POFQ or AKL?

[disneybliss2]

Which do you prefer? I started tooling around looking at pics of the AKL last night (bad idea; it looks so lovely that I wished we could stay there but can't justify the $). We're currently booked for POFQ.
Here's our story: we have two young children (5 & 9). We've stayed at Pop twice. We thought it was great the first time (first trip, didn't have anything to compare it to) and the next. On the third trip we stayed at POFQ for the first time and LOVED it. HUGE difference between it and Pop (transportation ease, quietness, less crowded, pool, etc). I'm wondering if there's just as noticeable a difference upgrading to the deluxe (I already know the answer as I type this), but is it worth the additional cost? For us, the extra $500 to upgrade from value to moderate was a no brainer for the extras it gave. I can't really justify the additional $1,400 to upgrade to the deluxe. My dream would be to stay at the Poly, but that's even more expensive. I know my girls would LOVE the animals at AKL, but are the little extras worth the added expense when we don't spend a lot of time at our resort (we don't do mid-day breaks, but do eat early dinners to get back to resort for swim time of evenings)? It also seems out of the way to everything, except AK that is. I would love to hear what others think.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Having stayed at both I have to go with POFQ as the winner...its so much quieter and more relaxing, better food court, MUCH better bus service and the location is fantastic.

 

[disneybliss2]

Good to know. Maybe deluxe isn't always better. I was glad to hear from someone who has stayed at both to directly compare. Thanks for your feedback!

 

[JennSaint]

Well we've stayed at AKL 3 times and POFQ 2 times. And I would pick AKL over POFQ. Never had any bus issues at AKL.. Sometimes at POFQ you have to do the Riverside loop too. I feel there is so much more to do and see at AKL also. So I guess it depends. If you arent' planning much resort time I'd go with POFQ and if you have some time to relax and enjoy some of the activities etc. I'd go with AKL.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Is that $1400 for a savannah view room or a standard view room?

I have not stayed at AKL but have come close a few times. What always stops me is that the cost for our 10+ nights is huge over a mod. I also feel like I only want to stay there if I can splurge for the savannah view. The resort also feels a bit remote to me, although we have stayed at CSR and the All Stars and those are in that same general area. But AKL somehow feels further out and we rely on the busses each trip.

What makes me hesitate and not book there each time is that the rooms at AKL are just a tiny bit bigger than the rooms at POR, POFQ and CSR, and the exact same size as a room at CBR.

For me the big deal of a deluxe over a mod is having a balcony, options like room service, interior hallways and a true closet inside the room.

Right now for us, none of those things are worth the add'l cost for my family. Like you, I will, gladly pay the upgrade of a mod over a value. But having stayed at a few deluxe's and all the mods, have yet to have a deluxe experience that justified the add'l cost over a mod.

I think any resort at WDW has pools and activities that justify resort time. I don't feel like a mod or even a value is all about a place to sleep and not much else. So since I feel I get the activities, pools, grounds, theming at a moderate, I won't pay for deluxe right now. Maybe someday, but with two teenagers who pay the adult price, four extremly high airfare tickets and a lot of other factors, at this time, its moderate and no higher for us. Maybe someday.

And AKL tops my list on the "someday" resorts although I don't find myself in any big hurry to go up from a mod since to us, they are the perfect fit and perfect combination of a resort experience with a pricetag that doesn't choke us for our 10-14 night trips!

Only you can say what is worth that $1400. We are all different!

 

[kapoof]

Just another perspective, we always stay deluxe so I can't comment fq, only akl which is a wonderful resort. If you haven't stayed at one yet, they are a very nice treat. One previous thread someone commented how the difference between a mod and deluxe for her was huge. Maybe if you stay at fq go visit the akl to see you would like to stay there for future trips. Have a fun trip!

 

[Tink1073]

We did a split stay one year (AKL/POR), and we haven't gone back to a moderate since. We love AKL! I love the balconies, pools, theming, restaurants, etc.

The interior hallways are also a huge benefit! If it's raining, you don't have to go outside to get to the buses or restaurants.

Ive also never had a problem with the buses. The pool is amazing! The activities are great, and I think a lot more is offered than at POFQ.

We're going to be at AKV in May, can't wait!!

 

[disneybliss2]

Is that $1400 for a savannah view room or a standard view room?

The cost difference is for a standard room only. Like you, I would love to have a savannah room, but it was even more out of reach.

We really like POFQ so I know we'll be happy. I'm afraid if we upgraded, we'd do what we did once we left value to moderate----never go back. I'm afraid the deluxe would draw me in but the additional cost would hurt. We're planning a meal at Boma so we might explore AKL and see how we like it. For now, I'll lurk at the photos of AKL and keep my fingers crossed that somehow we'll get a pin or a general public code--for either place we stay.

 

[ldo]

We have stayed at AKL (using DVc points) 3X. It is a great resort and our favorite place. We have non-expiring tickets and have several resort only/no park days in which we really enjoy all the resort has to offer. There are nice activities for kids throughout the day. But, if you are planning to go to the parks each day, save the $$. We are going on a quick trip this summer (as we have to be in Orlando anyway). We are paying cash this time--guess where we are staying--POR!
Go early to Bomas and walk out by the pool---outside the door from Bomas, walk out to the viewing areas from the lobby and then decide for your next trip if it is worth the $.

 

[darwinsrule]

Done both. Loved AKL. If money isn't an issue then it would be my first choice. We did POFQ last May as a surprise trip for our daughters birthdays. Really liked it. More so than WL. It wasn't love but it was close. The rooms (recently refurbished) were really nice. Loved to boat ride to DTD. The size of the resort (which is small compared to most) is on par with AKL which means a quieter experience overall. The pool at AKL is better but the kids still loved POFQ and we would happily stay there again. My only issue would be staying there in summer with the heat. On of the great advantages of AKL and some of the other deluxe resorts is that the room entry is inside - which means when it is 120 degrees outside it is nice and cool thanks to the air conditioning.

 

[Amy&Dan]

The cost difference is for a standard room only. Like you, I would love to have a savannah room, but it was even more out of reach.

We really like POFQ so I know we'll be happy. I'm afraid if we upgraded, we'd do what we did once we left value to moderate----never go back. I'm afraid the deluxe would draw me in but the additional cost would hurt. We're planning a meal at Boma so we might explore AKL and see how we like it. For now, I'll lurk at the photos of AKL and keep my fingers crossed that somehow we'll get a pin or a general public code--for either place we stay.

I hope you get that pin!

You never know how a resort level will feel to you though. We have stayed deluxe and sort of missed our moderate. Now on the flip side, I can't see us staying at a value anytime soon if ever again. And it wasn't that we hated the values or had a bad stay, we have just evolved (kids are older) and we just have realized that we need to be at the moderate level to be happy. To me the moderates are the best value, but again, we are all different.

Maybe a split stay for you with most of your trip at POFQ doing the parks, then a couple of nights at the end at AKL just enjoying the resort? We have done many split stays and they can be fun. Although I won't do them for trips less than 7 nights and even that is pushing it.

 

[My_Pal_Pluto]

A family friend recently spent a week at Disney and split between POFQ (which is our favorite) and AKL.

There report upon return suggested that they LOVED their time at POFQ ... like my family, they especially enjoyed the boat ride over to Downtown Disney. They also appreciated that it seems anywhere you're at in the resort, you seem to be only a very brief walk from everywhere else in the resort.

When I asked them about their experience at AKL, they held mixed reviews. They loved the grandeur of the resort and the novelty of being at a Deluxe. They said the long treks down indoor hallways weren't their thing and, because they're an "on the go" family, they didn't get to use/appreciate their balcony.

So the "end" assessment was that they would wait till their children are older to go back to the Deluxe, and in the interim can't wait to go back to POFQ.

Maybe the answer for your family would be similar ... book out a couple of your nights at AKL. You get to see if you feel it would be worth it while still keeping the budget-conscious feel at the Mod for most of the vacation.

 

[disneybliss2]

Hmmm...hadn't really thought of a split stay. I may have to mull that option over. It's been interesting to hear from those of you who have stayed both at AKL and POFQ to get a direct comparison. Like many of you have said, the mods are great too, and we feel like we've found a really good one w/ POFQ. I wasn't surprised to hear that the majority of you went with AKL. I would too if money wasn't a factor. Without a pin, I don't feel like I can justify the extra cost for the entire stay at AKL (or any deluxe for that matter), especially since several of you said you/friends were just as content at POFQ. I'll keep hoping for a pin/code. I was surprised to hear that some of you actually preferred POFQ to AKL. That's uplifting! I know either way we go, we'll be happy. After all, what can be better than being at Disney?