Should I go w/ a moderate?

[puddleduck]

Over a standard view room at the AKL? I had originally booked a savannah view for our Dec trip. A few things have come up (don't they always?) and now I would like to shave a few bucks off the trip. Is it worth staying at AKL in a standard view room or should I go with a moderate. If I go with a moderate, which one is best suited for a couple with 3 young boys. They will be 5 yo, almost 3 yo and almost 2 yo when we go. My oldest wants AKL because of the animals, but I am not sure if he would be happy not being able to see the animals from the room. Any thoughts?

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

I just got back from the Alligator Section of POR with my 3 young boys and as much as I loved the resort I probably won't be staying there again. I thought it was just too large and it was a bit of a walk to everything. The bus service wasn't great either...but I went at a very busy time. We are planning to go back down in December and i'm making ressies for Animal Kingdom...can't wait!

This is a pic of POR

 

[Avalanche]

We usually stay at a moderate and have been very happy. If the two year old won't sleep in a crib then the only moderate that sleeps 5 is POR with a trundle bed.

The pool at POR is great and you can also use the one at POFQ which has a really cool dragon slide.

We've stayed at a Deluxe once (CR last Christmas) only because we got a great rate (somewhere around $160), but really don't think the deluxes are worth the extra $$$. Don't spend more then you can afford.

You can always go over to AKL and view the animals. They have several lookout points from the resort.

 

[puddleduck]

We are planning going to AK park and then eating dinner at Boma at the lodge. We will either get there early enough to look and explore or stick around after dinner to do so. I just feel like I am disapointing everyone, it was my decision to downgrade. My oldest is fine w/ staying at a moderate, but will mention that he will miss seeing the animals. It is hard justifying the much higher cost.

 

[puddleduck]

I forgot to mention that the two beds will work fine for us. My 2 oldest usually end up sleeping in one twin bed together, the baby will probably sleep either w/ them or us. Or, one of use will sleep in one bed w/ 2 youngest and one of us in bed w/ the oldest. We are all used to crowded beds. With 3 little ones you rarely get to sleep stretched out.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I may be experiencing the mod/AKL dilema also. Here is another post you might find interesting concerning the views at AKL: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=860184
Some say the standard view is fine and others have also said there's a chance of an upgrade from standard to savanna, but no guarantees. I am also torn between the AKL standard and POR.
Keep us posted on your decision.

Tink

 

[lovesdumbo]

I think I'd go with AKL standard view and hope for an upgrade since you're going during a less busy time(opps just reread your dates-I was going by memory of just a quick glance at your sig. Maybe it won't be so less busy...). You'll get queen beds at AKL vs. full size. I went to Boma for breakfast and really like AKL. The pool looked like a lot of fun and there was a fun playground near the pool too. You'll still get all the amenities of the deluxe even if you don't get animal view from your room-you can still walk around the resort at night after a day in the parks to see animals.

 

[Samsma]

Go for AKL! This is a great resort - bus service is great, restaurants are great, pool is great, smell is great, lobby is great, gift shop is great. Storytelling in the evening, friendly CM's, and could be a learning experience for kids. Plus- you do have that chance for an upgrade to at least pool view. The view out the window in your room isn't all there is to say for this resort.

 

[DisCapeCoddr]

We just got back from POFQ and loved it because it was small (everything was a few minutes away from most rooms), had a wonderful pool for children and very quick bus service. 2 years ago we stayed at AKL (had reserved standard view but we were upgraded to pool view). We also loved AKL's pool, bus service, animals, etc. We have stayed at other moderates but did not like them as much as AKL or POFQ. We liked the food court at POFQ better than the food court at AKL, but we loved dining at the BOMA buffet at AKL. It really is a toss up between AKL and POFQ. You may want to consider how much your children will enjoy the animals at AKL. We loved the animals, but after 2 days, the thrill of seeing them wore off. I would highly recommend either AKL or POFQ for your family. My children are 7 & 9 and say they equally liked both AKL and POFQ. The key with POFQ is that it is small and not spread out like some of the other moderates we stayed at.

 

[tigerlilly]

I am going thru the same dilemna as you are! We have stayed at POR two times (once in 1995 and again in 1999...haven't been back to WDW since) and we loved it both times.
I have reservations at AKL but it is so much money and I just don't know what to do. Sounds like you have decided to go with POR and I think you will be very happy...who knows we may see you as we are going around the same time as you and POR is sounding better and better.
DisCapcoddr...glad you liked POFQ as well as AKL. I like the idea of a smaller moderate resort but the 2 times we visited POFQ I just didn't like the theme at all (strange I know because we loved POR...riverside (Dxl)...especially the AB section). I think it was the whole Jester thing

 

[puddleduck]

I am still not sure. From the other thread that Tink (I believe that was who) posted I am thinking maybe standard view at AKL. Maybe we could get really lucky and get upgraded. I have really cute kids (doesn't every mother), maybe I could have them blow kisses to the CM's at the desk and get an upgrade. Just kidding. If I book a standard I will have to keep repeating to myself that I will not get an upgrade. That way I will not be disappointed when I don't get one. I am not sure yet. Does anyone know anything about the CSR. I know it is also a convention hotel, but the playground and pool looked really neat. Just trying to look at all my options. You guys have been great so far.

 

[MickiMouth]

I had a ressie for next July at POR and 2 days ago switched to AKL savannah view. I didn't want to book a standard view in hopes of a free upgrade because I really like seeing the animals from my balcony. In the past 2 days more then once I was tempted to call back and switch back to POR. DH keeps telling me to leave it alone but it's hard knowing how nice both resorts are but AKL is $860.00 more. I'd love to stay at the Poly but can't bring myself to pay for it.

 

[Buzz2001]

Check out my CSR website below for pics and info

 

[klinlin]

CSR is great! Because it is a convention hotel, we found the buses & pool to be not at all crowded. Plus it was all so pretty, especially at night. It would have been my first choice, but it was all sold out. (except for the suites but I thought $6000 was a little much!)

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

The first time we went to WDW with our DS's (6&9) we stayed at the Caribbean Beach !!! We loved the themeing for the boys. The pirate theme pool was awesome with it's slide and the grounds were beautiful...made you feel like you were on a "tropical" vacation !!! We also rented the little mouse boats ,too and rode around the lake one afternoon. My vote would go for Caribbean Beach for a family of little boys on their 1st trip to WDW!!!

 

[puddleduck]

Check out my CSR website below for pics and info

Well, I actually already have. It was one reason my dh and I are interested in CSR. When we first decided 3 days ago that AKL savannah view was more than we needed to pay, I changed our ressies to CSR. I have requested to stay in the Cabanas in either building 9a or 9b. I am correct that would put me about mid-way between the Dig Site and El Centro? Is that a good spot for someone w/ 3 little ones? My dh says we should stick w/ CSR and try for AKL when we have more money and more time. This trip is shorter, we decided on a whim to go in Dec. Our next trip will be next Dec or first week of Jan 07, depending on when Christmas vacation will fall (we are both teachers). That will give us longer to save and we can stay longer. I guess right now I am talking myself into CSR. So, now tell me all the good things about it and any info I need to get around w/ 3 young ones. We have decided against the values because there was not enough price difference for us to not want to stay at a moderate. Thanks so far for all of your input.

 

[Buzz2001]

THE PROS
No sharing bus service with other resorts
Centrally located with short rides to the parks
Largest hot tub on WDW property
Awesome main pool area with bar, snack bar, playground and kiddie pool
3 quiet pools
New shuttle service eliminates long walks to any of the villages
High speed internet service
WiFi available too
Free use of the gym
Spa
Fridge in the room
Coffeemaker in the room
Iron and ironing board
full room service menu
2 arcades
beautifully landscaped
central air, not a noisey wall unit

THE CONS
Full size beds (kings size beds are available)
one sink

IN THE MIDDLE
The Pepper Market is either a love it or hate it place. We love it but some folks just don't care for it.

Convention resort - some guests don't like seeing other guests at work. Doesn't bother us and helps keep the buses empty. GF, Cont, BW, Y & B Club are also convention resorts.

Check out my website below

 

[Buzz2001]

Well, I actually already have. It was one reason my dh and I are interested in CSR. When we first decided 3 days ago that AKL savannah view was more than we needed to pay, I changed our ressies to CSR. I have requested to stay in the Cabanas in either building 9a or 9b. I am correct that would put me about mid-way between the Dig Site and El Centro? Is that a good spot for someone w/ 3 little ones? My dh says we should stick w/ CSR and try for AKL when we have more money and more time. This trip is shorter, we decided on a whim to go in Dec. Our next trip will be next Dec or first week of Jan 07, depending on when Christmas vacation will fall (we are both teachers). That will give us longer to save and we can stay longer. I guess right now I am talking myself into CSR. So, now tell me all the good things about it and any info I need to get around w/ 3 young ones. We have decided against the values because there was not enough price difference for us to not want to stay at a moderate. Thanks so far for all of your input.

Just remember that cabana 9a is smoking optional so unless you smoke, make sure to request a non-smoking room. The other cabana locations are great too.

 

[puddleduck]

Thanks Buzz! Well, the more I think of it, the more sure I am that we will keep the CSR ressies. I have to remember that for the amount of days we will be there and it being our first trip (my dh is only one who has been to WDW, but it's been years) we will spend a lot of time at the parks and the resort will not make or break our trip. CSR looks and seems like a really nice place to stay though. We are just excited to be staying at Disney. Plus, the reason we are going from AKL to CSR is my dh and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary Labor Day weekend and decided to go away for the long weekend without kids. Less money on the Disney resort gives us extra money for our anniversary trip to the mountains. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

If money is an issue, I would go with a moderate. The moderates are extremely well-themed. AKL is our very favorite WDW resort, but we did not enjoy the one night we spent in a standard view room prior to moving to a savanna view room for our May trip. (However, we might have felt differently if we hadn't stayed in savanna view rooms in the past.) We spent the last two days of our 10-day trip at CSR, and everyone in the family LOVED it -- just in a different way. I'll also add that we had our 2.5 dd, 4 yo ds, and 13 yo ds with us. At CSR, I slept with the 2 little ones with no problem. (We fell asleep together while older ds and dh were at DQ.) At AKL, the little ones slept in the top bunk, while our older ds slept in the bottom. Both worked fine with little ones.