Why so few points at AKV?

[Strangeite]

I was comparing point charts and noticed something for the first time. The villas at Animal Kingdom require significantly less points than any other resort. Why?

I have only stayed at OKW, because that is where my uncle has his points and figured that is where I would purchase my points, but a 15% reduction in the points needed is nothing to ignore.

So, why so few points needed at the villas at Animal Kingdom?

 

[vicki_c]

You must be looking at value @ AKV - almost all the other rooms cost more points than OKW. I just checked a random time frame in May:

AKV value studio: 50 pts, standard studio: 65 points (savannah & CL are more)
OKW studio: 65 points

Excluding the value category, for the larger room sizes, a 1 BR is 5 points more than OKW, a 2 BR is 10 pts more at OKW (not sure why) and a Grand Villa is 125 points more at AKV.

 

[LauraLea]

You are only looking at the points needed for a Value room. Availablity is limited, typically not a good view, and the room can be significantly smaller. Compared to OKW, not a bargain at all.

Laura

 

[Strangeite]

I was only looking at the value villas. If they sleep the same number of people, exactly what makes them less attractive?

Is the view THAT bad?

 

[erionm]

I was only looking at the value villas. If they sleep the same number of people, exactly what makes them less attractive?

Is the view THAT bad?

The Values are about 3 feet shorter than the other villas in Jambo House. There are only 10 2-bedroom lockoffs and 8 dedicated Studios in the Value category. The Values can have either a pool view, savanna view or parking lot view.

If you are going to compare point requirements for any rooms at AKV, I think you need to use the Savanna View rooms as they are the largest percentage of rooms available.

 

[chalee94]

I was only looking at the value villas. If they sleep the same number of people, exactly what makes them less attractive?

Is the view THAT bad?

not necessarily about the view at all - many value views are very nice.

it's all about size. and since value 1BRs don't have the sleeper chair (no room for it), they don't sleep the same number of people - value 1BR sleeps 4 and value 2BR sleeps 8...which is less than other 1BR and 2BR villas if you check the AKV chart.

 

[johde]

I don't know about the "why" but I will say that I really enjoyed my AKV Value studio room. That being said, the room is small. I tend to gravitate to the lower point options and I've stayed at OKW, BWV-Std, AKV-Std and Value. All of them have their advantages for certain people.

OKW - 2 queen beds in Studio, 1 bedroom and larger are huge.
BWV - Walking distance to 2 theme parks
AKV - Animals themeing.

That being said, BWV-std, and AVK-std is a small portion of the rooms at the resort. Value rooms are a very small portion of the rooms. I've been happy at all three resort, and plan on staying at all of them in the future. I own at OKW so normally book there first, then try and move at 7 months. Sometimes I get it sometimes I don't. I prefer AKV and BWV to OKW but only slightly and mainly because I normally travel solo and like the couch in the studio.

 

[drusba]

AKV is not really lower than other WDW resorts other than BLT. 80%+ of all AKV rooms are savanna view whose point cost is, for part of the year, close to the same as BCV, VWL, and BWV preferred and then for Magic and Premier seasons it is higher than those. Most AKV owners bought to get savanna view.

The small number of value rooms, in the Jambo house, are truly small in size in comparison to DVC rooms elsewhere (for example, the value studio is about the same size as a Port Orleans room). Put 5 or 6 in a 2BR value and you will be quite cramped; put 7 or 8 and you will demand to move out. 40% of those are savanna view, 40% pool, and 20% parking lot and you cannot request view. Standards are same size as savanna but those are only about 15% of the resort and you don't get savanna view and you don't get right next to a park.

 

[bumbershoot]

This is from my recent experience, I wasn't happy, I might be a touch bitter and still annoyed.

I was only looking at the value villas. If they sleep the same number of people, exactly what makes them less attractive?

Is the view THAT bad?

Because they are small and sad, and you have to be in AKL where service is sorely lacking and the CMs just don't care. The line to complain about various things was more than an hour long one night, hubby talked to some of the people in line with him, and only the lady right at the desk had a silly reason to complain (she wanted her points back because it was freezing), all the others had valid, bonafide, reasons to complain.

I *might* try Kidani, but I can't imagine the circumstances that would have me stay at Jambo again...

 

[Strangeite]

Thanks for all of the input.

I think I am back to wanting to purchase at OKW. I have stayed there several times and know that I enjoy the property.

Again, thanks for the help. I don't know what I would do without this forum.

 

[gkrykewy]

We LOVE the AKV value rooms. Best points value in the DVC system IMO. 18 out of 20 studios are either savanna or pool view, and located close to the lobby/restaurants/etc.

 

[eljefe45]

That is really good to know. I figured "value" mean "parking lot". I got that on my first trip to SSR and they don't have "value". AKV resale is in my future.

 

[huskies90]

I just booked a standard at the boardwalk for August. I believe the only difference with a standard room at boardwalk is the view, correct?

 

[drusba]

I just booked a standard at the boardwalk for August. I believe the only difference with a standard room at boardwalk is the view, correct?

Only difference is view; standards look out at front of building over valet area, road running from it, parking lot and then some look over tennis courts toward Studios. The parking lot is far enough away that the views are really OK and many preferred views are really not much better; boardwalk view is by far the best.

 

[bookwormde]

Standard views have become quite a good value also since they almost all have pretty good views and some are even ones that in the past were considered savanna view (but only partial)

bookwormde