AKL versus a moderate?

[MickeyMickey]

In your opinion is AKL worth $1,000 more than a moderate for 7 nights two rooms? There are 3 adults and 3 children 5,4 and 1?

Please share your thoughts either way

ThankS!

 

[Lilolvr]

I don't think that AKL is worth a $1,000 more than CSR but everyone is different.

AKL has interior corridors, queen beds and obviously a chance for a savannah
room to see the animals. But if you're talking about a regular room, then I can't see spending that much extra.

CSR has a better pool than AKL, a bigger slide and is closer to the parks (other than AK) than AKL.

CSR has a marina to rent boats, fish or rent bikes and has some deluxe amenities like a spa, salon and fitness center.

 

[4greatboys]

I love AKL but Im not sure I would pay the $1000 extra. That would probably cover all your food and souveniers right there.

I would stay at CSR and use the money on the rest of your trip.

 

[Cool-Beans]

It depends on your budget. That's a question only you can answer.

Is it a more pleasant stay? IMO, yes. But I wouldn't go into debt or anything for a more pleasant stay.

 

[SGMCO]

We stayed at CSR last Oct. and found it to be Very Pleasent.
It was very quiet, not crowded at all, rooms very clean, good food
at the PM, good bus service to the parks.
DS and I would do an Early AM walk around the whole place which was very relaxing and beautiful (plenty of tropical flowers & landscape).
How can you get anymore Pleasent than that?

My DS loved the pool area and there was a fun playground near
the pool in the Digsite area.

I felt like I was in a deluxe resort and my budget liked it also.
This WDW trip we are trying another MOD--POR and hoping we will like it
as well.

 

[ExtinctDino]

The $1000 difference I hope covers a savannah view room? AKL was nice, but unless money is no object I would stay at a moderate instead. We stayed at AKL when there was a promotion a few years ago - pay for 4 nights, get 3 nights free. So the price difference between it and a moderate was much smaller than it normally is.

 

[MinnieSummer]

IF you have a savannah view room and plan on spending time there then yes it is worth the difference. The two AKL restaurants are wonderful (one buffet and one table service). However, keep in mind that the fast food place is nothing more than a typical fast food court with very limited menu while the food court at CSR is huge and offers every type of food from chinese to mexican to italian to american (if you are on the DP it counts as counter service). The pools are both very large and AKL has a zero depth entry which is nice but for theming CSR's is much better. The atmosphere inthe lobby of AKL is incredible, in fact the entire resort is has very immersive atmosphere. At CSR the atmosphere extends throughout the resort as well but in a very different way possibly because you are outside at CSR while at AKL everything but the animals is inside.

IF you do not have a savannah view room or are not planning to spend time there then I say don't spend the money. CSR is a great resort. If we can't afford deluxe then we always try to stay at CSR before any of the other mods.

 

[AngieInOH]

I think it really does depend on your budget. Money no object.... without a doubt I would choose AKL. Is $1,000 worth it, in my opinion no. We stayed at AKL in 2005 there was a special so we spent approx $400 extra to stay at AKL rather than a mod. That vacation was a splurge so I'd say $400 was worth the upgrade. Our next vacation is going to be on a budget. We could easily afford AKL but we've made the decission to spend as little money as possible (staying at Pop)..... it's very hard coming home from just a 7 day vacation and have $5,000 less money in your pocket no matter how magical it was (at least it is for me). So on our next trip I would say $400 is not worth the upgrade.

A couple more things I would like to point out..... because we were at the parks so often we really didn't get to enjoy AKL. There was so much for kids to do but we were never there. Evaluate how much time you'll be actually spending at the resort. The pool was nice but our DS only got to go swimming twice. If you do decide on AKL I would seriously consider an upgrade from Standard View. We were put into two different standard view rooms (first night we had 2 queen beds, second night they moved us to a bunkbed room at DS request ). Both had terrible views and by that I mean no view at all...... no daylight nothing. You looked out to a roof that come down over your head. My DH had to watch his head or he would hit it on the roof above. We eventually were moved to a pool view. It was heavenly. Now about the animails....you didn't specify if you would book a savanah view. I thought my DS (5 at the time) would love the animals and want to watch them all the time. That was not the case. We sat down a couple of times in the public viewing areas but he really did not show an interest in seeing the animals. I'm not saying he didn't enjoy them, because he did....just not as much as I thought he would. Maybe it would be different with a Savanah view, not sure.

Good luck in making your decision!

 

[mika911]

Well, it's because you have a lot of guests and 2 rooms that the jump from moderate to AKL is so much more. Plus, 7 nights is a pretty long time.

I just got back from the AKL, and I was really impressed. It's a deluxe resort, for sure. I stay less nights and many less people, so it would never cost me $1000 more, but for me, it was well worth the extra $400 I paid approx over moderate, for 4 nights. We spent quite a bit of time resting in the room too, and the entire lodge is such a nice and comfortable place to be.

However, if it's important to keep the budget down, saving $1000 is a huge amount of money. For me though, I've now realized that the resort is a big part of my stay, as much as the parks I think, and I really loved the AKL.

 

[kikiq]

IF you do not have a savannah view room or are not planning to spend time there then I say don't spend the money. CSR is a great resort. If we can't afford deluxe then we always try to stay at CSR before any of the other mods.

I agree...with a 6 and 3 yr old, you're not sure how they will love or LOVE the animals plus the time spent in the resort. Depending on your children, the AKL activities are wonderful and a great intro to African culture. You know best if your children will enjoy that type of activity. I know when my oldest was 3, she would have loved those activities, my youngest...no way.

 

[jr-nm]

It depends on your budget. $70/night per room might not be that bad. Of course the Moderate resorts have plenty to offer a family especially with little kids. However, we have a bias for the AKL. For $70 night per room, it would be a no-brainer for us. Of course it might be a no-brainer in the other direction if our budget was different, as it was when we were younger.
Re AKL, being newer, the rooms are more updated. Being more out of the way, the prices are usually a little lower as demand is less. The AKL is our favorite resort. IMHO it has a true luxury feel to it. I don’t know if any other resort other than the Floridian can top it. We generally stay in luxury hotels and the level of customer service at the AKL is outstanding. Simple as a luxury hotel, I would rate the AKL as much better than Hyatt, Hilton, and better than Westin. Perhaps just below Ritz-Carlton. A drawback to the AKL is that it is more remote than the other resorts. Disney’s renowned attention to detail really shows in the AKL.
If it is a “value” decision, go for the AKL. If it is a “budget” decision, the moderate price resorts have a lot to offer a family. Let me know if you want any opinion on rooms etc.
JR

 

[Buzz2001]

I would definitely choose the mod over the deluxe to save $1,000. Especially since CSR is a great resort. Check out my CSR website below for pics and info.