New DVC Member - AKV

[jggomb]

Hi Everyone,

My wife and I bought into DVC (AKV) on our last trip at the end of August. We're very excited and we've booked 2 trips already (2br, OKW Oct 26-28 and 2br SSR Feb 18-25th) on bonus developers points. I'm getting ready to make our first reservation at our home resort in the 11month window and was wondering which area of the resort I should try to get our room in?

Also we've never stayed at AK so is there anything we should make sure we see/do? How about the restaurants?

Thanks and I'm sure I'll have more questions about DVC in the future.

Jamie

 

[brkgnews]

Oooh - a newcomer on all counts!

Welcome to WDWMagic! :wave:

And Welcome Home (to DVC)! :wave:

And a big "Howdy, Neighbor!" :wave: since I'm a DVC member at AKV as well. I haven't stayed there yet (just bought in earlier this monthy) so I can't offer any info on where to stay, but what I've seen is that it's a very nice resort all around.

I'm taking my developer point to Disneyland this winter and will probably take my first trip "home" in April or May of 08.

 

[Phonedave]

Hi Everyone,

My wife and I bought into DVC (AKV) on our last trip at the end of August. We're very excited and we've booked 2 trips already (2br, OKW Oct 26-28 and 2br SSR Feb 18-25th) on bonus developers points. I'm getting ready to make our first reservation at our home resort in the 11month window and was wondering which area of the resort I should try to get our room in?

Also we've never stayed at AK so is there anything we should make sure we see/do? How about the restaurants?

Thanks and I'm sure I'll have more questions about DVC in the future.

Jamie

I just booked April 08 in AK. All that is open in April is Jamba house, so there is not much of a choice as to where to go in the resort. You do have your choice or Savannah, Standard or Value(roll the dice) rooms, but the rest of the DVC rooms have not been built/renovated yet.

I don't know what wings will be open when you go, because I don't know when you are going but either way, its going to be in the main building. The DVC only buildings wont be done for a while.

-dave

Oh and welcome to WDWMagic and Welcome Home

 

[MPitzen]

Congrats & Welcome Home! We're also new members at AKV. We just joined on our honeymoon as our wedding present to each other, last week.

I have not yet stayed at AKV/AKL. However, to answer your question about dining or anything else to do... If you want to stay concierge level then you can book either a morning or an evening special safari. I have eaten at both Boma & Jiko both were wonderful. IMHO Boma is the best buffet at disney. Jiko was very good, however I don't know that it was worth 2 credits on the dining plan... and if you're not on the dining plan it can get quite expensive. I would look at allears.net for more info.

 

[ZapperZ]

Hi Everyone,

My wife and I bought into DVC (AKV) on our last trip at the end of August. We're very excited and we've booked 2 trips already (2br, OKW Oct 26-28 and 2br SSR Feb 18-25th) on bonus developers points. I'm getting ready to make our first reservation at our home resort in the 11month window and was wondering which area of the resort I should try to get our room in?

Also we've never stayed at AK so is there anything we should make sure we see/do? How about the restaurants?

Thanks and I'm sure I'll have more questions about DVC in the future.

Jamie

Welcome Home!

We almost bought into AKV during the special members preview for the opening of Disney's Doorway to Dreams store, but we ended up adding to our existing points at SSR. We decided to choose the resort with a lower maintenance cost. Still, we will be staying at AKV (Savannah view room) this coming February, and hope to get those rooms again Sept. next year.

As for restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boma is my #1 most favorite place to eat anywhere in WDW. I just love the food, and I could easily camp myself right next to the coconut seafood soup and the lamb stew. If you want fine dining, the Jiko is way up there on the list of restaurants to try. Note that if you're on the dining plan, Jiko uses 2 table service points per person.

Zz.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Welcome aboard :wave:

 

[MaxsDad]

Welcome Home, Neighbor!

I had been to the Lodge twice before my first DVC stay at AKV last month. Let me tell you to believe everything you hear about Boma. It is great, both breakfast and dinner. Also, Mara is a pretty good food court too. You should definitely try a delicious desert called Zebra Domes. They are available at Boma during dinner, and in Mara whenever it is open (refrigerated case).


If you've got the points, I recommend "paying" for Savannah View. Being your first time there, I say go for the most immersive experience you can. I would request "Zebra Trail" as it is on the side of the resort opposite from the construction of our new home, Kidani Village. This area is where we stayed, so it does have finished rooms available.

is there anything we should make sure we see/do? Explore! I don't want to divulge all the little nuances, and I certainly don't know them all, but you should walk around the resort at various times of day and night for sure. Be sure to explore the pool area after dark.

 

[MPitzen]

I forgot to mention before... for all of you Boma lovers... I recently learned that if while at Boma you ask for the chef's special dessert you will get something special brought to your table... this is always the same thing and it is included in the price of the buffet. I don't want to ruin the surprise of what it is.

Hope you enjoy!

 

[deanglin]

New

This is my first WDWmagic post, we are also new DVC & AKV owners.
We are planning for a Christmas trip 2008, we can not wait!:xmas:

 

[ZapperZ]

This is my first WDWmagic post, we are also new DVC & AKV owners.
We are planning for a Christmas trip 2008, we can not wait!:xmas:

Welcome Home!

Zz.

 

[brkgnews]

Welcome Home! (and welcome to WDWMagic!)

 

[dvcnut39]

To all the new DVC members- Welcome home! We've been members since SEP02 and our only regret is that we don't have more points. Other than that, we love it.

 

[farmgirl]

Hi Everyone,

My wife and I bought into DVC (AKV) on our last trip at the end of August. We're very excited and we've booked 2 trips already (2br, OKW Oct 26-28 and 2br SSR Feb 18-25th) on bonus developers points. I'm getting ready to make our first reservation at our home resort in the 11month window and was wondering which area of the resort I should try to get our room in?

Also we've never stayed at AK so is there anything we should make sure we see/do? How about the restaurants?

Thanks and I'm sure I'll have more questions about DVC in the future.

Jamie

Sorry but can you tell me what bonus developers points are and how you would get these...thank you:wave:

 

[DisneyPhD]

Sorry but can you tell me what bonus developers points are and how you would get these...thank you:wave:

These were an incentive to purchase at AKL. If you bought 160 points, you were given an additional 160 points to use in the first 6 months. At one point they were offering double developer points too.

 

[dznygrl]

We stayed at AKL 2x before we joined DVC in 2003, and it ranks #1 with me, and a tie between AKL and the Poly for my husband. We leave in less than a week for our annual trip (8 nts at OKW, 4 at AKL) and are SO excited to stay at AKL again!!

Next to the Poly, we think AKL is the best smelling resort! The smell of Boma, Jiko, and wood burning firepits greets you at the front - mmmmmm. Explore the entire place, you will find savannah lookouts in unexpected places (one of our favs is back behind the pool), friendly CM's, beautiful artifacts, and, I have to agree with the other posters, Boma and Jiko are the BEST restaurants! They are 2 of our "can't miss" places on every trip.

Have a fantastic stay, and welcome home!