POFQ vs AKL

[lmnholds]

Okay, so we're booked at POFQ and as I said in a previous post, I'm a little nervous(spoiled). We can upgrade to AKL for a little more. I like the rooms at AKL better. The indoor entry, balcony, queen beds, bunkbed option etc... What the decision really comes down to is which resort is more convenient to the parks? We will be spending the majority of our stay at the MK. Which resort has a better transportation system? Which is further from MK? Please help with this decsion because we need to decide asap before it's too late!!! All info appreciated.
TIA.
Lynn

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I found AKL to have a wonderful, prompt bus system. Never had to wait too long for a bus going to or from the resort, and we went at a rather busy time-April vacation. If it were me, and it were only a little more, I'd definitely upgrade to AKL.

 

[jacksonjohn]

i just got back from POFQ and loved it. The Pool is great for the kids. Plus on the way back from the parks it is the first drop off.

 

[Okiemom]

How did you find out you can upgrade for just a little more? We are staying at POFQ too. I know we will love the resort, but the queen beds do sound a whole lot better. We are going at Thanksgiving, so I image they will be booked full anyway, so cheap upgrades might not be there.

 

[nanalisa]

We've stayed at both places and I would go for the AKL. You can get bunk beds if you have a girl and boy combo, plus you have a bigger room, bigger beds, a balcony and when we were there, the bus was for AKL only. We didn't have to stop at any other resorts. The ride to MK is 15-18 minutes I think. Don't get me wrong, we really liked POFQ but I just think AKL is a little more bang for your buck.

 

[lmnholds]

The standerd rooms at AKL come out to be $65 more per night which I don't think is bad for a deluxe. We originally wanted to stay at WL but there are only courtyard views left which are significantly more.
My biggest concern is transportation at this point. We haven't ruled out renting a car though.
Lynn

 

[Tiffany]

Okay, so we're booked at POFQ and as I said in a previous post, I'm a little nervous(spoiled). We can upgrade to AKL for a little more. I like the rooms at AKL better. The indoor entry, balcony, queen beds, bunkbed option etc... What the decision really comes down to is which resort is more convenient to the parks? We will be spending the majority of our stay at the MK. Which resort has a better transportation system? Which is further from MK? Please help with this decsion because we need to decide asap before it's too late!!! All info appreciated.
TIA.
Lynn

If the price of a room at the AKL fits into your budget then stay there. We have stayed at the AKL five times since it has opened in April of 2001 and we have never had an issue with transportation. The buses from the AKL to the parks run about every 20mins, just like any other resort, and they are direct, meaning one stop at the AKL everyone on and off to your park.

At POFQ you are going to be picked up at your resort and then over to POR for four or five stops and then onto your park in question.

Go for the AKL if it within your budget.

 

[lmnholds]

Well we switched to AKL. I hope we don't regret it!!! We tried again for WL but no availability(for now) Now we just need to decide if we should rent a car.
Please convince me I'm doing the right thing!!!
Lynn

 

[kimisabella]

Well we switched to AKL. I hope we don't regret it!!! We tried again for WL but no availability(for now) Now we just need to decide if we should rent a car.
Please convince me I'm doing the right thing!!!
Lynn

We just switched to the AKL also - we are renting a car though. My DH likes the freedom that a rental car gives. We just aren't thrilled w/waiting for buses that are sometimes filled and you have to stand. I know that AKL is also further away from everything then all the other resorts. I hope we all enjoy it to justify me spending the extra $$$!!

 

[5kwallace]

Kimisabella, just wondering were you at WDW last year Dec. 4-11? I think I remember seeing your beautiful little girls in line to see Santa Claus. We stayed at the AKL during this time with our 3 year old DS. We loved it. The transportation was great. We had our on vehicle but did not need to use it.

 

[kimisabella]

Kimisabella, just wondering were you at WDW last year Dec. 4-11? I think I remember seeing your beautiful little girls in line to see Santa Claus. We stayed at the AKL during this time with our 3 year old DS. We loved it. The transportation was great. We had our on vehicle but did not need to use it.

Actually we left on the 4th, so I'm not sure if it was my daughters you saw. I'm glad you had a good stay at AKL - looking forward to it, especially for the kids, they love animals!

 

[Jalva22]

We did the same as you. I planned my trip for a full year with plans and reservations to spend 2 nights at POFQ then 4 at Poly. About a month and a half before the trip I broke down and switched the POFQ nights to AKL standard view. I'm glad we did and nothing against POFQ. It's just that we loved the AKL so much, it was really the highlight of the entire trip to me. We rec'd a comp upgrade to savannah view (sunset savannah, not the main one, but it was still awesome).

On the car rental, I like having my own vehicle (we drove, so it wasn't an issue for us). But we drove one morning from AKL to MK and it is quite a bit more of a hassle getting from your car to the MK entrance than taking the bus. We drove to MK, parked, waited in a crowd for a tram, rode the tram, waited in a very long line for the monorail, and rode it to the park. Much simpler on the AKL bus. (Note on the monorail line, we were checking into AKL that morning and didn't head for the MK until about 9:30 or 10:00. If you're there at opening, the monorail line may not be as bad.)

I hope you have a fantastic time! Jim

 

[kgkmom]

We also just switched to AKL from Pop. This will be our last trip for a few years, so I wanted to do something a bit special. We've stayed at POFQ, and loved it, and would stay there again.

We are renting a car, simply because my brother is traveling with us this time, and he always rents a car. He's not a fan of the shuttles (impatient to get going!). I'm glad we are renting though, because on one of our trips, my DD developed an ear infection, and we had to visit the lovely clinic nearby. Not sure how much a taxi would have been, but I was glad to not have to find out!

I'm really looking forward to AKL. Heck, I'm looking forward to WDW in general!

 

[nanalisa]

Well we switched to AKL. I hope we don't regret it!!! We tried again for WL but no availability(for now) Now we just need to decide if we should rent a car.
Please convince me I'm doing the right thing!!!
Lynn

You did the right thing. Can't tell you about the rental car. We would never use it. Once we tried driving to EPCOT and AK from POR and hated it. Walking around in a hot parking lot, getting into a HOT car is miserable. Drop me off at the door and pick me up please. At AK you don't park close to your room, you will have a ways to walk to get your car unless you valet. IMHO I would use someone elses gas. Afterall, when you pay for your room you are paying for the Disney transportation.

 

[lmnholds]

Thanks for all your responses. But, we are now staying at the Wilderness Lodge. My DH will not let me call Disney anymore so we are finally done. I think we'll stay at the AKL in the future when our kids are older and we won't have a cranky 2 yr old. We decided to stay close to the MK and at least save a lttle $ by not staying at the Poly. The 1st CM I spoke told me there were no rooms at the WL. But, the wonderful CM I spoke to today found us two courtyard vies rooms so we're set. Please don't tell me anything negative about WL because it's a done deal.
Thanks Again for the feedback.
Lynn

 

[nanalisa]

Lynn, EVEN BETTER! WL is my favorite, to me it's home. There is another thread going comparing WL and AKL and most agree that WL is the fave. Both resorts were designed by the same person but the location of WL is imho 100% better. Have a great time.

 

[purplern]

Thanks for all your responses. But, we are now staying at the Wilderness Lodge. My DH will not let me call Disney anymore so we are finally done. I think we'll stay at the AKL in the future when our kids are older and we won't have a cranky 2 yr old. We decided to stay close to the MK and at least save a lttle $ by not staying at the Poly. The 1st CM I spoke told me there were no rooms at the WL. But, the wonderful CM I spoke to today found us two courtyard vies rooms so we're set. Please don't tell me anything negative about WL because it's a done deal.
Thanks Again for the feedback.
Lynn

We loved the WL. We also had a courtyard view and it is beautiful! We loved taking the boat to the MK. The WL is now our favorite resort. Be sure to eat at the Whispering Canyon and ask for ketchup! Look for the different animals foot prints in the sidewalks. Dont forget about the Electrical Water Pagent at 9:30pm it was pretty!!
We didnt use the buses, we did take the boat to the Contempory and then the monorail to the TTC and the monorail to Epcot.