I decided to post my AKV stay as a separate thread so it would be easier to find. Plus I figured out how to post my photos
We stayed 1 night at AKV on July 5th in a Savanna View Studio.
Before this stay, we had never laid eye on the place (as Mike Waczowski would say)
( A little Disney laughfloor humor)
I visited the models back in March and we added on but I pretty much wanted to keep the real thing a surprise so we could experience it as a family.
We checked in around 3pm. As we drove up, I realized how far back the property sat. You pretty much cross the freeway and AKL is on the other side. It felt kind of ominous when we passed Sherberth Rd and kept going. The last time I saw Sherberth Rd we were staying OFFSITE!!!
Here's the photo "thru the looking glass" as we arrived................
We arrived at the Guard Shack to a nice Welcome Home...........
A photo of the Port Cochere.........Do they call it that in Africa too?
Dh is country and likes to park his own car, so we got a nice view of the front as we walked up.........(Hey, whatever gets you there we are sooo Green Acres )
AKV has its own Art! ( A little BCV humor
)
Checkin was smooth, but I was distracted by the "nice" man next to me who had the DDP and no clue on how to use it!! They'd been there for a week and everyday he had a bagel w/cream cheese for bfast and could not understand why they took a snack instead of a counter service. He wanted them to use his Counter Service credits for his bagel and was highly upset he was charged otherwise. I would want them to use the snack, but I kept my tongue and tried to focus on my checkin. Im totally nosey though, so I missed any photo ops and my Welcome Home from the CM.
We were assigned to the 5th floor and as we exited the elevator caught our first glimpse of.........Hard Hat Workers! LOL!! I know I know!! This is not a negative TR folks, just having some fun!
Stay with me, it gets better.
Our room number was............
I wanted to get in the room first so I could take pictures, before Dh and the boys trashed it.
The kitchenette...........I really liked the organizers in the fridge and the crisper drawer was a nice touch. So far the best organized little fridge in DVC, although not the biggest. I think VWL studios get the biggest fridge award.
The Bathroom............Another detail is the shower rod bows out. Felt much more roomy and less like being wrapped in plastic.
Funny thing I didnt know........I was told by SSR Mousekeeping that you only get the little bottles of lotion in the Grand Villa (we had a GV and had lotion so I expected it in the 1 bdr and studios too). Sure enough I checked at AKV and BCV and NO LOTION! What's Up with that? Would lotion raise our dues that much
The Double sinks which I really liked...........
The Bed was a little high, it's elevated on a platform but it is very comfortable and Gorgeous! I especially liked the curtain behind the headboard.......
The sofa sleeper is now fabric, which I prefer over the leather that I saw in the models in March. The sleeper is the MFRC (memory foam removable cushion) style that is used at SSR. Funny how these dont come with the laminated instructions like the ones at BCV and BWV. The boys like this style best, although they would really prefer a 2 bedroom which I politely told them they can have WHEN THEY GET A JOB!! (Builds character)
If you look closely, you can see Dh and the boys out on the balcony thru the sheers "hiding"! LOL!.
They dont understand my obsession of taking photos of the room without them in it!
Table and Chairs.......The only thing that did not look "authentic" in the studio was this Mirror. It is authentic to AKL just not to Africa although very nice.........
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.........the boys wanted to climb on in......so if you lose a kid, look here first........also find the ironing board and iron and the extra linens for the pull out along with hair dryer which for some reason is not wall mounted.........Also see the nice storage bench that is normally only found in the 1 bedrooms.............
The awe inspiring LG Flat Panel TV.........Dh and the boys almost forgot they were in a studio!! They wanted to watch Bad Boys II, but I already have II Bad Boys and a Dh so we watched Bridge To Terabithia which was a tear jerker..........(I like to keep it Disney! LOL!) Also, the larger storage doors at the bottom, house the Pak N Play if you need it.........
Our glorious view.......DS10 really enjoyed the animals, they were slow to come out, but it seems like around 6pm they started to move around a little more........That's when they are fed........
We went out around 5pm to visit Mara to get some burgers for dinner and there was a Security Guard posted nearest to the elevator. He was friendly! We brought our food back up and he was still there and around 7pm the youngest Ds (8) and I went down to the pool and he was still there so they must post him there for the evening hours. No podium, just a guard.
NOISE........I definitely heard the saws. It's that high pitched whirring that you would hear if your Dh was in the backyard building a shed........(I told you we were green acres!) It was close and sitting on the balcony enjoying the animals, it was prevalent. Nothing peaceful about it and they are right to warn people because it is not to be ignored, if you are on your balcony before 5pm.
DS10 did not swim with us and he enjoyed the evening activities of watching the animals while the youngest and i checket out the pool and the hot tub.
Chase (8) liked the pool, but the slide was a little too tame for him. That didnt stop him from going down about 6 times! I thought the pool was a nice size and liked the varying depths. Those little bugs were biting and I did feel quite itchy afterwards but next time I will bring my Skin so Soft which I forgot this trip. DS and I also enjoyed the oversize hot tub for a little bit before heading back to the room at dark. The security guard was still there when we got off the elevator, by now, we were old friends! LOL!
We stayed 1 night at AKV on July 5th in a Savanna View Studio.
Before this stay, we had never laid eye on the place (as Mike Waczowski would say)
( A little Disney laughfloor humor)I visited the models back in March and we added on but I pretty much wanted to keep the real thing a surprise so we could experience it as a family.
We checked in around 3pm. As we drove up, I realized how far back the property sat. You pretty much cross the freeway and AKL is on the other side. It felt kind of ominous when we passed Sherberth Rd and kept going. The last time I saw Sherberth Rd we were staying OFFSITE!!!
Here's the photo "thru the looking glass" as we arrived................
We arrived at the Guard Shack to a nice Welcome Home...........
A photo of the Port Cochere.........Do they call it that in Africa too?
Dh is country and likes to park his own car, so we got a nice view of the front as we walked up.........(Hey, whatever gets you there we are sooo Green Acres
)
AKV has its own Art! ( A little BCV humor
)
Checkin was smooth, but I was distracted by the "nice" man next to me who had the DDP and no clue on how to use it!! They'd been there for a week and everyday he had a bagel w/cream cheese for bfast and could not understand why they took a snack instead of a counter service. He wanted them to use his Counter Service credits for his bagel and was highly upset he was charged otherwise. I would want them to use the snack, but I kept my tongue and tried to focus on my checkin. Im totally nosey though, so I missed any photo ops and my Welcome Home from the CM.
We were assigned to the 5th floor and as we exited the elevator caught our first glimpse of.........Hard Hat Workers! LOL!! I know I know!! This is not a negative TR folks, just having some fun!
Stay with me, it gets better.Our room number was............
I wanted to get in the room first so I could take pictures, before Dh and the boys trashed it.
The kitchenette...........I really liked the organizers in the fridge and the crisper drawer was a nice touch. So far the best organized little fridge in DVC, although not the biggest. I think VWL studios get the biggest fridge award.
The Bathroom............Another detail is the shower rod bows out. Felt much more roomy and less like being wrapped in plastic.
Funny thing I didnt know........I was told by SSR Mousekeeping that you only get the little bottles of lotion in the Grand Villa (we had a GV and had lotion so I expected it in the 1 bdr and studios too). Sure enough I checked at AKV and BCV and NO LOTION! What's Up with that? Would lotion raise our dues that much
The Double sinks which I really liked...........
The Bed was a little high, it's elevated on a platform but it is very comfortable and Gorgeous! I especially liked the curtain behind the headboard.......
The sofa sleeper is now fabric, which I prefer over the leather that I saw in the models in March. The sleeper is the MFRC (memory foam removable cushion) style that is used at SSR. Funny how these dont come with the laminated instructions like the ones at BCV and BWV. The boys like this style best, although they would really prefer a 2 bedroom which I politely told them they can have WHEN THEY GET A JOB!! (Builds character)
If you look closely, you can see Dh and the boys out on the balcony thru the sheers "hiding"! LOL!.
They dont understand my obsession of taking photos of the room without them in it!
Table and Chairs.......The only thing that did not look "authentic" in the studio was this Mirror. It is authentic to AKL just not to Africa although very nice.........
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.........the boys wanted to climb on in......so if you lose a kid, look here first........also find the ironing board and iron and the extra linens for the pull out along with hair dryer which for some reason is not wall mounted.........Also see the nice storage bench that is normally only found in the 1 bedrooms.............
The awe inspiring LG Flat Panel TV.........Dh and the boys almost forgot they were in a studio!! They wanted to watch Bad Boys II, but I already have II Bad Boys and a Dh so we watched Bridge To Terabithia which was a tear jerker..........(I like to keep it Disney! LOL!) Also, the larger storage doors at the bottom, house the Pak N Play if you need it.........
Our glorious view.......DS10 really enjoyed the animals, they were slow to come out, but it seems like around 6pm they started to move around a little more........That's when they are fed........
We went out around 5pm to visit Mara to get some burgers for dinner and there was a Security Guard posted nearest to the elevator. He was friendly! We brought our food back up and he was still there and around 7pm the youngest Ds (8) and I went down to the pool and he was still there so they must post him there for the evening hours. No podium, just a guard.
NOISE........I definitely heard the saws. It's that high pitched whirring that you would hear if your Dh was in the backyard building a shed........(I told you we were green acres!) It was close and sitting on the balcony enjoying the animals, it was prevalent. Nothing peaceful about it and they are right to warn people because it is not to be ignored, if you are on your balcony before 5pm.
DS10 did not swim with us and he enjoyed the evening activities of watching the animals while the youngest and i checket out the pool and the hot tub.
Chase (8) liked the pool, but the slide was a little too tame for him. That didnt stop him from going down about 6 times! I thought the pool was a nice size and liked the varying depths. Those little bugs were biting and I did feel quite itchy afterwards but next time I will bring my Skin so Soft which I forgot this trip. DS and I also enjoyed the oversize hot tub for a little bit before heading back to the room at dark. The security guard was still there when we got off the elevator, by now, we were old friends! LOL!
They totally indulge me though, I guess they've just learned to go with it
