***The Official AKV Owners And Lovers Thread***. Come And Chat

[Mom2m&k]

Hey friends!
We have stayed at Kidani many many times but it’s been 3 years since our last trip. We have a dedicated 2bdrm and studio. What coffee makers do they have in the units and what filters do they take? Thank you!

 

[TinkB278]

Hey friends!
We have stayed at Kidani many many times but it’s been 3 years since our last trip. We have a dedicated 2bdrm and studio. What coffee makers do they have in the units and what filters do they take? Thank you!

I’d also like to know the same for Jambo! Checking in tomorrow and I completely forgot about packing coffee filters, I’m so glad you asked!

 

[CarolynFH]

Hey friends!
We have stayed at Kidani many many times but it’s been 3 years since our last trip. We have a dedicated 2bdrm and studio. What coffee makers do they have in the units and what filters do they take? Thank you!

I’d also like to know the same for Jambo! Checking in tomorrow and I completely forgot about packing coffee filters, I’m so glad you asked!

I think they both still have the Mr. Coffee type coffeemakers that take the flat bottom filters. However, the DVC resorts seem to be in transition, with some villas having the dual "drip-plus-Keurig" machines that take the cone shaped filters on the drip side. So we've begun bringing both kinds - fortunately they don't take much space! We bring our own coffee grounds too, because we don't care for the Joffrey's that's provided in the filter packets (that fit any kind of drip coffeemaker!).

 

[sndral]

I’d also like to know the same for Jambo! Checking in tomorrow and I completely forgot about packing coffee filters, I’m so glad you asked!

I took these photos during our stay 12/23
Jambo 1 br.

Jambo studio

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

People make the busses out to be worse than they are IMO. No it isn't as convenient as walking a few minutes from BLT to get to Magic Kingdom, but they're not terrible. They are dedicated busses and stop nowhere but Jambo and Kidani. They come frequently throughout the day, but I can see it being slightly aggrivating if you just miss your bus and have to wait for the next to come. Be sure to check the bus times in the app and make sure you leave your room with plenty of time to make it to the bus stop before your planned departure. I'm definitely in the camp of "just relax and enjoy the ride." If you want to rent a car or Uber to pay a bit of money in order to save a few minutes, that's up to you, but for me personally I don't feel that it's necessary. The first bus out will get you there in plenty of time for rope drop if that's your goal.

If you won't be spending much of any time at the resort, there's not really much materially different between the two. My only caution with three people in a studio is that the pullout bed isn't great for either Kidani or Jambo. I'd rather sleep on the folded up couch than pull out the bed personally.

Buses are a non issue and I clocked the times myself with the phone app. Maybe 11-12 mins to MK. Everything else was less than 10.

Actually took me longer to get to other parks when staying in the MK resort areas due to more traffic around those resorts

One of my favorite parts about this resort is you don’t really see the parking lot area, while waiting for the bus. You still feel enclosed in the resort.

I think wilderness is also like this but so many other deluxe resorts, you basically only have one little area to wait for the bus and lose the immersiveness waiting in a parking lot area lol

 

[TinkB278]

Hi! Getting ready for our first club level stay in a studio. Are we allowed to make room requests for the club level villas? If so, does anyone have any experience on what I should request? Would love at least a partial Savannah view if that’s an option.

 

[MamaKate]

Hi! Getting ready for our first club level stay in a studio. Are we allowed to make room requests for the club level villas? If so, does anyone have any experience on what I should request? Would love at least a partial Savannah view if that’s an option.

I just returned from a stay on Club Level and we had a savannah view, but just be warned that they are not the best views of the savannah. We had a couple ostriches that were always lingering around. Saw a few giraffes and Ankole cattle. There is an overhang from the roof that can block the view a little bit in some of the rooms.

There are 6 rooms on the savannah side and 6 on the pool side. So, you'll have a 50/50 chance. We've stayed on club level 5 times and 4 times we got the savannah side and pool side once.

 

[TinkAgainU]

I apologize for this question in advance - but could not find any points charts which indicated this .... With a family of five - wanting to stay in a Studio with a Savanna View (1 Bedroom is out of the points budget) ... I thought I heard both Jambo and Kidani STUDIOs would have a 5 person setup (but Value Views do not). Can someone confirm (or debunk) this for me, please? Thanks!

 

[MamaKate]

The studios at both Jambo House and Kidani only sleep 4. Values still sleep 4, but are smaller square footage.

 

[SpicyMcHaggis]

I apologize for this question in advance - but could not find any points charts which indicated this .... With a family of five - wanting to stay in a Studio with a Savanna View (1 Bedroom is out of the points budget) ... I thought I saw both Jambo and Kidani STUDIOs would have a 5 person setup (but Value Views do not). Can someone confirm (or debunk) this for me, please? Thanks!

Currently they will sleep 4. There is some speculation that after the refresh due to come next year they may have a 5 person setup with a murphy bed under the TV as well as in place of the current fold-out sofa, but as for now it's just speculation.

As for right now a 1BR is required to sleep 5.

 

[Bearval]

I feel like I hit the lottery, we have a June UY and were able to get a two bedroom value room this morning right at 8am.

 

[drusba]

I apologize for this question in advance - but could not find any points charts which indicated this .... With a family of five - wanting to stay in a Studio with a Savanna View (1 Bedroom is out of the points budget) ... I thought I heard both Jambo and Kidani STUDIOs would have a 5 person setup (but Value Views do not). Can someone confirm (or debunk) this for me, please? Thanks!

At WDW: AKV, BLT, CCV, OKW, and SSR allow 4 (plus a child under three) in the studios. The value room difference at AKV is that the values allow only 4 in a 1BR, while all other 1BRs allow 5 because they have a chair in the living room that pulls out to an almost twin-size bed.

Though some have speculated the AKV studios (other than value) will go to 5 with the next year's refurb, DVC has not mentioned doing such. SSR had a refurb that added a fifth to the one bedroom by adding a pull-out-from-a-cabinet Murphy bed to the living room of the 1BR, but it kept the studios to 4. Poly, VGF and Riviera studios (other than Tower studios which hold 2) have bedding for, and have allowed 5 since they were originally built. BCV, BRV, and BWV studios were converted during their 2016 refurbs by adding a pull-out Murphy bed to change the studio capacity from 4 to 5.

 

[keishashadow]

Back from another lovely, long trip that included OKW, cruise, then AKVJ-Value studio.

We have majority of points @ AKV. One of our favorite home resorts. Had a wonderful time there, just surprised and rather disappointed with housekeeping this go-round.

On a positive note:

the room was ready by 11 am. Didn’t enter it until after 7 pm though as in the parks

Also, had a dead blow dryer, that was replaced with a brand. new one only10 minutes the afternoon I discovered it & called for another. Nice.

I’ve never had any sort of substantial issue with disney housekeeping, from the values up to deluxe resorts.

Have owned a cleaning company in the past. My employees were thorough. I did spot checks to ensure jobs performed properly when I had new hires/clients. Old habits die hard. I always give a cursory glance around the toilet and the sink bowls @ hotels when I check in.

Only the kitchen sink was wiped down after last guests this stay Ew. Wound up using hand sanitizer and paper towels to clean the bathroom sink. Toilet and tub were clean.

Balcony furniture was in odd arrangement, all jumbled onto one side. There were packages of candy & wrappers scattered throughout the balcony floor and was quite sticky as though something spilled or melted. It needed washed down.

figured staff either overlooked it entirely (perhaps in haste to get the room turned) or started the process by moving the furniture but, never finished the job for some reason?

I called housekeeping the first night. balcony was never touched the 5 nights we were there. Well, we did move the chairs into proper seating placement the next day.

Didn’t receive standard towel refill service either. Sigh. Called, none appeared, wound up raiding the pool towels.

Would like to think this was a blip there, perhaps understaffed on busy 4th of July week? Had zero housekeeping issues @ OKW end of June stay or in three other resorts there in April.

Did have the OKW boat launch closed one night to DTD; as they couldn’t get clearance to run for some reason one night, a good hour before stated closing. Didn’t seem about to rain, etc. The captain seemed as confused, as did the guests. We wound up using the bus, no huge issue boarding after the drone show, thankfully.

Appears the room checks were still performed daily at both resorts, saw them numerous times as I had a couple of things to attend to online while on trip. Did mention the AKV balcony issue the couple of times to that individual, to no effect.

I did share this all on the post checkout email. Curious if any others here have experienced any housekeeping issues recently @ AKVJ.

 

[TinkB278]

Back from another lovely, long trip that included OKW, cruise, then AKVJ-Value studio.

We have majority of points @ AKV. One of our favorite home resorts. Had a wonderful time there, just surprised and rather disappointed with housekeeping this go-round.

On a positive note:

the room was ready by 11 am. Didn’t enter it until after 7 pm though as in the parks

Also, had a dead blow dryer, that was replaced with a brand. new one only10 minutes the afternoon I discovered it & called for another. Nice.

I’ve never had any sort of substantial issue with disney housekeeping, from the values up to deluxe resorts.

Have owned a cleaning company in the past. My employees were thorough. I did spot checks to ensure jobs performed properly when I had new hires/clients. Old habits die hard. I always give a cursory glance around the toilet and the sink bowls @ hotels when I check in.

Only the kitchen sink was wiped down after last guests this stay Ew. Wound up using hand sanitizer and paper towels to clean the bathroom sink. Toilet and tub were clean.

Balcony furniture was in odd arrangement, all jumbled onto one side. There were packages of candy & wrappers scattered throughout the balcony floor and was quite sticky as though something spilled or melted. It needed washed down.

figured staff either overlooked it entirely (perhaps in haste to get the room turned) or started the process by moving the furniture but, never finished the job for some reason?

I called housekeeping the first night. balcony was never touched the 5 nights we were there. Well, we did move the chairs into proper seating placement the next day.

Didn’t receive standard towel refill service either. Sigh. Called, none appeared, wound up raiding the pool towels.

Would like to think this was a blip there, perhaps understaffed on busy 4th of July week? Had zero housekeeping issues @ OKW end of June stay or in three other resorts there in April.

Did have the OKW boat launch closed one night to DTD; as they couldn’t get clearance to run for some reason one night, a good hour before stated closing. Didn’t seem about to rain, etc. The captain seemed as confused, as did the guests. We wound up using the bus, no huge issue boarding after the drone show, thankfully.

Appears the room checks were still performed daily at both resorts, saw them numerous times as I had a couple of things to attend to online while on trip. Did mention the AKV balcony issue the couple of times to that individual, to no effect.

I did share this all on the post checkout email. Curious if any others here have experienced any housekeeping issues recently @ AKVJ.

I’m sort of a germaphobe and always wonder if they actually clean the sink areas and bathtubs, especially since my kids sometimes take baths. Is there some sort of trick to being able to tell whether these were actually cleaned?

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

When is Jambo rooms supposed to get Renovated?

 

[SpicyMcHaggis]

When is Jambo rooms supposed to get Renovated?

They haven't announced any official dates apart from saying that they would begin renovations some time next year.

 

[keishashadow]

I’m sort of a germaphobe and always wonder if they actually clean the sink areas and bathtubs, especially since my kids sometimes take baths. Is there some sort of trick to being able to tell whether these were actually cleaned?

Purple light flashlights show body fluids, people & pets. Not sure I’d be brave enough to use in a hotel lol

IMO if it’s a concern, easy enough to bring some Clorox wipes & disposable gloves along to give surfaces a quick once over

 

[Wayland10]

I’m booked at Kidani in a savanna view studio next February, but I have Jambo waitlisted. Is it a better bet to wait for all three nights to fill at once, or to grab each night as it pops up? I don’t want to risk having to move, since this is just a quick weekend trip.

 

[CarolynFH]

I’m booked at Kidani in a savanna view studio next February, but I have Jambo waitlisted. Is it a better bet to wait for all three nights to fill at once, or to grab each night as it pops up? I don’t want to risk having to move, since this is just a quick weekend trip.

A WL is all or nothing. If you grab each night as it pops up, you do run the risk of getting only one or two but not all 3 nights. In that case, if I don’t want to take a chance that I might have to move, I set the WL for all the nights I want and hope for the best. Even though it’s less likely to come through, it guarantees I won’t have to move.

 

[Jack Kerouac]

Purple light flashlights show body fluids, people & pets. Not sure I’d be brave enough to use in a hotel lol

IMO if it’s a concern, easy enough to bring some Clorox wipes & disposable gloves along to give surfaces a quick once over

I always wear a hazmat suit at WDW. For the low cost of $18.99 for a three pack from Amazon, it's actually cheaper than almost any other clothing options. Plus, it works great on Kali River Rapids. Win win.

But to be fair about the purple light, I'm always reminded of The Office episode where Michael and Dwight do the blacklight and there are stains every where in the hotel room. Michael then says he hopes they are urine. Maybe it's better not to know?