Poly or AKL?

[wdwnut2]

OK, I need some professional advice (and maybe some professional help!).
We are booked 8 nights at AKL in a savannah view room. Made the reservations 2 months ago, and have been very excited about it since then. For some reason unknown to me I keep thinking about the Poly. And now I am trying to decide if I've picked the right resort. Anyone have opinions on which I should pick?

Our specifics... it is just going to be DH and me. The monorail would be great, but we will have a rental car, so transportation isn't a huge issue. At AKL we have a savannah view room, at Poly I would probably book a garden view room. I have ate at Boma and at 'Ohanas so I have seen a little of both hotels and honestly liked both themes. I am so torn! We will be there the beginning of December, does either resort have a better Christmas theme going on? Help!

 

[LorieDisneyLover]

why not split your trip and stay at both resorts?

We love the Poly ... and have been there three times .... so this year we are trying AKL for two nights and then moving over the Poly for the remainder of our trip.

We leave in thirteen days!

 

[lexiluke]

Splitting the stay is a great idea. But if you're not up for that, ask yourself this: If you had a choice of going on a trip to Africa or Hawaii, which would appeal to you more? If you can answer that one, then you've got your decision! Granted, neither are exactly Hawaii or Africa, but the "feel of the place" is what you're going for. Good luck!

 

[discruisegirl90]

Well the poly is the hawian more islandy look and the AKL is the african safari. They are both beautiful.

The poly has a great veiw of magic kingdoms fireworks every night. And there is a beach and there is a very nice pool with a slide.

The AKL has the animals. It has the two very nice restaurants. THe lobby is beautiful. The pool is a walk in pool with a slide.

Or you can always split the trip if you want to move from one place to another.

I couldn't explain all the great details of each hotel. I hope you have picked the right one.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Personally I would pick AKL ~ where else are you going to have the opportunity to watch giraffes graze as you have your morning coffee?

The Poly is so much like any other tropical resort hotel I have seen ~ AKL is a totally unique resort.

With kids I might have said Poly for the monorail to MK... but 2 adults, with a car ~ the AKL is the way to go!

Let us know what you decide.

>>^..^<<

 

[dansyr]

I feel your pain...we had to make the same decision. We ended up choosing AKL....but I made dbf promise to do the poly next time.

 

[Kae]

I vote for splitting you trip.

Kae

 

[corvair]

we weere there in may... we split the two resorts....akl first then poly.... i loved the poly ...but akl was nice too...the poly was better for my kids...i liked the tropical theme ...but that is me.... i would split the stay....amy

 

[susy]

I have stayed at AKL and visited the Poly for dinner. Split your stay!!!! 4 nights each. I was at AKL for three nights and felt that I got to do all I wanted. the Poly is magnificent!
Also, when you stay at AKL go to AK and MGM (very quick bus rides) and use the monorail at the Poly for MK and Epcot. AKL is also very close to BB. You are paying for 8 nights. You could get two "experiences" out of it! Enjoy the restaurants at both. They are all wonderful!

 

[ducklite]

If I had to choose betwee a standard room at the Poly or a savannah room at the AKL, there wouldn't even be a discussion, the AKL would win hands down.

Anne

 

[wdwnut2]

Thanks everyone!
I've been talking to DH and although he pretty much leaves all the trip planning to me, he said he'd really rather stay at AKL. We've been to Hawaii, and I don't really forsee a trip to Africa anytime in our near future, so AKL may be the next best thing. I'm kind of torn about doing a split stay. I like the idea of staying at two resorts but I am the kind of person who has to unpack everything as soon as we arrive. I can't stand living out of a suitcase! Are any of you who do the split stay like that? I'm just worried I won't enjoy myself as much with the unpacking/packing/unpacking and then packing up again.

 

[Nlihte]

I don't know what to tell you! These are my two favorite resorts. For me, its not just about the theming, it's also about the amount of "magic" the resorts offer, and they both offer a huge amount! Have fun with whatever you decide.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi there - packing tip for a split stay... I pack 2 cases.

One case with our clothes for the 1st hotel and I don't even open the second case.

I pack the other case with clothes for the 2nd hotel.

Once we have finished the 1st hotel I just throw everything into the 1st case and when we move I have a whole new case of fresh clothes. (may require ironing which is in your room)

Then I have another bag for stuff we use at both hotels.. swimsuits etc...

Have fun

>>^..^<<

 

[BCV23]

I did 2 nights solo at the AKL in March before my family joined me for 9 more at the Polynesian. Packed a small bag for the AKL and left my other bags in the car.

2 nights was about perfect for me at AKL. Time to enjoy the animals and the feel of the resort as well as dine at Boma and Jiko. Then it was on to the utter relaxation, beauty and convenience of the Polynesian. The garden rooms there are beautiful BTW. They aren't even called standard for a good reason.

Besides the convenience of Epcot and MK from the Polynesian, we love all the great restaurants that are a short monorail or boat ride away. No 25 min. drive plus dealing with the parking booths to get to CG, Narcoossee's, V&A, Citricos, etc..

Have fun whatever you decide.

 

[Jen D]

What is it about these two resorts? These are definitely the two I'm struggling with for my next trip (about 15 months away!) It seems a lot of people who are attracted to the Poly are attracted to the AKL and vice versa. I guess its the lush, otherworldly theming, food selections, and the mostly great reviews they get on the board.

If we do a room only rate we may split our stay, but if they revive FTP in time for our trip we'll have to settle on one. I may cede the decision to the rest of the family, it is too hard to decide!

 

[Samsma]

I had this problem with my stay after a recent cruise. I couldn't choose, so I let my family. After seeing the travel channel "great hotels" they wanted to stay AKL. They made the right decision. AKL is absolutely beautiful. In fact, I wish we had skipped the Magic and stayed there for the 10 days. I didn't even get to eat at Boma or Jiko, and I'm still sold. I stayed in Savannah room 3421, very convenient to pool via the back elevator, the restaurants, and on same level as lobby, just down the hall on the Zebra Trail. We did have a little trouble with the busses a couple of times, but if you are comfortable driving at WDW I wouldn't hesitate to stay there.

As others have said before, the Savannah view isn't really even a necessity. You have a lot of viewing areas, and although waking up to the giraffes is great, we don't spend a lot of time in our rooms. The pool view looked very nice too. If anyone needs to stay pool or even standard view, it's still a great place, and it smells good too! What is that?

Make time for the story telling by the firepit outside.