JAMBO! The UN-official AKL Thread ~ UPDATED(short film/pg 8 & slideshow/pg 12) Part 2

[BensMom]

I'll double check the number to make sure, but I think the maint fees were 4.62 per point for '07 (we don't start paying dues until Sept, though, when the first batch of rooms opens). That's the actual number, not an estimate, for this year.

Pretty close to Vero Beach...I guess animal maintenance is as expensive as beach maintenance!

 

[pilferk]

Pretty close to Vero Beach...I guess animal maintenance is as expensive as beach maintenance!

Probably true. I actually think we'll not see an increase (and maybe even see a slight decrease) for '08. The Concierge lounge comes online under DVC around May of '08, and DVC will actually be getting a fee from AKL so AKL guests can use the lounge. I'm hoping that income offsets much (if any) dues increases. That being said, we were comfortable with the dues amount as a trade off for the additional occupancy (as you can see by my siggie, we're a family of 5, so getting the extra space in a 1 BR means saving $$ on point purchase), and extra bathroom (notice 2 of our kids are girls...in the long run, that extra bathroom is worth it's weight in gold!).

 

[BensMom]

Yes, that extra bath with the one-bedroom is awesome! (Kidani Village, I believe?)

We always get the one-bedroom suites whenever, and it's very comfortable, even though there are only three of us for the most part. But I always thought how much more comfortable we'd be if we had an extra bath (is that a half bath?). Even still, a half bath would be awesome. Or a full bath only means out to the parks earlier...everyone getting ready at the same time. What a concept!

I am just amazed at the size of the AKV footprint compared to the Lodge itself. I always thought the Lodge was huge until I saw the artist's rendering of the new building.

 

[pilferk]

Yes, that extra bath with the one-bedroom is awesome! (Kidani Village, I believe?)

We always get the one-bedroom suites whenever, and it's very comfortable, even though there are only three of us for the most part. But I always thought how much more comfortable we'd be if we had an extra bath (is that a half bath?). Even still, a half bath would be awesome. Or a full bath only means out to the parks earlier...everyone getting ready at the same time. What a concept!

I am just amazed at the size of the AKV footprint compared to the Lodge itself. I always thought the Lodge was huge until I saw the artist's rendering of the new building.

Yup, extra FULL bath in Kidani Village rooms (which is where we will try to book..probably along with everyone else...once it opens). As the 2 girls get older, that will be just priceless.

And shhhh......don't tell....Kidani has it's own "exclusive" savannah (around the "upper" horn, near the pool) that's supposedly going to have animals not found anywhere else at AKL.

The footprint is pretty big, but a lot less rooms (350-ish)...granted those rooms are about 2x the size of AKL's, on average. Funny fact: It's configured to look like the horns on a Cape Buffalo and also to resemble a beaded necklace (which is what Kadani means in Swahili, from what I'm told).

 

[Disney8704]

Man all this talk about the AKV is really making me want to join DVC so I can make AKV my "home". Never stayed at AKL before but DH and I are going to in December. Hmmm, maybe I see us going to another DVC tour thing and REALLY try to convince DH, we MUST do DVC!

 

[honeybee30]

I am right there with you, we are afternoon break people as well. I keep going back and forth about picking somewhere else. Honestly makes me sad to think of moving but I am not sure what to do. My only no brainer switch was Poly and it is booked. So I just do not know what to do. Wishing I had a crystal ball .

I know how you feel, too. It makes me soo sad, but we've talked about it, I think we'll have to postpone our first real trip to the AKL. We leave in a few weeks, and I just can't deal with the thought of construction noise for 10 days! The AKL is gorgeous and we'll go eat there a couple of times in May, but it looks like it's back to POFQ. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

The AKV do look amazing, though. I'd be tempted (if I could afford it! )

 

[BensMom]

Man all this talk about the AKV is really making me want to join DVC so I can make AKV my "home". Never stayed at AKL before but DH and I are going to in December. Hmmm, maybe I see us going to another DVC tour thing and REALLY try to convince DH, we MUST do DVC!

Go for it! Before I met my fiance, who had points (people joke this is why I am marrying him), I thought, "Eeeuu, timeshare." But now that I have been the recipient of so many great vacations, if you like Disney, it's no rocket science. However, my fiance is a believer in attempting to buy re-sales, because if you buy AKV, you pay top dollar, although you will be able to book 12 months out versus 7 months out at your "home" resort. If this is important to you, buy through DVC. If not, you can buy lesser priced DVC points and use them anywhere you want, even DAKV. Pros and cons to either practice.

 

[kimmar067]

I hope it is not true that you can smoke anywhere. For medical reasons, my son cannot be exposed to smoke so smoking on a non-smoking balcony would be dangerous if the room was next to ours. Please tell me this does not happen often.

.....no, you DEFINITELY cannot smoke just anywhere at AKL - to make sure that you do NOT want to be placed on the 'Smoking Floor", put in a request for a non-smoking room for 'medical reasons'....

 

[kimmar067]

Most (if not all) of the 5th and 6th floor rooms are being converted. The "new" AKL conceirge rooms will be standard sized on the 4th floor (but will have access to the lounge...which will be run by DVC and AKL will pay them a fee for their guests to use it).

They're SUPPOSED to stop at 5 PM...that's the "rule". If they were past that, I might have done some "talking" to the front desk.

AKV bookings, until the new building opens, might be pretty competitive at the 7 month window. As you can see by my siggie, we bought into AKV (our first DVC purchase!!), but from the posts on the DVC Misc board, it's looking like interest from DVC owners who DON'T own AKV is very high...and keep in mind until the new building starts opening the availability is close to that of the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge.

No neo-angle hot tubs, unfortunately. Good sized whirlpool tub, but not the same, meaning as big, as the ones in the other villas. However, in the new building (but not in the conversion rooms), you get an "extra" bathroom in the 1 BR (so you get 2 full baths) and 2 BR (so you get 3 full baths). In all but the "value" rooms, in both buildings, you can sleep 5 in the 1 BR and 9 in the 2 BR (as opposed to 4 and 8 at the other resorts). Lots of info and pics of the models over in the DVC Misc forum... In addition, I frequent this thread so I can try to answer anything I know about....or direct you to someone over on the DVC Misc section who might know.

...many thanks! Any new info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[kimmar067]

I'll double check the number to make sure, but I think the maint fees were 4.62 per point for '07...

....

 

[Tig-girl]

Okay fellow AKLodgers, help me out here. Last time, I stayed on the Kudu trail, right off the lobby. It was a great room with a great view of the savannah, and we enjoyed it tremendously. This time, I could only book a pool view room, and I'm wondering if there are any better areas I'd like to request? So those of you who have stayed pool view, can you give me some advice please? Thanks!

 

[2manypets]

I'm so sorry that I brought up smoking. I never believed that a smoker could smoke anywhere. I thought the replyer was just be sourcastic against smokers. I'll drop this and just ask at the resort. For all the non smokers, I'm sure you don't have any thing to worry about. Hopefully thost that smoke will be polite and respectful of others.

Judie

 

[kimmar067]

Okay fellow AKLodgers, help me out here. Last time, I stayed on the Kudu trail, right off the lobby. It was a great room with a great view of the savannah, and we enjoyed it tremendously. This time, I could only book a pool view room, and I'm wondering if there are any better areas I'd like to request? So those of you who have stayed pool view, can you give me some advice please? Thanks!

...a-HAH!!!! Staying at the 'animal pen' again, are we??!?! For a nominal fee, I promise that I won't tell the 'Lodgers'.....





....BTW - we've had both a pool AND savannah view room. Your best bet'd be Giraffe Trail. We were on the 3rd floor and it was an awesome location - same floor as Zawadi Market, lobby, and exits to the buses, with an elevator nearby that went directly to the pool area and the Mara.....

 

[pilferk]

....

FYI, I checked last night. It is 4.62 per point for yearly maintenance.

Broken down into monthly payments, it's not too bad. We've got 200 points and it works out to about $77 a month.

 

[BensMom]

....

Don't freak just yet...Vero Beach is a bit more than AKL.

 

[BensMom]

I'm so sorry that I brought up smoking. I never believed that a smoker could smoke anywhere. I thought the replyer was just be sourcastic against smokers. I'll drop this and just ask at the resort. For all the non smokers, I'm sure you don't have any thing to worry about. Hopefully thost that smoke will be polite and respectful of others.

Judie

I am the replier, and I am not being sarcastic. I am merely addressing the pool area, which I find really, really bad from a non-smoking perspective. I find smokers at the pool not polite and disrespectful of others. The indoor spaces, of course, are nonsmoking, except for bunches of rooms, which I am not aware of, because I will not go anywhere near them. But there are smoking rooms.

 

[Funniebunny]

I called my tour operator today and spoke to a supervisor, they claim to have only just found out about the construction and have said that we sould be receiving a letter soon. They said that we could pay to move to WL but I'm not happy about this so I'm getting some advice from an old colleague.
I think the guy I spoke to was in a call centre as he seemed really clueless, I'm thinking of writing a letter to the company before we receive theirs just to share our concerns. I really don't want to be getting ready for my wedding with drilling and banging going on around me

 

[Tig-girl]

...a-HAH!!!! Staying at the 'animal pen' again, are we??!?! For a nominal fee, I promise that I won't tell the 'Lodgers'.....





....BTW - we've had both a pool AND savannah view room. Your best bet'd be Giraffe Trail. We were on the 3rd floor and it was an awesome location - same floor as Zawadi Market, lobby, and exits to the buses, with an elevator nearby that went directly to the pool area and the Mara.....

Ha! You caught me Kim! Yep, we had ressies at WL, but we were able to get the DDP with AKL.....so it was a no-brainer! So pool view is ok?

 

[Angel16]

I called my tour operator today and spoke to a supervisor, they claim to have only just found out about the construction and have said that we sould be receiving a letter soon. They said that we could pay to move to WL but I'm not happy about this so I'm getting some advice from an old colleague.
I think the guy I spoke to was in a call centre as he seemed really clueless, I'm thinking of writing a letter to the company before we receive theirs just to share our concerns. I really don't want to be getting ready for my wedding with drilling and banging going on around me

I am so sorry that you are not getting much help from your tour operator. What type of room do you have reserved at AKL? I completely believe the CM checking you in will try to find the best possible available room for you and your DF when you check in. Be sure to mention that you are there for your wedding and honeymoon. Disney really wants to make everyone's stay as magical as possible. But, especially guest getting married on property.

Is there any way your Disney Wedding planner can help you with your room location? I would give her/him a call and see. Please keep us informed of your progress.

Angel

Everything is going to be perfect! I just know it!

 

[luvfigment]

I made all my ADR's today!!! I am so excited to be trying Jiko...if I haven't already mentioned that. I also called and finally decided to request a King Size bed and not worry about the set up of the room...it is the honeymoon and all.