AKL Kidani 2 bedroom or VWL two 1 bedrooms or BLT??

[twodogs]

We are returning for our 4th visit to WDW next March, after our first Disney Cruise (!). We will only be spending 3 nights after the cruise at WDW due to work and school schedules, so the dates and length of time are set (WDW 3/13-3/16). It will be me, DH, our DDs (9 and 11), and my parents. We usually prefer to stay Deluxe, in a 2 bedroom villa, as we prefer to have a kitchen, my husband and I prefer a King sized bed (that is not in the same room space as the kids), and my parents have their room. As well, if possible, my kids prefer not to share a bed, so villas like BLT and AKL which have the pull out sofa and separate sleeper chair are ideal.

Now this trip is only 3 nights, so kitchen may be less of a need. Bedding arrangements are also less critical, though since we will just be off the cruise, it would be nice to have separation again for everyone!

We are able to get Military rates (my Dad is retired military) and have used them in the past. My dad (why not me??) also got the PIN offer, so we can use that. And there is the general public offer out. Our tickets will be Military Salute, so we don't need those.

I have priced out so many options, between what is available with Military, what is available on the PIN (not as good of prices as military but better than GP offer right now), and combinations thereof. Different rooms are available or not available with each different discount!! Confusing, and I had to make a spread sheet to sort it all out!!

We plan to go to all parks, and hop a little. It will be a fast trip compared to the week we usually stay, so proximity to the parks is important.

I have it narrowed down to AKL Kidani 2 bedroom villa SV (we stayed in this exact room type last year, with 40% military discount and really loved everything except the far proximity from the parks), available with Military discount; or VWL TWO 1 bedroom villas with military discount (no studio or 2 bedroom available with Military, and even the PIN code is more for a studio than the military 1 bedroom villa). Remote possibility of BLT 2 bedroom with points rental (I know, really remote chance that that is still open, though we are staying Monday-Thursday, so I though there might be hope...). All three of these price out similarly, with the points reservation the least. I have not done points before due to inability to cancel/change, and I'm not sure I want to go there now, but the proximity to parks with BLT is tempting (no military or PIN rooms at BLT, and cash is way too $$).

My questions concern construction at AKL and VWL. I have read as much as I can but I'm still unsure if this will have a really negative impact in March 2017 (I guess no one knows where they will be with it by then). I can kind of figure out AKL because we stayed there last year, but I don't know if VWL is much better proximity (bus times, boat times, etc) than AKL, to justify dealing with more construction? Plus at VWL, we would be separated in two different 1 bedrooms (and I don't know if that means a big distance potentially between rooms?)? Any advice is much appreciated!!!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There is very little construction at AKV. They are doing a soft goods refurbishment -- paint, wallpaper, carpet, linens. It is very non-disruptive.

At VWL, there is about a 50% chance your villa will have a construction view. The new pool will not be done by March without divine intervention, as it has pretty much not been started; about half the rooms overlook some of this area. VWL frequently shares a bus with another resort, but the boat access to MK is very nice, if not rapid.

 

[twodogs]

That is super helpful!! We really loved AKL but just got tired of long bus rides on our weeklong trip. Maybe it will not be bad over three days. It is our spring break (and many other's, I'm sure) and we have never gone at this time (usually I pull them out of school in early May). I'm concerned about the difference in crowds (cringe). But that VWL construction sounds significant. Maybe we will try it after it's completed. Thank you!!