Animal Kingdom Lodge or Boardwalk Villas?

[akaler2010]

It will be my husband and I travel during October 2014. We are on a budget and have previously stayed at Pop. We are looking to upgrade to a DVC resort, but aren't sure which you recommend.

Our choices are an Animal Kingdom Lodge Value Studio or Boardwalk Villa Standard View Studio. I have ALWAYS wanted to stay at AKL, but we can't afford to pay for a guaranteed savannah view. I think this seems like a really cool resort and Animal Kingdom is my favorite park. My husband's favorite park is Epcot, so Boardwalk would put us right next to it. We are also planning to go to the Food and Wine festival, so we would be really close to that.

Right now, the price different between the two rooms is close to $200, with AKL value being cheaper. We'd be renting points, hopefully right around 11 months out so we could get these because I know they rent out quickly.

Other information: we are in our late 20s, no kids, getting the deluxe dining plan (we LOVE to eat ), and previously haven't spent much time at our resorts but would maybe spend some time this trip enjoying our hotel.

Suggestions of which resort you recommend?

Thanks!!!

 

[letsgoreds]

The value booking categories go VERY quickly, so I would take whatever one you could get. Both are great resorts. Being younger and without kids, I would give BWV the edge as you have all of the restaurants and entertainment at your fingertips (Epcot too).

 

[herb102211]

I would definitely go with the Boardwalk, especially since you will be spending a lot of time at the Food & Wine Festival! We just came back from our Food& Wine Festival trip this week and we stayed at the Yacht Club. Best investment ever! It was so nice to be able to walk back and forth to Epcot whenever we wanted and we didn't have to worry about hanging around waiting for the buses.

AKV is a beautiful resort but it's also the furthers from all of the parks except AK.

 

[letsgoreds]

The value booking categories go VERY quickly, so I would take whatever one you could get. Both are great resorts. Being younger and without kids, I would give BWV the edge as you have all of the restaurants and entertainment at your fingertips (Epcot too).

 

[bjakmom]

These are my two 'home' resorts and I LOVE them both - but I agree with PPs that BWV has more 'fun' available for a couple your age - and access to F&W doesn't get any better!
Once you are at AKV, as beautiful as it is there, you are quite isolated from going anywhere else without a car or bus drive. AKV became my DDs favorite place to stay once she had a little one because by then she and DS-in-L were just going to bed early every night anyway.

 

[crisi]

Whatever rental you can line up.

Frankly, not enough owners rent points to meet the demand for F&W standard view or value villas at 11 months. When you find an owner who can grab you one - and is willing to grab you one (because getting those rooms will involve them being on the ball, especially at VAKL), grab them and don't look back.

If you go with VAKL, I'd be prepared to book a non-value villa. They are often gone BEFORE 11 months because people who booked the previous night of your first night are staying over. There are very few of them and they are very popular.

BWV Standard you SHOULDN'T have that issue, although it is possible at that time of year. There are more rooms.

 

[nezy]

It would be 2 entirely different trips.

AKL is relaxing and out of the way but would mean a lot of driving or bus riding. The Boardwalk is more convenient if you are planning for the F&W. So easy ro walk to EPCOT and to DHS.
Also, Jellyrolls is right there and other restaurants if you want to take a stroll on the Boardwalk or get a bakery treat in the morning.

 

[hockey mom]

I just returned from AKL and personally felt too far away. The bus rides were way to long.

 

[DizBub]

I agree with which ever one you manage to get. We rented from an owner to get our upcoming trip to AKV Jambo House value studio. That was the only way we were ever going to stay there as we don't own at AKV.

We were just at BWV on our own points and could not get a standard view because again, we don't own there.

I would agree that BWV would be the best choice because of F&W but then again with AKV you would be at a beautifully unique resort just a bus ride away. Win - Win, IMO.

 

[bostonminnie]

Tough question!! My husband and I did a split stay at AKL and BWV (before we had a child and when we were in our late 20's). Honestly if I had to choose between the 2 for our next trip I would have a hard time too.

We loved the resort and pool at AKL. It's really unlike anywhere we have stayed before. Being foodies you would have easy access to Jiko and Sanna, as well as Boma and The Mara (which I think is the best QS in WDW). We also loved getting a drink at Victoria Falls and just enjoying the resort.

BWV is our home resort and we love it for the proximity to Epcot and HS. If you are going to be there during F&W then maybe BWV is the way to go. We also love Flying Fish and Bluezoo, as well as watching karaoke over at Kimonos, very entertaining

Whatever you decide you really can't go wrong, have a great trip

 

[Jennasis]

ANIMAL. KINGDOM. LODGE. No contest (for us, anyway).

We HATED BWV. Really hated it. Except for the walk to Epcot. That was nice. We LOVED AKLV...with the white hot intensity of 10,000 suns! There wasn't anything we didn't love about the Lodge...we had a car and had no issues with the driving or with the bus rides.

 

[NoleFan]

AKL is a unique experience but we did not love it. My family LOVES BWV. We just tried a BW view & it was as awesome as many say it is! Cant' wait to go back!

 

[DizDaD7]

Both of these are A M A Z I N G... You won't be disappointed with either... But given your ages and the time of year, I would recommend BWV. It's just a lot more livelier than most all other DVC or Deluxes... Besides being walking distance to a heck of a lot of restaurants, you have the F & W soo close, plus all the nightlife activity on the boardwalk too. The only drawback we saw while staying at BWV, was the bus ride to MK... This was horrible...Sooo many stops. Walking to HS & Epcot are sure to make up for that though.

AKV, well it's kinda undescribible. It's gorgeous, serene, relaxing...Totally opposite of BWV, but equally enjoyable...It all depends what you're in the mood for....Honestly the bus rides didn't bother us at all to and from any of the parks...Even though AKV is technically further, mileage wise to MK, it definitely was a lil shorter trip ( time wise ) than from BWV to MK. ( because of the stops it makes ). This place has 3 very nice TS, and a QS too... Rooms are newer at this resort than at the BWV too. Both pools are very nice here as well as the dreaded clown pool at BWV.

Good luck w/ your choice, remember either one you do get you'll have a great time

 

[smcabee]

I love both resorts, but If I was going when the F&W festival was going on I would choose BWV without a second thought.

 

[Geomom]

BWV! If you have the option, I'd do BWV for Food and Wine. BWV is our favorite resort. We just stayed there this past weekend and was reminded of that fact. We LOVE being able to walk to both Epcot and Hollywood studios. It's especially great on arrival/departure days to be able to just walk to/from the resort vs. being dependent on a bus. We love the décor and the feel of the resort and the feel of the Boardwalk. We love Jellyrolls...but only get there when travelling with another party as we have 2 kids. Boardwalk area also has roaming entertainers (think magicians/jugglers) that are fun to watch.

AKV--We've now stayed at both Kidani and Jambo studios and we really preferred Kidani as it was quieter and I found it better for the kids with the Community hall and the water play area located there. As a young couple, I think you'd prefer Jambo. We've gotten Savannah view both times--kids go to bed, we sit on the balcony, drink wine, and watch the animals. Again, as a young couple you're not dependent on the kids' schedules.

Deluxe Dining--depending on how much time you'll be spending at Food and Wine, you may not need the deluxe dining plan--as all the food and wine food would count as snacks. When we visit for Food and Wine--that is why we're there that time of year. I only booked 2 ADR's for the 4 day trip--dinner while in the Magic Kingdom area, and a character breakfast for our departure day...which we really didn't need but wanted to do 'something' just for the kids. We also did 2 counter service meals in the 4 days. Food and Wine took up lunch and dinner on day one, and dinner on day 3.

 

[glamdring269]

I was going to say the same as previous poster. I'd pass on deluxe dining if you're planning to enjoy f&w. It will likely make more sense to just pay as you go.

 

[disneynutz]

IMO you should wait and save enough money to book a savanna view or a boardwalk view. If you are going to stay at a deluxe DVC resort, staying in the deluxe room is part of the experience.

Bill

 

[bjakmom]

IMO you should wait and save enough money to book a savanna view or a boardwalk view. If you are going to stay at a deluxe DVC resort, staying in the deluxe room is part of the experience.

Bill

We often stay standard at BWV - we have had no problem with those views/locations at all and we save a lot of points. No doubt the Boardwalk view is awesome and we book that when we are traveling with guests, but it is not a deal breaker for us. We've had some great standard view room views.
But at AKV, savanna view is a must for us - when we are at AKV we purposefully spend more time in our room to enjoy the animals from our balcony. I have never stayed in a standard view room at AKV so can't speak for the locations from experience.
I believe there may be more standard view rooms at BWV than there are at AKV but I'm not sure - I have never had difficulty booking one at my 11 month window (and many times even later).