Question about AKL Studios - Value vs Standard

[daisygirl902]

Has anyone stayed in both? I am considering switching my original plan (which seems to change daily) for the 3 days after my honeymoon cruise next year from a studio at BLT to either a value or standard Studio at AKL. Anyone stayed at both the value and standard Studios that can offer opinions?

I would like to try a variety on our first trip Home since buying DVC...We are doing a week at BWV for sure, 2 days at BLT in a 1 bdrm for the night before and night after the wedding...and the last 3 days have yet to be decided (as I said WAS planning to stay in a S view Studio at BLT but changing my mind at least once a day)....any assistance would be great!

 

[dairyqueenmom]

We have stayed in both Standard and Value in Jambo House. They are three feet shorter in length. It was fine for two adults. I shared the room with my sister so we did have the pull out couch out and there is no place to put the coffee table except in the hall by the door. The cushions we stacked on top of the tv cabinet. The great thing about the Value is you have a chance of Savannah view. In January we were lucky to get it and in August we didn't. I think the savings are worth it and the chance of getting a Savannah view is awesome.

 

[kristenrice]

We've stayed in both as a party of 4, 2 adults and 2 children under 5.

We were in the value studio for just one night which was perfect because we did not need to unpack. I would probably not put our family of 4 in a value studio for more than 2 nights. We had 2 strollers, a car seat and 2 suitcases (along with our carryon luggage) so we weren't exactly travelling light. We had to store the car seat and the strollers in the vanity area at night so we had room for all the pillows and furniture. It was fine for us because we knew we were moving into a value 1BR the next day and we didn't need to "settle in".

The standard studio we stayed in (it was actually a savanna-view studio, but same size) was noticably bigger. We stayed 6 nights on that trip and it led me into a grand predicament.... I love the 1BR's with the kitchen and laundry in the unit, but the studio was half the points and I had no complaints at all. So, now...do we go more often in the studio? Or take fewer trips and use the 1BR? My new "plan" is to start our trip in a studio for at least the first night (we always arrive around 4pm) and then move to a 1BR after that. This way, we still get the laundry and kitchen but we can save a few points. Switching at AKV is so easy. DH dropped our luggage off at Bell Services and I checked in to our new room before leaving for the park. Then, when we returned in the evening, we retrieved our luggage and moved into our new room. It couldn't have been easier. On top of that, since it was two separate reservations, we were able to add a dining plan to only our studio stay.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've stayed in a standard view studio, then a value view studio in the same trip, 3 nights standard, then value for the weekend to try it out and compare for myself. Yes, the value was smaller and I had the same view category for both-pool, but I liked the value's pool view better. I thought the value was a better use of points, but maybe being solo, the size difference didn't bother me as much as it might a family of 4.

 

[daisygirl902]

Thanks for the awesome advice!! Looks like for just the 2 of us for a short trip a Value would suit just fine, and that way we may be able to add on an additonal night at the beginning of our trip as we are saving points by not staying at BLT! I love the advice I get on these boards!

 

[kristenrice]

Thanks for the awesome advice!! Looks like for just the 2 of us for a short trip a Value would suit just fine, and that way we may be able to add on an additonal night at the beginning of our trip as we are saving points by not staying at BLT! I love the advice I get on these boards!

I would suggest putting in a request for a "dedicated" value studio. They do not connect to a 1BR and none of them have a parking lot view. There are only 2 value studios that view the parking lot and they are both locked-off to a 1BR. The rest of them have a pool or a savanna view.

 

[DenLo]

We have stayed in both Standard and Value in Jambo House. They are three feet shorter in length. .... I think the savings are worth it and the chance of getting a Savannah view is awesome.

AKV - Jambo House: 316 (value) 365 sq. ft. (reg.)

Kidani Village: 366 sq. ft.

Value rooms are 3 feet shorter which comes out to 30 sq. ft. smaller. The studios at Kidani are the largest (by a foot)

But like dairyqueenmom says the point savings might allow you to stretch your points to get a savanna view.