Grand Villa - Animal Kindom Lodge (Kidani) or Grand Floridian

[CarrianneB]

We are planning a long weekend trip with a family of 11 (multiple generations). Grand Villas are available at both AKL (Kidani) and GF during that time and we are willing to spend the points.

We booked AKL Savannah view as we are owners and love that resort, but if the GF villas are amazing may want to branch out.

Any advice or reviews would be appreciated!

 

[disneynutz]

I would do VGF as a once in a lifetime experience that everyone will remember.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Really they both are pretty spectacular. I'd think of the group and which setting you think would be more appealing. Close to MK or animals below the balcony.

 

[hakepb]

I would do VGF as a once in a lifetime experience that everyone will remember.

Bill

I'd lean that way (if I had enough points to consider either)

I believe the VGF media room has a pullout couch that helps to double as a 4th bedroom, that might result in better sleeping arrangements for some groups.

 

[drusba]

Have not done VGF but with it you would get a single story, very large GV. We prefer any of the single story GVs (Boardwalk and Jambo) to the two stories anywhere including because you get a larger area for gathering with the combined lving, dining, and kitchen areas in one large room. The downside, obviously, is that the VGF point cost is super high (which likely explains why the VGF GVs have thus far been open at 7 months out many times of the year-- even for Christmas week in 2014).

 

[Golden Rose]

We were actually upgraded to a Grand Villa on our recent stay at VGF. (We had booked a lake view 2 bedroom. We were shocked upon check-in when they told us they had given us a Grand Villa.)

We thought there would be 6 of us, but there were only 5 because my stepfather couldn't join us. It was a huge amount of space for us. There are 3 rooms plus a media room that easily converts into another bedroom. (Our 3 year old actually wanted to be near the Master, so we let her sleep in the neighboring media room.) It would be very comfortable for a large party.

We were given the lowest floor grand villa, I believe. We had two balconies that looked lakewards. We could see the top half of the Magic Kingdom fireworks sitting on the balcony. I assume the view would be a little better higher up, but we were really pleased to be able to see as much of the fireworks as we could since we hadn't been expecting to be able to see them from the room at all. We could also see the electric water parade, albeit at an angle.

The space is gorgeous and elegant. It really felt huge for just the five of us; almost cavernous. It felt very luxurious, and we particularly enjoyed the balconies. We really were spoiled by the space. I've had apartments considerably smaller than the villa. I think my first house was smaller than this villa. It would just about be a comfortable place to live for a family.

The check-in at VGF was the easiest and most pleasant we've experienced for any DVC. We just went into the lobby and sat at a desk and were helped by some of the friendliest and most efficient hotel CMs we've dealt with. Honestly, it felt like a class act from start to finish.

We love AKV and have stayed there multiple times, although never in a Grand Villa. The resorts feel very different, but we enjoy them both. My daughter felt like a princess in the grand villa, and loved it more than anywhere else we've ever stayed.