Multi-Generation Family: AKL or SSR? Update: OR PVB?

[TikiWiki33]

2nd Update: Thanks for all your advice! In the end we decided on a split stay between AKL and PVB. Best (and worse) of both worlds!

Update: I presented the options to my family last night...and they chose Poly, lol. Nothing official yet, though. The family with 3 kids says they can make a studio work. Aside from the expense, any downsides to PVB?


I think we're finally pulling the trigger on a big family trip. 9 adults 7 kids for Jan 2024. My parents are graciously footing the bill to rent 2 studios and a 2 bedroom. Because my husband and I are the only ones who have been to WDW before they're looking to us for recommendations. We stayed at Kidani in Sept 2022 and loved it. My hesitations about recommending it is 1)the pull-out beds and 2) the potentially long walk to the bus stop if we're at the end of a "wing". Saratoga rooms look comfortable and well-organized. But I'm not crazy about the theming or multiple bus stops. Saratoga is also about $500 cheaper. What would you do?
ETA: No one will have a car.

 

[Eviejim]

SSR and I'm absolutely biased. I will say that it is a sprawling resort so a good amount of walking is required. I've never stayed at AKL before (it's on my radar for our next trip) and if you loved it I would probably choose that again.

 

[CarolynFH]

Kidani sleeps 9 in the 2BR - has a twin-size sleeper chair in the living room in addition to the sofa bed. There are also 3 full bathrooms in the 2BR. See floor plans HERE. The hallways are extremely long, as you know, but if you have a car, you can park under the building, shielded from rain and hot sun, near the elevator closest to your villa, so you can minimize the walking. If you won't have a car, you can request to be near the elevator banks on the bus stop end of the building.

SSR 2BR also sleeps 9, but due to a bunk-size Murphy bed that's a little smaller than a twin, and there are only 2 bathrooms. However, SSR has the queen size Murphy beds in the living room and the studios, which is much better than the sofa beds at Kidani. See floor plans HERE. If you have a car, you park right outside your building, which is very convenient, and if no car, those multiple bus stops mean you're usually not as far from a bus stop as you "could" be at Kidani.

I personally love Kidani (I would book savanna view for sure) more than SSR, but if I were booking for a large family group and wanted comfortable beds, I might have to lean toward SSR and those Murphy beds, depending on who will be sleeping where. If I'm on the queen in the living room, I'd want it to be a Murphy!

 

[jo-jo]

Will you have a car? If so, the parking under the resort will be make the distance a bit better at Kidani.

From a grandparents point of view. We took a few trips with grandkids at different resorts. It just seems extra special to be sitting on the balcony watching animals with the grandkids. That trip we did our room was a one bedroom savana and the kid's and grandkids room was standard. Any time anyone wanted to do animal watching, they came over to our room.

 

[Wedgeout]

With that size of a family trip, my choice would be SSR. Give more freedom for branching out and exploring. Some may want to be at the resort while others go to Disney Springs. Also Disney Springs is a close spot to use as a hub for a bus to see or eat at the other resorts.

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

Depends on the plans of the group. I would pick SSR with my family, mainly because proximity to DS to have an option for people who wanted fewer park days and more restaurant variety.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

From a grandparents point of view. We took a few trips with grandkids at different resorts. It just seems extra special to be sitting on the balcony watching animals with the grandkids. That trip we did our room was a one bedroom savana and the kid's and grandkids room was standard. Any time anyone wanted to do animal watching, they came over to our room.

This absolutely was us on a family trip with grand parents and grand kids. AKL had a special feel for the family, especially in the mornings on the balcony for breakfast, or mid-afternoon break, or later in the day. We've done both AKL and SSR, and AKL is more of a family feel resort for us - tough to explain. Just our opinion. A future family reunion trip will definitely be AKL again - Kidani, for sure.

AKL also has what we feel are the best resort dining options on property - being able to walk to Sanaa or Boma or Mara is awesome!

Good luck with your decision, whichever you choose. Have an amazing trip - sounds like priceless memories coming!!

 

[jo-jo]

This absolutely was us on a family trip with grand parents and grand kids. AKL had a special feel for the family, especially in the mornings on the balcony for breakfast, or mid-afternoon break, or later in the day. We've done both AKL and SSR, and AKL is more of a family feel resort for us - tough to explain. Just our opinion. A future family reunion trip will definitely be AKL again - Kidani, for sure.

AKL also has what we feel are the best resort dining options on property - being able to walk to Sanaa or Boma or Mara is awesome!

Good luck with your decision, whichever you choose. Have an amazing trip - sounds like priceless memories coming!!

On that trip, we stayed two days longer than the kids. We told them as the grandkids wake up and get dressed , send them over to our room, We fed them breakfast on the balcony with grandpa and grandma.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

On that trip, we stayed two days longer than the kids. We told them as the grandkids wake up and get dressed , send them over to our room, We fed them breakfast on the balcony with grandpa and grandma.

Probably makes you smile every time you think on it! Nothing like breakfast with the giraffes and zebras!

 

[DeeBee3]

I'd give a slight edge to AKL due to the extra bathrooms. The pullouts are not comfortable IMO and SSR is definitely more recently refurbished. I would try to work out who is sleeping where and that might help decide that part. I've done a 1-br at Kidani and we loved it, but the pull-out was not good.

 

[jo-jo]

How old are the kids? My grandkids were 4 - 16 for the AKl trip. If they are older, they might not even care about the animals. Our first trip there ten years ago, one DGD who was almost 3 at the time, saw an ostrich run by and she called it a donkey with wings. If we were at SSR, calling a golfer that, would mean so much difference.

 

[TikiWiki33]

How old are the kids? My grandkids were 4 - 16 for the AKl trip. If they are older, they might not even care about the animals. Our first trip there ten years ago, one DGD who was almost 3 at the time, saw an ostrich run by and she called it a donkey with wings. If we were at SSR, calling a golfer that, would mean so much difference.

Kids are 2-13, so prime animal age

 

[Prince John Robin Hood]

I would go with AKV as you can request rooms near the lobby to reduce the walking and the pullouts are okay for kids. I have a 5 and 9 year old and they've never complained. We went to Sanaa for breakfast a few weeks ago and had birds right on the other side of the window looking at us and Zebra's eating about 30 feet away. My kids can't wait to go back this summer and I find it's a great deal since it's quick service for breakfast. There's also some cool activities like watching the animals in the evening with night vision googles.

 

[Counting Stars]

Loved both resorts- but AKL has more of a family atmosphere I think. Hard to go wrong either way. Both a beautiful resorts.

 

[intamin]

I’d go with AKL for the theming and the food.. I mean come on that Christmas tree in the lobby of Jambo house during the holidays is just amazing and then you add a savanna with animals and 3 of the best restaurants on property? I love SSR as well for the proximity to Disney Springs but it just has so much availability I’d pretty much never be worried about booking at the 7 month mark in the near future.

 

[RoseGold]

I'm guessing you are renting points? I'd price out BLT. Pool isn't as nice, sure. Maybe that's not the main consideration for January. But being RIGHT ON MK for a once in a lifetimes kind of trip like this is special, and BLT's chart is low enough it might be competitive.

The BLT theme park view is on my bucket list, and you'd only need one of your rooms to be in that category. Standard view is competitive in points and difficult to book. Kidani/SSR should be easy to book, even in a couple months.

 

[TikiWiki33]

I'm guessing you are renting points? I'd price out BLT. Pool isn't as nice, sure. Maybe that's not the main consideration for January. But being RIGHT ON MK for a once in a lifetimes kind of trip like this is special, and BLT's chart is low enough it might be competitive.

The BLT theme park view is on my bucket list, and you'd only need one of your rooms to be in that category. Standard view is competitive in points and difficult to book. Kidani/SSR should be easy to book, even in a couple months.

Ill look into that; thanks!

 

[js]

OKW will have the most room and should be less points (money) if you are renting.

However, with that many people, I would chose either a monorail resort OR SSR/OKW so you have
DTD in your backyard for the evenings without having to deal with busses.

If you have older teens, they can also go there on their own for a little away time too.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[Minniemoo15]

I would do AKL. For a big family once in a lifetime trip I would want a special vibe. My downside of AKL is transportation, but SSR also relies on buses so that’s a wash. The atmosphere at AKL is pretty hard to beat.

 

[maxbuffmelvin]

AKL for me because of AKL's theme. I rarely go to DS, so SSR proximity doesn't matter to me.