AKV Value Studio Pros? Views?

[ahill004]

I've posted this question a few places but cannot seem to get an an answer. Perhaps the DVC experts know?
We are booked early December in a Value Studio. I read (after booking) that it was much smaller than standard rooms in the AKL. The CM I booked with didn't know what kind of view the studio would have - he said there wasn't anything letting him pick a view value studios. Can someone who has stayed there or an AKV expert please tell me the following:

1. What kind of views do you get with value studios? Are most of them the bad construction views I've read about on here?

2. Is there any kind of benefit to booking a value studio over a regular standard view room (which is essentially the same price but more square footage)?

 

[DVC Mike]

There are 8 dedicated value studios, of which 4 have a savanna view and 4 have a pool view.

There are 10 possible values studios (part of 2-BR lockoffs), of which 4 have a savanna view, 4 have a pool view, and 2 have a parkling lot view.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm a big fan of the AKV value studios. They are smaller (this is my attempt to show the relative size-sorry it's not too good), but I didn't think a lot smaller-

Many of the value studios (including the one I was in) have a pool view. I thought it was nicer than the pool view from the standard room I had.

 

[ahill004]

Thanks DVC Mike and Simba's mom! I feel better about booking the value studio now! We don't take up a lot of space so if the size isn't a huge difference and the views are better I will keep the value studio!
I didn't realize there were so few value studios available!

 

[starbox]

We've done Savanna Studio and did a value studio over spring break & had the pool view which was very nice and convenient to the lobby/pool/elevators.

It is A LOT smaller - with the sofa bed folded out I had to struggle to figure out where to put the cushions & there was no room at all to walk. I can not figure out where it would be possible to unfold a pack & play unless it was pushed up against the sink blocking the bathroom door.

I was with just my kids (9 and 11) and we were okay with the limited space - but I ended up cancelling the value studio I had reserved for later that summer when DH would be joining us. I don't like messes and DH is not tidy! It's really up to you to decide how much you'll need space - but IMHO the value studio is a good deal smaller than an average hotel room (like Days Inn).

That said - I have another value studio reserved for next spring break (with just the three of us again) - the advantage is that it's SUPER CHEAP points-wise.

 

[ahill004]

If we cannot fit a pack n play in the room then the girls (2 and 4) will need to share the pull out sofa. Since we won't be able to use bed rails with it can someone tell me how low it is to the ground. It makes me a bit nervous that the 2 year old will roll out!

 

[starbox]

If we cannot fit a pack n play in the room then the girls (2 and 4) will need to share the pull out sofa. Since we won't be able to use bed rails with it can someone tell me how low it is to the ground. It makes me a bit nervous that the 2 year old will roll out!

Here are pictures of the value studio. The fold-out couch is right up against the wall - so that could act as a rail.

Interior of studio:

Vanity area was about the same size:

Bathroom seemed much smaller

Kitchenette seemed the same size

Furniture is right up against each other - and storage bench thing is not there

And here's our AKV Value View:

6:30 Am Friday morning:

 

[LisaS]

I've posted this question a few places but cannot seem to get an an answer. Perhaps the DVC experts know?
We are booked early December in a Value Studio. I read (after booking) that it was much smaller than standard rooms in the AKL.

Actually the Value studios are conversions of standard size AKL rooms so they are the same size. The bathroom and vanity area are exactly the same. The main differences are:

- where the big closet is in an AKL room the studio has a kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, toaster and coffee maker. Since there is no closet, they provide a free standing wardrobe with maybe a third or even one fourth of the amount of hanging space of an AKL closet so there isn't much room for your clothes.

- you will have one queen bed and a full-size sleeper sofa instead of a king bed/two queens/one queen plus bunk beds that a regular AKL room would have. We prefer that arrangement because the room feels larger and it's nice to have a sofa in the room, but there are just the two of us so nobody has to sleep on the sleeper sofa.

The CM I booked with didn't know what kind of view the studio would have - he said there wasn't anything letting him pick a view value studios. Can someone who has stayed there or an AKV expert please tell me the following:

1. What kind of views do you get with value studios? Are most of them the bad construction views I've read about on here?

As mentioned, your view will be one of the following: the Sunset Savanna, the pool or the parking lot. There is construction going on on the Sunset Savanna from now until some time next spring.

2. Is there any kind of benefit to booking a value studio over a regular standard view room (which is essentially the same price but more square footage)?

The benefits would be the kitchenette (which we use to fix breakfast most days) and having a sofa to sit on during the day and having the feeling of spaciousness that the sofa provides. The downside is the lack of closet space and having a sleeper sofa instead of a second bed. Also AKL's "standard view" rooms face the parking lot and with a Value studio, you are more likely to get a pool view or a Sunset Savanna view than a parking lot view.

 

[lmb]

We've been doing the values on the weekends and we love them. For a couple of days the size of the room doesn't matter too much. I also like the chance of getting a savannah view. If I was doing a whole vacation in there it might get a little tight after a while.

 

[moredisneyplease]

thanks for all of the info everyone!

 

[Rigatoni]

We just stayed in a value studio on cash for one night, and it was probably the worst room of the values. That being said, aside from the balcony overlooking the parking lot, it was fine.

They initially put us in a AKL room with a bed and bunk bed overlooking the pool. The valet tried to talk us into keeping it, but it was not a AKV room, and I had this funny feeling something wasn't right with it. Sure enough, she called down and the room was a connecting which someone specifically requested. All we needed was someone knocking on the door at 11:00 pm.

Anyway, we got our AKV room with the crappy view, and it was still great. I'd much rather have the armoire and a kitchenette than a regular closet.

 

[Rigatoni]

Valet? LOL. I meant bell services.

 

[spaddy]

I was able to put the pack and play between the sofa bed and the regular bed. Don't get me wrong, it was tight and you definitely could not fit between the beds at all once it was there. It is nice to have the sleeper sofa so you can put it away during the day. The bed is really high and we put a lot of the pillows under there.

 

[starbox]

I was able to put the pack and play between the sofa bed and the regular bed. Don't get me wrong, it was tight and you definitely could not fit between the beds at all once it was there.

So where did you put the two coffee-table thingys? (I'm honestly curious - we ended up putting the coffee table thingys between the sofa-bed and bed and the bottom couch cushions between the bed and wall and the top cushions on top of the wardrobe - our luggage was under the bed).

 

[spaddy]

I put them on the other side of the bed. I hate not having a night stand, so that way I at least had something. That was tight too. I think my value might have been just a little bit bigger than yours. I don't remember the TV and amoire being right on top of each other like in your photo. Of course, I took a lot of photos and I can't find one of the TV and amoire.

 

[starbox]

I put them on the other side of the bed. I hate not having a night stand, so that way I at least had something. That was tight too. I think my value might have been just a little bit bigger than yours. I don't remember the TV and amoire being right on top of each other like in your photo. Of course, I took a lot of photos and I can't find one of the TV and amoire.

Maybe I had an exceptionally small value?? - there was only about 12 inches of space between the bed and sliding glass door, not nearly enough room for those two tables. Was yours a pool-view room?

I'm thinking our value used to have a king bed in it and nothing else because all the studio furniture was smooshed up against each other.

 

[spaddy]

Maybe I had an exceptionally small value?? - there was only about 12 inches of space between the bed and sliding glass door, not nearly enough room for those two tables. Was yours a pool-view room?

I'm thinking our value used to have a king bed in it and nothing else because all the studio furniture was smooshed up against each other.

It was pretty smooshed in our room too. This was the spacing next to the bed.

It was a pool view room with no extra closet. I was trying to remember where we put our luggage. I think we had a lot of it under the sink in the bathroom. I found the luggage rack to be the funniest part. It was next to the amoire and it was no where put it down. I am not sure where you are suppose to put that luggage rack?

 

[spaddy]

I put the tables one in front of the other. It made it a little bit harder to get out of the bed. And when we had the sleeper sofa out my DH couldn't really get out of the bed on his side.