ALK/WL Split Stay Question...

[gigi1313]

i realize the "themes" at these two resorts are way different, but are the resorts too much alike to stay at both during a split stay? has anyone stayed at both in the same vacation?

 

[slk537]

We have!!!

Last November, we spent a night in a savanna room at AKL the Friday after Thanksgiving. Then we moved over to the VWL. Both were wonderful (although I have to say I am biased to WL). Similar basic architechtural design? Sure. The lobbies are both cavernous and awe inspiring. Same experience? No no no!!!

AKL is 100% exotic Africa. The animals alone make it special. The decorations are all African inspired and very, very intriguing. Boma is really an experience in itself and the pool is wonderful. You are close to DAK if you want to go there, but you could almost make your vacation the resort. I really really recommend springing for a savannah room - your kids will just love it! Our son was just over 3 at the time and he was enchanted - but I don't think he was old enough to "get it" - to really understand how cool it is to see a bunch of giraffes right off your balcony. 8 and 10? Great age!!!

Wilderness is set up in a similar fashion, but is all Northwoods/Pacific Northwest. The decor is more Frontier/American Indian. It isn't the slightest bit exotic - maybe more like summer camp upgraded enormously. The pool is great and this resort has a marina and beach. And the boat to the MK is wonderful! Your children will love it - it makes it so easy to just run over to see Spectro and fireworks and avoid the trampling on the way out. Whispering Canyon Cafe is also enormous fun

The Mara (AKL) and Roaring Forks (WL) are similar. Food offerings aren't the same, but the location and eating area near the pools are. I was not surprised to learn the lodges were designed by the same person at all - but the experiences? Completely different. We loved both.

I would highly recommend you enjoy both for what they are. One is really experiencing something away from the familiar and one is like reading and old Boy Scout handbook from camp. You will love them both. And it really was a treat to do both in the same trip. When DS is older, we'll probably do it again, but this time try concierge at AKL so we can do the sunrise safari.

I would really, really recommend you hop over to the Travelchannel.com and look up "Great Hotels" to see when they will be airing the shows for both of these hotels. You will get a great view of what both have to offer and it is a magnificent way to get really excited for your trip. We have them both taped and I would be embarassed to tell you how many times I've watched them...

ENJOY!!!!

Jenn.

 

[babybunrab]

Thank you, Slk537! I didn't realize that Great Hotels had done AKL. I'll be tuning in on June 2nd...

I will be staying at AKL with DS in August, and we stayed at WL last year. I really think a split stay between the two would be ideal! I found WL to be very relaxing and from my eating experiences at AKL I expect it will be, too. The nice thing about those two hotels is that I feel ok about having DS go off to the arcade while I'm, say, reading in the lobby, since it's all in the same building. It gives him a little more independence without my worrying that he'll get lost (like at CSR, for example). Have a great time!

 

[gigi1313]

wow, thank you slk537 for that hearty endorsement... i appreciate it!

will going to WL "decrease" the awe and amazement at AKL? it's my son's dream to stay at AKL and we're not telling him we added two nights to our trip just to stay there... we're going to tell the kids we're packing to go home and after a few hours at a park, we'll get on the bus to AKL instead (i was even considering a taxi from a park to the resort just to super wow him! LOL!)... i just don't want to reduce the "WOW" factor by having stayed at WL for the previous five nights!

that being said... WL is just one of our resorts under consideration (WHY DID I ASK DH?! he has totally confused the issue!) the other possibles are POFQ, CR, YorBC... it's almost easier to list what we're not considering

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

We did last November. We stayed at VWL for our first 5 nights then moved to the AKL for the last 2. I thought WL was my favorite resort until I moved over to AKL. WOW!!!

Both Lodges are incredible and I would split our trip between them again in a heartbeat.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

In May 2003 we had planned a split stay at AKL 1st then moving over to WL. We fell in love with AKL so much that went to visit WL the day before we were supposed to move there and were shown a room and were so disappointed that we went back to AKL and asked if we could continue our stay at AKL instead of moving to WL. We spent all 8 nights at AKL. We had been wanting to stay at WL for a loooooong time and now it doesn't appeal very much anymore. AKL is our favorite resort. We love it.

 

[Bartoli]

We have a trip planned for June - 6 nights at the Polynesian. After reading the boards I started thinking about splitting the stay between 2 resorts. Does anyone know if that can be done with the MYW plan? The on-line reservation service does not allow me to split the stay. Is there an additional fee for doing this? Lstly, if we did split the stay, would you recommend staying at the Poly first or save it for last?

Not sure what other resort we would stay at. We would like to stay at the GF or CR, but I think they are all booked up. Any other suggestions?

 

[gigi1313]

to split a stay w/myw (w/dining) package, you would have to book two reservations, thereby buying your tickets at a higher price per day (because the more days you buy for the less expensive the daily rate becomes)... imo if you're going w/a dining package, it's not worth splitting...

thanks all for the feedback on the two lodges

 

[Bartoli]

Thanks. I was afraid of that. Oh well, I am sure we will be happy at the Polynesian. We have a PS for dinner at a couple of the other resorts so we can check them out.

 

[slk537]

Gigi - I really think the animals at AKL will more than make up for any potential loss of "wow" factor from being at WL. They are just so incredible and out of the ordinary. Truly a treat for your kids!

You mentioned the other resorts you were thinking of - I haven't stayed at any of them other than the Beach Club in the villas, but I can tell you that your kids would absolutely adore Stormalong Bay! So much that you could almost skip the water parks (if you go) and just stay there for an afternoon. We really loved the whole pool complex there.

Also (says the Ridiculously Over-Obsessive Planning Personality) Great Hotels has an episode for the Yacht and Beach Club Grand Floridian too, if you're ever pondering that one...

Jennifer (who actually has the DVR programmed to record anything involving "Disney World")