Looking at November 2014...

[disney_princess_85]

Like any good DISer, I haven't even been home a week and I'm already plotting my return to WDW!

After the disastrous crowds we experienced, I'm thinking November would be better, plus we'd get to see all the Christmas decorations and attend MVMCP etc.

Now, I've just started looking at prices on Complete Orlando and have found some pretty good deals...

We wanted to stay at AKL, which would be £1,187 each for the hotel, 14-day tickets and regular DDP for 10 nights. Not too bad and only slightly more expensive than what we paid for OKW this year. However, I spotted AoA for just £687 each for the hotel and tickets- obviously a vast difference! If we were to add the Quick Service DDP, it would be £937 each. This is only £250 less than AKL but we wouldn't have to pay for tips (I wouldn't even want to work out how much they cost us this time! ).

What do you guys think? Obviously AKL is a far superior resort to AoA, however the relatively small cost of AoA is very tempting and we did enjoy the feel of the place when we visited last year. If we weren't to add the Quick Service DDP, it'd be a good opportunity to check out the cheap eats offsite maybe?

Decisions, decisions...

 

[Elise79]

If you have a car and get offsite I would pick AoA and not add a DP.

I would OOP for meals and you can eat onsite or offsite. There is loads of choice and can easily eat for less than the DP.

 

[tinks_1989]

To me its a no brainer AKL. But if you want to save then AOA.

 

[flortlebap]

To me its a no brainer AKL. But if you want to save then AOA.

I agree, AKL is beautiful. I would choose that with the DDP over AoA any day.

You could put the cost of the QSDP towards tips

 

[2Tiggies]

I don't like the location of AKL. I'd stay there with a car but if using Disney transport I'd go with AoA, unless TS meals are important, which it doesn't sound like they are for you next trip

 

[disney_princess_85]

If you have a car and get offsite I would pick AoA and not add a DP.

I would OOP for meals and you can eat onsite or offsite. There is loads of choice and can easily eat for less than the DP.

We probably wouldn't have a car so we'd be relying on buses. This isn't really an issue for us but it might get a bit tiresome.

To me its a no brainer AKL. But if you want to save then AOA.

Hmm, well we're planning a trip to China next year plus we're moving into a new flat, so saving would be nice!

I agree, AKL is beautiful. I would choose that with the DDP over AoA any day.

You could put the cost of the QSDP towards tips

Having the regular DDP is actually putting me off, not because of the tips but because I'm just a bit sick of it. There are only so many sit-down meals you can fully appreciate and the whole thing felt pretty restrictive this time.

I don't like the location of AKL. I'd stay there with a car but if using Disney transport I'd go with AoA, unless TS meals are important, which it doesn't sound like they are for you next trip

It is a bit out of the way. You're right, TS meals just aren't as important to us anymore. We had great meals this time and fab servers overall but it felt like a chore having to get to a restaurant on time and we were struggling to spend all our credits towards the end. On our last night we went to Le Cellier and actually got our server to box our meal up as we just didn't feel up to it! I felt so bad, we tipped him about 25%! I think there's a lot more choice with QS restaurants now, it's not like we'd just be eating burgers all day.

 

[BudgieMama]

For me, given the two options, I'd go with AoA and add the QSDP. I know it would be cool waking up with the animals around, but personally, I think the AoA resort looks pretty stunning (and we'd have been staying there if DH hadn't want somewhere that looked "more grown up" )

 

[crabbie1]

Well I have stayed at AKLV 3 times and love it. Location really isnt that far. Each for there own. Whilst there last time we went to AoA for a look round and loved it. The food court is one of the best along with POR CS and with the TIW card it gave us 20% off. It depends how long you intend to stay in the hotel etc. They are both great resorts and at christmas you will have the advantage of the xmas tree in the lobby at akl. We are also going end november. Great time to go after TG. Still hot and great theming.

 

[flortlebap]

If you're bored of TS meals then you could pool your credits and stick to signature dining, but it wouldn't be cost effective. I take your point though - we did 5 TS meals out of 7 days and despite eating out being a major part of our holiday, it did start to feel like too much food lol.

We are doing 3 signatures and 2 regular TS with our 8 credits so we will find something else the other three days. Two are at Universal so it's easy for us - two weeks may get a bit much I guess. I could never cope with the Deluxe DDP, Id be waddling after three days!

 

[wayneg]

Difficult to advise on things like this, we all like different things.
I can't see us ever staying in a value resort again, once was enough, could have stayed in one last week for under £50/nt but we are happier offsite if we are not in a deluxe onsite.
We wouldn't do the QSDDP, we eat a TS meal almost every evening.
I would never pay for DDP, no idea how anyone gets value from it (unless you eat every meal at WPE) cost this year is $37ppdp, $74 for 2 adults. Last week our QS meals were costing $18-22 take the top end and times by 2 meals = $44, $30 less than buying the plan. OK I know it is possible if you eat a dessert every meal, eat most expensive items, eat at dearest places etc but I would rather pay OOP and buy what I want.

 

[queendisney]

Personally I'd go for AOA and not buy the DDP. As much as I like AK, its just too far out. When we visited AoA we liked the feel of the place. I would never pay for the DDP as there is a lot of food. We only get it if it's free. We def would not spend that much on food if we are paying OOP.
Would it not be around the same cost to stay at a mod and get the the ddp included?

 

[meldobe]

One thing we noticed when we were out there sep/oct was the huge queues for buses going to AoA- at MK and Epcot closing they were at least triple the amount of people waiting for AoA compared to any other resort, the queue at Mk did the usual queueing system and then went in a straight line past 4 other hotel queues it was crazy.
We visited AoA and it was an ok resort same as pop, oh and no shade over any bus stops at the resort.

 

[saysib]

We've been mulling over the exact same decision for what seems like years, lol We're also looking at similar dates! In the end we've gone for AKL. For us, because the price was so close, we felt the chance to stay in a Deluxe won over.

 

[Bridgey]

November is a terrible time of year to visit, crowds are thru the roof. The weather is also horrific, queues are a joke on all rides thats if the rides arent in rehab*










* None of the above is true, I'll be there nov next year and trying to keep the crowds down

 

[2Tiggies]

November is a terrible time of year to visit, crowds are thru the roof. The weather is also horrific, queues are a joke on all rides thats if the rides arent in rehab*


* None of the above is true, I'll be there nov next year and trying to keep the crowds down

I wish us October guests had done this .... instead we boasted about the perfect month and now look what's happened !

 

[Bridgey]

I wish us October guests had done this .... instead we boasted about the perfect month and now look what's happened !

Nowt more annoying than that is there, you get that excited about it you cant keep your gob shut and all of a sudden the population of brazil has seen your post and decided to go at the same time. Nightmare

 

[Mummycat]

Nowt more annoying than that is there, you get that excited about it you cant keep your gob shut and all of a sudden the population of brazil has seen your post and decided to go at the same time. Nightmare

so true!

 

[orangetiggs]

We fly on 20 next month and next year we are going 4th for 21 nights

 

[Bridgey]

We fly on 20 next month and next year we are going 4th for 21 nights

4th nov? Im flying out on the 1st next year for 21 nights. cant wait

 

[crabbie1]

4th nov? Im flying out on the 1st next year for 21 nights. cant wait

We are booked 30/11/14 at pofq for 5 nights. Pondering if to book dvc before or after. Not sure about the thanksgiving crowds though.

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