Setting my expectations?

[brettcw23]

First off, I go by the motto, Expect the worst, hope for the best

Now, we have been to WDW 3 times since 2007 ...off-site, then Values in 2010(music) and 2011(Sports). Typical studio setup...2 beds in each room.

Now we are DVC members (yay!)

Not sure how many people had any experience with the Value resorts prior to satying at a Deluxe, but I'm hoping that some DISers can elaborate on their experiences.

We are staying at Kidani Village in a 1BR Savannah view. What can I expect to be better about this stay and what might be worse?

 

[Reddog1134]

We stayed in a 1br savanna view at Kidani in Oct 2010 for 10 nights. We didn't have any problems at all.

One difference for you will be only having one "real" bed. A lot of people say the sofa beds are uncomfortable (don't know myself). A possible option may be to have one child sleep on the couch and one sleep in the pull out chair.

 

[TDC Nala]

One beef people appear to have with deluxe resorts, especially the DVC ones, is the lack of counter service dining. You will find that at Kidani, as Kidani has no counter service dining. The closest is over at Jambo House. It doesn't take long to get to, and I believe they now run a shuttle van between the two, but not having a CS in the same building throws some for a loop.

 

[alanapapa]

First off, I go by the motto, Expect the worst, hope for the best

Now, we have been to WDW 3 times since 2007 ...off-site, then Values in 2010(music) and 2011(Sports). Typical studio setup...2 beds in each room.

Now we are DVC members (yay!)

Not sure how many people had any experience with the Value resorts prior to satying at a Deluxe, but I'm hoping that some DISers can elaborate on their experiences.

We are staying at Kidani Village in a 1BR Savannah view. What can I expect to be better about this stay and what might be worse?

As PP said, there is no close counter service, but with a full kitchen, why would you need one. How long of a stay will you have? Will you have a car? Parking is great at Kidani, but walking the halls to catch a Disney bus is not. We did not mind too much last time we were there, but we had a GV to relax in. One of the biggest things most have trouble adjusting to is that there is not daily Mousekeeping. This is something I think is great, I would rather NOT have someone in my room when I am not there.

My two DD's thought the fold out was okay, not quite as comfortable as the bed they had at POFQ. Having the extra bathroom was wonderful. We had one night in a 1 bedroom the night before our friends came down and we moved the GV.

We love it at Kidani and are planning on being there again this Xmas.

Welcome home.

 

[brettcw23]

First off, I go by the motto, Expect the worst, hope for the best

Now, we have been to WDW 3 times since 2007 ...off-site, then Values in 2010(music) and 2011(Sports). Typical studio setup...2 beds in each room.

Now we are DVC members (yay!)

Not sure how many people had any experience with the Value resorts prior to satying at a Deluxe, but I'm hoping that some DISers can elaborate on their experiences.

We are staying at Kidani Village in a 1BR Savannah view. What can I expect to be better about this stay and what might be worse?

The counter service isn't a big deal. I'm more curious about how different the actual room is from a size\amenity perspective.

Although without the counter service stuff available, do they have an option to use the refillable mugs or do you have to get your mug refilled at Jambo?

 

[disneynutz]

The counter service isn't a big deal. I'm more curious about how different the actual room is from a size\amenity perspective.

Although without the counter service stuff available, do they have an option to use the refillable mugs or do you have to get your mug refilled at Jambo?

There is a refill station at Kidani. You won't get daily room cleaning but who cares. The rooms are larger and you really do get a feeling of being home away from home. If you drive, parking is under the resort.

Have a great time.

Bill

 

[CoffeeCup]

We have stayed several times in a 1-bedroom at Jambo House, and we love it. Having a washer and dryer in the unit means you don't need to pack as many clothes. We enjoy having a full kitchen and eat breakfast in the room every morning. It's also great to be able to bring home leftovers or dessert from dinner. You can buy basic things from the giftshop....half gallon of milk, juice, cereal, bread, English muffines, microwave meals, canned soups and vegetables, frozen pizza, sandwich meat and cheese, snack foods, etc. You also can order groceries to be delivered to your villa if you want items not in the giftshop. With 2 children, you probably will appreciate the kitchen even more than DH and I do. The living room is large enough that the children can play and not be under your feet, and the dining room table will give them space to color, play board games, or whatever they like to do. Having 2 TVs, one with a DVD player in the living room, lets you and DH watch what you wish while the children watch DVDS or other programs. There are a lot of activities at the resort, and while I'm not as familiar with Kidani, I know Jambo House, only a short walk away, has night vision goggles to see the animals after dark, stories for kids at the firepit followed by a children's parade through the lobby, flamingo feeding, etc. Both resorts show movies at night by the pool. The lobby at Jambo has a TV that shows cartoons all of the time in an area with comfortable seating.
We like not having housekeeping every day, and you can wash towels if you run out since you will have your own washer and dryer. You also will have a dishwasher, and it's nice to be able to wash cups and glasses even if you don't eat meals in your villa. You can use your refillable mugs at the station in the giftshop and at another by the pool. The pool at Kidani looks great for kids, but we prefer the pool at Jambo House since we don't have children. There is a playground at Jambo House, but I don't know about Kidani. And, of course, there are the animals! You'll have a large balcony with room for all of you to sit outside and watch the animals on the savanna. Set your expectations high for this vacation!

 

[brettcw23]

So far, it sounds great. Having stayed in the values, it really was a basic hotel room with Disney theme and flare of course.

There was hardly any room. the beds were like 15" from each other, one bathroom, no fridge included. It met our expectations and it was exceptionally clean but I'm hoping our DVC expereience won't even compare to our previous stays.

I am indifferent in regards to Mousekeeping. As was pointed out, if we need something, we have a waher\dryer. I am very much looking forward to the big table and the kitchen.

We considered the DVC a ways back as we had a number of family\friends that did but they were quite honestly affluent and it wasn't in our budget at the time (wedding\house\new car\planning a baby!)

So we almost went on the tour in 2010 but ran out of time.

We did the tour in March 2011 and when we saw the rooms on the tour I said to my wife that if I had seen the actual rooms in person, I would have bought into DVC the last trip!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

The privacy is what you'll find to be the biggest difference. That door between the bedroom and the living room will become your best friend. As already mentioned, having the washer and dryer in the room makes a big difference in how much you have to pack. And even if you don't want to cook meals, having the kitchen is a hugh step up.

 

[ldo]

Set your expectations high! AKV is a beautiful resort, with great pools, hot tubs, upscale decor, a gym/spa over at Jambo, and lots of WOW! We stayed 1X at value (mom and the kids free dining trip). Though WDw does a great job for $75 a night at a value, it cannot compare to DVC-AKV. Also, if you have kids, you HAVE to check out the great community hall open all day with Wii,PS3, every pixar, disney game, and coloring, crafts, etc. It's over in Kidani. My kids have stayed there for hours. NEver crowded (and we go at Christmas and Easter). I take coffee and a book and sit on the balcony while they play/craft and watch the animals--one of my favorite things to do--oh, and they have MANY things going on during the day for kids--cookie decorating, making food items for animals, etc. Since we have started staying at AKV, we do not go into the parks every day--too much to do. Have a great trip. Elaine

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

You will not be disappointed! The AKV rooms are so much better appointed than value hotels.

One of the things I loved best personally, because we tend do go for 2 weeks at a time, is the free laundry - its awesome. There is laundry in your room in you are in a 1 or 2 bdrm and there is a shared laundry if you are in a studio.

The drink station at Kidani is in the store, at least that's where it was when I was there last (Xmas 2009)

 

[brettcw23]

As I mentioned my 'low' expectations to my DW, she just said, "It's going to be awesome. We were staying at crap!"

LOL!

So I was looking closer at some of the listed amenities and the camp fire things and night vision sounds really cool, too.

I did request to be close to the lobby b\c of the lengthy halls. I'm cautiously optimistic that the view of the animals will be good. My girls LOVE seeing animals live and are alwasy watching wildlife shows and love going to the Pittsburgh zoo.

 

[Sammie]

What you will miss is a quick service location, Kidani does not have one. Close to the lobby and good animals views are not necessarily the same.

The animals seem to stay away from the lobby due to the public view areas and the noise. I prefer a room about half way down the hall. We find it close enough, quieter and more animals.

The room will be huge compared to a value room. The bathroom is fantastic and you will have two bathrooms. Buses don't seem to come get you at the parks as often as the values especially at closing.

The pros will heavily out weight the cons.

 

[crisi]

We never did values. We found DVC rooms to be less well kept and more worn on average than Deluxe resorts and MOST of the moderates we were in. Often things are broken - notoriously for us, drawers - they'll be off their rails, the rails will be broken, or the pulls will be missing. Once a towel bar. Often light bulbs are burned out or missing (?, where do they go). Sometimes the dishes need to be rewashed, check the coffee cups before you pour your coffee. No daily maid service and no daily refresh of amenities means pack your own shampoo, wash your own towels and make your own bed (if you care)

HOWEVER, that said, a washer and dryer rocks. A door between us and the kids has made vacations oh so much more pleasant (and romantic ). Having the kitchen is great, we make eggs in the morning. And we've never had an unacceptably dirty or broken room, just things like "that lamp doesn't work" or "this drawer is broken" - we live out of suitcases anyway. We've been content, but we've NEVER been wow'd.

We've stayed in other timeshares (not as many as some others here) and DVC is on par with the other timeshares we've stayed in. It isn't the Ritz - or even a Hyatt hotel.

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

We found DVC rooms to be less well kept and more worn on average than Deluxe resorts and MOST of the moderates we were in. Often things are broken - notoriously for us, drawers - they'll be off their rails, the rails will be broken, or the pulls will be missing. Once a towel bar. Often light bulbs are burned out or missing

We must be lucky - we have never had any issues with any of our DVC rooms. Mind you, the fact we have only stayed at SSR and AKV could be part of it.

 

[amypetecar]

Comparing apples to apples, you should be blown away by a 1BR at Kidani vs. a value resort.

Some guests however, are much happier paying $66 per night with a discount at a value resort vs. the premium of paying for points/cash at a deluxe dvc. I, however, am most certainly not one of those people!

My prediction is that staying at Kidani will ruin you (spoil you) from ever staying at a value again

 

[brettcw23]

Comparing apples to apples, you should be blown away by a 1BR at Kidani vs. a value resort.

Some guests however, are much happier paying $66 per night with a discount at a value resort vs. the premium of paying for points/cash at a deluxe dvc. I, however, am most certainly not one of those people!

My prediction is that staying at Kidani will ruin you (spoil you) from ever staying at a value again

I hope you're right!

When we go back in November we are doing it with extended family and we have a 2 BR and a studio at BLT. Just a standard view but looking forward to being so close to MK!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Once I stayed in a one bedroom, I never went back! I like the home away from home a 1 or 2 bedroom offers. Laundry room, kitchen, balcony..... We use it all, it adds to our vacation experience, the resorts have become as important if not more than the parks!

Congrats and enjoy your DVC!

P.S. DVC'er since 2000, I've never had a room that I felt was so tatty or worn out that it made me regret buying into DVC, actually it's been quite the opposite!

 

[com_op_2000]

... a gym/spa over at Jambo...

Kidani has a gym that over looks the pool area.

 

[dgaston]

Ive stayed at Pop 4x, Sports 1x, and plan to visit the coming Art of Animation. In addition to the kitchen, and laundry, and balconies, I love the hot tubs, and pool slides in DVC properties. The food courts at values and moderates are much better than counter service at deluxes. I do love Zebra Domes, and soups from Mara though. Your children will probably love the splash play area at Kidani. And I strongly prefer that slide to the one at Jambo. Remember you can use all the facilities at both Jambo, and Kidani.

It sounds like your family will have a fine trip.