Kidani concerns!

[kenman]

I am starting to have 2nd thoughts about staying at Kidani village. First I have plae tickets May1-11, and that is opening day. I also have not seen anything on a fireplace or firepit/campfire. We love the fireplace and outside campfire and spend some time around them. I am also concerned about the size of the pool, it seems small from pictures. I am not to sure how the 1st floor under hotel parking is goint to work out, car horns, alarms and smell co2.
I am also think about what people are saying about no counter service dining,no room service. I was wondering if anyone has the same concerns?
THANKS!

 

[twinklebug]

It sounds to me between what you're worrying about here and your comment on CaskBill's photo thread:

Just looking at your pictures again four the 5 time now!
Walmart must have had a great sale on pink paint, I think they used enough to fill 10 swimming pools. I sure hope they are going to paint some designs or something on the hotel because now it looks like a Pink Nightmare!

that you're set on disliking Kidani.

Perhaps you should move your reservation to a resort you know you'll like and visit AKV while on your trip.

 

[Dean]

I think you'll like it, Staying in a brand new place that is complete is very nice even with some kinks that sometimes happen. It's likely to be open and may be open for cash even a couple of weeks early as was VWL and SSR.

 

[kenman]

It sounds to me between what you're worrying about here and your comment on CaskBill's photo thread:


that you're set on disliking it.

Perhaps you should move your reservation to a resort you know you'll like and visit AKV while on your trip.

I guess the thing is we really like the AKL. And I guess I keep comparing kidani to the lodge. It is wrong on my part. And I know it is not finished yet. I just fell it is very expensive at $500.00 a night for savanna view studio. I will have to do wash and a studio don't even have a washer & dryer. But I would love to stay at the new resort and try DVC out before I buy. I would really only by into dvc because of AKLV our fav resort. I just wish we had more info and pictures to go by, I have seen nothing of the pool yet. And you can't go by concept are because they change often. I also didn't see any art for sanaa either. I hate bying into something we might not like.

 

[twinklebug]

I guess the thing is we really like the AKL. And I guess I keep comparing kidani to the lodge. It is wrong on my part. And I know it is not finished yet. I just fell it is very expensive at $500.00 a night for savanna view studio. I will have to do wash and a studio don't even have a washer & dryer. But I would love to stay at the new resort and try DVC out before I buy. I would really only by into dvc because of AKLV our fav resort. I just wish we had more info and pictures to go by, I have seen nothing of the pool yet. And you can't go by concept are because they change often. I also didn't see any art for sanaa either. I hate bying into something we might not like.

$500 per night! ACK! Ok, stop right there.

I'm totally with you... Never buy into anything you don't know if don't know if you'll like it. Smart move to check out DVC first. I rented for a number of years biding my time before buying in and becoming comfortable with the system in the meantime.

However, I think you'll find you can save a few hundred per night by renting points from some of the great people here on the DIS over paying Disney's rack rate (that's nuts!) I wish I had some points to spare for you to rent, but my plans require me to pick up more points than we have - darn disney addiction

 

[twinklebug]

Oh, and to further address some of your concerns... the facilities at Jambo are also open to members staying at Kidani. The two buildings really aren't that far apart and a walk over for the fire pit might be nice in the evening.

We do something similar while staying at VWL, which doesn't have a fire pit. We take the boat to Ft Wilderness and then the internal bus back to the fire pit and movie area to enjoy a quiet evening. It's not right out the door, but the trek there and back is part of the pre & post-show

 

[kenman]

I would love to rent points but I only need like 23 for 2 nights at a standard view studio. Just to try it out. The problem is I can't find anyone to rent me only that many points. They have 100-300 is the common. I just thought I would go through resevations for the 10 nights and fell over when I was given the price $5237.00 and that is only a studio with savanna view!

 

[Buckeye Fan]

$500 per night! ACK! Ok, stop right there.

Totally agree. See if you can get someone to rent you points. I wished I had known about renting prior to buying DVC. Would have saved a boat load of money!!!

As for your research, here's some good info that may help you decide! Best of luck with your decision.

http://allears.net/acc/g_aklv1.htm
http://dvcnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=454&Itemid=202
http://www.intercot.com/resorts/dvc/animalkingdomvillas/default.asp
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/animal-kingdom-villas-jambo/?signUpOverlay=show

 

[lauriegs]

I sent you a private message regarding renting you points!

 

[disneynutz]

I am starting to have 2nd thoughts about staying at Kidani village. First I have plae tickets May1-11, and that is opening day. I also have not seen anything on a fireplace or firepit/campfire. We love the fireplace and outside campfire and spend some time around them. I am also concerned about the size of the pool, it seems small from pictures. I am not to sure how the 1st floor under hotel parking is goint to work out, car horns, alarms and smell co2.
I am also think about what people are saying about no counter service dining,no room service. I was wondering if anyone has the same concerns?
THANKS!

I would never book at a new resort.

Maybe 9 to 12 months after they open but not sooner. I want the construction workers and smell gone, the Cast Members trained, and the flora to fill in a bit.

 

[DebbieB]

I would love to rent points but I only need like 23 for 2 nights at a standard view studio. Just to try it out. The problem is I can't find anyone to rent me only that many points. They have 100-300 is the common. I just thought I would go through resevations for the 10 nights and fell over when I was given the price $5237.00 and that is only a studio with savanna view!

I'm confused. Why don't you rent points for the 10 nights (although at this point it maybe difficult to get a reservation)? For May in a savannah view studio, it's 13 points weeknights and 26 points weekends. So for May 1 to 11, you have 6 weeknights and 4 weekend, so a total of 182 points. At $10 a point, that's $1,820, nowhere near the cash price you are quoting.

 

[Dean]

I'm confused. Why don't you rent points for the 10 nights (although at this point it maybe difficult to get a reservation)? For May in a savannah view studio, it's 13 points weeknights and 26 points weekends. So for May 1 to 11, you have 6 weeknights and 4 weekend, so a total of 182 points. At $10 a point, that's $1,820, nowhere near the cash price you are quoting.

It sounds like they have a cash reservation.

 

[jbrowna]

I guess the thing is we really like the AKL. And I guess I keep comparing kidani to the lodge. It is wrong on my part. And I know it is not finished yet. I just fell it is very expensive at $500.00 a night for savanna view studio. I will have to do wash and a studio don't even have a washer & dryer. But I would love to stay at the new resort and try DVC out before I buy. I would really only by into dvc because of AKLV our fav resort. I just wish we had more info and pictures to go by, I have seen nothing of the pool yet. And you can't go by concept are because they change often. I also didn't see any art for sanaa either. I hate bying into something we might not like.

You don't seem to understand that if you buy into AKLV you will have the 11 month booking window at either Kidani or Jambo. If you always want to stay at the main lodge (Jambo), you probably can (if you book 11 months out). So if you don't ever want to stay at Kidani you won't have to. At the time you make a reservation you can confirm either location. So your concerns about hesitating to buy into AKV because you might not like Kidani don't make any sense -- it's all one DVC resort, and probably the only way to assure you won't ever have to stay at Kidani is to own at AKV so that you can have the 11 month opportunity to confirm at Jambo!

 

[hellerjw]

We purchased shortly after the Jambo House units went on sale because we knew we loved the lodge and having DVC units there was icing on the cake. Then Kidani was announced and we were like "well if we hate it we always have the Jambo House to fall back on". Not that we anticipate disliking Kidani, I have a feeling the extra bathroom in the larger units will become a necessity for us.

Its all the same resort and you can get confirmed reservations at the building of your choice, so if you already love AKL and are looking at joining DVC then you don't lose anything by buying in while Kidani is selling.

One of the main reasons we love AKV so much is the variety of the units available (value, standard, savanna view, concierge and now 2 different buildings to choose from). You can't find that overall combination anywhere else.

 

[AKV707]

I have full faith that Kidani will be an incredible resort. We will be staying in a 2br standard view in June. Can't wait. But wow, that rrac rate! I wonder what our 2 br would go for? To the op, I hope that you can rent the points. But if you are an AKL/AKV fan I think you will like Kidani.

 

[kenman]

I found someone to rent me points there is no studio for may dates. I want to thank all of you who tried to rent me points. Maybe something will open up for my dates in the near future.I do plan on eating at Sanaa on my may trip, I will be able to see the resort just not stay there. If for some reason a studio becomes aval. for one night between May 3-7 let me know so I can rent some points from my new online friend!
THANKS!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I would never book at a new resort.

Maybe 9 to 12 months after they open but not sooner. I want the construction workers and smell gone, the Cast Members trained, and the flora to fill in a bit.

ITA....that's why I'm waiting till Oct. 2010 to stay at Bay Lake Tower.

 

[kenman]

ITA....that's why I'm waiting till Oct. 2010 to stay at Bay Lake Tower.

The animal smell or the contractors smell?

 

[AKV707]

Sorry, didn't mean to post.

 

[kenman]

I have a ? I called disney and they have a studio on May 5 for $506.00 for one night. I was wondering does Disney have so many rooms for cash only or how does that work, I thought all the rooms were vacation club members only. And what happens if no one rents the room throught Disney does the room becoma aval. to members?