OKW or AKV Kidani?

[Lexxiefern]

My sister and I decided to add on 2 nights Thanksgiving week. We waitlisted for OKW and AKV Kidani 1 bedrooms. OKW just came in. Should we stay at OKW or stay on the waitlist for Kidani? We each have a 1 bedroom booked at OKW and we are both WL for Kidani.

I have stayed at OKW in a studio about 7 years ago. I have also stayed at AKV but in Jambo, not Kidani.

My sister has not stayed at either one.

Oh and this is a no parks trip since my sis does not have tickets.

Thanks for your opinion!!

 

[adminjedi]

You can take the OKW room and continue to waitlist for AKV.
I have not stayed at OKW yet, but I think AKV is a very unique and wonderful experience. It transcends any other hotel stay because of the savannahs. No matter which hotel, I suggest you spend some time walking the Boardwalk, and beaches on Crescent Lake. There is also DTD. You could take the monorail and visit the hotels. So much to do even without the parks! Have a great trip!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Yes that is what I did. But I am wondering if we should just stick with OKW or should we try for Kidani.

The tough thing is that we each have a 1 bedroom booked at OKW. So we are each on the WL for Kidani. So we risk only one of us getting Kidani.

 

[adminjedi]

Yes that is what I did. But I am wondering if we should just stick with OKW or should we try for Kidani.

The tough thing is that we each have a 1 bedroom booked at OKW. So we are each on the WL for Kidani. So we risk only one of us getting Kidani.

Maybe you should get a 2 bedroom. Would that work for the group size?

 

[Lexxiefern]

Maybe you should get a 2 bedroom. Would that work for the group size?

There would be 9 of us so technically I guess it could work. But it is Thanksgiving week so I think we might have a better chance of 1 bedrooms coming in? Not sure tho.

 

[spiceycat]

go with OKW - it has bigger rooms.

okay it is not brand new - but if you get a rehab room it feel new.

like it because it has more pools.

 

[Granny]

There would be 9 of us

The extra bathroom at Kidani would be very welcome with 4-5 people in a 1BR, but I think I'd stick with OKW and the larger overall space. Plus as you indicate, you might end up with one of you at each location and those resorts are nowhere near each other. Voted for OKW.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Because of "no parks" I would stay with OKW. You can bike ride, take a boat ride, and even go over to AKV Jambo or Kidani for an afternoon to see the animals, and if there are children, the CM's there interact with children in a very special way. We stayed at BLT in January, and took Disney transportation over to AKV/Kidani, where the CM's really showed DGS, who was 6 at the time, how to play African board games, and played with him until he really understood and could beat us, me and his DM!

I would also go over to WL area, rent bikes there and head off to FW to see how the campers decorate for Christmas/Thanksgiving. I think it would be easier to get to the other areas from OKW via DTD.

Bobbi

 

[DenLo]

My first instinct was to saw go with the WL for Kidani as you'll get an extra bathroom and since it's a no parks trip for sis, she'll have time to see the animals. Then I thought, what happens if only one of you has the WL come through? Is it okay to be at different resorts?

So if it's important that you both be at the same resort, drop the WL's and stay with OKW.

If it's okay to be at separate resorts, then stick with the WL.

 

[Lexxiefern]

We would prefer to be at the same resort. We will have 5 children between the 2 of us so pool is important (I have been to both pools though and like the slides at both!) and activities for kids.

I think we have enough time and Kidani is big enough that both of our WLs will come in. But it would stink if only one did. We will be moving on to Vero Beach for 5 nights after, so we will definitely be together then.

Oh I am so undecided!!!

 

[JimC]

AKV is such a unique resort you should try it if possible. Take the OKW and keep a wait list for AKV.

 

[DizGirl20]

AKV is such a unique resort you should try it if possible. Take the OKW and keep a wait list for AKV.

Ditto!

 

[eporter66]

We usually play it safe with bookings, and since you have OKW that makes it easy.

But, we fell in love with Kidani on our last trip, and we are staying again this October. Different strokes for different folks, but we love AKV, and personally I like it better than OKW

 

[charight]

Last year I booked four studio rooms at OKW and waitlisted at the Boardwalk at the same time. I had very similar fears that we might get split up if the waitlist came through. However, I made a request to Member Services to move all of us or none of us which you should be able to do as well. The problem was though...that the chances of four studio rooms becoming available at the same time were very slim.

It turns out we had a great time OKW and everyone loved it so it all worked out!

 

[ercrbc]

I just got back from 6 nights at OKW. LOVE LOVE LOVED it. We stayed in a 1BR value at AKV last year and spent an afternoon at the Kidani pool. Lots of fun, we will definitely stay there at some point. But if you are not going to the parks I would say OKW absolutely. My favorite day this week was the day we didn't go to a park! It is an awesome resort. There is a ton to do, the pool is great, you are a boat ride away from DTD and SSR is a quick hop away if you want to spend an afternoon at that pool!

This thread has a lot of pics of OKW from our trip:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2549077

I have pics of the community hall as well if you want to see them. We went there a couple nights and the kids loved it. So my vote is OKW!

 

[Lexxiefern]

Thanks to all who have voted. I have been looking at pics of OKW and am very excited to stay there. We are still on the WL for AKV, still debating on whether or not to cancel that...

 

[stefsko]

great advice... thanks

 

[FindTheMickeys]

Funny... I am the only one to vote for somewhere else. I would stay at SSR, but that is my home resort and I love it Where ever you stay will be wonderful because you will be in the World!!

 

[mybabesuz]

I would say to stay at AKV, but I think I would be more worried about getting stuck at two different resorts.
Especially if this is a no park visit, I think I would want to be at the same resort.

 

[Candy Orlando]

If you stay at OKW you can take a boat to DTD and get a bus to all of the resorts. I love Beaches and Cream at the Beach Club. The bikes at the Boardwalk are fun to ride around the lake. The Wilderness Lodge is warm and inviting at that time of year. The Grand Floridian has a Ginger Bread House up for Christmas. All the resorts are decorated for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. OKW has a lot of things for the children to do, like basketball and volleyball. They have a campfire with smores and pool games with prizes. You'll have a lot of fun at OKW.