AKV Dedicated Value Studio - Would you choose pool or savanna due to construction?

[starbox]

Someone posted pics of their room view overlooking the pool. All I can say is it was absolutely gorgeous. Personally, I'd probably pass this time to avoid the construction and get a view of the pool.

Have a GREAT trip!!!

That was me!

This was our value studio view:

We were directly above Jiko - looking straight down you could see the rock stream.

Sunrise from the balcony

The Sunset Savanna (in the evening so most machinery is gone) the infamous "people pens" are directly across from the balconies that are shown.

 

[lisareniff]

We are going in Nov and I requested Arusha savanna view. The construction doesnt effect that view, does it??

No you don't see the construction from the Arusha Savannah view. You might see the top of a crane, but that's it. We had a great room last week overlooking the Arusha Savannah.

 

[spaddy]

This was my view of the pool in December. I was a littel further down the hall. I loved being a quick elevator ride away from the pool.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Here is a map showing the Units that have been sold in Jambo House. Each Unit consists of multiple villas (or one GV). The yellow Units are Value villas. There are two 2BR lockoffs with a parking lot view (Unit 52), four 2BR lockoffs (Units 49 and 51) and four dedicated studios (Unit 50) with a savanna view, and four 2BR lockoffs (Units 46 and 48) and four dedicated studios (Unit 47) with a pool view.

Thanks so much! I have a dedicated value studio reserved in 2 weeks. I assumed I'd be getting a savanah view, but now I'm excited to see which I get. I had a pool view once on the fifth floor (before the DVC conversion) and really enjoyed it. It will be interesting to see if that's what I get again. Frankly, it would be far preferable to the savannah/construction view on sunset savannah.

 

[LisaS]

I updated my map to include additional info that I thought would help people who are not that familiar with AKL/AKV, such as the fact that this map shows Jambo House, the Trail names and the location of the front entrance to the hotel to help people get the correct orientation.

 

[disneyfanforever]

We just got back from AKV about a month ago. DH, myself and the kids had a dedicated valule studio facing the savannah, and my parents along with my sister had a dedicated value studio facing the pool. Both locations were great.

Regarding the savannah view, the construction didn't really bother me. I could see it, of course, but the animals were still there and my kids loved it. We saw giraffes, zebras and more right outside our window. The pool view my parents had was great as well especially when my boys went swimming and they could see them from their room.

I don't think you could go wrong either way. If I had to chose again, I would still go for the savannah view. We loved it.

 

[spiceycat]

had the pool view value. It was just fine. oh if you get the pool view - there is a shortcut to the buses. go to the elevator - then take the steps - go out the first exit door. you are much closer to the buses. (the elevator is between the 47's)

 

[Simba's Mom]

had the pool view value. It was just fine. oh if you get the pool view - there is a shortcut to the buses. go to the elevator - then take the steps - go out the first exit door. you are much closer to the buses. (the elevator is between the 47's)

Thanks for the info on the shortcut. Do the #s, like 47, correspond to the first two digits in the room #? So if I'm told at the front desk that I'm in 47--, I know that that's the location of my villa, building 47?
I really appreciate seeing all the beautiful pictures of views. Since I'm staying there next week, and I usually stay at BCV, I'll admit that I was getting a serious case of "cold feet" about not staying at BCV, really second-guessing my decision (I think the exact words were "Why did I decide to stay someplace different-what am I, crazy?) Now I'm really looking forward to staying at the AKV. So keep showing me those pictures, please!

 

[LisaS]

Thanks for the info on the shortcut. Do the #s, like 47, correspond to the first two digits in the room #? So if I'm told at the front desk that I'm in 47--, I know that that's the location of my villa, building 47?

Spicey is referring to the map I posted. Half of Unit 47 is in one building segment, the other half is in the adjacent segment and there is an elevator in between those two building segments.

Your room number will start with a "5" because you will be on the 5th floor.

ETA: If you look at this map of AKL: http://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/DAKLMap.pdf you can see the elevator in between the first two building segments on the Giraffe Trail in lower portion of the map, just below the red heart with the letters AED (which shows the location of a defibrillator).

 

[whamma]

Hope you don't mind if I ask this question here but I think it relates. I am just starting a day-to-day reservation for a AKV studio for next March. I chose the concierge level service--because the best I can figure, why not? It's 20 points more for the concierge service for the week--and without it I wouldn't have enough points for an extra night anyway. Can anyone see why I wouldn't want to book concierge level? Based on the Jambo House diagram, are there specific studio rooms where concierge services are provided? I'm a newbie to AKV and DVC. Thanks for any input!

 

[rwcmath]

I'm beginning to second guess my savannah view studio for September. I voted pool view for you! I don't like what I'm reading about the construction views.
rwc

 

[starbox]

I updated my map to include additional info that I thought would help people who are not that familiar with AKL/AKV, such as the fact that this map shows Jambo House, the Trail names and the location of the front entrance to the hotel to help people get the correct orientation.

Also, for those new to AKL - if you look at the yellow value area marked "Giraffe Trail" - the bus stop is at the end of units 48 and there's an elevator and direct pool access point right where the number "47" is. All the Giraffe Trail parking lot view units we saw were CRO rooms - the DVC rooms faced the pool. (It was easy to tell because the parking-lot side of the hall got USA Today each morning!). A PP mentioned that there is a shortcut to both the bus stop and Zawadi Marketplace on that side.

Also - the DVC free laundry facilities are right around unit #43 - which is a very short distance from the Giraffe rooms.

 

[spiceycat]

It's 20 points more for the concierge service for the week--and without it I wouldn't have enough points for an extra night anyway.

a value studio will be 8 points per night for Sun- thurs - 40 points

the concierge will be 13 points per night for sun-thurs - 65 points

with a value studio will be able to come back for a second trip!

 

[LisaS]

Can anyone see why I wouldn't want to book concierge level? Based on the Jambo House diagram, are there specific studio rooms where concierge services are provided?

The Concierge villas are on the 6th floor directly above Units 53 and 54. There are five 2BR lockoffs in Concierge. A lockoff can be "locked off" and rented as a 1BR and a studio. I don't know how MS splits them up but one possibility is two 2BRs, three 1BRs and three studios so there aren't very many Concierge studios available. Because of that, I think it's a good idea to try Concierge now while the number of AKV owners is still relatively small. As the number of owners increases the competition for those few Concierge rooms could make it difficult to book an entire stay there in the future.

 

[whamma]

Thanks spiceycat and LisaS. Spiceycat makes an excellent point but I work for a school district and am restricted to travel during "Magic" and "Premier" dates--requiring the most points. LisaS your answer makes me more confident than ever that I am making a good choice! Thanks!

 

[todd222222]

Maybe things have changed since our stay in Jan but I was very happy with our view in the Ostrich trail in a dedicated studio. yes there was construction, but you had to look at it to see it....the room faces Kudu Trail.

We saw lots of animals, again maybe things are different now, but I would have taken this view over the pool any day of the week.

There are some photos in the slideshow in my sig.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[pixie08]

Does anyone have a pic of the savannah view from a ded value studio? I have 3 ded value studios booked for June. I would be happy with the pool view but still crossing fingers for Savannah esp for Dh's family because they have never experienced anything like that, and because we have 3 rooms booking value studios ment being able to stay 7 nigths instead of 6!