AKL vs POR vs OKW

[DisAWin]

We are looking to travel to DW in June and take advantage of the free dining promo. Me, my husband, and two teens - aged 14 and 15 - make up our reservation. I've narrowed it down to Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans Riverside, and Old Key West. We would be in the most basic of rooms - a resort/parking view with 2 queen beds. With 6 day hoppers and the meal plan promo, there's a 600 dollar difference between POR and AKL/OKW.

Here are my concerns:
* Without a savannah view room, is AKL worth it?
* Does transportation from all three take forever?
* Will I regret not having the extra evening hours if we stay at POR?

We have stayed multiple times at AoA and Pop. I'm not really interested in the Skyliner, and the cost of upgrading the Values to the regular dining plan really wasn't that much cheaper than the three resorts I have it narrowed down to. We are typically rope-drop people who take a break in the mid-afternoon. We don't worry too much about fireworks.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mle8308]

A few things to consider. At AKL or OKW (I really don't like either and prefer POR but...), you would get evening extra magic hours, which is nice. Also, the dining plan would be the standard plan instead of quick service. It would include sit down restaurants, however you would have to tip. Depending on how you like to dine, AKL or OKW might be a better option. Though when you factor in tips for each TS meal, you will be paying more than $600 to upgrade. I personally, don't care for AKL and I don't know why, it's just a feeling I get there. OKW feels like a FL apartment complex to me. All be it, a nice one. It's too spread out for me and if in a standard room, you won't be all that close to the main buildings. Busses do come, but it can be a lengthy drive depending on where you are staying.

 

[Wood Nymph]

* Does transportation from all three take forever?
* Will I regret not having the extra evening hours if we stay at POR?

We have stayed at both OKW and POR and I would say that the bus service was about the same. The studio room at OKW has a balcony and a microwave. POR has more of a typical layout with a nice main pool and food court.

How many nights of your trip offer late night hours for deluxe resorts guests? They aren't offered every night.

 

[eandt]

We are looking to travel to DW in June and take advantage of the free dining promo. Me, my husband, and two teens - aged 14 and 15 - make up our reservation. I've narrowed it down to Animal Kingdom Lodge, Port Orleans Riverside, and Old Key West. We would be in the most basic of rooms - a resort/parking view with 2 queen beds. With 6 day hoppers and the meal plan promo, there's a 600 dollar difference between POR and AKL/OKW.

Here are my concerns:
* Without a savannah view room, is AKL worth it?
* Does transportation from all three take forever?
* Will I regret not having the extra evening hours if we stay at POR?

We have stayed multiple times at AoA and Pop. I'm not really interested in the Skyliner, and the cost of upgrading the Values to the regular dining plan really wasn't that much cheaper than the three resorts I have it narrowed down to. We are typically rope-drop people who take a break in the mid-afternoon. We don't worry too much about fireworks.

Thanks in advance!

1. Yes
2. No
3 Possibly

Would your 14/15 year olds be venturing off on their own? If so the boat to Disney Springs to hang out might be of interest. So that would put POR and OKW over AKL … otherwise I believe AKL is the nicest resort of the 3 you mentioned (we are DVC owners there) with a awesome pool and some of the best restaurants on property. OKW would give you the boat ride access to Disney Springs AND the EEH if that is important to you …

 

[Karalee402]

Just adding my agreement that if Extended Evening Hours are offered while you're there, I'd definitely book one of the deluxe resorts. We are able to get SO much done during those hours, and especially over the summer, it's great to be able to be in the parks when the sun is down!

 

[SwanVT2]

How about SSR so you can walk to DS? The Murphy bed is super comfy if that was a concern. It’s a real bed. Plus the quick service has more options at SSR

 

[meggiebeth]

In the same position I would definitely want to stay at a deluxe resort if possible to benefit from the Extended Hours. AKL is more impressive in terms of theming and scale but I prefer the location of OKW and would probably stay there given the choice. It’s lovely being able to take the boat to Disney Springs and makes meals over there in the evening super convenient.

If the AKL theming appeals to you more, I would consider staying there. AKL has more choice of restaurants, but OKW has easy access to all the restaurants in Disney Springs. I don’t think you can go wrong with either!

 

[elvispursley]

As a mom who has taken her two then-teen sons and stayed at all of them, I’d personally only stay at AKL or OKW simply for the extra evening hours—my boys were so HARD to get up and get going in the morning. We’d totally use the EEH with teenagers. Transportation from all were fine and about equal. The rooms at OKW are quite large (but a bit dated). Love AKL for the food and the pool! Animals are a plus as well! I love the theming at POR and being a able to walk to POFQ is nice too. If you’re planning on MPLL maybe choose the least expensive and use the savings for MP/SPLLs.

 

[DisAWin]

We have stayed at both OKW and POR and I would say that the bus service was about the same. The studio room at OKW has a balcony and a microwave. POR has more of a typical layout with a nice main pool and food court.

How many nights of your trip offer late night hours for deluxe resorts guests? They aren't offered every night.

As of right now, they haven’t released the dates for June (or I can’t find them). We would be there Sunday - Sunday, so if they keep the Monday/Wednesday schedule, we could take advantage of both.

 

[DisAWin]

A few things to consider. At AKL or OKW (I really don't like either and prefer POR but...), you would get evening extra magic hours, which is nice. Also, the dining plan would be the standard plan instead of quick service. It would include sit down restaurants, however you would have to tip. Depending on how you like to dine, AKL or OKW might be a better option. Though when you factor in tips for each TS meal, you will be paying more than $600 to upgrade. I personally, don't care for AKL and I don't know why, it's just a feeling I get there. OKW feels like a FL apartment complex to me. All be it, a nice one. It's too spread out for me and if in a standard room, you won't be all that close to the main buildings. Busses do come, but it can be a lengthy drive depending on where you are staying.

We would do the DDP regardless of what hotel we pick. We are traveling with another family (who is staying at OKW) with little ones who will enjoy character breakfasts, and we are going to piggyback on that Disney Magic.

 

[DisAWin]

1. Yes
2. No
3 Possibly

Would your 14/15 year olds be venturing off on their own? If so the boat to Disney Springs to hang out might be of interest. So that would put POR and OKW over AKL … otherwise I believe AKL is the nicest resort of the 3 you mentioned (we are DVC owners there) with a awesome pool and some of the best restaurants on property. OKW would give you the boat ride access to Disney Springs AND the EEH if that is important to you …

Oh man. I really feel like an overprotective parent because the thought of sending those 2 to DS alone terrifies me.

So on that note, the boat and DS wouldn’t be a big draw. I was including POR because it looked smaller and had 2 real beds. I don’t know why I’m so fixated on the Murphy beds…

 

[SwanVT2]

Oh man. I really feel like an overprotective parent because the thought of sending those 2 to DS alone terrifies me.

So on that note, the boat and DS wouldn’t be a big draw. I was including POR because it looked smaller and had 2 real beds. I don’t know why I’m so fixated on the Murphy beds…

My DD is super duper picky and hates sofa beds and she likes the Murphy bed at SSR. Also we never had problems with transportation there.

 

[Miffy]

One thing not mentioned about AKL is that even with a standard/resort view room booked, you can get lucky and get a partial savanna view. Just ask at check-in.

We love AKL and don't mind the transportation there. It takes a while to get to MK from anywhere not on the monorail line, for example.

As for OKW, although it's perfectly nice there, I'm giving that a hard no since you have two teenage boys. And it has no QS place for breakfast.

POR would eliminate the extra evening hours, which seem to be important to you. Also note that POR has multiple internal bus stops, which can be somewhat annoying. BTW, so does SSR.

This isn't my trip, but if it were, I'd be choosing AKL. It's stunningly beautiful, has great restaurants, including a good QS (the Mara), a terrific pool, and perfectly adequate transportation. Plus you get the extra evening hours.

ETA: Yes, I think AKL is worth it even without a savanna view. There are multiple viewing areas all over the resort, the rooms are lovely, and you'll have a balcony there, which you wouldn't at POR.

 

[Rory607]

I love POR and AKL doesn’t appeal to me personally, although I know many people love it. I don’t know much about OKW. But it seems like $600 more for extra evening hours and the upgraded dining plan is a good value. If your kids were little, EEH wouldn’t be a big draw, but I think it would be well worth it with teens.

One thing to consider is you and uour friends’ expectations of how much time you will spend together. I assume with younger kids they’re not as likely to do EEH, so make sure you will actually utilize that time. Will they expect you all to be up early and rope dropping? If so, will your family be too tired to stay out late?

 

[DizneyFamof4]

Out of those 3, OKW is our least favorite and we would much rather stay at one of the PO resorts over it, especially since it costs more..
With that said, if you have not stayed at AKL, then I would highly suggest it. It is, by far, the most unique resort and I would always tell someone to stay there at least once.

 

[IndyToThere]

By chance have you visited AKL for Boma (or Sanaa) before? If you recall the vibes of when walking into the buildings, that is what you'd expect from staying there. I personally love it (and have a DVC contract there). The transportation time to the parks is very short for AK and not bad for Epcot and HS. It's really only MK that is long and that isn't much worse a resort than a resort like OKW or Saratoga going to AK. On the real beds front, the standard rooms (assuming you paying cash and not renting DVC points) have two real beds.

I think Old Key West is fine and a a pretty resort. Has a peaceful vibe with the way the small buildings are laid out. Mind you, it only has one restaurant, but you are closer to Disney Springs.

 

[elvispursley]

FYI—POR has multiple internal bus stops. The only moderate that doesn’t is POFQ (and even then we’ve had times where the bus shared with POR.

 

[Miffy]

FYI—POR has multiple internal bus stops. The only moderate that doesn’t is POFQ (and even then we’ve had times where the bus shared with POR.

Yes. We stay at POFQ most of the time and we've shared a bus with POR perhaps once or twice and never at peak travel times.

Sometimes coming back from a park in the evening, the POR bus will pull up and there'll be a few people for FQ and the bus driver will take the FQ people too.

 

[We’reAllMadHere]

I would say
Yes, AKL is worth staying at even if you have a standard view.
Yes, you would be missing out on EEH.
No, bus service isn’t forever. Just have reasonable expectations.

I’d choose AKL of those three BUT for that money, you might prefer to pay for LLMP/LLSP or some other service.

 

[DisAWin]

As a mom who has taken her two then-teen sons and stayed at all of them, I’d personally only stay at AKL or OKW simply for the extra evening hours—my boys were so HARD to get up and get going in the morning. We’d totally use the EEH with teenagers. Transportation from all were fine and about equal. The rooms at OKW are quite large (but a bit dated). Love AKL for the food and the pool! Animals are a plus as well! I love the theming at POR and being a able to walk to POFQ is nice too. If you’re planning on MPLL maybe choose the least expensive and use the savings for MP/SPLLs.

Oh gosh - I had not even considered this! In the past, we were rope-drop experts. However, now that the two kiddos sleep in later and later ... the EEH might be our best plan. I was planning on Lightning Lanes (the one that works like the old FP+ system, not the one that is $400+). I haven't become accustomed to the new acronyms just yet.