Jambo Value 1 Bdrm: What do I need to know?

[GoofItUp]

We just became members last month, and I've already made 1 ressie for a studio at my home resort, then called this morning to cancel it and chancge to a 1 bdrm value at AKV. I was surprised there was one available! Is it usually easy to snag these at the 7 month mark? (Sadly, can't afford the pts for a 1 bdrm at BCV this time, but really want the space since we'll have a 1 yr old and 3 yr old with us.) I went ahead and requested a savannah view, but not a particular one or anything. Of course, we'll be happy wherever we are (hey, we're at WDW!) but what should I expect? I think I had read somewhere that about 1/2 of the value rooms have SV, so I'm thinking we have a 50/50 shot. Is there a particular savannah that I should call back and have noted as a request?

Also, we will be using the water play area at Kidani a few times. What's the walk like? Will it be a nice stroll for us and the kids or is it too far for that?

I'm so excited to have my first trip home in the works! Any other advice is appreciated.

 

[ercrbc]

Was in a 1br value at AKV last week. We have a 4yo and a 1yo and it was perfect! There was plenty of space, it was great to have the separate bdrm and the HUGE bath. You will love it! Kddani is definitely the better pool for little ones, we spent an afternoon over there and it was so much fun. I would not recommend the walk though, hop on the bus or drive (use the valet, it's included with your DVC!). It's just easier.

All the value villas are in the Jambo house. There are 10 1br values and out of those there are 2 with parking lot views, 4 with pool and 4 with savannah, so it's a tossup but a nice perk if you get savannah (although we loved our view of the pool!)

 

[kristenrice]

You will love the 1BR at AKV. The biggest difference between the value and the non-value is that it is 3' shorter from door to balcony. This is noticable in the bedroom more than in the living area. With two little ones, you probably won't notice it at all. It is so much bigger than a studio!

We stayed in a value 1BR this past June....,LOVED IT! I don't know when we will try anything else. Our girls are only 4 and 6 right now, but when they are older, we can get a value 2BR for less points than a savanna-view 1BR. I will take the risk on the view for the bigger room. There are 10 value 1BR's (all lock-offs)...2 face the parking lot, 4 face the pool and 4 face the sunset savanna. Your chance of a savanna view is 40%, but you only have a 20% chance of facing the road.

This was our view in June....

 

[GoofItUp]

Wow -- I hadn't realized there were only ten 1-bdrm value rooms! I think I must have been really lucky to snag one!

I'm hoping for a SV, but wouldn't be disappointed with the pool view and could live with the parking lot view if that's what we end up with. I'll hope for the best and see what happens.

Thanks for the pics, too. My 3 yr old would be so excited to wake up to giraffes in the morning.

I had forgotten about the valet service with DVC. We will have a car, so we'll take advantage of that. I assume you do still tip the valet, right? Do you tip when you drop your car off and when you pick it up? How much is customary? I haven't taken advantage of valet service much, so let me know what is customary.

 

[CHD New York]

Do anyone have any pictures, of a 1 Bedroom Value room?

I will be having a Grand Gathering next year with family, and due, other points plans, I can only book a 1 Bedroom Value & Studio Value Rooms. We have stayed in a 1bed bedroom room at kidani village before, and was trying to see how much smaller would the vaule rooms be.

The people in my patry, has never seen kidani village or jambo house rooms.

 

[penguins1]

Wow, I didn't know there were SV available in the Values. All of the Standard View rooms face the pool, correct? That is what I have booked for December but had I known there were SV views possible for value I would have probably booked that!

 

[Melynny]

One of the pool view values 1br is HA. While this is great if you need it, it is not so great if you don't. The kitchen is very different, no center island, all appliances are HA, the micorwave is lower, no closet for use of the folks sleeping in the LR. The LR is missing the orange chair. The dining table has 4 chairs and no bench (booth type seat) and is located next to the balcony.

The bathroom has everything in one room and is very dark, there is no light in the tub, the tub is a jacuzzi, but it is about 1 foot smaller than the others with a hand held shower. The toilet is not in separate small room for privacy. There is no storage under the sink and there is no full length mirror. In the bathroom there is a large closet that has the pack and play and broom. The bedroom is exactly the same as a non HA value 1 br. All doors are sliding. This was room 5010. And is the 1st 1 br on the pool view side.

I complained and requested to be moved, then it became really evident just how different this room was. There were more subtle differences that I would not have noticed, if I had not had been moved. There was a big difference in the decor of the HA, there was not as many pictures on the walls. As I said before the full lenght mirror was not there. I have no idea why the dining table was shoved in the corner with 4 chairs facing the wall. I am glad I did not have guests. Next time I will request a non HA value ! Hopefully this helps, I always seem to get assigned a HA unit unless I put that on my resv.

 

[ScrappinGran]

What is HA? We are considering AKV for a Fri & Sat night stay before moving to our first trip Home @ BLT. We need a 2 bedroom (7 of us ) and want to use fewest points. We are curious about the 2 bedroom value accomadations @ AKV.

 

[Disneycouple99]

HA=handicap accessible.

 

[Melynny]

Just to note, the room I mentioned above, 5010 1 br Handicapped accessible was a lock off. So it could have been part of a 2 br unit.

 

[brandylouwho]

pics of our value 1 bedroom...this was a pool view room in Dec. 2008. It was perfect for our family (2 adults, a 5 yr old and an 18 mo old). The pool view was a nice location-close to the pool & to the busses.

FWIW I would stay in a value again. We stayed in a Kidani village 2 bedroom this year and loved it too, but we had 4 adults and 4 kids...the value living room would have felt too small for that group. Then again, the SSR living room felt too small for that group too. But I suspect we spend more time in our room & at the resort than many people do. (Our kids are early to bed, early to rise).

We enjoy both the Jambo & Kidani pools. Kidani has a little kids slide & a normal slide as well as a play area (which our kids didn't use as much as the pool itself). But even the 3 year old used the normal slide at Jambo House. We used the bus to go back and forth with 4 little kids and all our "stuff."

the kitchen from standing near the table

the living room from standing in the kitchen, near the entry door

the bedroom from standing as far in the corner as possible (near door & armoire)

our room view (looking down at the pool)

another view from our room (looking out/across)

 

[patsal]

Was in a 1br value at AKV last week. We have a 4yo and a 1yo and it was perfect! There was plenty of space, it was great to have the separate bdrm and the HUGE bath. You will love it! Kddani is definitely the better pool for little ones, we spent an afternoon over there and it was so much fun. I would not recommend the walk though, hop on the bus or drive (use the valet, it's included with your DVC!). It's just easier.

All the value villas are in the Jambo house. There are 10 1br values and out of those there are 2 with parking lot views, 4 with pool and 4 with savannah, so it's a tossup but a nice perk if you get savannah (although we loved our view of the pool!)

No more free valet parking for DVC members.

 

[brandip22]

We are trying to switch to a Value 1BR in a couple of weeks for our May trip. I will request savannah view and non- HA. We'll see what happens! I'd love the savannah view, but am fine with just a room at Disney! After 2 1/2 years, it'll be great just to be there

 

[mybabesuz]

I was able to snag a Value 1-bedroom, 2 days before the 7 month mark for the end of April...
I originally had booked a studio for 7 nights.
At about 8 months out I didn't think I would be possible to get a value room.
I decided to call and ask anyways and it was available!
I was shocked!