POR or AKL..... Help me decide

[Debrn]

So I booked POR with AP discount for end of Feb. royal Room Garden view.
I have visited POR and though it was beautiful.. But after searching AKL I could book a standard room for an extra $ 500.

I have always wanted to stay at AKL but have always chose monorail or Epcot resorts.

So since I would be using bus service at either was thinking for price AKL would be a choice.

Has anyone stayed at both ?

 

[Butrcup98]

My fam is also staying at POR at the end of Feb. We got a really great rate, and the bed size was very important to us. $500 seems like a lot of money. I guess it just depends on how much time you spend at the resort, or what amenities you want. I doubt we will do much more than sleep in our room.

 

[OhThePain]

We have stayed at both. IMO, you can't really compare the different category resorts to eachother. There is a big difference from Value to Mod and Mod to Deluxe. I guess what it really comes down to is similar to what the PP said. How much time do you plan on spending at the resort? If you are planning some downtime to just relax around the resort (or had your eye on doing the Wanyama Safari), I would go with AKL. However, if you plan on using your room as a place to freshen up and sleep, with little plan to do much else there, I would go with POR. The resorts offer a pretty different atmospheres, all three of which we really enjoy in their own way (POR really has 2 different atmospheres depending on if you stay in AB or MB). You really can't go wrong either way, it really depends on how you plan on spending your vacation.

 

[AuroraRora]

Having stayed at both (although not in the royal rooms) I would pick AKL every time. It's just such a gorgeous resort and the theming everywhere you go is incredible.

 

[Robbi]

I would choose AKL but only if I was getting a savanna view. If you're getting standard, go with POR this trip and maybe AKL next time.

 

[cwt580]

Book pool view at AKL. Its $10 more than std view a night i think

 

[wiigirl]

I would choose AKL but only if I was getting a savanna view. If you're getting standard, go with POR this trip and maybe AKL next time.

This!

 

[Debrn]

We do plan on doing some relaxing at the resort, I' m pretty sure I'm gonna go with AKL, because my next trip will be Poly.

 

[buzznina]

If you have always wanted to stay at AKL and you can handle the extra $500then go ahead. We really like both resorts, we normally stay at the Mods because (to us) the differnce is not that big except for price. But we will squeeze in a deluxe stay if it is a short trip, so that the cost isn't as bad And we do take a day or 2 to spend at the resort.

 

[haPevraftr]

Go with AKL, but get a pool view and request a higher floor. We had a pool view on the second floor and our view was blocked by trees.

 

[Peaseblossom]

AKL, hands down. Everything about that place is like heroin to me - MUST GO BACK!!! The restaurants, the gift shop, the pool... The pool is spectacular, if you stay there, plan for a couple of nights watching the movie by the pool.

I'm staying Poly this time only because the short days (little time for prime animal viewing) and no discount for Savannah view. Seems like the crafty Disney accountants have figured out that AKL Savannah View guests are hard core.

Agree with the pool view comments above - there's a chance you'll have some savannah view too, and better than the parking lot. Pool view also means you'll be very central.

 

[Debrn]

Ok will request pool view for sure. Thanks !

 

[Debrn]

Have fun at The Poly ! Love the Castle views at night (with a mai tsai )while kids watch the movies on the beach


QUOTE=Peaseblossom;46906261]AKL, hands down. Everything about that place is like heroin to me - MUST GO BACK!!! The restaurants, the gift shop, the pool... The pool is spectacular, if you stay there, plan for a couple of nights watching the movie by the pool.

I'm staying Poly this time only because the short days (little time for prime animal viewing) and no discount for Savannah view. Seems like the crafty Disney accountants have figured out that AKL Savannah View guests are hard core.

Agree with the pool view comments above - there's a chance you'll have some savannah view too, and better than the parking lot. Pool view also means you'll be very central.[/QUOTE]

 

[Cindie-rella]

Stayed at both twice. Loved each of them ! My DH's fave is POR bayou section. Atmosphere is very relaxing, quaint cozy feel. The strolls around the resort can be very romantic, lots of quiet pools and the boat to DTD is always a plus. We loved having breakfast at Boatwright's in the morn and they took that away now serving only dinner. (kinda mad at them for that) Now about AKL...all I can say is WoW ! What an awesome resort. I will tell you though, I'd second think the standard view, go for savannah view. Many will disagree, but to me it's all part of the "wonder" of this resort. When we 1st stayed there we had no idea how much time we were going to just hang out at the resort. We were so amazed by how cool it was that a few of the days we didn't leave the place. I loved having room service for breakfast on the balcony watching all the african wildlife . Amazing ! Where else in this country will you have an opportunity to do that?! It was like having 2 vacations in one. It is far out though. I timed the ride to MK one night, it took 25 minutes to get there w/o any other stops. That would be my only complaint if I had to find one. The food there was amazing. (Loved BOMA) Great pool too. But only 1 pool on property. Both are very relaxing resorts. AKL is definitely a few steps above, but both are great. How many days are you going for? Maybe try a split stay. If it's a week, then do 3 AKL Savannah and 4 POR. You get a taste of both. Plan most of your park days while at POR, then resort time at AKL and AK park while there (it's a 2 min ride!) That would be my decision solution. Good Luck !

 

[Debrn]

We may go for 8 nights instead of 7 because of cheaper flights so may do a split stay 3 at POR and 5 at AKL that way I get to try both

 

[Cindie-rella]

We may go for 8 nights instead of 7 because of cheaper flights so may do a split stay 3 at POR and 5 at AKL that way I get to try both

I did the same thing for my upcoming trip...added an extra night making it 8. You actually need that extra day because of the travel days. And "yes" do the split stay. It wasn't so bad switching resorts, but it is nice to be able to try 2 on the same vacation. I would recommend it in your case. Those are currently my 2 favorite resorts, however, I'm now booked at the POLY LV and I'm afraid to fall in love with it, it's quite costly I just had to try it because of some issues I'm having, so the monorail convenience is my excuse . Have a great time whatever you choose !

 

[nkereina]

How often do you go to DTD? We like to go to DTD 2-3 nights we are there for shopping and dinner/drinks. POR is perfect for us because of the boat to DTD. They run very frequently and are a nice way to make the treck to DTD. AKL, on the other hand, you'd have to take the bus which is quite a haul. IMO, with the unreliability of the DTD buses and travel time, it would be enough of a deterrent to only go to to DTD once, if that.

AKL is certainly beautiful but if I'm paying that kind of money for a deluxe resort, I want one of the best amenities that deluxe resorts offer - multiple transportation options. One thing that makes deluxe resorts worth the money is the fact that you can walk or boat to most of the parks from your resort. This is not the case for AKL, and a big negative in my book.

 

[blue65829]

I've stayed at both and actually liked POR better. I loved the big food court and the transportation (boat to DTD), also the grounds are lovely and I like the quiet pools.

I am probably in a real minority here, and this might sound crazy, but AKL felt too hemmed in for me, like the walkable grounds weren't very large, which makes sense because you get the bonus of the animals, but apparently I need more room to roam.

I concur that if you go pool view definitely request a higher floor, we had "pool view" that was basically a tree and the wading pool.

Overall I guess I just found AKL disspointing.