Comparing Apples to Oranges

[Exp.626Stitch]

I know I am comparing Apples to Oranges but we have finally narrowed down our choices to either POR Or AKL. I know there is a big difference but I want to stay at both equally. If we do stay at AKL we will not be staying in the savannah rooms, so its not like I'll have a giraffe eating right outside my window. I'm travelling with my BF in late September and we are in our early 20's. We've had breakfest at Boma and I liked the resort but I've also, heard great reviews about POR. I can't decide!!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!

 

[spiceycat]

everyone is different.

do you love Africa animals? then I would go with AKL. It is a deluxe resort and has more amenities.

I love POR.

the biggest different for me - is the beds - double (full size) beds at POR and queen size beds at AKL. AKL has room service - POR only has Pizza delivery.

so it just depends upon you.

I love POR food court one of the best around!!!

I also enjoyed Boma for breakfast.

just depends upon your taste.

 

[Ilovestitch]

Also consider that AKL is a lot newer than POR and has inside corridors so you can walk to the busstop/gift shop/lobby/foodcourt/arcade, etc. in the rain.

Beds at AKL will be queen where POR has doubles and like you said- AKL has the sit down restaurants. We love Boma for both b-fast and dinner.

Just because you don't have a savannah view doesn't mean you won't see tons of animals. There are huge windows all along the hallways that you can look out and see animals and places with rocking chairs where you can sit and overlook the savannah.

 

[Lizzybee]

I can't really compare the two resorts because I've only stayed POR but we all loved everything about it. The breakfast at their sit down restaurant Boatwrights was the best I've ever had, twice, two different breakfasts. I try to dream of which deluxe would I stay in if I could afford it and I always end up saying "well if I have extra money, I'll just stay at POR extra long!" The boat to DTD is beautiful and peaceful. You can rent boats, bikes, surrey bikes, or take a horse drawn carriage around the lush and beautifully landscaped property. Pool hopping between POR and POFQ is legal and my kids loved having two great pools to choose from, they also had a bit of fun in the quiet pool near our room.
I guess like the previous posters said, if Africa appeals to you more than Southern Charm, then maybe AKL is for you. If you like feeling like Tom Sawyers and Becky Thatchers then maybe you'll love POR as much as we do!

 

[Amy&Dan]

We loved POR and really enjoyed our stay there. But I do really want to try AKL some day! My Small World Travel agent did warn us however that for a longer stay, AKL's location can get really old. Very far from everything but AK . Also, she said many of her clients do not care for the darker decor. Still looks pretty cool to me! If we ever do stay there we might just do two nights before moving to our DVC resort or POR. So many choices!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

Why not stay at POR for the bulk of your trip and move over to AKL the last night or two.

Every trip we stay in a DVC resort on points for the Sun-Thurs stay then move over to AKL. I save the last day and a half to go to AK since we're so close. That way, traveling to other areas of WDW is not a problem.

 

[HaleyB]

I have stayed at both and I think for a young couple AKL wins. Much more romantic, IMHO. Lots of great resort activities aimed at adults (the Taste of Africa tour is not to be missed). A bar that is really cool, great food, beautiful setting. I think if you had kids I would have a much harder time, as they are both fun for kids in entirely different ways.

I don't know why AKL gets such a bad rep for being far from everything. I think that is sort of the charm, and really it is not like it take an hour to get to Epcot, or anything like that. I didn't find it noticable really, when going to the parks, but we don't drive in the parks we always (almost always) use Disney transportation. I do find the resort to be calmer and less crowded than the Epcot resorts.