AGGHHH! Second Guessing Myself AGAIN!

[skw2020]

Staying at AKL would definitely be worth the extra $400. . . . and don't forget the special early morning safari perk when you stay at AKL. GO FOR IT! You will still get plenty of food with the regular DP.

 

[Cee]

Do it, do it, do it!

 

[Mrs. Chilly Twist]

You will definatley enjoy that beautiful hotel and will have more time to enjoy the hotel and parks w/the reg ddp...otherwise you would be in restaurants all day!!!!

 

[beachgrl001]

Staying at AKL would definitely be worth the extra $400. . . . and don't forget the special early morning safari perk when you stay at AKL. GO FOR IT! You will still get plenty of food with the regular DP.

What is this early morn. safari??? more info please

 

[skw2020]

What is this early morn. safari??? more info please

I keep seeing it on the Travel Channel (Undiscovered Disney). I believe it is only available to guests of the AKL. You get to go very early in the morning on the Kilamanjaro Safari when ALL the animals are out. Some friends of ours who are down there right now are staying at the AKL for their honeymoon. They called the other day and said that they went on the early morning Safari and it was the BEST Sarafi at WDW because ALL the animals were out.

I believe it may be considered a tour.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I keep seeing it on the Travel Channel (Undiscovered Disney). I believe it is only available to guests of the AKL. You get to go very early in the morning on the Kilamanjaro Safari when ALL the animals are out. Some friends of ours who are down there right now are staying at the AKL for their honeymoon. They called the other day and said that they went on the early morning Safari and it was the BEST Sarafi at WDW because ALL the animals were out.

I believe it may be considered a tour.

From what I read, it is only available to concierge level guests -- I think the sunset tour is available to all AKL guests -- or it might be the other way around. I am not sure, but I do know when I looked at the prices my jaw dropped !

 

[Charleston Princess]

You will definatley enjoy that beautiful hotel and will have more time to enjoy the hotel and parks w/the reg ddp...otherwise you would be in restaurants all day!!!!

That's what I figured too when I sat down and really looked at the big picture. On the deluxe plan, we had 13 TS booked and six of them were character breakfasts or dinners . That was just way too many -- now we have Donald's Safari breakfast and Chef Mickey's which were our heart's desires to begin with -- and a pool view at AKL . Who could ask for anything more?

 

[sajetto]

OP, you will LOVE AKL! Have a great trip!

 

[henrylovespooh]

Go with AKL. We've not stayed there, but we have visited for dinner a few times. It's wonderful.

If you want to save some money, here's what we did - we shipped a box of breakfast stuff and snacks ahead of our arrival - bagels, jelly, peanut butter, plastic forks and knives, the new cereal that comes in a bowl already, etc. In AKL, you'll have fridge in your room - buy some milk and keep it in the fridge.

Also, having done the dining plan when it included appetizer, entree and dessert, and now doing the basic plan with no appetizer, I'd say you'll be fine. I can't remember if the deluxe is all TS or not, but there are good counter service places to eat.

 

[lovemesomedisney]

We are having a similar predicament. I'm glad you're going for it. I think we are going to do a split stay. The Poly broke the bank a bit last time (well worth it I might add)!! I was thinking of 3 nights at SOG and 3 nights at AKL. Have fun planning!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Go with AKL. We've not stayed there, but we have visited for dinner a few times. It's wonderful.

If you want to save some money, here's what we did - we shipped a box of breakfast stuff and snacks ahead of our arrival - bagels, jelly, peanut butter, plastic forks and knives, the new cereal that comes in a bowl already, etc. In AKL, you'll have fridge in your room - buy some milk and keep it in the fridge.

Also, having done the dining plan when it included appetizer, entree and dessert, and now doing the basic plan with no appetizer, I'd say you'll be fine. I can't remember if the deluxe is all TS or not, but there are good counter service places to eat.

We have always enjoyed the CS places that we have eaten at -- in fact, the kids always ask to eat at Pecos Bill's at least once on our trips. It has become a stand-by for us!

I love your idea about breakfast stuff -- we are driving down so that is totally doable! Although, I must admit, I like my Mickey waffles when in the "world."

 

[Charleston Princess]

We are having a similar predicament. I'm glad you're going for it. I think we are going to do a split stay. The Poly broke the bank a bit last time (well worth it I might add)!! I was thinking of 3 nights at SOG and 3 nights at AKL. Have fun planning!!!

Any amount of nights at AKL would be worth it to me -- happy planning to you too!

 

[diskids2]

I vote AKL.....the dining plan already has so much food on it....you may not spend as much more as you think and I would bring some snacks and even quick breakfast foods.....since you will be eating a TS every day...and if you are going to the TS buffets....you can really eat alot. And the monorail set is really cool!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I vote AKL.....the dining plan already has so much food on it....you may not spend as much more as you think and I would bring some snacks and even quick breakfast foods.....since you will be eating a TS every day...and if you are going to the TS buffets....you can really eat alot. And the monorail set is really cool!

Obviously DS has been dreaming of that monorail set since he saw it last October. I asked him if he remembered how much it was and he immediately answered, "$50!" I was thinking it was more like $60, but DS could be right! Another one of my rationalizations is that the room at AKL is bigger, so there would be more room for said monorail set !

We were never hungry last year on the DDP, so I think we will be just fine this year -- I really don't know how we would have eaten all those credits anyway!

 

[PEANUT1]

AKL is one of our favorites....You should try to eat at Boma. I am not normally a buffet person, but it is YUMMY!

 

[Charleston Princess]

AKL is one of our favorites....You should try to eat at Boma. I am not normally a buffet person, but it is YUMMY!

Booked for a breakfast and a dinner (ate dinner there last year and that was when we fell in love with AKL) ! I can't wait!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

AKL - Go for it! You will be thankful you did. It will only add to the excitement of the wonderful trip you planned.