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

[ead79]

What do you recommend for your first stay at AKL? We booked Jambo for 7 nights Savannah studio but am now thinking since I saw those nice pool views should we save the points and stay standard view? Are those usually closer to the lobby since they overlook the pool?
Lesley

It's just my own opinion, but I would definitely stick with the savannah view. To me, watching the animals from your balcony is a really special part of the experience of staying at AKV. The pool views are nice, but nothing beats seeing animals right outside your balcony in my opinion. As far as being closer to the lobby in a pool view room, it would depend on where your savannah view room is located. Some of them would be just as close, but others would be further from the lobby. The plus side of the further away rooms is that they sometimes have some of the neatest views of the savannah.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

We purchased our first DVC points last week for AKV. Can't wait to book our first trip. Not sure when we will be able to take our frist trip.

We will be staying at the Ft Wilderness campground next February and hope to tour AKV then.

Enjoyed looking at all the pictures.

Just curious why you are not using your developer points in February, remember they expire if not used. I added on last week and now I have to figure out what to do with the developer points that I received. P.S. I am assuming that you got developer points.

 

[reneritch]

Just curious why you are not using your developer points in February, remember they expire if not used. I added on last week and now I have to figure out what to do with the developer points that I received. P.S. I am assuming that you got developer points.

Yes, we did receive 320 developer points. We were told the developer points could only be used at SSR or Disney Cruise Line.

Hopefully, we are going to use the developer points for a cruise, just have to figure when we can take off from work. We already have two vacations booked for Ft Wilderness for 2009. Still need to use our MH, also.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

Yes, we did receive 320 developer points. We were told the developer points could only be used at SSR or Disney Cruise Line.

Hopefully, we are going to use the developer points for a cruise, just have to figure when we can take off from work. We already have two vacations booked for Ft Wilderness for 2009. Still need to use our MH, also.

Just remember that they do expire in one year.

 

[Monorail Purple&Gold]

What do you recommend for your first stay at AKL? We booked Jambo for 7 nights Savannah studio but am now thinking since I saw those nice pool views should we save the points and stay standard view? Are those usually closer to the lobby since they overlook the pool?
Lesley

We just returned from a split stay, including 2 nights in a 1BR at AKV...we loved it!

We had a standard view with a beautiful pool view...we changed from a SV next July to a Standard view not only for the sake of points, but because we loved our room/view so much this trip! I'd post a view from our balcony but don't have power at home, so can't upload photos yet, plus I'm at work now and can't here. Sorry.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

I read a post to day from someone stating that only part of KIDANI is opening in MAY. The rest of the resort is opening in SEP 2009. To quote them: "only part of Kidani opens May, 2009. From the Lobby - south will be open as will the pool. The northern wing and rainforest savannah will not open until September, 2009." Has anyone else heard of this?

 

[reneritch]

Just remember that they do expire in one year.

DH is trying to figure all the possibilities. We booked a cruise for Dec 09 while on the Magic last week. Thinking either to use the developer points for that cruise or maybe booking a new cruise for around May 2009 and use then.

The CM stated as long as we book within 1 year we could take the cruise by Sept 2010.

 

[Donald is #1]

I read a post to day from someone stating that only part of KIDANI is opening in MAY. The rest of the resort is opening in SEP 2009. To quote them: "only part of Kidani opens May, 2009. From the Lobby - south will be open as will the pool. The northern wing and rainforest savannah will not open until September, 2009." Has anyone else heard of this?

I have not heard this but I wouldn't be surprised. When Jambo house opened, it opened in segments. My orginal purchase in May 2007 had a unit that was opening in August. However for my add-on in July 2007, the unit was not going to be open until September or October.

 

[LisaS]

I read a post to day from someone stating that only part of KIDANI is opening in MAY. The rest of the resort is opening in SEP 2009. To quote them: "only part of Kidani opens May, 2009. From the Lobby - south will be open as will the pool. The northern wing and rainforest savannah will not open until September, 2009." Has anyone else heard of this?

It was posted on the member's website back in July in the news article about having okapi on the new Pembe Savanna. I looked on the member's website earlier today and that news article is no longer there.

They weren't specific about which part of Kidani was in Phase 2 but if you look at the thread tracking the declared Units, you can make a good guess. The part of Kidani that is furthest from Jambo House has no Units declared while the rest of the building has all of the first floor and much of the second floor already declared.

 

[hellerjw]

We just did a 200 pt add-on at AKV (our home resort) - WooooHooo!

I had a fever and the only prescription was more points

The current incentives were too tempting for us. We have already booked the 200 developer points for a 2BR stay at SSR in October and the $1000 gift card will come in very handy for our trip in June 2009.

I think we finally have enough points to give us 2 trips a year and the added flexibility will allow us to move up to larger accomodations (2BR & GV) or use some for costlier things (concierge, cruises, II trades, etc).

It was either more points or a boat and The Mouse won out!

 

[LauraLap]

Disney passed ROFR, so we are almost officially AKV owners. Can't wait to be part of this cool crowd

 

[LauraLap]

We just did a 200 pt add-on at AKV (our home resort) - WooooHooo!

I had a fever and the only prescription was more points

The current incentives were too tempting for us. We have already booked the 200 developer points for a 2BR stay at SSR in October and the $1000 gift card will come in very handy for our trip in June 2009.

I think we finally have enough points to give us 2 trips a year and the added flexibility will allow us to move up to larger accomodations (2BR & GV) or use some for costlier things (concierge, cruises, II trades, etc).

It was either more points or a boat and The Mouse won out!

Congrats!! It was a hard decision for me to skip out on the offer, but for us, I went with the lower price in lieu of the developer points. Either way, I'm very excited

 

[LauraLap]

I'm so surprised to hear that some people have no interest in AKV. Seriously, it boggles my mind.

 

[AKV707]

I'm so surprised to hear that some people have no interest in AKV. Seriously, it boggles my mind.

While I love AKV, I can say that there is no resort that is for everyone. That is why it is good that we have options. I also think that many people will come to like AKV once it is complete, with all savannas open and all of the new Kidani features complete.

 

[KPH500]

I'm soooooooo glad I found this thread! We bought into AKV last month sight unseen. We walked through the models at SSR and instantly fell in love. Our first trip home is looking like it won't be until summer '10 (it hurts to even look at that)! Using dev pts at SSR summer '09. Haven't yet convinced hubby that a second trip in '09 is a good idea, still working on it.

Reading through the posts here has been awesome though. Little bit of home away from home. THANKS!

 

[DVC Mike]

I'm so surprised to hear that some people have no interest in AKV. Seriously, it boggles my mind.

Everyone has different taste. I am boggled by the people who say they love SSR. While it certainly has an elegant and sophisticated decor, the themeing is just too subdued for me. Give me AKV and VWL!

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I'm so surprised to hear that some people have no interest in AKV. Seriously, it boggles my mind.

Different strokes for different folks. Honestly though...its fine by me...means less people and maybe easier reservations to go "home".

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

Just booked 5 nights at a KIDANI savanah view 1 bedroom for AUG 13, 2009. It seems so long away, but we cant wait!!!!

 

[gkrykewy]

Just filled out a Disney survey for our recent AKV stay - received a postcard in the mail. Generally VERY favorable, but I made sure to point out the cluelessness at the check-in desk on DVC room-type nuances (with the main point of confusion being that they thought Value rooms were always standard view).

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

I have heard alot about AKV concierge. I am not totaly sure what you get for your points. Does anyone have a link to where I can find the concierge offerings. TYIA