Animal Kingdom Lodge or Beach Club

[MichelinMan]

Just when you think you have made up your mind, you start thinking about other options!

I had almost decided to go for 12 nights at AKL when I noticed for an extra £300 we could stay at the Beach Club instead. Now I hadn't really looked at the Beach Club before, but the pool area looks fantastic, and swimming is a really important part of our family holidays (especially for DS - last year at Alton Towers, he wanted to stay in the waterpark all day, wasn't interested in the theme park at all!). But the AKL theming and animals is also really attractive to us.

Having never even stayed on-site before, let alone either of these two hotels, please help me make up my mind - what are the pros and cons of the two. I will only be able to afford standard rooms. We would only be doing the Disney parks as well - looking at doing 5 nights on International Drive (possibly CoCo Key), 4 nights at Universal (probably Royal Pacific Resort), then 12 nights at Disney.

As I see it, the pros and cons are (and correct me if I'm wrong):

AKL

Pros : Theming, restaurants, live animals, less busy (?)
Cons : Location, if in standard room won't see animals anyway

BC

Pros : Swimming pool, location
Cons : More expensive, busy (?)

Decisions, decisions.....

 

[happyj]

We are DVC so stay at both. Our favourite is BC because of the Pool and being able to walk to Epcot and Boat or walk to Studios. Also restaurants are very good especially with Epcot restaurants. If we stay at AK we only spend 2 nights because it is wonderful to sit on your balcony and look at the animals even at night. There is the crunch I would not stay there without a balcony. Feel free to ask any more questions hope thus helps

 

[Chilly]

I'd def say BC, that seems like a really good price, or a really bad price for AKL, so i'd jump at it and you can always visit AKL to see the animals anyway. At BC you've got so much within walking distance or just a boat ride away.

 

[crabbie1]

We are DVC so stay at both. Our favourite is BC because of the Pool and being able to walk to Epcot and Boat or walk to Studios. Also restaurants are very good especially with Epcot restaurants. If we stay at AK we only spend 2 nights because it is wonderful to sit on your balcony and look at the animals even at night. There is the crunch I would not stay there without a balcony. Feel free to ask any more questions hope thus helps

I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve AKL staying again in 73 days You still get a balcony in a standard room and there are so many areas to see the animals. We had a savannah view last time and it was breathtaking waking up to giraffes and zebras outside your room over the balcony. Beach club I have never stayed at but as we are buying into DVC this year It is on my list to try for a few nights. Out of all the resorts I have stayed I will put them in this order:
AKL Savannah View
AKL Standard view
OKW(All lovely)
RPR Universal (concierge)
CBR (Jamaica or Aruba)
PoP centuary (50's or 60's)
POR (Mansions)
SSR (Non of it but lovely main pool) though would like tree house villas

Everyone has different opinions.I posted a thread when I had booked mine as CO were offering the polynesian only £300 more BUT it meant me DB,DD and DM in one room where as having a one bedroom at OKW. Decided to stay at OKW
Let us know what you decide

 

[MichelinMan]

Complete Orlando were quoting £2616 for BC and £2316 for AKL for mid-July next year - and that includes free DDP. I must admit, in the past BC always seemed to be way more expensive than AKL, so not sure if the prices have dropped at the moment.

I am swaying towards BC, especially at that price - just not able to book at the moment as I might be moving jobs and house which might throw a spanner in the works, but still I'm enjoying planning!

Just waiting for flight prices to come out - I got a Virgin flydrive quote of £2418 for 2 adults and a child for 3 weeks flying out of Manchester on 4th July 2012 (I can get a bit more discount through my employers Lifestyle discount scheme - it was £2629 through Virgin). I'm hoping to do a bit better DIY, but probably won't save much more than than that. Really hoping those oil prices keep falling!

 

[Pugsly]

Based on the quotes you show from Complete Orlando, I'm not sure if this is possible, but ... have you thought about a split-stay? Spend part of the time at AKL and the other at BC?

Just a thought.

 

[scottish mum]

I would go for the beach club, the pool is great and the location is fantastic. I would like AKL but I would think that I would need to have a savannah view. Also I think AKL looks a bit dark for us and a bit too far out

 

[Sapper383]

even though we are staying at AKL in a month, I would actually choose BC if I could aford it.

I'm excited about staying at AKL as I have never stayed in a delux before and we love the look of the resort. DS12 also loves animals, so it is his dream come true

but I would love to stay at BC, it looks a lovely resort and like a previous poster said, the pool looks fab ( and we also spend alot of time in the pool while at disney) and you can walk to Epcot ( which is DH favourite park)

To be honest If I could have stayed at BC with only paying £300 extra I would jump at the chance

But like others have said....it's all personal choice

Good luck and let us know what you decide

 

[jen_uk]

BC!!! It's worth it for the pool alone! Plus the location etc is fab.

 

[Elise79]

BC every time for us. Walking to the parks can not be beaten IMO.

We find AKL very dark and doesn't appeal to us at all besides no easy park access.

 

[mantismad]

I have stayed at the Beach Club many times and it is my favourite but we have also done a split stay with Animal Kingdom Lodge which we also loved and I would do again no hesitation. If we could only choose just one resort to stay at though then it would definately be the Beach Club as the pools are fantastic and you cannot beat the location being able to walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. We also love walking around the Boardwalk every night before bed.

 

[MichelinMan]

A split stay might be nice, but not sure I can do that without paying for park tickets twice because of the DDP. I got a quote earlier from CO for 5 nights at POP, then staying at Universal, followed by AKL, but it wasn't allowed because of of the split. Didn't try consecutive days at Disney though - think I'll ask.

Another problem with splitting the Disney days is wasting a bit of holiday time packing then unpacking - time better spent in the parks/pool/bar!

I think I'm getting sold on BC.

 

[crabbie1]

if u split ur stay through disney i.e move out of akl and book into BC u would not get free dining at ur second hotel without purchasing new tickets. however if you book through the US site iv heard it can be done by just buying a one day base ticket and then add the dining for however many nights u need
i dont think Akl is dark at all and it takes 20 mins to the furthest park. i like to come away from noise and relax away from the action.

 

[skelfbsfb]

Stayed at AKL and I personally didnt like the rooms thought they where on the dark side, never stayed at BC but love the Epcot resort area so for that reason only I would opt for BC.

 

[dixonsontour]

Were your dates late September?

All the more reason to go for beach club if you are there for F and W at Epcot.

 

[nobodies36]

Another Beach Club vote (even though my I'll be at AKL in 32 days). The convenience of being that close to Epcot and all the food (especially during free dining) is great. The fact that you can walk to two parks is great and the pool is awesome. When the price difference is that little then BC seems the best option (in my opinion).

 

[ben1993]

Staying at AKV in November, but I'd go for Beach Club as well, like others have said, with the Free Dining its an amazing location to walk to World Showcase for meals.

 

[DisneyMagicCrew]

I've stayed at BC and AKL....both are great but if I had the choice I would go for BC - its all about location!

 

[paulh]

splt stay here but were dvc
Paul

 

[PudseyChancer]

We're doing both next year through DVC - can't wait!