Trip Report BWV, BLT and AKL over Thanksgiving

[Tigger031266]

Just got back from a great trip. Crowds were large as expected.

BWV: Got a first floor room standard view. We love BWV but the 1st floor room seemed a but damp and buggy. Never the less, VWV was wonderful. Parking seemed crowded and far away without vallet.
Ratings:
Service: A- (no Vallet)
Room: B
Overall Disney Feel: A

BLT: What a great surprise. A wonderful resort with so much charm. Lounge at top is something special. Rooms are large and bright with ugly furniture. No bugs that I saw.
Ratings
Service: A
Room: A- (Ugly furniture)
Overall Disney Feel: A+

AKL: Third trip here and always a bit diappointed. Love love love the animals. But the long hallways and dark rooms seem to damper some of the fun. I just can't seem to feel the Disney magic. We were on the rare animial safari in Kidani. No garrafs but cool animals anyway.
Ratings
Service: B Needs better restaurants in Kidani. Room service at the pool bar lacked ordinary Hamburgers and stuff
Room: A Furniture and bathrooms are wonderful and the ANIMALS!!
Overall Disney Feel C+

I really want to love AKL. We own there and I love animals but it is a long way from Kidani to Jumbo

Tips from trip
- You can take any bus from Kidani to Jumbo (except DTD)
- Take DTD bus from Jumbo to Kidani
- Wishes is amazing from top of BLT
- Try botchy ball at BLT community hall

 

[photobob]

I may be one of the few that liked being on the first floor of BWV with the standard view!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

 

[Tigger031266]

It was porbably just this room. When we entered the room a maintenece guy was in the room and appeared to be just feeling out the air in the room.

I also love BWV standard views. Not sure what caused the dampness. Maybe they just cleaned carpeting or something.

I feel I should have complained for the next guests.

 

[DebbieB]

It was porbably just this room. When we entered the room a maintenece guy was in the room and appeared to be just feeling out the air in the room.

I also love BWV standard views. Not sure what caused the dampness. Maybe they just cleaned carpeting or something.

I feel I should have complained for the next guests.

Was it a renovated room? Any signs of the areas they are still working on? We arrive on Saturday, hoping for a renovated boardwalk view.

 

[eporter66]

Thanks for the reports. We stayed at Kidani about a month ago and loved it. I agree that could up the casual dining a bit so you dont have to go over to Jambo. Thought I would hate the darker decor, but we loved the room. The layout to me seems no different than BWV's, we got lucky that our room was not far from the main elevator, but I dont really have a problem with the long hauls.

we cook a lot in our room, so the food issue is no big deal for us. Sounds like a great trip,

How was the weather? Wait times? etc,,,

 

[Lexxiefern]

Sounds like a wonderful trip!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

You moved around a lot, didn't you?

Glad you had a good time, but are disappointed with the experience at Kidani. We're staying a night in Jambo in 2 weeks. Is there a common viewing area for the savannah that is exclusive to Kidani? I would love to see the Opaki and the river hogs, but don't know if we'll be able to if we're not staying in Kidani.

Bobbi

 

[eporter66]

You moved around a lot, didn't you?

Is there a common viewing area for the savannah that is exclusive to Kidani? I would love to see the Opaki and the river hogs, but don't know if we'll be able to if we're not staying in Kidani.

Bobbi

Yes - it will look exactly the same as Jambo. You walk all the way to the back of the lobby at Kidani, then down the steps and out on to the safari. There is also a much smaller viewing area at the Kidani pool as well.

Have a great trip and hope you enjoy Jambo house. we loved AKV

 

[Tigger031266]

We did move around around, spent 2 days at BWV, 2 Days at BLT and 3 at AKL.

I don't mean to trash AKL Kidani at all. I would gladly stay there again. I am totally sure that it will be lots of people favorite resort. I struggle with 2 things: the darkness and the distance to the rest of disney (except AKL). There are lots of great things about it (Boma's Safari's, Great pools, comunity halls, amazing furniture, bathrooms....) In rating of my fav resorts:


#1 BWV
#2 BLT
#3 Vero
#4 VWL
#5 BCV
#6 AKL
#7 SSR
#8 OKW

I never stayed at HHI

 

[quentina]

Just got back from a great trip. Crowds were large as expected.

BWV: Got a first floor room standard view. We love BWV but the 1st floor room seemed a but damp and buggy. Never the less, VWV was wonderful. Parking seemed crowded and far away without vallet.
Ratings:
Service: A- (no Vallet)
Room: B
Overall Disney Feel: A

BLT: What a great surprise. A wonderful resort with so much charm. Lounge at top is something special. Rooms are large and bright with ugly furniture. No bugs that I saw.
Ratings
Service: A
Room: A- (Ugly furniture)
Overall Disney Feel: A+

AKL: Third trip here and always a bit diappointed. Love love love the animals. But the long hallways and dark rooms seem to damper some of the fun. I just can't seem to feel the Disney magic. We were on the rare animial safari in Kidani. No garrafs but cool animals anyway.
Ratings
Service: B Needs better restaurants in Kidani. Room service at the pool bar lacked ordinary Hamburgers and stuff
Room: A Furniture and bathrooms are wonderful and the ANIMALS!!
Overall Disney Feel C+

I really want to love AKL. We own there and I love animals but it is a long way from Kidani to Jumbo

Tips from trip
- You can take any bus from Kidani to Jumbo (except DTD)
- Take DTD bus from Jumbo to Kidani
- Wishes is amazing from top of BLT
- Try botchy ball at BLT community hall

To do the safari...do you need to be in conceigre (SP??)?

 

[toniosmom]

Wow.....how long were you there that you moved twice? I've never done a split stay, but if I do, I can't imagine moving more than once. Was it cumbersome to do so?

Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

What is the rare animal safari at Kidani?

 

[bobbiwoz]

Yes - it will look exactly the same as Jambo. You walk all the way to the back of the lobby at Kidani, then down the steps and out on to the safari. There is also a much smaller viewing area at the Kidani pool as well.

Have a great trip and hope you enjoy Jambo house. we loved AKV

Good! We just have one night...in a value studio for a Friday night....we use value studios a lot on weekends! I can't wait to see the okapi. After that night we're heading out to Blue Springs SP in Orange City FL to see whatever manatees are excaping the cold St. Johns river for the warm springs of the state park, and then back to VWL for the rest of our December DVC/WDW trip!

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

We did move around around, spent 2 days at BWV, 2 Days at BLT and 3 at AKL.

I don't mean to trash AKL Kidani at all. I would gladly stay there again. I am totally sure that it will be lots of people favorite resort. I struggle with 2 things: the darkness and the distance to the rest of disney (except AKL). There are lots of great things about it (Boma's Safari's, Great pools, comunity halls, amazing furniture, bathrooms....) In rating of my fav resorts:


#1 BWV
#2 BLT
#3 Vero
#4 VWL
#5 BCV
#6 AKL
#7 SSR
#8 OKW

I never stayed at HHI

Just goes to show how it's definitely "different strokes for different folks" where DVC is concerned. Our list is almost opposite of yours...
#1 OKW
#2 AKV
#3 SSR
#4 VWL
#5 BWV
Haven't experienced the others yet. Doubt I'll ever stay at BLT, Vero or HHI.

 

[katmittens]

Good! We just have one night...in a value studio for a Friday night....we use value studios a lot on weekends! I can't wait to see the okapi. After that night we're heading out to Blue Springs SP in Orange City FL to see whatever manatees are excaping the cold St. Johns river for the warm springs of the state park, and then back to VWL for the rest of our December DVC/WDW trip!

Bobbi

Have you ever been to Blue Springs before to see the Manatees? It is great. We have stopped a few times on our way down to Disney. My daughter is 22 and is crazy over manatees. Hope you have a great trip.