AKL or Contemporary with young kids???

[SleepingUgly]

I got the AP rate for our 8-night stay in May at the AKL. Now I've found out that for about $400 more, we can stay at the Contemporary. I'm tempted to "ugrade" since we will be travelling with our two young daughters (5 and 2), and I've heard that it's best to stay at a monorail resort with young kids -- mainly for convenience of entering/exiting monorail with strollers and proximity to MK.

However, I'm also leaning towards AKL because of the zero-entry pool (my girls are not the greatest swimmmers, heh) and the fact that we may get a room with a bunk bed, which the girls would enjoy.

I've also heard some 'funky' things about the rooms at CR. Are they really that dated, or have they been renovated lately? And we would be in a "standard wing room." Is that worth the extra $400 compared to a standard-view room at AKL? And how is the pool at CR?

Can someone puh-leeeese help???? Any thoughts on the two resorts???

Linda

 

[rt2dz]

I have not stayed at the contemporary (I hate the look and feel of the resort, will be doing Poly Dec. 06 for the monorail), BUT we stayed at AKL last Sept with ds3.5 and ds7m (at the time).

All of us LOVED it. DH would move there. DS4 was insistent that we stay there again. It is an amazing resort. Excellent staff (CM). Fantastic views--the giraffes slept outside our balacony. It is one of the top rated resorts in the world for good reason.

We had to fight with ds to get out of the room every morning. Then out of the halls. Then out of the lobby.

However, by the time we decided to go this May, all the ap rates for AKL were gone, so we will be staying at WL. We are looking forward to it though

 

[Peter Pirate]

Forget the pool as a decision maker unless you'll be spending a lot of time there (my opinion, of course)...It comes down to animals vs. monorail/MK ... If your kids will be enthralled with animals, try the AKL...If it's likely to be a ho hum, ok we've seen them lets do something else thing AND you're planning on visiting the MK multiple occasions then the CR would be better.

Don't worry about the decor, I loved the room a friend rented in the tower.

 

[hezreck]

We stayed at AKL with our then 6 year old DD. We loved it. They have so many activities for the kids to do, that you could easily spend a full day at the resort doing them. I have never stayed at Comtemporary, but to me it looks very stuffy and not kid friendly. Whatever you choose, have a great time!

 

[Densgirl]

I've stayed in both and I'd stick with AKL. Although we stayed in the tower at Cont, I liked the AKL rooms MUCH better. They seemed newer, cleaner and just nicer in my opinion. The Contemporary was nice for walking to the MK but I found the Contemporary's monorail exits akward for DS's wheelchair. The way they load the elevators and wheelchairs using a single elevator with barely clearance for the lines that form stressed me out. DS and I ended up walking most times we went to MK. I liked the Contemporary okay and appreciated the historical significance of it but I couldn't help leaving feeling we'd been overcharged a little for the stay there. The only time I've ever felt anything like that leaving Disney too.

We stayed in a standard at AKL and liked it better. We had a parking lot and busstop-view room and still we just loved it. There are a million opportunities to view animals from this resort inside and out. I'm sure the savannah view is even lovlier but we didn't regret our standard at all.

 

[Amy&Dan]

This is funny because I asked this same question not too long ago. Our choice was AKL savannah or Contemporary Tower. I got about 10 responses as I recall and all but one said stay at the Contemporary! Now I read this one and wonder if I did the right thing! I think it boils down to what you the parent would enjoy since kids seem to be pretty much happy anywhere, especially the age your kids are. I picked the Contemporary because of my son's love of Chef Mickey's and the Monorail and this trip is for his birthday. Also, since I was a kid, I dreamed of staying there. I have never thought of the CR as being "stuffy", we'll see how I feel after our October stay. Good luck!

 

[Cameo]

Is there anyway you could do a split stay? If you are indeed doing 8 nites, you could go 4 nites to each and then schedule your MK/Epcot days when you are at the CR, using the convenience of the monorail. We have started doing split stays and really enjoy it. I do find that you need at least 4 days to get the most of one resort, though, so that would work out perfectly for you.

We have stayed at CR and were not that crazy about it, besides the convenience of the monorail. We are trying AKL for our next trip, but splitting our stay with the Poly.

 

[kandeebunny]

AKL is a pain for us, its so out of the way of everythign as we don't like AK anyways. The CR is nice with the monorail access to the MK. It is just more convienient.

 

[ryannsmom]

AKL is probably better bet. You could have a long walk to the monorail or lobby in CR wing rooms. I felt like I was on a convention because it had a business feel to it.

 

[MissionMouse]

Spilt stays are nice and both resorts you have mentioned are Deluxe Resorts. You pay more for the Contemporary and less for the Animal Kingdom for one reason...location, location, location.

Younger children want to spend their time at the Magic Kingdom and during the peak seasons, the bus system is not the most enjoyable part of anyones vacation. We enjoyed the Contemporary Resort with its unique restaurants, the views and it proximity to to the MK, allowing us to walk to a from the resort (5-7 minutes).

We find staying at the same resort during an extented stay gets a little 'boring.' We like the feel that a resort provides during the earlier part of our stay and have decided to try split stays that coincide and support our park plans to have a level of excitement as we all explore or enjoy the services of the resort. Our trip in 2005, will be a split between two resorts.

 

[tifandjim]

In my personal opinion, I think that AKL is more kid friendly. We hope to take my 3 yo neice to AKL this fall!

 

[Selket]

We stayed at the AKL in '03 when my boys were 5 yrs old and 20 months old and for our next trip I have the CR wing room booked (they are 7 and 3 now). The AKL is a beautiful resort and we were ugraded from standard to savannah view at check-in for no charge. However I REALLY want to be able to WALK (!) to the MK and have the convenience of the monorail. I'm looking forward to seeing the electric water parade too. Besides the remoteness of the AKL the other thing that really got to me after awhile was the lack of dining choices. With little kids we spent more time in the room and pool and we ate at Boma's (which is AWESOME) but the rest of the time all we had was Mara - and I got tired of Mara VERY quickly. The kids didn't like the food there so much either. At the CR you have a much wider range of dining options within easy reach - the CR, boat to WL, the Poly and GF and even the MK or Epcot. The rooms are also much bigger at the CR. Oh, and did I mention you can WALK to the MK?

Biggest downside to the CR is the lack of a baby pool. I don't think you can beat the location. The AKL is a beautiful resort though and very unique - I don't think you can go too far wrong with either.

 

[Tiffany]

I got the AP rate for our 8-night stay in May at the AKL. Now I've found out that for about $400 more, we can stay at the Contemporary. I'm tempted to "ugrade" since we will be travelling with our two young daughters (5 and 2), and I've heard that it's best to stay at a monorail resort with young kids -- mainly for convenience of entering/exiting monorail with strollers and proximity to MK.

However, I'm also leaning towards AKL because of the zero-entry pool (my girls are not the greatest swimmmers, heh) and the fact that we may get a room with a bunk bed, which the girls would enjoy.

I've also heard some 'funky' things about the rooms at CR. Are they really that dated, or have they been renovated lately? And we would be in a "standard wing room." Is that worth the extra $400 compared to a standard-view room at AKL? And how is the pool at CR?

Can someone puh-leeeese help???? Any thoughts on the two resorts???

Linda

We would vote for staying withe the AKL, but we do not have children. IMO it comes down to how much time do you feel you will be spending at the MK? If you are going to be spending the majority of your time at the MK and you can afford the additional $400 without breaking your vacation budget then switch to the CR. If you are going to be visiting all of the parks and you feel that you can use the $400 better on something else then stay with the AKL. It all comes down to what is important to you and your traveling party.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I love the AKL, but I would personally choose the MK. That is where you will be spending a majority of your time. Our 2 year old and bunk beds at the WL did not mix. I was constantly getting him off of the ladder. He thought he was on a playground.

Lori

 

[SleepingUgly]

Thanks for everyone's response. I went back and took a look a the numbers, and it looks as if we would only need to pay an extra $300 for eight nights if we decide to upgrade to the CR. That makes it even more tempting ...

Another question, please -- Do all standard rooms (even the ones not in the tower) have a daybed? Can this be made into a regular bed? So if I had my 5-year-old sleep on this, would she be comfortable? She's about 44 inches tall and 36 pounds.

Also, I looked at the floorplans for the standard rooms at CR. Do my eyes deceive me, or is there just one sink outside the actual bathroom itself, and then another sink inside the bathroom? Is there enough counterspace?

And if we were to get a garden wing, I'm thinking of the North Wing, for its proximity to the tower and bus stops. Would you recommend a first-floor room, which has the patio but I've read you would have to share it and it is often covered with bird doo-doo, or an upper-floor room, which has no balcony?

I'm still not decided yet, but the convenience factor is really making CR more tempting to me ...

Thanks!

Linda

 

[Mickey Fliers]

We have stayed at the CR wing rooms twice and had a great time. Both times we were given "corner" rooms that were abslolutely huge. One room actually had a full dining room table. We never had problems with bird "poo" on our patio. I have three boys (7,5 and 2) and my 7 yr old (52 inches, 70 lbs.) slept on the day bed just fine. I think it works out to be a twin. It is pretty great to walk back to your resort in the afternoon when the kids are tired. Also, if you stay late for Spectro or Wishes, you do not have to wait (sometimes and hour) to get back to your resort. I would definately pick CR. AKL is very nice, but just too far out of the way for our liking.

HTH.

 

[sandraB]

We just got back from the AKL, and we all loved it (sons 7&10).

Waking up to animals outside your room is something you never forget...my sons were just amazed at their proximity to zebras and giraffs! There is something calming and serene about the AKL.

I would pick the 15-20 min bus ride over the monorail just to experience the AKL. BTW, we never waited more than 5-10 min for a bus...and it didn't seem inconvenient at all!


The pool is amazing, with a zero entry area for little ones....it has such a tropical feel to it. We loved the atmosphere of the AKL, and would highly recommend it! I love the parks...but for us, the hotel is such a big part of our stay...and this one was amazing.

just my opinion!

 

[ElizabethB]

We've stayed at both AKL and CR-garden wing. With children the age of yours and only a $300 difference, I would definitely pick CR. AKL is an absolutely gorgeous hotel and the experience of animals outside your window is almost surreal it's so neat.

But, with small children I think the convenience of CR outweighs the more beautiful, unique and lovely of the two resorts.

The CR rooms are quite large compared with the rooms at AKL. There is a nice-size table for breakfast in the room. If you're on the first floor, the patio is nice.

While the ambience at CR will never even touch AKL, IMO, the convience factor outweighs everything else!

 

[LibertyLover]

I have stayed at, and loved the CR, although at the time I was there I had my godchildren who were 10, 13 and 14. I also have stayed at and loved AKL, with just DH and more recently, on our last trip in January, with our own DD2. On the January, 2005 trip we also stayed at the Poly so I can speak to the convenience of the monorail. I will admit that having the monorail at the hotel was convenient, however, I think for children your daughters' ages, AKL would be more interesting. I know that my DD loved going to the window and checking for animals (Raff mommy, Raff!). In fact, I have to go to Florida for a family wedding in May and afterwards my DD and I are going on a quick 2 day "girls only" trip to WDW. Originally I had booked at the CBR, which I also like, but just yesterday I switched to AKL so that my DD can be entertained by the animals and the zero-entry pool, since she has never been in a pool before.

 

[BostonRob]

We have chosen AK for our upcoming trip with our 2 year old daughter, but this was heavily influenced by price. If I could stay at the CR tower or Polynesian for the same rate (or if money wasn't an issue), I'd do it in a heartbeat. But, that is probably more influenced by my childhood memories of those resorts than anything else.

As far as the convenience factor goes, CR is convenient for MK, but isn't anymore convenient for AK or MGM - and if your kids like the Playhouse Disney cartoons, they may enjoy MGM as much as MK. So you've got to weigh that before you decide that CR is more convenient.

But as far as entertainment for the little kids, it seems like the AKL offers a lot - at least for your older child. Do a little research on that before you decide. Character meals may be another thing to consider - I don't think AKL has any, but CR has the ever popular Chef Mickey's.