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

[kristenrice]

I have a question about the occupancy at AKL. The value 2 bedroom says it sleeps 8, but is this a situation where like some places say they sleep 4 but 5 can be in the room (you provide your own linens for the 5th) or is it only for 8? We may travel with friends and there will be 4 adults and 5 kids, so the value would save points, but if we can't fit then I know ahead of time.

Unfortunately, no...the value category is STRICT about the occupancy. The studios and 1BR's are 4 + 1 under 3 and the 2BR's are 8 + 1 under 3. They will not allow 5 names on the reservation unless one is under 3. That means no MB, no DME and no EMH for anyone not listed.

Besides, 4 adults and 5 kids in a value 2BR would be miserable! Unless you can fit all of your belongings in a bag no bigger than a purse, you won't have room for luggage! There are so many couch cushions and pillows in those rooms and limited storage space. DH and I stayed in a value studio. We each had a backpack and then we had a rolling carry on and a rolling duffel bag. We had to keep the luggage (2 bags!) under the bathroom sink because there was simply no room for it...and we never had to open the sleeper sofa.

 

[cantoine]

Just got back from a week stay. 4 nights were at BLT. My DH wanted to try a DVC resort before making the decision to buy. We learned 2 things: 1. We loved DVC and the space the units provided. 2. We hated BLT!!!!! However, we met with a DVC sales guy while we were there and decided to buy at AKL. Super excited!!!!!! We will be returning in May 2015 to celebrate my graduation from Graduate school. We are at the 11 month mark at this time and we had a few questions before we booked:

1. Where are the club level rooms located?

2.What type of view do they offer?

3. We have 4 children ages 1-8, which area of the resort is better for us to stay?

Thanks for any help!!!!

 

[twinklebug]

Just got back from a week stay. 4 nights were at BLT. My DH wanted to try a DVC resort before making the decision to buy. We learned 2 things: 1. We loved DVC and the space the units provided. 2. We hated BLT!!!!! However, we met with a DVC sales guy while we were there and decided to buy at AKL. Super excited!!!!!! We will be returning in May 2015 to celebrate my graduation from Graduate school. We are at the 11 month mark at this time and we had a few questions before we booked:

1. Where are the club level rooms located? DVC Club level rooms are top floor of Jambo, along both sides of the lobby.

2.What type of view do they offer? I've heard the views are of the pool or the savanna area where very few animals wander down to, neither of which are spectacular. Mostly, folks agree, you stay Concierge for the service, not the views

3. We have 4 children ages 1-8, which area of the resort is better for us to stay? No question in my mind: Kidani is better with 4 younger kids. You'll get more space in your room, an extra bathroom and the best water playground on property (my personal opinion of course)

Thanks for any help!!!!

Congrats and Welcome Home!!!

See above for my answers, others, please chime in as the more info they have, the better

 

[drusba]

Just got back from a week stay. 4 nights were at BLT. My DH wanted to try a DVC resort before making the decision to buy. We learned 2 things: 1. We loved DVC and the space the units provided. 2. We hated BLT!!!!! However, we met with a DVC sales guy while we were there and decided to buy at AKL. Super excited!!!!!! We will be returning in May 2015 to celebrate my graduation from Graduate school. We are at the 11 month mark at this time and we had a few questions before we booked:

1. Where are the club level rooms located?

2.What type of view do they offer?

3. We have 4 children ages 1-8, which area of the resort is better for us to stay?

Thanks for any help!!!!

First a word of warning that may mean you should cancel your sale. if you bought so you could usually get club level at AKV you are going to be extremely disappointed. There are only 5 2BR lockoffs (connecting studios and 1BRs) that are club level. All are on the 6th floor directly above the Jambo lobby; that is the only area at AKL where there is a sixth floor; otherwise the highest floor is the fifth. AKV owners can reserve beginning 11 months out from date of arrival and can reserve up to 7 nights. As a result of that what has happened is that club level, particularly for a studio or 2BR, is very often already filled when you go online to book at 11 months out because those who arrive shortly before your desired arrival date have already filled the rooms for your arrival date and some days after. That is a problem that exists year round for club level. Thus, if getting club level all the time is what you expected, cancel your sale immediately.

As to views, the club level rooms are mediocre. Two of the 2BRs face the pool; the other three, which include an HA room, face the very southern part of the Sunset savanna and have overhangs that partially block the view. if you want concierge services and the club level lounge, get club level. If you want good views opt instead for savanna view rooms.

As to area for a family of 6 like yours, you first have the choice between Jambo and Kidani. Jambo's advantages: much larger lobby and store, three restaurants including a buffet and counter service (Kidani has only a table service that is not open for breakfast), the larger pool with a lot more shady areas than Kidani. Kidani's advantages are: pool has elaborate kids water play area and much longer slide; 1 and 2BRs are much better than those at Jambo with 100 additonal sq ft, separate tub and shower in master bath (Jambo has combined), and extra bathroom; ideal under building parking if you have a car, and since park busses stop at Kidani first, you do not risk having to stand which is a risk for Jambo during the morning rush, and DVC rooms are on all floors not just top floors like at Jambo, and thus at Kidani you can get lower floor savanna view which many prefer for the direct sight line to animals.

As to areas at each building. there are many with good savanna views. At Kidani, many prefer some closeness to the lobby because the two wings are extremely long and you literally walk forever (actually about 1/3 mile) from lobby to your room if room is at the end of a wing. Jambo has numerous different favorites; ours is a room overlooking Arusha savanna (the one in the middle of the building) along Zebra Trail (the right side of the U-shaped building) which give pleasant views and face west so the sun does not blind you in the early morning.

 

[cantoine]

Congrats and Welcome Home!!!

See above for my answers, others, please chime in as the more info they have, the better

Thank you!!!!! We are extemely happy to finally be owners

 

[kim532]

I can't believe I haven't known about this thread before. Most not be a paying attention.

We bought at AKL back in 2009. We have used our DVC many times, but are taking our first trip home at the end of July. We have a 2-bedroom lockoff booked at Kidani. So excited. We just booked standard view. I made a request that checking in early is the only request we want. I know that they can't guarantee that, but I am hoping we can check in early. Our flight gets into MCO at 10:30am. I don't want to kill time. We are going to plan to go swimming and eat lunch at Sanaa just in case.

Yeah! So excited for our trip.

Kim

 

[Hmom]

We are excited to be heading to WDW in October! We'll be staying at Jambo House for the 3rd time renting points.

I can't seem to remember from our last trip about the washing machines, both those for DVC and those for the general public. Are they regular machines or HE machines? Also, part of our group is staying in a 1 bedroom at Kidani. Are the in-room washers regular or HE?

Thanks for the help!

 

[actopp1017]

We are excited to be heading to WDW in October! We'll be staying at Jambo House for the 3rd time renting points.

I can't seem to remember from our last trip about the washing machines, both those for DVC and those for the general public. Are they regular machines or HE machines? Also, part of our group is staying in a 1 bedroom at Kidani. Are the in-room washers regular or HE?

Thanks for the help!

Standard washers! We stayed for a week and although we only did a couple small loads of laundry the powder detergent they give you is sub par. We found the Pods by tide work great. We took the remaining ones home to use with our HE washer since they can be used in both.

 

[Hmom]

Standard washers! We stayed for a week and although we only did a couple small loads of laundry the powder detergent they give you is sub par. We found the Pods by tide work great. We took the remaining ones home to use with our HE washer since they can be used in both.

Thanks!

I wish they would make the Pods in the regular old Tide scent. I really don't like those other ones.

 

[cbtengwife]

Adding to the above. For best room, the Kidani 2BRs leave Jambo's in the dust, Kidani's are about 100 sq ft larger than the ones at Jambo. Not only do they have three bathrooms, but the master bath has separate shower and tub (at Jambo they are combined). Also, the master bath at Jambo is not connected to the bedroom like it is at Kidani; at Jambo, you have to cross a little hallway that can be seen from the living room to get from the master bedroom to the master bath. Moreover, you have more closet space at Kidani.

We also prefer the dedicated 2BRs at Kidani over the lock-offs and another factor in the dedicated's favor is the balcony. For the lock-off the balcony is divided by a wall between the studio and 1BR; for the dedicated it is one long, continuous balcony.

We are staying in a dedicated 2 bedroom in December and have a couple of questions about the 2nd bedroom. Is there a wall that one of the queen beds could be pushed against? Granddaughter travels when she sleeps. Also, just out of curiosity what is in the area that would be door and small fridge/microwave area?

 

[twinklebug]

Let's liven up the thread a bit... Which is your favorite restaurant between Kidani and Jambo? and why?

My favorite is Sanna: 1) Fantastic service; 2) Great food 3) it rhymes with Tada!

 

[MickeyT]

We've never done Sanna! Jiko, Boma, Mara yes. But not Sanna!

But we're staying AKL on our first AKL owners points at the end of this month so you can bet I fully plan on experiencing Sanna!

 

[DenLo]

Let's liven up the thread a bit... Which is your favorite restaurant between Kidani and Jambo? and why?

My favorite is Sanna: 1) Fantastic service; 2) Great food 3) it rhymes with Tada!

I love Sanaa as well. Boma is good but is becoming over priced and lately the dessert area is basically cookies. And you can get zebra domes at Mara. And the atmosphere is so noisy and rushed. I think the food at Saana is just better. And it is not priced as high as the meals at Jikos.

 

[MSUmom]

 

[ariel1025]

Hi Everyone

We have been DVC owners since 2009, and AKL is our home resort!

We are super excited to (finally!) be heading back this September. Unfortunately, we only have enough points to stay in a standard view, and Kidani was all that was left for the dates we needed. We love Kidani, but now that we are taking our kiddos (3 and 1) we were hoping for Jambo. Anyway, I would really, really, really like to avoid a parking lot/bus view if at all possible. Am I correct in my best shot at this is to request a room near the Rafiki elevator? From all my reading I think I got this right, but just want to double check. We don't mind having the long walks in the hallway, so that isn't an issue for us. Just super sad to be missing our savannah view and hoping to at least have a view of the pool or some greenery instead

TIA!

 

[drusba]

A request for near Rafiki elevator puts you on the north wing with pool view and the shortest possible walk to the pool via the gpound floor from that elevator. Worst views are all along the south wing where the bus stop is. Note that outside that north wing area where Rafiki is (and other standard areas nearby) there is a little outside parking lot exennsion from the under-building parking area that you can see from your balcony but, particularly if you also ask for high floor, most of what you will see is grass, trees and bushes and the pool area that begins a little ways away from the building.

 

[Altojudy]

I'm so thrilled to be going back to Kidani in January. First trip back home in four years due to illness. I almost forgot how all the booking, etc., worked. SO EXCITED, AND SO IS DH. It is one beautiful resort!!

 

[psac]

I'm so thrilled to be going back to Kidani in January. First trip back home in four years due to illness. I almost forgot how all the booking, etc., worked. SO EXCITED, AND SO IS DH. It is one beautiful resort!!

Enjoy your trip, welcome home!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I'm so thrilled to be going back to Kidani in January. First trip back home in four years due to illness. I almost forgot how all the booking, etc., worked. SO EXCITED, AND SO IS DH. It is one beautiful resort!!

Enjoy your trip! Glad the illness is behind you!

 

[LJSquishy]

Hi everyone!

We aren't DVC owners but are planning an AKV stay. Our original dates were Oct 2014 but we had to squash that plan long ago due to a bunch of house projects we wanted to complete so I'm now planning for Oct 2015!

I am blown away by the beauty of AKV in the photos I've seen and can't wait to explore the resort. Ideally we will be renting a Value Studio for 9 nights, but if we can't get a Value at the 11-month mark then we will have to just do 8 nights in a Standard. I'm really hoping for a Value Studio so we have the extra time to go at a slower pace and really explore. Our only trip was in 2012 at CSR for 7 nights (one day at US/IoA) and we felt like we had enough time there but looking back we didn't explore at all and just rushed through the parks even. I think it would be nice knowing we have tons of time and don't need to rush through everything and even maybe go look at all of the resorts. I would really love to do the parks in the morning, take an afternoon break, then go back to the parks at night. Last time we did rope drop, stayed through the afternoon to do all of the rides, then were done and back at the room by 6pm or so (or eating at a TS).