don't think we will ever stay in AKV), but if you don't have a savanna, you are wasting your money. Seeing the animals on the savanna while you are still wearing your pajamas is the point of the resort.

 

[rescuetink]

What's the difference between Jambo and Kidani?? And which would you all recommend?? Is that something I can request at the time I book??QUOTE]


Has anyone stayed at both?? What's the difference???

Thanks Again!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Jambo is renovated AKL rooms into DVC villas. So in the one bedroom and larger, the tub and shower are combined in the master bathroom. Jambo has only fifth and sixth floors for DVC. All the rest are AKL.

Kidani village opened in May. It is all AKV and the rooms look like the models and the ones you see on the DVC website.

 

[rescuetink]

Which would you recomend???

THANKS SO MUCH!!!!

 

[Sandisw]

I have not stayed at either but I do know that there is no CS option at Kidani. If that is something you see yourself wanting to be close to, then Jambo is the better option.

From what I have read, Kidani may be a more relaxed atmosphere over Jambo. The 1 bedrooms at Kidani also have 2 bathrooms where as the 1 bedrooms at Jambo house only have 1 bathroom.

Good luck and have fun!!!

 

[rentayenta]

We stayed in Jambo in a 2 bedroom lock-off with a Savannah View. The view was amazing. The animals are a HUGE part of the AK appeal. My fear would be looking at a parking lot or mounds of dry dirt. The area around AKV is not all that spectacular. Jambo had a great vibe. The lobby is really cool and having Boma and Mara right there rocked!

 

[DebbieB]

I've stayed at both - I would recommend Kidani. The park busses stop there first. If you have a car, the parking is easier. They have a community hall, it feels "more DVC". The only drawback is no counter service. One night I drove over to Jambo to get something at Mara and look in the store.

 

[bobbiwoz]

When we travel with our DGC to AKV, we'll definitely book Kidani for them. They LOVED the Kidani pool experience. Besides the pool, slide and water activities, the dance party was a big hit!

Going over to Jambo to use the Mara and pool there wasn't hard for them and they ate dinner at Boma, and had no complaints about traveling there either.

Bobbi

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Your kids would really enjoy the pool and water play area at Kidani. If your ds isn't scared of water, he can go down the big slide wearing a swim vest (free, different sizes available right next to the pool). The water play area with all the pop jets, dumping buckets o'water, spraying snakes and flowers, dueling water cannons, etc was even fun for our 9yo

And that second bathroom in a Kidani 1br is a godsend.

We've stayed in both Jambo and Kidani 1br and will stay only at Kidani in the future when we're at AKV.

 

[drusba]

For the seven month out ressie for May: likely very easy to get savanna view (80% of all rooms) but more iffy for value (only small number of rooms); standard might be available. You should book at BLT with the 11 month window and then switch if desired.

If you do not have savanna view, there are places to go and see animals. Personally, we would not stay at AKV without savanna view but others have said otherwise. Jambo AKV rooms are on 5th floor (6th for concierge). Kidani is all AKV. Jambo gives you a good pool, larger than Kidani but Kidani has the more sophisticated kids play area. Jambo has Mara, a cafeteria/food court style quick service restaurant, Boma, an excellent buffet restaurant, and Jiko, an upscale table-service restaurant. Kidani has Sanaa, a table-service restaurant and you can purchase some short order items at pool bar. Kidani's store is signifcantly smaller than Jambo's. Walk from one to the other is about 10 minutes door to door normal pace (obviously slower with small kids). Park busses come to Kidani first, thus assuring you will get a seat. You choose which building at time of making reservation and choice of building is guaranteed.

 

[dizzi]

We stayed on the 5th floor in Jambo house, just for one night in our tour of the resorts. I was not entirely impressed with the view.....although it was cool, and i did sit on the balconey in my pjs for many hours.

We LOVED the room In all the ones we stayed in it seemed to be the roomiest, and the most thought out rooms. We just had a studio but we definitley could have survived in there with our 2 kids and been okay.

Since we only stayed one night we did not get to explore the resort as much as we wanted to but will put this one on our list of places to go back too.

My let down was at least from where our room was, looking out our balconey, you had a grounds area which thre animals did roam, we saw many but but , you also saw the other side of the hotel......as in it was like a V shap and int he middle of ther V was the "savannah" i know they did it this way for ultimate amount of people to see the animals but i didnt want to look at peole looking at the animals.....

Everything else was a plus though!!!

 

[Anal Annie]

Unless we had points left to burn that we would otherwise lose I don't think I would spring the extra points for the savanna view.

Way back when we paid extra cash for a "deluxe savanna view" room at AKL and all we saw was one lonely animal all week. I would describe it more as a "mangy grass view". It really depends on the luck of the draw on your unit. We also don't spend a whole lot of time in our villa so it's especially not worth it for us - they have a lot of viewing areas around the resort that we find offer much better views anyway.

But then again we are point challenged and I have to budget them carefully to get the maximum use out of them.

 

[dizfan]

We were at Jambo (cash) a little over a month ago (May) and would recommend the Savannah view. Seeing animals from our room was incredible. We even had a couple friends who aren't impressed by anything and their jaws dropped when they saw the animals. If you plan to take afternoon breaks/naps, you'll be able to relax on the balcony while your children sleep.

Hopefully someone can confirm this, but I think the Jambo DVC rooms are on the 5th and 6th floors, so you are further from the animals. At Kidani, I believe the rooms are closer to the animals.

Definitely book BLT at 11mo. Then, at 7mo switch to AKV (Jambo or Kidani depending on your preference). Best case, you would get AKV for your stay. Worst case, you would have BLT and be walking distance to MK, close to MK, ride the monorail a lot, easy access to several character meals.