Confessions of the Resort Changers

Okay,

Ktink, you were right, I have been doing some heavy thinking about AKL. None of my Dfamily (thats DISNEY family) will listen to me anymore. They think I am just rambling but today I got really great information from a Dis poster who has stayed at both resorts and she had great pictures and information for me. We had dinner last night celebrating my DS(6) kindergaraten graduation and I tried to talk to the boys about the resort but they wouldn't listen. Today I just showed my DS (12) the pictures of the pool and I think I won him over ;) . Plus, I've been reading some not-so-good things about transportation. Everyone says they love the boat ride to MK but they also say it is longer than the bus ride from AKL and that the bus sharing situation makes trips to other parks very long. (This is from people who loved the WL just not the bus situation) Because transportation was my #1 reason for staying, I feel confident that AKL would be better. I do love the bubbling brook in the lobby and the geyser but I think I like the exotic theming of AKL better. The chances of us going to Africa on a Safari are slim to none where we may go to Yellowstone Park in the future. Now... Christmas :santa: definately WL for us (they don't know it but I plan to book a surprise trip). By the way, my DS says that Poly is where he REALLLLLY wants to stay.

Posted this on your pre TR by mistake...moved it over here. :)
Stepdisney, I don't remember the bus situation being horrible. There is only one stop at WL and one at GF. Then other buses go from WL to FW then to the parks. When I stayed at POFQ, there was the stop at our place then there were at least 4 at POR. You had to go all the way around that huge resort. That definitely took longer.

Not sure how the buses are at AKL. Is there more than one stop at that resort. I think it is almost 2 times the size of WL from the picture in the guidebook I have.

Did you book Kona? I looked at the menu and it looks great. I just don't know which one of my dinners to dump to book that one.
 
Nonsmom,

Does the bus that picks up from FW make several stops? Also I hear it goes to FW and then GF or Poly. I'm getting dizzy now trying to figure this out. Anything you can tell me about the bus situation is great.
 
Okay,

Ktink, you were right, I have been doing some heavy thinking about AKL. None of my Dfamily (thats DISNEY family) will listen to me anymore. They think I am just rambling but today I got really great information from a Dis poster who has stayed at both resorts and she had great pictures and information for me. We had dinner last night celebrating my DS(6) kindergaraten graduation and I tried to talk to the boys about the resort but they wouldn't listen. Today I just showed my DS (12) the pictures of the pool and I think I won him over ;) . Plus, I've been reading some not-so-good things about transportation. Everyone says they love the boat ride to MK but they also say it is longer than the bus ride from AKL and that the bus sharing situation makes trips to other parks very long. (This is from people who loved the WL just not the bus situation) Because transportation was my #1 reason for staying, I feel confident that AKL would be better. I do love the bubbling brook in the lobby and the geyser but I think I like the exotic theming of AKL better. The chances of us going to Africa on a Safari are slim to none where we may go to Yellowstone Park in the future. Now... Christmas :santa: definately WL for us (they don't know it but I plan to book a surprise trip). By the way, my DS says that Poly is where he REALLLLLY wants to stay.

Posted this on your pre TR by mistake...moved it over here. :)


I can't wait to hear what yall have decided. I know you feel the same as I do about AKL. WL is gorgeous and great but I don't know what it is about AKL. We watched the Great Hotels when they featured AKL. And Samantha Brown said something along the lines of this is where the spirit of Africa lives. I have to admit I'm a little jealous but I know if we don't stay Poly this trip I won't be able to talk DH into that again. And Poly is my dream resort as well as AKL.

And feel free to post ANYTHING on my pretrip. I think as much as we've all been through it should be a group TR.:goodvibes I haven't noticed any changes in your sig so I'm waiting on pins and needles. :goodvibes
 
Well yall I'm at it again. We've added another trip on for Feb 08 and I've been telling stepdisney how wonderful AKL is. Now I'm remembering how I feel about AKL and with us going again the difference in Poly to AKL would about pay for our other trip. DH told me that he really doesn't care where we stay but he says this trip we need to go w/ Poly, AKL, or WL. He asked how much more it was costing to stay at Poly and when I told him he didn't say anything but I know he's thinking what I'm thinking. I'm torn w/ more than the dollar really it comes down to the spirit of AKL. I don't know what it is but it's calling my name.
 

stepdisney, I must have gotten your room at WL. I'm so disappointed that we weren't able to get AKL but DH told me that when we go 1/31- 2/3 that we could stay at Poly. So that lifted my spirits abit. I really wanted AKL but I don't think that I will even try to get it again. I am at the same time thinking that it is going to be great to be in a MK resort. I hope you were able to get AKL!
 
:eek: :scared1: :faint: Ktink, I hear it calling too Pinguinyama Binguinamabona (in case you don't recognize it, this is "The circle of Life" music. It is the music that is in my head when I think about the animal kingdom lodge. :cloud9: My DH and I are about to sit together and make a list, check it twice, and make a decision..tonight. He asked me to wait until he came home from the Father/Son dinner at our church this evening before changing. He was able to say that he likes the peace and tranquility of the Wilderness over the Animals at AKL but that he doesn't really care. My DS is on board with AKL as long as we plan a day where we go to Poly or CR for jet ski/Knee boarding. I think we may surprise him with surf lessons at Typhoon Lagoon.
 
That is sooo strange. We still have our room at WL but when I called on Friday, they had all kinds of rooms at AKL. I haven't called yet but will call tomorrow. I'm sure we are going to AKL. I really thought you would stay at Poly but two Disney's beat Poly no matter where the two Disney trips are (Disney math). I hope AKL is available tomorrow when I call. Great, now I won't sleep waiting until 7:00 so I can call.
 
/
stepdisney, they say the morning is the best time to call so maybe you'll be able to get AKL. They may have blacklisted me and that's really not a joke! As it works out I'm ok with it. I've been reading as much as I can on WL. And you know the funny thing is that WL seems to be harder to get than AKL so who knows. But I do feel better about changing from Poly since we'll be going back in Feb. It was a good chunk of change to stay there and 3 days won't hurt as bad. I went ahead and changed our ADRs to coincide w/ the new resort. :rotfl2: That seems to be a never ending process.

I have to say I like how you and your DH sit back and actually think about what is going to be best. While I jump the gun and then end up having to make so many changes because I'm acting on the spur of the moment. Good luck for tomorrow!
 
Ktink,

Thanks. Sometimes I feel like a chicken because we don't do make the change. It was nice of you to give another point of view on this. I'll let you know if there are rooms available at AKL and see if I can get you in!:rotfl2:. I think you, of all people, will have no problem getting a room at AKL. :thumbsup2
 
I called Friday to book 8/20 at AKL and they had all kinds of rooms available. Thankfully I made my ressie b/c today I called to upgrade to Savanna and the entire resort is sold out during our stay. Very odd. Makes me wonder how crowded everything will be! Was there a discount or something I missed for mid August???

Anyway, tomorrow morning I will be back at it...finally told DH about switching to AKL. He's excited and now is changing all our plans, which means trying to change ADR's. Yikes. So that's what I'll be doing on Monday morning!
 
stepdisney, were you able to switch to AKL? I called twice today and I had NO LUCK. I'm thinking maybe WL is the place for us this trip w/ all of the MK time. :rolleyes1
 
I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. I finally call to switch today and there are NO rooms available. I am even more determined now. I must get in, I must. However, isn't it odd that the resort booked so quickly? Didn't this happen before where there was, strangely, NO availability?
 
I can't believe it. I just can't believe it. I finally call to switch today and there are NO rooms available. I am even more determined now. I must get in, I must. However, isn't it odd that the resort booked so quickly? Didn't this happen before where there was, strangely, NO availability?

I just popped in to see if you had posted! I'm sorry that you didn't have any luck today but keep trying. This did happen and I'm sure you will be able to get in! I posted over on my pre trip report and believe it or not after having a very long conversation w/ a CM about WL I'm convinced that WL is the choice for this trip! I can't believe it but I'm happy and excited now! DH watched the DVD w/ me and he really likes WL over AKL. I think WL puts off that manly vibe.
 
What did the CM say in the really, really long conversation? I talked with a CM on Friday that convinced me AKL was the resort for me. Please share the info so I won't go to bed bummed because I couldn't get in. (You do realize that I am only slighitly bummed because I"M GOING TO DISNEY FOR 9 NIGHTS!!!) :thumbsup2
 
What did the CM say in the really, really long conversation? I talked with a CM on Friday that convinced me AKL was the resort for me. Please share the info so I won't go to bed bummed because I couldn't get in. (You do realize that I am only slighitly bummed because I"M GOING TO DISNEY FOR 9 NIGHTS!!!) :thumbsup2

She just went on and on about how great WL is and that she wouldn't pick AKL over WL. She went on to say that it's harder to get into WL than AKl. :confused3 That's not the problem that I've had! Anyway she talked about WCC, the geyser, the lobby, the pool, the boat to Mk, and just really was so excited about WL. DH really wants to stay there now. Really, I want AKL but either will be great. I was really hyped about WL once I got off of the phone with her.
 
Okay, I called again....I am convinced they know it's me and are drawing straws to see who has to answer. I got a crabby CM this time who made me feel worse off than I did before :sad1: She said that I could keep trying but that she seriously doubted I would get a room since we were so close to the window of time before the offer ends. She even said that if someone cancels it was unlikely that they would put the room back into the dining plan inventory. I guess they are pushing not changing to certain resorts :confused: or maybe AKL is just off limits? Maybe there are not a lot of people at WL on the dining plan but a lot at AKL? I seem to remember that a lot of people were trying to get in at WL in the beginning but couldn't or something. Maybe it was the standard room at WL was not available? I'm rambling on......still no room at the inn I mean lodge ....:sad2:
 
I'm going to go out on a limb here and hope that the crabby CM was wrong. AKL is showing NO availability at all, not just w/ free dining. It seems it could be the same process of what was happening a few weeks ago. I dare say that you will be able to get a room here in the next few days. I know it's approaching the deadline but then again it's nearing the 45 day mark where some packages may not be paid in full so that could open up some rooms. Like I said I'm going out on a limb here.
 
We started at POP century, then went to ASMu to get the free dining, then switched back to POP when availability opened. Kept hoping that Coronado would open up. Never mind...we got pixie dust sprinkled on us and upgraded to Saratoga - 1 bedroom:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

I don't think we'll be switching now, our dreams have come true:thumbsup2
 
Congrats on your upgrade. We stayed at BWV and got spoiled to some of the amenities, like a washer/dryer in the room and the kitchen for breakfast. It was great, hope you enjoy. Have a great trip.
 
We started at POP century, then went to ASMu to get the free dining, then switched back to POP when availability opened. Kept hoping that Coronado would open up. Never mind...we got pixie dust sprinkled on us and upgraded to Saratoga - 1 bedroom:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

I don't think we'll be switching now, our dreams have come true:thumbsup2

:dance3: Whoo Hoo, like your name says "gottaluvmickey"! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
 





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