LAST Resort Decision Please Help! POR/AKL?

[AngieInOH]

OK, With all the new discounts I have narrowed my choices to the following.

7 Nights, 7 day park hopper and dining plan (for 2 adults 1 child)

POR = $1,965.42 Standard Room (Already have this booked)

AKL = $2,490.61 Standard Room (not willing to pay for upgrade)


Would have liked WL but it was $2,732.55. Yesterday AKL standard view wasn't available but it was this morning, which would put it a bit more in my price range.

Tomorrow is my 45 day mark so a decision needs to be reached today so I can make payment.

Any thoughts??????

 

[mmeb144]

I've never stayed at AKL, but I would go for that. It's always better to get the most hotel you can afford.

Marie

 

[confal1]

I say AKL and if you do remember to ask for a complimentary upgrade at check in. Although you may not get it I have stayed there 3 times and always been upgraded to a Savannah View. Good Luck.

 

[michelewdw]

Considering the prices I think I would go with AKL. Both resorts are great but your price seems like a good deal for AKL. I am sure that if the hotel has available rooms you would be upgraded to a Savannah View Room (at least it seems like many people have posted that they have received upgrades) The last time we stayed there was July. We booked a Savannah View and were upgraded to a Deluxe Savannah View room upon check-in. All that said even if you do not receive a savannah view there are plenty of places to see animals.

Michele

 

[AngieInOH]

Anyone want to advise me to stay at POR? I hate this, I keep changing my mind!

 

[whacked]

Just to throw in a wrench...

POR is more centrally located.

$500 buys a LOT of Mickey bars.

If you took that $500, put it in travellers checks, and spent it while you were in the parks, you could have a lot of fun too. Or save half and spend half.

Or rent a convertable and save half like we are.

 

[sarah4770]

AKl doesn't have any boats or bikes.... depends on what you like to do.
Por can be pretty spead out with a lot of walking to the main areas.
Depends on whether you prefer to relax at the end of the day, or spend time oudoors?

 

[AngieInOH]

Are days are going to be pretty full so I suspect we will be ready for rest and relaxation by the end of the day.

Up to this point I was happily satisfied with POR now that I can get AKL for just $100 more than the original price I was paying for POR I'm questioning myself? Do I want to be frugal? Or just go for it? This is our first trip to Disney and it will probably be at least another 3 yrs before we go back.

If you were looking at it from a 5 yr old which would you like?

 

[Belle Amy]

I don't have any children, but I know the feeling of wanting the most magic for my buck....these are actually my two favorite resorts, but I would suggest AKL over POR for the magic....like others have suggested, ask when you get to the check in desk if there are any upgrades available, I have always received them....and the ability to see the animals directly out the sliding glass door when you arrive is priceless....when my fiance and I checked in, there were four giraffes standing right there, and I felt like a 5 year old, as excited as I was....worth it, in my honest opinion....but either decision, you will have an amazing time, both resorts are absolutely beautiful!!! Have a great trip!!!!

 

[Holly]

I've stayed at both, and would definitely recommend AKL over POR. AKL is amazing.

 

[Foladar]

I'm staying at AKL too, looks pretty nice!

 

[marvin12]

I have stayed at both. Last year we got a great deal to stay at the akl. So we picked that. I really was dissapointed. I wished I had picked my first choice, which was por. It does not feel like disney everything seems so far away. Just my thoughts

 

[shellybaxter]

I've stayed at both and if you were asking about a Savannah view room at AKL vs POR, I'd a AKL no question. We had a a standard view room at AKL for one night once and then were upgraded to get bunkbeds to a Savannah view. I would not have been happy without the Savannah view. The standard room over looked the front entrance to the hotel and was very noisy. I didn't even feel like I could step out onto my balcony in my robe. I felt like others had this great expirience and I just got what was left. I've stayed at AKL since and would never book a standard view again.

That said, I LOVE POR. Its a beautiful hotel. You would know for sure what you were getting and not have to hope for an upgrade. I'd choose POR over AKL standard.

Shelly

 

[AngieInOH]

OH NO! Every time I check in on the thread my mind gets changed. Only got 45 minutes to decide! What am I going to do? Why did AKL have to have a standard room available?????????

 

[TiggerDaisy]

I had the same dilemma when I was booking our vacation. It was either POR or AKL. My in-laws are coming down to visit from Delaware and they invited us to join them on their trip to WDW. It was a pleasant and wonderful surprise! I was torn between these two resorts. My mother-in-law loves lions and other animals and I thought that it would be perfect for her. Since it was their vacation, my in-laws had the last word on where to stay. Money wasn't really a factor in her decision. I wanted to stay at either resort so it really did not matter to me. They ended up choosing POR for one reason - it is more centrally located than AKL. AKL was too far out for them. Plus, they liked the idea of taking a ferry to Downtown Disney. We are staying at POR and leaving in 19 days!

 

[AngieInOH]

Guess what! It's 9:30 pm and still no decission........ I was to call TA around 4:00 and well I got busy at work, lost track of time and now can't get ahold of her. Maybe my subconcious (sp?) is just giving me extra time to decide.

 

[robinb]

This is our first trip to Disney and it will probably be at least another 3 yrs before we go back.

If you were looking at it from a 5 yr old which would you like?

Since this if your first trip to WDW, I would choose POR. AKL is wonderful, but POR is ver nice too. The resort is very nice, as is the pool and the food court (actually, with a 5 year old I would say POFQ would be the best). Plus, if you do it less expensively then maybe you'll be back sooner .

Save your $$ for other things.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We are in the identical situation. I wanted to choose AKL and hope for the free Savannah upgrade at check in, but DH said lets stay at POR and use that money for souveniers, food, etc.

 

[AngieInOH]

Goodluck Cinderumbrella! I'm still agonizing over it.......

One thing tipping me toward AKL: I could suprise DH and DS and tell them we had to keep our original reservation at POR.

Of course the money we would save by staying at POR would be nice.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Agonizing is a good word.... I really want to make that jump but only if we can get the upgrade. How likely is it that we'll get it? I believe for our time there is still Savannah availability since the site still lists it as an option....