Help!! BC or AK

[merriwthr]

So I have surprised my mom with a Disney Cruise in December and two nights in WDW before the cruise. But I'm torn - should I book the Beach Club, Concierge Level OR Animal Kingdom Arusha view??

For those that have stayed in the AK Arusha view - what kind of animals would we see?

Has anyone stayed in both of these resorts? Which do you like better??

We have stayed in the Beach Club - just not the concierge level - so I thought that would be fun for her.

Decisions decisions!! Any thoughts or suggestions??

Merri

 

[scottmel]

Well I have stayed YC CL and LOVED IT. I have stayed AKL and did not care for it AT ALL. I gave it 3 different tries on the tail end of 3 different trips and it is not the resort for me. Elevator banks consist of 2 elevators and seem to take forever. Dark Decor. It is just so not my thing.Each time we have a savannah view which was nice for the first day but not private at all - many people gather on the balconies understandabley but lot of kids yelling at the animals excitedly, etc. I felt like I was in a fishbowl there.

YC CL on the other hand, excellent. Am staying BC CL next week b/c YC CL was sold out...so hoping I enjoy it as much! We find YC CL very relaxing, quiet, love the secure floor...staff is great. My hesitation with BC CL is the over run of kids.We have a DD13 and are past the small kids stage and I know BC lobby can get over run with kids with Cape May breakfast....

 

[jagafen]

Well, we've stayed at AKL 3x now, and love the resort. But you have to understand that you're going to a "different" style of Disney resort at the outset. If I were you, I'd book AKL in December....

 

[billfatora]

So I have surprised my mom with a Disney Cruise in December and two nights in WDW before the cruise. But I'm torn - should I book the Beach Club, Concierge Level OR Animal Kingdom Arusha view??

For those that have stayed in the AK Arusha view - what kind of animals would we see?

Has anyone stayed in both of these resorts? Which do you like better??

We have stayed in the Beach Club - just not the concierge level - so I thought that would be fun for her.

Decisions decisions!! Any thoughts or suggestions??

Merri

OK... I have stayed at both Resorts, and both specified locations, and IMHO :
You need to answer the following questions -
1) Are you planning to "relax", as in:
a) spend your time in your room/resort
b) spend your time around the specified resort/pool area
c) do some "leisurely sightseeing" around your Resort/other Resorts/Downtown Disney
2) Spend a lot of time "away from" the room/Resort, as in -
a) a specific park
b) park-hopping
c) other Disney areas (water parks/downtown Disney)
d) Other Orlando Attractions
They are both FANTASTIC Resorts with their own theme and appeal, but what you plan to be doing for the time that you are there could, in my opinion, make a world of difference.
I offer a few of my opinions about the Resorts:
1) each has great restaurants - although AK Restaurants might be considered more on the "adventurous" side.
2) each has a great pool area, although SAB at The Beach Club is considered the best pool on property, bar none !
3) each has great rooms and amenities - as well as "club-level" service.
4) AK can offer unparalleled views - but we are talking about living creatures here - not audio-animatronics - they do what they want to, and not necessarily on a schedule.
5) BC can offer a view of the "aerial activity" of "Illuminations".
6) AK is near "Animal Kingdom" - but you can't walk to it....
7) BC is a short walk or boat ride to "Disney Hollywood Studios", and an even shorter walk or boat ride to "EPCOT".
8) AK is what I would call, "semi-remote", while BC is attached to it's "sister resort", The Yacht Club Resort, and is a short boat ride (or walk) to The Boardwalk Resort, as well as The Swam and The dolphin Resorts.
My advice, go over your options and plug in what you planned to do while you are there, and then choose accordingly; but remember this - again, IMHO - you are talking about the BC and the AK... either choice, you'll can't go wrong - they are both FANTASTIC !

 

[Sue M]

I've stayed at both and enjoyed both resorts. But for a short 2 day stay, I'd pick BC. Your not going to be there long, so being closer to the action would be better.

 

[mmmears]

I've stayed at both resorts. In fact, we're doing a split AKL/YC (both CL) soon.

I'd honestly probably go with AKL CL -- you still get the Arusha view but you get so many little extras (like the ability to book the sunrise safari). This is if I were planning to spend time at the resort. The animals are really something special, as is the decor. The pool area is nice for relaxing, too.

If you are planning to be at Epcot most of the time (or DHS) then I'd pick BC for the convenience. Or if you really want to swim in SAB (we like the pool for swimming/playing, but not so much for relaxing). The CL at BC is nice, but my family really prefers the one at AKL.

 

[Alabama Minnie]

Haven't stayed CL at BC but did at BWI and it was a GREAT experience. I think they have beautiful Xmas decorations too. You could visit the other Epcot resorts and see their decorations and you can't beat the Epcot/DHS convenience for a 2-day visit.

I would do the Epcot area anyday over AKL. We are just not fans of it. WL is also beautiful at Xmas IMO.

 

[lucyem]

Our favorite resorts are AKL & BC . We debate which to stay at for every trip.

A lot depends on what you plan to do and the trip you want. AKL has an other worldly feel. It feels much more relaxed. We like to take advantage of all the resort has to offer when we are there. We are big Boma fans and like the Mara for QS. There is more shade around the pool IMO if you want to lay out and relax. The club level is IMO the best. Great staff and yummy food, a lot of which migrates up from Boma.

BC we prefer at F&W. You feel in the middle of the action there. Being able to walk into the World Showcase is just so cool. No fighting crowds after the fireworks, just a casual stroll back to the room.

We have done CL here and we were not happy with the staff. I had to go find things at the front desk, only to have the front desk freak that the club level staff did not get it for me. Walked by 2 CL CM's happily chatting, who looked at me and smiled and never even mentioned the happy birthday pin. Similar thing happened at AKL CL and they stopped me and asked and brought me a present - a beaded giraffe from the store. Also the BC CL space is teeny tiny which is an issue at breakfast. We are DVC now so rarely stay CL. But when we do it is always at AKL.

 

[Forever Fairy]

DH and I have stayed at both and I can honestly say, we like the BC better than AKL. Although it was nice to see the Savannah, the resort is away from everything else. To get to any of the parks or dining with the exception of Boma (buffet)/Jiko, you have to take a cab or bus or drive.

We like the BC/YC area because there are 10-15 restaurants within walking distance that you don't even have to be in a park to enjoy. And you are also within walking distance (or short boat ride) to both Epcot and the Studios.

I would vote for BC.

 

[merriwthr]

Thanks for all the feedback!!

Looks like we'll stay with the BC Club level for the two nights before our cruise. We like Epcot and have stayed at the BC before - and loved it. We've not done Club level before, so that will be new for us.

The Saturday night we come back from our cruise I may book Contemporary since it's for one night - and the only park we'll go to is MK.

We don't do pools (just my mom and me and we wouldn't want to scare the small children... ) - so that's never a consideration.

For the PP that mentioned the kids in the lobby at BC - when we were there 2 years ago, they really did a good job keeping them out of the lobby area - and I'm told the new renovations they are doing now will really help with that as well. I'll let you know when I get back in December!

Merri

 

[scottmel]

I think you will so enjoy it. I leave for BC CL next week and am the pp that complained about the kids in the lobby so apparently I am not deterred enough by that!! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Alabama Minnie]

If you haven't stayed at WL before you might want to consider it for your 1 night stay after the cruise.
It is beautiful at Xmas time and has a direct boat to MK (very easy and beautiful ride). It is less than CR too. Not a very big fan of the Contemporary.