AKL one bedroom value vs Poly studio with 2 kids

[justme0729]

Would you pick an AKL one bedroom value (I scored one at 7 month mark) or Poly studio? They are almost identical amount of points. We have a 2.5 year old and 9 month old on the trip. I want the space for sleeping arrangements and the kitchen for having some easy breakfasts/ lunches etc in villa but I also love the pool, monorail to Epcot and MK, fireworks etc from the Poly. My husband says the one bedroom for the space with 2 kids but I do really love the Poly. Curious what others would choose!

 

[Galactic Reversal]

For me it would depend on how good of sleepers they are and how much you value sleep, what parks you enjoy the most, what your days will look like, etc. We have a 3 y/o and a 1 y/o with a Poly studio trip coming up. Both of ours are good sleepers and the Poly studio has a lot of room. There’s the two bathrooms so you can tuck the pack n play around the corner if you need to. With their ages we’ll be at MK the most and we’ll probably go back mid-day for naps. It’s such a pain folding up the stroller for the buses, so the monorail and proximity to MK is a big consideration for us. Really looking forward to staying at Animal Kingdom when they’re a bit older though! I would definitely do it for a few nights of a split stay.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

That’s a tough one. I would lean toward the one bedroom for the obvious space, kitchen, washer and dryer. There is also a lot for your 2.5 year old to do around AKL For some quieter down time.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

AKL room.

 

[gisele2]

Did both resort last trip and I would go with the one bedroom with 2 young kids. You will have a better sleep. AKV is a great resort with kids , great pools , better than Poly in my opinion. You will have a full kitchen and not only a microwave. You have a washer and drier in the room, with young kids this is priceless.

 

[meekey7197]

Poly is one of our homes but my husband always has me try and switch to a one bedroom at 7 months if he’s coming on the trip. Value one bedrooms are such a great use of points their location within the resort is great just be aware that in jambo 1 bedrooms, the bathroom is not connected to the master. Some people hate it, some people love it. We have a teen boy who often travels with a friend and we very much appreciate it NOT being attached when it’s the only bathroom in the villa

 

[DeeBee3]

hmm...i would say AKL because when I thought my kids would take a nap, they never did. They ended up sleeping in the stroller, never in the room!

However, if you are committed to the nap in the room, then Poly is MUCH easier. However, the full kitchen, space and Washer/dryer is a lot to give up.

 

[michelelyn1974]

Choose the 1 bedroom just for extra space, washer and dryer, and full kitchen,

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Choose the 1 bedroom just for extra space, washer and dryer, and full kitchen,

Good choice! That wash/dry option really can help with packing requirements - we can take less!! Hope you and the kids enjoy the resort and the trip!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

1BR no contest. The pools at AKV would be a preference too.

 

[drusba]

You are familiar with Poly and know that it provides fairly easy access to MK and Epcot.

The AKV value 1BR is fairly small, about 630 sq ft, but still larger than a Poly studio. Though the kitchen is small, it has a full-size refrigerator and stove. Having a w/d is a definite plus over Poly. All the value rooms are fairly close to the Jambo lobby, the large store, pool, and bus station. A possible downside is that, unlike Poly, it has not had a recent refurb and still has the pull-out couch bed in the living room, whereas Poly’s second bed is now the pull-down-from-the-wall Murphy bed, which many have found to be more comfortable than the couch pull-outs. Poly also has the extra Murphy bed that pulls out of a cabinet, which AKV does not have.

Jambo has three restaurants, Mara, a counter service with lots of seating including outside towards the pool. Jiko, an expensive but very good table service, and Boma, which I consider one of the best buffet restaurants at WDW. From a value room, it is a short distance to an elevator that takes you to the restaurants. Four of the value 1BRs have Sunset savanna view, four pool view, and two front entrance area view (from which you see mostly trees and bushes), see this map: www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-akv/floor5-large.htmll. The value rooms are the rooms along Giraffe and Ostrich Trails. Unless things have changed, MS will not take location requests for a value room; it is just luck of the draw.

AKV buses to (and from) the parks stop first at Kidani and then Jambo, except during morning rush times they often have direct buses to MK from both. The Disney Springs bus runs Jambo to Kidani to DS. The buses do not stop at any other resorts. The trip to AK is less than 10 minutes; to other parks 20 to 25. Generally, I have found the bus system at AKV (with only two stops at the resort) to have fewer extended waits than when staying at other DVC resorts. And AKV has the savannas for viewing animals and lots of daily activities for kids.

 

[kes601]

I'd pick AKV but would do it at Kidani. The one bedroom has 2 full bathrooms.

ETA: I missed the part where you were looking at the value 1BR, so Kidani wouldn't qualify.

 

[justadreamaway77]

Having the bedroom as a dedicated sleeping space and then having a sitting area where you don't have to tip toe around, can talk, eat, drink, watch tv, etc is priceless. Bring a blow up twin mattress and use the hotel's pack n play. You can all sleep in the bedroom and the adults can enjoy some relaxing time during naps and earlier bedtimes. Plus, preparing and storing food in a full kitchen is so much better than a studio kitchenette. We have stayed in the 1 bedroom value and they are located right off the lobby on the 5th floor. So convenient!!!

 

[Princess Merida]

Another vote for the 1 bedroom at AKL. We love Jambo house and AKL has so many fun activities for children.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Very good point made that a Value 1BR has what amounts to a guaranteed location.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

With a 9 month old and toddler I would go with the 1 bedroom just for a washer and dryer alone. My kids went through a lot of clothes at that age. Plus a full kitchen for washing bottles and making food. A full size trash can for dirty diapers.

It’s a lot more convenient.

 

[Anthony1971]

Being there at one time I would take the 1BR. Most likely naps will be in the stroller and you will be leaving the parks early evening. The extra room plus the kitchen and washer and dryer are extremely valuable. The monorail is good to go to MK but the biggest issue should you choose not to walk through the TTC from EPCOT the best I can say is enjoy pushing the stroller(s) up the ramp to transfer. I love the POLY but with young kids in strollers we absolutely avoided the monorail resorts the bus rides were a nice time to relax. Yes folding a stroller can be a problem although not one we had like most are single button collapse. If I had to choose a monorail the POLY would be it being you can walk from TTC but only BLT was available for us and that was a huge mistake on EPCOT days. You will get a small idea as even the slight incline from the Jambo bus stop will be a chore at night. Think flat routes not fast and start at Mexico in EPCOT. You will have lots of time for fast when they walk.

 

[cockermon]

Note that the AKV Jambo value studios are few and often gone on the first day at 11 months booking window.

You may not get this opportunity in the future to have the value 1 bedroom at AKV. I say go for it!

 

[meekey7197]

Note that the AKV Jambo value studios are few and thpically gone on the first day at 11 months booking window.

She’s talking about value 1 bedrooms which at certain times of the year are not impossible to get at 7 months

 

[_auroraborealis_]

She’s talking about value 1 bedrooms which at certain times of the year are not impossible to get at 7 months

Also, she already "scored" one.