Split Stay - The Cabins or Art of Animation & AKL or Contemporary

[greyh]

Hello all,

My family and I are looking to do our 1st split stay vacation at WDW, and would like some advice. We...DD, DM, DD7, DS5, & DD4, have been going to WDW annually/bi-annually, for the last 6 years, staying mostly at the Poly or Beach Club.

We are looking to do a 10 night trip in late April coinciding with the kids "late" spring break. I (DD)...want to see more of the "World" this year and am trying to plan a 2-way or 3-way split stay.

I tried to get the kids involved and we are having issues agreeing on our first 2 or 3 nights. We are looking at getting a Cabin at Fort Wilderness or a family suite at Art of Animation. During our stay at either, we would spend a large amout of time at either resort; at the Cabin, Archery for my DD7, Tri-Cirlce D ranch, pony rides, etc., or the pools at Art of Animation. Now...we live in CT...as a suburb of NYC, but our kids get plenty our outdoor time...but not "ranch" time. So...cabin privacy/"roughing it"/"ranch time" or the cool AoA "experience?"

Also...for our 2nd part of the trip, we are debating a Animal Kingdom Jambo Studio or a Contemporary Park View. I really don't think we can go wrong with either, just would like your thoughts.

We will end the trip at the Beach Club for 5-6 nights (we don't want to bet on the Poly pool being open by then.)

So any suggestions? Cabin at FW/AoA suite & AKL studio/Contemporary Park view & then Beach Club

What would you choose? Any thoughts/ideas would be appreciated for a confused family of 5.

Thanks and regards

 

[NicoleLarson]

Just FYI, you can't fit into a regular or studio room at AKL. They only fit 4 plus, 1 under 3. Only GFV and VWL studios can fit 5 with out one being under 3. The 1 bedrooms do have a sleeper chair so you can fit 5 in those as well. I really love AKL, it is my favorite resort, espically if you are a family that likes to do things around the resort. Being able to look for animals, decorating cookies, culinary tours of Boma and Jiko and roasting marshmallows are some of our favorite activities.
As far as cabins vs AoA.... we stayed at AoA this summer and it was nice but there is a big difference between deluxe and values so keep that in mind. The pool was nothing to write home about and I mean nothing. The themeing is great and we enjoyed the separate bedroom but the bed was rock hard, like really really hard. I haven't stayed at FW but I do hear it is VERY spread out. A pro for the cabins would be that you have an actual kitchen if that is at all important or of use to you.
We do split stays A LOT, like almost every trip and I don't know if I would move 3 times in 10 days. So if I had to decide, I would say a 1 bedroom at AKV (we prefer Jambo house because of the Mara and Kidani doesn't have a QS) and the contemporary.

 

[MandiC]

I've never stayed at any of them, but if it were my family I would do the Cabins and then Contemporary.
The cabins are the next resort we will probably stay at. I love all the activities and I personally don't like staying somewhere with a 'hotel' feel. An advantage to this one, especially if you are going to be spending a lot of time there is that it has on-site restaurants rather than just quick service as you would have at AOA. (On another note- as a family of 5 you do still have some other cheaper options available too, just a fyi. We loved Port Orleans Riverside, and we stayed in a room that could fit 5, the only reason we won't be staying there again is because we have 6 but given the option in the future if we don't go as a whole family it will be up there on my list. It doesn't have quite as much to do as Fort Wilderness though...)

I am sure Animal Kingdom Lodge is beautiful but the only park it is convenient to is Animal Kingdom so for us, convenience wins out. Plus, with kids those ages to have Chef Mickeys right there I have heard wonderful things about the food at AKL but I know my kids are not very adventurous eaters. Plus, I just love the idea of being able to walk to MK. It just seems so very convenient! You can monorail all the other resorts except AK and if you are like most you will likely only spend a half a day/a day max at AK so taking the bus once won't be so bad.

 

[MandiC]

and I will say we live in rural Wisconsin on 2 acres so my kids practically live outside during the summer...but I feel that actually has a big impact on how I like to vacation. Like I said, I hate the hotel feel where you can hear everyone in the rooms around you coughing/talking/ect. I like the more laid back places with space.
And another thing, I read through quick so I didn't realize you are talking about splitting the stay 3 ways. If you want my honest opinion...I would not. I would chose between the Cabins or the Contemporary and then do the Beach Club. And just do a 2 way split stay. I just feel like uprooting 3 times in 10 days would never give anyone time to get comfortable. Plus it seems like it'd take a lot of time and while 10 days in Disney seems like a long time it really isn't when there is so much to do/see. To spend time checking in/out, packing/unpacking, ect just seems like a waste.

 

[5stljayhawks]

We r a fam of 5.. and did a split stay AOA and then Poly Cong level. We wish we would of spent the money and had more poly time. as it was way more laid back.. close to MK.. so no buses 1/2 there and back..

The AOA room was nice and large, way bigger than poly. You may have to say you are only 4 then add 5th.

What got me was killing a day in-between stays...

Cabins are large at FW and there is alot to do. I think FW is a like an upgrade Moderate as you get dropped of at the front of MK via the boat. Sure they may be some travel time... but worth it.

 

[wishing4PA]

You say you would have a lot of resort time during the AoA/FW part, so I vote for the cabins. But don't underestimate how spread out that resort is. If you are planning to spend more than a few hours outside FW each day, I don't think you will really get the full experience. If it's going to be hot, a golf cart might be a wise investment, or you might find you just don't get around much of the resort. We stayed in mid summer, so it was sweltering (and April may or may not be that way depending on fronts and your own heat tolerance level), and even though we were at one of the closest cabins to the feature pool, only 2 of our group made it there during our visit. Even that brief pool visit (nice pool, btw) might not have happened had I not really wanted to try out the slide and coincidentally needed to find a way to help the tooth fairy one evening, necessitating a brief clandestine stop at the store next to the pool. We never did really check out the rest of the FW activities, just because we used up so much time at the parks.
IMHO, if you really will spend enough time at FW to enjoy it, it's worthwhile. If not, AoA might be more convenient.

 

[greyh]

Thank you all. Most appreciated.
Looks like the FW Cabins would be the choice over an AoA suite.
&
The AKL/Contemporary is a toss-up. I will look into the AKL Studio for 5 (not including 1 under the age of 3.) The Disney site keeps giving me that option for my family.

I guess my biggest choice now is 2 or 3 split. my wife feels the same, 3 changes would be too much for us.

either way...looking forward to April.

 

[ilovebassets]

Thank you all. Most appreciated.
Looks like the FW Cabins would be the choice over an AoA suite.
&
The AKL/Contemporary is a toss-up. I will look into the AKL Studio for 5 (not including 1 under the age of 3.) The Disney site keeps giving me that option for my family.

I guess my biggest choice now is 2 or 3 split. my wife feels the same, 3 changes would be too much for us.

either way...looking forward to April.

DEFINITELY cabins over AoA any day. We stayed one night at AoA, and that was enough. The resort decorations were cute but it was so densely packed with people, loud, and just way too crowded feeling. The food court made my head hurt it was so chaotic! The "playground" was just one structure to run around, and the pools weren't anything special.

We have spent 17 nights at the cabins over two different trips and are returning in February. It is spread out. The first time we didn't have a golf cart, and it's definitely doable without one but better with one if you can afford the splurge. So much to do there. The main pool has a great little kids area and a nice slide for bigger kids and has never felt crowded. My kids love the pony rides and the two different, GOOD playgrounds. They also enjoy the Chip and Dale campfire. Trails End is a great buffet and cheap relatively speaking. There is no food court which we sometimes miss but to go food is available at Trails End for breakfast and dinner and then there is a small counter service place at the pool for lunch. Overall, we think the cabins are a fantastic value and despite constantly looking at the other deluxe resorts and villas, we keep going back to Fort Wilderness. It's cheaper. We get a full one bedroom little house without sharing walls with anyone. And the campgrounds offer so much to do.