Feedback needed for AKL Value Studio

[juliemcalister]

If you've stayed in an AKL value studio, can you please share your experience? We have three families with 4,3 and 2 people in each family. Are the studios comfortable for four, 2A and 2C (both girls)? We don't plan to be in the rooms much. I'm not particularly worried about our smaller two groups.

Any help, feedback, encouragement, etc. will be deeply appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[scottmel]

What is the sq. feet difference between the regular studio and value? My family of 3 (dd11) stayed in AKL regular studio and it was just ok. I wouldn't have wanted a fourth person in there. I am biased as I don't like AKL much at all after numerous one or two night rentals in that place on end of a week long stay elsewhere. I can't answer for size of value studio but in opinion 4 will be tight in there....3 was tight for us in the regular size studio...l.

 

[eelkmj01]

I have to completely disagree with PP. A Value Studio (only available at Jambo House) is 316 sq. ft. A Standard Studio at Jambo is 365 sq. ft and Kidani is 366 sq. ft. The biggest difference between Jambo and Kidani as far as the villa itself is Jambo has a double bathroom sink and Kidani's is a single sink. We are a family of 4 and have stayed both Value and Standard Studio. We are DVC members and this is our home resort. We love this resort but speaking objectively a family of 4 can fairly comfortably fit into a studio IMHO!

 

[TagsMissy]

OP you will probably be OK with 2 adults and 2 kids but it will be more cramped.

Please take note however that there are very few value studios (they are only at AKV-J) and are usually booked up by DVC members.

 

[cvjw]

Our family of 4 felt cramped in our Jambo House 1 bedroom, so I can only imagine how small the JH value studio would be.

 

[Ali]

We had a value studio at jambo house and I HATED it because we had one of the few rooms that overlooks a parking lot. Would never do value again. If you are at AKL you need to see animals.

 

[cbg1027]

I haven't stayed in a value studio, only the regular Jambo studios. But I just wanted to say that if you've ever stayed in a moderate resort (314 sq ft), they are about the same size as a value studio (316 sq ft), so that's a good point of comparison.

 

[chalee94]

We had a value studio at jambo house and I HATED it because we had one of the few rooms that overlooks a parking lot. Would never do value again. If you are at AKL you need to see animals.

some of the value villas overlook the savanna and some overlook the pool...so it's kinda the luck of the draw (you cannot make a request for a view when you book a value villa.)

I haven't stayed in a value studio, only the regular Jambo studios. But I just wanted to say that if you've ever stayed in a moderate resort (314 sq ft), they are about the same size as a value studio (316 sq ft), so that's a good point of comparison.

the furniture at jambo house is probably larger/bulkier than at a mod. also the kitchenette eats up some of the space.

IMO, i would not try to squeeze 4 into a value villa...but if you don't mind squeezing in, see if it works for you.

i would also agree that they are pretty limited in number, so i wouldn't count on being able to book 3 value studios unless you are booking through an AKV owner at 11 months out.

 

[pixie08]

Would you think a moderate room was cramped? Basically a value room is equivalent to the size of a moderate room but I find it to be more spacious and airy because there is only one bed and the balcony with the sliding door let's in light. So I think you'll be fine, to say that you'll be cramped is crazy. How about all of the families who stay in values? It's all relative.

 

[miprender]

We stayed in a Value Studio last April and loved it. We are a family of 5 with one of our DSs was under 3 and we all fit fine. We loved it so much that we ended up buying into DVC after that trip.

We stayed in a Savanah View Studio in December which is slightly bigger and we couldn't tell the difference. I think the Value's are the best bang for your points.

Here was our view:

 

[miprender]

We had a value studio at jambo house and I HATED it because we had one of the few rooms that overlooks a parking lot. Would never do value again. If you are at AKL you need to see animals.

Having stayed at both Savanah and Value I would pick the value. Though I probably wouldn't have been happy with a parking lot view either, there are plenty of viewing spots at the resort to see the animals that I don't feel you need to book a savanah view.

But I am biased as we love this resort.

 

[Sammie]

For me personally no I would not be comfortable with 4 in any studio. Many are though.

I don't like having to deal with the sofa bed on a daily basis. Not comfortable to sleep on and a hassle to put out of the way and unfold each night.

Sofa beds to be at best sleep one.

I would rather have a moderate resort with two queen beds over a studio with queen and sofa bed any day.

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you've stayed in an AKL value studio, can you please share your experience? We have three families with 4,3 and 2 people in each family. Are the studios comfortable for four, 2A and 2C (both girls)? We don't plan to be in the rooms much. I'm not particularly worried about our smaller two groups.

Any help, feedback, encouragement, etc. will be deeply appreciated.

Thanks!

Unless you have AKV points and are booking them 11 months out, plan on not getting the value studios.

 

[CaFeeney]

We actually were in a AKV value studio last week and we loved it. Totally a great value for the points. We are a family of three and the only time it felt tight was when the couch was pulled out, there wasn't much room with all of the couch pillows.
But- the view (we got a savannah) was better than the view we had when we stayed in a regular SV studio in December. Giraffes and zebras right outside every day - that was incredible. The other plus was that the value rooms are all near the lobby - last Dec we had to walk about a 1/2 mile to our room - no joke.
I will always try for a value room first when booking AKV - we only have 100 DVC points so I try to make the most of our points.
We did stay in a value 1 bedroom the first 2 nights and I have to say that the family of 4 might be more comfortable but honestly I think you will be fine in the studio. As compared to a moderate I think it felt more spacious -the sliding doors and the pull out couch give you a feeling of more space anyway.
Have a great trip!

 

[eelkmj01]

some of the value villas overlook the savanna and some overlook the pool...so it's kinda the luck of the draw (you cannot make a request for a view when you book a value villa.)

You can request a view in a Value Studio. We always request a Garden Savannah View if we stay in a Value and it has been fulfilled each time.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You can request a view in a Value Studio. We always request a Garden Savannah View if we stay in a Value and it has been fulfilled each time.

That's funny because that's not even a view at AKV-JH.

 

[CaFeeney]

As far as I was told, you can't request a view with a AKV value room - that's the chance you take for the great point value. Our 1bd was a parking lot view and although we would have preferred savannah view it was still wonderful, couldn't even see the cars as there were lots of trees and plant blocking the parking lot. We were on the 5th floor and it was really quiet.

 

[TosaTrio]

Unless you have AKV points and are booking them 11 months out, plan on not getting the value studios.

We got a Value Studio Easter week with less than one month notice. Our view was a Pool view and it was AWESOME! We had two nights in a Standard Studio in Kidani and 3 Nights in the Value Studio in Jambo. Our Kidani room was Handicapped so it was hard to compare. I was concerned about how small the Value would be and both DH and I both were surprised that we thought it was fine. (And we normally always stay in 1BRs!) This is our 2nd time staying at AKL; the first trip we stayed 7 nights in a 1BR in Kidani (loved it!) and this trip we stayed the split studio stays. Now, we only have three in my family but I would absolutely book a value room again! (BTW, this last trip was a no park trip, so were at the resort ALOT)

If you are concerned, book standard rooms; if you need to save points, book value if you can get them and just have fun on your vacation!

 

[pixie08]

As far as I was told, you can't request a view with a AKV value room - that's the chance you take for the great point value. Our 1bd was a parking lot view and although we would have preferred savannah view it was still wonderful, couldn't even see the cars as there were lots of trees and plant blocking the parking lot. We were on the 5th floor and it was really quiet.

You can request anything you want, and I have requested pool and dedicated and have been granted both sometimes, and other times I have gotten locok off parking lot, it all depends what they have when you check in. It's just not guaranteed that's all.

It is very hard to get a value room, there are only a few. When we want to save point we book values and call at the 11 month mark, and don't hope for any particular view. If we want to treat ourselves or know we will not be doing park commando we stay in a one bedroom savannah view, so it all depends what you want out of your vacation and what you are planning on doing.

 

[eelkmj01]

That's funny because that's not even a view at AKV-JH.

That's exactly what was listed on our itinerary for our May 2009 trip. Garden Savannah View. It was on the Ostrich Trail.