AKV Value Questions

[brandip22]

Hi! I am calling tomorrow to book my trip for next year. If we go with AKV Value, we can stay a day extra there rather than paying cash offsite. I know they are a little smaller than the standard, but are there any other concerns I should know about? Thanks in advance!

 

[kristenrice]

Are you booking a studio, 1BR or 2BR?

How many days are you planning on staying?

How many in your party?

We recently took a 5-night stay to AKV and stayed in value rooms. Originally, we were planning on a Su-We stay in a value 1BR. Then, great airfare came out and I added Saturday on in a value studio. There are only 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 young kids (ages 3 and 5) so we had a few options.

The studio we were in had a great view of the sunset savanna. It was noticably smaller than the savanna studio I stayed in last October, but it was perfect for the one night. I liked the room very much, but I will say that any more than one or two nights with the four of us would have felt quite cramped.

The value 1BR was on the same wing, a few doors down, also with a great savanna view. This room was PERFECT for our family. Yes, it is smaller than the standard/savanna rooms, but it still had everything we needed. We never felt cramped and there was plenty of room for our luggage, strollers and sofa cushions!

After this stay, I can honestly say that I am glad that we own at AKV. I think those value rooms with the savanna view are going to become Disney's new "best kept secret". We got a great savanna view for 28 points less than booking a guaranteed savanna view! With 40% of the value rooms facing the savanna (and another 40% facing the pool) it is a gamble I am willing to take.

The only "negative" thing I have to say about the value rooms is that they are only available in Jambo. This makes our decisions more difficult. We have such a small contract that a savanna view (at Kidani) will allow us to only vacation every 2 years. If we book value (at Jambo), we can go two out of three, or more if we stay in studios.

Good Luck!

 

[brandip22]

Thanks! We are a family of 4- with a 7 year old and an almost 2 y/o at the time of the trip. Older will sleep on the sofa and baby probably with us, but maybe with his older brother. We'll be there for 7 nights, 8 if we do the Value. I'm leaning to the Value as I read about the high chance of a pool or Savannah view. Can I request a certain room or area like where you were? What would I request? Thanks!

 

[brandip22]

Oops, and we will get a 1BR

 

[kristenrice]

Oh, you will be FINE in the value 1BR. The values are in the "front" of the lodge. As you face the front, the "wing" to your left is the Ostrich Trail. There are value rooms on this side that face either the parking lot or the sunset savanna. The "wing" to the right is the Giraffe Trail. There are value rooms in this section that face the pool.

You can only request which view you want and it is not guaranteed. I liked the fact that the rooms are near the front of the lodge so you have a shorter walk to the bus stop. An advantage to a pool view is that you are about the closest to the pool, restaurants, lobby and bus stops as you can get. I would be happy in either a pool or savanna view room. Luckily, there are only (2) 2BR lock-offs that face the parking lot so you have an 80% chance of NOT getting one of those. I think if you requested "not a parking lot view", you *might* virtually guarantee that you will not get it. (JMO) I know that some people have reported that MS and the folks at the front desk do not fully understand the "value" category. A lot of people have been told that there is no view of the savanna from the value rooms (NOT true!) and others have been told that ALL of the value rooms face the parking lot. Just be politely persistent and have them note the view request on your reservation.

Have fun!

Here is a link to a thread that has pictures of a value 1BR with a savanna view. (I did not take these, but it happens to be the exact same room we had!)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2145703