advice please!!

[mousefan4ever]

Hello all!!!
We are trying to plan a trip for early June and I am having a real hard time trying to decide on our hotel. It will be 4, possibly 5 of us traveling...3 generations...myself, my 2 kids(12 &4) and for sure my mother. My father is very indecisive!!
Our first thought was to try to rent DVC points and stay at the AKL. I was also looking into a family suite at the AofA. My 4 year old daughter loves Mater
Im not sure I want all that "in your face" with the decor though. Our last trip we stayed at the POR in a royal room and it was so nice. A nice resort too.
Any advice is much welcomed and hopefully your experiences can help me decide!!

 

[DisneyBliss7]

We love AKV! We rented points and it worked out great I never stayed in a moderate or value, our family is too big. I had friends stay at Caribbean Beach resort and enjoyed it there I would love to stay at the Poly!!!

 

[mousefan4ever]

I have been looking into the CBR but not sure I want to sleep in the double beds. I would be sharing with one of my children and they are both bed hogs!

 

[Marionnette]

Hello all!!!
We are trying to plan a trip for early June and I am having a real hard time trying to decide on our hotel. It will be 4, possibly 5 of us traveling...3 generations...myself, my 2 kids(12 &4) and for sure my mother. My father is very indecisive!!
Our first thought was to try to rent DVC points and stay at the AKL. I was also looking into a family suite at the AofA. My 4 year old daughter loves Mater
Im not sure I want all that "in your face" with the decor though. Our last trip we stayed at the POR in a royal room and it was so nice. A nice resort too.
Any advice is much welcomed and hopefully your experiences can help me decide!!

You will need a 1-bedroom unit at AKV if you have 5 people but you would be able to get by with a studio if there are only 4 of you. If you're renting points from an owner, you will not be able to change your reservation, so make sure you are getting what you want/need when you book. You will probably want to make contact with a DVC owner soon if you have specific dates in mind. AKV is a large resort but certain rooms book up quickly because of the lower number of points needed.

Both AKV and AoA are great resorts but for different reasons. AKV is quiet and relaxing. You won't realize that you're anywhere near a theme park when you are there! It is also kind of remote and it will take you a while to get to the parks (other than AK). Kidani doesn't have a food court, which can be a bit of a pain if you want to grab a quick snack or breakfast. You have to walk over to the AKL lodge. The Kidani gift shop carries some food items and the soda refill station is located there. The 1-bedroom unit will have 2 bathrooms, just like the AoA family suites. You would also get a full kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, regular coffeemaker and a dishwasher, which the AoA suite will not have. And the biggest bonus will be the washer/dryer right in your unit.

The AKV 1-bedroom might run more money than the AoA suite but it might be worth it just to have the extras. If you can afford it, spring for a savannah view. Watching the animals from your balcony is pretty cool.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

You will need a 1-bedroom unit at AKV if you have 5 people but you would be able to get by with a studio if there are only 4 of you. If you're renting points from an owner, you will not be able to change your reservation, so make sure you are getting what you want/need when you book. You will probably want to make contact with a DVC owner soon if you have specific dates in mind. AKV is a large resort but certain rooms book up quickly because of the lower number of points needed.

Both AKV and AoA are great resorts but for different reasons. AKV is quiet and relaxing. You won't realize that you're anywhere near a theme park when you are there! It is also kind of remote and it will take you a while to get to the parks (other than AK). Kidani doesn't have a food court, which can be a bit of a pain if you want to grab a quick snack or breakfast. You have to walk over to the AKL lodge. The Kidani gift shop carries some food items and the soda refill station is located there. The 1-bedroom unit will have 2 bathrooms, just like the AoA family suites. You would also get a full kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, regular coffeemaker and a dishwasher, which the AoA suite will not have. And the biggest bonus will be the washer/dryer right in your unit.

The AKV 1-bedroom might run more money than the AoA suite but it might be worth it just to have the extras. If you can afford it, spring for a savannah view. Watching the animals from your balcony is pretty cool.

Keep in mind that with a AKV 1 BR the sleeping arrangements differ between Jambo House and Kidani. In Jambo house there is only a single bathroom. The master bedroom will have a king size bed, and the living room will have a queen size pull out sleeper sofa. That might not be enough bedding for 5 people, and who gets to be the lucky adult on the sleeper sofa? In Kidani you get 2 full bathrooms, a king master, and the living room has a queen size sleeper sofa, and an additional twin size pullout sleeper chair. So I would definitely go with Kidani for your party. The inaccessibility to quick service is countered by the fact that you have a full kitchen, and can buy some easy things to have in your room.

 

[mousefan4ever]

Our traveling party just went to a confirmed 4. My father doesnt think he can handle all the walking so he is deciding to stay at home. I am going to try to rent the DVC points for the AKL(probably wouldnt need the 1 bedroom villa) but I know that I need a 2nd choice. My son(12) likes the pictures of the pool at the CSR and my daughter(4) loves the look of the AofA. Im trying to find a way to make them both happy!!

 

[jasmine31523]

Why don't u split ur stay between the 2

 

[mousefan4ever]

We were only going to be there 5 days/4 nights. I think I might let my son be the "winner" because last time we stayed in the Royal rooms and he thought it was too girly!! The main reason for our visit is so my daughter can see her father who is in Orlando for school.