Took the AK Tour

[carlbarry]

I had received the DVC info pack months ago, and went down there this week. I got a brief tour of the mock up at Saratoga Springs. My question is: the rooms looked kind of small! I have seen a couple of non-DVC resorts (Star Island--where I have recently purchased, Vacation Village) and the rooms seemed larger. Is this my imagination? I know some of the DVC resorts have bigger rooms, like OKW; are these significantly bigger? It's not that I so much need bigger rooms, it's just that I'm a little disappointed in Disney. Thanks.

 

[Buckeye Fan]

I agree. They aren't large. We've taken many beach trips over the years and our 1 and 2-BR accommodations have been much larger than DVC resorts. However, now that I've stayed there, it's truly all we need.

We have stayed at OKW many times, and yes, I think OKW is noticably larger than the other resorts (excluding VB and HHI). It wouldn't stop me from staying at other resorts, but if we were traveling with more than just our immediate family, I'd probably stay there. Not only is there more square footage, but the balconies are much larger. It's almost like having an extra room!

In case you're interested, here's some info on the resorts from a post a while back. May give you some idea compared to your other timeshare. I had to laugh when I cut/pasted this. OKW's 1-BR is bigger than our first apartment 17 years ago!!!

Studios

OKW - approx. 390 sq ft - 2 Queen Beds, no sleeper sofa.
BCV - approx. 365 sq ft
VWL - approx. 356 sq ft
BWV - approx. 359 sq ft
SSR - approx. 355 sq ft
AKV - Jambo House - Value Studio - approx. 316 sq ft
AKV - Jambo House - Standard Studio - approx. 365 sq ft
AKV - Kidani Village - approx. 366 sq ft

1 Bedrooms

OKW - approx. 942 sq ft
BCV - approx. 726 sq ft
VWL - approx. 727 sq ft
BWV - approx. 712 sq ft
SSR - approx. 714 sq ft
AKV - Jambo House - Value 1 BR - approx. 629 sq ft
AKV - Jambo House - Standard 1 BR - approx. 710 sq ft
AKV - Kidani Village - approx. 807 sq ft

2 Bedrooms

OKW - approx. 1395 sq ft
BCV - approx. 1083 sq ft
VWL - approx. 1080 sq ft
BWV - approx. 1072 sq ft
SSR - approx. 1075 sq ft
AKV - Jambo House - Value 2 BR - approx. 945 sq ft
AKV - Jambo House - Standard 2 BR - approx. 1075 sq ft
AKV - Kidani Village - 1173 sq ft.

Grand Villas

OKW - approx. 2375 sq ft
BCV - None Available
VWL - None Available
BWV - approx 2142 sq ft
SSR - approx. 2113 sq ft
AKV - Jambo House - approx. 2349 sq ft - 1 story
AKV - Kidani Village - approx. 2201 sq ft - 2 story

Capacity and Other notes:

OKW has a total of 761 Villas - 230 Studios - 230 (1) BR - 274 (2) BR - 27 GV
BCV has a total of 282 Villas - 110 Studios - 94 (1) BR - 78 (2) BR - No GV available
VWL has a total of 181 Villas - 65 Studios - 72 (1) BR - 44 (2) BR - No GV available
BWV has a total of 524 Villas - 243 Studios and or (1) BR - 273 (2) BR - 8 GV with 29 villas being Handicap accesible
SSR has a total of 828 Villas - 360 Studios and or (1) BR - 432 (2) BR - 36 Grand

 

[carlbarry]

Thanks. The DVC book has the sizes, but it's real handy to have them listed like this. After reading about the rooms for so long, it was just kind of disappointing when I saw the mock up--especially the studio. Heck, I just stayed at the Extended Stay America in Orlando for one night, and I think the room was bigger . . . and had a full size refrigerator to boot! Of course, the view was not as nice.

 

[AKV707]

As you can see by the numbers, OKW clearly has the largest rooms. But AKV is second. The decor of the AKV rooms is also darker which can lead to a smaller feel. DW and I loved the decor and that is one of the reasons that we are AKV owners.

 

[stopher1]

I felt kind of the same way when I saw the AK model vs. the SSR rooms, but in the end realized it was the darker decor and the fact hat the models were in a warehouse with a fake backdrop out the window. DW LOVED AK from walking in the room, whereas I preferred SSR. In the end the AK won out for us given the savannah views that we would eventually have. A huge plus for the kids, too.

 

[Safari Queen]

I agree that the accommodations are smaller than some other timeshares. However, the furnishings are nice quality (not the Florida tacky stuff we've seen), you get the transportation system, good access to a lot of restaurants, and YOU'RE AT WDW! (Sorry, I got overwhelmed thinking about the giant pink glittery flowers and plastic headboard at one of the off-site villas we rented years ago.)

 

[carlbarry]

It was a nice, deluxe accomadation. It just wasn't as deluxe as I expected. Of course, I have read comments from people saying that there are off-site resorts of much higher quality. But the one thing no other place can top is the view from the AK rooms! That is what really grabbed me and made me interested.