Would a 1BR at Kidani really be comfortable for 5?

[utahkennedys]

We are planning our trip for next May pre-Disney Cruise. To save points I was thinking of doing a 1BR Kidani since our family (2 adults/2 kids) will be there the first 4 nights and my Mom arrives for the last 2 nights only. I know we need the 2nd bathroom, but do you think there is enough space for 2 kids and my Mom in the living room? Also, is the sofa chair comfortable? I could go for a 2BR value (if available) for not too many more points, but it seems like a waste since my Mom will only be with us for one full day. We have never stayed at AKV so I have no idea what the rooms are like. TIA!

 

[hellerjw]

The sleeper chair is perfect for pre-teen kids, its roughly equivalent to a twin bed, but that of course depends on how big the kid is. The newer sleeper sofas with the memory foam mattresses are comfortable and easily doable for a couple nights. This too would depend on your mom's age, health, mobility issues, etc. It's lower to the ground than a normal bed.

 

[utahkennedys]

Thanks, I think we better go with a 2BR or just add her in a studio the last 2 nights. I am worried about being too far apart, but I may be worried for nothing anyhow if I can't book at AKV at the 7 month window.

 

[hellerjw]

You shouldn't have too much trouble booking AKV at the 7 month mark, its a large resort. They also just recently declared another 8 2BR lock-offs and 8 dedicated 2BRs into inventory at Kidani which opens up another 16 potential units for you to book.

 

[dgaston]

I'm a Pooh-sized person and slept very well on the AKV sleeper chair. I was in my late 50's then.

 

[lundve]

I can let you know in a month. We are staying with my Mom and our two kids ages 3 and 6 in a 1BR Kidani for a week. The second bathroom was the big reason for us. She also doesn't mind sleeping with a child if necessary.

 

[Kiann3]

We had a one bedroom with 3 teen boys, and there was plenty of room. However our kids were ready to go back to having there own rooms. However ask for rooms closest to the center and 3rd floor. We were on the 4th floor and the furtherst to the building closest to Jambo house. It made using the refillable cups to hard it took 10 mintues to walk to the refill station, and my teens could slurp down a cup on the way back to the room.

 

[pditullio]

We're in sort of the same boat as you. Next month we will be staying in a Kidani 1BR with 5 of us - my older parents in the bedroom and DH, DS and I in the living room. Our particular scenario of recent trips and planned future trips left us just enough points where we had to choose between a longer stay in the 1BR or a shorter stay in the 2BR. I'm of the mind to always err on the side of a longer stay.

Plus we really wanted Savanna view, which none of us has ever done, which would have only been a night, maybe two, in the 2BR. .

We generally do one trip with them per year and one on our own, and we are doing 4 nights at Kidani and then moving to a 2BR lake view at BLT for another 4. I figure worst case scenario if it feels tight at Kidani is that we spend less time in the room for the first half of the vacation and do more in-room time during the second half. Given the second bathroom we figure we can "rough it" for the four nights.

Can report back to you if you like...

 

[utahkennedys]

Thanks everyone, I think we will try for a 2BR value and keep our fingers crossed!

 

[disfanforlife]

We're in sort of the same boat as you. Next month we will be staying in a Kidani 1BR with 5 of us - my older parents in the bedroom and DH, DS and I in the living room. Our particular scenario of recent trips and planned future trips left us just enough points where we had to choose between a longer stay in the 1BR or a shorter stay in the 2BR. I'm of the mind to always err on the side of a longer stay.

Plus we really wanted Savanna view, which none of us has ever done, which would have only been a night, maybe two, in the 2BR. .

We generally do one trip with them per year and one on our own, and we are doing 4 nights at Kidani and then moving to a 2BR lake view at BLT for another 4. I figure worst case scenario if it feels tight at Kidani is that we spend less time in the room for the first half of the vacation and do more in-room time during the second half. Given the second bathroom we figure we can "rough it" for the four nights.

Can report back to you if you like...

Wow, you are really nice to your parents - giving them the bedroom!!! We told my parents that they could come with us on our next trip but they have to sleep on the pull out in the living room!

 

[Inkmahm]

I'm a Pooh-sized person and slept very well on the AKV sleeper chair. I was in my late 50's then.

My mom was 76 when she slept on the sleeper chair last year and she loved it. Said it was actually more comfortable than the sleeper sofa so she used the chair rather than open the bed.

 

[drusba]

If there is a place where 5 can be comfortable in a 1BR Kidani is it next to OKW. The sleeper chair will sleep an adult. Of course, a 2BR is even better. For those going with savanna view at Kidani, I just recommend making one non-guaranteed request: "close to lobby." That puts on Sunset savanna, which has giraffes,and close to all amenities (restaurant, store, pool, bus stop, community hall), and will also, regardless of which side you get, put you close to an animal feeding area. You may also want to request "lower floor" for a more direct sight line at animals

 

[bbn1122]

We are a family of 5 doing just what you are thinking of this August before our cruise. 4 nights in a Standard View 1 bedroom Kidani. DH, me and 3 sons, 17, 13 and 11. I want to save points. Also, we are having our first DVC stay in 3 weeks in a 2bedroom a BLT, so I figure they get luxury one trip and will have to rough it a little on the next.

Also, I figure we will get to see which we prefer and it is only 4 nights.

Good luck with your 2bedroom. I will let everyone know how it works for us.

 

[becca-becca]

You shouldn't have too much trouble booking AKV at the 7 month mark, its a large resort. They also just recently declared another 8 2BR lock-offs and 8 dedicated 2BRs into inventory at Kidani which opens up another 16 potential units for you to book.

This may be a dumb question, but where did the 16 units come from? Where they unfinished until now?

 

[dgaston]

"Declaring" means that the rooms were sold to new DVC members, and are now a part of DVC inventory, not the regular WDW hotel inventory. And that means all DVC members have a chance to book them.