AKL or GF?

[marie1203]

We have to book our vacation this week but we can't make up our minds. Right now we have a Savanna view room at the AKL. Any suggestions?

 

[mickeynut1]

We haven't stayed at either resort but are anxious to try the GF in the near future . If I had to choose, I'd go for the GF as we love the MK resort area . Good luck deciding and happy planning .

 

[Minnie824]

We've stayed at both, and honestly, they're our two favorites. Before we stayed at AKL, GF was by far our favorite...but now, theres something about AKL we just love, and its our home DVC resort. I think to decide you need to plan on if you want to do the bus or monorail, and where you'll visit more. Both resorts are great.

 

[ugadog99]

This one is easy for us. The GF holds no appeal whatsoever for the three of us (mom, 2 teen girls: 18/15). However, AKL is our FAVORITE resort of all. I would pick AKL and use the saved money for more "trip stuff." Now, if you had said Poly or AKL, that would be a different story. I think all three of us would pick the Poly.

 

[ericaseiler]

I think it depends what you plan on doing. If you are going to ALL of the Parks than GF might be a better option as far as transportation goes. The AKL is out there and requires a bus everywhere. That being said, If I were going with my family, I would pick AKL but simply because I know my DD2 would LOVE to have the animals to look at. If I were going with just DH or when DD is older, I would probably pick GF.

 

[ugadog99]

As far as transportation goes, the GF shares buses with several other resorts and always seems to take forever with all the stops. True, the monorail is a definite plus for MK as is the water launch. However, AKL shares only with Kidani. We had always heard about how awful the transportation was at AKL, and to be honest, I had been concerned about that. Yet, in all our trips to AKL, (5 and the 6th one coming up in 2 weeks!) I have never had issues with the buses.

 

[marie1203]

Thanks everyone I guess what I forgot to say is that is just me and my husband and we will be there for 9 days so we will have plenty of time.

 

[KatMark]

We have wanted for a long time to stay at the AKL with a savannah view and, since we had to cancel this year's vacation, we are going to a split stay next year at the AKL/Savannah view with our home away from home resort (CSR). We've no desire to stay at the GF--it is too fancy and too stuffy feeling for us--just not our style.

 

[Stitch2244314]

That's really a tough one. For me, I prefer the theme of AKL to the GF. There's just something more exciting and adventurous about it. However, the location and transportation that the GF offers is beyond convenient. So this is really a tough choice.

I guess it comes down to this question: What would you rather look outside your window and see? A giraffe, or Cinderella's castle?

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

We stayed both resorts...I love GF b/c of the location and being on the monorail resort. I love that we can take the monorail to Epcot for our dinners. I like the pool/beach area of GF. The pool was less hectic than AKL. I love the shops of GF and did I say its a great location. My husband and son loved AKL b/c watching the animals from our balcony is an amazing experience. My husband liked the GF resort rather than AKL b/c of the location and the beds are more comfortable than AKL. Plus room service was so much better in GF than AKL. We all enjoyed our stay in AKL and glad we did it b/c I feel you should try a resort at least once but my heart will always be GF. The time we stayed in AKL we had a terrible time with the buses especially with MK (waited over 45 mins and no order of people trying to get on)...waited over 45 mins to go to downtown bus so we just jump on to an Epcot bus after 45 min...it could be the time we went but it was horrible.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We stayed AKL CL last Oct for 5 nights and it was just eh to us, the CL was great but the resort is too loud and too far away from the action for us. I would pick anything else

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Both are nice, but we like AKL better. It really depends on what appeals to you and how much importance you put on certain things. The monorail access certainly can't be beat at GF. We like it there, but aside from that it really holds no special place in our hearts. We are surrounding by Victorian architecture at home so that is probably why. We like AKL because the theme gives us a total escape from what we're used to. It also seems like a less busy resort since so many people feel like its in the twilight zone. We love sitting by the fireplace, the dim/romantic lighting, watching the animals and just the peaceful surroundings in general. No matter which resort you choose, I really don't think you can go wrong-you'll be at Disney after all!

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

We have to book our vacation this week but we can't make up our minds. Right now we have a Savanna view room at the AKL. Any suggestions?

We have stayed at both multiple times and if the prices were similar, GF hands down! Fireworks from MK are viewable from the dock, and they even pipe in the soundtrack. Monorail to MK is super-convenient, and you also have the water right there for transportation and recreation. Also, I have never paid for a Savanna view, but have always been able to see the animals from our room at AKL. Both resorts have very nice pools, but AKL has a very nice playground (if you have younger ones) while GF doesn't have one. Typically we have found AKL to be much more economic, which is often the deciding factor for us.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would go with the Grand Floridian because of their overall location, theme and a lot more transportation options.

 

[ekball]

Thanks everyone I guess what I forgot to say is that is just me and my husband and we will be there for 9 days so we will have plenty of time.

Well, in that case.....AKL!!!! I have stayed at the GF and AKL (Kidani Village), and though I do love being on the monorail, I Looooooooooooved Kidani and the feeling of being away from the hub-bub. DH and I stayed at Kidani opening weekend and it was just soooooo peaceful (nothing like staying at the GF), and relaxing, and just aahhhhhh.....wonderful!!! I respectfully disagree with the previous poster that said the GF seems stuffy....it's really not stuffy at all when you are there, but it is VERY busy, very loud (fireworks, etc.), and full of traffic. AKV on the other hand was quiet, relaxing, peaceful. Just perfect for a couples vacation.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

As far as transportation goes, the GF shares buses with several other resorts and always seems to take forever with all the stops.

Plus the Grand Floridian is the last resort where their guests are picked up and dropped off at.

 

[Dawn68PA]

AKL! You have a savannah view and no where else can you stay and see animals right from your balcony. It's wonderful! The lodge is beautiful, the staff is friendly and the restaurants are yummy. Be sure to rock in one of the many giant rockers around the resort and have some pineapple cheesecake at Boma. Enjoy the zero entry pool and huge hot tubs. I can't say enough good things about AKL!

 

[toodycat]

It really depends on which parks you tend to favor. I love both, but give the GF a slight edge because of the Magic Kingdom proximity. Also, you feel a little more part of the action at the GF because of the fireworks, electric lagoon pageant etc. On the other hand, nothing beats sitting on your balcony watching the animals in the savannah. Food at both properties is excellent. If you want character dining, you are better off at GF because of 1900 Park Fare. At AKL, the food at Boma is amazing. Either way, you will have a wonderful time.

 

[grace&philipsmom]

I'd keep the savannah view AKL. We stayed there last year. We would get CS breakfast from the Mara and eat out on the balcony watching the animals. It was so serene. I think I liked it better than my kids did!

 

[Pluto1976]

My DW and I just went thru the same dilemna albeit a bit different as we were deciding on btwn the Poly and AKL before we left to book our BounceBack special.

After a few Orange Dreams and allot of bus rides, we decided on the Poly over the AKL b/c of the ease of transportation, the wonderful beach areas which the GF also has, being so close to the MK, and watching the fireworks from the resort.

We have stayed at the AKL SV and loved it, but we love the beach and pools more as it gives another aspect to our vacation. Not to mention we love the Poly!