Help us choose - AKL Kidani Savannah or Poly Standard View?

[Paging Tom Morrow]

We currently hold a cash reservation for 12/28 - 1/2 at Coronado Springs in a Business Class Room. Due to receiving a points transfer, we now have the option of booking through DVC for that week. The only places with full availability are:

Old Key West (not near Hospitality House) - We stayed here last year and had one of the buildings that was at the far end of the resort and did not enjoy it. (93 Points)

Saratoga Springs - have stayed here before and while it's okay, it's not something that excites us. (99 Points)

Polynesian (Standard View) - Would cost 143 points for a studio. We have loved staying at BLT and think the monorail might be a huge plus on NYE and New Year's Day. Based on a $12 price per point this actually saves us a few dollars over our existing Coronado reservation.

Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani (Savannah View) - Have never stayed here. The thought of the view is very intriguing and the 116 cost for points makes it seem appealing. However, we have driven friend back to their room when staying there and it felt like the airport is closer. Also concerned that the size of the building will make it feel like OKW (as far as being away from main building). Based on a $12 price per point, this saves us $325 over our existing Coronado reservation. If we do choose here, we will waitlist for Jambo house, but we do not expect that to be fulfilled.

Where would you stay and why? If it makes a difference in your decision, we will have a car.

 

[disneynutz]

AKV, PVB is still under construction and you need to give Kidani a try with it's under resort parking garage.

What's better a savanna view or a parking lot view with construction at PVB?

Bill

 

[nalajms]

If you're going there specifically for MK NYE stuff, like fireworks, I'd book at Poly. If you want to avoid the crazy midnight fireworks, stay at AKV.

 

[miTnosnhoJ]

I have stayed at Jambo as a hotel guest, not DVC. We found the savannah view experience to be great. My only warning would be that the animals are in greatest abundance between 4PM and dark. If you arrive after dark the first day, and then spend your days at theme parks until dark, you may not get the benefit of the animals. There is good bus service. It is not as convenient as the monorail, but it is efficient. We greatly enjoyed staying there, but going forward, we will be staying mostly along the monorail. But it is well worth staying there. There is something about a giraffe hanging out right outside your window that is very special.

 

[deedisneydream97]

We currently hold a cash reservation for 12/28 - 1/2 at Coronado Springs in a Business Class Room. Due to receiving a points transfer, we now have the option of booking through DVC for that week. The only places with full availability are:

Old Key West (not near Hospitality House) - We stayed here last year and had one of the buildings that was at the far end of the resort and did not enjoy it. (93 Points)

Saratoga Springs - have stayed here before and while it's okay, it's not something that excites us. (99 Points)

Polynesian (Standard View) - Would cost 143 points for a studio. We have loved staying at BLT and think the monorail might be a huge plus on NYE and New Year's Day. Based on a $12 price per point this actually saves us a few dollars over our existing Coronado reservation.

Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani (Savannah View) - Have never stayed here. The thought of the view is very intriguing and the 116 cost for points makes it seem appealing. However, we have driven friend back to their room when staying there and it felt like the airport is closer. Also concerned that the size of the building will make it feel like OKW (as far as being away from main building). Based on a $12 price per point, this saves us $325 over our existing Coronado reservation. If we do choose here, we will waitlist for Jambo house, but we do not expect that to be fulfilled.

Where would you stay and why? If it makes a difference in your decision, we will have a car.

How many people? My own personal opinion, seeing that you will be there over New Years, I would opt for the Polynesian studio. I am sure the NYE fireworks will be spectacular....and you won't have to go in to the park to see them. There are many nice views from the beach at the Poly. We just stayed in a studio there (only one night) and I have to say that the size of the room is quite large compared to other studios. The decks are very long. the kitchenettes are a little smaller, but functional. The split baths are also very large. Plenty of storage under the bed. And an easy walk to the TTC to hop on the express monorail to MK or get on the Epcot one. The counter service is quite good. And since you will have a car, you can stop at Publix and stock up on water and easy breakfast things.

Making your way back to AKL after the fireworks at MK (or Epcot....those are spectacular too for NYE) will probably take a very long time.

I am looking forward to a stay at AKL soon, have never been there. But for the holidays, my choice (if I could not get BLT) would be Poly.

I wouldn't wait too much longer, though. Good luck with whatever decision you make. The decorations are really something that time of year.

 

[deedisneydream97]

Oh, and a word about the construction at Poly. It should be winding down by the end of the year. The third long house is close to being done, although I heard they may be doing something with the quiet pool. Personally, I thought it looked just fine when we were there....it is huge. Plus two nice gas grills have been installed near the DVC rooms.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would choose the Poly. We're staying at BLT during the same time frame.

 

[davidl81]

Totally different resorts. AKV is great with kids, my DD love the animals on the balcony in the morning. It is a bus ride from everything, but it really is not bad. Since the bus only stops at jambo and AKV I think it's a faster bus ride from AKV than most other DVC resorts not on the monorail. All that being said Poly for NYE would be awesome. You could watch fireworks at either Epcot or MK than monorail it back to Poly. Or you can watch the fireworks from the beach. That would be hard to pass up.

 

[spiceycat]

would also go for Polyn that trip - but would probably avoid the parks altogether - too many people will be there.
oh would price the Polyn at $16 a point not $12.

 

[ziravan]

If you stay at the Poly for NYE, I would split stay and book lake view for 12/31 and 1/1. Watching fireworks from your balcony would be a real treat.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We really like AKV and usually stay there every 3rd or 4th trip. Since you'll have a car it's easy to get around although we often still just use the buses when we stay there. And there is the underground parking at Kidani so you can usually get close to your room.

But for a NYE trip I'd probably try for Poly. Don't know if you plan on going in to the parks but if not you'll have a great view of fireworks from the resort. And with the shorter daylight it's less animal viewing time at AKV. I'd save a stay there for a time when its light out longer.

 

[CarolMN]

Can you book the POLY now? If not, know that people are definitely walking the standard view studios for Christmas right now. I'm sure that will continue through New Year's. Very good possibility that if you book using the 7 month window, you won't get your reservation.

 

[davidl81]

Here is my view from the poly right now, room 3034.

 

[PinkTink63]

We currently hold a cash reservation for 12/28 - 1/2 at Coronado Springs in a Business Class Room. Due to receiving a points transfer, we now have the option of booking through DVC for that week. The only places with full availability are:

Old Key West (not near Hospitality House) - We stayed here last year and had one of the buildings that was at the far end of the resort and did not enjoy it. (93 Points)

Saratoga Springs - have stayed here before and while it's okay, it's not something that excites us. (99 Points)

Polynesian (Standard View) - Would cost 143 points for a studio. We have loved staying at BLT and think the monorail might be a huge plus on NYE and New Year's Day. Based on a $12 price per point this actually saves us a few dollars over our existing Coronado reservation.

Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani (Savannah View) - Have never stayed here. The thought of the view is very intriguing and the 116 cost for points makes it seem appealing. However, we have driven friend back to their room when staying there and it felt like the airport is closer. Also concerned that the size of the building will make it feel like OKW (as far as being away from main building). Based on a $12 price per point, this saves us $325 over our existing Coronado reservation. If we do choose here, we will waitlist for Jambo house, but we do not expect that to be fulfilled.

Where would you stay and why? If it makes a difference in your decision, we will have a car.

Lol! Having the exact same dilemma myself!! Interested in the responses! Like the idea of the Poly for that time but we love AKV SAV so much!!

 

[Tunseeker1]

We own at akv and poly.

Next trip is split akv Kidani sav and poly lake view.

Kids love the animals and I love the distance away from people at akv.

Poly is in the middle of everything.

 

[robinb]

I'll be at the Poly (walking reservation ghods willing) for NYE in a lake view. I currently have a reservation at AKV Jambo in a value studio. If you want to stay at the PVB for New Year's, you'll have to do it this year. There will be too many owners next year and it won't be available in the 7-month window.

would also go for Polyn that trip - but would probably avoid the parks altogether - too many people will be there.
oh would price the Polyn at $16 a point not $12.

$16 per point is for renting through PVB owner. The 7-month window is coming up and he can rent from a non-PVB owner for less.

 

[spiceycat]

yea - but will there be any left - now the bungalow - probably - the studios - who knows

 

[robinb]

yea - but will there be any left - now the bungalow - probably - the studios - who knows

Availability was really tight the last couple of weeks and then *poof* it opened up. I don't know if it's because of the expensive holiday season or if Disney made more units available for late December.

 

[spiceycat]

well they were definitely working on it when I was there earlier this month.'

 

[spiceycat]

it seems to be only for dec 23 - 1

since most of Sept and the rest of Dec is booked - that does not make sense at all?