MS Called Me Regarding Kidani Counter Service

[robandkelly13]

I'm going to email now. I really hope they add a quick service; that would be so convenient.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Thank you to all that are writing in. I think BLT may need something more also. Those at the pool will have to go up the elevator to the food court to eat. I can see where this will be an issue also. We like our kitchens, but when at the pool, you really want some counter service options.

We are using the Counter Service DDP and Im glad we are staying at Jambo next month, but we will go over to Kidani for the pool and its kind of sad that we will not be able to use our credits over there for any hot food items.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Wow, I'm so surprised. We thought the SSR counter service was fantastic when we were there last year. I don't think any of us ever noticed that they didn't have burgers! I really enjoyed the daily specials at Artist's Palette. Are they still offering those?

Me too. I was offering up Artist's Pallet as an example of the kind of quick service I'd like to see at more DVC locations.

 

[lisareniff]

Like I said, it's amazing that Disney - known for their expertise in resorts, did not anticipate the need for a CS at a resort as large as Kidani and have it in the building plan.** Now they will have to go back an fit something in like they did with the Marketplace at BC/BCV - which is fine for what it is but it isn't a full CS restaurant. (I only wish that they would make the subs fresh to order, not sitting in the case all day waiting to be cut.)

**Unless they were really forward thinking and have the space planned as a possible CS area.

 

[timandlesley]

Just sent the following:
We recently purchased 160 points to buy in at Kidani Village and overall are excited about the resort and all it has to offer, but there is one glaring thing that has our attention and made me change our reservation from Kiadni to Jambo house: lack of counterservice. Why would DVC build this beautiful resort with every ammenity you could imagine but not allow a single way to get breakfast. As a family of four, (as ANY family I would imagine) we need to eat breakfast before heading to the parks, there is absolutely NO option to do this at Kidani and this makes staying there impossible for us. How sad that we can't stay at the resort we purchased into, that my kids are dying to stay at due to the water play area but we can't due to the lack of breakfast/lunch options at this resort. I was futher saddened to hear that even though the pool bar offers some very basic lunch options they wouldn't even except counterservice credits for these, now that is just ridiculous. I certainly hope that the remaining construction to be done at Kidani will include some sort of a counterservice option that includes breakfast,lunch and dinner grab and go items, then we could truly call Kidani "home".

 

[bicker]

I bet that they did anticipate the demand, and determined that it was not high enough to warrant the cost of building a CS at Kidani. As I mentioned in the other thread, I remember this issue coming up regarding the DVC building at Wilderness Lodge, and to this day our CS option there is still Roaring Forks.

Just because we want something doesn't mean that it makes sense to have it provided to us.

 

[timandlesley]

I bet that they did anticipate the demand, and determined that it was not high enough to warrant the cost of building a CS at Kidani. As I mentioned in the other thread, I remember this issue coming up regarding the DVC building at Wilderness Lodge, and to this day our CS option there is still Roaring Forks.

Just because we want something doesn't mean that it makes sense to have it provided to us.

The only thing with Roaring forks though is that it is a managable walk to Roaring forks from WL DVC, the one from Kidani to Jambo is just so stinkin' long!

 

[lisareniff]

The only thing with Roaring forks though is that it is a managable walk to Roaring forks from WL DVC, the one from Kidani to Jambo is just so stinkin' long!

And Kidani is a MUCH larger resort then VWL.

 

[twinklebug]

And Kidani is a MUCH larger resort then VWL.

Agreed. I don't think the foot traffic at VWL could support it having it's own CS.

Now, that said, and although I feel Kidani needs a good CS offering, WDW's website lists Kidani as having only 492 (I just closed that window... it's around that) rooms. Comparing to the number of rooms available at any of the other resorts DVC or non-DVC on site (from mouseplanet's listing) and if they choose to put in a CS option here, Kidani would have the smallest # of rooms of any on-site resort to have CS. That said, I believe they're counting the 2 br units as only 1 room, whereas in the non-DVC hotels a family of 6 would be renting 2 rooms instead of staying in "one". Make sense?

 

[JasonDVC]

After reading the threads on this subject of CS at Kidani and thinking about it, here is what, to me, may be happening...

Disney has planned all along to add a CS at Kidani. They decided not to open it at the Grand Opening date because the entire resort would not be open thus they could not justify the expense of opening it with the resort only at half (or so) it's capacity (ie. not enough customers). I believe they correctly anticipated that people would complain about the lack of CS and they trained their CM's to say something along the lines of "Thanks for the concern. We'll mention it to the higher ups. We hear you". This way, when they do open the CS, as I believe they planned the whole time, people who complained will feel that their voices were actually heard by Disney. The people will feel good about the whole situation, feel as if they impacted an area of Disney, feel more tattched to it, come more often, spend more money, etc., etc.

Read the posts, read what the CM's have said in their responses to the complaints and that some CM's have said space is set aside for it. Some of your posts express how "happy" you are that they are listening and may open a CS.

Diabolical I know, but genious at the same time.

 

[tjkraz]

And Kidani is a MUCH larger resort then VWL.

But the Wilderness Lodge and Villas combined is over twice as big as Kidani. Plus Kidani has Mara within walking distance and a kitchen or kitchenette in every room.

It will definitely be interesting to see how Disney responds. Absolutely none of this should be taking them by surprise. (They certainly wouldn't have expected comments like "boy am I glad you didn't put a CS restaurant at Kidani!") I'm sure there were specific business reasons for not offering CS.

I wouldn't place much value in comments from DVC satisfaction reps. They don't have decision-making authority. 99% of their job is to give members warm fuzzies.

But there is always hope...

 

[bobrex]

I just fired off a message to add my vote for CS. For some reason, I love the breakfast bounty platter offered at other CS sites. I'd love to not have to hike over to Mara just to eat breakfast.

 

[Dean]

My guess would be it's either a CS OR TS, so to get CS it may require giving up Sanaa. Possibly replacing it with a Pepper Market type of place.

 

[stopher1]

While I won't hold my breath waiting for them add something, I sent in my email too hoping that they do add a CS option at Kidani. I agree that it would be nice to have one "right there", but if they don't, we'll either just be sure to prepare breakfast in the room, or walk over to Mara. But I do hope they add something...

 

[TagsMissy]

I emailed too... figured it couldn't hurt.

 

[3happydancers]

Just sent out an email. Thanks for the address.

Just sent out our email! We are new members and counter service is one thing we truly love having!

 

[GuySmiley]

I will go email also. I'd love to have some CS there, even if its some kind of scaled back version.

 

[bicker]

How much further is Mara from where they would put a CS at Kidani as compared to the distance between where they would put a CS at VWL and Roaring Forks? Are we talking about an extra 50 feet? or an extra half mile?

 

[Dean]

How much further is Mara from where they would put a CS at Kidani as compared to the distance between where they would put a CS at VWL and Roaring Forks? Are we talking about an extra 50 feet? or an extra half mile?

They'd likely have to take up the lounge space, part or all of Sanaa, the quiet lounge by the viewing area, put in in the parking deck, move check in to Jambo or take up part of the lobby combining with the small store area. There is unlikely to be enough traffic to justify a TS and even a scaled back CS option at Kidani. From what I've seen Mara is underutilized also.

 

[photobob]

I wouldn't hold my breath over a having a CS option added. BWV really has no real CS option available which is a concern I've read about here numerous times. There are many dining options close by but other than the pizza window and hot dog cart there isn't really anything there CS wise.

Maybe they'll throw some more food options at the pool bar, but I wouldn't look for much more than that. I could be completely wrong, but that is my best guess.