It's a sickness, I know... considering switching to AKL from Poly

[Jen D]

Gee, I wish I could pick a decision and stick to it. I could use some advice or words of wisdom, although ultimately this is a financial decision and as such only I can really make it. But give me your input anyway!

We are planning the Polynesian for our tenth anniversary. A number of factors make Polynesian the perfect choice for this trip-- it is a big anniversary trip, and we spent our honeymoon in Hawaii. DH and dd are dying to stay here-- Dh wants that classic, old-Disney feel and dd wants the volcano pool. We have an infant this trip, so big rooms, monorail, check. All signs point to the Poly, so we reserved a Garden View room-- months ago.

But I'm second-guessing the cost. When we planned the trip dh had lined up a couple freelance gigs that would give us a huge windfall that would make splurging feel fine. One of them fell through-- no a huge deal, but a little disappointing. We still have the money for the trip as planned, but now I think we'd feel a little more pressue to stay on budget, and maybe we wouldn't do Victoria and Alberts.

I could switch to an AKL pool view and BAM, have saved 700 dollars, which, you know, ain't peanuts. And AKL is a beautiful resort, we'd still feel like we were having a great vacation.

I have visited AKL and love it-- I don't so much feel it has "minuses" as it doesn't have the "pluses" of the Poly: monorail, more dining options, etc.

It might be disappointing to switch, especially for my husband and daughter, but I feel maybe this is an "unearned splurge" and maybe we should save the Poly for when we feel comfortable with the price.

(But there is a possibility I am a hopeless cheapskate and will never feel comfortable with the cost!)



Should I go for what is OBVIOUSLY the perfect resort choice or this trip or give in to my cheapness and change to the AKL, which is also fab but not the resort my family wants?

 

[jarestel]

Well, it's not my $700, so it's easy for me to say stay at the Poly. Since this is a "special" trip, I'd go with the initial plan since it seems this is what everyone really wants to do. You can do a more "budgeted" trip on your next visit. Good luck with your decision!

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

We have an infant this trip

Stay at the Poly with an infant - monorail access to MK, GF, Contemporary(Chef Mickey's), etc. You can walk to TTC for Epcot access, you would only need the buses for AKL and MGM (and you could walk thru Epcot and catch a boat to MGM if you really wanted!)

With the AKL you would need to take a bus everywhere, and an infant and a stroller on and off the buses is not much fun!

The rooms are larger at the Poly too!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[2dogmom]

I don't know how old your older child is, but we stayed at AKL with a 2yo and it was a hastle taking buses everywhere. I would have loved to be on a monorail line (That's why we picked the Polynesian for our 10yr anniversary trip). So, if you can aford it, I would stay Poly.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[swilphil]

Poly will be so nice to go back to the room with the kids, and if you have a stroller, the less bussing the better. If you really need to save money, I would try to get one of the many discounts at the Swan/Dolphin. You may even be able to save more money, and you'll have the ease of travelling to Epcot and MGM via boats or walking.

 

[CindysGusGus]

Welcome to RAD...(Resort Anxiety Disorder)...Meetings are on daily almost hourly basis. I currently have PV AKL and am constantly agonizing over something new! Waiting on those pesky AP rates to see if I want to move to another choice

 

[KELLY]

I have RAD 1st was POP than husband put the extra 300.00 to stay at a moderate CBR and know with the September code we are at AKL it is bad. KELLY

 

[NUHuskies#1]

I too have RAD! (love the acronymn) First it was PC for us- that was in December. Then POR, then POFQ, then POR, then POFQ and now- Yacht Club. The "room only" rates just through me into a flip. "What to do, what to do?"

We too have an infant for this trip and I have a feeling that had a lot to do with my anxiety over where we would stay. In the end, I just felt being over near the Boardwalk area would be really nice for strolling around with the baby. I also thought it would be great for the my other two boys who are 11 and 7 to try SAB. So I splurged. I know we won't be back for a couple of years until the infant is a little older so that's why I jumped on it as well.

The bus issue really doesn't bother me. We rented a car and can come and go as we please but I was attracted to the hotel for its location and convenience to MGM and Epcot. I also like the idea of a balcony for quiet sitting for baby feedings and maybe a cocktail with hubby as well.


Whatever your decision, believe me- I know what you're going through. You drive yourself and probably CRO crazy. The money issue is tough- I spent an extra $500 to stay at YC. But it would have cost me more to rent a cottage down Cape Cod for the week and then nothing to do with the boys if it rained but stay in the house.

Regardless- enjoy your trip and have a great time! and Happy Anniversary

 

[Bstanley]

I love the AKL (stayed there the last two annual trips).

BUT ... with small ones (especially) the Polynesian is just so danged convenient - assuming you are spending more time at the MK than AK (traveling to the other parks is a wash - although it is seriously kewl to arrive at Epcot on the monorail).

The pool at AKL is great, and has a slide, but it doesn't have a volcano slide...

The 'standard' rooms at AKL are big enough for us -but they use beds that are not much bigger than a double - rather than those nice (true) queens at the Polynesian...

Being able to watch the animals from your balcony at AKL is excellent, but being able to sit on the beach to watch the electric water parade or fireworks over the castle and then take a few steps back to the room to put the littles down to bed with those images dancing in their heads....aahhh yes.

 

[susy]

Poor Jen..you have RAD (Resort Anxiety Disorder). Unfortunately there is no cure...However, I was miraculosuly cured when I put a deposit of 345.65 down for Poly concierge-poof-I was cured. I quickly cancelled and booked at POFQ for $85 a night.

I don't know what to tell you... I stayed at AKL was and perfectly happy there-but I had upgraded from ASMU and we did have the money saved up... Have you considered the WL? The boat to the MK, CR (for Chef Mickey's), and FW is nice... there is lots to do there, it's a small resort, there is quiet pool, beach, boats to rent, the woods view rooms are nice-ask for north wing, high floor and you will get to see some FW from the MK. It's a beautiful resort, very family oriented, but has a very romantic ambience....
Hope this helped...

 

[packy]

We just did the opposite. We had an AKL pool view for 5 nights in late August and switched to the Poly. My 10 year old loves the Monorail and MK and really wanted to be close. Yes, it cost about $85 more per night but we are all happy about the change. Reading reviews of AKL I found that a fair number of people found the location isolated - everything was by bus - no Monorail or boats.

 

[Jen D]

Thanks for all the responses, guys-- and thanks for diagnosing my RAD! I'm staying put for now... if the money thing really gnaws at me for a couple more weeks, I might decided to listen to that little voice and switch, but for now I'm sticking with the plan.

You guys are the best!

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

RAD (Resort Anxiety Disorder) -- me too!

Went from Pop to POR to CR to AKL and finally settled at WL - its funny, now that I finally got to WL, I don't have the urge (much!) to switch anymore...its a good feeling.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Just reading your post I think we can all tell that you and your family would be much happier with the Poly.
Why be dissapointed on such a wonderful occasion!!!!
Think of some other ways to maybe raise a little money.

-Have a garage sale ( we made almost $500 on our last one)
-Start saving that change and start a change jar( we have saved almost $200 in the last few months)
-Cut out some of those little extras that we all spend money on every day and really don't care too much about ( stopping for Starbucks etc...

Those are just a couple ideas. I love to do some of these things and find "hidden money" but that is just me... I actually think it is fun.

Either way..... I still think you should stay where you know you will be the happiest!!!!
Good luck and have fun!!!!!!

 

[aspalek]

Just another comment: we just switched our reservations from AKL to the Polynesian, so i know how how your feeling! We have 6 nights booked and our price went up $400. But i just wanted to be very close to the MK. I started to dread the buses, and wanted to be able to get to the other monorail resorts for dinner,etc.
Good luck with your decision!

 

[bridgettesmom]

Another RAD sufferer reporting

I started at POP, then POR and now the Poly..I'm telling you this is a very co$tly addiction.

I personally used to be in love with AKL and was tempted to stay there on this trip, but, we had a not so magical experience last October that definately ruined our AKL experience. I also noticed that the CM's were not as friendly as they were when we first visited in 2002. AKL is a beautiful "different" resort, it's an unique experience that everyone should experience at least once. Before booking the Poly, we had a reservation at CR, but, the Poly seems to have the right atmosphere to relax while having fun Good luck in making your decision. After all, you are going to DW!!!!:thewave:

 

[TINKTWINS]

I have stayed at both and would choose the Poly. Especially if your celebrating. You get to gaze at the Castle when ever you want!!! Do the Poly Do the Poly Do the Poly. Ok enough, I just wish I were going back to the Poly have fun!

 

[Lovetherodent]

I, too, am a cheapskate. I own all three volumes of the Tightwad Gazette. I have a garden so I don't have to buy vegetables in the summer, and I don't think my kids wore anything that didn't come from a rummage until they started school. As far as Disney goes, I still look for ways to cut corners. We stayed at the Poly last year only because we were POFQ renovation refugees. This year we stayed AKL standard view with a code because even with a code, I thought the Poly was too expensive. Ok, you've got a little background; you can understand just how cheap I am and . . . I'm going to recommend you stay at the Poly.

I thought the AKL was a great value, and we loved it there, but my kids, 8 & 11, can carry their own stuff and I don't have to mess with strollers on the bus. (This year, on a very crowded trip to the MK for EMH, I was sitting with someone else's baby in my lap because the bus was full.) We don't need to get back to the resort quickly before a "no-nap melt down." If you need to set up the crib, you may also find the room at AKL a little cramped (again, not an issue for us). So, I'd say stay where you are, and watch for some codes to bring down the cost a little bit.