AKV lovers....please help us decide!

[Pluto14]

We're VWL lovers, but are considering a 6 night stay in July in a 1BR in the new Kidani village w/ savannah view because our DD LOVES animals and wants to stay where the animals are. Should we do it? I think what I need to be told about most is the transportation......in July what should we expect? We love the bus/boat transportation at VWL....so easy and never a long wait for a bus...being that the AKL is so removed, what should we expect for bus waits, and time allowed to arrive at the parks?

Any pics of a 1 BR would be appreciated! I know nothing about the layout of the yet to be opened Kidani village....are there different "named" sections? Where should we "request"? I guess I need to know the "nitty gritty" that I can't find on websites other than here!

Thanks!

 

[drusba]

Generally, we have found busses at AKV to be better than most, particularly because you don't share with any other resort. Usually no long wait, direct shot for MK is about 20 to 25 minutes either way once on the bus, and a bit shorter for studios and Epcot except that one of those (can never remember which) will also make the Blizzard Beach stop during the day adding another 7 to 10 minutes). AKV is only an 8 to 10 minute drive. Even Downtown Disney is a direct shot at night (stops at Typhoon Lagoon during day). Have had only one long delay (40 minutes waiting for an MK bus) in three trips, otherwise time waiting for bus has usually not exceeded 15 minutes and is very often less. Note, times going and coming from parks should increase about 4 to 5 minutes once Kidani is open because both Jambo and Kidani will have a bus stop and share busses.

Have not seen anything dividing Kidani into sections although there will be two savannas, sunset (which most savanna views will face) and the new one on the north end of the building that won't open until Sep(rooms for it also don't open until Sep). It is difficult to determine yet whether some savanna views will be better than others although difference probably won't be much. Likely, many are going to be requesting rooms close to lobby -- the walk from the end of either of the two wings (North and South) to the lobby will be quite long.

 

[hakepb]

If you love animals, especially if you love the DAK Safari ride, you will love, love the savannah view!
I stayed at AKV (sunset savannah) this fall, (arrived late) in the AM, I heard rustling around the curtains, then DS "LOOK a ZEBRA!, no 2 ZEBRA's, no 3 ZEBRA's!!! and an osterich!!!" ..... priceless!

(And I believe the AKV Jambo lobby was designed by the same architect that did VWL,so I'm sure you will love the overall themeing) The bus drives are somewhat longer (waits were always good to OK), but the overall theme and animals made it absolutely worth while.
Just make sure you replace some of your other resort dining with (great!) AKV dining to minimize some bus riding effects.

 

[Laneychris]

My kids love it! They are the most important.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

In the one-bedroom, I believe that there are two bathrooms and room for an extra person on a fold out chair. Both are big plusses for us.

 

[danielle782001]

Our kids love AKL...They love that they can see animals out of our windows...We were there our last trip and our kids want to stay there again in July..I really wanted BC but the kids made it clear that they love AKL...And it really is all about them for DH and I...Our kids will only be small for a short time and we are willing to stay where they want now...We know that we will have plenty of time in the future to dictate where we want to stay...

We stayed in a two-bedroom and we will do the same this coming July...The rooms are so big and to see animals coming and going all day and night is wonderful...They feed the animals close to the rooms to draw them near...The kids also loved looking out different windows around the lodge to see the various animals...It is a special place for children that love animals...

We are also really excited for the new pool area...We will be there in July...Clearly we will need to spend a lot of time at the pool...The water area looks amazing...

We like Mara (the counter service) very much...We are a bit concerned about the distance the village will be from Mara...But we want to be close to the new pool and in the new building, so we will deal with the distance...If you want to be very close to the food I suggest you ask to stay in the main building.

 

[DebbieB]

I stayed at AKV at the end of last June and was pleasantly surprised with the bus transportation. Didn't take as long as I expected and the busses were not crowded. Although that will probably change with Kidani opening, more people will be staying there.

 

[TheTazDev]

being that the AKL is so removed, what should we expect for bus waits, and time allowed to arrive at the parks?

I don't look at it as the AKV is "so removed" ? It's as close to the AK and MGM as the VWL would be to the MK and EPcot ? The bus ride from the AKV to the MK will be a bit longer. But so would the bus ride from the VWL to the AK. Unless you're referring to something else ? I think you'll love it. The AK/AKV gives the illusion of being away from it all, just as the WL/VWL does with it's themeing and atmosphere. We found busses in mid August to be fine. Normal waits were 10-25 min. And this is what I've experienced at the WL as well. Yes, the boat to the MK is a big plus. We like that too.

Check out this thread for a little more detailed Kidani info :
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1783357


And LisaS posted some good photos of the 1 bedroom models :
http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s50/LisaS_myphotos/AKV Model Rooms/1BR - Kidani Village/

 

[hakepb]

I don't look at it as the AKV is "so removed" ? It's as close to the AK and MGM as the VWL would be to the MK and EPcot ? The bus ride from the AKV to the MK will be a bit longer. But so would the bus ride from the VWL to the AK. Unless you're referring to something else ? I think you'll love it. The AK/AKV gives the illusion of being away from it all, just as the WL/VWL does with it's themeing and atmosphere. We found busses in mid August to be fine. Normal waits were 10-25 min. And this is what I've experienced at the WL as well. Yes, the boat to the MK is a big plus. We like that too.

Check out this thread for a little more detailed Kidani info :
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1783357


And LisaS posted some good photos of the 1 bedroom models :
http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s50/LisaS_myphotos/AKV Model Rooms/1BR - Kidani Village/

It depends on what parks and other resorts/restaurants you visit most. I visit MK and a few of the MK area restaurants most, so AKV is a little less convienent. It is also very, very nice to have a transportation change of pace to use a boat and/or monorail. busses, busses, busses gets a little old.

One evening we wanted to go visit the Boardwalk from AKV. Went to the bus stop to swap busses at DAK. Well, DAK closed at 6pm, could not do that. So next, we think EPCOT, but you'd have to walk completely through EPCOT, so that was out. We did the MGM boat to BWV once, took about an hour for the boat only (full boat wait + ride). Hard to get around WDW when your local park has the shortest hours... Well, we got lucky asking a super nice bus driver for advice. He was off-route with a few misc. passengers and took us straight there!

In the end, I think my BWV stay was slightly more convinient due to proximities, but loved out AKV stay more because the themeing, restaurants, animals added up to more, much more!