After AKL will I be happy with a Mod?

[AngieInOH]

Two years ago we were able to stay at AKL because of an available discount. When you stepped into the lobby you just knew you were someplace special! I loved the warm feeling you got and all the smells. My son and I just loved walking around looking at all the displays. I just can't say enough about the place.

So after our wonderful stay 2 years ago would I be happy downgrading and staying at a Mod or Value? I just don't know if I would like our room being seperated from the main building/lobby. And I don't know if I'd get that same warm feeling like I did at AKL.

Honestly if I could have my choice I'd want to try WL. I just don't know that the funds will be available.

 

[TxRabbit]

First, let me say that I totally understand your concerns...we stayed at AKL in March and loved it. Now, let me also say that Disney is just a great place to vacation, whatever resort you stay in...working within your budget gives a feeling of comfort and relaxation and well-being to a trip that is not qualitative, so if your budget doesn't allow for a "deluxe" hotel...don't sweat it...look forward to a new experience...your mindset will have more bearing on how much you enjoy it...stay in the moment...appreciate things for what they are...try to avoid comparisons and just enjoy being on vacation. Enjoy your research. Planning WDW vacations is half the fun!

 

[kikiq]

AngieinOhio
I understand how you can just "feel" like home in a resort. Give the mods a try, who knows, you might find another resort you can use when you want the Disney magic but can't afford AKL. Our neighbors love CS. Personally we've only stayed at CBR, I liked it, my dh and dad never want to return<G> My suggestion would be to look at the resort maps to see which might meet your needs.

jmsadams
You are awesome...thank you for spreading the pixie dust and magic.

 

[AKLforever]

I will be 100% honest with you, no. Not one of the other resorts are anything like AKL. Take it from me. I love AKL, and will always try and stay there 1st. I have been to all the other deluxe, moderate and value resorts on a tour, and you dont get that same feeling if your an AKL lover. You just dont. Does that mean youll have a bad stay, Oh heck no.
You can still have fun with other resorts. And, it will make you miss and love AKL even more when you go back to visit the next time

 

[bradk]

i guess if you love AKL. it was nice, but it wasn't for me. my home is at POFQ.

 

[alldiz]

I know how you feel....

I feel the same way about WL....so much I bought WLV

The only mod I have tried was POFQ.....I really did like it...
Much more than I thought....
I would not hesitate to try it...

In fact I am going back there for free dining...

POFQ is very small.....so you don't feel overwhelmed.
Every room is close to everything.
Happy planning
Kerri

 

[Poohsmommi]

Two years ago we were able to stay at AKL because of an available discount. When you stepped into the lobby you just knew you were someplace special! I loved the warm feeling you got and all the smells. My son and I just loved walking around looking at all the displays. I just can't say enough about the place.

So after our wonderful stay 2 years ago would I be happy downgrading and staying at a Mod or Value? I just don't know if I would like our room being seperated from the main building/lobby. And I don't know if I'd get that same warm feeling like I did at AKL.

Honestly if I could have my choice I'd want to try WL. I just don't know that the funds will be available.

I love POR more than any deluxe I have stayed in yet!

 

[jonkatony]

We loved Akl and would love to return, stayed at POFQ would I return probably not, You get what you pay for, that said we are always happy to be at wdw.
If you have the money pay for a deluxe, there are no moderate hotels as good as a deluxe in my opinion.

 

[RKO1968]

We loved Akl and would love to return, stayed at POFQ would I return probably not, You get what you pay for, that said we are always happy to be at wdw.

I totally agree with this statement. We have tried both of these resorts and POFQ does not compare to AKL. The buses were the worst. Needless to say we won't be returning to POFQ anytime soon.

 

[antmaril]

We feel that way about the Boardwalk Inn. It is our favorite WDW resort and we love it. It's like going 'home' to us. We were there in January and had a great stay.

Fast forward to next month. We are taking our second trip this year and I need two rooms. We've decided to try Pop Century. To say I'm nervous about it, would be an understatement. However, many people seem to like it. It's only four days and I'm sure it will be fine. It will be an adventure! If I hate it, I never have to do it again.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

Depending on how long you are staying, I would think the difference between a mod and AKL would only be a few hundred dollars. If so, I would have a yard sale or take on some sort of extra part time job for a little while if it really means that much to you. If not, I would pick CSR as my favorite moderate. Good luck!

 

[Poohsmommi]

We feel that way about the Boardwalk Inn. It is our favorite WDW resort and we love it. It's like going 'home' to us. We were there in January and had a great stay.

Fast forward to next month. We are taking our second trip this year and I need two rooms. We've decided to try Pop Century. To say I'm nervous about it, would be an understatement. However, many people seem to like it. It's only four days and I'm sure it will be fine. It will be an adventure! If I hate it, I never have to do it again.

The "values" are ok if you're looking at it like it's only a clean place to sleep. To me, they are nothing more than an upscale Motel 6, or what I would imagine a Motel 6 to be like since I have never been in one. That being said, I have stayed there, and my daughter loves it, and I would go back if I had to. I prefer the moderates, and think the deluxes are a waste of money as they do not compare to a true upscale resort. Maybe the GF does, but the others certainly don't .... and the GF doesn't even come close to being the Ritz (close to the same price, but not even close to being comparable).

 

[mslclark]

I think you can - after all - it's still at WDW! I agree with you though, AKL is quite an experience. Our last trip we stayed at WL and then moved to CBR. And guess what? I liked CBR better than WL.

 

[antmaril]

The "values" are ok if you're looking at it like it's only a clean place to sleep. To me, they are nothing more than an upscale Motel 6, or what I would imagine a Motel 6 to be like since I have never been in one. That being said, I have stayed there, and my daughter loves it, and I would go back if I had to. I prefer the moderates, and think the deluxes are a waste of money as they do not compare to a true upscale resort. Maybe the GF does, but the others certainly don't .... and the GF doesn't even come close to being the Ritz (close to the same price, but not even close to being comparable).

I've never stayed at a Motel 6 either, but I really have no choice in this case. There are no moderates available for my dates. I've tried over and over and over. I've spoken with Guest Services and it's not going to happen. I've accepted it and that's it. I've decided to use the money I'm saving by planning another trip (not Disney) for early 2008. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to love it, but as my father used to say, "it won't kill you."

I agree that the Disney deluxe resorts do not compare to other upscale hotels like the Ritz, but I do enjoy a Disney Deluxe nonetheless.

I will report back on my experience at Pop Century.

 

[catbertdave99]

I think you can - after all - it's still at WDW! I agree with you though, AKL is quite an experience. Our last trip we stayed at WL and then moved to CBR. And guess what? I liked CBR better than WL.

We stayed at WL when my DS's were 10 and 7. Then we stayed at AKL when they were 13 and 10. The next trip, they were 14 and 11 and money dictated a moderate, and the kids picked CBR. Turned out we all liked it more than either of the deluxes we stayed at -- it's our new favorite and they asked me to always book there whenever we can return (we did again this March)!

Doesn't mean it will be that way for you -- it just is for us. The walk from our preferred location at CBR was shorter than the walk from our savannah-view room at AKL to anything! We enjoy food courts more than TS restaurants (really), and CBR is great for that. We love the Caribbean theme, and renting boats on the lake, using the quiet pools.... we really do!

Regardless, we're just excited to be at WDW, but we really do enjoy CBR!

 

[wdwmaw]

I know your concerns with going to a mod after AKL. We had to do this a couple of years ago and my DH was very concerned.We Love AKL and all it offers. But CBR was just so different. We passed football on the beach, kids played in the sand and we layed in hammocks, take a walk around the lake day/night, the quiet pools were allways empty and the boat rentals are so much fun. What I am trying to say is enjoy the mod and all it has to offer outside your room. AkL does not offer anyplace to just be outside and enjoy nature and all its surroundings. It is just a different experience and you should pick accordingly (beach, mexico or camp feel/riverside) and have fun!

 

[AngieInOH]

Thank you for all the wonderful responses. I've been nagging my husband to go back and I think he's about to cave If I can talk him into going it might have to be a bit more budget friendly than our last trip. I just worry it won't be the same experience. So I think I'll look at the mods try to pick one....if a special comes out just maybe we can upgrade depending on the finances.

For Mods I really like the POR theming however I hate those pedistal sinks!!! I can't imagine all of my stuff will fit on that tiny shelf.

 

[VAgal76]

I know your concerns with going to a mod after AKL. We had to do this a couple of years ago and my DH was very concerned.We Love AKL and all it offers. But CBR was just so different. We passed football on the beach, kids played in the sand and we layed in hammocks, take a walk around the lake day/night, the quiet pools were allways empty and the boat rentals are so much fun. What I am trying to say is enjoy the mod and all it has to offer outside your room. AkL does not offer anyplace to just be outside and enjoy nature and all its surroundings. It is just a different experience and you should pick accordingly (beach, mexico or camp feel/riverside) and have fun!

That's exactly what I found.

I'm an AKL lover without a doubt. We normally split our stay with it and another resort so we can have different experiences. This past Feb I decided to take my MIL on a short cruise along with hitting WDW before cruising. Seeing that I had several large trips this year I had to decide if we wanted to do more activities (V&A, La Nouba, Spa, dinner show) or nicer accommodations. Well, I thought more experiences would suit us. Since DVC intrigued me I stayed in BWV to get a taste of it and I also chose CSR for the other part of the trip. CSR has some deluxe features being a convention hotel (limited room service) and boasts some good food. It was an AWESOME trip. We dined at Jiko's one night and while I miss "home" I certainly didn't mind staying at CSR. The beds were comfy, the staff was great and I thought it was a beautiful resort in its own right. We enjoyed a margarita and wet burrito. The pool was really nice (such a shame that it was too cold to swim!). I took advantage of some hammock swinging, too. I've always hesitated staying in a mod especially after only staying in deluxe(concierge level) accommodations. I was scared I wouldn't be happy. The only thing I missed were the interior hallways and only because it was cold outside. It would've been no big deal had it been warmer.

I'll never hesitate to stay at a mod resort again.

 

[VAgal76]

Double Post!

 

[Cool-Beans]

The mods aren't as good as the deluxes. Really no way around that.

But, yes, you can be happy. Just make up your mind to be happy. Don't compare them. Go in remembering that it is what it is and set yourself to liking it.

I like CSR. I used to like CBR more, but CSR has kind of grown on me. It was staying in Casitas that did it, I think. I like those best. I do still like CBR, but I'd give CSR the nudge.

However, if you pick the theme you like best, you'll be happiest.