help me decide!

[Ben E N]

We’re looking at jan 4-13. They had animal kingdom lodge savannah view and saratoga springs standard and preferred views. So there’s a little more options at the 8 month mark but we can’t spend a lot.

The problem with your request is the 10-13th. I am seeing availability almost everywhere else (no value AKV rooms) for the 4th-9th, but everything except your listed places are booked for Thurs-Sun due to the marathon weekend. You could either ask to do a split stay, such as 5 days at BLT Standard View and then the rest at OKW, or the whole thing at OKW.
I have never stayed there myself, so I cannot speak from experience, but I have heard good things about OKW. Big rooms for being studios, with 2 dedicated queen beds. Cheapest per night cost of all DVC rentals, too. If you are driving anyway, then the distance from parks is probably not too big of a deal, either. Look at pictures and reviews yourself to see what you want. If you really want to try another resort as well, consider a split stay based on those dates. Whatever you do, try to book something for the 10-13th sooner rather than later, as the marathon weekend is a high demand time.

 

[lookame]

I think we decided that we’ll go with little mermaid room at AOA. It allows for a little wiggle room should my parents decide they want to go with us and we can link two rooms together. OKW has its advantages such as no parking fees for both resort and parks and a microwave in the room and a balcony but my daughter loves the mermaid room and it’s just a little more expensive than OKW.

We’re not planning on going to Disney the 10-13 those are the days we plan to do Universal.


Should I reserve a room for AOA sooner rather than later? Especially it being marathon weekend?

 

[Ben E N]

I think we decided that we’ll go with little mermaid room at AOA. It allows for a little wiggle room should my parents decide they want to go with us and we can link two rooms together. OKW has its advantages such as no parking fees for both resort and parks and a microwave in the room and a balcony but my daughter loves the mermaid room and it’s just a little more expensive than OKW.

We’re not planning on going to Disney the 10-13 those are the days we plan to do Universal.


Should I reserve a room for AOA sooner rather than later? Especially it being marathon weekend?

From my experience being there during last years marathon, yes.

 

[Ben E N]

From my experience being there during last years marathon, yes.

Also, I do not know this for a fact, but have read about free express passes when staying at Universal hotels. It may be worth looking into the cost to just stay at one of their hotels if they include free upgrades anyway. I can tell you from experience that trying to navigate Disney World the day of the marathon is not fun due to all the road closures. Staying at AoA, it shouldn't impact you too greatly, though.

 

[lookame]

Also, I do not know this for a fact, but have read about free express passes when staying at Universal hotels. It may be worth looking into the cost to just stay at one of their hotels if they include free upgrades anyway. I can tell you from experience that trying to navigate Disney World the day of the marathon is not fun due to all the road closures. Staying at AoA, it shouldn't impact you too greatly, though.

Hmm this is a lot to consider. There’s a holiday inn we were thinking about staying at across from universal the price was about 100 a night but I don’t think it’s a universal hotel. The universal hotels were something like 2-300 a night which we couldn’t swing. If the marathon will cause a ton of congestion though then maybe a split stay from AOA to the holiday inn would be a better expirience....


I’m driving my husband nuts lol. He wants to yell at me.