POR or AKL(standard)

[mamasha]

I need advice from you. Would you stay at POR or for an extra $270 AKL but a "standard view". I could live w/out the view at AKL because the resort looks amazing however, POR is cheaper and closer to the parks.
Help.

 

[pixie08]

Aaaah ok so POR/POFQ is my fav mod but with that being said for a few extra bucks there is no way I would not pick AKL.

 

[disneydance]

I choose AKL because of its just a amazingly beautiful hotel. It has such a wonderful atmosphere and there are plenty of other places to see the animals and its just a great hotel

 

[heartbeeps]

I need advice from you. Would you stay at POR or for an extra $270 AKL but a "standard view". I could live w/out the view at AKL because the resort looks amazing however, POR is cheaper and closer to the parks..

extra $270 for how long a period? If 1 night, NO I wouldn't blow that kind of money. However, if it's over 9 days then I would. Somewhere in between, I'd have to figure out what my threshold would be for spending $270.

 

[Cool-Beans]

If the money really meant something to me, I'd go to POR. But if a few hundred meant a lot, I'd be staying offsite or not going at all.

If the money wasn't really an issue, I would absolutely pick AKL. But, I adore the AKL and don't really like POR all that much. It's just a personal preference.

 

[EnnEss]

I just upgraded that exact same thing!! 280 for 8 days only! WOW and my PoFQ was AAA discounted, but this one is the discount that just came out, I grabbed it AKL literally instantly and phoned and paid right away. Couldn't let that get away.

I've never stayed at AKL, but I've visited it once so here is my list of reasons I made the leap.

Less people in the pool, true of almost any deluxe vs mod (almost).
Hot tub less crowded, biggy for me, I find mods literally full and packed at nights.
The animals!!! They are so cool.
Better restaurant options, I wanted to go to Boma's anyways.
bigger rooms.
No shared buses!
The hotel is amazingly themed, just absolutely amazing.
Less walking, wayyy less walking, be it for free refills, to the pool, etc.,

Those are the big ones for me.

 

[EnnEss]

I thought about the distnace from parks, its not the end of the world, probably 5 more minutes than PoR to MK.

 

[Eganclan]

Just made the decision a few weeks ago between the two and I was very surprised at how excited DH was when I told him where we were staying. Standard view or not we can't wait.....

 

[typhoonlagooner]

Less people in the pool, true of almost any deluxe vs mod (almost).
Hot tub less crowded, biggy for me, I find mods literally full and packed at nights.
The animals!!! They are so cool.
Better restaurant options, I wanted to go to Boma's anyways.
bigger rooms.
No shared buses!
The hotel is amazingly themed, just absolutely amazing.
Less walking, wayyy less walking, be it for free refills, to the pool, etc.,

Those are the big ones for me.

AKL only has one pool, therefore we found it to be one of the most crowded on property. It made sense why DVC members aren't allowed to hop to Stormalong bay and Animal Kingdom Lodge after our stay. We found it to be spacious enough and a good design to handle the crowds, but with no quiet pool, the pool area and hot tubs were usually always busy.

The rooms are only bigger by about 30sqft and are actually the same size of rooms at the CBR, a fellow moderate.

For that price difference (and like a PP said, depending on the length of your tirp) we'd probably take advantage of that offer and upgrade to the AKL.

 

[EnnEss]

AKL only has one pool, therefore we found it to be one of the most crowded on property. It made sense why DVC members aren't allowed to hop to Stormalong bay and Animal Kingdom Lodge after our stay. We found it to be spacious enough and a good design to handle the crowds, but with no quiet pool, the pool area and hot tubs were usually always busy.

The rooms are only bigger by about 30sqft and are actually the same size of rooms at the CBR, a fellow moderate.

For that price difference (and like a PP said, depending on the length of your tirp) we'd probably take advantage of that offer and upgrade to the AKL.

At CBR when I was there during value season for 10 days, the hot tub was literally jammed with upwards of 10 people after the parks closed, even as late as midnight. At all the deluxes I've been to the pools have less people simply because the resorts are vastly smaller, is this not the case at AKL?

 

[typhoonlagooner]

At all the deluxes I've been to the pools have less people simply because the resorts are vastly smaller, is this not the case at AKL?

AKl has 1293 rooms but I "believe" this number reflects room totals prior to the addition of villas to the lodge.

For all those rooms, there is only 1 pool and 2 spas. When comparing the AKL pool complex and room ratio to lets say the Y&BC and BCV we prefer the later of the two. The combination of the 3 resorts is a total of 1477 rooms but provides you with 3 quiet pools paired with a spa and Stormalong bay with a few spas as well.

Now like I said originally the AKL pool complex is very well designed and the largest on property at a little over 11,000 square feet. The larger pool size is decieving in terms of crowds though, but that's how it was designed.

When comparing it to CBR, yup AKL definately felt less crowded, especially in the evening hours. We always found someone in the hot tub but never thought it was over run with kids like what we've seen (and you've mentioned) over at CBR.

When comparing rooms with the moderates, you have to keep in mind that with exception to POFQ each moderate has a couple of quiet pools which can offset the crowded main pool. This is not the case at AKL during busy afternoons.

We love the pool area at AKL though and you shouldn't be concerned nor worried!

 

[EnnEss]

Thanks TyhpoonLagooner. I never used the quiet pools at mods because there isn't a hot tub, so I tend to ignore them. Good to hear the one at AKL will likely be a bit more accessible.

 

[dlz]

I have stayed at both and find them both uniquely beautiful. However, I do not think that anything compares to the AK Lodge! The pool is definately not my favorite, but it is very, very nice. The mini mart and quick serve restaurant is really good, too. But nothing beats staying at a resort where you can turn around and see a zebra or a giraffe! Nothing short of amazing. No brainer to me even with the extra cost. It should be more, it's a deluxe and the other is not. Good luck, both are great.

 

[EnnEss]

No brainer to me even with the extra cost. It should be more, it's a deluxe and the other is not. Good luck, both are great.

Ya, its just included in the current promotion apparently, so its an amazing deal. Other deluxes aren't I know, I checked for WL and CR, some others may be though.

 

[Wendi2000]

My vote goes to AKL. I have never found the pool to be crowded, we have gone for mid-afternoon swims and evening/night swims without overcrowding. Same goes for the hot tubs. We go in Sept/Oct so it might be more crowded at other times but the weather when we go is HORRIBLY horrible so I can't imagine it would be busier at other times of year than it is then.

AKL is simply a gorgeous resort. There is nothing else like it... even with a standard view you have extremely easy access to viewing the Savannas from inside or outside. The transportation simply can't be beat. Buses come often and aren't overcrowded, it doesn't take long to get anywhere, especially since you don't normally wait very long.

The restaurants are GREAT too. I've found the staff to be super friendly and it is so interesting to talk to someone who has just come from Africa a few weeks prior and get their first impressions of America.

However, I cannot compare it to POR since I've never stayed anywhere but Pop and AKL.

 

[LivingtheWDWdream]

My mom, grandma and I just did the same thing but we leave in 43 days!!!!!!

2 days before having to pay off our package at POR we decided to upgrade to AKL but we could only book a standard room at our budget. We figure we are getting a lot more at AKL with the theme, the view at the overlooks, the fact my grandma who is 80 won't have to go to a different building if she wants to go get a snack or drink etc.

So we check in to AKL in 43 days and are super excited!

 

[mamasha]

Thanks for telling me to go for it. I did!!!Since it is a surprise trip, I had to run it by someone. Though the view won't be great(I just hope I'm not next to the buses), the room/resort should make up for it.

 

[spicemom]

We were able to get a deal at AKL also. We had been booked at POFQ since last fall and I could not even get a CAA discount on the room. SO...for only $106 more we are staying deluxe!! Hubby's mostly excited over queen size beds
Have a great trip!

 

[FairyDust2008]

I would MOST definitely choose AKL over POR/POFQ if you can afford it. I say GO FOR IT The AKL doesn't share busses with any other resort. The pool is bigger. The food choices are better from what I have read and seen. NO balconies at POR/POFQ-exterior corridors. AKL has interior corridors and balconies, which I think is a plus. Bigger beds-double at mods versus queen at deluxes. The whole theming/animals everywhere. The gorgeous lobby from pics. Everything being INSIDE, versus having to walk to your rooms outside at POR/POFQ. If you can swing it, I would say 100% go for AKL GOODLUCK TO YOU

 

[EnnEss]

Thanks for telling me to go for it. I did!!!Since it is a surprise trip, I had to run it by someone. Though the view won't be great(I just hope I'm not next to the buses), the room/resort should make up for it.

I did the same upgrade, you know what, if your view sucks, who cares. If it does, it means you are RIGHT by the lobby and close to everything like the pool. There are a ton of places to view the animals and views at mods are always bla so it wouldnt have been too much better.