Kindani vs VGF thoughts?

[Lori Duck]

Hi all! Have a two night stay in 1bd Sav.view at Kindani booked with a GF stndrd view on Waitlist. (Late night arrival with BWV studio booked at beginning). DH, myself, two teen sons. Should we stay with Kindani Savanna and cancel Waitlist? Never been to AKL but know GF Resort well (but not villas). Boys old enough to tour everything without parents and meet us for dinner, pool, etc. Thoughts...?

 

[NickBCV]

Great question. We too were scheduled for an arrival at BWV and then a move to Jambo house.....while searching the resort availability tool, we saw an opening for BLT so we booked that and replaced the BWV with the BLT. We now have a waitlist to replace the Jambo house with BLT (avoid split stay) but we also kind of like the idea of trying an Animal Kingdom resort for the kids (unfortunately they only had standard view when we looked).

Can't go wrong with VGF. That is our home resort and we love it there.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Hi all! Have a two night stay in 1bd Sav.view at Kindani booked with a GF stndrd view on Waitlist. (Late night arrival with BWV studio booked at beginning). DH, myself, two teen sons. Should we stay with Kindani Savanna and cancel Waitlist? Never been to AKL but know GF Resort well (but not villas). Boys old enough to tour everything without parents and meet us for dinner, pool, etc. Thoughts...?

When is your reservation? How many nights? GFV is a small resort. AKV is a very large resort.

 

[kboo]

I love VGF, but I think some of it depends on the parks your kids may want to visit, and what you and DH want to do. Also if you're comparing Kidani 1br v VGF 1br, that is a big difference in points costs. On balance, unless you're planning to go to MK more, or eat at the restaurants at VGF or on the monorail, I'd stay with Kidani.

 

[Lori Duck]

When is your reservation? How many nights? GFV is a small resort. AKV is a very large resort.

Two nights, third week of Jan.

 

[NickBCV]

When is your reservation? How many nights? GFV is a small resort. AKV is a very large resort.

We are going the week of February 12-18th. That last Monday is a holiday and we are finding it impossible to find a room. We lucked into the Jambo house when they made a bunch of rooms available.

 

[kboo]

We are going the week of February 12-18th. That last Monday is a holiday and we are finding it impossible to find a room. We lucked into the Jambo house when they made a bunch of rooms available.

How is your stay split now and how old are your kids? We've managed split stays with a 7yo and almost 3yo, but I want at least 3 nights in each place. Otherwise the split day takes up too much time, imo. Just when you get settled with the kids, it's time to move again.

(Also, I put the more "luxe" stay at the back end. So we will always be at Swolphin first for 3 nights before switching to a 1BR at an MK resort. That's fine by me, since the first 3 nights are always a weekend and don't cost more in Marriott/spg points, but do cost more in DVC points.)

 

[Donna M]

With your boys being older, I'd go with what they want. They may not be traveling with you too much longer.

There is easier access to other resorts and parks from VGF, but AKV is very unique. Our favorite resort is VGF, but we are in our 60s. Your kids may like AKV better.

 

[NickBCV]

How is your stay split now and how old are your kids? We've managed split stays with a 7yo and almost 3yo, but I want at least 3 nights in each place. Otherwise the split day takes up too much time, imo. Just when you get settled with the kids, it's time to move again.

(Also, I put the more "luxe" stay at the back end. So we will always be at Swolphin first for 3 nights before switching to a 1BR at an MK resort. That's fine by me, since the first 3 nights are always a weekend and don't cost more in Marriott/spg points, but do cost more in DVC points.)

We start off at a 1bdrm at BLT then a studio at Jambo House. I totally agree with better accommodations at end but didn’t work out here because there is a lack of availability on the last day we are there due to the holiday. Maybe if waitlists come through but not feeling confident.

 

[kboo]

I meant, how many nights at each? Yeah, that would be tough going from BLT 1br to a Jambo studio. Definitely stalk and keep up hope on your waitlist. We went over President's week 2018 and pieced together a 1BR std little by little at about 4 months out! (the whole week never became available; I made a parallel reservation day by day while keeping our BWV 1br until we had BLT complete) Not sure if that's still possible the way the new ability to modify is now, but good luck anyway.

 

[NickBCV]

I meant, how many nights at each? Yeah, that would be tough going from BLT 1br to a Jambo studio. Definitely stalk and keep up hope on your waitlist. We went over President's week 2018 and pieced together a 1BR std little by little at about 4 months out! (the whole week never became available; I made a parallel reservation day by day while keeping our BWV 1br until we had BLT complete) Not sure if that's still possible the way the new ability to modify is now, but good luck anyway.

Oh sorry. We are three days BLT and three days Jambo. Yes I am stalking everyday multiple times.

 

[VinnieT]

I just stayed in Kindani and had 1 bedroom. I did stay Savanna view and was the best view of all times I stayed there. Since you have standard view there is plenty to see from the lobby and in fact they put a lot of feeders and tons of giraffes hang out there.

 

[Denise W]

It's Kidani, not Kindani!!!
Denise

 

[Bing Showei]

It's Kidani, not Kindani!!!
Denise

I’m pretty sure she means Kin Tan Tee.

 

[VinnieT]

Sorry .. Google spell checker at work

 

[kboo]

Oh sorry. We are three days BLT and three days Jambo. Yes I am stalking everyday multiple times.

Do you have enough points to make a backup res at BLT day by day (or AKV 1br), and cancel if you don't get them all? 3-3 is ok, and I'd rather do that than a 4-2 or 5-1 split stay w Jambo studio. I agree it's tough to go from a 1br to a studio, but 3 days at AKV would be nice, and having the opportunity to not have to pack up again right away would be better than an extra night or 2 at BLT. We just stayed at the Swan in what felt like a very cramped hotel room - the way the doorway was lined up, we had to fold the double stroller every time we were in the room. But realized we weren't in the room all that much for a 4 night stay.

 

[NickBCV]

Do you have enough points to make a backup res at BLT day by day (or AKV 1br), and cancel if you don't get them all? 3-3 is ok, and I'd rather do that than a 4-2 or 5-1 split stay w Jambo studio. I agree it's tough to go from a 1br to a studio, but 3 days at AKV would be nice, and having the opportunity to not have to pack up again right away would be better than an extra night or 2 at BLT. We just stayed at the Swan in what felt like a very cramped hotel room - the way the doorway was lined up, we had to fold the double stroller every time we were in the room. But realized we weren't in the room all that much for a 4 night stay.

Yes I will in a few days once my recently closed VGF contract points are posted. I think that will be the best route and hope and pray my wait lists come through or I just stalk like crazy!

Worst case we are in a standard studio at AKL for three days. Things could be a lot worse. Plus if wait list comes through, I will feel good that someone will get their wait list fulfilled that wants to stay in a studio at AKL that holiday weekend.