Full AKL Kidani trip vs Split Stay AKL/Boardwalk? Pool? Kids?

[fearthisinc]

We have a trip coming up this summer for 12 nights.. We currently are booked at Animal Kingdom Kidani Village in a Savannah view Studio.. We will have our 2 children with us.. (2.5 year old and 5 month old at time of travel) The first 6 nights the in-laws will be staying at AKL as well so we will want to stay AKL during that time.. Being the summer we know we will want to enjoy the pool area during our stay.. We originally booked AKL and planned on staying there throughout the trip, however I was looking around on the resort availability tool and found that the Boardwalk has some availability in a 1 Bedroom during our stay.. We also just happen to be closing on a new contract which will have 108 2016 points that will be use or lose by Nov 30th.. We have our October trip already booked so we really have no other use for these points.. We were going to try to rent them out.. But being 2016 points we will only have a few months to try to unload them.. And I am guessing that means we will get the partial rental rate and probably only get 4-5 bucks a piece.. We are thinking that we could just use them towards doing a split stay and "upgrade" the second half of the trip and move over to the Boardwalk 1 Bedroom..

So, what I am trying to ask is this.. Would you move to the Boardwalk for the second part of the trip? Based on the videos I found online, AKL Kidani seems to have a better pool area for kids with the whole splash play area.. I didn't see anything like this at Boardwalk.. and my 2 year old loved the one at Port Orleans French Quarter.. However, the only other "perk" at AKL for the kids will be the animals out in the Savannah... However, moving to the Boardwalk puts us in walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios (or you can boat).. Extra room inside the villa by moving up to a 1 bedroom.. Washer/Dryer inside room.. Close proximity to all attractions in Disney..

Just looking for some insight.. Like I said, I havent stayed at Boardwalk in years.. So I am not sure if there are things I am missing.. With a 2.5 year old and 5 month old I am thinking the Boardwalk's proximity to the parks is enough to justify the move.. The idea of not having to load up the car to drive to and from the parks OR having to squish onto buses with strollers and whatnot sounds great.. Also, we have trips planned for October and December which are both planned at AkL.. So staying at a different resort would be nice just for the experience.. Just wanted some opinions..

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

As you have noted Boardwalk does not have a splash pad area at the pool like Kidani does. It does have the old fashioned wading pool though so there is a little something.

As long as there are no blackouts you could hop to a pool somewhere that has a splash area could be an option if your oldest is wanting a little different water time. I think I'd probably do the switch since your next couple of trips will be at AKV so it would give you a chance to check out another location. Once you do a 1BR though you may have a difficult time with a studio though so beware! However - if you did rent you really should be able to get double what you are thinking for the points so they probably have more value than you think.

 

[disneynutz]

12 nights is a long time to stay and one resort and especially in a studio. I would do a split stay, it will be like two vacations.

Bill

 

[kmorlock]

I personally love both resorts for all the reasons you mentioned. If I had extra points to use or lose, I’d take a 1 bedroom over a studio at ANY resort any day. In room laundry and the full kitchen plus separate sleeping areas are well worth it for us.

 

[fearthisinc]

Thanks for the replies.. I forgot about the pool hopping perk.. Does that work at all Disney resorts with the exceptions listed on the site? Or is it only resorts with DVC accommodations? We are still in the wishful thinking stage.. We still have to wait for the points to be loaded onto our account which could take another 2 weeks or so depending on how fast Disney works.. So those rooms could be gone by the time we can actually book.. So crossing fingers..

Kat4Dinsey - I checked out a well known rental site.. With a expiration of Nov 30, I am figuring we will have about 4 - 5 months before they expire.. So they need to be booked and used by within that time.. And we all know how September through December is down at Disney.. So based on that time frame the site's recommended pricing leaves me getting $4 per point. I may try to see if Member Services will "work" with me in that they let me use the 2016 points towards one of my current vacations and then I can bank my 2017 points that I used.. However, I have heard that is a no-no unless the room is currently available. I will have to see what the scenario is once the points are actually loaded onto the account..

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks for the replies.. I forgot about the pool hopping perk.. Does that work at all Disney resorts with the exceptions listed on the site? Or is it only resorts with DVC accommodations? We are still in the wishful thinking stage.. We still have to wait for the points to be loaded onto our account which could take another 2 weeks or so depending on how fast Disney works.. So those rooms could be gone by the time we can actually book.. So crossing fingers..

Kat4Dinsey - I checked out a well known rental site.. With a expiration of Nov 30, I am figuring we will have about 4 - 5 months before they expire.. So they need to be booked and used by within that time.. And we all know how September through December is down at Disney.. So based on that time frame the site's recommended pricing leaves me getting $4 per point. I may try to see if Member Services will "work" with me in that they let me use the 2016 points towards one of my current vacations and then I can bank my 2017 points that I used.. However, I have heard that is a no-no unless the room is currently available. I will have to see what the scenario is once the points are actually loaded onto the account..

Pool hopping applies to all WDW resorts except for the ones listed as not allowing it.

A broker would not be the way to go to rent these as they pay too little for last minute points. Or find another broker who pays better. If you rent direct you'll get more. We recently bought a contract that came with some expiring points and I ended up getting $14/pt on the rental. Our points would have expired Sept 30th and I rented them about a month ago. I honestly would expect you to get in the $10/pt range at least but availability will be the issue the longer it takes to be able to rent them out. Our points would have expired Sept 30th and I rented them about a month ago. However, if you do have a reservation that will happen prior to December 1st MS may reallocate them to that reservation if it was either a 7 month booking or if they are for the same home resort as the original points used to book during the home priority booking period.

 

[sjrec]

I think you would love staying part of the trip at BW-Kidani is great, but 6 nights gives you a nice amount of time to enjoy the amenities. Being able to walk to Epcot and HS (or a short boat ride) is priceless. Especially with little ones. When we stay over a week we always do several days at BC (where we own) to take advantage of the location.
Enjoy your trip!