AKL, OKW, or POFQ?

[MarBee]

Looking at a stay in June and am the most indecisive person there is.
I can get AKL, SSR, or OKW (all standard rooms) for the same price.
I can get POFQ for $60 a night cheaper.

Which would you choose?

It will be DH, 10 year old, 8 year old, and myself. We will spend a lot of time at the pool (weather permitting) and spend a lot of time at HS and MK, but will do a night at Epcot and AKL each as well. Our priorities are cleanliness, pool, and location.

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

AKL is a beautiful resort and even without a savannah view, there are lots of places to sit, relax and watch the animals. Quite a few standard rooms have partial savannah rooms, so you may be lucky with a room request. We have never had any problems with transportation there and if legs are too tired Lyft and Uber are inexpensive.
I think it is quite a drop in amenities, comfort etc between AKL and FQ. FQ has the boats, pretty grounds and easy access to DS but it is difficult to find a nice place to just sit along the river, whilst avoiding the huddle of smokers. If you are looking at cost and considering FQ, look at the *** too. The refurbished rooms are almost identical, noise level the same etc. The sun loungers are quite spaced out at the ***, whereas around the pool at FQ, one feels like a sardine in a tin.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Site took exception to my abbreviation for All Stars . Will also add that AKL is very clean, both rooms and public areas. We were shocked by the state of the restrooms at the Poly and GF. FQ rooms were okay but a bit dusty in the corners. All Stars refurbished room was spotlessly clean.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’d pick POFQ. The three deluxe you listed hold no appeal for me. I’d rather save money.

POFQ is so small compared to most other resorts, it’s going to win out for me every time. The resort is clean, plus it’s a short walk to POR where you can enjoy the pools and amenities there as well.

I’ve personally never seen huddles of smokers or felt like a sardine by the pool as the previous poster has, but we all have different experiences.

 

[Nancyg56]

Looking at a stay in June and am the most indecisive person there is.
I can get AKL, SSR, or OKW (all standard rooms) for the same price.
I can get POFQ for $60 a night cheaper.

Which would you choose?

It will be DH, 10 year old, 8 year old, and myself. We will spend a lot of time at the pool (weather permitting) and spend a lot of time at HS and MK, but will do a night at Epcot and AKL each as well. Our priorities are cleanliness, pool, and location.

Thanks in advance for any input!

These resorts are all different and all have a specific appeal IMO. I would drop OKW and SSR from the choices personally. I like OKW but did nto find it convenient at all, and never stayed ar SSR. I love POFQ for size, convenient travel to DS and ambiance. AKL is gorgeous as well and has deluxe amenities, a great QS restaurant.

 

[MrsDuck]

AKL - always.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I would always go deluxe if possible, except for OKW and SSR. I don't care for them. I love POFQ but I would go with AKL. I've never stayed at AKL but it looks gorgeous and I would love to try it out.

 

[glocon]

Out of your options we have only stayed at PO and AKL. Liked them both and would stay at both again without hesitation. But would always pick the deluxe over the mod for basically the same price. Your kids are a great age for AKL!

 

[MarBee]

So we’ve stayed at all of the choices before except for OKW. We liked them all, but I like AKL the best of all of them. The appeal of trying a new resort was kind of cool with OKW, but I’m definitely wanting AKL. DH is telling me to save the money, but I might just ignore him
Thank you all for all of your insight!

 

[TCRAIG]

Pool at AKL is the best (my opinion) of your listed choices

 

[clayfolks]

We’ve stayed at all of them, too. I would absolutely go with AKL. It is probably one of the most unique resorts in the world (certainly in the US). The pools at AKL are great, as are the dining options. It is a very special place.

 

[Pooh2]

Hands down, AKL would be our pick.
We do rent a car though for getting around quickly.

 

[MarBee]

I think I am going to read all of your responses to DH (and omit the ones where I talk about blatantly ignoring him )
It should be AKL!

 

[Scubadaddy32]

AKL all day long. Plus they recently refurbished the rooms and they are great.
Here is the way the guys on the Dis rate all the resorts for various reasons and I agree with them.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Are you looking a renting points for OKW and SSR or booking directly with Disney? I'm guessing a studio, right? OKW studio will have two queen beds and a kitchenette. No real food court except for Goods to Go which is just a smaller sized counter service with limited options. In June the Turtle Shack should also be open at the Turtle Pond pool, but again, limited options. You can hop the boat to get to Disney Springs. There aren't many buildings with elevators at OKW, so if stairs are a problem, you'll want to request a ground floor. We are DVC owners and most of our points are at OKW. We've stayed there about 30 times and enjoy it. There are four pools to enjoy at OKW.

SSR studio will have one queen bed and one double sleeper sofa. You might wind up with one of the renovated villas with the newer murphy double bed. Artist's Palette is an upscale counter service, but still not a food court. You are a short walk or boat ride to Disney Springs. SSR also has four pools to enjoy and three of them are themed pools. The Paddock pool is nicely themed with a counter service and it isn't the main pool for the resort (that's at the Springs).

 

[dgagnon519]

I would pick AKL every time, but $60 a night adds up. Money would be the only reason to pick POFQ, AKL beats in every other category except maybe location to the parks.

 

[stinkpickle]

For just $60 more per night and your swimming plans, I'd say AKL is a good bet.

 

[SwanVT2]

We love SSR. The grounds are gorgeous. The paddock pool and main pool have awesome slides for kids. Love being able to walk to DS

 

[Disneypro1]

POFQ. Disney’s best resort. And for 60 a night cheaper. Yes please.
The money savings can never be over looked. As much as we love POFQ. We usually go Value to save money. But for your choices. POFQ wins. I do consider it next to Disneyland hotel at DLR. Disney’s best resort.

 

[Ohiostatefan606]

We've stayed at POFQ (twice) and AKL (once). We love POFQ. It is small, less walking to the main areas. While yes we also loved AKL, it was just huge. We like the quaintness of POFQ.
My son loved the pool at both locations, they both have slides.
We liked the boat to Disney Springs available at POFQ.
I also feel POFQ is a bit more centrally located. When we stayed at AKL, I felt like we were on the bus forever.
We have been to Disney 5 times, always over MLK weekend or President's Day weekend. So we are mostly in the parks, we don't have a non-park day. We haven't had the chance to participate in any of the extras available at the resorts (tie-dying, drum circles, movies at night etc.) so depending on your length of stay, checking into the "extras" might help you make your decision.