Just for discussion....AKV Thoughts...

[kristenrice]

I am a satisfied AKV owner and I love my home resort. I have stayed in value, standard and savanna view rooms, from studios to 2BR's and I had a thought...

I'm wondering if the standard rooms will increase in popularity over the years and become harder to book...

Here's my thoughts...

First, I love the savanna view, but after three stays with a savanna view, the novelty of it is already starting to wear off. Around the third morning, I don't get the same "ahhhh" factor as I do on the first two days. I look at the points chart and it is hard for me to justify the additional premium for the savanna view. I know that a lot of people will only stay in a savanna-view villa, but for me, I love just being at the resort. Since we only own 100 points, it is hard for me to justify the savanna view when I can enjoy the view at so many places around the resort.

Second, not that my opinion is representative of any sort of majority, but if the novelty of the savanna view wears off on more and more owners over the next 10-15 years, the demand for standard view may soon outweigh the supply. If this were to happen, would there be a reallocation?

Just looking to start a friendly discussion...

 

[SamSam]

I am a satisfied AKV owner and I love my home resort. I have stayed in value, standard and savanna view rooms, from studios to 2BR's and I had a thought...

I'm wondering if the standard rooms will increase in popularity over the years and become harder to book...

Here's my thoughts...

First, I love the savanna view, but after three stays with a savanna view, the novelty of it is already starting to wear off. Around the third morning, I don't get the same "ahhhh" factor as I do on the first two days. I look at the points chart and it is hard for me to justify the additional premium for the savanna view. I know that a lot of people will only stay in a savanna-view villa, but for me, I love just being at the resort. Since we only own 100 points, it is hard for me to justify the savanna view when I can enjoy the view at so many places around the resort.

Second, not that my opinion is representative of any sort of majority, but if the novelty of the savanna view wears off on more and more owners over the next 10-15 years, the demand for standard view may soon outweigh the supply. If this were to happen, would there be a reallocation?

Just looking to start a friendly discussion...

I know everyone is different, so this could be an interesting discussion.
Dh and I absolutely love Savannah View, but we tend to go for longer periods of time and work 1/2 days in our room, so view is important to us.

We also like the quiet atmosphere of Kidani, with the ability to walk over to Jambo when we want to be in a little bigger, busier atmosphere.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I think our trick will be (I'm an owner at AKK too.) that other resort owners will constantly be booking that first or second savanna view stay at AK. Since there is an endless supply of owners at other resorts and that those numbers increase every day, I don't foresee this being a problem.

For that reason, I actually think that owners at AK will be the ones primarily using standard bookings. That shouldn't be a problem relative to the number of standard view room to owners and AK owners staying at other resorts.

I could be wrong, but the logic makes sense to me.

I own at BLT too and a similar thing has happened there. Most of us are booking standard or lake view rooms now but there is a constant supply of other owners using the park view rooms. Actually, it's pretty much exactly the same situation. It just happened faster there because of the smaller size of the resort, IMO.

 

[cvjw]

We are not AKV owners, but have stayed 3 times in the savannah view villas.
We love waking up to the animals, and spending quality time on the balconies in the afternoons watching them. That being said, I was just able to book a 2 bedroom value at JH for spring break next year. I have a feeling that the point savings won't make up for the fact that we can't see the animals from our balconies! Put us in the category that if we have the points, we will most likely always will book the savannah view!

 

[com_op_2000]

I am not an AKV owner. I will always choose to stay in a savanna view room, if I get the chance. With a infant DGS, we will be wanting to watch the animals alot at least for the next 15 years. The value rooms are special and I will make us of them at times when I need to save on points.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've taken to book value rooms because they are either very convenient to the pool, or they have a savannah view. This is when I go by myself or with DGFs, usually a studio, 2 studios or a 2 bedroom. With DH,and my extended family, however, I will always book a savannah view. The DGC can't get enough of the animals. When they come, I book Kidani.

However, I have booked my first time ever 1 bedroom standard view in Kidani, because we'll be 3 adults and the extra bathroom just seemed good to have. I actually did have a value 1 bedroom booked for this stay, in January,but the more I thought about it, the more I also wanted the shower stall, not the tub/shower configuration of Jambo. I didn't have enough points to book savannah, so we'll see how it goes! So someone got the value 1 bedroom at less than 7 months if there was a waitlist.

Bobbi

 

[helenk]

So far I have not gotten tired of the savannah view, I enjoy watching the animals. I did have a standard view once when I booked a last minute trip and I was just happy to go to WDW. But I overlooked the parking lot and found that I did not sit out on the balcony near as much as I do when I have a savannah view.
But, time will tell, it could be in the future I may get bored but for now I love the savannah views.

 

[Dean]

I am a satisfied AKV owner and I love my home resort. I have stayed in value, standard and savanna view rooms, from studios to 2BR's and I had a thought...

I'm wondering if the standard rooms will increase in popularity over the years and become harder to book...

Here's my thoughts...

First, I love the savanna view, but after three stays with a savanna view, the novelty of it is already starting to wear off. Around the third morning, I don't get the same "ahhhh" factor as I do on the first two days. I look at the points chart and it is hard for me to justify the additional premium for the savanna view. I know that a lot of people will only stay in a savanna-view villa, but for me, I love just being at the resort. Since we only own 100 points, it is hard for me to justify the savanna view when I can enjoy the view at so many places around the resort.

Second, not that my opinion is representative of any sort of majority, but if the novelty of the savanna view wears off on more and more owners over the next 10-15 years, the demand for standard view may soon outweigh the supply. If this were to happen, would there be a reallocation?

Just looking to start a friendly discussion...

I doubt standard view will ever be difficult but other than value and concierge, AKV hasn't been difficult in general.

 

[drusba]

I also own at AKV, purchased before it opened and have been there several times. I would not stay there without savanna view. I won't even stay concierge because its views are sub-par and you can get pool view. Value rooms are way too small for my liking and you can get stuck with view other than savanna. If the novelty of savanna view would wear off I would just stop staying at AKV. My guess is there are far more like me, that bought there to guarantee savanna view with the intent of always getting it, than those who bought otherwise. Overall, view is very important to me. We don't stay at OKW, VWL or BCV because they have little to offer in view. BLT is somewhat iffy. MK view is good if you have high floor; likewise with many lake views, but there is risk of ending up with not so good views in either of those booking categories. SSR has one fairly good safe bet in that if you ask for Congress Park lake view (one of the best on site), you are usually going to get that request. BWV, where we also own, like AKV, provides certainty, in that you can get boardwalk view which is the best on site.

Also, I doubt whether there will ever be a change in demand that would have any impact on being able to get what you want. Currently savanna and standard view are almost always available at 7 months out except for a risk otherwise the first and second week of Dec and Christmas week (which weeks include time I want at AKV). Though it is true that standard views are only about 15% of all rooms that is still a very large number of rooms considering the size of the resort and thus for most times of year owners from elsewhere will still be able to get standard at 7 months out for a very long time to come. But even so I am guessing that most who come from other resorts are doing so for savanna view.

Your risk at AKV for a point change is not that standard view will rise some day because of increased demand. Your risk is whether the strong demand that already exists and likely will continue for value rooms will result in those being increased somewhat in point cost to be offset by a lowering of standard and savanna view point costs.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We don't own at AKV and we have stayed at AKL in the past before the villas. Both times were savanna view. I can't imagine staying there without getting the savanna view. You might as well stay anywhere as far as I am concerned.

But we still aren't thrilled with the appearance of Kidani Village and I'm not going to book Jambo House without the separate shower (picky, I know). So for now, we're not booking there. Maybe KV is a few years after the landscape matures a bit.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

We don't own at AKV and we have stayed at AKL in the past before the villas. Both times were savanna view. I can't imagine staying there without getting the savanna view. You might as well stay anywhere as far as I am concerned.

But we still aren't thrilled with the appearance of Kidani Village and I'm not going to book Jambo House without the separate shower (picky, I know). So for now, we're not booking there. Maybe KV is a few years after the landscape matures a bit.

And I tended to agree with you. That's exactly what I thought when we bought there before it was even completed. We have sort of mellowed about it now, having stayed savanna view 5-6 times now. Our DD7 loves it but the novelty of it has turned into just that now; a novelty.

The savanna is so readily available from all over the resort, this it now makes the necessity of it out the window to us not nearly as important as it once was. Don't get me wrong, we still stay there and get a savanna view. We did it just this past June, but we won't for our F&G trip.

I disagree with the just stay anywhere to the extent that to us, the standard view rooms are beautiful at Kidani. The relaxed environment of the whole resort actually add to its appeal to us, just like OKW, but with a different feel.

Arguably, at least to us; the standard view rooms at AKK are amongnst the best values in the entire DVC system and really are one of its best kept secrets. I hope it stays that way. It really lets us stretch our points and go more often, without having to give up the ammenities of a first-class resort.

 

[Sammie]

If gas and air fare continues to rise and more continue to loose their jobs, and Disney continues to ignore both and raise their prices for tickets, food, etc. you will have pick and choice of rooms.

 

[kristenrice]

And I tended to agree with you. That's exactly what I thought when we bought there before it was even completed. We have sort of mellowed about it now, having stayed savanna view 5-6 times now. Our DD7 loves it but the novelty of it has turned into just that now; a novelty.

The savanna is so readily available from all over the resort, this it now makes the necessity of it out the window to us not nearly as important as it once was. Don't get me wrong, we still stay there and get a savanna view. We did it just this past June, but we won't for our F&G trip.

I disagree with the just stay anywhere to the extent that to us, the standard view rooms are beautiful at Kidani. The relaxed environment of the whole resort actually add to its appeal to us, just like OKW, but with a different feel.

Arguably, at least to us; the standard view rooms at AKK are amongnst the best values in the entire DVC system and really are one of its best kept secrets. I hope it stays that way. It really lets us stretch our points and go more often, without having to give up the ammenities of a first-class resort.

These are my sentiments exactly. I knew that the standard rooms only accounted for 15% of the rooms, but I forgot to take into account how large the resort is....math has never been my strongest subject.

I know that the value category is getting more and more popular because of the point savings and I agree that those may be eventually adjusted upward. We chose AKV as our home resort, in part, because of those value rooms. They really help us stretch our points. I guess it would not bother me if they raised the values a bit because it means that something else will have to come down. With my luck, it will be the GV's and the concierge category, neither of which we would ever book due to our small contract. We planned on using the value 1BR's but the standards at Kidani Village will be much more appealing once our 2 DD's hit their teens. We'll need that extra bathroom, more than we'd need a view of the savanna.

 

[AirGoofy]

We own at SSR, BLT, & BWV. We stayed at AK Savannah view and it was wonderful. We are normally points cheap, so when we return, we will do value or standard if available. I did want to try concierge level though. As for point reallocation, if they add them to standard then they have to subtract from another. I think it will depend on trends staying at the resorts, kind of like when weekends were a lot higher a few years back.

 

[rentayenta]

We own at SSR and have stayed AKV SV. Our friends booked a Value 2 bedroom and we scored a SV. The SV never got old during the 3 nights and can't imaine it getting old this October during our 5 night stay at Kidani. The SV is a huge perk. We thoroughly enjoyed the mornings and evenings on the balcony, watching the animals, sipping our coffee or wine. At this point we wouldn't stay AKV without the points for a SV.

 

[sweetdana]

If the novelty wears off too many people, point per night will just decrease. and increase the value/standard rooms. 2 or 3 points a night, will balance supply/demand. It will never be the same price, (for sav and stand) but there certainly could be less of a difference.

IMO the values are toooo value. I bet they get a 2 point increase, and views get a 1 point decrease evens everything out. (esp the 1 bedrooms, you can get a 1 bedroom for the price of a stud at almost every other resort.) (Same way tree house villas changed due to always being booked 1st.)

If you don't mind standard and/or value take advantage while you can

 

[Disney Dreams]

We own at AKV. We have no children. We don't see any reason to stay there if one does not get a savannah view. Where else in the world, other than in Africa, can I wake up in the morning, look out the window and see a zebra, a giraffe, or an array of other animals? It's so incredibly special and unique that we can sit in our savannah view room and just watch animals without feeling like we should be off doing something, because we are doing something: animal watching. We LOVE the savannah view and if we decide one day we don't want it, we will stay somewhere else and explore what other resorts have to offer. So far, we have no desire to stay anywhere else.

I mean... savannah views are a waste of points. Don't book them. No need to do so. Ever.

- Dreams

 

[bwang123]

I won't even stay concierge because its views are sub-par and you can get pool view.

I thought all Jambo CL are now savannah views. I've read that several places already.

 

[k3chantal]

I am a satisfied AKV owner and I love my home resort. I have stayed in value, standard and savanna view rooms, from studios to 2BR's and I had a thought...

I'm wondering if the standard rooms will increase in popularity over the years and become harder to book...

Here's my thoughts...

First, I love the savanna view, but after three stays with a savanna view, the novelty of it is already starting to wear off. Around the third morning, I don't get the same "ahhhh" factor as I do on the first two days. I look at the points chart and it is hard for me to justify the additional premium for the savanna view. I know that a lot of people will only stay in a savanna-view villa, but for me, I love just being at the resort. Since we only own 100 points, it is hard for me to justify the savanna view when I can enjoy the view at so many places around the resort.

Second, not that my opinion is representative of any sort of majority, but if the novelty of the savanna view wears off on more and more owners over the next 10-15 years, the demand for standard view may soon outweigh the supply. If this were to happen, would there be a reallocation?

Just looking to start a friendly discussion...

We are AKV owners too but would only stay in a Savanna view villa. For us, waking up in the morning and having a cup of coffee on the balcony is worth every point. That said, we don't go there every year and I could see how if you went there frequently it might get 'old'.

I don't know if there would be a reallocation of points. I don't think it is a crazy idea. They dramatically changed the reallocation when the tree houses were made.

I am worried about AKV to be honest with you. There are a lot of AKL resale on the market. I can't imagine what DVC can do to make it more desirable that would financially make sense. So, the future should be interesting.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I thought all Jambo CL are now savannah views. I've read that several places already.

Not the DVC concierge rooms. 3 of the 2 bedroom lock offs are Savanna view and the other 2 lock offs are pool view.