BLT or AKL Kidani?

[cruisingmom1977]

I all!! I had my heart set on staying at VWL in May 2016 because we stayed there in Sept 2014 when the main pool was under construction and I really loved it. I was hoping to get the "full resort feel" this time around but apparently that is not to be since it appears they will be starting construction this fall and my husband does not want to stay where the construction is. I spoke with my parents (who own the points) and they told me that they also own at SSR, OKW, BLT and AKL. I have dismissed OKW and SSR but am torn between BLT and AKL. Here are our particulars...4 adults and 2 kids (ages 6 and 3) staying in a 2 bedroom. I don't care for the "Miami Condo" feel of BLT but LOVE the idea of the monorail and walking to Magic Kingdom. We would probably spend most of our time at MK and EPCOT. We also take afternoon breaks EVERY AFTERNOON. I am worried about having to take the bus everywhere. It appears that AKL has a dedicated bus and doesn't share with other resorts. I love the theming, pool area and rooms at AKL. We would probably get a savannah room. Any suggestions or thoughts? Any/all would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[nalajms]

What do you do during afternoon breaks? Are the kids napping or hanging out at the pool?

If pool - I'd pick AKL. Or consider BCV - short walk to Epcot and boat to HS, great pool.

If napping, go with BLT. You have to weigh your "dislike" of the room decor over convenience.

 

[cruisingmom1977]

What do you do during afternoon breaks? Are the kids napping or hanging out at the pool?

If pool - I'd pick AKL. Or consider BCV - short walk to Epcot and boat to HS, great pool.

If napping, go with BLT. You have to weigh your "dislike" of the room decor over convenience.

The adults would probably hang out on the deck and relax with a drink or two while the kids nap and then we would spend some time at the pool. I feel like for the amount of time we will be in the room, AKL is probably better but I am afraid the distance will make it a pain in the neck to take afternoon breaks.

 

[deedisneydream97]

Both great resorts for different reasons. Personally I wold go for a 2 bedroom lock off at BLT. This way the other adults get a little more privacy plus their own kitchenette. I don't know if AKL has those. Also if you will be using strollers, getting them on and off the bus can be a hassle. Most strollers are wheeled in to the monorail quite easily. AKL has the nicer kid pool, the BLT pool is my least favorite (although the kids I see there seem to enjoy it).

Walking back from Magic Kingdom .... priceless.

 

[erionm]

[QUOTE="deedisneydream97, post: 53698145, member: 316171"Personally I wold go for a 2 bedroom lock off at BLT. This way the other adults get a little more privacy plus their own kitchenette. I don't know if AKL has those.[/QUOTE]
In AKV Jambo House, all 2-bedrooms are lock-offs. In AKV Kidani Village, you have the option between a dedicated or lock-off 2-bedroom.

 

[cruisingmom1977]

Personally I wold go for a 2 bedroom lock off at BLT. This way the other adults get a little more privacy plus their own kitchenette.

We had a 2 bedroom lock off at the Wilderness Lodge and it was really nice to have our own little kitchen area. The only thing is that with the 2 kids we might prefer to have 2 beds instead. The lock-off is 1 bed and a sofa bed in the second bedroom I think (at VWL we had 1 bed, 1 sofa bed and a small trundle bed). With the ages of my kids, I'm not comfortable with them sleeping in the living room without us. I would worry about one of them wondering into the hall...

 

[cruisingmom1977]

Also if you will be using strollers, getting them on and off the bus can be a hassle. Most strollers are wheeled in to the monorail quite easily.
Walking back from Magic Kingdom .... priceless.

Really good point...we travel with a citi mini double and it is a pain on the busses...my daughter will be six but she has really small legs and we would probably still need the double stroller.

 

[nalajms]

Really good point...we travel with a citi mini double and it is a pain on the busses...my daughter will be six but she has really small legs and we would probably still need the double stroller.

I'd consider a split stay if your trip is long enough. Half at BLT and the other at AKV.

We have the same stroller, with a combined weight of roughly 75lbs. I can't stand taking the monorail to Epcot from a MK resort. Going up those ramps are just torture on my back. We just don't go And if you're taking the monorail at busy times, you'll likely be asked to fold up or wait for the next one.

 

[deedisneydream97]

Six year old will appreciate the stroller after walking around a bit.

I was going to recommend a split stay also if you will be staying a while. Although moving can be a hassle.

It comes down to whatever will make you happy. Kids don't know the difference...
They will be happy with any pool and they don't have to stress about transportation ... they will be carried or pushed in a stroller!

AKL has the Savannah and BLT has the easy walk and the fireworks. Both great places. Either way, happy planning.

 

[suebeelin]

My kids are 5 and 2. We bought at BWV and BLT just because of their sleep/naps. We need to be able to walk back for naps and nighttime.

We stayed in AKL kidani in the last room of a long hallway once. My one kid is a really bad sleeper. And that's an understatement. It was a disaster at 9pm at night as we approached the elevator and our son realized there was no more stimulation (he was 3 at the time). Suffice it to say, my hubby didn't believe me until that moment that our kid does not go to sleep when sleepy. Instead he goes berserk for, oh, an hour. Screaming. Top of his lungs. Non stop. Walking 15 min from the elevator to the last room in a long hallway was not fun.

It's also a PAIN to break down the strollers with 1, let along 2, kids. Imagine them crabby or sleeping...

Walking to/from MK is priceless, especially at the end of the night.

Like I said, we bought BWV and BLT just bc of our kids sleep.

Plus, at BLT, you can go upstairs to totwl!! I love that lounge!

 

[DreamerWDW]

Walking to/from MK is priceless

I would absolutely pick BLT for the location. My family loves BLT and we really love the pool there as well. The setting on Bay Lake is beautiful.

 

[lazytown10]

We have 8 children and usually go to Disney once a year. We always stay at a resort on the monorail. This makes is much easier to get back to the hotel for naps. I am usually going back to the hotel alone with the little ones, while my husband stays at the park with the older children. I rent a city mini double stroller and it would be a pain to fold it up and haul it on to the bus. With the monorail, I have always walked right on. Not having to unload little ones and fold up the stroller is worth any ramp that I have to trudge up! I think you will be glad that you have that stroller with the six year old too.

BLT would be my first choice of the two. It does not have the cutesy theme, but the convenience is just hard to beat. It is so easy to walk from MK if the monorail is too crowded. I know that the pool may seem a little generic, but my kids never complain. They are just happy to be there!

 

[twodogs]

We have stayed at both. You will be so tired of buses if you take an afternoon break daily and stay at AKL. We did love the animals and the theme, but the buses eat up a lot of time and sanity!! I vote BLT until your kids are older and you don't have to rest each day.

 

[CraigInPA]

Re-consider the convenience factor of BLT (or Poly, for that matter) for transportation. The ride to AKV is long on a bus. Waiting for the bus is long. With young children, especially if you think you're going to go back for afternoon naps, this is a serious problem. My advice would be to buy at one of the monorail resorts. When your children get into their teens, you can always sell it and buy AKV then.

 

[AZMermaid]

We are not going for another two years, but these are the resorts we are debating between as well- so this peaked my interest! If we go 9 days like I hope, I am leaning towards a split stay and knocking out MK and Epcot while we are at BLT and then moving over to AKV for the rest of the trip when we are more tired and will be spending more time at the resort. If we end up with 7 nights... not sure. I want BLT, DH wants AKV. My kids will be 5 and 6.5 when we go (3 and 4.5 now).

FWIW- we always get a 1BR and the kids always sleep in the living room- just did it for a week at Aulani. That's why we bought DVC!!

 

[cruisingmom1977]

Thanks for all of the input. We FINALLY decided on AKL. The selling point for us was the size of the balcony. WE spend approx 2 hours every afternoon while the kids nap and we really wanted to have some outdoor space. The balconies on the dedicated 2 bedrooms are huge and they ended up being the final selling point for us. Being able to view the animals while we have an afternoon cocktail ended up being an opportunity too exciting to pass up. We agreed that if the busses get to be too much that we will rent a van for the remainder of the vacation. I'm not worried about the stroller as our citi mini folds in a flash and DH doesn't mind being the one to carry it.

 

[Hillbeans]

We are just back from a (quick) split-stay at AKV and BLT...I own at AKV but wanted to give BLT a try. I think you or someone on this thread hit the nail on the head that the highrise "Miami Condo" theme there was a huge turn-off to me. I am used to the lush landscape and spread out feeling at AKV along with the animals and activities. I can fully admit that the location of BLT can't be beat, but I pretty much hated it there and would not go back. I am sure some people LOVE BLT but it's not for me.