I am so confused....what would you do?

[DeeCee735]

Okay, I've got an upcoming 3 night stay in a few weeks. I'm travelling with a friend, and the main purpose of the trip is so I can see my son, who is currently in the Disney College Program. (can't wait to see his face!)

I started out with a studio at OKW. Was going to keep it, then started thinking, we have no car, and DTD is within walking distance to SSR, IF we get our requested area, and there's a Spa on property, so I switched to SSR, and booked spa reservations for the morning of our departure.

Then, I started thinking again. Do I really want to be at SSR? We did enjoy our stay there a few weeks ago, we were in Congress Park and walked over to DTD, but it's just not my favorite resort, it's very very big and not near the parks, or at least near them in the sense I'm use to. So, I waitlisted for AKV or BWV.

Now, my waitlist for AKV just came through and I'm thrilled!....I think
I can't believe I'm so torn. Reasons I like AKV are that it's got 3 sit down restaurants, each of which I've been at and loved. It's got a very nice lounge at AKL which is in that gorgeous lobby. It's got the animals I love the animals (even though we are in a standard view. Are there sitting areas off the halllways in Kidani? As well as the viewing areas outside.
It's a very short bus ride to and from AKP, which we do plan on visiting this short 3 night trip.
I've never been to the pool area, will we like it? It's just myself and a girl friend, no kids on this trip.
But....it has no spa
How far a cab ride is SSR from AKV?

I really wish, really really wish BWV would come through. It's one of our home resorts, our favorite, in between two parks, great restaurants/bar area, and the Dolphin Spa is just a couple of minutes to walk to.

Should I stay at AKV and cancel the spa reservations for our departure morning, or should I go back to SSR? I'm going to drive my friend crazy! She won't know what/where/when or how!

Any opinions are welcome.

TIA

 

[dianeschlicht]

Pool will be fine, and I would just take a bus from AK to SSR for the spa. There are plenty of view areas outside and inside without being in a savanna view room. The fire pit area is a great place to be!

 

[DeeCee735]

Thanks for the quick reply. We can't take a bus to SSR from AKV, no resort to resort transport. We'd have to take a cab. I'm going to mapquest the distance, I do know a cab ride from AKV to just about anywhere can be pricey, as AKV is remote. I'm thinking if we're not staying at SSR or BWV, we may just have to skip the spa altogether
I guess I have to figure out how important those spa treatments are for this trip.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the quick reply. We can't take a bus to SSR from AKV, no resort to resort transport. We'd have to take a cab. I'm going to mapquest the distance, I do know a cab ride from AKV to just about anywhere can be pricey, as AKV is remote. I'm thinking if we're not staying at SSR or BWV, we may just have to skip the spa altogether
I guess I have to figure out how important those spa treatments are for this trip.

I said to take it from AK, not AKV. You could also take a bus to DTD right from AKV.

 

[kristenrice]

Check this out...it might reassure you.

http://relaxedyet.com/animal_kingdom_resort.asp

 

[drusba]

Though not clear, it sounds like you are in Kidani since you mention it. If so understand that Kidani is a 1/2 mile walk from Jambo (the original AKL) and thus 1/2 mile from that large lobby and that lounge and restaurants you mention (if you don't want to walk you can take bus and they sometimes have a cart run). The Kidani lobby is nice but smaller than Jambo. Also, the store at Kidani is much smaller than one ot Jambo. It has only one restaurant, Sanna, which is a very good sit-down restaurant (better in my view than Jiko at Jambo which is also very good).

Kidani has window animal viewing areas along hallways but they are not sit down areas. It has a very good main viewing area off the lobby. Jambo pool is larger than Kidani and has many more shaded areas than Kidani. Kidani has the longer slide and has a special kids water playground area. Its a nice pool but as an adult my personal preference is Jambo for the more shaded areas. In any event, whether you can use pool in three weeks is subject to question although it can get warm enough sometimes. The Kidani lounge/bar is part of Sanaa and not as many places to sit as the one at Jambo.

 

[DeeCee735]

I said to take it from AK, not AKV. You could also take a bus to DTD right from AKV.

Ahah! this is a thought for the end of our day in AKP. I'll have to think about it and talk to my friend. I know I won't want to take the bus to AK and then wait for the bus to SSR just to use the spa, too much travel time, but if I'm actually coming from a day at the park, then yes, we'd consider this.

If we do choose to do the spa directly from AKV resort, it will be by cab.

 

[DeeCee735]

Though not clear, it sounds like you are in Kidani since you mention it. If so understand that Kidani is a 1/2 mile walk from Jambo (the original AKL) and thus 1/2 mile from that large lobby and that lounge and restaurants you mention (if you don't want to walk you can take bus and they sometimes have a cart run). The Kidani lobby is nice but smaller than Jambo. Also, the store at Kidani is much smaller than one ot Jambo. It has only one restaurant, Sanna, which is a very good sit-down restaurant (better in my view than Jiko at Jambo which is also very good).

Kidani has window animal viewing areas along hallways but they are not sit down areas. It has a very good main viewing area off the lobby. Jambo pool is larger than Kidani and has many more shaded areas than Kidani. Kidani has the longer slide and has a special kids water playground area. Its a nice pool but as an adult my personal preference is Jambo for the more shaded areas. In any event, whether you can use pool in three weeks is subject to question although it can get warm enough sometimes. The Kidani lounge/bar is part of Sanaa and not as many places to sit as the one at Jambo.

Thank you. Yes, we are in Kidani. I have stayed DVC at both Kidani and Jambo, and prefer Kidani's savannahs. I have also done the 1/2 mile walk, it's no big deal to my friend and I, we enjoy walks. And after a couple of hours in the lounge, we'll most likely need one!

thanks for the info on the Kidani pool, I'm wondering if it will be warm enough too, but just in case we have the opportunity, its good to know about Kidani pool.

Both my friend and I have eaten at Sanaa, and loved it. She's never been at Boma, so I made a dinner reservation there for our first night, and a breakfast for our check out day.

Thank you again for your help.

 

[DeeCee735]

Check this out...it might reassure you.

http://relaxedyet.com/animal_kingdom_resort.asp

This is an idea....thank you. However, for this trip, if we do the spa, we're looking for the whole spa atmosphere experience. I'll have to work in SSR Spa or Dolphin if we continue to pursue a spa treatment. I'm on the fence now that I'm in AKV, but thank you.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Jambo has a sauna and steamroom that my DSis loves to use. You can get a massage there, DS/DDiL had good ones!

Bobbi

 

[DeeCee735]

Jambo has a sauna and steamroom that my DSis loves to use. You can get a massage there, DS/DDiL had good ones!

Bobbi

Is this in or off of the fitness center? I never knew this, thank you so very much. No hot stone massages though? Based on the relaxedyet site anyway

 

[bobbiwoz]

Is this in or off of the fitness center? I never knew this, thank you so very much. No hot stone massages though? Based on the relaxedyet site anyway

It's in the fitness center at Jambo house. I do not know about the kinds of massages.

 

[southerngirl1014]

You could always just have a whole day by MK. Go to the spa at GF, then have a good dinner over either at MK or one of the resort restaurants. Stay late enough to see fireworks then just take the bus back from MK to AKL or ask the front desk at the hotel to call you a taxi.