Switch from PO-FQ to AKL-Std?

[fa mulan]

I booked PO-FQ for our first trip (me, DH, DD7 and DD3) in Feb. w/ the great AP rate of $79. Then I started dreaming about deluxes and staying at 2 resorts, and was able to get AKL-Standard for $109 (AP). Having never been, and having the habit of second guessing myself , I'm wondering if this is the right move?

Is there a big difference between PO-FQ (I remember seeing someone's description of its carpets as "worn") and AKL-Standard? I know there's about 30 sq difference in size . . .

I know everyone probably feels differently about the re-packing issue, but overall would you do this?

Thank you!!

 

[webray]

There is a huge difference between the PO and AKL...you will wish you had spent the whole vacation at AKL.

ENJOY!

 

[JennSaint]

I agree with webray we loved AKL and stayed there for 8 nights and never got sick of it. It is a wonderful, relaxing resort! We're going back in February!

 

[n2mm]

If the money is not an issue, then switch. The AKL in the winter is great. The hot tubs are wonderful and the pool is great. We stayed there last January and it was wonderful. We usually stay at Dixie, but with a low rate at the AKL, we stayed there.

 

[deecee99]

I'm also considering an upgrade from PO-FQ 1/10-13, 'specially since I hear new codes are coming out.

While I love PO-FQ (the smallness of it, the watershuttle to DTD, etc.), I'm trying to figure if I can swing the added expense to AKL and would love to hear from y'all why I might want to upgrade.

Comments DIS-ers?

Thanks!
--diane

 

[richard3330]

I have never stayed at POFQ, but I have stayed at AKL and IMHO I found it too be fairly noisy and extremely busy. Maybe I just went during a busy period (March/April) but we found it to be anything BUT relaxing.

At night we could hear people in the next door room and the rooms are fairly overlooked, unless you request an end room.

What does make AKL special though is the beautiful Savannah, which we loved also the african lobby is beautiful.

My advice is if you want to go somewhere quiet and peaceful AKL is not the place to go! Have you thought about any other deluxe resorts?

Richard.

 

[deecee99]

Thanks, Richard for your posting. It rather confirmed my thoughts based on some other postings I'd seen. I'm not sure bigger (with longer walks, more people, more noise, more activity) is what I'm looking for with this upcoming stay, since it is so short.

I'll likely stay where I'm booked and drive over to AKL (WL) for a look to see what I'm missing.

Regards,
=diane

 

[Tiffany]

We have stayed at the AKL twice for a total of 15 days in 2001 and the resort is so relaxing that my husband and I found it hard to drag ourselves away from the resort to go to the parks.

We are booked at CSR for our upcoming Feb trip but I am tring to find the extra money in the budget to upgrade to the AKL. We do love this place.

 

[deecee99]

Tiffany,

I'm glad to hear about your enjoyable time at AKL. Can you share a bit more about where you stayed - which building and one highlight from each trip?

Thanks much,
--diane

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by deecee99
Tiffany,

I'm glad to hear about your enjoyable time at AKL. Can you share a bit more about where you stayed - which building and one highlight from each trip?

Thanks much,
--diane

Sure.

Our first stay was over Memorial Day weekend in 2001. So that makes it about a month and a half after the AKL opened. We had a pool view room booked. We arrvied late on Friday night and we were put up on the 5th floor. It was a great view of the pool area and because we were on the Giaraffe(sp?) trail we could also see animals out on the Overlook Savanna at the end of the pool area. We did the refillable mugs, used the Health Club, spent every afternoon by the pool and ate at Mara alot. Everything was great. The resort just gives us a WOW! feeling. All of the CM were great. The buses ran great besides one time coming back from the AK park. But this was not an AKL issue as there did not seem to be buses coming for any resort. This was the only time that we waited more then 20mins for a bus.

We loved AKL so much that when we got home I changed our Sept ressies from the YC to the AKL for our Sept 1st through the 10th trip. We stayed in a pool room again and we were once again impressed. This time we were on the Zebra Trail second floor. Great view of the pool area and once again we used the refillable mugs, pool, health club and ate at Mara.

We had many interactions with the CM and they were all great. We had no issues with noise. In 2002 we ended up staying at the Dolphin for many different reasons but we missed the AKL.

We are booked right now for CSR in Feb of 2003 at a great rate of $79 a night. I am trying very hard to find it in our budget to upgrade to the AKL again.

I cannot put into words the feeling we get by watching zebra and wildabeast(sp?) walk by.

I hope this helps. If you have any specific questions let me know.