Old Key West 2 BR Villa or AK Kidani 2 BR Villa

[MissViv]

We are changing our trip again to get the free dining in September.

We are four adults with one adult sleeping in the living room.

Would you choose Old Key West or for $1,000 more AK Kidani Standard View?

For $1,800 more Savanna View?

The three bathrooms would be nice and the kitchen is a BIG plus.

I am leaning towards the AK because it is newer and the theming. Maybe we could book the standard and hope for an upgrade to Savanna?

 

[Tony the Tigger]

It would depend on my priorities at the moment. $1,000 is not nothing. If it’s being split 3 ways (?) that makes it easier to take.

If money is not a big consideration, OKW is nice, but AKL is a whole experience unto itself. I would definitely go with AKL.

We booked a standard room. At check-in, I asked how much it would cost to upgrade. It was too much. But the CM switched my room to what they refer to as a “partial view” and we loved it and saw many animals.

We also realized you can walk in the hallway a few steps from most rooms and watch the animals through giant viewing windows, and there are even designated balcony bench viewing areas - which were surprisingly not always in use by other guests.

The point is we decided not to pay for an upgraded room when we return, because it’s not necessary (unless there’s a great deal or something.)

 

[eliza61nyc]

So we just had a 2 bedroom savannah room at Kidani village.

Pro: the resort itself is theming at it's best. gorgeous.
Con: I really don't think the upgrade to the Savannah view was worth it at all. Our view had warthogs, a zebra type thing I think it's called an Okapi and a few other animals. after the first day of seeing them it was cool but you really just see them grazing. It's nice but 2 grand extra?
Con: hallways were god awful long. seriously.
I too would go with the standard but don't hold your breathe wishing for a upgrade. It's not like a room upgrade. If it's a 2 bedroom that is in disney inventory (not the dvc ) that's a big bucks

Old key west
Pro: larger accommodations
con: can be a drag if you are not close to the hospitality house and you don't have a car.
con: The theme can be a little muted. It is beautiful with great hints of disney mixed it but not that bold, in your face theme like AKL or WL
Pro: closer to more things.

I would probably go with OKW.

 

[correcaminos]

As an FYI upgrades in DVC are completely rare. Don't ever count on it.

Why will 1 be in the living room? IMO they are getting three short end of the stick. It will make the living area not as usable as a common area. If it had to be that way I'd pick OKW for the larger size. Love both though

 

[MissViv]

We are one family - me, my grown daughter & two grown grandsons (20 & 24).

When we first started planning this trip, we had reserved two rooms at Pop. Then my daughter thought it would be nice to have a kitchen and make some of our meals (probably not - maybe breakfast). So …. I looked in to getting a Villa. Looked at BLT, AK, OKW & Saratoga. Now we have changed our dates from Halloween week to September to get free dining so we really will not need a kitchen (although it would be nice) and may go back to two rooms. I have always wanted to stay at POFQ. I noticed today there is a 2 BR Villa at Copper Creek but they do not seem as nice as the other 2 BR Villa's. Thoughts?

We usually stay at a monorail resort but not cost prohibitive this time unless something comes up.

If we keep the Villa, it would be the boys in the double room, me in the Master, and my daughter in the living area. She has trouble sleeping and gets up really early 3:00-4:00 a.m. so she thought the living area would be better for her. She could make coffee and sit out on the balcony or read until everyone else gets up.

Decisions, Decisions, I am paying for the majority of this trip so they are leaving it up to me to decide with some input.

If we choose two rooms, she would need somewhere to go to in the early morning hours or else I would be getting up really early too and not a big fan of that. I am an early riser but not 3:00 a.m.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

With free dining and four adults, I think two standard rooms would be the best for your group, that way nobody is sleeping on a pull out. Have you priced out two standard view rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge? Your daughter would have a balcony or she could go to one of the beautiful common animal viewing areas at the resort.

Old Key West is in the middle of renovations. I don't know about the new furniture, but the old pull outs were miserable.

 

[MissViv]

Made our decision this morning - Boulder Ridge 2 Bedroom Villa. It was on the website this morning with Enchanted Escape Package that included park tickets. No dining but that is okay, we are saving money and will eat some meals in room.

Super excited - looked at some youtube videos and the Boulder Ridge Villas look great. I was not too fond of the Copper Creek Villas. We have stayed at Wilderness Lodge a couple of times before in a standard room when the boys were little. It's my daughter's favorite resort. Mine is Polynesian so far.

 

[correcaminos]

Made our decision this morning - Boulder Ridge 2 Bedroom Villa. It was on the website this morning with Enchanted Escape Package that included park tickets. No dining but that is okay, we are saving money and will eat some meals in room.

Super excited - looked at some youtube videos and the Boulder Ridge Villas look great. I was not too fond of the Copper Creek Villas. We have stayed at Wilderness Lodge a couple of times before in a standard room when the boys were little. It's my daughter's favorite resort. Mine is Polynesian so far.

Just saw your reply above and this. I think you made a good choice. WL is lovely and the BRV to me are more like the lodge rooms. We are trying CCV but we just wanted to try something new lol

 

[SyracuseDisneyFan]

Have fun.

 

[HwdStudio]

Look into renting DVC points and pay out of pocket for meals. May be cheaper. Disney rates for the DVC villas are ridiculous.

 

[correcaminos]

Look into renting DVC points and pay out of pocket for meals. May be cheaper. Disney rates for the DVC villas are ridiculous.

They are often discounted at least. I have a friend who books them regularly and renting often was the same price as renting

 

[HwdStudio]

They are often discounted at least. I have a friend who books them regularly and renting often was the same price as renting

Yes they do. Free dining will be tack rate though. The OP may be getting the better deal but I’d do the math.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yes they do. Free dining will be tack rate though. The OP may be getting the better deal but I’d do the math.

Renting points is also a crummy experience. You have to book way far in advance for any kind of decent availability and there's absolutely no flexibility in terms of cancellation. I don't know many people whose schedules are so absolutely certain that they can afford to lock down $3,000 for eight months with the risk of losing it all if an unavoidable conflict comes up. Not to mention the lack of daily housekeeping, which really makes a vacation less of a "magical" experience in my opinion.

 

[correcaminos]

Yes they do. Free dining will be tack rate though. The OP may be getting the better deal but I’d do the math.

Gah, forgot the free dining. I never do 'free dining' because I know it's not really free so I totally blanked on that. I agree. Rack rate is going to be stupidly high for what you are getting.

Renting points is also a crummy experience. You have to book way far in advance for any kind of decent availability and there's absolutely no flexibility in terms of cancellation. I don't know many people whose schedules are so absolutely certain that they can afford to lock down $3,000 for eight months with the risk of losing it all if an unavoidable conflict comes up. Not to mention the lack of daily housekeeping, which really makes a vacation less of a "magical" experience in my opinion.

What's too far in advance? Just curious. I'm quite used to 7-11 month booking now. I agree on the cancellation though. That's wh one friend will not book through someone else. I only 'rent' to family/friends.

Daily housekeeping though is not something I like, so that's a bonus to me. Sadly we have to have these 'security' checks that annoy me.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

What's too far in advance? Just curious. I'm quite used to 7-11 month booking now. I agree on the cancellation though. That's wh one friend will not book through someone else. I only 'rent' to family/friends.

I often book that far in advance, but I'd never be able to set things in stone that far in advance. Airline schedules aren't even out yet at that point.

 

[MissViv]

I did look into renting but there was nothing available for the dates we wanted. We do not have the dining package with our reservation, but we do have the magic your way tickets. The price is not outrageous considering it is a "deluxe" resort close to MK especially when looking at reserving two rooms and then we would have no kitchen.

This morning a Saratoga Treehouse because available for around $1,000 less but seems too remote and we would be losing a lot of time on buses. We will not have a rental car, using the magical express. I think most of our time will be spent in the parks.

 

[correcaminos]

I often book that far in advance, but I'd never be able to set things in stone that far in advance. Airline schedules aren't even out yet at that point.

7 months usually isn't an issue. I booked or air and resort ob the same day, but I totally get it. I have the flexibility to change my flights or dates. Admittedly that's why I would never rent. I can get one time use points or transfer instead.