Animal Kingdom Refurbishment 2025

[ajiuo]

I really hope that this hard goods referb turns out better than the one at grand California. All they really did there was put in Murphy’s beds and new flooring… they didn’t touch the bathrooms nor did they add any furniture with the USB charging

 

[Girlstar30]

Was the grand californian one a hard refurb??

I really hope that this hard goods referb turns out better than the one at grand California. All they really did there was put in Murphy’s beds and new flooring… they didn’t touch the bathrooms nor did they add any furniture with the USB char

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Was the grand californian one a hard refurb??

Yes it was.

 

[Girlstar30]

I remember seeing the pictures and thinking wow, this is... boring. Missed opportunity to do something awesome for sure

Yes it was.

 

[ajiuo]

I remember seeing the pictures and thinking wow, this is... boring. Missed opportunity to do something awesome for sure

As someone who owns a contract there It’s actually kind of infuriating. I mean, I’m kind of glad they didn’t strip out all the wood cabinetry and everything…. But I think this is the first hard goods refresh that they haven’t updated the bathrooms in. They didn’t even add new shower hardware.. it’s probably the same shower curtains honestly. The hotel rooms that they did seven years ago look absolutely amazing. They didn’t even add more USB ports or change the light switches.

It didn’t even get the new Keurig coffee combo machines like all the other resorts have been getting.

I feel kind of cheated and ripped off. I hope they don’t pull the same nonsense at Animal Kingdom Lodge… I hope it’s similar to what they did to the hotel rooms there. But after what I’ve seen it, the grand California and I have a bad feeling that it’s not gonna turn out very nice.

 

[Girlstar30]

As someone who owns a contract there It’s actually kind of infuriating. I mean, I’m kind of glad they didn’t strip out all the wood cabinetry and everything…. But I think this is the first hard goods refresh that they haven’t updated the bathrooms in. They didn’t even add new shower hardware.. it’s probably the same shower curtains honestly. The hotel rooms that they did seven years ago look absolutely amazing. They didn’t even add more USB ports or change the light switches.

It didn’t even get the new Keurig coffee combo machines like all the other resorts have been getting.

I feel kind of cheated and ripped off. I hope they don’t pull the same nonsense at Animal Kingdom Lodge… I hope it’s similar to what they did to the hotel rooms there. But after what I’ve seen it, the grand California and I have a bad feeling that it’s not gonna turn out very nice.

As someone who is currently in the process of becoming an AKV owner, I'm hoping that the gcv refurbishment was just one of those we did it because we can situations.

They know it's the resort that people pay the most for points, has limited rooms and has the best access to a Disney theme park and the only one across from Disneyland, so they got lazy and it will still be booked with ease. The resale value of akv pales in comparison to gc, even though an African Savannah is hard to beat as the most unique hotel with the best view. The location/transportation just isn't there and in my mind they have to make up for it by being the awesome resort that it is with the best food, animals, etc. I don't think they can "get away" with a lackluster refurbishment as easily, they have a lot of rooms to book.

I could be wrong but I feel like AKV might be one of the major gateway "drugs" to DVC purchases The people i talk to that have no desire to purchase at DVC seem in awe of AKV, its the resort they really want to stay at if they could stay at any Disney resort once in their lifetime. It would be a shame if they didn't listen to the owners making it loud and clear what they don't like about it. I think they're having a lot of success with people liking the BLT refurbishment, I hope they will use those talents on AKV. Time will tell.

 

[erionm]

I really hope that this hard goods referb turns out better than the one at grand California. All they really did there was put in Murphy’s beds and new flooring… they didn’t touch the bathrooms nor did they add any furniture with the USB charging

VGC was only a refresh back in 2017. Full refurbishment is supposed to start this spring.

https://dvcnews.com/?view=article&id=5196&catid=166

 

[eticketplease]

VGC was only a refresh back in 2017. Full refurbishment is supposed to start this spring.

https://dvcnews.com/?view=article&id=5196&catid=166

That is what people are taking issue with. They are not doing a full refurb. Jetted tubs remained they didn't close in the window between bath and master. They did not touch the bathroom at all at VGC.

 

[erionm]

That is what people are taking issue with. They are not doing a full refurb. Jetted tubs remained they didn't close in the window between bath and master. They did not touch the bathroom at all at VGC.

A full refurbishment of VGC is supposed to have started last month. Not sure if they have completed any rooms yet.

 

[eticketplease]

A full refurbishment of VGC is supposed to have started last month. Not sure if they have completed any rooms yet.

That is correct it was supposed to however they have just been replacing flooring and adding the murphy beds and leaving the bathrooms as is.

 

[ajiuo]

A full refurbishment of VGC is supposed to have started last month. Not sure if they have completed any rooms yet.

Some rooms have been completed, yes. And they didn’t do much of a referb. They added new flooring, Murphy beds, new fabric on cushions…. They didn’t touch the bathrooms, furniture, or lighting.

 

[Girlstar30]

Anyone have some thoughts on why even OKW sells higher on resale than AKV? Is it just really because of the transportation, because OKW doesn't have better transport except for the boat to DS...

 

[Doingitagain]

Anyone have some thoughts on why even OKW sells higher on resale than AKV? Is it just really because of the transportation, because OKW doesn't have better transport except for the boat to DS...

I think it is because of larger rooms and a lower point cost per night.

 

[eticketplease]

Anyone have some thoughts on why even OKW sells higher on resale than AKV? Is it just really because of the transportation, because OKW doesn't have better transport except for the boat to DS...

Is this new? I haven't looked at contracts in a while and AKL was always more previously.

It doesn't make sense to me since they both expire in 2057 (assuming we are talking about OKWe), you actually gain a slight chance at value or concierge rooms and dues are lower by $0.87 a point as well.
I like OKW but the only advantage I can see at owning there would be to snag the cheapest GV in DVC.

 

[Girlstar30]

I was just browsing on dvcforless and noticed that AKL has some contracts with lower ppp than OKW, never thought to compare AKV with OKW or SSR and I was just surprised by it. I feel like AKV has so much to offer and the market disagrees, I don't know any other hotel where you can stay in a Savannah in the United States.

 

[Tatebeck]

Yeah IDK why anyone would choose to pay more for OKW than AKV. Better (savannah) view options, themed after one of their parks, chances for a club/value room, extra bathrooms in the kidani options, and it even comes out ahead of okw in the value predictions of the future. I guess just the little bit of extra room and the slightly lower point charts may help it out...

But honestly I don't think it is really due to the resort, I think the OKWe inflated price is just due to the scarcity of the extended OKW contracts compared to the standard contracts. Every AKV contract expires in 2057 but only a fraction of the OKW ones do...

 

[AZMermaid]

A full refurbishment of VGC is supposed to have started last month. Not sure if they have completed any rooms yet.

Unless they did half of the refurb and are going back in…. Some rooms are done. Not even a new shower head in the bathrooms. Jetted tubs remained. Like Kidani, This is the first ever hard goods refurb for VGC since opening in 2009.

 

[byurick]

I was just browsing on dvcforless and noticed that AKL has some contracts with lower ppp than OKW, never thought to compare AKV with OKW or SSR and I was just surprised by it. I feel like AKV has so much to offer and the market disagrees, I don't know any other hotel where you can stay in a Savannah in the United States.

I've been realizing this too and have started adding more AKL to my saved list for low priced add on contracts. I was originally only looking at OKW since it was the cheapest.

 

[Girlstar30]

I've been realizing this too and have started adding more AKL to my saved list for low priced add on contracts. I was originally only looking at OKW since it was the cheapest.

We are in the ROFR process, should know by next week!

 

[crazycatlady]

The rooms were pretty rough the last few times we've stayed, so I am hoping they get more from their refurb than the Grand Cal did. I love what they are doing at BLT, as well as what they did at Boulder Ridge, so I hope they do just as good of a job at AKL!