Help. Universal and RPR or Disney and AKL?

[floridafam]

I don't know what to do. I'd love to hear your opinions, experiences.

We have decided not to stay 9 nights at AKL in October.

We will stay 4 nights at either AKL or RPR at Universal and then head to the beach for the remaining nights.

-Where would you stay and why? The room type that we are looking at are similar in price at either resort. At RPR, we are guaranteed to be on the 7th floor, which I am thinking may be more quiet because no one above us. At AKL, a 2br suite could be on any floor.

-We will be arriving on Thurday evening and checking out on Monday

-DH will be in Clermont all day Friday and all day Saturday

-DH needs a quiet hotel-I know this can't be guaranteed-because he had to get up at 4:30 am on Saturday for a triathlon in Clermont

-Is it easier to get to Clermont from AKL or RPR?

-We have a DS6 and a DD4 who love Disney characters and Universal characters equally.

-We like the idea of the Universal Express.

-We will be in Orlando next April for 7 nights. Should we wait and do AKL then? I don't think we would want to stay at RPR 7 nights but 4 seems good.

I really would love to hear what you think

Thanks in advance.

 

[polkadotminnie]

We are going May 2-9 a split stay at both. I'll let you know.

 

[Mouselander]

We stayed at both in Nov. 2002. The Poly is nice but a little worn. It has great pools and beach to watch the MK fireworks from... also you can get around DW by bus, boat or tram!!!!
AKL is lovely! It is a bit out-of-the-way though....only transportation is the bus.
I have two teens....the 15 year old prefers the Poly....the 13 year old loves AKL!!! I think they are BOTH great!
Enjoy your stay!

 

[UKDEB]

We split a stay 2 nights at AKL and 2 at HRH in July, 2001 and it worked well for us. Both were amazing, yet totally different. AKL has a wonderful ambiance, especially during the evenings and, to me was very Disney.

HRH is very cool and the whole onsite thing at Universal is fantastic - everything within walking distance of one another and a real 'buzz' about the place everywhere you go. We took a trip over to RPH last October and it is a fabulous resort.

As far as the resorts themselves go, it is very hard to choose between the two, but I suppose it tells you something that we went back to HRH last October and have booked 3 nights at PBH next month, but don't intend to go back to AKL until January, 2004. It's all about staying onsite at Universal - once you've experienced it, you won't want to do Universal any other way.

I would split the stay - packing up isn't that big a deal, and you won't be disappointed with either. You can take your bags to RPH and collect your room keys for FOTL as early as you like, so you won't waste any park time.