Jambo House Value Studio

[Castillo Mom]

I'm thinking about booking a value studio for my son and his bride to be for their honeymoon in October. Are these hard to get? AKV is my home resort but by the time I try to book next week it would be 7 months out.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They're already gone for October.

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

I'm thinking about booking a value studio for my son and his bride to be for their honeymoon in October. Are these hard to get? AKV is my home resort but by the time I try to book next week it would be 7 months out.

They are the hardest studio to get at AKV as there are not many of them. If you are not yet at 7 months, I would recommend trying to book it now before everyone can.

 

[drusba]

You can go on line at the DVC memner site and use the Check Resort Availability page to see what is there but based on my knowledge of the value rooms and reservations, it is unlikely you are going to find it open in October (or anytime before the end of marathon weekend in January) except for some rare days here and there. It is one reservation for which you really need to use the 11 month reservation window.

Also note that it will not necessarily be easy to find something else for that time of year. Likely AKV standard and savanna view, OKW and SSR will be open, but elswhere could be a problem. A honeymoon couple might really enjoy SSR with a room request for Congress Park, lake view, high floor. The gives one of the best room views on site, across the lake to Disney Springs (f/k/a Downtown Disney)

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Last I looked, SSR and Poly were wide open for October yet. Obviously, both are much higher point costs than AKV-V.

 

[ajc]

AKL value books same day it opens 11 months out; also the oct date is during F&W; I own there and I watch the calendar for immediate booking so good luck (spring for the savannah view its a special occasion). IMHO

 

[Castillo Mom]

I agree, I went ahead and booked SV at Kidani.

 

[drusba]

I agree, I went ahead and booked SV at Kidani.

Good choice. When you purchased you probably did not think about giving a Disney vacation to your son when he married but boy it is a great feeling when you find you can do it later (for me it was my daughter). Recommend that if they want to be close to pool that you request room near Rafiki elevator on the north wing (provides shortest possible walk to pool), and if instead they want to be close to the bus station request near the Timon elevator on the south wing. Either area gives fine views. And you must promise not to call them while on honeymoon, and, of course, break that promise if you feel like it

 

[Castillo Mom]

Good choice. When you purchased you probably did not think about giving a Disney vacation to your son when he married but boy it is a great feeling when you find you can do it later (for me it was my daughter). Recommend that if they want to be close to pool that you request room near Rafiki elevator on the north wing (provides shortest possible walk to pool), and if instead they want to be close to the bus station request near the Timon elevator on the south wing. Either area gives fine views. And you must promise not to call them while on honeymoon, and, of course, break that promise if you feel like it

Lol, I promise not to call them while on their honeymoon!

Actually, I did want to gift them a stay. Initially they were going to Japan, so I would've reserved a room at one of the Disney Tokyo resorts. Well, they've changed their minds several times as to where to spend their honeymoon. They finally settled on WDW and booked their flight, so I knew they were serious and this was a done deal. My son was going to reserve a room at one of the values which really surprised me, but he said due to the rising cost of the wedding, this is what they decided on. My DIL to be who is a CM at DLR has never been to WDW but gets a deep discount on hotel stays. Bottom line is that I didn't want to step on their toes.

Fast forward to last week when the bride shares with me that she doesn't want to stay where there are too many children and where there are large crowds. I sensed that her preference would probably be to stay at a deluxe resort. So I ended up having a private conversation with my son and it was clear that they were both trying to be responsible adults and didn't want to ask mom for help. I'm thrilled to be able to do this for them and will be breaking the news next week. I'm definitely going to add some extra pixie dust to their trip, so I'm off to do some research on that.

BTW, thank you for the room location advice. We usually choose a lobby level villa but I think it's a great idea to choose one near the pool or bus stop.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

My recommendation on extra pixie dust, if they're the types, is to book them the Wanyama Safari (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom-lodge/wanyama-resort-safari-and-dinner/), the Night Safari (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/night-safari/) or the Wild Africa Trek at AK proper.

 

[Castillo Mom]

My recommendation on extra pixie dust, if they're the types, is to book them the Wanyama Safari (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/animal-kingdom-lodge/wanyama-resort-safari-and-dinner/), the Night Safari (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/night-safari/) or the Wild Africa Trek at AK proper.

That's a great idea, my DIL to be would really enjoy that since she's an animal lover. Thank you so much!

 

[hayesdvc]

For those who have stayed at AKL, what are the reasons that a similar room at SSR takes more points ? Is it just location ?

 

[drusba]

For those who have stayed at AKL, what are the reasons that a similar room at SSR takes more points ? Is it just location ?

As to the large difference between SSR and the value category at AKV, the values are what they are because they are smaller rooms than any of the others in the entire DVC system with studios comparable in size to Port Orleans rooms. There are also only a small number of them which very often are gone at 11 months out.

As to standard view at AKV being a little less than SSR, one could correctly conclude that the reason is because most SSR rooms are significantly overpriced when you compare it to other resorts, including not just AKV standard but lower point cost OKW which has larger rooms and a location at least equal to SSR. Disney will be correcting that problem next year when SSR starts to have two booking categories, standard (applicable to about 60% of the resort), and preferred (applicable to the highest requested areas at SSR, Congress Park and the Springs). The preferred category will have a higher point cost than now but the standard category will decrease to point costs in line with OKW. Other than the treehouses, there will be no rooms left with the current point structure.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think the lunch with an Animal Specialist at Sanaa is so good and informative that I've done it 3 times. That's another idea to gift the newlyweds with!

 

[Buzzsgramma]

Our grandson and his bride just returned from their honeymoon 2 wks ago at Kandani ....Savannah View studio..they were at the far end....they loved the Lodge and Sanaa restaurant and Boma's....yes it's more points but we gifted them the stay..just because........they also got Disney gift cards for their birthdays...which helped...

 

[jessrose18]

we are wanting to book an akv value studio in may 2017... fingers crossed.