AKL Kidani OR Contemporary Bay Lake Tower/Villa?

[George69]

Which do you prefer (if you have been to both) and why?

 

[ElizabethG]

They are so different and I love them both. The last two years and our upcoming trip are all split stays between the two. I like to start the stay at AKV to start relaxing right away. The resort is so beautiful and the restaurants are great. It is a completely unique experience. After leaving AKV, we do a slightly longer stay at BLT because of the location. I love being so close to the castle and feeling emersed in Disney. They is easy access to great resort restaurants from there.

So, I can't pick! They are both so great. Sorry I'm not any help. You can't make a bad decision, IMHO.

 

[spiceycat]

first for AKV - what size unit are you staying in - studo then would go for AKL-Jambo house

for 1-bedroom and up - then AKV - Kidani

Now Love BLT - it is a wonderful place (for me) - that say others hate it.

when are you going and what is your favorite park?

 

[CTcruiser]

first for AKV - what size unit are you staying in - studo then would go for AKL-Jambo house

for 1-bedroom and up - then AKV - Kidani

Now Love BLT - it is a wonderful place (for me) - that say others hate it.

when are you going and what is your favorite park?

So important!

Both resorts are beautiful, but I would personally choose AKL.. However, it also depends on your family, if you have kids, etc. Personally, my family is not big on MK so the convenience of the monorail/walkway to MK at BLT is not as appealing to us. AKL has so much to do, FANTASTIC food (I love Saana and Jiko) etc. The atmosphere of AKL is more relaxing to me as well which is why I prefer it. BLT is nice, don't get me wrong, but I always feel more rushed when staying there [if that makes sense]

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yeah, I think they are too different to really compare like that. It depends what you want to do from the resort. If you want to go to MK a lot, then Contemporary wins. If you want to hang out at the resort and go to AK, then AKL is the winner. I vote for a split stay!

 

[Harlemgirl720]

I own at both and usually do split stays. I love the serenity of AKV and the convenience of BLT to MK. Can't go wrong with either choice. If you are staying in a 1BR they both have 2 bathrooms. 2 BRs have 3 Baths.

The studios at Jambo are a little smaller than the studios at Kidani. I prefer to stay at Kidani. First on bus route for pickups and dropoffs except the DTD bus. Not that it really matters. I like the pool better at Kidani. Has a splash area for the kids (and big kids

 

[George69]

first for AKV - what size unit are you staying in - studo then would go for AKL-Jambo house

for 1-bedroom and up - then AKV - Kidani

Now Love BLT - it is a wonderful place (for me) - that say others hate it.

when are you going and what is your favorite park?

At AKV it would be Kidani 2 bedroom with savannah view........Going Aug, fav parks: Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I am also going with 3 children ages 12,11 and 9.

 

[RookieMouse]

We just did a split stay in March: 3 nights at AKV Kidani in a 2-bedroom savanna view, followed by 4 nights at BLT in a 2-bedroom theme park view (yes, we were burning off some points and we had my sister and her son along). I agree with previous posters about going to AKV for the relaxation and atmosphere and BLT for the convenience of the monorail. (BLT is our home resort.)

 

[princessap]

I have contemplated the same split stay....doing 3 nights CR and then 4 nights rented points in AKV....we love MK so that is what is stopping me from booking AKV but the resort itself looks amazing!!!

 

[RapunzelsGoodMom]

Sounds like there are quite a few that feel the same way I do (makes me feel a little less crazy). Lately we have always done split days with these two. We drive down so we start at AKL - one of our most favorite hotels in the world! We do two nights pregrocery delivery because the food is so good - and just hang at the hotel or do AK park which is neve a full day for us. Love driving in, hitting the fabulous pool (and pool bar for us) and letting the kids enjoy the activities and animals. And mine are little 2&4.

Then we hop over to BLT for four nights or so to focus more on parks. Love the location and seeing both in the same trip. We eat in more while enjoying the lake views and then hit the parks and monorail resorts. Best of both worlds!

But Kidani for the animals, activities and pool
BLT for location and more Disney feel/excitement.

 

[disneynanacat]

Count us in with a split with the two. I've stayed at CR and AKL a few times and looking forward to the villas this coming trip!

 

[jtwibih]

Quick split stay question for you guys.....
Let's say I wanted to rent points for DVC for one half of the stay and book a regular room for the other half of the stay (let's say BLT and YC). What you would recommend regarding the ticket situation and how it relates to the dining plan. I know with DVC you don't have to have tickets to add the dining plan but if you book a room through Disney, you do. I want park tickets for the entire stay. Is there anything special that needs to be done?

 

[kappyfamily]

We did a split between AK jambo savannah view 2 bdrm and a BLT 2 bdrm our last trip. Amazing doesn't describe it. We loved them both in their own special way. If I had to choose 1 it would be BLT. It's awesome.