Just back from AKV-Kidani and won't want to stay there again.

[tjkraz]

Well, I try to learn from my mistakes. Apparently, this isn't the case with food service management at DVC. It appears WDW is quite happy to be missing out on counter service revenue. If we have to travel to get food for our family, we'll be taking Sherberth Rd. out to the highway, and doing fast food there. Save some money in the effort too.

I'm sure it was a very calculated move on their part...not what they would call a "mistake."

With less than 350 villas, I doubt Kidani could support both a Table Service and Quick Service dining location...particularly with Jambo right next door sporting 3 additional restaurants. Designers decided to go with a TS location for Kidani. The idea is probably to try try and "upsell" many guests to a TS meal even if they just want something quick. Those who just want a quick meal will (theoretically) make arrangements to dine at Mara or one of the theme park restaurants.

I'm sure Disney is losing SOME business by not offering a QS location at Kidani. But the real question is whether they are losing enough business to cover the expenses of operating such an establishment. If most folks are choosing Sanaa or another Disney restaurant, there isn't any business lost--the business is merely shifted to those existing locations.

Is the business lost to folks who opt to dine off-site enough to support a profitable QS establishment at Kidani? Honestly I have my doubts.

 

[KirstenB]

I'm sure it was a very calculated move on their part...not what they would call a "mistake."

With less than 350 villas, I doubt Kidani could support both a Table Service and Quick Service dining location...particularly with Jambo right next door sporting 3 additional restaurants. Designers decided to go with a TS location for Kidani. The idea is probably to try try and "upsell" many guests to a TS meal even if they just want something quick. Those who just want a quick meal will (theoretically) make arrangements to dine at Mara or one of the theme park restaurants.

I'm sure Disney is losing SOME business by not offering a QS location at Kidani. But the real question is whether they are losing enough business to cover the expenses of operating such an establishment. If most folks are choosing Sanaa or another Disney restaurant, there isn't any business lost--the business is merely shifted to those existing locations.

Is the business lost to folks who opt to dine off-site enough to support a profitable QS establishment at Kidani? Honestly I have my doubts.

Really...they couldn't throw a grill in next to the pool bar, and serve burgers, dogs, chips and cokes? Like I said, we'll just take our $ down the road.

WDW counter service in general is a sore subject for me. I spent every summer in college managing a counter service location at Kings Dominion. Our annual bonuses depended on maximizing revenue. Everytime I go to a WDW counter service location, I see missed opportunities for revenue. It makes me nuts.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I always have to chuckle when people start complaining about no counter service at Kidani Village. There isn't a counter service at South Point at OKW, there isn't a counter service at Miller's Road at OKW, there isn't a counter service at the Carousel at SSR, there isn't a counter service at the Paddocks at SSR. Everyone in those areas has to walk, ride the bus or drive over to the resort dining facility if they want counter service. Why should KV be any different? KV did get a table service restaurant and store and a refill station.

Yes, and I don't miss them there either. We aren't counter service people, so a resorts lack of counter service doesn't bother me at all. Heck, I've stayed at OKW too many times to count, and I have NEVER eaten at the counter service place there!

 

[Dean]

Well, I try to learn from my mistakes. Apparently, this isn't the case with food service management at DVC. It appears WDW is quite happy to be missing out on counter service revenue. If we have to travel to get food for our family, we'll be taking Sherberth Rd. out to the highway, and doing fast food there. Save some money in the effort too.

I doubt there's enough business to justify both a CS and TS option at Kidani so if they did institute a CS option it'd likely be at the expense of the TS one there now or at least the bar. There is a cost and potential profit with a CS option, apparently Disney felt the cost including the space, did not warrant the option. I doubt enough people will take a hike off property simply because of this issue to make them sorry for the choice, I doubt they'll even be able to register it on their surveys. IMO I think the members are lucky to have ANYTHING in the building including the store, front desk and ANY restaurant. I expected they'd have check in at Jambo and a minimal desk for problems at Kidani.

 

[Dean]

Really...they couldn't throw a grill in next to the pool bar, and serve burgers, dogs, chips and cokes? Like I said, we'll just take our $ down the road.

WDW counter service in general is a sore subject for me. I spent every summer in college managing a counter service location at Kings Dominion. Our annual bonuses depended on maximizing revenue. Everytime I go to a WDW counter service location, I see missed opportunities for revenue. It makes me nuts.

Food management has never been Disney's strong point but they do OK, IMO.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I always have to chuckle when people start complaining about no counter service at Kidani Village. There isn't a counter service at South Point at OKW, there isn't a counter service at Miller's Road at OKW, there isn't a counter service at the Carousel at SSR, there isn't a counter service at the Paddocks at SSR. Everyone in those areas has to walk, ride the bus or drive over to the resort dining facility if they want counter service. Why should KV be any different? KV did get a table service restaurant and store and a refill station.

With respect to SSR, they will have another CS located at the new proposed pool at the Paddocks area.(Please correct me if this is not so).

 

[franandaj]

I've never been a big CS person and there are very few that really interest me. Most of the time the burgers you get at these places are pre cooked and held in a warming tray, and the sandwich selections (while trying to be innovative) are not at all to my tastes. I'm just going over our "dining plan" for our upcoming trip and making last minute tweaks to our Grocery list for the things we'll pick up at Publix.

In our 10 day trip, we'll eat at 8 TS restaurants, 4 CS restaurants, two because I've never been there and want to try them, and the other two because it will just be easier and maximize our time at AK, besides I remember really liking the Flame Tree Barbeque when AK opened, haven't been back since (only out of lack of time and other choices to try!). So if you figure we eat three meals a day, that's 12 out of 30 meals we'll eat out. The rest, in our room! Isn't that what we have kitchens for?

I'm looking forward to whipping up simple but tasty meals like I eat at home, grilled chicken, Tacos, Hot Dogs, Chicken Salad sandwiches, Pasta with Tomatoes & Basil, Grilled Cheese, Sausages & Sauerkraut, much tastier than most of the CS options and these are things I eat at home and they are comfortable. We'll have breakfast in the room every day but the first, some days just bagels or cereal, others we'll have bacon & eggs, or french toast. Nice and hot on our plates all as it comes out of the skillet.

Who needs a counter service restaurant?

 

[CruznLexi]

Last year the weather was quite warm it was in the 70's. Christmas generally stay up until marathon weekend which is the first or second weekend in Jan. We do not cook on vacation. So we use the dinning plan either basic or counter service. I have stayed at both places and like them both. It is a parking garage.

 

[kimberh]

We loved our Oct stay in a ded two bedroom. The room was wonderful and very clean. On our last day, they turned the Elevators off to work on the Air conditioners. What a walk with luggage. There was a elderly couple that I really thought needed medical help. We offered to help but they declined. We were not notified of the power being turned off, so we didn't know until we arrived at the elevator. As for not having CS, we do use it for some breakfasts, some of us do not cook one thing on vacation, me being one of them. We usually do buy the DDP and do use ALL the CS credits on it. We had to walk to Jambo and finish our credits off. We had the long walk. We were beat before we ever got to the car to drive home.

 

[RDP]

stayed in a 2 bed in Nov 09 for the first time. Family including inlaws had a fantastic time. Its true there are places where the pixi dust is spread a little thin but I think that applies to the whole of WDW these days. We will be going back, when finances allow we will purchase our next contract at BLT to give us some options and provide a contrast to AKV.

 

[jfinke]

Our last stay was a split between Jambo, Jambo Concierge, & Kidani.

I thought that food options were limited everywhere at AKV. We are used to being at BCV or SSR where you can just walk to many dining options. Even at OKW, you were a short bus ride away from DTD and I have always had good bus experiences at OKW.

Buses at AKV were so flakey we felt isolated out in the corner. Even getting to AK took a bit of time.

 

[pyrxtc]

well I really dislike having to cook while I'm down there. I did not buy DVC for the kitchens, I bought it because my family is too large to fit into the regular rooms and renting two each time would cost more than buying into DVC ... plus I get all those extra vacations we wouldn't have done without DVC.

I tried all the channels, my room didn't have any taken out yet. After going through it multiple times I finally asked at the front desk. Counter service may not have mattered so much if it had been warm enough to be in the parks all day as we normally are. But with having sick people plus one who can't walk well, especially for long treks, it was hard.

I admit I don't shop for vacations well since I ahve to buy so much more than I normally would. I always have staples in the house so shopping from scratch is tough, especially not using sales and coupons and having to pay full price for what we want. An owner's locker wouldn't work for us since we aren't down often enough, or won't be.

This was our last trip for a couple of years (will be utilizing our points elswhere and banking some) it was awful to have such a bad one for our last memory of Disney. it really hit us hard and helped us in the decision that we don't want to go back anytime soon. I was posting throughout my trip on facebook and one of my friends thought it was a spoof trip and that none of it was real cuz all the stuff that went wrong couldn't possibly happen in one trip. The trip ended very stressful and was a not so happy vacation anyways. A trip where in the 6 days we were there, we did a total of maybe 16 or 17 rides out of all 4 days we hit the parks. A very sad first trip for my mother.

 

[Deb & Bill]

.... A very sad first trip for my mother.

No one died while you were on your trip, right??

My dad died about two weeks after we took my mom a few years ago and I still look at that as a good trip because my mom got to visit her sister in FL for a few days while taking a break from caring for my dad who had Alzheimers.

 

[Dean]

well I really dislike having to cook while I'm down there. I did not buy DVC for the kitchens, I bought it because my family is too large to fit into the regular rooms and renting two each time would cost more than buying into DVC ... plus I get all those extra vacations we wouldn't have done without DVC.

I tried all the channels, my room didn't have any taken out yet. After going through it multiple times I finally asked at the front desk. Counter service may not have mattered so much if it had been warm enough to be in the parks all day as we normally are. But with having sick people plus one who can't walk well, especially for long treks, it was hard.

I admit I don't shop for vacations well since I ahve to buy so much more than I normally would. I always have staples in the house so shopping from scratch is tough, especially not using sales and coupons and having to pay full price for what we want. An owner's locker wouldn't work for us since we aren't down often enough, or won't be.

This was our last trip for a couple of years (will be utilizing our points elswhere and banking some) it was awful to have such a bad one for our last memory of Disney. it really hit us hard and helped us in the decision that we don't want to go back anytime soon. I was posting throughout my trip on facebook and one of my friends thought it was a spoof trip and that none of it was real cuz all the stuff that went wrong couldn't possibly happen in one trip. The trip ended very stressful and was a not so happy vacation anyways. A trip where in the 6 days we were there, we did a total of maybe 16 or 17 rides out of all 4 days we hit the parks. A very sad first trip for my mother.

When you first posted I thought you were asking about the Disney Channel itself. I don't ever recall them having the cartoon channel on that plays in the lobby. I'm trying to understand but everything I saw that you posted as an issue are small items or personal preference items that I can see, maybe I missed something. Every resort has it's issues to a degree. Here are the issues that I see from your posts.

• Didn't have TV channel you wanted.
• Didn't like the pool location.
• Didn't like the lobby size.
• Didn't like the marketplace size, setup.
• Didn't like that they didn't check ID's at the Community Hall
• Ugly Parking
• No CS, Mara too far (I walked it every day last year from the far side of Kidani).
• Average 4 rides per park day (the same or more than we normally do).
• Bad weather
• Location
• Bus service
• Concern about meal planning
• Didn't like that the Xmas decorations were still up (I'd have been thrilled).

I don't want to trivialize your concerns because I know that the make or break with a vacation is often related to the intangibles but I didn't see anything you posted that I think we have been a problem for most people. Sure some would look at certain items and say, I don't like that I think I'll stay elsewhere next time but not enough to even cause them to look at it as a bad day, much less a bad trip. Did I miss some major event/issue that ruined this trip. Here's an experience I had last year. We went to Aruba and I bought my wife one of those blowup floats. After I had it about 70% blow up, someone came by to tell me there was an air hose. I wished I had known and the sale clerk should have told me but she didn't, I was on vacation and things happen. I rolled my eyes and my wife and I both laughed and I suspect it'll be one of those stories we tell the rest of our life.

 

[DebbieB]

well I really dislike having to cook while I'm down there. I did not buy DVC for the kitchens, I bought it because my family is too large to fit into the regular rooms and renting two each time would cost more than buying into DVC ... plus I get all those extra vacations we wouldn't have done without DVC.

I tried all the channels, my room didn't have any taken out yet. After going through it multiple times I finally asked at the front desk. Counter service may not have mattered so much if it had been warm enough to be in the parks all day as we normally are. But with having sick people plus one who can't walk well, especially for long treks, it was hard.

I admit I don't shop for vacations well since I ahve to buy so much more than I normally would. I always have staples in the house so shopping from scratch is tough, especially not using sales and coupons and having to pay full price for what we want. An owner's locker wouldn't work for us since we aren't down often enough, or won't be.

This was our last trip for a couple of years (will be utilizing our points elswhere and banking some) it was awful to have such a bad one for our last memory of Disney. it really hit us hard and helped us in the decision that we don't want to go back anytime soon. I was posting throughout my trip on facebook and one of my friends thought it was a spoof trip and that none of it was real cuz all the stuff that went wrong couldn't possibly happen in one trip. The trip ended very stressful and was a not so happy vacation anyways. A trip where in the 6 days we were there, we did a total of maybe 16 or 17 rides out of all 4 days we hit the parks. A very sad first trip for my mother.

I went back to your first post to see what was so "very sad". What else happened to make it so bad? You make it sound like Kidani ruined your trip but other things must have happened. 16 or 17 rides in 4 days?

 

[smjj]

I aggree with Dean, there are always going to be some little things about a resort that do not suit your needs or tastes. Your on vacation for crying out loud, don't make a big deal about small little things. Enjoy yourself...smjj

 

[Feebs]

We own at AKV, also at SSR. We`ve stayed quite few times at Jambo so I was interested to visit Kidani on our last trip.
Each to his own but Kidani really wouldn`t meet our needs. We usually stay in a studio and use the busses only. The lack of a CS wouldn`t work for us, I love to walk but the long and boring walk to Jambo was off putting. The pool seemed fairly inaccessible as well.
Sorry you had a poor trip I hope your next one is much much better.

 

[pyrxtc]

I went back to your first post to see what was so "very sad". What else happened to make it so bad? You make it sound like Kidani ruined your trip but other things must have happened. 16 or 17 rides in 4 days?

I didn't write what made the trip so bad, just what I didn't like about Kidani and why I wouldn't want to stay there again. A list of what made my trip so bad .......

• The cold !! Was almost as cold as back home, didn't have to drive 1,400 miles to be that cold.
• DD13 got really sick one night
• DS6 got really sick one day and was sick for 3 days, coulnd't make it to the parks or even leave the room so we never got to be at the park as a whole family.
• $62 on a new outfit for DS6 who got sick all over himself while at the park.
• Missing items from my food shopping that were to be meals that I paid for but never made it into my cart
• the long walks and waits for the bus in the cold wiht an Aunt who could not walk them.
• Not so many animals, probabaly due to the cold but still disappointing
• DH was not well and injured himself running the marathon so he couldn't walk much either
• fear that we caused my Aunt a heart Attack on TOT but thankfully she was just getting ready to gt sick and had to skip the park the next day and skip most rides the day after that.
• We missed out on most of our Epcot park day cuz we were all freezing waiting for DH to finish the marathon and used to freezing at home but not in FL
• Spending $30 ona hat and gloves for DH to run in cuz he didn't know he needed to bring his cold weather gear to FL to run.
• Nothing in the room to entertain sick DS especially without those cartoons and being too sick to let him go to the community hall
• Kids really didn't like the Disney school and wished they hadn't gone to it.
• No time wiht me and DH that we didn anything together or as all together as a family. That is what makes my trip great ... family time ! Never happened.

It was all these little things plus the things I didn't like about Kidani that just made it a bad vacation. the thought that I made my aunt sick, much less thinking that we gave her a heart attack on a ride was just horrifying ! never thought about driving between the resorts for food, we don't usually touch the car aside from driving down and back in it. plus most days someone was sick so we couldn't all go out anyways so some food had to be brought back to the room. Publix food also cost more than I would pay for food here so I only bought the neccessities for breakfast and a couple dinners, didn't plan on being in the room so much.

And 16 or 17 rides in 4 days is horrible for us. We are people who are there when the park opens, or soon after, and leave when they kick us out. The first time my Aunt came with us, we did every ride/attraction in MK in the hours of a P&P Party. We've never seen an entire parade or sat and waited for a fireworks display but that is just how we tour the parks. We always need a vacation from our vacation at Disney. our downtime vacation is only a few hours from here and it happens in the summer. We rent a beach house and the only thing we do all day for a week is go out to the beach. No video games in the center or internt or video game systems in the house and only basic cable. I don't go to Disney to sit around and do nothing, I LOVE the parks and all we can do there. The gorgeous of the resorts are just a perk that we get when we sleep in the rooms and to use on our arrival and departure days.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

To each their own.

Personally, we enjoyed staying there very much. Did have the work around the lack of quick service. But we loved the Pembe savanna with the Okapis and Red River Hogs.

that's why it's a DVC resort. its trying to get you to bring your own food to cook. We are just loving the fact that we are at WDW and miss what is missing from other resorts. in time WDW will cater the the DVC crowd!!

 

[kaelarad]

Sorry to be harsh but alot of the OPs issues seemed to be weather related, which disney has no control over.

Perhaps you should have done a few things:
Looked at extended forcasts. If you had you should have packed hats and mittens. We were there over christmas and it was cold. the weather in Florida was a major news story for a number of days

If you Aunt couldn't make long walks it is obvious that Kindani would not be a smart choice.

4 rides in 16 days. Maybe you should have planned a little better

christmas decorations up. oh well weather related. Cast can only get them down overnight with parks closed. SOrry disney didn't put the health of castmembers at risk to accomodate you. Next year, since you come from a cold climate go out and take your own decorations down in extremely cold tempatures in the middle of the nights.

It is unfortunate that your kids got sick. It happens. My husband was two days late getting to Disney for our trip because of the blizzard in the north east. we didn't let it ruin the rest of the trip.

vacation is what you make it. I am sure there are plenty of people who would have loved to be at DIsney world cold weather or not. THere have been many reports from people who were there at the same time and had a blast despite the cold.