A 2br suite at AKL or at the new Ritz?

[floridafam]

Well,

I have changed our vacation plans more times than I can count.

Anyway, would you stay in a 2br suite at AKL or a 2br suite at the new Ritz Carlton that is set to open in July in Orlando?

We originally had booked a 1br suite for 9 nights at AKL, changed that around a few times and now have ended up with the FT Package in 2 concierge rooms for 7 nights at AKL.

We just returned from a trip to FL and stayed in a suite for part of the trip. We just loved it and my DH said it's just so roomy and convenient that maybe should switch back to a suite at AKL.

They no longer have a 1br available and I wouldn't mind switching back because I really discovered that none of us like theme parks all that much on this trip-crazy, huh? So, we won't miss the UPH tickets. This trip will mainly be for rest, relaxation and so my DH can compete in a race.

They are working on a new Ritz in Orlando and the rates are actually a bit better than AKL. What would you do? We will only be going to MK for MNSSHP and don't know if we will be doing any other parks. I have heard rave reviews on the Ritz hotels.

 

[SuiteDisney]

If it would help you to decide, I have pictures of the AKL 2-bedroom suite... also the presidential and vice-presidential at the AKL.

2-bedroom suite.

Royal Asante suite (presidential)

Royal Kuba suite (vice-presidential)

I've stayed in the Royal Kuba suite and it was wonderful! Concierge treated us extra-special.

 

[floridafam]

I have seen your pictures and they are wonderful.

I've read a lot of articles in various travel magazines this year about the quality of the hotels in Florida and the Ritz Carlton hotels are always high on the list-especially the locations in Naples and Amelia Island.

I really enjoy new hotels and would like to see waht the service is like there.

The price is a little better than AKL but it is obviously not on-site. I am not sure how much we would miss that. We plan on spending a lot of time exploring the resort, sitting by the pool and just relaxing.

I suppose AKL would be a better choice but I'm not sure yet.

I never realized until our trip last week how much time we spend in our room and how a bigger room just works out so well for us so it does look like we will try for the suite instead of 2 concierge rooms.

 

[stlrod]

A suite at the Ritz or Concierge at AKL--Oh, I wish I had your problems. (Just kidding, I've been faced with a similar issue.) You didn't say how many were going to be in your party and whether there were kids. If 5 or less, I'd scrap both and go with the 1 BR JW Marriott suite which is over 800 square feet for only $289 this summer. Ritz is great but both will essentially be managed by the same group even though they will have separate management. The pool at JW will be much better (with lazy river) and you will be closer to it. I would also consider trying for FTP at BWV or BCV (I have seen 2 BRS come up on some dates.) Seeing animals laying around in hot sun would be nice. But for my money, I'd go with Grande Lakes because we will not likely see those prices again soon (especially the Ritz prices.) I'm also a big fan of splitting my stays (I love trying new hotels.) Consider this, buy an AP, book a couple of rooms onsite for 4 nights at the AP rate, then go offsite to JW. I'm very much like you: love trying new hotels. I finally decided 4 nights at JW then 3 at Royal Pacific. Then I booked us for inaugural sailing of Carnival Glory. So, now I have only 2 nights and I have to decide between RP and JW. I'm actually thinking I'll probably go with JW and then buy 4 of those Kodak cameras with the special express passes for Univeral. Plus, I get the Marriott points. If you stay at Ritz, no Marriott points. 7 nights at JW at $289 a night will get you about 30,000 points or higher depending upon whether you already have status with Marriott.

 

[floridafam]

There will be 5 of us. My DH, me, DS6, DD4 and my MIL.

We are traveling to FL for a triathlon in Clermont. We always go with my DH and turn it into a vacation.

I want someplace very relaxing. I never realized until our trip last week how much strain it is on my DH to do one of these races and I want to make sure he is as relaxed as possible.

We thought if we had the 2 concierge rooms booked he could sleep in one of them by himself the night before the race and we would sleep in my MIL's room.

Anyway, now he wants a suite and I saw an add for the new Ritz while researching our vacation. The people at the reservations line couldn't have been more helpful. I like first impressions and this one was very good.

You do have a point about staying at the Marriott. Is it connected to the Ritz property?

I can't get an AP rate on a suite at AKL so that idea won't work and we probably will only go to one park and just do things like the campfire, MNSSHP, maybe a fireworks cruise, etc. on the vacation.

I'll check out the Marriott. Thanks.

 

[stlrod]

If you haven't seen the website yet, be prepared...you will be impressed:


www.grandelakes.com

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

floridafam,

You are as bad as I am! LOL I have switched our NOV/DEC reservations more times than I remember. But the final plans are 4 nites at AKL 1 b/r suite and 5 nites at the Ritz Carlton (exec suite) ( I guess great minds think alike!) My husband travels alot for business and he is partial to Ritz Carlton so this will really work well for us. I have 3 small children and we like our down time so on-site is not such a big deal to us. One of our better trips was when we stayed at the Gaylord Palms. When I originally posted about splitting the stay between AKL and Ritz Carlton, one poster summed it up perfectly. The Ritz Carlton, how bad can it be? With that thought I went ahead and booked it. Good Luck in your decision.

Laura

PS Now stlrod has got me thinking about JW Marriott...will it never end!!

 

[stlrod]

Laura,

That's my goal--to confuse everyone. Notice how floridafam had narrowed her choices down to two. I came along and threw in a third one to add to the frustration. Misery loves company. I'm much happier now.

Rod

P.S. The good news for me is I can't cancel my cruise. I'm within the cancellation period. I'm down to deciding where to stay for the two nights afterwards.

 

[michelem]

Check out snobby policies at Ritz Carlton. We stayed at the Cancun property and men were not allowed in lounge with shorts, not even nice pleated shorts. We had to buy kaki's for DH in the gift shop for $65.

Also we saw people bringing their own beer in a cooler/beach bag, and they were kicked out of the pool area (you had to buy their $6 beers through the pool bar)

 

[ducklite]

This one is easy--you can stay in a Ritz Carlton anywhere. You can only stay at the AKL at WDW. Take the 2BR suite at the AKL--you won't be sorry!

Anne

 

[Beachangel]

Love AKL especially concierge, but given the choice I'd prefer the Ritz Carlton any day.

 

[Tea Please]

Originally posted by Beachangel
Love AKL especially concierge, but given the choice I'd prefer the Ritz Carlton any day.

I'm with you Beachangel. Although I liked AKL, the service paled in comparison to some of the Ritz Carlton's we have stayed at. My DH is in Orlando for business at least 5 times per year, and for the most part I am too. Staying on site is nice, but it certainly is not the be all end all to a fabulous vacation. There are so many wonderful hotels in and around Orlando and I'm sure the RC will be one of the if not the best.

floridafam, you really cannot go wrong with either, but I would choose the Ritz Carlton

Good Luck.

 

[awatt]

I would take a Ritz-Carlton anywhere. They are among my favorite properties. Service is unparallelled and the surroundings beautiful. It would also be a very relaxing place to stay if you are looking for that. And you will feel so pampered by the staff.

It soundds like either choice you can't lose.

 

[Puffy2]

I'd do the Ritz since you said you really aren't into the parks this time . THe Ritz is centrally located for all the Orlando attractions.

 

[Sammie]

Ritz Carlton.

That snobby policy is the reason they repeatedly get 5 star ratings and Disney does not.

AKL Concierge has gotten good reviews, ok reviews, and some very bad reviews.

I have never seen a bad review of a Ritz Carlton. For that kind of money I would want a proven winner.