Tips for Spring Break and AKV Kidani

[itutorfortravel]

So....we are heading to Disney for spring break! We've been lots of times, but never during this particular time of year. (We usually go just before Christmas or mid-June)

I've got fast passes set up and ADR's taken care of.

We're staying in a 1 bedroom at AKV Kidani, since this will also be our first trip allowing DD to bring a friend and we need the extra space and extra bathroom. (We have not stayed at AKV before, just offsite and BLT - offsite has been 2 bedroom condos / BLT a lake view studio)

Anything we should know about AKV Kidani? Like anything we should be prepared for? Or that we should not miss doing? We have a standard 1 Bdr reserved so not sure where that will put us. Also, we have a car so we can drive to the parks instead of taking transportation (though just wondering - will that be faster or slower with the massive amount of people at WDW that week?)

Also, in general, what should we expect at the parks? For instance, is it going to take longer to get from one fast pass location to the next? Will a fast pass mean still waiting in a 30 min + line or will we still get on rides fairly quickly? Do we need to build in extra time to get to ADR's? If so, how long?

Also, regarding transportation...with a car we have the flexibility to drive to the parks. But will that take longer when the resort area is crowded versus using Disney transportation? We're going to all parks plus Typhoon Lagoon and the Boardwalk / Beach Club area.

Lastly, I've been eyeing a night at the PVB just to check it out. We'd have to get two studios, but we could make that work. Availability keeps coming and going and I keep hesitating, I don't know what to do. This is my DD's big birthday trip (officially becoming a teenager) so I thought a night there might be special if I can make it happen. Any opinions on whether staying there at this time is going to be a treat or a disappointment?

I'm a little nervous about taking this trip at spring break just because of the volume of people, but it's the only time we can go. So, if there are other recommendations or thoughts anyone has on traveling to WDW at this time of year, I would greatly appreciate your sharing! Anything that can help us make our vacation less stressful and more fun! Thank you so much!

 

[uccats97]

Yes, it will be crowded. FP+ lines will still move quickly. You should never wait 30 minutes in a FP+ line, ever! You should always give yourself ample travel time for an ADR. It depends on where you are and where your ADR is in order to decide how long you need. Try to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your ADR. Driving vs bus are 6 of one, half a dozen of the other. Driving could take more time considering you may be unfamiliar with the roads, slowing down through the payment area, parking and taking a tram, etc. Busing could take more time considering waiting for the bus, how many stops are made prior to your destination, etc. I stick with buses just for some down time where I can relax and let someone else do the work!
You'll have an enjoyable trip if you go in with a positive attitude! Have fun and enjoy the magic! Forget stressing out. Let your trip unfold naturally and roll with it. Hope your daughter has a fabulous birthday!

 

[itutorfortravel]

Thank you! Is there a thread somewhere that shows the bus routes and the stops they make? I have heard people talk about how certain buses go direct from such and such a resort to the park, and how some make stops here and there on the way. So just wondering if there is a bus "map" with routes posted anywhere. It would be nice to avoid driving. We know the area very well, but still I can see where the parking lots and the traffic in general could difficult to manage. If you ride Disney transportation (buses) do they have dedicated lanes to drive in or do they have to sit in the traffic with the general traffic (I've never really taken the time to notice). Also, when they go to the park, where do they drop you off? Near enough to the gate to walk in or do you still have to catch a tram? Thanks again!

 

[stormer]

When we stay at AKL we drive to the parks. We like the flexibility of having our own car, especially when the parks are crowded. We do take the bus to Magic a Kingdom, though. That is easier than parking at TTC and then taking the monorail or boat.

 

[drusba]

I assume by spring break you mean you are going during one of the two Easter weeks. At Kidani, you park under the building on the ground floor and with elevators along the wings you can always park fairly close to your room. For standard view, you may want to ask for a room close to the Rafiki elevator and high floor. That gives you the shortest possible trip to the pool via the Rafiki elevator out the ground floor where the parking lot is, and a view of the pool and possible view of the south end of Pembe savanna.

As far as taking your car to the parks, it is not necessary but it is the quicker way to Epcot and Studios. I would not use it for MK because the parking lot is still two forms of transportation from the park, the parking lot trolley and the boat or monorail to MK, and the lines during those weeks for the monorail and boat can be huge, as can be the line waiting for the trolley when you leave. Also, MK is the park with the real risk of having the lot fill. You could use the car for AK also if you are far from the bus stop at Kidani, but otherwise the total trip time via bus from Kidani is about 15 minutes, and that includes the stop at Jambo when going.

The park crowds will be huge. Street crowds at MK can become so thick that it can easily take 40 minutes to get from Space Mountain to Splash Mountain. If you go early morning (parks are likely to open at 8 that time of year and one park or even 2 at 7 with extra magic hours), you can often hit a couple of rides or attractions without long standby lines and thus save your FP's for a little later. That is also sometimes true during a parade and late afternoon from 4 to 6, particularly at Epcot and Studios. The last open hour at Animal Kingdom can also bring shorter lines. Also, MK has very late hours and many things can be open between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. if open that late.

As far as park choices, the one thing to avoid is MK on Easter. It will have a risk of closing to new entries later in the day because of crowd size. That is also a risk on Monday the day after Easter. Everyone goes to MK on Sunday under the belief that something special will happen there on Easter that does not occur other days of the week, In reality, nothing happens at MK on Easter Sunday that you cannot find the other days. Moreover, Disney does not treat Easter like Christmas. There are some decorations but far more subdued than Christmas. They have craft sessions and egg hunts on Easter at the resorts and you get a visit from the bunny at the resort on Easter but nothing much other days. Epcot and AK usually have their lightest crowd day of the week on Easter, although that just means somewhat less huge than other days.

if you intend to do Typhoon Lagoon, be aware that by 11 that time of year if it is warm, the place can go to full and new entries will be blocked out for a few hours. Also, if you want any place to sit, you must get there early.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Just wanted to post an update. We just got back from WDW last night, after 6 amazing nights in a 1 bedroom villa at AKV Kidani Village. We requested upper floor savanna view and got 4th floor with a partial view of the savanna and a service road. Actually, we had a variety of animals right outside our door at all times. It was fantastic! The villa itself was HUGE and so comfortable for my DH and I, our DD and her friend. I was a little worried about how we would like AKV after reading so much about how far away from the parks it is, but we found we actually liked that. It was quiet and remote and a sort of escape from all the action of the parks. We stayed from Good Friday till yesterday, and while the crowds were heavy, it was completely manageable. We had fast passes all lined up and did those and a few more rides when there weren't long lines. Traveling with teens this time, I decided to book most FP's late in the day so as to let the girls sleep in. We enjoyed MK a couple nights till 1 AM and 1:30 AM on am EMH night. The weather was great, too! I would not hesitate to do spring break again at WDW....as a matter of fact, we are already talking about next year! And we loved AKV so much we might stay there again.

We didn't stay at PVB, we would have had to have gotten two studios and that would have depleted too many points. We did go over to the resort to eat at Ohana for breakfast one morning and to the Spirit of Aloha dinner one evening. (Speaking of which, I have also read many negative comments about Spirit of Aloha...the food was eh and the beginning of the show with the story line was corny, but the dancing and the fire dancer were amazing and totally worth the price! So glad we did it!)

Anyhow, all in all another great trip to visit The Mouse...and as always, already planning the next trip down

 

[Nanajo1]

Glad to hear you had a great trip. We like that there are only two stops before you are on your way to the parks unlike the EPCOT resorts where you can have up to 4 stops.