Just returned from AKV, quick observations

[keishashadow]

Re a long trip starting ending of June for a stay at Tradewinds in treasure island, then up to AKV for normal week long 4th of July trip taking the GD

Highlights, another savannah value room, boma for breakfast, whispering canyon, garden grill and hoop de doo for dinners. All very good food, had excellent servers this go ‘Round too. Welcome to see things improved there.

Rode GoG multiple times, including a double dip on pm extended hours. A bit much for me even on Dramamine but, a smooth ride

Parks were not as crowded as in the past

The main pool at jambo was another story all together. Over the last 10 years or so, have never seen it so busy (starting around 11am well past 5 pm -hours we were there)

We did our summertime schedule of rope drops/pool late AM & back for dinner & more park time

Did speak to many other guests each day poolside. Majority were DVC & doing a non park trip, as they couldn’t purchase APs due to the moratorium. I felt rather guilty after awhile, really felt for their kids

Not sure why I was so surprised how many took the trip with no intention of visiting WDW parks. More than a few were doing SW/aquatica with a slightly smaller number visiting U.

Now, I’m curious if this week was a fluke & how many others are doing the same sort resort only stays

So many guests setting up camp At the pool all day surely did tax the resort facilities. Even at AKJ, where they have so many pool loungers outside main area

I’m 4 x vaxx, masked on plane down and still brought home an unwelcome souvenir; was my family’s only winner.

This after at least 20 trips since this mess started. Was diagnosed the day after We returned home. Finished antivirals and just 1 more day of isolation before I’m freeeeee

Note I did contact the resort once I found out, told all rooms receive a deep clean between guests…not to worry Room Was immaculate as always

Only a DVCer would still deem it a great trip and be eager to return in 11more days.

 

[Sandisw]

Rest up. Thanks for sharing. I had really thought we would see APs back by now and actually surprised we have not.

I never thought about the impact a no park trip could have on the pools but it does make sense.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

I know we are doing more resort days because we got shut out of AP. So I agree, I bet more dvc people are doing more resort stays.

 

[RoseGold]

Wow, taking kids to WDW with no tickets, ouch. I’d just go somewhere else. That totally makes sense though why the pools were so crowded when I went last month. I’d never seen them so crowded. Of course it’s people spacing their tickets or not going at all with the AP mess.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I noticed this too when I stayed at AKV in May. I was at the Kidani pool often and it was INCREDIBLY crowded. It was very difficult to find an empty chair. I had to do a few laps around the pool area before I found one.

One night I was talking to a few people in the hot tub and about half of them were AP holders and the other half were DVC members doing resort only stays. One woman even said she was using her DVC points to stay at AKV but was doing Universal, Seaworld and Legoland only.

My family and I did a resort only stay at WL last year and the pools at Copper Creek and Boulder Ridge were VERY crowded as well. All chairs at Copper Creek were taken by lunch time.

 

[DisneyGal24]

Wow, taking kids to WDW with no tickets, ouch. I’d just go somewhere else. That totally makes sense though why the pools were so crowded when I went last month. I’d never seen them so crowded. Of course it’s people spacing their tickets or not going at all with the AP mess.

Wow, taking kids to WDW with no tickets, ouch. I’d just go somewhere else. That totally makes sense though why the pools were so crowded when I went last month. I’d never seen them so crowded. Of course it’s people spacing their tickets or not going at all with the AP mess.

We had to use our points! We did Vero Beach and then resort only stays in the summer of 2020 and 2021. In 2020, we were at OKW just before the Disney parks reopened. We visited Aquatica. In 2021, we went to Universal. Finally, this summer we returned to WDW parks and had a wonderful time. I am so glad we waited.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Buying regular 9 day non hopper tickets for my family of 7 on our most recent trip (May) was a little under $5000! Got annual passes to Universal for way less then that. Don’t blame families for skipping the parks

 

[kanerf]

My next AKV stay is next May, but I did manage to get 3 nights club level in a one bedroom. I did one more night there in a Savanna view studio. I assume I can still use the club for most of the time I am in the studio. Does anyone now when the bands stop working in the club on your check-out day?

 

[Pens Fan]

Thanks for sharing. I'm not surprised at the folks doing resort only stays. It makes sense. We have two trips coming up in Sept and Dec and are still waiting on AP's. Pretty soon we are going to have to bite the bullet and just buy tickets for the Sep trip, but we will be doing the bare minimum number of days if we can't buy an AP. In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to it. We have a lot of plans to explore the other resorts and check out some of the other things in Orlando. We aren't Universal fans, but there are lots of other things to do. We might even head over to the coast and check out the space center one day.

Coming up, we have also booked 2 weeks at Hilton Head (2 different trips), traded in 200 points through II to book a 2BR villa at a beachfront Marriott resort on HHI that looks amazing, and added in 5 nights at Vero Beach (first trip there, very excited!!). There are lots of ways to use your points without stepping foot in the parks. Still, we look forward to buying AP's, but until then we'll just use our points in a way that doesn't tempt us to spend a fortune on date based tickets.

 

[Disney mac]

My next AKV stay is next May, but I did manage to get 3 nights club level in a one bedroom. I did one more night there in a Savanna view studio. I assume I can still use the club for most of the time I am in the studio. Does anyone now when the bands stop working in the club on your check-out day?

I would guess all day. I am curious what everyone else says. I may call DVC and ask them if no one knows...that is a really good idea for our next trip. Have a good time. Highly recommend the "Jungle Juice".

 

[kittylady1972]

Thanks for the update! We have a trip planned next week for just 4 nights and I was originally going to only do ONE Disney park day with 1 day hoppers, then the Moonlight Magic night at AK and the rest all resort. We ended up getting 2 day hoppers instead, since my son will decided to join us late and he hasn't been in a few years. We did the Hopper+ option though so we can do 2 water park days, which if the pools at our resort match yours (we are at Bay Lake) sounds like that may be preferable.

 

[bobbiwoz]

@keishashadow
DH and I came back from cruise with the unwelcomed souvenir too.

 

[TinkB278]

My next AKV stay is next May, but I did manage to get 3 nights club level in a one bedroom. I did one more night there in a Savanna view studio. I assume I can still use the club for most of the time I am in the studio. Does anyone now when the bands stop working in the club on your check-out day?

I’m pretty sure it ends at check out but I could be wrong.

 

[CarolynFH]

My next AKV stay is next May, but I did manage to get 3 nights club level in a one bedroom. I did one more night there in a Savanna view studio. I assume I can still use the club for most of the time I am in the studio. Does anyone now when the bands stop working in the club on your check-out day?

If no one here is certain, ask on the Club Level thread on the regular Resorts board.

 

[Wolfli]

My next AKV stay is next May, but I did manage to get 3 nights club level in a one bedroom. I did one more night there in a Savanna view studio. I assume I can still use the club for most of the time I am in the studio. Does anyone now when the bands stop working in the club on your check-out day?

I believe Club level access goes all the way to club closing on your check out day. You should be good the whole day.

 

[Ginger03]

My next AKV stay is next May, but I did manage to get 3 nights club level in a one bedroom. I did one more night there in a Savanna view studio. I assume I can still use the club for most of the time I am in the studio. Does anyone now when the bands stop working in the club on your check-out day?

I was told until 10pm the day of checkout. Didn’t test that as I had a evening flight but they were still working at 7 pm.

 

[Parkhopstacker]

Thanks for sharing. I'm not surprised at the folks doing resort only stays. It makes sense. We have two trips coming up in Sept and Dec and are still waiting on AP's. Pretty soon we are going to have to bite the bullet and just buy tickets for the Sep trip, but we will be doing the bare minimum number of days if we can't buy an AP. In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to it. We have a lot of plans to explore the other resorts and check out some of the other things in Orlando. We aren't Universal fans, but there are lots of other things to do. We might even head over to the coast and check out the space center one day.

Coming up, we have also booked 2 weeks at Hilton Head (2 different trips), traded in 200 points through II to book a 2BR villa at a beachfront Marriott resort on HHI that looks amazing, and added in 5 nights at Vero Beach (first trip there, very excited!!). There are lots of ways to use your points without stepping foot in the parks. Still, we look forward to buying AP's, but until then we'll just use our points in a way that doesn't tempt us to spend a fortune on date based tickets.

I can’t recommend the Space Center enough. Especially with the new Building that just opened. Word of advice…. Get there early and plan on being there all day!

Btw, Love non park days to slow things down!

 

[DisneyDiana]

We were also at AKV-Jambo during the week of the 4th. Overall, we had a great time. I do miss APs but we went to the parks with regular tickets since I am not going down there from Jersey and not going to the parks but I can understand those that do. I found the parks to be less crowded than I expected. We always go during the week of the 4th due to school schedules and I felt that the parks were less crowded this year but finding a pool chair inside the gate at Jambo was harder than ever. Now I understand why. Unfortunately, we all also came with the same unwanted souvenir. Started feeling it the first day home so I doubt we got it from the plane...oh, well still planning for next year's trip and looking forward to it.

Edited to add: We stayed Club Level a few years ago and they told us we could use the lounge until midnight of check out day.

 

[keishashadow]

In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to it. We have a lot of plans to explore the other resorts and check out some of the other things in Orlando. We aren't Universal fans, but there are lots of other things to do. We might even head over to the coast and check out the space center one day.

i can see your point. That AP surely does tend to burn a hole in our pockets. We have made a concerted effort to not commando and spent some more quality time in the lovely resorts. Wish, we started that sooner.

Unfortunately, we all also came with the same unwanted souvenir.

uhoh, I’ve been hearing so many reporting this. can’t believe we escaped it when traveling for 2+ years then…big old reality check upside the head.

@keishashadow
DH and I came back from cruise with the unwelcomed souvenir too.

Oh no, hope you are doing well now

 

[Noodlez]

My next AKV stay is next May, but I did manage to get 3 nights club level in a one bedroom. I did one more night there in a Savanna view studio. I assume I can still use the club for most of the time I am in the studio. Does anyone now when the bands stop working in the club on your check-out day?

From what I read previously, you can use it the next day as long as you haven't checked into your next room yet. When you check into the studio it will update your band. I'm not sure if there is a way around this.