Am I crazy to love AKV?

[SpaceshipEarth]

When I first looked to join DVC, I looked at BLT and BCV (resale). But I happened to visit Kidani on a trip and it was love at first sight. There is something about the spirit of the place that is hard to put into words and I'm not sure it really has to do with the animals. But everywhere I look, people seem to criticize its location and size. Am I crazy to buy all my points at AKV? Is it the type of place I will grow tired of? I realize that this is very subjective, but I am just curious if there is anyone else who loves AKV.

 

[disneynutz]

Don't follow the crowd, follow your heart and be your own person. AKV isn't our favorite resort and we own there. Some people dislike BWV and that is currently our favorite.

Bill

 

[Buckeye Fan]

We loved AKV, DH especially did. I know what you mean about love at first sight. There is a calm and peace that comes over me when we check in at OKW. When I walk into the WL lobby, it is still takes my breath away. I think it always will. If AKV gives you that feeling, I think you've found your home!!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You're not at all crazy. There are lots of people who love AKV just as there are lots of people that love other resorts. It's great that there are different kinds of resorts for people to choose from.

We've had several great stays at AKL/AKV and look forward to going back.

 

[s830632]

I feel the same as you do Spaceship, we stayed at the regular Animal Kingdom lodge (just a regular room, not a villa) and loved the place and there was never any question about whether I would want to buy from there when I started looking into DVC. I really don't have any experience though with the other resorts so I suppose it is possible that I might've loved them as well.

I don't see a whole lot of people talking about AKV though and it does make you wonder if you made the right choice, especially when you read other veteran DVC owners and see what resorts they choose.

 

[maminnie]

If you love it and have looked at and evaluated where you want to be through the years of your membership, then it is likely the right resort for you!

Good luck!

 

[gkrykewy]

What kind of question is that?!?

Of course it's not crazy. Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of our favorite places in the world (real or Disney), and is the only reason we bought DVC! (those savanna view rooms are expensive!).

The fact that from a DVC standpoint AKV also happens to have the best points bargain in the DVC system (value rooms) as well as the only high-end full-service concierge option in the DVC system (concierge) -- both of which typically require the home resort booking advantage -- is a nice bonus as well.

 

[Wedgeh]

I'm definitely in the AKV lovers group. Coming from the UK I tend to do longer trips and perhaps that mitigates the 'out of the wayness'. I really like the styling of the rooms and of course there's not a lot of other resorts that offer giraffes and zebras

 

[Kidanifan08]

As you can tell from my user name, we love Kidani too! It is a very calming environment, even when there are drums pounding in the community room. The rooms are calm with the dark colors and softer lighting. When we toured the BLT model, for us the decor was not our style, but the Kidani model was so inviting.

Many seem to dog the bus service and distance to the parks, but we love the bus service from Kidani, since the buses stop there first. And the ride to the resorts has never been more than 20 minutes; and that's to MK, which is the farthest away.

There are many on these boards who love SSR, but we stayed there once and I did not like how spread out the resort is and the room decor was rather generic.

It is obviously all very personal. We are going to stay at OKW on our next trip and we look foward to trying a different resort. But the next trip after that, we will be staying at Kidani and we can't wait to get back home!

 

[hellerjw]

We also love AKV. It offers some of the best theming of any Disney resort (DVC or otherwise), the most varied booking categories, 4 on-site restaurants, dedicated bus routes, one of the best pools for kids (and kids at heart) and of course the animals. We actually love the remote nature of its location since that adds to the safari feel of the place. Remember, even though we Disboard members are a vocal bunch we are a small minority when it comes to the overall DVC membership base so don't worry too much about negative things you read here. If you love it and it makes you happy to be there then that's all that matters.

 

[DizGirl20]

We also love AKV. It offers some of the best theming of any Disney resort (DVC or otherwise), the most varied booking categories, 4 on-site restaurants, dedicated bus routes, one of the best pools for kids (and kids at heart) and of course the animals. We actually love the remote nature of its location since that adds to the safari feel of the place. Remember, even though we Disboard members are a vocal bunch we are a small minority when it comes to the overall DVC membership base so don't worry too much about negative things you read here. If you love it and it makes you happy to be there then that's all that matters.

I was pretty much going to write the same thing.

Love the exotic theming of the lobbies and the rooms, 2-resorts-in-1 option (i.e. Kidani & Jambo), safaris and the amazing restaurants. We own at AKV and are awaiting ROFR on a VWL contract (which by the way doesn't get talked about too much around here but I like it that way!). Follow your heart so you have no regrets. Good Luck!

 

[GettinReadyforDisney]

We also love AKV. It offers some of the best theming of any Disney resort (DVC or otherwise), the most varied booking categories, 4 on-site restaurants, dedicated bus routes, one of the best pools for kids (and kids at heart) and of course the animals. We actually love the remote nature of its location since that adds to the safari feel of the place. Remember, even though we Disboard members are a vocal bunch we are a small minority when it comes to the overall DVC membership base so don't worry too much about negative things you read here. If you love it and it makes you happy to be there then that's all that matters.

I, too, agree with hellerjw. We love all those things about AKV!!

So - you're not alone!!

DVC's strength, IMHO, is that there is something for everyone

We first bought at BLT. Although many do not like it, we love the location and we even like the contemporary decor.

But, we had been torn about AKV, because we love the remote feeling, the animals, the food . . . . So, we ended up buying points at AKV, too (bought resale b4 deadline and are waiting to close now!!).

So now -- we have two home resorts and each offers us a unique experience.

We just got back from a split stay at BLT/AKV and we thought it was a perfect combination. First, we stayed at BLT, concentrated on MK and Epcot while we had monorail access, and ate dinner at places along the monorail. Then, we moved on to AKV and, by then, we were glad to have the more peaceful environment. While at AKV, we did AK and DHS, which are the closer parks to AKV.

We absolutely loved the combination of those two resorts.

Again -- DVC provides something for everyone -- because we all have different needs and desires!! It's what makes DVC so awesome.

 

[Brian Noble]

Of course not. This is your vacation, not everybody else's vacation.

 

[TSMIII]

What kind of question is that?!?

Of course it's not crazy. Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of our favorite places in the world (real or Disney), and is the only reason we bought DVC! (those savanna view rooms are expensive!).

The fact that from a DVC standpoint AKV also happens to have the best points bargain in the DVC system (value rooms) as well as the only high-end full-service concierge option in the DVC system (concierge) -- both of which typically require the home resort booking advantage -- is a nice bonus as well.

Ditto for us.

In fact, since we've owned, we haven't stayed anywhere else.

I've suggested trying several of the other DVC resorts but DW & DD9 are vehemently opposed to any WDW vacation that does not include AKV!

I'm slowing gaining some traction with my idea of doing a split stay between one of the other resorts and AKV. It's an uphill battle though!

 

[childsplay]

As others have stated, its all personal preference. We stayed at AKV for the first time last summer and I loved it so much I wanted to go back again this summer, but my wife thought it was too far away from everything, she really loved to savanna view though. We will be back to AKV at some point, but for this summer the vote was OKW.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

When I first looked to join DVC, I looked at BLT and BCV (resale). But I happened to visit Kidani on a trip and it was love at first sight. There is something about the spirit of the place that is hard to put into words and I'm not sure it really has to do with the animals. But everywhere I look, people seem to criticize its location and size. Am I crazy to buy all my points at AKV? Is it the type of place I will grow tired of? I realize that this is very subjective, but I am just curious if there is anyone else who loves AKV.

Certainly not! I don't own at AKV, but I've stayed at AKV once and will again this fall.

If AKV is the place you call home, then embrace it and enjoy it.

 

[Tigger031266]

We love AKV too. Expecially the food and animals. We own 4 DVC's and there are 4 of us. Everyone of us has a favorite DVC (Mine is VWL, DW is BWV, DS is AKL, other DS is BLT....)

I don't think people actually dislike any resorts, they just may like others slightly better. I would rather be at my least favorite DVC than where I am right now!

DVC has different themes because customers have different tastes. I personaly love them all for different reasons.

Also, the grass is always greener. We have most of our points at BCV. Which happens to be the place where everyone wants to stay least. You can't win at this one. But "so what!" because at DVC you can stay at the other resports!

Buy where your heart tells you, not what any one else says.

 

[FindingFigment]

I've never stayed there but I visited the resort in January and my impression was that it felt like a destination unto itself whereas the other DVC resorts didn't really give that same feeling. VWL maybe...but not near as much as AKV. I visited both, Jambo then Kidani and had dinner at Sanaa. By the time I left, I really felt like I had visited another country. And since the World Showcase is my most favorite place in the world, then that explains why AKV was exciting to me.

I'll admit there IS a part of me that wonders if I'd get tired of staying there after a while. But as long as DVC allows you to trade out to other DVC resorts, then you're not locked into anything and would therefore have the option for variety!

 

[xipetotec]

When I first looked to join DVC, I looked at BLT and BCV (resale). But I happened to visit Kidani on a trip and it was love at first sight. There is something about the spirit of the place that is hard to put into words and I'm not sure it really has to do with the animals. But everywhere I look, people seem to criticize its location and size. Am I crazy to buy all my points at AKV? Is it the type of place I will grow tired of? I realize that this is very subjective, but I am just curious if there is anyone else who loves AKV.

I find it far from everything. ******BUT****** as far as RESORTS go, I *absolutely love* AKV. Jiko and Boma are two of my favorite restaurants on property. The resort itself is gorgeous, and live animals on the grounds! This resort is just awesome.

That being said... I can't stay away from the convenience of my BCV...

 

[DeeCee735]

Huh? Buy where YOU love. This is YOUR vacation timeshare. No one else has anything to do with it, and if so, who cares!?

Buy where YOU love

That being said, can you tell? I adore AKV, adore it! We stayed one little night, just one, at the Lodge in a one bedroom on the 5th floor. Came home, called our guide and added on a small 50 point contract. Now, we own 150 there.

Our favorite (DH & me) is BWV, our second favorite....AKV, ABSOLUTELY. It's gorgeous, it's quite and it's unlike any other resort in country, maybe even world. We love every minute we're there, even if we're not in a savannah view room. Everyone I've taken there as a guest has loved it. Two of my friends actually bought their only contracts there, after visiting with me.

What's not to love?

Also,we tend to build our vacation around the area we're in, as I imagine most people do. It works great. When we're at AKV, we spend time in AK Park, it's close proximity to the resort makes that a no brainer. We book Jiko for dinner, Boma for breakfast. We drink with our "co-people" (whomever we're with on that trip) in that pretty lounge in the Lodge. We do the Wanyama Safari Tour, and we spend evenings at the firepit enjoying the weather.

Not to say we don't get out and about, but each resort has so much to offer in and of itself. AKV is unique and a very special place.

Enjoy your time there and good luck with your decision