Help! Switch to SOG or stick with the Poly!

[honey11dog]

I agree with a previous poster. You can still go over to the Poly and enjoy the restaurants, shopping and beach without paying the expensive price for a room that is no better than what SOG has to offer. Although the Poly is a beautiful resort, you can't beat the prices at SOG. I would much rather save money on my room and spend it elsewhere.

 

[disneygirl319]

I keep going back and forth, too. I have AKL rooms booked and I keep reading about all the cool stuff at the resort. Our kids are 5 and 3 and we'll be back in the afternoon for rest time, etc.

Elizabeth

I have stayed at SOG 3 times but I just got back from a stay at AKL.....and trust me--AKL is MUCH BETTER! MUCH, MUCH BETTER. I would say spend the extra money and stay at AKL. You can make up the price difference by bringing some food and/or drinks from home (if possible) or buying them outside of the Disney resorts and parks (I heard the Hess stations in the Disney area are cheaper) and off-set it that way.

I really loved being able to look out my window and see giraffe's or zebra's at any time. There was SO MUCH to do there, to include the BUSH CAMP (that my DS loved!).

 

[disneygirl319]

Help!!!

I'm down to the wire here on deciding between cancelling our Poly ressies and switching to SOG. SOG is a super value and a lovely resort with a fab location . . .

What are your thoughts? Any input is welcomed! Thanks so much; you all are great!

You're right about the price at SOG. Plus the rooms are MUCH BIGGER. BUT my biggest complaint about the hotel is there is much of a Disney feel to it. To be honest, the hotel could be ANYWHERE. The only Disney items are the Mickey statue in the lobby and Mickey shaped pool.

I always thought the buffet at the hotel was a good bargin but after eating there a couple of times I realized how much I didn't like it. Trails End buffet is MUCH BETTER and either very comparable in price, if not cheaper!!

I also thought it was odd that the 'other' pool (it always seemed like the Mickey shaped pool was out of service while we were there) is now a SALT WATER pool....!?!

Plus the buses are OLD and the bus service is VERY POOR. If you do stay at SOG I would highly recommend just walking across the street to the Poly and taking the monorail. Of course when it's 100+ degrees even walking to the Poly is a trip in and of itself.

Anyway, after staying at various Disney hotels....SOG is now my LEAST favorite. If you really want to save money, I would recommend the Pop Century. It's even cheaper than SOG.

 

[TexasMomof2]

I have stayed at SOG 3 times but I just got back from a stay at AKL.....and trust me--AKL is MUCH BETTER! MUCH, MUCH BETTER. I would say spend the extra money and stay at AKL. You can make up the price difference by bringing some food and/or drinks from home (if possible) or buying them outside of the Disney resorts and parks (I heard the Hess stations in the Disney area are cheaper) and off-set it that way.

I really loved being able to look out my window and see giraffe's or zebra's at any time. There was SO MUCH to do there, to include the BUSH CAMP (that my DS loved!).

Do you mind me asking what kind of room you had at AKL and also how old you kiddos are? Just curious if you were going back and forth to the resorts during the day. Wondering how long it will take to go back and forth for naps.

thanks!

 

[TiggerTails57]

You're right about the price at SOG. Plus the rooms are MUCH BIGGER. BUT my biggest complaint about the hotel is there is much of a Disney feel to it. To be honest, the hotel could be ANYWHERE. The only Disney items are the Mickey statue in the lobby and Mickey shaped pool.

I always thought the buffet at the hotel was a good bargin but after eating there a couple of times I realized how much I didn't like it. Trails End buffet is MUCH BETTER and either very comparable in price, if not cheaper!!

I also thought it was odd that the 'other' pool (it always seemed like the Mickey shaped pool was out of service while we were there) is now a SALT WATER pool....!?!

Plus the buses are OLD and the bus service is VERY POOR. If you do stay at SOG I would highly recommend just walking across the street to the Poly and taking the monorail. Of course when it's 100+ degrees even walking to the Poly is a trip in and of itself.

Anyway, after staying at various Disney hotels....SOG is now my LEAST favorite. If you really want to save money, I would recommend the Pop Century. It's even cheaper than SOG.

The busses run to the the TTC every 15 mins, we love this!! We don't bother walking to the Poly.
We just got back from a stay at POFQ and ended up having to take a taxi to DTD one day as the busses were soooooo crowded! And who wants to stand up all the way to AK!??
This never happens at SOG.

 

[caseywirth]

You're right about the price at SOG. Plus the rooms are MUCH BIGGER. BUT my biggest complaint about the hotel is there is much of a Disney feel to it. To be honest, the hotel could be ANYWHERE. The only Disney items are the Mickey statue in the lobby and Mickey shaped pool.

I always thought the buffet at the hotel was a good bargin but after eating there a couple of times I realized how much I didn't like it. Trails End buffet is MUCH BETTER and either very comparable in price, if not cheaper!!

I also thought it was odd that the 'other' pool (it always seemed like the Mickey shaped pool was out of service while we were there) is now a SALT WATER pool....!?!

Plus the buses are OLD and the bus service is VERY POOR. If you do stay at SOG I would highly recommend just walking across the street to the Poly and taking the monorail. Of course when it's 100+ degrees even walking to the Poly is a trip in and of itself.

Anyway, after staying at various Disney hotels....SOG is now my LEAST favorite. If you really want to save money, I would recommend the Pop Century. It's even cheaper than SOG.

We must have stayed at different Sog!? I always stay there and the busses we have ridden on were not what you would call old and the service has always been wonderful ( been going to SOG for ten years). Are you sure about the pool being a salt water pool, I've never heard about that, but I will call Sog and ask about it and let everyone know. But to each their own in which resort they stay at. I just to love SOG and think its a wonderful resort and not just a regular hotel!

 

[MAGGIED]

We have stayed at many of the Disney resorts... from value to deluxe including DVC (with my sister)... I would take SOG any day... here are what I feel are the plus and minus points

PLUS
largest rooms on property
great price
real coffee kisok in lobby
friendly staff
close to the golf course
variety of pools
can see Wishes from the hot tub
breakfast buffet is okay
Shaddy Shuttle
Men give up their seats for women and children on the bus
busses run on a schedule so you don't have to guess when it will show up
did I say the price was GREAT

Minus....
lacking of Disney themeing
pay to park your car
Dining is fair - better at other restaurants
no ME

So my choice is not to worry about themeing as I get that in the parks... take the large room with the sitting area and balcony... pay less money and make ADRs for the places we enjoy eating at.....

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

We made a visit to SOG during our trip last week to try the buffet one night. It was pretty lackluster and I was surprised at the condition the buses were in. I had been on the fence about staying there and now I'm glad we didn't. I would definitely call and check into the 40% discount being offered for Active Duty/Retired military through CRO.

 

[TiggerTails57]

Men give up their seats for women and children on the bus

SO TRUE!!

 

[Bevin]

SO TRUE!!

YES!!!!

 

[raven69david]

Yes, I would stay there again, if I had to. Honestly, I would rather stay at a Value than stay at SOG. It just doesn't have the "Disney feeling" I look forward to.
Then again, that's just me.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Unless i'm a little low on funds to stay at a real Disney resort, i'd pick a Value over SoG; it'd be cheaper too.

Stay with the Poly and make your trip that much more magical. You'll thank me after you get back.

 

[raven69david]

Do you mind me asking what kind of room you had at AKL and also how old you kiddos are? Just curious if you were going back and forth to the resorts during the day. Wondering how long it will take to go back and forth for naps.

thanks!

We did this with two 2 year olds last year and it wasn't so bad. We had to go back in the afternoon for nap time, otherwise they'd be fussy the rest of the day. We took our own car to the parks and i'd say it took less than 10 minutes to get to AKL once we were out of the parking lot. We were in a Savannah room on zebra trail. I'd say from the time we got on the tram to the time we parked the car and got to the room, i'd say it was a total time of about 25 minutes. We never used the bus so i cant comment on trip time via the bus.

 

[angelmav]

We enjoyed SOG our last trip, buuuut, The dining is subpar, the busses are sub par and no DDP or charging privledges in the parks. If you can live with that, the resort is great!

 

[caseywirth]

You're right about the price at SOG. Plus the rooms are MUCH BIGGER. BUT my biggest complaint about the hotel is there is much of a Disney feel to it. To be honest, the hotel could be ANYWHERE. The only Disney items are the Mickey statue in the lobby and Mickey shaped pool.

I always thought the buffet at the hotel was a good bargin but after eating there a couple of times I realized how much I didn't like it. Trails End buffet is MUCH BETTER and either very comparable in price, if not cheaper!!

I also thought it was odd that the 'other' pool (it always seemed like the Mickey shaped pool was out of service while we were there) is now a SALT WATER pool....!?!

Plus the buses are OLD and the bus service is VERY POOR. If you do stay at SOG I would highly recommend just walking across the street to the Poly and taking the monorail. Of course when it's 100+ degrees even walking to the Poly is a trip in and of itself.

Anyway, after staying at various Disney hotels....SOG is now my LEAST favorite. If you really want to save money, I would recommend the Pop Century. It's even cheaper than SOG.

The mickey pool and the other pool are all fresh water pools. The person at SOG that I talked to, actually laughed when I told her this.

 

[caseywirth]

I couldn't have said it better myself. Unless i'm a little low on funds to stay at a real Disney resort, i'd pick a Value over SoG; it'd be cheaper too.

Stay with the Poly and make your trip that much more magical. You'll thank me after you get back.

A lot of times this is not true, depending on when you go and what rank you are SOG can be cheaper than a value. Also, if you spend anytime in your room at a value, I hope your not clausrophopic because the rooms are verrrrrrrry small. SOG is a very nice resort, it once was a disney resort, the only difference now is you don't have mickey and other characters all over the place. But, I can get my disney character fix in the parks! Trust me you can't go wrong at SOG!!