***The Official AKV Owners And Lovers Thread***. Come And Chat

[drusba]

This October will be our first time at AKV. Have been there a couple of times with once being for dinner last December (GORGEOUS!) but have never stayed. We got a split stay between AKV and BWV. We're staying in a Savanna view Studio at Kidani. I really wanted a 1 BR at Kidani but with a 9 night trip it just wasn't possible with only 1 bedrooms available at BWV. Still, one more resort to cross off my list! I'm a DVC member and I've also waitlisted Jambo House. I think I would prefer JH in a studio and KV in a 1 BR. Yes, I got a look at those bathrooms! How close are JH and KV anyway? Walkable?

How far you have to walk to get to Jambo from Kidani depends heavily on where your room is. Walking distance from front door at Kidani to front door at Jambo is about 1/2 mile. However, the Kidani building is about 2/3 mile long. Kidani has two wings, north and south. If you have a room near the end of the north wing, your distance to the front door at Jambo is is about 5/6 mile. On the other hand if you are way down the hall on the south wing near the Zazu elevator (last elevator on that wing and provides exit to ground level for walking to Jambo), you are only about 1/4 mile from the front door at Jambo. Be aware that there is a continuously operating shuttle (minivan) that runs between the two resorts, front door to front door.

 

[Yarbogash]

Looking to book for next December 7-10 at Jambo, studio or 1 br. We have stayed at Kidani before. Kids and I loved it but my wife was not a fan of the walk from our room to the lobby. Didn't start well because our first room was at the farthest end and lights in the main room did not work. So we walked and walked to the room, then all the way back and then down the other end to our new room.

At Jambo would club level be the best bet of being close to the lobby? I understand views from cl are not the best but might be worth it. Any other suggestions for getting what we want?

 

[erionm]

At Jambo would club level be the best bet of being close to the lobby? I understand views from cl are not the best but might be worth it. Any other suggestions for getting what we want?

The DVC Club Level rooms are on the 6th floor above the Jambo House lobby. The map in this LINK shows the 5th floor of JH. The CL rooms are directly above the rooms numbered 5202-5209 & 5401-5406. The CL Lounge occupies the space above the rooms numbered 5101-5106. There are no other rooms on the 6th floor.

The Values which are along the Giraffe & Ostrich Trails are close to the lobby, as are many Standard View Villas. Some Standard View Villas were previously classified as Savanna View, but reclassified due to having a limited or poor view of the savanna. The white spaces near the values are hotel rooms that DVC did not take over.

 

[Yarbogash]

The DVC Club Level rooms are on the 6th floor above the Jambo House lobby. The map in this LINK shows the 5th floor of JH. The CL rooms are directly above the rooms numbered 5202-5209 & 5401-5406. The CL Lounge occupies the space above the rooms numbered 5101-5106. There are no other rooms on the 6th floor.

The Values which are along the Giraffe & Ostrich Trails are close to the lobby, as are many Standard View Villas. Some Standard View Villas were previously classified as Savanna View, but reclassified due to having a limited or poor view of the savanna. The white spaces near the values are hotel rooms that DVC did not take over.

That is exactly what I needed to see. Tyvm!

 

[erionm]

That is exactly what I needed to see. Tyvm!

Forgot to include that many of the Standard Views face the Uzima Pool.

 

[JETSDAD]

We are officially owners here now. Had hoped that we could make our first visit as owners at our home resort but had points expiring soon so booked elsewhere. We then booked our first home visit for December in a value 1 BR. Happy to be on board here as both an AKV owner and lover!

 

[twinklebug]

Welcome Home JetsDad!

I traded in my 1br Value room for a 2br Savanna View when all my (adult-ish) kids indicated they'd be joining me. They're happy we have a savanna view, I'm happy to have the extra bathroom at Kidani

 

[jessrose18]

Hello! I rented dvc points for jambo value studio, my stay is next week. I know there are pool view, savannah view, and parking lot. My touringplans subscription is offering to send a fax to the resort to req a room view (i would love savannah of course). I know dvc tends to only work with the point owner. i dont want to piss anyone off at the resort. Is it ok to have the fax sent req a certain view as a point renter? Thanks for any advice!

 

[JETSDAD]

Hello! I rented dvc points for jambo value studio, my stay is next week. I know there are pool view, savannah view, and parking lot. My touringplans subscription is offering to send a fax to the resort to req a room view (i would love savannah of course). I know dvc tends to only work with the point owner. i dont want to piss anyone off at the resort. Is it ok to have the fax sent req a certain view as a point renter? Thanks for any advice!

I don't believe you can make location requests with value rooms (based on previous posts on here).

 

[tinabina919]

Hubby and I will be back here for F&W, the first week of October. We had a split stay here in January and loved it. Very excited!

 

[twinklebug]

I don't believe you can make location requests with value rooms (based on previous posts on here).

Correct. You get the luck of the draw when staying in the value category rooms.
Note, I was told that the room assigners do their job about two weeks out. Which means anyone checking in next week already has a room assigned to them now. Doesn't matter which category.

 

[princessbride6205]

Just booked our January trip! So excited to finally get back "home" after a couple years staying in other resorts.

 

[cruisin5]

Would booking a standard room put us close to the lobby? We won't be arriving until at least 9 pm and will be leaving the next morning after breakfast, both meals will be from The Mara so I'l love to minimize the walking if possible. Any way to guarantee a pool view? I'm afraid booking SV then requesting "near lobby" won't be sufficient.

 

[drusba]

Would booking a standard room put us close to the lobby? We won't be arriving until at least 9 pm and will be leaving the next morning after breakfast, both meals will be from The Mara so I'l love to minimize the walking if possible. Any way to guarantee a pool view? I'm afraid booking SV then requesting "near lobby" won't be sufficient.

I am assuming you are booking the Jambo building. Originally all the standards were pool view but then DVC converted a number of savanna views to standard. The result of that now means there are actually more standard views in other areas of the building than around the pool, see this map for location of standards at Jambo http://i.imgur.com/G2qaSva.png. There is no way to guarantee you will be close to pool because all location requests are not guaranteed. Moreover, requesting "near lobby" includes a number of rooms that are not pool view. If you want pool view request pool view and hope you get it; likewise if you want close to lobby, request near lobby and hope you get it.

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

Jambo! I need help with a Jambo House 1BR Savannah View room request.

Last time we stayed at Kidani and the view from our studio was antelope and birds. This time we would like to see giraffe and zebras!

Any suggestions for a room request? The pics on Touring Plans are very limited.

Also, is it sufficient enough to put the room request thru Touring Plans and/or should I also place the request in the online check in?

Thanks!

 

[BowlingAriel]

Thank you for this thread! I love Type A people who put all the info in one spot.

We are DVC members since 2010 - bought California (DD was cast member at time discount) & we own a business so planning something a year out is never an option.
We are addicted to OKW - Love Love Love their rooms. How does Kidani Village compare? We booked a 1bdrm Savannah view for May 29-31 I know, I know its gonna be packed with Avatar opening.
Does a 1bdrm have a full size washer & dryer? The Jet tub?
I've read to ask for Sunset Savannah for best Giraffe viewing.
How is the restaurant in the Village?

What else do I need to know.

Thanks in advance
Happy May <3

 

[jsrowdon]

We are new to DVC and recently booked our first trip to Kidani Savanna view Studio. What kind of room requests should we put in? Would love to be able to see giraffe from the room. Is it better to try to get something closer to Jambo house or the Kidani lobby?

Also, when do you normally put in your room requests? At the time of booking, closer to the date of the trip, or does it even matter?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kim Gillihan]

We are officially owners here now. Had hoped that we could make our first visit as owners at our home resort but had points expiring soon so booked elsewhere. We then booked our first home visit for December in a value 1 BR. Happy to be on board here as both an AKV owner and lover!

Wow, you were able to get december? thats pretty good isn't it? I think we are now shooting for Spring break since it will be another 45 days or so till I can hopefully book! So exciting...

 

[JETSDAD]

Wow, you were able to get december? thats pretty good isn't it? I think we are now shooting for Spring break since it will be another 45 days or so till I can hopefully book! So exciting...

I'm still working on figuring out what will be available when. Thankfully I was able to book before the 7 month period opened for December but I was surprised that a value room was open for a week straight (maybe that's normal, I don't know lol).

 

[twinklebug]

I'm still working on figuring out what will be available when. Thankfully I was able to book before the 7 month period opened for December but I was surprised that a value room was open for a week straight (maybe that's normal, I don't know lol).

I'm pretty sure you got the Value 1 bedroom unit I cancelled
Never give up looking!