AKV - SV worth the points?

[wrighter]

Let's here it AKV lovers - we will be staying at AKV for the first time next June. I'd love a savanna view room - but it would save us a lot of points if we went standard view. Is a savanna view worth those extra points? What is a standard view? Would we be basically looking at the parking lot?

 

[robinb]

I think it's worth the points. We bought into AKV to see the animals.

There are 4 categories at AKV:
Savanna - You can see the animals from your room.
Concierge - Jambo House only: you have a 50-50 chance of getting a pool view or a savanna view
Value - Jambo House only: Smaller rooms and you have a change of getting a pool, savanna or a parking lot view.
Standard - At Jambo House, you are guaranteed to have a pool view. At Kidani you will have a pool or (more probable) a parking lot view.

 

[nolanboys]

We have only stayed there once since joining dvc last spring. We had a standard view and really liked it. We would most likely do that again for the loping savings. We are not in the room that much and would walk down to the public viewing areas to see the animals. It worked out well because we could go to whatever side the animals were closest to and enjoyed talking to the CM's about the animals. I'm sure others would disagree, but we were happy with our decision and absolutely loved the resort.

 

[kmccl]

I would agree with the above post. I would save the points, unless that is not something you have to worry about. Stayed at Kadini Village last July in a standard view. We loved going out to the viewing areas and seeing the animals. We don't spend a lot of time in the room anyway. We requested near pool and it was a great view. Either way, you will have a great time there!

 

[hakepb]

I love SV view with younger kids. With the animals, your room is its own attraction, which makes the vacation less stressful.

On the other hand, animals feed and roam on schedules, so if your not in your room at various times of the day, you may see few animals from your room on a park-heavy trip.

 

[LisaS]

I think it depends on how you feel about animals which for us is the main reason we stay at AKV. We are not park commandos and like to spend some of our time relaxing at the resort during our stay. I like watching the animals at all hours, including after dark when you sometimes get lucky and have animals eating/sleeping/wandering around near your balcony. I don't want to have to leave my room every time I want to see what's happening on the savanna.

Our very first stay at Kidani was in a Standard View room because we booked late and there were no Savanna View rooms available. We still enjoyed our stay, particularly since Kidani was new and we had fun exploring the resort, but it was a very different experience than being in a Savanna View room.

They have reclassified many of the Savanna View rooms as Standard View, particularly at Jambo House. So it is possible to book Standard View and end up with a partial view of a savanna.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I think for us it would depend on the season. If it were say January or December I'd go with Savannah. If I was staying for Premier Season I'd stick with standard to save the points.

 

[lilpooh108]

We booked Savannah view last Sept and again in Dec. During the Sept trip, it was too hot for the animals to come out...wasn't worth it as we couldn't see much.

December was so much better! Giraffes right outside our balcony. To me, it would depend on the weather and type of trip you were taking.

 

[UConnJack]

IMO, not so much. For us and the kids, the novelty of it wears off fairly quick. I love AKV, its probably my 2nd favorite DVC, but we usually don't spend enough time in the room to make it worth the points. If you are someone who spends a fair amount of time in the room, sitting on the balcony having a drink or coffee, etc., then maybe it would be worth it to you.

 

[madthemouse]

I enjoy saving dollars whenever I can. So, for me I would book a standard view room. I have had SV and Pool view rooms as well. When my daughter was younger the SV room was very cool to have. Now that she is twenty, and when we stay at AKV or the AKL or we take people who never have stayed at or even visited, we will stay in a standard view room. Other then taking a break form the parks and sleeping we are not at the resort very much. And both Kidani and Jambo House have great viewing locations to see the animals.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[BlackRock]

I don't think so.

Blackrock

 

[disneychic]

I love both Jambo and Kidani with or without the savannah view. We've stayed in both and while I love being able to sit out and enjoy the animals, it's not a "must have" for us. I am booking a room for family next year and I will book them the savannah view just so my nieces can enjoy it.

 

[flyingcat2003]

Okay, we have stayed at AKV 3 times (2 sv and 1 standard view). The 1st trip we were sv facing the Arusha Savanna and we loved it. The next visit we had a standard view room with a pool view and also loved this room. The last visit we had a sv view on the Sunset Savanna and it was awful. We saw 1 ostrich and 1 giraffe. I would prefer to do a standard view and request a pool view (not guaranteed I know) then to get the Sunset Savanna again. We always stay in Jambo house too. Just my opinon, but you can view the animals from all of the overlooks and save your points.

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

We stayed in Kidani in May in a 2BR Sunset Savanna view -- 3 ostriches, 3 giraffes, some cow type creatures, and some other herbivore. After the first morning, the thrill, for us, was gone. We did enjoy sitting in the many public chairs, library, etc., to get a fix.

BTW...my daughter is a primo animal lover...but she found the animals boring after the initial excitement. She declared she is more of a carnivore animal lover.

 

[adminjedi]

Yes. We have older kids so have lazy mornings. Love sitting, drinking my coffee, reading a book and looking out across the savannah with animals.

 

[jarestel]

I guess it all boils down to what matters to an individual. We wouldn't stay at AKV without a savanna view since the animals are the only reason we go there. While the points differential isn't that much of a concern in our case, I do realize that less than optimal choices need to be made when points are stretched too thin.

Good luck!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Now that I've stayed in SV, I would choose no other! We got a surprise SV when we booked concierge. Booked concierge so we could do the sunrise safari. The food and drinks were nice. They surprised my son with a nice birthday present. A good value IMO. (We only stayed 2 nights.) It was great!

 

[twinklebug]

I adore waking up and spending time on the balcony in the morning watching the animals.... when the weather is nice. I've only had savanna view rooms on our 3 visits. Once our visit was over a very cold Feb. and we didn't use it much other than for an occasional glance.

If you don't think you'll use your balcony very much, you can get the same or better views from the viewing areas. Save the points!

I'm sure you're also aware, but worth mentioning that there are cameras watching all the balconies on the Savanna side to protect the animals. This was a shock to a few people I've met and they hated the idea of the cameras being out there. If you don't want the cameras on you - don't book a savanna view.

I love everything about the resort from the room sizes to the pools and activities. The experience will still be just as fantastic even without an ostrich sleeping under your window.

 

[KLEONARD]

I have a few pictures from Kidani SV 1BR overlooking the picnic pavilion, shuffle board, basketball and tennis courts. It also had a retention pond that gave the illusion of a water view early in the morning and at sunset. When I wanted to see the animals, I went down to the Fire Ring and sat in a rocker. If the animals are out, you get a great view from there. This was January, 2011.

Kevin

 

[Kelblum]

We loved it and it is worth doing at least once to experience it!