Trip is getting closer and a little apprehensive about AKV

[WoodysRoundup]

I've been traveling to WDW since the early 70's. Have stayed offsite (in the "village"), CBR, and CSR. However, most of our stays were along the monorail line. Most of those trips were at CR, some at GF, and the last couple years at the Poly. Don't know why, but I'm pulled towards the monorail, MK, and that castle! Anyway, we purchased DVC last autumn and our first trip is quickly approaching. I am NERVOUS about staying away from the area I (we've) come to know and love. That's the reason we're doing a split stay on our first trip "home" - staying at the Poly at the end of it. I almost feel like this will be the deciding trip......whether we keep our DVC or not. Can you help me feel more excited about our decision? I know I should be! I'm just feeling this way as the trip gets closer.....wondering if we made a mistake given that we love the MK area SO much.... UGH! Anyone else ever feel this way?

 

[dianeschlicht]

You need to have an open mind. I HOPE you are staying in a 1 or 2 bedroom and NOT a studio. You really wont get the true meaning or value of a DVC stay unless you experience it in the way that most timeshares are built to be experienced. Then, you need to keep in mind that AKV is a destination in itself. We just spent a week there, and we did far fewer park days, because we had so many things we wanted to do at the resort. Some will complain that AKV, or SSR, or OKW are too far from the parks. Heck, you might even complain that BWV and BCV are too far from MK. It really doesn't matter. We have been DVC members for more than 11 years, and we always enjoy that Disney provides us with wonderful public transportation to all of its destinations. We didn't feel the buses to the parks were bad from AKV. Yes, they do take a couple of minutes longer, but the resort itself holds so much magic, that it's like being transported to another world when you return. I think it's why we spent less time at the parks this trip. We just couldn't wait to get back to AKV!

 

[DVC Mike]

However, most of our stays were along the monorail line. Most of those trips were at CR, some at GF, and the last couple years at the Poly. Don't know why, but I'm pulled towards the monorail, MK, and that castle!

If you really love jumping on the monorail, none of the current DVC resorts will give you that (the possible Kingdom Tower Resort will). If you love the MK area, give the Villas at the Wilderness Lodge a try. It's just a relaxing boat ride away from the MK.

As for AKV, as Diane stated, it is a destination in itself. We've spent two vacations there and have just loved it. It's a great place to retreat to after a day at the parks.

We've stayed on the monorail, but a regular hotel room doesn't compare to a 1-BR villa.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Yes, we are in a 1 BR so that's good. I do have an open mind, just a little nervous....bought sight unseen. I like what was said about thinking of it as a destination in itself. VWL definitely holds my interest for future trips. Can you ever get it at 7 mo. out though? Obviously (see my siggie), I'm waiting for word on KT....

 

[dianeschlicht]

Don't worry about the spelling. None of us is perfect in that department! However, if you want to change it, when you click "edit", you will see a box in the lower right corner for "go advanced". Click that box, and it will let you change the title as well.

 

[RLRDA]

I will agree with DVC Mike.....once you've stayed in a 1BR or larger you will more than likely be "hooked" on DVC. This is especially true for our family of 5. The kitchen, washer/dryer, larger bathroom, living room are tough to do without. Because of the size of our family, studios are not an option but even if they were we'd choose to spend the points on larger accomodations. AKV is spectacular....we had never stayed there before we added-on. Like Diane said...keep an open mind, don't stress about it. You can always add-on at VWL or CR (if/when that becomes available).

 

[OurDogCisco]

We were like you and only stayed at monorail resorts prior to buying DVC. Honestly, we miss the quickness of getting to MK and Epcot. At VWL you need to take the bus to get to MK as fast as the monorail resorts. Anyways, we don't miss staying in one room together. We've never stayed in a studio at any of our timeshares. We own another timeshare and just don't understand the value of studios for families. I guess, I can see when we get older and the kids don't travel with us then, maybe a studio but I doubt it. I've gotta have a one bedroom with a washer/dryer and the full kitchen (although at Disney I don't use the kitchen much but my other timeshare I do). If I had a choice between a studio and a hotel room on the monorail, I'd definitely pick the hotel room.

I think, you'll love all the theming from the other resorts. It is very cool. You'll have to let us know what you think after the trip!

 

[BCV23]

Another monorail family who still misses that. But we love the space, full fridge and w/d. We still usually do a monorail/BCV split and that gives us the best of both worlds for our family anyway. We do like to start at the Polynesian (or occasionally the GF) and then move to BCV and spread out.

AKVs are beautiful. I hope you'll love them. And you are doing a great choice for a split stay.

You can get into VWL at 7 months. It's probably harder to do at Christmas time and nearly impossible for early Dec..

Don't worry. Have a great trip!

 

[skoi]

We've stayed at all the DVCs on site except SSR, and they're all great. Really, we've found something to love at every one of them. Maybe we're too easy to please. AKL is great. We stayed last September, and it was amazing. The pool is very nice for kids, the hot tubs are the best I've seen on property because of how they're placed. The rooms are beautiful, and if you have a savannah view, that's amazing. The bus service was great, and buses were rarely crowded.

We also love the monorail resorts where we've stayed (Poly and CR), and do miss jumping on the boat or monorail to get to the MK quickly as it's our favorite park. But IMHO, all the other DVC resorts have something to make up for losing that.

Of course we'd love a DVC on the monorail, not that we'd be able to buy points, but we'd hope to stay there, someday.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

We just got back from our 1st stay there and to be honest, it is very secluded. But for most people that's what they like about it. We only spent one night but I missed my BW. I really missed the excitement and the atmosphere of the BW and cresent lake too.

My 1st choice to stay other than DVC would definitely be the Monorail resorts, but we bought into DVC at the BW because that location is great too. I didn't want to buy into SSR due to the location and how far it is away from each park, imho, I think that being close to a theme park is major plus.

Only you can decide if you like the AKV but don't forget that once they built the Kidani Village with the new pool, lobby and restaurants it will be different than what you will experience on your next trip.

One nice thing is that the buses only stop 1 place!!! That's a plus, even the BW shares with 2-4 different resorts which is a major pain.

Have a good trip.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

You need to have an open mind. I HOPE you are staying in a 1 or 2 bedroom and NOT a studio. You really wont get the true meaning or value of a DVC stay unless you experience it in the way that most timeshares are built to be experienced. Then, you need to keep in mind that AKV is a destination in itself. We just spent a week there, and we did far fewer park days, because we had so many things we wanted to do at the resort. Some will complain that AKV, or SSR, or OKW are too far from the parks. Heck, you might even complain that BWV and BCV are too far from MK. It really doesn't matter. We have been DVC members for more than 11 years, and we always enjoy that Disney provides us with wonderful public transportation to all of its destinations. We didn't feel the buses to the parks were bad from AKV. Yes, they do take a couple of minutes longer, but the resort itself holds so much magic, that it's like being transported to another world when you return. I think it's why we spent less time at the parks this trip. We just couldn't wait to get back to AKV!

Trying to decide where to stay for 2 days before my cruise next May 2009. Really want to try OKW, but now wondering if a studlio-concierge at AKV woud be worth it as we won't be doing any parks. That is of course depending on availability at 7 mos.The sunset safari tour seems great, and it would be such a short stay. Also the food in concierge. What do you think?

 

[starbox]

You know, we added on at AKV "sight unseen". I'd never stayed at AKL, had not visited model rooms, and actually intended to add-on at VB. But - the right size VB contract did not come up, AKV had a nice incentive, and I was swayed by being able to have separate sleeping arrangements for my tow opposite gender kids.

I was worried specifically that AKV would be 1) too removed from everything and 2) boring (especially at night)

After one stay, AKV is our favorite!!!!! I actually found bus transportation to be really efficient - the fact that you don't share a bus with other resorts made it easy to get to all 4 parks. And AKV has the bonus of a fully staffed pool (and pool slide) till 10pm and night vision animal viewing till even later.
There are plenty of resort activities from 8pm-11pm - so it never felt removed/quiet in a bad way.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We will be at AKL May 2nd to the 10th. We stayed there one night back in 2003 for our anniversary (my in laws stayed in our room at OKW with DD so we had one night to ourselves.) It was very nice and while it is a bit out it did not feel any further way then OKW and the buses where MUCH better. Because it does not have a ton of stops (one for now) it really cuts down on the time.

We are really looking forward to it. This will be our 1st time in the "villas" I am really looking forward to the new parts when they open. We own at VWL (but have only stayed there once.)

We will be in studio, but we are used to those. Only been spoiled a few times by one bedrooms and we never recovered from the whole borrowing trend since then.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Trying to decide where to stay for 2 days before my cruise next May 2009. Really want to try OKW, but now wondering if a studlio-concierge at AKV woud be worth it as we won't be doing any parks. That is of course depending on availability at 7 mos.The sunset safari tour seems great, and it would be such a short stay. Also the food in concierge. What do you think?

It would be great if you can get it, but don't plan on it being available at 7 months in '09. The more AKV owners there are, the more difficult this is going to be to book.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Thanks, Diane, for the "editing" help.

It's great to read about the excitement many of you shared regarding AKV. It's making me feel excited again. I am worried most about that "secluded" feel. We certainly feel we're in the middle of the action staying on the monorail line. BCV 23 Glad to hear you enjoy doing the split stay thing as well. Maybe that will continue to be our routine. I know Kidani will be a whole different ballgame when that opens.

Starbox...what nightime activities did you enjoy at the resort (aside from night vision goggles)?

 

[DLBDS]

I've been traveling to WDW since the early 70's. Have stayed offsite (in the "village"), CBR, and CSR. However, most of our stays were along the monorail line. Most of those trips were at CR, some at GF, and the last couple years at the Poly. Don't know why, but I'm pulled towards the monorail, MK, and that castle! Anyway, we purchased DVC last autumn and our first trip is quickly approaching. I am NERVOUS about staying away from the area I (we've) come to know and love. That's the reason we're doing a split stay on our first trip "home" - staying at the Poly at the end of it. I almost feel like this will be the deciding trip......whether we keep our DVC or not. Can you help me feel more excited about our decision? I know I should be! I'm just feeling this way as the trip gets closer.....wondering if we made a mistake given that we love the MK area SO much.... UGH! Anyone else ever feel this way?

This is exactly why I'll either buy resale for the WL or hold out for the new Kingdom Tower...or both....I would have to be REALLY lucky to own both in the future. I hate to say this to ya considering you want reassurances but.....we hated AKL. As similar as it is to the WL it's really NOTHING like it! That said, we have never actually stayed there so there is hope for you. I know what I like best and that's the MK area. I do intend on staying at other DVC resorts... once I'm a member. Maybe I'll give AKL a chance. It'll probably be the last one though.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

This is exactly why I'll either buy resale for the WL or hold out for the new Kingdom Tower...or both....I would have to be REALLY lucky to own both in the future. I hate to say this to ya considering you want reassurances but.....we hated AKL. As similar as it is to the WL it's really NOTHING like it! That said, we have never actually stayed there so there is hope for you. I know what I like best and that's the MK area. I do intend on staying at other DVC resorts... once I'm a member. Maybe I'll give AKL a chance. It'll probably be the last one though.

.....Just when I was feeling more okay w/it. I DO know what you mean.

 

[Informer1906]

Help. What is VWL?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Help. What is VWL?

Villas at Wilderness Lodge One of my favorites!

 

[vbarry]

I know how you feel. I stayed at SSR our last trip just for two nights and felt very secluded. I like to be in middle of all the action!! I think I have decided on a GF/BCV trip for Christmas. I feel guilty paying for the GF but love the location and monorail!! My girls are young yet and MK is their favorite park. I just feel like we could do all the MK stuff, eat at our favorite monorail restaurants and then go over to Epcot to do the same. I just wish there was an easier way to get from the Epcot resorts over to MK!!

We have stayed at VWL three times and it is a great alternative to the monorail resorts. We did enjoy our stay there very much!

Enjoy your trip!