Mom and me trip with daughter for 10th b-day - which resort?

[kittykorat]

Going to bring my daughter for a surprise trip for her 10th Birthday in October, Three nights, just the two of us. We are a family of 6, so this will be special! We usually stay in a 2 bedroom, this will be a studio.
(and will be setting a precedent, so I will be planning future one to one trips with each of the kids)

..anyways, I wasn't able to get all three nights at one resort.
I got Friday and Saturday nights in a studio at OKW and wait listed the Thursday night.

I got the Thursday night at AKL Jambo...
and the Friday night at AKL Kidani.
I need to waitlist the rest - would it be better to Waitlist the whole time at Kidani, or the last two nights at Jambo?

And which would be your first choice to go as a mom and me trip- will be Park and Pool time. We will not be bringing a car.

I have never stayed at AKL.
We have stayed at OKW, and I like the studios have two real beds.

 

[cruisin5]

So now you have Thursday at Jambo with Friday and Saturday at OKW.

Hmmm.. waitlist Thursday at OKW so you don't have to move, waitlist Friday and Saturday at Jambo or waitlist three nights at Kidani.

I'd rather Jambo/OKW then all at Kidani. For a short trip with two people, the AK difference to me is The Mara.

What a special trip for you two!

 

[kittykorat]

So now you have Thursday at Jambo with Friday and Saturday at OKW.

Hmmm.. waitlist Thursday at OKW so you don't have to move, waitlist Friday and Saturday at Jambo or waitlist three nights at Kidani.

I'd rather Jambo/OKW then all at Kidani. For a short trip with two people, the AK difference to me is The Mara.

What a special trip for you two!

Yes, I already waitlisted Thursday at OKW, and trying to decide which is the better option for the 2nd waitlist - Friday and Saturday at Jambo or all at Kidani? I'm sort of leaning towards Friday Saturday at Jambo- because even if the waitlist didn't come through I could still just do the split stay.

I've just never stayed at AKL, so not really familiar.. only time I went was dinner at Boma.

 

[a1tinkfans]

AKL is a great resort. For a special treat.. there’s a nite Safari at kidani... easy inside bus between the two. It is a great experience. Enjoy ur visit. I’d do either akl or kidani
Over okw in a heartbeat.

 

[Wendy98]

I did this with my daughter for her 11th birthday in October 2017. It was a complete surprise, just showed up and picked her up from school. I know you were looking at DVC, but we stayed at POP and loved it. We always stay in 1 bedrooms (family of 5), so this was something new and not something we would do on a family trip.

It is so much fun with just one kid with you! I also ordered a surprise from Disney Floral and Gifts, ate at 1900 Park Fare (he brothers would never want to go there), and went to MNSSHP. This trip will always be so special for us both.

And you are right, it does set a precedence. I did take my 15 year old son last month. We stayed at Caribbean Beach--it was fine, very big, but we were on the go non-stop.

 

[Geomom]

I would waitlist the entire stay at Kidani. I think with a 3 nt stay you'd have a chance of getting a waitlist (in the past we even had a waitlist for BWV come through for Columbus day weekend.)

We just stayed at Kidani with DD14. Kidani has the community hall and the water play area. Both AK ones have cultural activities as well as pool activities. (We did free cookie decorating outside of Sanaa and learned about Zimbabwe at the same time.) It is easy enough to get to Jambo house--hop on any bus except the Disney Springs bus. The rest of the park buses stop at Kidani first, then stop at Jambo. The Springs bus stops at Jambo first. (And to get from Jambo to Kidani--get on a Springs bus.) There are internal shuttle buses as well, but I don't think they run as often. Oh, and Sanaa now offers a quick service breakfast, so there is a breakfast option at Kidani. DH went down and brought stuff back to the room for us.

 

[cruisin5]

Yes, I already waitlisted Thursday at OKW, and trying to decide which is the better option for the 2nd waitlist - Friday and Saturday at Jambo or all at Kidani? I'm sort of leaning towards Friday Saturday at Jambo- because even if the waitlist didn't come through I could still just do the split stay.

I've just never stayed at AKL, so not really familiar.. only time I went was dinner at Boma.

Think I'd waitlist Fri/Sat at Jambo along with the OKW waitlist. Though the three-night waitlist at Kidani would have a better chance of coming through imo just based on the number of accommodations.

Stalk stalk stalk, you never know what will pop-up!

 

[kittykorat]

Stalk stalk stalk, you never know what will pop-up!

I did Stalk, stalk stalk- and- I Friday and Saturday came up in AKL value!! I was shocked, but I scooped it right up!! I also found a cheaper flight Wednesday evening, and decided to bring both my daughters. It will still be special as it will be a "girl's" weekend, and teenaged brothers will go to Universal with Dad at another time. Also- My younger daughter will be turning 8 in December- but she always feels like her birthday isn't as special since it is close to Christmas, so we will just celebrate it early.

Now.. We will be staying W, Th, Fr and Sat.
I booked W night in a studio at BWV (younger daughter's favorite) and Thrs night at a poly studio (older daughter's favorite) and Friday and Saturday will be at AKL Jambo Value.
I did WL the rest of the stay at AKLV- but realize it is unlikely, and happy with what we have.

 

[alldiz]

I did Stalk, stalk stalk- and- I Friday and Saturday came up in AKL value!! I was shocked, but I scooped it right up!! I also found a cheaper flight Wednesday evening, and decided to bring both my daughters. It will still be special as it will be a "girl's" weekend, and teenaged brothers will go to Universal with Dad at another time. Also- My younger daughter will be turning 8 in December- but she always feels like her birthday isn't as special since it is close to Christmas, so we will just celebrate it early.

Now.. We will be staying W, Th, Fr and Sat.
I booked W night in a studio at BWV (younger daughter's favorite) and Thrs night at a poly studio (older daughter's favorite) and Friday and Saturday will be at AKL Jambo Value.
I did WL the rest of the stay at AKLV- but realize it is unlikely, and happy with what we have.

Ok so wed is clearly Epcot day or studios... walking distance
Then on to Poly....if not at park watch fireworks from beach...
AKL... must do Boma

 

[katandmouse]

I did Stalk, stalk stalk- and- I Friday and Saturday came up in AKL value!! I was shocked, but I scooped it right up!! I also found a cheaper flight Wednesday evening, and decided to bring both my daughters. It will still be special as it will be a "girl's" weekend, and teenaged brothers will go to Universal with Dad at another time. Also- My younger daughter will be turning 8 in December- but she always feels like her birthday isn't as special since it is close to Christmas, so we will just celebrate it early.

Now.. We will be staying W, Th, Fr and Sat.
I booked W night in a studio at BWV (younger daughter's favorite) and Thrs night at a poly studio (older daughter's favorite) and Friday and Saturday will be at AKL Jambo Value.
I did WL the rest of the stay at AKLV- but realize it is unlikely, and happy with what we have.

I don’t have any advice, but wanted to say I love your idea of a mom & me girls weekend, and that you’ll be staying at your daughters’ favorite resorts! I hope to be able to do this with my kids when they’re older.