Just Back from Short Stay at AKV

[dairyqueenmom]

Hello everyone, I am just back from a 3 night stay at AKV. I thought I would to a quick trip report.

Sunday: We arrived at 12:00pm at the Magical Express Desk, the line was enormous. I have never seen it that long. It did go fast and we were pulling into AKV by 1pm. Unbelievably our value studio was ready. It was very clean and as luck would have it we had a savanna/construction view. We saw the most animals that day. We had a giraffe on the savanna when we arrived. The rest of our stay we only saw one wildabeast and two ostriches. They hung out all the time on Sunset, we were gone during the day so maybe more animals came around.

We were only in our room for about 30min. when my sister's luggage arrived. That was so fast. I didn't wait for mine, we headed out to Epcot. The crowds were light and we were able to ride Soarin, Test Track and Mission Space all before our 7pm dinner at La Celliure. Our dinner was amazing. I had the coffee rubbed Kansas City strip and it was to die for. My sister had the filet and really enjoyed it, but said next time she will get the coffee rubbed steak, and she doesn't like coffee. We hit some of the shops in World Showcase and then headed back to AKV.

We never waited for more then 10min for any bus to and from the parks and the resort.

The big bummer of the trip was when we got back to the resort, my luggage had arrived minus my camera. It was stolen out of my luggage.

Monday: We headed out to HS, we arrived about 9:30am. We headed to Midway Mania and the fastpass lines were long. The park was very full of large Brazilian tour groups they wiped out all the fastpasses at Rockin Rollin Coaster and Midway Mania by 11:30am. I didn't think there were alot of tour groups this time of year. We then headed to Starring Rolls and had a bagel and cherry turnover. We then hit the animation show and tried our hand at the drawing class. That was a ton of fun. We then went back to Midway Mania and I took my sister down!!!

I will continue the report a bit later, time to get dinner on the table.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I like to do the animation class...what character did you draw?

You did do a lot in Epcot. We had the filet when we ate at LeCellier last, and I can't imagine anything being better...I will have to try that Kansas City strip! DH and I have an ADR there in March.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the story!

Bobbi

 

[kristenrice]

Hello everyone, I am just back from a 3 night stay at AKV.

How do you like coming home to our -20 temps? Gotta' love that lake effect, huh?

Welcome back! I want to hear more about your trip, particularly about that value studio. We're scheduled for a value studio for one night in June and I am wondering if there are any "hints" for maximizing the space.

 

[dairyqueenmom]

How do you like coming home to our -20 temps? Gotta' love that lake effect, huh?

Welcome back! I want to hear more about your trip, particularly about that value studio. We're scheduled for a value studio for one night in June and I am wondering if there are any "hints" for maximizing the space.


I called my Husband from the airport in Detroit and told him the pilot made and error and took us to Sibera.

The value studio is small, It was only my sister and I so it was no big deal. The biggest problem is where to put the pillows and cushions at night when you pull the bed out. You really have to put it back together each day to just move around. It also has little space to set your luggage out. My sister used the rack between the armour and the wall, I snuck mine between the bed and the sliding glass door. I don't think I would enjoy staying there for a long vacation with more then 2 people.

I am very spoiled with the 2 bedroom when I travel with my whole family.

I like to do the animation class...what character did you draw?

You did do a lot in Epcot. We had the filet when we ate at LeCellier last, and I can't imagine anything being better...I will have to try that Kansas City strip! DH and I have an ADR there in March.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the story!

We drew Jimmy Cricket. We had so much fun. The strip was to die for, and it didn't taste like coffee at all and it was huge.

 

[kristenrice]

The value studio is small, It was only my sister and I so it was no big deal. The biggest problem is where to put the pillows and cushions at night when you pull the bed out. You really have to put it back together each day to just move around. It also has little space to set your luggage out. My sister used the rack between the armour and the wall, I snuck mine between the bed and the sliding glass door. I don't think I would enjoy staying there for a long vacation with more then 2 people.

I'd heard they were pretty small. We are staying there (2 adults, 2 Kids ages 3 & 5) on our arrival night. Our flight was originally scheduled to get in at 9pm so I figured we'd just be sleeping there. Now, our flight arrives at 5:30pm so we'll have a few more hours. We probably won't unpack anything and just store the luggage in the "kitchen" hallway. Do the couch cushions slide under the bed? I can't remember from our stay in October...that was a savanna studio so more room.

In regards to storage, there was a family across the hall from us that decided that the hallway/corridor outside their room was the appropriate place to store their double stroller. They had it there every night for the entire week. I didn't think you could store things in a hallway...fire codes and such. I hope this doesn't expand to include other items...suitcases, car seats, pack and plays, storage boxes...
I know there is not a lot of storage room in the studios, but you shouldn't bring so much stuff on vacation that you overflow your room! I would've thought that stroller could've gone on the balcony, bathroom sink area or the "kitchen" area.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I put the decorator pillows on top of the closet.

Bobbi

 

[dairyqueenmom]

I put the decorator pillows on top of the closet.

Bobbi

Thats a great idea, I will remember that in Aug. we will be in a two bedroom value. I can't stand having them lay around on the floor.

Trip Report Cont: We were able to hit all the major rides at HS. We saw the Lights/Action/Motors show and I have never seen the stands so full. I bet the park was empty. After that we had dinner at Prime Time. The waitress was from the city right next to my home town and I knew her sister. This world is pretty small. My kids go to the same school her nephews go to. The food was great. I had the fried chicken and dads brownie sundae. It was my birthday so all my cousins signed a card and sang happy birthday with a birthday cupcake. I really love this place. We tried to get into Fantasmic but they were at standing room only 30min. before the show, so we rode TOT a few more times and headed to Downtown Disney for some shopping.

It was very busy at Downtown Disney. We hit a few store, my disney sister had to get some ears embroidered. I found out something unique. You can buy your ears at the personalization store and take them across to the Christmas store and have them embroidered, they have a bunch of different fonts for the embroidery. It does cost but they have way cooler fonts then the personalization store.

I checked out the new Dinosaur restaurant. It is very noisy, kind of like a Rain Forest Cafe, but very cool. I know we will be heading there with my twin 7year old DS in August. They have a build a dinosaur attraction in the gift shop like build a bear. What marketing.

We headed back to AKV for the night.

More later.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I have "informed" DH that I'm trying the Kansas City strip steak, and he thinks that's funny, well, maybe cute, that I'm so looking forward to trying something new.

I'd love to get a lesson in drawing Jiminy Cricket!

I loved your quip about the pilot landing in Siberia by mistake.

Thanks for the "Build a dinosaur" note...we have someone who may want one. Thanks for your great report!

Bobbi

 

[dairyqueenmom]

I have "informed" DH that I'm trying the Kansas City strip steak, and he thinks that's funny, well, maybe cute, that I'm so looking forward to trying something new.

I'd love to get a lesson in drawing Jiminy Cricket!

I loved your quip about the pilot landing in Siberia by mistake.

Thanks for the "Build a dinosaur" note...we have someone who may want one. Thanks for your great report!

Bobbi

Thanks, we visited during the F & G Festival last year and loved that time of year. Amazing weather and cool things at Epcot. Have a great trip.