Should I change our reservations?!!

[applechips]

LOL I am spazzing around now wondering if I should change our resort and just go all out.

We are booked at the POFQ for Dec but was just playing around on the Disney site to see about the AKL or WL. I see that they are popular resorts, especially around here. Is it worth it to shell out the extra $$ to stay in the AKL or the WL?

Why does it seem that people are taking their "dream" vacations and staying at the AKL? What is special about staying there? Don't you spend most of the days at the parks? I am asking in all sincerity. I want my kids to have the best experience of course, LOL. I've never been to Disney (yes I know, GASP!) but I want it to be a great experience. I don't want to regret not spending the additional $$ to stay at the $$$$ resorts.

thanks for any help!

 

[chyam]

Relax.......yes the AKL and the WL are great resorts! I love the WL simply for the woodsy feel especially around the holidays, but POFQ is also a great resort and has beautiful grounds. I personally am staying there in Dec. and have always been a WL devotee, unfortuneately there was nothing available for my dates. I think since this is your first trip you will be spending alot of time in the parks and the FQ will be just fine, as for me I have been many times and tend to spend more time at the resorts than in the parks so that is why I love the WL but don't feel like you will be slighted by staying at the FQ! After all it is still Disney!

 

[henrylovespooh]

I have stayed at the WL and thought it was very nice. I have visited AKL to have dinner at Boma and I am in love with it and definitely plan to stay there someday. The last two times we have stayed at ASMo and we like it there too. If we go next year I plan on staying at POR because it seems so nice and has the musician that plays there certain nights.

As a first timer, I would stay at POR. It's beautiful and you will be at the parks so much you won't have time to hang out at your resort. People have different opinions, but my feeling is that our hotel room is a place to shower and sleep because right now we're more focused on the parks. When a trip to WDW becomes a trip to relax, hang out and go to the parks sometimes but not all the time, AKL will definitely be our choice because they have kids' activities and other stuff going on at the resort that we would skip right now.

Stick with POR and make an ADR for Boma and allot an extra hour or so to check AKL out. Even if you're not a guest, you can check out the animal viewing areas, the fire pit in the lobby and other things.

 

[AngieInOH]

I was in the very same situation just yesterday!!!! You can find my thread if you do a search!

Anyway, I ended up going for AKL and cancelled our 7 night stay at POR

REASONS:

1. Couldn't get WL standard view

2. AKL standard w/ special was only $100 more than what I was paying for POR without the discount (of course I could have taken the $430 discount for POR!)

3. When DH and DS5 were watching the disney video they both said "Oh, I want to stay there!" This will be a surprise for both of them since DH thinks I kept POR.

4. Honestly, paying $400 more to stay at AKL isn't going to break us. I hate spending the extra $$$$ and parting with it. But like I said it isn't going kill us to spend the extra. It will not keep us from doing anything that we already had planned at Disney. If I would have had to say "if we go to AKL we will have to limit our spending in other areas" I would have stayed with POR.

5. There is nowhere else in the world where you will find a resort like AKL.

6. It seemed like a lot of the stuff at POR was geared as outside activities, which is great BUT....After spending all day in the hot sun I think we will want to just relax at the hotel. It also seemed like AKL had a lot of indoor activities for my son to enjoy such as decorating cookies, going to different stations etc. My only delima now is how we'll fit all of the AKL activities into the schedule!


I know who it's an agonizing decision. Someone replied to me that you should get the highest resort you can afford. And well AKL and WL is the highest I would be willing to pay for and not regret spending the extra money.

Good Luck! Let us know what you decide.

 

[applechips]

thanks! I think we are leaning toward the Contemporary Resort if we can get reservations there. We decided it was more important to have the monorail right there at the hotel since we have two younger children. If I am going to stay at a deluxe I want it to have the monorail. My head is spinning from reading all of this info here at the board and from comparing prices etc. LOL I will be glad when 45 days out is here, so I can 't change anything anymore!

 

[Lesley]

For me, the appeal of AKL, much like the appeal of the Polynesian and the Wilderness Lodge....is fire! LOL I'm only sort of kidding. I love the flaming torches at night at the Polynesian, the fireplaces in the VWL lobby, and the fire pits throughout AKL.

But beyond that....AKL's main draw is the animals. There's nothing like waking up in the middle of the night and looking out the window to find a wildebeest or something grazing right outside. I get the same thrill at home if I see a deer (and yes, I've seen a deer in my yard! Can you believe it?)

I also love the decor there....and the way the lobby is multileveled...the huge window out the back of the lobby...and the cultural displays all throughout the resort. We actually explored the hallways a bit after we discovered there were museum like displays down some of them, as well as savannah viewing areas. The zero entry pool is great with kids too. And they have a nice playground.

I'm sure you'll have a great time at the Contemporary. For your purposes it seems like a great choice.

 

[Bugsmom73]

I think your kids will enjoy the CR, I like it a bit more than DH does. I also know that WL is great for families with young kids. Ours were 3.5 and 13mos when we went and it was wonderful.

 

[speakupjc]

WL has boats instead of buses which appeal to us.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Which ever you decide on make sure to visit the other resorts to take in all the BEAUTIFUL Christmas decorations!! We went to Poly, Grand F, AK, WL, Cont, POR, Swan and Dolphin and a few others just to see the decorations. They are all so different and so beautiful!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

I have stayed at all of these resorts and like AKL and POFQ. Although, they are totally different themes.

My families favorite themed hotel is AKL. We will be there this December at the Conceirge's level. I am surprising my son on the trip and the Sunrise Safari. He's 9.5 and would love to do this, as well as, get a lot out of it.

I love AKL - love the food, wine, surroundings, rooms, people, general store, etc.

You pay a lot for the rooms, but you get so much for what you pay for. It truly is an exceptional value.

(the following was paid for by the Walt Disney Company)

 

[LouM]

Keep your POFQ reservation and go visit AKL and WL. Although, AKL and WL are good values for the deluxe resorts, but you probably have a better rate at POFQ. The best parts of WL and AKL are the public spaces. So go for dinner and leave some time to explore. We liked WL better overall but preferred Boma at AKL (even my picky eaters).

My kids actually liked the pools better at PO then AKL and WL, if pools are important.

Christmas decorations are great at WL (and AKL)!!

 

[*Fantasia*]

WL has boats instead of buses which appeal to us.

WL has boats AND buses. Boats/Buses for MK... and buses for all other themed parks. We prefer the bus to MK... it's a lot faster and never crowded.

 

[JustAshe]

We just did this decision today. I could have booked the AKL, but we wound up going with the MYW /Dining package at POR for only about a hundred more than the room/tickets alone would have been at AKL. For me, having the Dining option made it worth it for me.