Should I switch resorts?

[jbeanz2001]

This is my first post but I get alot of great advice reading other posts...so thanks!

This will be our first time at WDW (myself, DH DS (almost 4 at travel time and DD 11 months at travel time). We're going for 5 days 4 nights in Sept. I just called and got free dining (which I was planning on paying for Deluxe Dining, but now just have to pay the difference). So we just saved almost $500 . We're booked at POR but would love to stay at AKL. It will be $700 to upgrade (which is only $200 more than I anticipated to begin with)

My question - Is it worth the extra money for AKL? Any advice would help ...Thanks!

 

[Bethy Lou]

Animal kingdom is a great resort, but it is the furthest deluxe from all the parks except for Animal Kingdom. I would be more tempted to stay at Polynesian for convenience sake personally.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

With small children I would be tempted to upgrade to a deluxe. Although since you are probably going to be spending more time at MK I would think about upgrading to WL (it's approximately the same price at AKL).

 

[Bethy Lou]

I agree with DisneyMom, there are a lot of fun activities at Wilderness Lodge also that would make that trip a lot of fun!

 

[justplaingoofy]

I think it depends on where you will be spending most of your time... although A.k.l is nice, it is a little distance to the 3 other parks.

Agree.. Wilderness lodge is a great resort because its a lower cost deluxe, plus you are close to magic Kingdom if you think that is where you will be spending most of your time.

For us, we spend alot of time at HollyWood Studios & Epcot so Beach/Yacht club works best for us.

Time is $....

 

[Kae]

I would stick with POR this is your first trip so that means you will want to be in the parks more, imho. $500 is a good amount of money save it for your next trip, there will be another trip . We enjoyed POFQ when we stayed there. Having stayed at AKL last year it is a place you want to spend time at there alot to do at AKL. We spend 2 afternoons at AKL & we wish we would have spent more.

Kae

 

[vicceja]

Absolutely, we have stayed at AKL and the boys loved it. If you have the opportunity to stay I would say go for it!

 

[ntsammy5]

Probably won't make a difference.

 

[justplaingoofy]

I just re read your original post and noticed you say it is your first time to Disney. Also, that you are going for 5 days.

I would think since everything is new to you, you will be spending the majority of the time at the parks. Are you able to extend an extra day or two at POR? If work/school allows the $500 could go to change in airfare and additional time...

If not, since you would probably be in the parks so much I probably wouldn't pay the extra $ to upgrade. If you were going to be there for a much longer time period and would have alot of down time then you would probably be at the hotel a bit more.

my vote....either save the $, or try to extend your trip longer

 

[jbeanz2001]

I wish work would allow us to stay longer. I think I'm going to need a day or 2 to get back to the real world before going back to work. I would love to extend though...good idea!

 

[M 'n C]

If it were me I'd downgrade the dining plan and use that money for AKL. I think you'll find that you have plenty of food on the basic package.

 

[MagicMe]

Personally I really like POR and I'd pocket the extra $$. That said, as much as I like AKL (and it is beautiful), it is the furthest from MK (not to mention HS and Epcot) and being that it's your first time, I would expect you plan to spend alot of time in MK. If I were going to upgrade, I would stay at WL or move to a monorail resort (fabulous for convenience). Just stayed at WL before Christmas (my Mom has wanted to stay there since it opened) and we absolutely loved it!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I didn't see that you were plannng on deluxe dining. I would give up deluxe dining, just get regular. It's more than enough food. Use the difference to either stay at WL or go all out and use the difference to stay at the Poly. For the difference in price (with what you save on switching dining plans) the convenience of the monorail is sooooooo worth it!

 

[justplaingoofy]

alright...me an my 2 cents again...

I do agree with previous poster that there is plenty of food on the regular dining plan. (in fact we end up splitting alot of meals because there is so much food)...

Plus, I think you are going to spend most of your time at the parks if this is your 1st visit, and you are only going for 5 days.

So that would save you $ from free dining, + money from downgrading to standard dining and you could put it towards a trip in the future when you would have more time to enjoy a deluxe resort.

 

[rainy~daze]

POR is a beautiful resort...we stayed there for our first trip. We have also stayed at AKL. Being your first trip, your 4yo is going to see so many things to try and want...you should stay at POR and keep the extra money for souvenirs. As for dining, if you budgeted to pay for deluxe dining, may as well keep it....but you so do not need it. You will have so much food....and with deluxe you may spend too much time trying to eat all the food and use credits to your advantage. Have you already set all you reservations? If not, seriously consider dropping deluxe dining.
You will not be disappointed with POR, it is a great resort.

 

[Taja]

Regardless of where you stay, I would go with just the standard dining plan. Especially since this is your first trip--and it's a bit short.

You'll be tied to one TS ADR daily with the regular plan; with the deluxe plan you'll feel obligated to have at least two TS meals daily--and that's another ADR. That's a big chunk of time out of your day! A good four hours, assuming you dine in the park you're visiting.

AKL is near only one park: AK. Most of your time is likely to be centered around MK--although there are great things for all ages at all parks, MK does have the most geared toward little ones. WL is a possibility, but quite likely booked for free dining (wouldn't hurt to check, if you're interested). It's a boat ride away from MK.

Otherwise, I would stick with POR and save some money toward another holiday in the near future!