Don't wanna stay there anymore

[lovin'fl]

I'm always surprised when I see an odd number (I have contracts with somewhat odd - not ending in zero - numbers too). It makes more sense with small contracts because those are the "add on" points which are bought by experienced DVC owners who frequently are not excited by the Direct prices, and want to not be buying a lot of points over what they really need for specific 11 month bookings. Rounding up a few extra points in Resale is no where near the pain of rounding up a few extra points Direct

We also have a 55 BWV bought direct. Then we added 150 BWV resale. And then we have 70 CCV bought direct. We did tend to add weird direct numbers, though the 26 AKV the hubby did as a surprise was really weird for even me. If I was told he was adding them, I'd have insisted he do 25 or 30 and not 26. Plus we can never get a studio club level at 11 months anyway so we are usually grabbing a random night we see pop open. Sometimes we even grab a 1BR. So we do need more AKV points. Maybe we will add some soon.

 

[lovin'fl]

I am really curious to see if we like BCV or not. The thing that makes me nervous are the crowds. I'm not a fan of the more crowded resorts which is why I prefer BLT to Poly and probably why weve decided to own at AKV and BLT. There does seem to be a lot of food options at BCV we would be interested in and who doesn't like a lazy river.

You know, I never thought of BCV as a crowded resort but I guess it sort of can be. The lobby at main BC at night is always packed with folks waiting to eat at Cape May. And there tends to also be a crowd outside the Beaches and Cream. The feature pool... we never use it really. Think we did once. I guess that's a busy pool. The quiet pool is nice and the DVC building is always quiet. The walk to Epcot is just a short stroll away. We also love the lounges inside BC and Yacht Club...Martha's Vineyard and the such. Love love the one at Ale and Compass. We often stop in those to eat even when not staying at BCV or BWV. And I don't mind sitting at Hurricane Hannah's outside when the weather isn't bad. Sometimes that is crowded but sometimes not. But my hubby always wants to avoid the MK monorail resorts like the plague because he finds them too crowded. Too many strollers as well (since easy to get on/off monorail plus near the MK). Someday, when we have grandkids, we will be loving those resorts. Lol.

 

[Lorana]

For me, the resorts I love to stay at are all about the theming. As a nature and wildlife loving person, I just love the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom, and that's always where my heart wants to stay. I do also enjoy the tropical feel of the Polynesian, too, though it's not "home" the way WL and AKV are.

We do own at RIV and while I like the restaurants and its location and the Skyliner, and I do acknowledge the rooms are gorgeous, they just don't excite us the same way, and I actually find myself changing often to Boardwalk or Beach Club if we are doing EPCOT/HS focused trips. Beach Club because I love that lazy river, even if I don't love the theming (don't get me wrong, the theming is SPOT ON, it really does feel like you are at a Cape Cod Resort, but I'm from MA, and I don't want to feel like I'm vacationing in my own backyard at Disney), and you cannot beat that walk to Epcot. Boardwalk because that theming tickles are 'nostalgia' button (like, we enjoy going through antique shops, and Boardwalk to use feels like we're staying in a giant antique shop, lol), and we do love the location as well (though with Jellyrolls closing, one of our favorite things about staying there is going away). We have no intention of giving up our RIV -- though it might be the first to go if we have to downsize -- because after 2042, there won't be a Boardwalk or Beach Club.

Of course, I'll be 65 when those resorts close, and I'd very much like to think I'll still be going to Disney just as much. But every now and again as I adjust my budgets for rising dues costs, rising ticket costs, rising this and that costs at Disney, I do actually wonder if I actually will still be going to Disney at that age, lol

 

[Brian Noble]

Did the pendulum ever swing back to wanting to stay at the resort?

It certainly can. As one of my mentors reminds me all the time: "Nothing is precedent-setting."

 

[TinkAgainU]

I disagree with AKL theming, I think it has one of the best and hope they keep much of it after the refurbishment.

Agreed. I purposely stayed there last month (my savanna view studio in Jambo was in great shape) just to enjoy the theming of the resort and the room. The room has sooo many cute touches and the heavy wood furniture is beautifully finished to go with the theme - not what I'd pick for my home, but perfect for AKL. I have stayed in both Boardwalk and Grand Floridian rooms since their "remodel makeovers" and although both were nicely done, they are quite bland in my opinion. You have to really hunt to find anything themed in them - and the artwork is available at every offsite hotel, so I barely count that. AKL rooms still have a little Wow factor that I REALLY REALLY hope they do not lose in the remodel.

 

[mamaofsix]

AKV needs a revival. Extending the Skyliner to this area, in addition to room refurbs, would likely do it!

 

[Girlstar30]

You know, I never thought of BCV as a crowded resort but I guess it sort of can be. The lobby at main BC at night is always packed with folks waiting to eat at Cape May. And there tends to also be a crowd outside the Beaches and Cream. The feature pool... we never use it really. Think we did once. I guess that's a busy pool. The quiet pool is nice and the DVC building is always quiet. The walk to Epcot is just a short stroll away. We also love the lounges inside BC and Yacht Club...Martha's Vineyard and the such. Love love the one at Ale and Compass. We often stop in those to eat even when not staying at BCV or BWV. And I don't mind sitting at Hurricane Hannah's outside when the weather isn't bad. Sometimes that is crowded but sometimes not. But my hubby always wants to avoid the MK monorail resorts like the plague because he finds them too crowded. Too many strollers as well (since easy to get on/off monorail plus near the MK). Someday, when we have grandkids, we will be loving those resorts. Lol.

I know people love it so i am excited, the theming seems right up my ally!

 

[Girlstar30]

Agreed. I purposely stayed there last month (my savanna view studio in Jambo was in great shape) just to enjoy the theming of the resort and the room. The room has sooo many cute touches and the heavy wood furniture is beautifully finished to go with the theme - not what I'd pick for my home, but perfect for AKL. I have stayed in both Boardwalk and Grand Floridian rooms since their "remodel makeovers" and although both were nicely done, they are quite bland in my opinion. You have to really hunt to find anything themed in them - and the artwork is available at every offsite hotel, so I barely count that. AKL rooms still have a little Wow factor that I REALLY REALLY hope they do not lose in the remodel.

We stayed at AKL before I ever came across these boards and never once did I think this room is too dark or i don't like the themeing. We were blown away by the lobby, the cast members, the food, the savannah view, just about everything, except for the pull out couch and even that was nothing to deter us from coming back and now we are hopefully going to find out this week if we're going to own at this lovely place. I hope they don't "brighten" it up too much, I don't want a cheesy theme, Africa all the way! I will probably get ripped for this but GFV gave me "grandma ish" vibes with all the floral and i found the bell man uniforms to be comical. To each their own, i felt a more "stuck up" vibe in the atmosphere I can't describe

 

[Girlstar30]

AKV needs a revival. Extending the Skyliner to this area, in addition to room refurbs, would likely do it!

Would it be possible to extend the skyliner there, that would be the dream

 

[TinkAgainU]

We stayed at AKL before I ever came across these boards and never once did I think this room is too dark or i don't like the themeing. We were blown away by the lobby, the cast members, the food, the savannah view, just about everything, except for the pull out couch and even that was nothing to deter us from coming back and now we are hopefully going to find out this week if we're going to own at this lovely place. I hope they don't "brighten" it up too much, I don't want a cheesy theme, Africa all the way!

I should admit we ordered toppers for the bed and the pull out - so the mattresses are due for replacement. But I would not have changed a thing in the room other than that. The zebra wrought iron chairs on the balcony were so cute, and just one of many cute touches!

 

[Girlstar30]

I should admit we ordered toppers for the bed and the pull out - so the mattresses are due for replacement. But I would not have changed a thing in the room other than that. The zebra wrought iron chairs on the balcony were so cute, and just one of many cute touches!

View attachment 949026

I know the attention to detail truly is unlike any other resort, I always feel like akv does not get the respect it deserves and I need to defend my animals lol

 

[mamaofsix]

Would it be possible to extend the skyliner there, that would be the dream

Not sure if they’d extend all the way to AKV, but perhaps to the AK park? That would make it only a short bus ride away.

 

[Girlstar30]

Not sure if they’d extend all the way to AKV, but perhaps to the AK park? That would make it only a short bus ride away.

That would be amazing

 

[mamaofsix]

That would be amazing

I would be interested in a cost analysis for this. Ie: what is the cost of running and staffing all those buses to AK, and by extension all the costs of running buses to every park from AKL?

vs. the operating cost of extending the skyline? It might make fiscal sense for Disney to do it.

 

[Brian Noble]

If the skyliner is extended to AK, I will eat my mouse ears.

 

[Girlstar30]

If the skyliner is extended to AK, I will eat my mouse ears.

Meaning, it ain't happening

 

[Brian Noble]

That's my guess. For starters, where would you put the line? There are already "westbound" lines at both CBR (to Studios) and RIV (to the turn station at BWV). So that pretty much only leaves POP/AoA. It's about 2 3/4 miles as the crow flies from the POP/AoA station to the AK entry plaza. The longest station-to-station segment now is about 2/3ds of a mile (counting the BWV turn as a "station")

 

[lovin'fl]

I just wish for a walking path between AK park and AK resorts.

 

[mickeymom629]

I just wish for a walking path between AK park and AK resorts.

Yes! I love AKV but really wish for a good walking path for jogging/walking (I'm a walker).

 

[petrola]

While updating my spreadsheet one morning, a two-fold realization hit me:

1. There's just two resorts that aren't on the 'might switch to' list: Animal Kingdom Villas and Boulder Ridge
2. I can't think of a time of year or a 'type of stay' where we'd want to stay at AKV anymore

We've been fortunate enough to stay at all the WDW resorts, most multiple times, including 3 times at AKV (2x Jambo, 1x Kidani). None of the AKV stays were particularly bad (one time we were even bumped to a suite on the cash side), but somewhere along the way AKV lost its appeal to us. I won't make this about our misgivings with AKV, though I will say the realization was more melancholy than "good riddance".

Anybody else have this kind of realization about a resort you've stayed at? Did the pendulum ever swing back to wanting to stay at the resort?

I have to agree with some of the prior posts in that AKV and Wilderness Lodge (Boulder Ridge / Copper Creek) have some of the best theming of all the Disney resorts. Of course that's just my opinion, but I would happily stay at either of those resorts any time! Yes, you have to contend with the buses at AKV and yes it needs some updating, but I think the theming more than makes up for that.

Also, we love taking the boat from Wilderness to MK - as well as the pool area, QS and gorgeous lobby! If it's not obvious yet , Wilderness is my favorite resort. We have yet to stay in the newly renovated Boulder Ridge rooms but I look forward to it.

We have never stayed at SSR so I cannot comment on that resort. We have stayed at OKW and while it was fun when my DD was little and our park visits were limited, I don't know if it fits our style at this point (although I did enjoy taking the boat to Disney Springs).

We love the Epcot resort area and if using DVC points -it's Boardwalk hands down, all day every day. If paying cash, we very much enjoyed both Yacht and Beach Club (club level rooms) and would stay stay club level there again as it's just perfect to have a grab and go breakfast in the lounge then head to International gateway. We would NOT return to the BCV however. We didn't love that separate building in the back of the resort facing nothing. For us -that is the DVC resort that we have had this realization about.