At AKV now through 4/23

[nhdisnut]

At AKV Jambo (Value Studio) now and having a great time! A few thoughts:

- Not sure what the difference (other than view) a value studio has from a standard - supposedly smaller? But we find it perfect for the three of us! We have a pool view and find the room very convenient to the elevators, the Mara, etc. Everything is in perfect condition.

- The weather has been strange - a bit cool (that's the strange part - usually in April we find it to be much warmer) with some rain. Better weather is on the way as the week goes on though.

- Park crowds have been very manageable - we did stay at MK for evening EMH on Sunday until 3am and pretty much walked on everything - including SM several times in a row at 2am! DD loved that!

- The CS dining plan offers PLENTY of food.....almost too much.....but is so much fun to have.

- Bus drivers now have new uniforms - very classy grey and red - sort of a retro look. DW doesn't like them as much....

- There seems to be a new Fastpass system being developed at AK! Near ITTBAB the machines look ready to distribute fastpasses to Lion King, Flights of Wonder, and the Nemo musical. If memory serves, those shows have never been fastpass attractions before.....

Happy to answer any questions.....

 

[Cee]

I'll be there in less than 3 weeks in a savannah view studio. I can't WAIT. Thank you for warming everything up for me!

 

[SFD998]

We have to wait a bit longer than three weeks, but we can't wait. It will be the first time we have managed to get a concierge room.

 

[Harlemgirl720]

Will be at Kidani Studio SV in 12 days!

 

[Greyhound22]

Have a great time. I just booked for Dec. 26-31 yesterday. Can't wait!

 

[Snurk71]

- Park crowds have been very manageable - we did stay at MK for evening EMH on Sunday until 3am and pretty much walked on everything - including SM several times in a row at 2am! DD loved that!

Hokey smokes!!! MK EMH until 3:00 am?!?!?!? I guess we go in less busy times when regular closing is a lot earlier to where a late EMH might go until midnight.

 

[LisaS]

- Not sure what the difference (other than view) a value studio has from a standard - supposedly smaller? But we find it perfect for the three of us!

The room is about 3 feet shorter than a non-Value Jambo studio. The bathroom/kitchenette area is exactly the same size as the other studios in Jambo House so the length difference is taken out of the living/sleeping area. As a result, you don't get a storage bench in a Value studio (small bench seat with one large storage drawer) and the rest of the furniture is squeezed together more tightly. Also, the balconies on the Value rooms are not quite as deep as the balconies on the non-Value rooms. The difference is small, maybe 6 inches or so?

The Value rooms are a great deal, even better if you get one with a pool or savanna view rather than the parking lot view!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Those value studios are great, aren't they-DVC's best kept secret, IMHO.
I'm just curious-are you getting the USA today every morning? Last fall when I stayed in a value studio, I got one every morning. I check into a value studio April 30, and I was kind of hoping to get it again. Also, are the coffee cups still as tiny as they were? Now, they're really value sized! Save some butternut squash soup at Mara for me. And if you go to eat at Sanaa, please post a report about what you had, etc.

 

[LisaS]

Also, are the coffee cups still as tiny as they were? Now, they're really value sized!

I agree with you about the coffee cups at AKV! They were small even for someone like me who doesn't drink much coffee. On our stay in January, my DH got fed up with them and bought himself a decent-sized coffee mug to keep in our Owner's Locker for future stays at AKV.

 

[nhdisnut]

Those value studios are great, aren't they-DVC's best kept secret, IMHO.
I'm just curious-are you getting the USA today every morning? Last fall when I stayed in a value studio, I got one every morning. I check into a value studio April 30, and I was kind of hoping to get it again. Also, are the coffee cups still as tiny as they were? Now, they're really value sized! Save some butternut squash soup at Mara for me. And if you go to eat at Sanaa, please post a report about what you had, etc.

We got a USAToday this morning, not yesterday, for some reason. The coffee cups are small, but we are doing the counter service dining plan so we each have a travel mug.

The butternut squash soup is on my to do list, for sure! Went to Sanaa last summer.....not on the itinerary this trip, but I did enjoy it.

Spent the day at BB. Perfect day today - around 80 with some scattered clouds. Not too busy there either....easy to get a float in the wave pool and the lazy river. Looks like Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD for dinner than Illuminations to wrap up the day.

 

[nhdisnut]

Hokey smokes!!! MK EMH until 3:00 am?!?!?!? I guess we go in less busy times when regular closing is a lot earlier to where a late EMH might go until midnight.

And it was a BLAST! Rode Fantasyland attractions at 2:30 am - no one else but us on Dumbo....that is a treat! And walked on to Peter Pan....that never happens!

Overall crowds have not been bad at all....

 

[jamie@dvcstore]

Hi nhdisnut,
Thanks for the live trip report. Sounds like you are having a great time. Please keep us updated and have a wonderful rest of your trip!
________
VERMONT MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

 

[Derby4me]

Thanks so much for posting! We are experiencing our first stay in AKV soon as well! I love hearing the review. Thanks again for sharing!

 

[nhdisnut]

You know, it is always a sad moment to receive the Magical Express departure time hanging from the door.....

That said, the weather yesterday (and looks good for today) was excellent! Low 80's, no clouds, slight breeze....perfect Florida in April weather.

Spent the day at Epcot yesterday before heading to AK for evening EMH. The Flower and Garden Festival is beautiful as always (topiaries are amazing - seems that they add new details each year), but I find that elements have been scaled back. Usually there are some neat booths, sculptures, displays over along the water near The Land and Imagination - this year nothing....also no gardens along the path from Imagination to World Showcase....I'm not complaining...just an observation. I hope as the economy turns around that Disney brings back some of these elements (kind of like the Christmas light archways at Christmas)....

Evening EMH at AK might be one of those best kept secrets....the park is beautiful in the evening and at night, crowds are light, and EE in the dark is incredible!

Also, there is nothing quite like getting back to the resort in the evening for a soak in the hot tub....the ones here at AKV are nice and HOT, perfect for those sore legs....

Back to AK today for Tusker House, and a leisurely day animal watching, FOTLK, and Nemo......