AKL before or after DVC?

[lisareniff]

I'm looking for opinions from the many experienced DVCer's here at DIS. We have only been to WDW and BCV(our home) once. We had a great time. While we were there we went to AKL for an aborted dinner at Jiko (DD2 got sick) and DH and DD7 wanted to stay there for a couple days next time. We are planning a trip for Feb 05 - President's Week- and are trying to decide if we should add on a couple days at AKL before or after our stay at BCV (or VWL).

Which works better? Before would allow expanding to a larger unit and doing laundry after AKL.

 

[barb45]

Besides the laundry factor, I also think that food factors in. We don't mind eating lunch/dinner out at the beginning of our vacation but after a while we get tired of it. That's why we like to have our kitchen after a hotel stay and we can have our own cooking. After all that togetherness in the hotel room it is also nicer to spread out at your condo. My son and I stayed at the AKL last December for a week (we had already used our points on a different trip) and we loved it!

 

[BillPA]

I would do AKL first. The rooms are smaller at AKL, and no laundry or kitchen. I think by going to AKL after DVC, the room would feel tiny. I was amazed at how small the rooms are at AKL, unless you plan on a suite.

 

[MinnieGi]

I also think before would be the better plan. Better to move from a small hotel room to a villa! The other way around may be depressing!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Another vote for before.
We are doing just that for April school break '05. We are hoping for AP rates for the AKL portion, as our BWV "home" portion of the stay is all booked, right at 11 months. AKL is our Fav', and we loved our dinner at Jiko. We found the food and service at Boma was great, but the atmosphere very loud. Jiko was wonderfully relaxed, with outstanding service, great food and amazing South African wines. Our DD, then 3, pronouced that she was a mermaid and that it would, therefore, be appropriate for her to consume the warm octopus salad (she loved it!). Can't wait to share AKL with my folks before we adjourn to a BWV 2BR.

Starting small and then spreading out later is a good call, IMO.

 

[jennymouse]

I'd like to offer a different perspective if I may. We actually just returned from a BCV/AKL stay on Sunday.

We've done the extra resort days both ways now and prefer the short resort stay at the end of our vacation rather than the beginning. Here's why.

1. If you're flying and using a towncar service for a grocery stop like we usually do, going straight to a regular room you don't have anywhere to keep your perishables unless you buy a cooler and keep it iced down or pay to have a refrigerator. It was nice to be able to arrive and put away the groceries in the BCV kitchen and fridge. By the end of our 5 night stay, we'd consumed our perishables and only had a bag of chips to move. So much easier than the last trip where we had the hassle with the cooler and then moving all our groceries over to the DVC unit.

Of course, if you have a car and can go to the store after checking into the DVC unit this wouldn't be an issue, but I still think it would be a hassle to grocery shop after I was already in vacation/touring mode.

2. The two trips that I stayed at a resort the first part of the trip I spent those two days anxious to get to my DVC unit. I just couldn't wait to get there. This time, after 5 days of cooking breakfasts/lunches, making beds and doing laundry, I was ready for housekeeping service and no cooking. It was like a mini vacation from my vacation. And in my case, I'd slept on the pullout sofa in the living room for 5 days and was glad to have a real bed too.

Of course, if you don't plan on cooking or making beds while there it won't matter.

3. Since there were six of us this trip, including 4 little girls ages 7-11, we got two rooms at AKL and it felt like we were more spread out, (and were, since our rooms were even on different floors) than all in the same villa together. I had two girls in my room and my friend had two girls in hers. That was half the giggling, half the clothes on the floor, half, well, you get it.

Of course, if you only have four people and are going from a 1 or 2 BR to one resort room it would be different.

4. It seemed to make our trip feel longer with the AKL days at the end. At the end of our 5 days and we were leaving BCV our vacation wasn't over, it was like extra bonus days. Doing the resort days first, I feel like my vacation hasn't started until I get in the DVC unit. I was already in park touring mode and didn't like the "moving" interruption at the beginning of the trip wereas I didn't mind it at the end because I was toured out.

Just my 2 cents. You'll love and have fun at both resorts either way!

 

[JimC]

The first time we did it OKW first, then AKL. It was fun, but decided we wanted to end at our one bedroom DVC villa from then on. So my advice is AKL first.

Also, consider upgrading to SV, and if you can afford it Concierge. SV is a wonderful way to start and end your day. And a private dinner on your balcony overlooking the savannah is a special treat. Concierge level guests can particpate (with payment of the appropriate fee) in sunrise and sunset safaris. The sunrise safari is less expensive and is done over at AK and includes breakfast. The sunset safari a smaller group and is done at AKL. It ends with an elaborate dinner at Jiko.

 

[CarolMN]

Are both "ends" of your trip on weekends? I'd want to save DVC points and so would choose Friday & Saturday nights for the AKL stay if I could.

I think jennymouse made some good points - might be kind of nice to be pampered right before going home.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Best wishes -

 

[Sabor]

We did an 8 night trip in April
Did BCV first then 2 nights at AKL.
ALthough it is tougher going to the smaller room , My wife did all the laundry at BCV and packed a small bag to take in to AKL. We enjoyed eating out after a week of saving $$ and eating in at our DVC. It felt like a whole new vacation.

My advice is whichever you do is to totally immerse yourself in the AKL experince. We only left AKL to do AK Very short Bus trip.
We did BOMA for both Breakfast and Dinner , Jiko for Dinner, The Mara one lunch , one Breakfast. ALL VERY VERY GOOD.
There is a lot of activities going on and you could spend three days there without leaving.

 

[lisareniff]

The kids are in bed, I can finally type!

My first thought was to do AKL last. Stay at BCV and do the parks, somewhat high energy, then move to AKL for a few days at the end and just relax and enjoy the resort. Then my DH decides he just HAS to do the sunrise safari. Now we are talking concierge, $$$!! Since it is only on Tues. and Sat. it was hard to do this at the end of our trip. I keep trying to get things to work. Finally I realize we could do AKL at the beginning of the trip and it might actually be as good or better that way. I also noticed if we go a day earlier it will be in value season. What is one more day off of school for DD8?!?! I thought I would run it by those that have experience first.

Currently I'm thinking we will fly down on Feb 16th the Wed. before Presidents Day, and stay at AKL for 4 nights(Wed-Sun) then transfer to BCV (or VWL) for 5-6 nights (Sun-Fri or Sat). We will do MK and AK in the mornings while we are at AKL and the crowds are less. I think moving to BCV 2 bedroom will be nice after 4 nights in a hotel eating out and all sleeping in the same room (8:30 bed time for everyone!!!). That has us conserving points and paying cash for weekend with value rates!

Jenny mouse, you have some good points but I think we were in the 'of course' clause of your points!!! (We will have a car and stay in a 2 bedroom)

We are really looking forward to AKL. Going on the Sunrise Safari will be really fun. I wish we could go on the Sunset one... maybe when the girls are older. We so much wanted to eat at AKL last visit!! It ended up being the low point of our trip. My DH had been looking forward to eating at Jiko and our little one was just not behaving well (usually she is really great!). So after being seated we left. I didn't want to spend all that money and have her ruin our dinner and probably everyone elses. I turned out she was getting sick and spiked a high fever that night. Oh, I guess we did eat at AKL - The Mara! So definately; Jiko, Boma, and Sunrise Safari!!!

 

[jekjones1558]

Sounds like you have a great plan. We leave in 36 hours and will do AKL first (Fri and Sat, when points are high) then OKW. I regret not booking concierge. Only suites were available and it was SO expensive. I'll try, just for the heck of it, to see if an upgrade is available when we checkin, maybe a last minute cancellation. But then the sunset safari may be fully booked. Anyway, prime considerations for us were wanting to get food after leaving AKL and being able to pack clean clothes for the trip home. Have a WONDERFUL time. Don't see how you can help that!

P.S. Presidents can be a busy time. Book soon!