Wow, the New Animal Kingdom Villas has really limited eats...

[slappy magoo]

If what I'm reading is accurate, it seems that there's limited dining opportunities at the new Animal Kingdom Villas, unless you either make your own meals or get the far-from-cheap room service. One new sit down restaurant (which admittedly sounds great), and some limited dining by the pool bar (with no breakfast options). Sounds like there's no additional food court, made OR planned. This means that some people will really have a hike to get to Mara (considering that the distance twixt the main entrances of both the Lodge and the Villas is a half mile - if your villa is all the way on the edge of the villas area, you'll need to pack a meal so you won't get hungry on the way to your meal!). Not to mention, I wouldn't be surprised if Mara gets overwhelmed sometimes, especially in the mornings. Anyone know if there are potential plans for more dining options? Or there were plans that got scrapped?

 

[SanFrancisco]

Do you think that they're assuming people at the villas will more likely cook for themselves? I thought that the DVC places had kitchens and part of the reason folks enjoyed the DVC was that they could prepare their own meals. I don't really know much about it. Does this sound right to anyone?

 

[jonnyc]

Do you think that they're assuming people at the villas will more likely cook for themselves? I thought that the DVC places had kitchens and part of the reason folks enjoyed the DVC was that they could prepare their own meals. I don't really know much about it. Does this sound right to anyone?

That does sound logical.

Does the sit-down resturant do breakfast?

 

[Princess Clayre]

I'm fairly sure it's the same at the Bay Lake Tower too. I can't see that everyone's going to want to cook themselves.

 

[disneyfan56]

I'm always surprised when someone comments about limited restaurants in the resorts. In the 15 years we have been staying in DVC resorts, most of our meals are in the parks. We hardly ever eat where we are staying.
We also bring light things for breakfast, too. So lunch/dinner is always eaten while we are in the parks.

 

[krankenstein]

Several of the DVC resorts are the same way. The one on Hilton Head Island has a pool bar that offers hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. but that's it. No food court, no sit down restaurant. I assume that Disney thinks people who buy into DVC are either going to eat in the parks, at local restaurants (in Hilton Heads case), or cook in the room.

I'm fairly sure the KV @ AKL is not the only DVC resort at WDW that does not have a food court. I want to say OKW or SS is also lacking one.

 

[MaxsDad]

Per my experience less than two months ago ...

To the previous poster, the sit down does not have breakfast.

The "gift shop" has a very limited selection of grab and go food. But to give perspective, it is more limited than Beach Club's Marketplace.

I was dissapppointed that the pool bar was not accepting DDP credits back in May. But that may change.

All theme park buses stop at Jambo before departing for the parks, so that makes getting to Mara pretty efficient. However, only the DD bus stops at Jambo, then procedes to Kidani. That makes getting back far less likely to be quick. My solution was to use valet. It is free for members, so it only cost a couple of bucks each way for tip.

I did find Mara to be more crowded than I remember last time.

 

[MKCP 1985]

I'm fairly sure it's the same at the Bay Lake Tower too. I can't see that everyone's going to want to cook themselves.

Bay Lake Tower has no restaurant (only a bar/lounge on the roof), but you can walk via the connecting bridge to the Contemporary's restaurants - a much closer walk than at Animal Kingdom!

 

[Mr Toad]

If I have a kitchen, I am cooking. Well, I'm at least going to cook breakfast and some lunch.