Keep AKL reservations or switch to Contemp?

[GiGi30]

I have reservations for 9/15-22 at AKL. Now I am really wanting to switch to Contemporary. Mainly for the MK views and monorail. Opinions? Do you think this is a downgrade? I know AK does not share buses with other resorts, but I heard it's a long walk to where the buses are. Do you get to the parks pretty quickly? Thanks for the .02!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This is not a knock against the Animal Kingdom Lodge or to anyone who likes staying there, but I think switching to the Contemporary would be a huge upgrade. You would be staying in the heart of Walt Disney World being so close to the Magic Kingdom, Polynesian and Grand Floridian. Where as there is nothing located around the Animal Kingdom Lodge, because it's a remote location. As for getting to the parks quickly if you take the walkway to the Magic Kingdom you can get there in 10 minutes or less, when going to Epcot take the Monorail to the TTC and transfer to the Epcot Monorail which does not take long at all. As for the buses to MGM and AK they don't take that long and no matter which Resorts the Contemporary shares with they are still the 1st Resort where guests get picked up and dropped off.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Sounds like your heart is leaning towards the upgrade. I would go for the ugrade if I could swing it. To be that close to the MK would be awesome.

 

[raven69david]

If you've ever seen the non-tower rooms at Contemporary you'd definetly want to keep your AKL reservation. Every time we pass by the CR and see the garden view rooms, it reminds me of a cheap hotel located somewhere in the ghetto part of town. I hope that doesn't sound too bad, but it's the only way i know how to describe them. They may be nice on the inside, but on the outside they look rundown. I've only seen the rooms from the monorail so hopefully i'm wrong, but from what what i've seen, i'd never stay there unless it was in the tower.

The switches i've heard to CR are garden view rooms; not tower rooms. I can almost guarantee you will NOT get a MK view. But in any event, good luck and hopefully you get a real nice upgrade.

 

[Tiffany]

I have reservations for 9/15-22 at AKL. Now I am really wanting to switch to Contemporary. Mainly for the MK views and monorail. Opinions? Do you think this is a downgrade? I know AK does not share buses with other resorts, but I heard it's a long walk to where the buses are. Do you get to the parks pretty quickly? Thanks for the .02!

Has Disney actually called and offered you this move? I thought they were only calling people with arrival dates prior to Sept 1st?

 

[raven69david]

Has Disney actually called and offered you this move? I thought they were only calling people with arrival dates prior to Sept 1st?

As of now they will only be calling people who are scheduled to arrive prior to 9/1/07 and have a room in the affected area which is primarily, but not limited to, standard view rooms. It never hurts to ask for an upgrade because the resort will still be under construction for many months to come, but the primary work is being done through 9/1/07. This date could change if the work gets delayed or the job runs behind schedule. In any event, it never hurts to make a request. Good Luck on that.

 

[Tiffany]

As of now they will only be calling people who are scheduled to arrive prior to 9/1/07 and have a room in the affected area which is primarily, but not limited to, standard view rooms. It never hurts to ask for an upgrade because the resort will still be under construction for many months to come, but the primary work is being done through 9/1/07. This date could change if the work gets delayed or the job runs behind schedule. In any event, it never hurts to make a request. Good Luck on that.

We are actually booked in a club room from Sept 22nd through the 29th and I was wondering if the op had been called or it they were just being proactive. We plan on waiting for the "call" and if it does come request being moved to YC Concierge. Oh well we will see. We love the AKL and if we get to stay there in Sept it will be our 8th stay it is our home away from home.

 

[GiGi30]

Has Disney actually called and offered you this move? I thought they were only calling people with arrival dates prior to Sept 1st?

I should have clarified that Disney has not given me "the call" yet. We were just rethinking our room plans and didn't want to be 12 miles away from the MK. Contemporary is pretty booked, and we would need 3 rooms, so it looks like we will be staying at AKL.

I think we are going to try to get a 1 BR suite instead of the standard Savanna view we have booked. We have 2 kids, who will be 2 and 5 months, and think the extra room would be nice. I am hoping they have one avaliable for those days.

 

[SharonLowe]

I should have clarified that Disney has not given me "the call" yet. We were just rethinking our room plans and didn't want to be 12 miles away from the MK. Contemporary is pretty booked, and we would need 3 rooms, so it looks like we will be staying at AKL.

I think we are going to try to get a 1 BR suite instead of the standard Savanna view we have booked. We have 2 kids, who will be 2 and 5 months, and think the extra room would be nice. I am hoping they have one avaliable for those days.

Stayed at both - CR is nice if you get a tower room/suite with a view but otherwise AKL rules. Much better theming; direct buses to all the parks and DTD; etc. We waited at CR for a bus to DTD - the wait was miserable - someone complained and finally a bus came, only to stop at other resorts before heading over to the water park and then DTD. Took over an hour to get there! Never again will we rely on buses from CR. At AKL, it was never a long wait and the bus rides aren't long either.

As for the 1BR suite - I don't recommnend it - bad views and worse now since they are building on the Savanna where the 1BRs overlook - there are only 4 of them now anyway. You would be better off trying to get a second connecting room. The standard CL rooms are very nice - 4th floor and great views.