Ok talk me into it . . .

[GrumpyBelle]

AK is also our least favorite park also. AKL however is our most favorite resort. It is the most uniquely themed. It feels like you have truly stepped away rom the parks into a totally different experience. It is farther away the other parks, but if transportation is a concern, it doesn't share any with the other resorts. Being able to step right outside and watch the animals is an awesome feeling. I have stayed in both rooms with and without a savannah view and haven't found that the experience was lessened without a view. Actually I don't mind paying less for rooms without a view as there are many areas for public viewing.

 

[katyjeka]

I would go with AKL. Deluxe over Value for only $30, we would never pass that up. AKL is one of the most beautiful resorts on disney property.

 

[kerriemiller]

I would love to quote everyone who responded to this thread because you are all so wise and very kind.

And I have a big announcement

I just changed to a 1 br villa in the Jambo house to be closer to the main lobby at . . . .

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

thank you all for your support

 

[thr33boys]

Currently booked at AoA in a Lion King room from Nov 9 to Nov 17 upgraded to DDP from the free QS. Just for fun I looked at what else we could do for the same money and discovered its only $30 more to get a regular room at AKL. Not a savannah view and not a bunkbed room.

Is it worth it? Some of my concerns are its kind of out of the way, we will be spending a lot of time at MK and Epcot, AK is our least favorite park. And I guess just extra travel time to all of our ADRs which I might have to change some

I was in a similar situation, we had booked the Cars room, the whole package with DDP and 4 day tickets - was $4664. Then I discovered renting points, I got a 1 bedroom Stnd. view at AKV-Jambo, with DDP and 5 day tickets for $4189. While I did feel like I was taking away a great experience for the kids, since they would have loved the Cars room, I thought it was important that DH and I have some luxuries like a King bed, and a balcony - the full kitchen is a bonus for storing food!

The more I think about it, the more I realize my kids will be happy wherever we stay - they are so going to love the animals. We will take them over to AoA to check it out.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[BabsBunny]

I would love to quote everyone who responded to this thread because you are all so wise and very kind.

And I have a big announcement

I just changed to a 1 br villa in the Jambo house to be closer to the main lobby at . . . .

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

thank you all for your support

Well in that case...

WELCOME HOME! (That had to be more than 30 bucks. lol)

 

[thr33boys]

I would love to quote everyone who responded to this thread because you are all so wise and very kind.

And I have a big announcement

I just changed to a 1 br villa in the Jambo house to be closer to the main lobby at . . . .

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

thank you all for your support

Good for You!! Forgot to mention, we'll be there the 13th-20th! Perhaps, we'll see each other - we'll be the family of 5

 

[csw531]

I would love to quote everyone who responded to this thread because you are all so wise and very kind.

And I have a big announcement

I just changed to a 1 br villa in the Jambo house to be closer to the main lobby at . . . .

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

thank you all for your support

YAY!!!!

Btw - did you rent points? Just curious.

Hope you have a magical trip!!!

 

[DisneyKidds]

Well in that case...

WELCOME HOME! (That had to be more than 30 bucks. lol)

Ditto. Was thinking the same thing myself, that the 1 Br Villa wasn't a $30 upgrade. However, whatever additional it is will be worth it. We have found any more that we can't stand being squeezed in to a regular room with the kids any more. Having a seperate Br for some privacy is great. Having the washed/dryer in the room is also great.

Be warned.....staying in a DVC 1 Br Villa could prove to be a lot more expensive than you think. We rented points once to stay in a DVC villa.....and bought DVC shortly there after!

 

[MomToPrincePhillip]

This thread was just what I needed! I was going to book the cars room at AoA (I have 2 DSs 9 and 5) who would love the Cars theme, but DH and I would like a deluxe 1 bedroom, and we think this could be our last trip to WDW for a while, and I've been tying to convince myself that it would be worth the money to stay at AKL with a Savannah view. I think we will rent points (never have done this before so I'm a little nervous), and do it! We have always stayed off property and I'm looking forward to treating ourselves. So thanks to Kerriemiller for the thread and to Disneykidds and thr33boys for your posts, you helped convince me...now I have to work on DH!

 

[hollypoast]

Stay at AKL… no question.

 

[papamouse1]

I would love to quote everyone who responded to this thread because you are all so wise and very kind.

And I have a big announcement

I just changed to a 1 br villa in the Jambo house to be closer to the main lobby at . . . .

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

thank you all for your support

Good choice!!
Every child is different, but once your kids get to walk out the path and be right in among the real animals, and feel like they are at a real savannah in Africa, AoA is simply not going to be able to give you that level of immersive experience.

On a side note..
1) Our experience has actually been the value buses were worse for us than AKL. I have heard people talk about AKL bus problems, but in 4 stays there we haven't had a single incident.... just our thought on the subject

2) You mentioned about people crossing the bridge and using the AoA facilities... my understanding is they are going to implement a system like BC to limit pools to just AoA guests... so shouldn't make the resort more crowded than its own capacity (although if AoA is truly full they are going to be crowded all by themselves. They have LOTS of units there). They could come over and crowd the food court, however.

3) Once again, just opinion, but we have stayed Savannah and we will probably not pay extra to do that again. Even with the Savannah room with a great view, we tended to go out to the lobby or out on the paths to watch the animals... spent very little time on our balcony the 2 times we stayed Savannah. But once again, that's just us..

 

[sydneysmom]

$30 more for AK ? YUP, I'm going to vote for the deluxe resort. Even if you don't have a savannah view, there are plenty of places there to see the animals....and while you won't be in a Lion King room, you will kind of be IN the movie at AK !

It looks so absolutely gorgeous there. Have fun !!

 

[kerriemiller]

The villa was a little bit more then the standard lol. The standard was an unbelievable $30 up grade. I had no idea this would strike such a cord with everyone.

Thank you all.


I agree that the kids are not going to care at all about AoA as soon as the walk into the lobby. They will be in the lion king as opposed to just sleeping under him

 

[B's Marie]

I would love to quote everyone who responded to this thread because you are all so wise and very kind.

And I have a big announcement

I just changed to a 1 br villa in the Jambo house to be closer to the main lobby at . . . .

ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE

thank you all for your support

YAY YOU!!!

 

[thr33boys]

This thread was just what I needed! I was going to book the cars room at AoA (I have 2 DSs 9 and 5) who would love the Cars theme, but DH and I would like a deluxe 1 bedroom, and we think this could be our last trip to WDW for a while, and I've been tying to convince myself that it would be worth the money to stay at AKL with a Savannah view. I think we will rent points (never have done this before so I'm a little nervous), and do it! We have always stayed off property and I'm looking forward to treating ourselves. So thanks to Kerriemiller for the thread and to Disneykidds and thr33boys for your posts, you helped convince me...now I have to work on DH!

I will say when I first made the switch, I felt kinda selfish but then realized, not everything has to be about the kids. It's okay for us to do something we would enjoy. Afterall, they are still in WDW! Now I'm over the moon excited! You should see my guys when we drive by an open field of cows - can't wait until they look and see giraffes. We rented from an owner and so far the experience has been fantastic. But I do recommend you do your homework and read all the sticky's that are there. Of course, you could also go through a 3rd party.

We have yet to decide when and how we're going to spring this trip on them

Good luck with DH!!

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Awesome! Have a great trip!!!

 

[Momofone92]

For $30 more I would do AKL. I loved it! The restaurants are fantastic. The place is great. The animals make it so unique. That said I choose WL over AKL because of distance

 

[FantasiaMagic]

AKL is a great resort! The animals are great to see outside your window and the restaraunts and tw giftshop are great also! I have never stayed at AoA but it looks great.

Have a great time wherever u decide!!

 

[KatMark]

I would pick the AKL in a heartbeat. We have done the values twice...once for three nights back in 2000 and this past April for one night--NEVER again. We stayed at the AKL last September and it was heavenly.