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

[Cinderella1122]

Great pics! I hope I get a great view like that when I check into kidani in 18 days!!!

 

[twinklebug]

Donaldis#1 - fantastic shots! I just wish I could blow them up to life size and hop in Enjoy the trip! (psst - I read that the garland is going up on main street now.)

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I'm happy for everyone heading down soon... the parks are beautiful. I'm sure the lobbies of Jambo and Kidani are no exception. If you go, please remember the poor folks at home (hehe) & post pics!

I'm excited for our Feb trip ... only 62 days to go until our Valentine's trip!

I know the CMs don't want to encourage folk to call the amimals by name, but does anyone know the names of the giraffe & zebra? It'd be nice to add them into our conversations here so we can indicate what we've seen them doing. I believe I had heard there is one male giraffe and 5 female, including the 2 youngest. Does this sound right?

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

I sold my AKV contract last month for $78.90 (that is after commission and fees). I have been sick with regrets ever since. Last night after the Holiday Webcast I couldn't hold back, I bought my points back. I paid $95/pt. You do the math. No regrets, its glad to be back home!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[3amigos]

hi everyone,

I was wondering if someone can tell me how to get an AKV signature stamp. We just added on and would like to include it in my signature. Thanks!

 

[franandaj]

Here are some pictures of the Sunset Savanna that I took from my room at Kidani this afternoon.

Awesome pics, what room were you in and was it a Studio, 1 or 2 br? I'm going with my parents in a little over a month and it's their first trip to WDW. I've stayed at the AKL twice both times with great views, but I've heard some nightmare stories here on the DISboards, I really hope we have as good a view as you did! Love the baby giraffe!

 

[franandaj]

Hey lisah - we're not too far behind you... we check in to a 2 br at Kidani in just 55 days! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas at AKV!

Hey! I'd been following you on the GCV owners thread and read about your trip there and enjoyed your posts and pictures when you were at PP and GCV, but I will be even more interested in hearing about your THV and Kidani Trip because we are following you by about 15 or so days.

We have an accessible THV booked for Jan 20-25 and then switch to Kidani, so please post pictures and such! I'll have to figure out where you're posting them on the SSR owners thread first?

I'm so curious about these two resorts and also hopeful that we get a Savannah view with a good view, it's my parents first trip to WDW and want them to have a great experience. I've read some horror stories about AKV where people get crappy rooms and the staff knows they're crappy rooms, I hope we get a great view, I've always had one in the past!

Look forward to your pics and stuff!

 

[wdrl]

I sold my AKV contract last month for $78.90 (that is after commission and fees). I have been sick with regrets ever since. Last night after the Holiday Webcast I couldn't hold back, I bought my points back. I paid $95/pt. You do the math. No regrets, its glad to be back home!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome Back Home. . . not that you ever really left!

 

[angelmav]

Just bought 220 pts after yesterday's webcast! We looked at the mock-ups at SSR in Sep, and I was suprised at how much we liked the AKV better than BLT (I thought location would win out, but the ultra-modern decor really rubbed us wrong as a home resort).

I was also suprised at how they badmouthed their own resort (SSR) of which we were interested (really if they hadnt closed down PI this would have always been our first choice and we would have bought in their last year.)

Anyway, my long winded way of saying hello to the neighbors!

 

[underAchiever]

We're looking forward to our first trip as DVCers coming this February. We own BLT, but chose AKV as our first trip due to AKV's excellent value. I believe the kids (10yo Boy & and 5yo Girl) will absolutely love this resort!

 

[Donald is #1]

Awesome pics, what room were you in and was it a Studio, 1 or 2 br? I'm going with my parents in a little over a month and it's their first trip to WDW. I've stayed at the AKL twice both times with great views, but I've heard some nightmare stories here on the DISboards, I really hope we have as good a view as you did! Love the baby giraffe!

I was in a 1 BR. The room number was 7428. It was between timon and zazu.

 

[stopher1]

Donald is #1 - what beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing. We're getting closer and closer to our split stay, and I'm getting so excited! We'll be checking in to Kidani on 1/14... and I can't wait! These pics were just what I needed to see tonight.

 

[lisah0711]

Just checked into our 2 bedroom lockoff on Zebra Trail -- this is the second part of our trip. We were at VWL for four nights. We love AKL but the folks who had the studio part of our room smoked in it. Mousekeeping has been in with deodorizer so we are hoping that will do the trick. Will go down and talk to the front desk -- whoever was in there should be fined. There are a few maintenance issues in our room, too. Why don't people take care of things?!? Will report those too.

It's still cold at WDW but we've seen lots of animals on the savanna already. The lobby is beautiful with all the Christmas decorations. Will go and hang out there with a drink and enjoy the ambience before dinner at Boma.

DH has told me a dozen times already how much he likes AKV -- I think I see an add on in our future.

We used online checkin and it was a breeze. We asked for Arusha Savanna and were switched by the front desk without asking.

 

[brandip22]

Just wanted to pop in to say Hi! We'll be staying at Kidani for the first time in May in a 1 BR. I am too excited and ready to read everything you guys have written!

 

[stopher1]

We're now just 15 days away from checking in to Kidani Village... I can't wait!!

 

[BigDogHU75]

For those with upcoming trips - safe travels, enjoy, and have fun.

 

[lisah0711]

Happy New Year to all the AKV Owners and Lovers!

 

[kristenrice]

Happy New Year!!!

I just had to check in, now that Christmas is behind us, we have 91 LONG days until we are on our way to Florida!

I am getting excited and nervous. I always get nervous before a trip, but usually the week before, not three months before. This trip is a combination of things that are bringing me a lot of anxiety.

First, we are taking my parents. We've gone with my parents before, as adults, but before we had children. This time, the kids are coming too.

Second, we are driving. We've driven before, as adults, but the kids' three previous trips were all by air. The longest trip they've taken in a car was about 3 hours. We aren't driving straight through and we are planning on stopping every 2-3 hours for breaks, but I really hope the kids can take it.

Third, this will be my parents' first trip to the AKV. The last time they were in WDW was 2001 and we stayed at OKW. Dad loved it so much, that he is now planning on treating the extended family (14 people) to a week's vacation in 2012. With a group that large, with 6 children, I know that AKV-Kidani would be a better choice, but I need to convince dad of that! He is very "if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it" and in his mind, he liked OKW so why consider anywhere else? This trip has to turn him into an AKV-lover.

Anyways....I have been looking at all the AKV pictures from my previous stays, scouring the internet for stuff I haven't seen before, and counting the days until we are back. Pretty soon, I'll be posting that I have to hurry up and pack...and that will probably be about a month before we leave.

 

[twinklebug]

Happy New Years everyone!

Everyone makes new years resolutions to themselves, even if they claim not to, somewhere inside they've told themselves, I'm not going to let that happen next year. So in light of the whole goals and promises bit, and keeping in theme with the AKVs Please remember, it's good to aim high, just please remember to leave yourself a way to get down from such heights without falling on your face.

 

[aubeone]

Now that I see the videos of kidani village I am soooo glad i picked this resort as my home resort.

Where can I find this video??

 

[twinklebug]

... we have 91 LONG days until we are on our way to Florida!... This trip is a combination of things that are bringing me a lot of anxiety.

First, we are taking my parents. We've gone with my parents before, as adults, but before we had children. This time, the kids are coming too.

Second, we are driving. We've driven before, as adults, but the kids' three previous trips were all by air. The longest trip they've taken in a car was about 3 hours. We aren't driving straight through and we are planning on stopping every 2-3 hours for breaks, but I really hope the kids can take it.

Third, this will be my parents' first trip to the AKV. The last time they were in WDW was 2001 and we stayed at OKW. Dad loved it so much, that he is now planning on treating the extended family (14 people) to a week's vacation in 2012. With a group that large, with 6 children, I know that AKV-Kidani would be a better choice, but I need to convince dad of that! He is very "if-it-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it" and in his mind, he liked OKW so why consider anywhere else? This trip has to turn him into an AKV-lover.

Hi Kristen!

If there's anything AKV is good at it's in calming the nerves and taking us out of our stress zones. Picture yourself in a rocker out on the library verandah watching the ostrich strut by and the zebra rolling around... maybe take a glass of wine down there with you

If your father drives I'm sure he'll appreciate the garage. If he liked the space in OKW, I think he'll love Kidani's. To me the rooms feel just as large as OKW, but more resort like. And Kidani doesn't have the same hotel feel Jambo has. When we visit it feels as though the whole building is opened up as an extension of our homes. Not saying we trek around in our PJs, but if others chose to it wouldn't bother me a bit.

I do think location and what you plan on doing makes a big difference in the feel of this resort. For us, my teens love the pool and the activities center, so I request to be near the lobby. The northbeads are closer to the pool and you can go down the backway and not trek through the lobby to get there. The southern beads are closer to the main lodge if you want to walk it.

As each resort has it's own distinct personality, I doubt you'll be able to replace OKW in your dad's heart. But you may be able to open him up to loving new places too.

Good luck!