CBR or AKL dilemma?!?!

[bertoldo1269]

We are booked for 10 days at the CBR in late May but are now having second thoughts due to sleeping arrangements.

We have two little ones 3 and 6, since the CBR has double beds and no pull out sofa, the youngest will need to sleep on the floor for 10 days which we do not want. Then we will need to ship bedding and a something for her to sleep on.

We would like to upgrade to the Poly but $2,600 more for 10 days, no way!

What are your thoughts on Animal Kingdom?

 

[tarak]

Are the bunk beds the reason you're considering AKL, or is it the size of the beds (they could share a queen but not a double)? I can't say enough good things about AKL - it's our favorite resort. But not knowing why you originally chose CBR makes it hard to know whether AKL would appeal and be a good alternative for your family.

 

[Peaseblossom]

The beds at AKL are queen, so sleep two comfortably.

I love pretty much everything about the resort - I always go with savannah view, but pool view also seems to be popular and at a much lower price. It's a big resort, a pool view room means you're central to restaurants, gift shop, buses, and of course, pool, arcade, laundry.

 

[bertoldo1269]

We picked CBR because of the pools and the grounds. We want a beach or tropical feel since we live in the Ozarks and are surrounded by cabins.

We would probably go with two queens and a pull out sofa if we went to AKL.

I'm assuming the recreation for the kids is about the same.

Transportation looks like it would take longer from AKL.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We are booked for 10 days at the CBR in late May but are now having second thoughts due to sleeping arrangements.

We have two little ones 3 and 6, since the CBR has double beds and no pull out sofa, the youngest will need to sleep on the floor for 10 days which we do not want. Then we will need to ship bedding and a something for her to sleep on.

We would like to upgrade to the Poly but $2,600 more for 10 days, no way!

What are your thoughts on Animal Kingdom?

Just curious as to why the little one would have to sleep on the floor. We too are a family of four and when we stayed at CBR last year our girls were 4 and 6 and we all fit just fine.

And, AKL looks beautiful! I've never stayed there, but will someday.

 

[kapoof]

akl is very very nice and very different from any resort. the only draw back for us was the lack of a beach, but the savannah makes up for that!

 

[bertoldo1269]

Just curious as to why the little one would have to sleep on the floor. We too are a family of four and when we stayed at CBR last year our girls were 4 and 6 and we all fit just fine.

And, AKL looks beautiful! I've never stayed there, but will someday.

The youngest is all over the place while sleeping so I doubt a double bed would work as I would be worried about ending up on the floor.

Did all four of you sleep in the double beds?

 

[Peaseblossom]

We picked CBR because of the pools and the grounds. We want a beach or tropical feel since we live in the Ozarks and are surrounded by cabins.

We would probably go with two queens and a pull out sofa if we went to AKL.

I'm assuming the recreation for the kids is about the same.

Transportation looks like it would take longer from AKL.

Huh? There is no pullout sofa, there's 2 queens or a queen and bunk beds. Are you saying you need a separate bed for each child? You have to look at suites, and those are $$$.

What it lacks in proximity, it makes up for in tranquility and sheer awesomeness.

 

[Mousemommy1]

The youngest is all over the place while sleeping so I doubt a double bed would work as I would be worried about ending up on the floor.

Did all four of you sleep in the double beds?

We did, and in all honesty, DH slept with older DD and I slept with the little one, so it wasn't two adults to a double, though I don't think we would have had a problem with that either. Honestly, we didn't feel too cramped, but I guess it's based on your sleeping style. My DH had to deal with older DD's "hot morning dragon breath" , and I had to deal with younger DD sleeping horizontally instead of vertically in the bed, but we were fine and not sleep deprived.

 

[DoryDorito]

I'd do AKL. It will be our first time there with kids this October and have heard wonderful things about the pools.

Also, we stayed at CBR last May and we weren't impressed with the room quality, at all. The grounds were beautiful, the pools are great and the food was ok. But this year, we've decided on AKL.

Jenny

 

[mmmears]

If you are worried about one falling out of the bed, they do have bedrails if you ask for them.

If your kids really need separate beds, then you have to look at a deluxe other than AKL and WL and then request a room with a daybed. (or get bunk beds at AKL). I would think 2 little kids could fit into one big bed, though.

 

[mickeystoontown]

You could always do as we did and take a full size air mattress. Our 14 year old didn't want to sleep with his older sister so we took the mattress with us. It fit perfectly in the space between the bed and the door. During the day, we propped it up against the wall. There was already an extra blanket in the room in the chest but we asked mousekeeping for extra sheets and they brought them within ten minutes.

 

[ocalla]

I have never stayed at AKL, but we did have lunch one day at Sanaa and toured the resort.

All I can say is WOW. It is so beautiful!!! I could have spent all afternoon in that lobby!!! Love, Love, Love this resort, and hope to convince the family to stay there for at least 1 trip!!

 

[bertoldo1269]

You could always do as we did and take a full size air mattress. Our 14 year old didn't want to sleep with his older sister so we took the mattress with us. It fit perfectly in the space between the bed and the door. During the day, we propped it up against the wall. There was already an extra blanket in the room in the chest but we asked mousekeeping for extra sheets and they brought them within ten minutes.

Full size mattress at CBR?

 

[tarak]

AFAIK, the only rooms with a pull out sofa bed are the standard rooms with a king and sleeper sofa, or the suites. Otherwise, it's two queen beds, or a queen and bunk beds, so I'm not sure if the sleeping configuration will work for you.

As far as theming is concerned, the AKL is my favorite resort of those we've tried (Poly, WL, and AKL). The bus ride to AK is only about five minutes. Epcot and MK are the longest (30 minutes, I think). However, the buses aren't shared with any other resort. They just go from AKL to the park and back (although there are two stops at AKL - Jambo house and Kidani). The pool at Kidani is wonderful. My kids can spend all day in the splash area, which could be considered a mini water park. There is a hot tub at Kidani and there are two at Jambo house ( one might be adults only - I can't remember). There are pool parties, and loads of other activities (pool parties, watching the animals with night vision goggles, story time at the campfire outside, s'mores, etc.).

And if you have a room with a savannah view, not much can beat drinking coffee or a glass of wine and watching the animals just a few hundred feet away.

 

[bertoldo1269]

I was meaning to say earlier we would go with queen and bunk beds.

 

[tarak]

I meant to say earlier we would go with queen and bunk beds.

In that case, I'd say go for AKL. I forgot to mention the zebra domes, only available at AKL. Man are they good. http://www.wdwmagic.com/Dining/Zebra-Dome.htm

 

[bertoldo1269]

In that case, I'd say go for AKL. I forgot to mention the zebra domes, only available at AKL. Man are they good. http://www.wdwmagic.com/Dining/Zebra-Dome.htm

That's what we are thinking now!?!!

Is it that much nicer than CBR?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Full size mattress at CBR?

Oops, I meant twin size.

 

[sleeperclan]

We stayed at AKL for the first time years ago in a room with Qn/bunk beds. It immediately became our #1 resort! We didn't find the bus rides to be a problem, but we tend to go during the "off" times. Boma is great to have breakfast or dinner...always a must do for at least one meal We've yet to book a savannah view, but still enjoy sitting on the balcony in the mornings with coffee whether a front entrance view or pool view. While we've enjoyed our stays at other resorts, we seem to go back to AKL.