POFQ or AKL (Kidani)?

[esilanna]

Hello everyone! First-timer here!

I am surprising my boyfriend with a birthday trip to WDW in mid-August, and he has never been to Disney before (I have been many, many times...)

I currently have a week booked at POFQ, but I've also found a confirmed DVC reservation for the same exact dates at AKL Kidani Village. The price difference is about $600 to upgrade to AKL. I haven't been to either resort, so I was curious on people's opinions on what to do. Is the price difference worth it?

We will have one rest day, and since we're going in August and it's gonna be hot we'll probably be at the resort for a few hours most afternoons to swim and relax.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Yes, it's worth it *if* you understand the difference in housekeeping, and are ok with that.

Walking outside everywhere in the summer heat vs inside air conditioned hallways would make it worth it, if nothing else. But, there really is no comparison. AKL is superior is every way.

 

[PrincessNelly]

Hello everyone! First-timer here!

I am surprising my boyfriend with a birthday trip to WDW in mid-August, and he has never been to Disney before (I have been many, many times...)

I currently have a week booked at POFQ, but I've also found a confirmed DVC reservation for the same exact dates at AKL Kidani Village. The price difference is about $600 to upgrade to AKL. I haven't been to either resort, so I was curious on people's opinions on what to do. Is the price difference worth it?

We will have one rest day, and since we're going in August and it's gonna be hot we'll probably be at the resort for a few hours most afternoons to swim and relax.

IMO its worth it! Kidani and POFQ are my favorite resorts on all of disney property. AKL just feels like a different world and that can be especially relaxing after long days in the park. The pool at Kidani is much better and the things to do at AKL on your rest day are much more than FQ.

 

[a742246]

I would pick Kidani. Pools and restaurants are great!

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are so many areas at Kidani Village and Jambo House where you can sit and watch the animals on the savannas in AC comfort. Makes for a very nice, restful time.

 

[Wild4Walt]

Another vote for AKL - if you can get it for that minimal of a price - for sure!

POFQ is awesome as well, but AKL is a whole other level.

 

[Magical2017]

We have stayed at both resorts. I'd book AKL if my budget allowed for it, hands down.

 

[Babsy]

Both resorts are nice, but you are comparing a moderate with a deluxe resort. The AKL Kidani resort has more upgraded amenities. For that small price difference, I would definitely go with AKL. In August the interior hallways with AC alone would be worth the upcharge for us. Then you have the animal viewing, the balcony, the nicer decor, the dining options ...... you will love AKL.

 

[MarBee]

So I’ll be the dissenter. Hands down, I’d do POFQ every time. I’ve stayed at a bunch of on and off property resorts and Kidani was prob one of my least favorites. (I like Jambo house much better.)
It was really really spread out, every where we walked took forever. (It doesn’t seem like an extra 10-15 minutes walk from the buses are a big deal until you’re exhausted from a full day and night at the parks.). I didn’t care for the food at Sanaa (just not my type of food.) There was no quick service. The transportation was meh. And our room was super cramped for 4 people (prob fine for 2). The pool had an awesome slide, but the pool seemed small for the size of the resort.
The vibe at POFQ was awesome. It was laid back, relaxing, and fun. It had the best bus transportation of any resort we stayed in. Plus the boats to DS were awesome. The bar was fun and the quick service was really good.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d stay at Kidani again, but I’d actually pay more money to stay at POFQ than Kidani.
Whatever you choose, have a great time! There are no bad Disney properties

 

[JennyDrake]

So I’ll be the dissenter. Hands down, I’d do POFQ every time. I’ve stayed at a bunch of on and off property resorts and Kidani was prob one of my least favorites.
There was no quick service. The transportation was meh. And our room was super cramped for 4 people (prob fine for 2). The pool had an awesome slide, but the pool seemed small for the size of the resort.
The vibe at POFQ was awesome. It was laid back, relaxing, and fun. It had the best bus transportation of any resort we stayed in. Plus the boats to DS were awesome. The bar was fun and the quick service was really good.
Don’t get me wrong, I’d stay at Kidani again, but I’d actually pay more money to stay at POFQ than Kidani.
Whatever you choose, have a great time! There are no bad Disney properties

I'm with you. But I have NO desire to go back to Kidani. It is a looooong walk anywhere, but yes, it IS indoors. The grab and go had very few selections and none that my low carb friend could eat. The pool is nice, but you have to go outdoors AND across a parking lot to get to it, not very appealing in super cool December when all we wanted was a soak in the hot tub. I'm the Self Professed Queen of The Values and I've never experienced in room noise like I did during both stays at Kidani. Maybe TMI, but we could hear the guy in the bathroom next door unzip....

 

[wootejl]

That is a really tough call and you honestly can't go wrong either way, but personally I would pick POFQ. We were actually faced with almost this exact same decision for our upcoming trip (I say almost exact just because I don't remember the exact price difference anymore) but we went with saving a few bucks and staying at POFQ. AKL has always been our favorite resort, however last year we ended up staying at Kidani and decided that in the future we only wanted to splurge on AKL if we could stay at Jambo House. To us Kidani was just not the same once you've already stayed at Jambo. (If you've never been to Jambo before then you will probably still love Kidani!) We just missed the bigger lobby, smelling Boma every time you walked by, the quick service, you name it. At Kidani it was our first time splurging on a Savannah View room and we saw almost NO animals. It was super disappointing because we've always seen TONS of animals just from our standard view rooms at Jambo House. The walk to the pool was super long and did not seem convenient at all and it just didn't feel like we were getting the same experience that we got at Jambo. I was worried that POFQ would feel like a step down but my husband and I went just the two of us this past March and absolutely LOVED our experience at POFQ and can't wait to stay there again in October with the whole family! You could use the extra money to spring for park hoppers, a special meal (or several), etc.

 

[LaurieL58]

POFQ definitely. I used to own DVC at Kidani but happily gave it up in the divorce. WAY too much walking. I will never stay there again. I do enjoy Jambo House though.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

I'm gonna be unpopular here but here's my two cents-

1- you're comparing apples and oranges, a mod and deluxe aren't comparable IMO. Both are very nice resorts in their categories but it's really hands down, AKL is a better resort when you look at what you get but that's bc it's more $$$
2- Worth it?? Well only you can justify that after your trip. $600 is a lot of money. I've stayed at both and don't think AKL is "worth it" to me but that's our families experience. Will you spend a lot of time in your room, will you devote more than 1 day to visiting AK? Keep in mind AKL is only close to AK and furthest from the other parks. We'd definitely stay at both resorts again but I would have to have a great discount to stay at AKL again. We did Jambo House, savanna view on zebra trail. I can't see staying here and not having a savanna view, to me that would not be worth it.
3- Just know DVC is different than a regular room reservation- the housekeeping service visits will vary, may be a non-issue for you but for me, I'm on vacation so I like to have turn down service and all of what comes with hotel stays so I'm not a DVC fan at this time.

I really would say as always, any where at WDW is awesome, just map out your priorities for lodging and go from there. The fact that you are surprising your BF is awesome, I'm sure he'll be happy with the thoughtful gift.

 

[Animal]

POFQ definitely. I used to own DVC at Kidani but happily gave it up in the divorce.

This is absolutely the funniest thing I've read all week!

 

[mom2travel]

tough call. We've stayed at POFQ and at AKL (Jambo, not Kidani). For me whether it's "worth it" would depend on what I planned to do while at WDW.
Pool is better at AKL/AKV.
Boma is at AKL, which is great.
Can take boat from POFQ to DS, if you plan to spend time there.
POFQ is nice and compact for getting around, and you can always venture over to POR if you wanted a change of scenery.

These days we tend to spend less time at the resort than in the parks, so am currently inclined towards moderates and values. That said, I am also contemplating a similar decision for the fall for a short anniversary trip - I have yet to decide what my $$$ cut-off is.

Right now, if I were choosing for August between these two resorts, I'd probably pick POFQ and spend the extra money on water park tickets and a really nice dinner or experience