Can't convince hubby of AKL-he has concerns so now it is Poly or WL

[FairyDust2008]

He has concerns with AKL in paying for savannah and not seeing many animals and also of the transportation issue with the bus and how long it takes to get to the parks, etc. Me and the kids luv the AKL theming. Hubby likes the whole animal thing too but has these concerns so we might be down to deciding between the Poly because he luvs the monorail and WL because it does have a boat to MK. HELP????? Can you give me something positive about booking a savannah view at AKL and transportation? Also, what is good about the POLY AND WL in your opinion. THANKS!

 

[simonkodousek]

I was having a similar debate yesterday about the Polynesian, Beach Club, and Animal Kingdom Lodge. Finally, I picked the Polynesian because of the theme, rooms, restaurants, recreational options, location, and transportation. It's an excellent resort and I highly recommend it.

That said, I am not bashing the WL or AKL in any way. I love both resorts and have stayed at the WL once, but I didn't really care for it. The theme was over-the-top "up-North" and we see enough of that here in Wisconsin! AKL looks great, but I was concerned being so far away from the parks we visit most; Magic Kingdom, and Epcot. I'll probably stay there some day, but for now my choice is the Polynesian.

No matter where you stay, you'll have a good time.

 

[sandym718]

I can highly recommend the Polynesian! The transportation is the main thing that led us to picking it over our other choice (BC). And let me tell you, the transportation is SO worth it. Monorail to both MK and Epcot (via short walk to TTC). Can't be beat!! The resort is also just so wonderful as the above poster mentioned. Excellent food, rooms are great, the resort is just stunning. GREAT pool! You can watch Wishes and the EWP right from the beach. I honestly can't imagine staying anywhere else now, though we may try BC when the kids are a bit older - mainly for Stormalong Bay. WL looks lovely, we went to WCC there for dinner. Very nice - but we have all sorts of State Park lodges here in OH that are so similar. To me - the Polynesian made it like 2 vacations in one: the more hectic theme park vacation, and then the relaxing "tropical" vacation. The whole resort is so laid-back and relaxing to me, I so looked forward to returning to it each day. Trust me, I did NOT want to leave, LOL!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Well again here is my take.

AKL - we love it. Yes you WILL see animals but the best savannah is the main savannah (Arusha). AKL is very unique and unlike any other resort in Disney in my opinion. Where else can you walk out on the balcony and see a giraffe. The transportation is top notch. Yes only buses but YOU DONT SHARE. Huge plus if you have ever shared a bus you will know what I mean. We never waited more than 10 min for a bus going or coming. They have great restaurants and alot of activities for the kids. We love this place.

WL - Just stayed here between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2007. Great hotel and theme. Loved the decorations. Transportation was bad. So bad we rented a car. But if you are driving you will have a car. The boat was very slow and buses shared with FW making it a huge hassle. Our family loved the lodge and theme but the transportation made us say never again.

Poly - Have not stayed here since I was a child. Great place. Good tranportation to MK or Epcot but otherwise you share a bus with the other 3 resorts. My biggie here is no hot tub. I have to edit to add. The Poly is just in a different leage than AKL or WL. Bigger rooms and on the monorail line.

My other recommendations with the ages of your kids (from an earlier post)would be BC/YC. Great location and the best pool on property. The only place you have to take a bus to is AK and DTD. Otherwise you can walk or take a boat.

Of course this is my take on things. Every family had different tastes. I just know that getting back and forth from hotel to park with ease is a huge factor in where I choose to stay. HTH. Have fun choosing.

 

[Cyril pb]

I would have to agree with your husband. To me the theme of the AKL and the ability to watch giraffes eating outside your window is not worth the trade off of staying at the Poly with the convince of the Monorail and the proximity to the Magic Kingdom, TTC, and Epcot. How much time will you actually spend sitting on your balcony and watching the animals. I guess you really have to ask your self what are your priorities. I have not stayed at the AKL so it would not be fair to comment on the theme. I have stayed at the Polynesian 5 times. If you decide to stay at the Polynesian you wont be sorry as many people will agree. It really nice to be able to jump on the Monorail or Motor launch from the Magic Kingdom in the early afternoon, and head back to the resort for a nap, swim or even to sit around the pool while your kids swim sipping on an adult beverage. If you stay over in the Tahiti Longhouse you can walk to the TTC and be on a Monorail heading to Epcot in a mater of minutes.

Good luck

Cyril

 

[Cyril pb]

If you want some additional information on the Polynesian google tikiman and check out his site.

Also here is a picture post of the poly.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1591953

have fun
Cyril

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would also recommend the Polynesian because of the Monorail and the walkway to the TTC when going to Epcot. So transportation wise based on the other Resorts you were wondering about, the Polynesian wins that part.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Pool view & taxis!

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

Just to throw a diffent view, DW, DS, DD and I love the BW and BWV there is also the BCV. All have studio rooms which are a little bigger then normal rooms, and have a kitchenet with two duble beds. Best of all you can walk to Epcot and MGM. The Yatch and Beach is also wounderful and you can walk to Epcot and MGM as well.

I think as far as theaming goes, the poly is number 1. When we go there and we get off the mono rail we feel like we are in the islands. For AKL it was nice and the animals were nice, but nothing to go ga ga about IMHO. But then I am not a hughe animal lover, so waking up to yack's and girraffe eating was no big deal to me. Have a great trip no matter where you decide to stay.

 

[Cyril pb]

Just curious
What did you decide ?
Cyril

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

After staying twice at the Poly the fam and I stayed at the AKL. My daughter chose that resort (it was her year to choose) for Christmas and she did so because of the animals.

The AKL was absolutely gorgeous and done up in grand style for Christmas. We didn't have to wait very long for buses anywhere and they only stopped at the AKL when returning from the parks--no where else. We loved the food choices (especially Boma) and loved our Savannah view room we were upgraded to from Standard.

With that said, it would be an understatement to say we felt 'homesick' when going to the MK and seeing the Polynesian. After you've stayed at the Poly (or any monorail resort), it is an absolute PITA to have to go to the bus stop to 'wait' when you could just hop on a boat or take the resort monorail back 'home'. We enjoyed our stay at the AKL but we're happily returning back to the Poly for Xmas this year.

I haven't stayed at the WL but I don't have much of a desire to stay there. The boat launch is nice but we prefer the monorail.

 

[Kae]

Having stayed at all 3 of them. We just loved AKL there was so much to do at the resort-No hot tub at Poly really is dumb. the CM's were some of the best we encountered for that trip. As others have said the busses run pretty good. the longest wait we had was AK to AKL go figure. But everytime we stay at WDW there seems to be one route that is terrible. The worst wait we ever had was Poly to DTD & back again.

Kae

 

[pilferk]

What I found for travel times from AKL:

MK, by bus, 15 to 20 min

Epcot, by Bus, 10 to 15 min

MGM, by bus, 10 to 15 min

AK, by bus, 5 min.

Those are TRAVEL time, not wait times. In other words, they only include the time spent on the actual bus NOT the time waiting for a bus.

The poly is, if I remember correctly, about a 10 min monorail ride from the MK. It's a good 20 min to Epcot via monorail, especially if you include the walk from the Poly to the TTC.

The nice advantage at the Poly is you have convenient access to the OTHER monorail resorts, which gives you more dining options.

For me, and I've stayed at the Poly, the Contemp, and AKL....the theming/atmosphere/activities at AKL is worth the extra 5 minute bus ride to MK. We typically have a car...which makes the MK travel even harder because we have to contend with the TTC (or choose to take the hotel bus that day). Still worth it, IMHO.