help me decide...CR OR AKL

[MOMOFMNM]

This is my choice...CR garden wing or AKL ?? I have CR reserved but am hearing horror stories!! What do you all think??? Help me choose, thanks

 

[DiscussDisney]

We are in the same boat as you. We were going to switch to AKL because of all the CR horror stories, but decided to stay with CR. Location, bigger rooms. If we are not happy with the assigned room, we will simply ask to be moved. It's as simple as that. I don't expect the resort to be sold out at the end of September, so there shoudn't be a problem to move. My experience with Disney is that they will ALWAYS make things right.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

We are in the same boat as you. We were going to switch to AKL because of all the CR horror stories, but decided to stay with CR. Location, bigger rooms. If we are not happy with the assigned room, we will simply ask to be moved. It's as simple as that. I don't expect the resort to be sold out at the end of September, so there shoudn't be a problem to move. My experience with Disney is that they will ALWAYS make things right.

are you in the tower or the wing and what dates are you going to be there???

 

[DiscussDisney]

are you in the tower or the wing and what dates are you going to be there???

We are booked in the Wings. Standard View. We will be there Sept. 29th to Oct. 5th. Although the horror stories are out there, there are also some very positive reviews. We will be spending most of our time at the MK, so the location is KEY. Last year, we stayed at WL and swore off the place until it has its rehab. From what I have read, the CR last had a rehab in 1999, while the WL never had one (I could be wrong about this, so someone can correct if necessary.)

 

[MOMOFMNM]

we will be there on the same dates!! We are water view CR garden wing room...MK will be our primary park due to the MNSSHP we will be attending so I might just let sleeping dogs lie...thanks for your help!

 

[kda]

For what it's worth, WL had a rehab ~ 4-5 years ago. This is a REAL guess, and I'm very bad with time. I remember them doing one floor at a time and some floors being blocked off.

 

[DiscussDisney]

we will be there on the same dates!! We are water view CR garden wing room...MK will be our primary park due to the MNSSHP we will be attending so I might just let sleeping dogs lie...thanks for your help!

We are going to MNSSHP on October 2nd. Since we know it is going to be a late night, the location of the CR will be perfect. At the end of the day, we will all have a great time....that is a guarantee for us at Disney Have a great trip!!!

 

[DiscussDisney]

For what it's worth, WL had a rehab ~ 4-5 years ago. This is a REAL guess, and I'm very bad with time. I remember them doing one floor at a time and some floors being blocked off.

Thanks for the correction. I guess the WL was rehabbed right after the CR. So I guess the WL is ready again, just like the CR.

 

[Selket]

Wow - choosing between the only 2 deluxes I've stayed in. We were at AKL in 2003 and stayed in a CR wing room just last month. I think you can't go wrong with either one. We'd booked a standard room at AKL and were upgraded for free to a savannah view. It is a lovely resort and watching the animals is great - but I'd stay there even in a standard room. The pool area is gorgeous and much nicer than the CR in that respect. Boma's is great and Mara gets the job done but I actually liked the FFC better.

As for the CR ... you can walk to the MK, you can walk to the MK, you can walk to the MK (just keep repeating that ) - that is really the best part of the CR I think. And you have the monorail which is great. We thought are rooms were nice - good size rooms and well kept IMHO. The kids (ages 3 and 7) loved watching the water pagent at night. I felt like I had more dining options there - eating at the MK, boat to WL, monorail to Poly or GF or even Epcot.

AKL sort of feels "away from it all" and that is kinda nice - the resort is awesome enough to stay there all day and take advantage of the activities for kids if you have them. The best thing about the CR is the easy access to the parks and dining. CR feels a bit more busy and there are convention people walking around. There isn't a baby pool. However you can go outside at night and watch the fireworks at the MK.

Hmmm.....I would hate to have to choose again between them! I guess I really prefer the heavy theming of the AKL but the closeness of the CR so I'd probably pick the Poly if I could swing the $$$$.

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Wow - choosing between the only 2 deluxes I've stayed in. We were at AKL in 2003 and stayed in a CR wing room just last month. I think you can't go wrong with either one. We'd booked a standard room at AKL and were upgraded for free to a savannah view. It is a lovely resort and watching the animals is great - but I'd stay there even in a standard room. The pool area is gorgeous and much nicer than the CR in that respect. Boma's is great and Mara gets the job done but I actually liked the FFC better.

As for the CR ... you can walk to the MK, you can walk to the MK, you can walk to the MK (just keep repeating that ) - that is really the best part of the CR I think. And you have the monorail which is great. We thought are rooms were nice - good size rooms and well kept IMHO. The kids (ages 3 and 7) loved watching the water pagent at night. I felt like I had more dining options there - eating at the MK, boat to WL, monorail to Poly or GF or even Epcot.

AKL sort of feels "away from it all" and that is kinda nice - the resort is awesome enough to stay there all day and take advantage of the activities for kids if you have them. The best thing about the CR is the easy access to the parks and dining. CR feels a bit more busy and there are convention people walking around. There isn't a baby pool. However you can go outside at night and watch the fireworks at the MK.

Hmmm.....I would hate to have to choose again between them! I guess I really prefer the heavy theming of the AKL but the closeness of the CR so I'd probably pick the Poly if I could swing the $$$$.

Thank you so much!! How cool is that that you have stayed in both those and that was my question?? ~~~!!!! interesting!!! I think I am sticking to CR, am in love with the location and the dining is already on my ps list so...but ALK would be a great resort for next time, to have a trip where we have seen everything and want to get away for awhile...this trip is going to be just park to park planning so I will stay at CR...AKL 2006!!

 

[Georgieut]

I just stayed at the CR a North Garden standard wing room a few weeks ago. Yes nice big rooms. See the firworks good from just outside the lobby of the North building. Loved the monorail. I didn't like the concourse steakhouse for dinner. Server was rude and food lousey. Loved the shops though. The fun food center was fly infested and dirrrrtttyyyy. Didn't like that. Our room had a nice view of the lake even for a standard room. The building it self smelled so bad. The carpets had been cleaned in one of the rooms and there fore very very wet. They couldn't do anything about it. No fan in the potty room. Maybe that isn't worth complaining about but plug the nose. The bedspreads had holes in them. Then I just didn't feel the disney spirit there. Convinient yesssss. Real quick ride to the TTC and MK great. Will I stay there again. Doubtful. Going to try Poly or WL next time round. This was my first time to WDW. Anyway I hope you have a great trip and I am sure you will with which ever you choose. Have fun!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I just stayed at the CR a North Garden standard wing room a few weeks ago. Yes nice big rooms. See the firworks good from just outside the lobby of the North building. Loved the monorail. I didn't like the concourse steakhouse for dinner. Server was rude and food lousey. Loved the shops though. The fun food center was fly infested and dirrrrtttyyyy. Didn't like that. Our room had a nice view of the lake even for a standard room. The building it self smelled so bad. The carpets had been cleaned in one of the rooms and there fore very very wet. They couldn't do anything about it. No fan in the potty room. Maybe that isn't worth complaining about but plug the nose. The bedspreads had holes in them. Then I just didn't feel the disney spirit there. Convinient yesssss. Real quick ride to the TTC and MK great. Will I stay there again. Doubtful. Going to try Poly or WL next time round. This was my first time to WDW. Anyway I hope you have a great trip and I am sure you will with which ever you choose. Have fun!

that sounds terrible!!! I am soooo soorry about that...for 200 a night...geesh!!! Holes in the bedding?? UNACCEPTABLE TO ME...as is wet smelly carpet!!! Rediculous...I am sorry about all that. Did you complain?? My dh will FREAK if we spent all this $$$ on a smelly, wet, hole'y mess of a room...YIKES! I am really boucing back and forth on this...I have heard SO MANY complaints about the CR lately should've taken the Poly or WL when I had the chance I guess I will have to be moved if it is that bad. I am glad you have a good attitude and di not let it ruin your trip better luck on resorts next time!! How were the crowds?

 

[happybratpack]

My vote would be AKL. We were going to do CR this last time, but decided to wait for renovations.