AKV Counter Service

[ADP]

During the 2010 Annual DVC Association meeting a member asked if there were any plans to add a quick service location to Kidani Village.

The answer was no. The panel went on to say using the dial-up ordering option and pool bar was sufficient for Kidani Village. They also said the Mara was not being used near capacity. Basically, the demand for a second quick service location at AKV was not needed.

This raised a few questions in my mind.
1. Doesn't DVC think the reason the Mara is not at capacity is because its inconvenient to get there from Kidani Village. I know when I've stayed there I'll opt out of going to the Mara for breakfast and just get breakfast at the theme parks (Sunshine Season, Main St. Bakery, Pizzafari, etc, etc).

2. Why is Disney or DVC so careful about adding or building quick service locations when they should be considered a profit center? Basically, wouldn't adding a quick service location at Kidani Village earn Disney additional profits? To me, they are looking at adding a quick service location to Kidani Village as an economic loss. I'm not sure they would lose money on a quick service location at Kidani Village, especially at the prices they charge. I've always wondered what Disney's philosophy was on quick service locations? It seems like they look at them as problematic and they wish they didn't have to have them at the resorts and parks. I'm sure they don't bring in the same profits at a table service location, but to Disney they seem like a necessary evil. Basically, the fewer the better.

Just wondered what everyone's thoughts were on this particular subject.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Mara may not be used to capacity 95% of the time, but if you go at prime mealtime, it can be packed. One day (I admit this was just once in about 15 visits to Mara) there was such a long line to order that several of us gave up and got our food out of the cooler so we didn't have to wait any more. At non-prime times, Mara's fine-actually my favorite place. Butternut squash soup-Mmmmmm!

 

[vicki_c]

Our short stay in a Kidani studio in January was absolutely wonderful EXCEPT for the no CS restaurant thing. It is the one thing that would stop me from staying there again - well, I would, but not for more than a few days.

It was a problem on our check-in night for us - our kids were being generally uncooperative (to the point that we drove to the TTC parking lot - and actually turned around and came back to the resort without going to a park - happy days!). Everyone was grumpy and out of sorts and by the time we realized we needed to eat, it was getting late and walking to Mara just seemed out of the question. We ended up eating yucky stuff from the gift shop - Lunchables, yogurt, etc.

That was my only disappointment with Kidani. I like having a CS location nearby and I don't really want to walk or drive over to Jambo when we are just wanting something quick to eat - CS dining is not an "experience" for me, it's sustenance and I don't feel like being inconvenienced to do it.

So I know others don't see it that way, but I thought it was a definite drawback.

 

[tjkraz]

I think there are two elements to the decision:

1. Without a true Counter Service option at Kidani, they have the potential to "upsell" you to a Table Service meal at Sanaa. You may only want something quick but in lieu of walking over to Jambo or eating elsewhere, you may end up spending more for a meal at the closest location available.

2. Disney still has dozens of counter service options available to earn your business. If you go in knowing that there is nothing at Kidani, most people will structure their trip to deal with that. It could mean eating at Jambo. It could mean dining in the theme parks more.

The bottom line here is that Disney probably doesn't lose a tremendous amount of revenue by not offering CS at Kidani. People adapt.

If they were to open another CS restaurant, other locations (primarily Mara) would lose business. So while a new CS location at Kidani may be able to turn a profit on its own, it would have the effect of reducing profitability at OTHER existing locations.

Even without knowing any of the economics of Disney restaurants, I have to say that it seems unlikely that the 350 units at Kidani--all of which have kitchens or kitchenettes--could support two restaurants plus the pool bar food service location.

 

[vicki_c]

I think Tim's #2 is the most valid for us. In our case, we knew there was no CS @ Kidani and we would have just eaten at the park had our plans not gone awry. So we already had a plan to "adapt" as he stated - it just didn't work out that well for us that night (plus I was grumpy due to my kids so overall not feeling the love that night)!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

That was our biggest problem with Kidani too. We ended up driving to Jambo to eat at Mara. DVC needs to either break down and put CS at Kidani or start serving breakfast at Sanaa.

 

[CruznLexi]

We have stayed 2x at KV and a 3rd for Sunday. We love the Mara! The turkey sandwich is my favorite. We have never waited very long. Plus love watching the old cartoons. There is a shuttle or come back from the park and get off.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney is really good at making money. If they thought that a CS location at Kidani would be profitable, there would be one there tomorrow.

Bill

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Disney is really good at making money. If they thought that a CS location at Kidani would be profitable, there would be one there tomorrow.

Bill

Exactly. l

 

[Deb & Bill]

There is no counter service at VWL (or table service for that matter). You have to go over to WL. There is no counter service at BCV. You have to go over to the BC. There is no counter service at BWV. You have to go over to the BW Bakery and that is so limited. There is no counter service at BLT. You have to go over to the Contemporary. There is a very small counter service at OKW - but it's really just a pool service. SSR has Artist's Palette, but that was built before they decided to add the Turf Club. And SSR is pretty big.

AKV has Mara, Jiko, Sanaa and Boma. That's more than any of the resorts.

 

[majortom1981]

Well there is a counter service option an kidani that most people do not know about. Go down to the bar inside sana and order appitizers. The bread service ROCKS!!!!!!!

 

[AKV707]

NO CS is not an issue for us. We always eat breakfast in the room. Very relaxing and saves $$. We have, on occasion had a sandwich or salad at the pool bar and have been very happy with that.

And The Marra is not that far away.

 

[ADP]

There is no counter service at VWL (or table service for that matter). You have to go over to WL. There is no counter service at BCV. You have to go over to the BC. There is no counter service at BWV. You have to go over to the BW Bakery and that is so limited. There is no counter service at BLT. You have to go over to the Contemporary. There is a very small counter service at OKW - but it's really just a pool service. SSR has Artist's Palette, but that was built before they decided to add the Turf Club. And SSR is pretty big.

AKV has Mara, Jiko, Sanaa and Boma. That's more than any of the resorts.

All good points Deb. I think the real issue here though is accessability and weather or not Kidani could support a quick service location of some sort without hurting the business at the Mara.

I failed to mention that DVC is putting a new path in place between Kidani and Jambo to help shorten the walk between the two buildings. That may help the situation with getting over to the Mara. Only time will tell though.

 

[katmittens]

that is one of the rezsons we have not stayed. at kidani. I like to be able to grab a quick bite.

 

[vicki_c]

There is no counter service at VWL (or table service for that matter). You have to go over to WL. There is no counter service at BCV. You have to go over to the BC. There is no counter service at BWV. You have to go over to the BW Bakery and that is so limited. There is no counter service at BLT. You have to go over to the Contemporary. There is a very small counter service at OKW - but it's really just a pool service. SSR has Artist's Palette, but that was built before they decided to add the Turf Club. And SSR is pretty big.

AKV has Mara, Jiko, Sanaa and Boma. That's more than any of the resorts.

Good point Deb - but those all seem so much closer to me - although I don't like the BW Bakery either because it's not "in" the resort. To me, BC/BCV, WL/VWL, etc. are all in the same resort even if you have to walk outside and they don't seem far away to me. Can't speak to the OKW or CR/BLT one since I haven't stayed there to judge the distance myself. But it is a good point you make.

 

[LarryM]

For me it is a more cynical view. I just think Disney does not want to take away form the space available to sell.

 

[tjkraz]

(dupe post)

 

[tjkraz]

For me it is a more cynical view. I just think Disney does not want to take away form the space available to sell.

Retrofitting existing guest rooms into a dining establishment isn't a workable solution, corporate greed or not. There are several good size lounges surrounding the lobby which could be utilized. Or they could just build outside of the existing walls, perhaps losing a couple hundred sq ft of savanna space on the ground floor down by Sanaa.

Going back to the design stages, Disney made a conscious decision to not include counter service dining. They could have built a quick service counter that backs-up to the kitchen for Sanaa. Same facilities and the only recurring expense is one or two CMs to staff the location during operating hours. Other resorts use a similar setup.

But apparently none of this is in the cards. I doubt that negative guest comments have caught anyone off guard, and comments made at the annual meeting suggest the outcry hasn't been nearly loud enough to get Disney to reconsider.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I think CS at Kidani would be wonderful. We usually eat breakfast in our villa, but if there was CS we would definitely eat there instead. There have been days we leave one of the theme parks and take the bus to Jambo and eat at Mara then walk back to Kidani. If our room was on the side of Kidani by the pool I would hate that walk, luckily we've been closer to the bus stop. I would love CS at Kidani.

When we stayed at BLT we thought the walk over the bridge to Contempo Cafe was super short. The walk to Jambo seems MUCH longer to me.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'll just say that I think Kidani would be a better resort if it had a CS restaurant. It's the major thing lacking IMO. I know I was very surprised when they were building it to learn that it would not have one. And the pool service does not count - IMO as it's too restricted in its times.