Upset - Once a Disney Bride

[pepples22]

Hi All,

We brought the DVC back when we got married in May 2007. Due to health reasons we were not sure we would be able to make our anniversary. We got over the health reasons and started to trip plan. We booked our flights and then we learned our lesson in DVC land ....

We wanted the two weeks over our honeymoon at AKL, I left the AKL lodge for our wedding, we only stayed 3 nights. The rest of the honeymoon after our wedding was not good. Our villa was too far away and problems with it so filed a complaint and we ended up staying at motel type place on 192 and made the most of it.

When we saw DVC model of the Animal Kingdom we knew were going to buy into it, before we saw it we were very weary.

We could only have certain dates which were incrediably spaced out and not worth moving resorts. So we have booked OKW instead as that was the only resort with the dates we had for our flights.

I know we left it too late. What my questions are: -
What is OKW like - judging on my love AKL is it anything like it?
We are on the waiting list - what are the chances of getting at room at AKL?

 

[spiceycat]

what did you love about AKL?

you say you don't want to change resorts - well that means that MS must wait until your entire time comes to them to make your reservation. that is NOT likely to happen.

OKW is a very relaxed community. Since this is your first trip call back and ask to be near the HH.

then you will be near enough to walk to the restuarant, gift shops, main pool, community hall, boats, bikes, etc.

OKW has animals although less in the area near HH than other places.

I do love oKW - but sometimes want a change.

what have you got a studio or a 1-bedroom?

the studios at OKW have 2 queen bed.

the 1-bedroom is so much bigger at OKW - you might have a hard time finding the master bedroom.....

here is a map
http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/okwmap.htm

and here are some pictures
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/showgallery.php/cat/545

 

[dvcdisney]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with OKW. It's a beautiful large resort. However, AKV is very different. The experience and view are not the same. OKW is very spread out and it has a feeling of a condominium complex while AKV is more a one building (will be two when Kidani is built) resort with all the amenities of the resort close by. The architecture of the AKV alone is one of the best in Disney (in my opinion).

I'm not trying to make you feel even worse. But I just want you to understand that the two offer different experiences. However, OKW has very large rooms. You can park your car very close to your room for convenience. It's somewhat serene. There are a few pools. I think each resort has it's own pluses, but they are not the same in terms of decor or experience.

If you do end up with OKW, I think you will like it, but not as much as AKV.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Jambo House rooms are not exactly like the models you saw at SSR. There is no second bathroom in the one bedroom. The shower and tub are combined and not separate like all the other one bedrooms.

So if you are counting on the AKV at Jambo House being exactly like the models, you will be disappointed.

I'm a bit confused about why you are upset, though. I may just be having difficulty interpreting what you wrote in your initial post.

 

[BroganMc]

I know we left it too late. What my questions are: -
What is OKW like - judging on my love AKL is it anything like it?
We are on the waiting list - what are the chances of getting at room at AKL?

OKW is designed to be like Key West, Fl. It has that lush Caribbean feel to it with canals and golf course greens surrounding little 3 story bungalows. There are small streets leading throughout the resort community and giving you different neighborhoods. You get the feeling of having a private retreat away from the bustle of it all.

There are a number of pools throughout the resort (in different areas) but the resort center has the themed pool. (Lighthouse overlooking the canal, sandcastle water slide, activities and docks.) There's also a very good onsite restaurant Olivia's serving inside and out.

AKV is designed like a giant hunting lodge on an African safari. Colors are dark browns, blacks and burgundy. (OKW is bright Caribbean blues, greens, melons.) Since it is one big lodge, your neighbors are all around you. Not as private, IMHO.

One benefit to OKW (and SSR) is that you are close to DTD. For newlyweds, I imagine that is a good destination. You can take a ferry from the dock at OKW (or walk a scenic trail) to DTD from 11am to midnight. Tons of restaurants (House of Blues, Bongo's, Wolfgang Puck's, Raglan Road Pub, Fulton's Crab House, etc.), nightclubs (two comedy clubs and several dance halls), shopping, movies, and La Nouba.

I visit AKV regularly for Boma's and African safari watching, but in truth the OKW/SSR area has much more to offer me.

Perhaps you can have a bit of both. Try to get 3 days at AKV to begin your trip and then transfer to OKW for the remainder. That way you can enjoy your home for a bit and yet experience something else.

Either way, just prepare yourself for the experience. Instead of going to Africa, you'll be heading to the islands.

Plan activities you'll like to do. A night on the town with dinner and La Nouba. A day at the spa at nearby SSR. Bike around the resort. Leisurely nature walks about the canals. A round of golf. Relaxing at a quiet pool.

If you're there for 12 days I imagine you'll have more than enough opportunity to enjoy the things WDW has to offer. We go for 14 days at a time, twice a year. We visit pretty much every resort as well as the parks. Our favorite times are just hanging out at SSR taking early morning walks around the neighborhoods.

Hope you have a good time!

One word of hope, our first DVC trip we had planned to go to VWL for December though we purchased the previous May at SSR. By the time we made ressies, only SSR was available. At first we were disappointed with the lack of availability in the system. We waitlisted for a couple months and then just settled on SSR. We ended up having an absolutely wonderful time. We visited the other resorts but found we were happy to go back home to SSR. Thus began our love affair with the area.

 

[kimberh]

Two weeks is pleanty of time to try a few resorts. If I were you, I would call Member Services and see if I could try a few. That way you may get 3 or 4 days at AKV's. The resorts all have their own character. You did not say what time in May you were going. We stayed 9 days once, I tried 3 resorts, it was a lot of fun. Now, if I had kids to pack up I probably would not do this, but for 2 it was fine. We had a car too. Disney will move you. It's another option to think about. Hope it all works out. I have never stayed at Old Key West, but I have visited it, it seems very peaceful to me. It's as if you are in Key West, I don't know if you have ever been there. Very Flordia.

 

[dianeschlicht]

As you can see from my signature, I own at both OKW and AKV. Haven't stayed at Jambo yet, but we did stay at the Lodge before it was AKV. Loved the savanna views! OKW is very different from that, but we just love it! It truly feels like Florida, and every room is so private, it is like your own little vacation home, not a hotel. There are plenty of animals to watch at OKW too, just not exotic ones!

 

[LSchrow]

broganmc summed it all up beautifully
just wanted to add that i agree, splitting your stay will feel like 2 totally different, wonderful vacations, with different things to see & do at each (bell services can transport your luggage)
have a great trip!

 

[RLRDA]

Two weeks is pleanty of time to try a few resorts. If I were you, I would call Member Services and see if I could try a few. That way you may get 3 or 4 days at AKV's. The resorts all have their own character. You did not say what time in May you were going. We stayed 9 days once, I tried 3 resorts, it was a lot of fun. Now, if I had kids to pack up I probably would not do this, but for 2 it was fine. We had a car too. Disney will move you. It's another option to think about. Hope it all works out. I have never stayed at Old Key West, but I have visited it, it seems very peaceful to me. It's as if you are in Key West, I don't know if you have ever been there. Very Flordia.

I was going to suggest this as well! You could try a few of the resorts....they are all great in their own unique way! Try OKW, AKV if possible or maybe one of the EPCOT resorts (BWV or BCV). We've changed resorts before as a family of 5 and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. With only the 2 of you, switching resorts should be a breeze.

I can't give an opinion on OKW because we haven't stayed there yet. After our May '08 trip (BCV) it'll be our next one to try.

Whatever happens, I hope you have a wonderful trip!