booked

[holssnow]

Well we've booked ........direct from Gatwick to Tampa on the 2nd August to 23rd. Thanks to all for help and opinions. Plans at the moment include possibly bulk of accomodation at AKL on the DDP . This will be a big change for us we've done DDP before but staying at one of the values think it was POP/movies. Hoping to have a couple of nights at a universal hotel for H Potter ....again we've done this before at RPR for a couple of nights and loved the park benefits. Other ideas are some time at the coast possibly the Anna Maria area again we've stayed on Anna MAria before and loved it. Let the planning commence. I love planning!
Thanks again and any advice about the accomodation would be lovely x

 

[wayneg]

Great news.

Stayed at AKL, great resort but we would only stay there if we had a Savannah view, if a standard room then we prefer Old Key West. The difference for us in August between OKW studio at £1872 and AKL with Savannah view at £3,552 is £1,680, almost double, just not worth it to us, we will go eat there and visit the animals 2 or 3 times instead.

I have a thread running here for a DISmeet at OKW in August, still need to sort a date but you are very welcome to come along.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2621880

Happy Planning

 

[holssnow]

Hi, thanks for that. what do you like about OKW if you dont mind me asking because we're not set on AKL. We were just unsure how the studio would work with two kids and one sofa bed how roomy it would be generally.

 

[Portugal1000]

Out of interest, who did you book a direct flight with from LGW to Tampa. I couldn't find any when I looked, only flights where you had to change. I would consider this inthe future.
We are going 3rd August to 22nd August flying direct with Virgin. M & M with PE on the way home for £2200 for 3 of us. way more than I have ever paid before. Always on the look out for cheaper options.

 

[wayneg]

Hi, thanks for that. what do you like about OKW if you dont mind me asking because we're not set on AKL. We were just unsure how the studio would work with two kids and one sofa bed how roomy it would be generally.

OKW have 2 Queen size beds. SSR have the 1 bed and 1 sofa bed. That was the main reason we went for OKW.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/old-key-west-resort/

OKW is a very relaxed resort, AKL we found the lobby busy all the time, staff overworked(odd one not very friendly) pool overcrowded etc. OKW never busy due to the size of it, all spread out.

Being a Yorkshireman I like a bargain, OKW studio at £117/night incl food for upto 4 people is great value, AKL although a very nice resort for me its got too expensive(we paid around £75/night back in Aug 2008 with AP discount)

Its also the choice resort of friends(burt & DISwolves & families) in August so makes it easy to meet and go out together plus many other Disboarders stay at SSR & OKW so easy for a DISmeet or 2.

All rooms are being renovated, should be completed in the Spring so looking forward to that.

Lastly OKW & SSR are convenient to get to places, AKL is a little far out for some.

 

[wayneg]

I posted Pics of our studio last August in this thread post #68 (before renovations)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2249674&page=5

 

[howlongtillsummer?]

I have always wanted to stay at AKL too but would agree that without a savannah view it is not worth the extra money.

We are big OKW fans too, my daughter wants to live there!!! Other benefits I would note are the boat to DTD which is very conventient and relaxing, proximity to other resorts (POR) for lunch hopping and watching the golfers

But I am sure many people would be recommending AKL much more highly.

It is great that you are booked though!!

 

[holssnow]

Out of interest, who did you book a direct flight with from LGW to Tampa. I couldn't find any when I looked, only flights where you had to change. I would consider this inthe future.
We are going 3rd August to 22nd August flying direct with Virgin. M & M with PE on the way home for £2200 for 3 of us. way more than I have ever paid before. Always on the look out for cheaper options.

Hi we booked with BA

 

[Rohais]

We stayed at AKL last year and really loved it. We were booked in for a standard view, but managed to get 2 rooms (connecting) that were overlooking a savannah...but considered a standard as the view was 'impared'. In our case, we saw the gates where two savannah's joined and a medium sized metal building a distance away BUT where a lot of animals especially giraffes seemed to congregate. I couldn't have asked for more!

When we booked, it worked out cheaper to go to AKL for free dining than stay at a moderate and upgrade. So, I didn't pay for a savannah view, and nor was I expecting one.

This trip, cheaper to book POFQ (my first love) and upgrade from free QSDP to DDP

But...even without our view...I loved the resort.

My only three niggles were:

- the constant hectic that seemed to surround AKL
- how far apart everything seemed i.e. we stayed at the tip of the Kudu trail and it took forever to get to the Mara/swimming pool. Not a problem for most, but I have a pain/mobility disorder (but I wasn't swapping our view for anything!)
- the distance from every other park/resort apart from AKL