SSR vs AKV

[Picabo]

HELP! We are going to attempt to stay at either SSR or AKV next year...kids will be 2 1/2 and almost 4 at the time. Any suggestions or recommendations on which would be better for us?

Things I'm concerned with:
Time it takes to get to the parks (especially MK!)
How far we'd be from the pool/playgrounds/restaurants/bus stops...
Room setup - thinking we MAY need 2 dbl instead of King -
Do they have bath tubs in there or shower only?
Does one have a better toddler pool/playground than another?
Is one decorated more for a toddler than the other?

Any advice or even PIX would be awsome!

melanie

 

[Disney_Villain]

Lots of questions! Let me give this a start . . .

1. As you're very concerned about travel time to the MK, it would be good to note that AKV is the furthest resort from the MK. To be fair, it takes a bit of time to get from almost any DVC resort to the MK (with the exception of VWL). I wouldn't let this make or break your decision to stay at AKV!
2. Proximity to bus stops, pools/playgrounds depends on where you are staying in SSR. If you request to stay at Grandstand, you have a close bus stop that is also the 1st bus to pick up and drop off at SSR (you won't have "standing room only" situations.
3. How many beds each room has depends on which resort and what type of room. 2 Queen beds only exist in OKW & some VBR studios, otherwise you need a 2BR or Grand Villa if you really want the 2nd bed over the sleeper-sofa.
4. All DVC resort rooms have a tub with a shower head.
5. What would appeal to a toddler the most? The animals at AKV. There would a lot less walking around AKV, as compared to SSR (walking from Grandstand to its bus stop take 1 minute, but its a 5-minute walk to the main building).
6. SSR's Grandstand has a children's water play/splash area. SSR also has a zero-entry family pool, great for toddlers - right where the restaurants, gift shop & spa are located.

Hope that helps you choose between AKV and SSR!

 

[Slakk]

HELP! We are going to attempt to stay at either SSR or AKV next year...kids will be 2 1/2 and almost 4 at the time. Any suggestions or recommendations on which would be better for us?

Things I'm concerned with:
Time it takes to get to the parks (especially MK!)
How far we'd be from the pool/playgrounds/restaurants/bus stops...
Room setup - thinking we MAY need 2 dbl instead of King -
Do they have bath tubs in there or shower only?
Does one have a better toddler pool/playground than another?
Is one decorated more for a toddler than the other?

Any advice or even PIX would be awsome!

melanie

Right now I would say the SSR pool is MUCH nicer for small kids. My son rates it second only to BCV and he has been in pretty much every pool in WDW. I own at AKV but honestly prefer SSR. For kids the SSR bus stops are not as far away as some of the walks at AKV.

We just took our family and stayed at AKV just for the animals and honestly the kids squealed for 10 minutes then never looked at them again. The rooms are really dark at AKV which is not my favorite either

I do think when Kidani opens up my opinion will change. But for now with small kids I would choose SSR.

 

[BCV23]

What size villa are you considering? There is never a choice between king and two doubles/queens. Studios never have a king, one and 2 BRs always have a king.

Although AKL is farther from the MK, right now there is only one bus stop there. At SSR, there are multiple stops within the resort so I would think it would take longer to get to the MK from SSR.

 

[Topo Bella]

I've never stayed at AKV, but having stayed at SSR on my most recent trip, we thought it was very kid friendly. We loved the pool and the restaurants. We did not think that the walk to the bus stop was any problem at all. I think you will enjoy your stay, either way.