Resort and cost question for the experts

[cest25]

I just booked a flight for myself, wife and 5 and 7 year old from Detroit to Orlando for $196 round trip. With the 4/3 deal I can get AKL or SSR for about $3,000 or moderate for $2,447 or value for $2200.

Prices include 6 days plus hoppers and dining.

We've stayed at Pop twice and Riverside once in last three years. Is AKL or SSR worth the additional $600? Am I better off renting DVC points (it doesn't look like I'd save much after dining plan and tickets)

Any help would be appreciated.

January 29-February 4 - kids can't wait!!

 

[becky1960]

I think with small kids AKL would be worth it to me, with the animals its like a zoo every day and it is a beautiful resort. We enjoyed it when we were there. We go back every year to eat at Boma's and look around..

 

[stitchlovestink]

to me, NO it would not be worth an extra $600 for AKL. My friend who stayed there said never again w/o a car, transportation was a nightmare. I know when we went to Boma's to eat, it took forever to catch a bus back to the park. We wasted a ton of time on transportation. I say save the $600 (or use it towards something special there) and take them to the zoo at home.
I guess the other question you should ask yourself is 'did you enjoy POP and POR?' If so, then why not save the extra $$ for another trip? If you stay at POP it appears that you would be saving more like $800 according to your numbers. Just a thought....
Good Luck w/ your decision

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

You're talking about a difference of $86/night. AKL's rack rate is $158/night higher than the value resorts at that time of year. If there's ever been a good time to upgrade to the deluxe resort, this would be the time.

You're also looking at a steeper discount on the moderates and deluxes (43%) because they are a 4/3 deal. The values are a 5/2 deal, which translates to about a 28% reduction off the rack rate. Disney has offered steeper room-only discounts on the values than this in the past...the current room-only offer for value season is between 28%-30% off the rack rate with PIN codes knocking as much as 40% off.

Then there are the difference in the ammenities between the resorts, most notably the deluxe resort's balcony (great for adults to escape to when the kids are napping or asleep for the night), interior hallways (again, deluxe resorts only, no walking in the cold or rain to get to the lobby or restaurant), queen-size beds, split bathroom, TS restaurants at the resort and covered waiting area at the resort bus stops.

I also noticed that the value resorts bus stops at the parks were always located further from the gate than the deluxe resorts' stops when I stayed at ASMo last January. And the AllStars share buses between the 3 resorts.

But in the long run, it comes down to your wallet and whether you're willing and able to pay the additional dollars for the differences. Disney is well aware that some people are. That's why they have concierge lrooms and platinum packages.

 

[Sandi]

I've not stayed at AKL, but we have stayed at SSR (and other deluxes), all the moderates and Pop. I'd stick with a moderate resort and use the $600 for something else. AKL is a beautiful resort, but it's a hike to anywhere but DAK. My favorite moderate is POFQ, DD14's favorite is POR (her all time favorite is Pop -- go figure). I think your kids will be happy with any of the resorts.

 

[3boymthr]

For me neither of those two deluxes hold any appeal. Especially since you don't benefit really from proximity to the parks transportation wise. If you'd said Poly or WL or or CR or YC/BC I'd say go for it for as pp noted there is a huge difference in amenities - i.e., when we stayed at the YC one of the best aspects besides the pool was being walking distance to Epcot and DHS. You probably won't get much use out of the pools that time of year though so I don't that should be factored into the equation.

Anyway, I'd say if you were happy at the moderate or value I'd stick with those.

 

[Disneyjamie]

AKL is my favorite, and have never had any issues with the transportation. I enjoy the fact that there is only one bus stop for the resort (now two with Kidani though), and no resort sharing of the buses. Do not let transportation be the reason to not try AKL.

 

[annsteere]

If I could afford it, I'd do it.

Watching the giraffes every morning as I sipped coffee on our private deck was one of the highlights of my life. I'll never forget hanging out there with my teenagers while DH slept.

If you plan to spend every waking minute at the parks, it isn't worth it. But, if you hang out at the resort, AKL is pretty wonderful. Since you'll be there for a long time, you'll have lots of opportunity to enjoy the pool, and resort extras.

A big plus for us was the bunk beds. DS was 17 and DD was 15--not an age where sharing a bed would be comforable for them. The room set up at AK made it possible for our family to share one room comfortably.

 

[cest25]

I appreciate all your input and will continue to check back for more opinions. Two years ago at POR, we said we would never go back to POP, but last year we did go back to POP and certainly did not miss POR.

What about the DVC points trading?

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

After staying in AKL and loving it, POFQ, CSR, Pop, ASMu & ASSp, & even FW I can honestly say that as much as I love the deluxe resorts and the moderates too, I usually prefer spending my $$ on something more fun (like shopping or eating nice meals) than on the room I'm sleeping in. We are they type of people who spend very little time at the resort itself. It also depends on the type of trip we are taking and even the time of year. In Jan. I won't get much use of the pools, so I don't want to pay more for the water slides and nicer pools. If we are taking a bunch of young kids we like the values because of the fun icons and such. It just depends on where you would prefer to spend your money. If there is no limit..then go for a moderate or deluxe! IMO

 

[Donald'sGirl]

I would check into renting. I have a friend that only rents and she says a TON of money. I am a member of DVC so we only stay the deluxe resorts however before we were we loved POFQ and if we didn't have DVC that is where we would be staying for our upcoming wedding trip in December. I personally don't like SSR because when I went there is May I had a horrible customer service experience and it turned me off of the resort. AKL I can't wait to stay at, it will be our first time in Dec and we going to have a car in case the transportation is bad due to it being the furtherest resort away.

I would check out the Renting boards to see what kind of deal you could get before booking one of the other resorts.

 

[stazmatic]

I rented points to stay at SSR in June. Although I got a great deal, DD14 liked POP much better. She wasn't interested in swimming and the rest of the resort was pretty, but not spectacular. She also didn't like the lunch offerings at the food court. She loved POP's food court, as did the rest of the kids when we were there last December. We also loved Caribbean Beach and would stay there again. AKL is beautiful and we would also stay there again, but only if money is no option. I would rather save the $600 and go back that much sooner. If you are talking once in a lifetime trip then I would fork over the extra for AKL. Transportation by Bus was FAR better at Pop then either CB or AKL.

 

[erinmomof2]

If I were able to afford Deluxe I would do it every time. We stayed at Saratoga Springs this year, it was our first experience with a Deluxe, and we LOVED it. It felt so much more serene and I loved the extra space in the room, and having the balcony. Next on my list is AKL, the resort just looks amazing. I think with the deals Disney is offering on Moderate and Deluxe that I would go that route and skip the values. It seems like if you want to try deluxe now is the time to do it.

Erin