Animal Kingdom Lodge or Grand Floridian?

[Shalanel]

Hi! We are planning our wedding/honeymoon for May of 2009, and I can't decide where to stay! I've ALWAYS wanted to stay at AKL but for normal trips we've only stayed at Moderate Resorts in the past. But then there's grand floridian....I just don't know what to do! I need some advice and if anyone has pictures of the rooms I would LOVE that too! Thanks for any help!!!

 

[Janet2k]

I've ALWAYS wanted to stay at AKL but for normal trips we've only stayed at Moderate Resorts in the past. But then there's grand floridian....I just don't know what to do!

Shalanel, I've stayed in all of Disney's resorts in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Each of them have something different to offer. I haven't had a bad stay yet.

Since this is your honeymoon, I would follow my heart and pick the one resort that it most desires (assuming, of course, that it fits your budget). Only you know what resort that will be. For my FTW vow renewal a couple years ago, I booked the Grand Floridian. It wouldn't have been a fairy tale anything if I hadn't stayed in my family's favorite resort.

Now, I do have a few favorite resorts. In the Deluxe category, my # 1 is the Grand Floridian. But the Animal Kingdom Lodge isn't far behind. In the Moderate category, my # 1 is the Port Orleans - French Quarter. In the Value category, my # 1 is the Pop Century. In the DVC category, I don't have a favorite -- I love just about all of them equally (but for different reasons). By the way, I've even stayed in a cabin at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds. That's a very fun & beautifully romantic location.

I have photos posted of some of the resorts that I've stayed in. When it comes to the Grand Floridian, I probably have more photos posted than any other resort. But I do have a few photos posted of the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I was fortunate to actually stay at that resort on Opening Day. That's when I fell in love with the place. And if I go through with my vacation this year, I'll be staying in the Villas side of the resort (I'm looking forward to that). Click here for my main Flickr photo albums. The "WDW - Resorts" collection is where you'll find my resort photos.

No matter where you wind up staying, I hope you have a lovely honeymoon. I've been married for 23 years and have yet to take a honeymoon. Perhaps for my 25th anniversary, that will change.

 

[Janet2k]

By the way, Shalanel, welcome to the Dis. I see you're new around these parts.

 

[Shalanel]

Thanks Janet! I am new and can't figure out how I've gotten through life this far without DISboards! I seem to spend way too much time on here As for you not having a honeymoon, it sounds like your whole life is a honeymoon! can you adopt me and take me with you to all these resorts??!!!!! I can't wait to look at your pictures! I'm heading there now!!!

 

[lurkyloo]

How about both? That's what we did! We stayed five nights at AKV and 1 night at the Grand Floridian. It's really hard to compare them - I LOVED seeing animals up close from our balcony at AKV, but the Grand is right on the monorail.

Here are some pix of our studio at Animal Kingdom Villas (the DVC part of AK, but the rooms are all in the regular AK hotel right now while they build a new DVC wing):

Pix of our room in the main building at the Grand Floridian:

That's the castle off in the distance!

 

[Shalanel]

i SO enjoyed your photos, thanks for posting these for me to see. I have to ask-How does this happen for one person? I can only assume it has something to do with your job? If so, Please let me know how I can become what you are!!

 

[Shalanel]

Thanks Lurkyloo! That is an idea I hadn't thought of to stay in them both. I also love your pictures, and would like to admit that my DF and I stayed up until 2am last night looking at your trip report and pictures!!! I absolutely loved every part of your wedding and your necklace and the feather thing in your hair...i forget what you called it. I haven't seen one of those before but it was beautiful!!!

 

[lurkyloo]

Aw... thanks! I highly recommend staying in more than one resort - maybe not as many as we did, but if you have a good chunk of time at each one, it is so much fun to have two completely different experiences!

 

[dakcp2001]

They are both beautiful, adn you will not be dissapointed with either one! If you could stay at both like Lurkeyloo, that would def be best!

If you just want one, I would vote for the Animal Kingdom Lodge! You can stay at a Fancy hotel anywhere in the world, but the AKL is a unique experience, that I dont think is avail anywhere else!

Now I totally want to stay at two on my HM! lol

 

[ClemsonGirl]

Lurkyloo - Thanks for posting the AKL pics! I really want to stay there for our honeymoon, but there are so many other good choices too. I can't decide! I have stayed there before when they first opened, but I have never been to Grand Floridian and from what I hear on these boards it is a great experience! I also love your idea of staying at more than one!

 

[Chilly]

I'm planning on staying at any old cheap hotel for our first night, then 3 nights at the AKL, 3 nights at the Poly then one week somewhere cheaper (probably Pop) to make up our 2 week stay.

 

[Beep]

We are planning on somewhere like the Best Western at LBV for our first 9 nights, the Boardwalk for the wedding week and the POR for the last week. If we have the money I would like to split the last week and spend it at POR and the GF but we'll have to see closer to the time. I would love to stay at the AKL but we can't afford both that and the GF took our breath away when we visited last year.