DVC Mike Live from Kidani Village (Mar 6-14, 2010)

[arthur06]

Mike... as always love your TR and your search for knowledge for all things Disney...

I have stayed at both CBR and POP and they were OK.

I stayed at POP in 2001, when I was 22, it was what I could afford...

I stayed at CBR in 03 or 04, again what I could afford...

Overall, glad when joined DVC ... and while you wouldn't stay there, your pictures bring back many memories... Thanks

 

[sissy_42]

Verdict: I'll be dead before I ever stay here.

I stayed at ASMovies last year with my nephews. So glad I happened to see a DVC rep in AK and asked about it! I'll be taking my first trip "home" soon

 

[myDISboards]

Excellent pics and TR! Thanks!

 

[kikiq]

I then went to Disney's All-Star Resorts (a Value resort). Again, another huge resort with 5,740 rooms spread over 246 acres.
Verdict: I'll be dead before I ever stay here.

I"m laughing because in 2007, we stayed one night at ASMU to see if we wanted to book it for our big family trip because we couldn't afford 3 rooms at the Poly for a week. We had taken the DVC tour at DLR and visited the SSR models. Let's just say, my DH made the DVC appointment to sign papers as soon as we returned to SoCal. He is spoiled by his DVC. And as a teacher, I have little tolerance for children running amok when I'm on vacation.

I've also stayed at POP with my DD for one night because I didn't want to waste points on just sleeping and she got a CM discount. Thank goodness, it was cold and no one was in the pool.

 

[Brave teacher]

We've never done the stay at the values. I just couldbn't handle the smallest rooms on property for a week. We have stayed at POR and CBR. We liked them just fine. We did CBR for our honeymoon, so it was nice for seclusion in some places. We never visited the main pool, always the quiet pools.

We bought DVC after our first deluxe stay. We swore we never go moderate again after that stay at WL. We just loved it so much.

As always, the photos are excellent.

We really enjoyed Sanaa on our last visit. We have an ADR for it again this summer. However, we have discovered that the online system doesn't always let you book it online. We had to call Disney Dining to make our reservation.

 

[disney1474]

Bottom line: I'm glad I have my DVC!

(either that, or I'm just spoiled).

I totally agree

 

[bbluvsdis]

I hope I won't be dead but we will be staying for one night at ASM before checking in at BCV in May. We won't be arriving until about 9 PM so I figured I could take it for one night. I am so spoiled now that I can't even stand to book a studio instead of a one bedroom for DH and I! Love your TR!

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

Gotta admit I am a total resort snob and very happy that the dvc resorts are my only destinations for a long time.

 

[FindTheMickeys]

I then went to Disney's All-Star Resorts (a Value resort). Again, another huge resort with 5,740 rooms spread over 246 acres.

I'm sorry, but this place just looks worse to me than Pop Century.

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Verdict: I'll be dead before I ever stay here.

This was All Star Sports and this is where I was staying with my son in 2005. Was our first time On Property and was what I could afford at the time (or so I thought). Bored one morning so I took the DVC tour of SSR and signed on the SPOT!! Now, would I stay there again? Not at my age and not as long as I have points to bank or borrow...

 

[heaven2dc]

I definitely have to agree with you on your comments on these resorts, Mike. I've never stayed anywhere else than BWV and I'm not a resort snob by any means but I'm considering adding 2 nights at the end of our trip & hoping to get a good rate at CSR (this is the only one I would consider over the values and other mods.) What spoils me is that I can rent points and stay at a DVC resort for less than a mod (at least Sun-Thurs stays). Great pics (as always)! The ones of CSR definitely sold me to try staying there.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

So is Kidani actualy finished??? I know it opened before construction concluded, but I do not recall hearing that they actualy finished.

 

[momoflizandains]

I LOVE your trip reports!!

 

[Buzzsgramma]

I am now feeling calm and relaxed...like i am really there!! We were at Jambo in Jan..SV room, loved the animals & the salmon at Jikos......thanks.. are never enough for all your posts.....

 

[riu girl]

Monday morning? What shall I do today? I'm not sure.

I walked around the resort a bit in the bright morning sun and took a few pictures. Not a particularly great time of the day to take pictures - but hey, I was up and around.

Here is the pool area.

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The water play area.

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Mike, do you remember approximately what time you took these pics? The pool area seems empty. We are planning a few pool mornings and am hoping we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get chairs closeby the pool. It will be first week of June though so assume AKV pool area will be alot more crowded then this week.

Thanks for posting all the awesome pics and TR!!!

 

[twinklebug]

Never thought I'd say it but sign me up for the resort snob group too. We stayed there one night last Dec and I couldn't get us out of there and over to VWL fast enough. I will never intentionally return to any of the Values again.

On the positive side my one night stay at ASM reminded me of just how good we have it in DVC, even when staying at our lesser favorite of the resorts the grounds, lobbies and staff are all wonderful.

Great pics Mike! They're beautifully composed and look to be extraordinarily clear.

I have a challenge for you if you're up for it: Find and photograph the Red River Hogs & Okapi. I treked over that way three times during this last stay and never even got a glimpse of them.

 

[La2kw]

Very funny comments regarding the mega resorts. We have stayed at the values many times when our kids were very small. Once we were able to buy DVC, we haven't been back. I prefer to Priceline a room offsite if I need to stay somewhere besides my DVC. I can't see paying over $100 for a room at a value resort. That's just crazy, IMO. There are some great hotels in Orlando you could stay in for that much money.

 

[dort]

Bottom line: I'm glad I have my DVC!

(either that, or I'm just spoiled).

If we can't spoil ourselves...
Great trip report and the pictures are FANTASTIC!!!

 

[Greyhound22]

Keep them coming Mike. I'll email the next time I need a travel agent. Great information about the "other" Disney properties.

 

[DVC Mike]

Mike, do you remember approximately what time you took these pics? The pool area seems empty. We are planning a few pool mornings and am hoping we don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get chairs closeby the pool. It will be first week of June though so assume AKV pool area will be alot more crowded then this week.

Between 9:18 - 9:22 AM.

 

[nickspace]

This was All Star Sports and this is where I was staying with my son in 2005. Was our first time On Property and was what I could afford at the time (or so I thought). Bored one morning so I took the DVC tour of SSR and signed on the SPOT!! Now, would I stay there again? Not at my age and not as long as I have points to bank or borrow...

Our first trip was at this resort as well. We have good memories from that pool playing with our kids waiting for Goofy to squirt some water our way. We are blessed to be a part of DVC now but this All Star resort was a great place to stay when our kids were little and could fit in a small room. I will have to admit that we love the extra space we have now in our villas.