Animal Kingdom or Poly

[macman123]

Im staying for a week in September. I was going to either have:

1) Poly 5 nights studio & 2 nights Bungalow, or

2) Jambo House 5 nights 1 Bed Savanna & 2 nights Grand Villa Savanna

3) Jambo House 5 nights & 2 nights Poly Bungalow

Never stayed in either resort and just the 2 of us.

Not worried about points at this stage - just wondered if you could only do one of the above, which would it be?

 

[ark101]

I'd go with 1 personally. With just 2 people Bungalow would be more fun/aspirational than a grand villa in my opinion. Actually I'd do Jambo House 1 Bed Savanna & 2 nights bungalow if it is going to be a split stay anyway. I didn't check if the points are similar for that 3rd scenario though .

so 3) Jambo House 5 nights 1 Bed Savanna & 2 nights Poly Bungalow

 

[intamin]

LOL I didn't realize who posted this at first and was like who doesn't care about points? And then I realized it was you and thought no wonder he doesn't care . Anyways, any preference for theme parks or are you even going into the parks at all?

I'd probably stay at the bungalow in September when it's cheapest to try it out, I know points don't matter to you but those bungalows are always available. In terms of staying in a grand villa on a regular basis I'd def pick the AKV Grand Villa. Honestly kind of surprised you're not just doing all of the nights in a GV you cheapo . If I could only do one of those 2 options and never would be able to try the other I'd probably do the AKV stay. But since I imagine you'll be going for a long time I'd do the Poly stay this time and do the AKV stay the other times.

 

[macman123]

LOL I didn't realize who posted this at first and was like who doesn't care about points? And then I realized it was you and thought no wonder he doesn't care . Anyways, any preference for theme parks or are you even going into the parks at all?

I'd probably stay at the bungalow in September when it's cheapest to try it out, I know points don't matter to you but those bungalows are always available. In terms of staying in a grand villa on a regular basis I'd def pick the AKV Grand Villa. Honestly kind of surprised you're not just doing all of the nights in a GV you cheapo . If I could only do one of those 2 options and never would be able to try the other I'd probably do the AKV stay. But since I imagine you'll be going for a long time I'd do the Poly stay this time and do the AKV stay the other times.

Re points - haha. I had thought about doing both, I just don't want to move resorts.....

Doing Riveria, Wish and then this stay back to back. So don't want to move a third time....

 

[Noodlez]

Overall I'd prefer option 2, but number 1 is very tempting as I'd love to stay in a bungalow. Can you do a combination? Doing 5 nights in a 1 bedroom savannah view followed by a couple of nights in the bungalow would be the best of both to me.

Edit: I've noticed you've now said you don't want to move resorts so that suggestion doesn't work.

 

[SLThomas318]

I'd go with 1 since those rooms were recently refreshed. We love Animal Kingdom, but isn't it due for a refresh soon?

 

[havoc315]

I really would do a split stay between the resorts. But I would not do a full week at AK.
It's just a matter of having to commute by bus anytime you want to leave the resort, it becomes exhausting.
A big part of the pleasure of a deluxe Disney accommodation for me is having a location where you can get to some other places within 15 minutes with ease. Whether by walking or hopping on a monorail or skyliner. From AKL, you need to budget 45+ minutes to get anywhere. That means you're less inclined to want to go back and forth to the resort (for breaks during the day, during which you can enjoy the resort itself).

So if I had to pick just 1 of the resorts, I'd pick Poly. Where it's an easy monorail ride to Magic Kingdom. Easy walk and monorail ride to Epcot. A walk or short monorail ride to enjoy dining at Grand Floridian and Contemporary.

But Animal Kingdom Lodge is beautiful, and the savannah is a unique experience (but you don't really need it for a full week). So I would greatly prefer a split stay --- 2-3 days at AKV, during which time I explore Animal Kingdom, have a resort day, maybe an Epcot or DHS day. And then another 3-4 days at Poly, and from there, I have my Magic Kingdom days, and maybe Epcot/DHS days.

 

[macman123]

I really would do a split stay between the resorts. But I would not do a full week at AK.
It's just a matter of having to commute by bus anytime you want to leave the resort, it becomes exhausting.
A big part of the pleasure of a deluxe Disney accommodation for me is having a location where you can get to some other places within 15 minutes with ease. Whether by walking or hopping on a monorail or skyliner. From AKL, you need to budget 45+ minutes to get anywhere. That means you're less inclined to want to go back and forth to the resort (for breaks during the day, during which you can enjoy the resort itself).

So if I had to pick just 1 of the resorts, I'd pick Poly. Where it's an easy monorail ride to Magic Kingdom. Easy walk and monorail ride to Epcot. A walk or short monorail ride to enjoy dining at Grand Floridian and Contemporary.

But Animal Kingdom Lodge is beautiful, and the savannah is a unique experience (but you don't really need it for a full week). So I would greatly prefer a split stay --- 2-3 days at AKV, during which time I explore Animal Kingdom, have a resort day, maybe an Epcot or DHS day. And then another 3-4 days at Poly, and from there, I have my Magic Kingdom days, and maybe Epcot/DHS days.

I will have a car so not too worried about the transport. But I get the point re taking a break back at the room.

 

[RoseGold]

I have a lot of points I like to swing around and even I am balking LOL. It's hard for me to justify a bungalow, when you could actually go to the Pacific and get a real bungalow for the cost.

the VGF 1BR is a point hog, but one of my favorite hotel rooms anywhere. I think you will find a VGF 1BR lake view to tick all your boxes and be wonderful.

If you're going to book Poly, do lake view.

 

[macman123]

I have a lot of points I like to swing around and even I am balking LOL. It's hard for me to justify a bungalow, when you could actually go to the Pacific and get a real bungalow for the cost.

the VGF 1BR is a point hog, but one of my favorite hotel rooms anywhere. I think you will find a VGF 1BR lake view to tick all your boxes and be wonderful.

If you're going to book Poly, do lake view.

Ive done a 1BR VGF several times before........

 

[RoseGold]

I love the savanna, but not for a week. If you haven't stayed either, what's so bad about the split stay? Plan to go to a park for that day, no big deal.

 

[ak517]

As someone with minimal points who loveslovesloves AKV, I would do 1, especially with the bungalow. I definitely think it can be a nice, relaxing way to end your trip. Plus, with the car, it's better off being local to MK and have the ability to drive to other parks versus the other way around. That convenience alone would sway me, but then you add in a bungalow!

 

[kboo]

3) Jambo House 5 nights 1 Bed Savanna & 2 nights Poly Bungalow

This was my vote until I saw OP's trip/post. I'm leaning #1 because I think the bungalow would be really fun for a couple, *but* if it's just the two of us I also prefer to be sleeping in a king bed as much as possible. That's what is giving me pause on #1.

 

[princesscinderella]

My vote is option 3 you get both!! Poly and animal kingdom