Switching from AKL to CSR.....crazy?

[disney-super-mom]

Would anyone here give up staying at the AKL for 7 nights because CSR has a better slide and food court (and because it would save us a total of $360)?

I can't seem to get myself to switch our ressie over to CSR from the AKL. I get really close to picking up the phone and doing it, but I get stuck at the picking up the phone part. But DH is all for it, and not just because of the slide and a food court that serves steak dinners, but I actually think he likes the looks of CSR better.

I think he's crazy to give up queen size beds for double beds (he's 6'6" tall for crying out loud!), and giving up interior corridors (nothing like having to walk in the rain to fill up your resort mug or getting breakfast).

Maybe guys just like different things than us women? So guys, please explain it to me.....what is it about CSR that you like better than a deluxe?

 

[beachgrl001]

I was thinking of switching from AKL to CSR but every time I check the disney website its unavailable. Then I was thinking of switching to POR(MY cousin just decided to make a ressie there during our dates ) I also am having a hard time picking up the phone! I dont want to give up the interior corridors(not having to walk in the heat/rain) and busses that dont share. plus my 4yo will love seeing the animals.

 

[disfan06]

CSR does not share buses with any other resort either. We are staying at CSR for the 1st time in June and we are looking very forward to it.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

crazy with a capitol C.....

no offense CSR...lovely resort Its abt $51 a day...and Mara is great too for counter service.

Howevr, CSR has a legion of fans...they are just 2 different reosrts...both have their pro's!!
Good luck deciding!

 

[maciemouse]

I don't think I would switch. I have never stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge but I am in May. I have visited the resort. We have stayed at CSR. It is nice and I think it is the best moderate, but I do think Animal Kingdom Lodge has the better pool. When are going? I've read that the CSR waterslide is closed this spring. I think it is worth paying the $360 or whatever to stay where you are at. AKL does not share buses with any other resorts either.

 

[disney-super-mom]

We're going December 9th-16th, so we'll be there for all the Christmas decorations and festivities.

Maybe the way to a man's heart really is through his stomach?!

Here's my hubby. "ME MAN...ME LIKE MEAT...ME WANT STEAK...ME WANT CSR STEAK...GRUNT!"

 

[DreaminDisney]

We loved CSR but if I was only saving 360.00 I probably wouldn't switch because I've never stayed at AKL and would love to try it. Jiko is great too.

 

[Buzz2001]

Only you can determine what the $360 means to you and your family. I enjoy CSR immensely. Check out my CSR website below.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

No way no how would I switch. But that is me and $360 is not my tipping point to change a ressie from a Deluxe to a Mod. Boma serves wonderful steak

 

[KatMark]

CSR is our favorite resort, but for only $360 more I would stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (if we didn't have two boys in college--we would!). AKL is the only deluxe resort I would stay at (we've done Polynesian--love it and the Contemporary--it's only okay), but I would love to wake upat the AKL and look out the window and see my favorite animal--a giraffe!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Hmm, that's a toughie! If you do stay at AK, you can always go over to the Pepper Market and eat lunch one day and get your dh his steak! $360 Is not as big of a savings as I would think you would get switching from mod to deluxe.


However, I switched from WL to Pop one time because my husband loves that food court, the frozen Coke in general! And even though I had a bit of a twinge or two before the trip thinking I must have been insane, once we got there I had so much fun I didn't care or give it a second thought. I am at Disney so I am generally happy wherever I am within WDW property!

I forgot to add why I love CSR and for that matter all the spread out mods. I love the feeling of really being in a world within the World. I loved the grounds, the lake, the different styles of buildings, all the quiet pools, the main pool and the fact that the resort never felt crowded in spite of being full of people for a family reunion (that was in fact a convention or soemthing, not a reunion, thank God I really was worried that one family could have that many people). But that is just me! I am the same way with my DVC, I prefer SSR and OKW over say Boardwalk where in spite of a lovely resort in a great location I just missed having enough outside space to really get lost in.

AKL looks beautiful but the only way I would stay there would be in a savanah view room. Which I don't think you have or it would be a lot more than $360 over CSR! Again, this is all just me, you can't make a wrong choice, have fun choosing!

 

[FairyDust2008]

No, I personally wouldn't change from a deluxe to a moderate resort at all. I switched from AKL Club to Poly and back to AKL Club but I wouldn't give up AKL for a moderate. AKL is all contained in 1 building and not spread out. CSR is spread out. So wasn't the Poly with all those longhouses. That is part of what lead us back to AKL. Seeing animals out your balcony versus watching business men and women in suits roaming in the food courts, etc-I'll take my balcony with animals Much more vacation mode I think and you can't beat the atmosphere of being in Orlando but feeling like you are far away on a safari. Keep your reservations. You'll regret switching. I know I did when I switched to Poly and I'm glad to have my ressies back at AKL. Just put the CSR out of your mind, enjoy your resort plans at AKL and start planning other things. HAVE FUN

 

[Cindie-rella]

Don't do it! AKL is awesome ! It is a totally different kind of vacation resort. There are great steaks to be had at Le Cellier in Canada at Epcot and many other places at WDW, I don't believe that I've ever heard a rave about CSR steaks anyway. The food at Boma and Jiko is really different and delicious too. None other like it on WDW property. The pool at AKL is really nice also. Slides probably not as good as CSR's, so then do the water parks if you're really into slides, you won't beat those.
I personally didn't think the food at CSR was that great that I would choose to stay there over AKL! We usually only use the food courts for a quick bite anyway, so a food court wouldn't sway me into staying at a certain place, but that's me. CSR is nice, but you will notice that you are at a convention resort. It doesn't quite have the same feel as the other resorts in my opinion. But again, that's me. You asked for some opinions, mine is telling you that you will LOVE AKL It is sooo different, and much worth the few extra $$.

 

[epcotfan]

NO NOT CRAZY. I stayed at AKL a few years ago, and it was one of the least enjoyable trips I had. The beds were horrendously uncomfortable and we had a filthy room. Garbage stuffed in the tv unit, behind the night table. Promised to bring a fridge (this was before they were free) when we checked in at 12am. Called down at 1am. Oh it's coming up they say. Stayed up till 3am exhausted and no one showed. I would have been fine if they'd said we don't have anything till the morning but they kept saying it was on the way up. *sigh* Also, a Mousekeeper threw out personal property and receipts (which I needed for my dutiable items)
Now, this probably has nothing to do with the particular resort, but we encountered some of the rudest guests ever that week. Some guy asked me to move in the pool ( I was near the steps ) so his daughter could play there. Meanwhile there were many free stepped areas around the rest of the pool. Also had a lady run in and stop the elevator (doors were almost closed) and then she proceed to spill her drink all over my suede shoes. When I looked at her she said, "it's only water" like it was no big deal. Sheesh.

I so wished I'd stayed at CSR that week. The bus service, pool, and manicured grounds are big pluses for us. Also the beds (although doubles) are really comfy (at least to me)

 

[nikki'smom]

The bus service, pool, and manicured grounds are big pluses for us. Also the beds (although doubles) are really comfy (at least to me)

I agree, these things make CSR very attractive.

 

[busymomma123]

I have never stayed at CSR before. It does seem very attractive for a moderate. We did stay at AKL last October and fell in love with the resort. It is so peaceful and relaxing. The bus service is AWESOME. This was the first time we were just as happy being at the resort as the parks. We are starting to plan our trip for this November and are having a hard time staying some place other than AKL. If the money isn't a huge burden, go for AKL.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Would anyone here give up staying at the AKL for 7 nights because CSR has a better slide and food court (and because it would save us a total of $360)?

We haven't stayed at any resort twice (yet)...and don't want to any time soon...but we have stayed at both AKL and CSR.

If we were to stay at either again, first choice would be AKL for the $360. CSR is great...beautiful, all that stuff you already heard...but something about AKL made it one of our favorites.

Please note this opinion is solely based on the assumption I could afford the extra $360. If not, I'd have no problem going back to CSR.

 

[Prissymouse]

We're going December 9th-16th, so we'll be there for all the Christmas decorations and festivities.

Maybe the way to a man's heart really is through his stomach?!

Here's my hubby. "ME MAN...ME LIKE MEAT...ME WANT STEAK...ME WANT CSR STEAK...GRUNT!"

My dh STILL complains about the food court at CSR and THE WALK TO GET TO IT....

I liked this resort, but he won't go back...

We both loved AKR

Good luck with your he-man hubby...

 

[Northern_Julie]

I was considering AKL but this is why I chose CSR:

I like the look of the pool area at CSR as a kid this was very important. I wanted that nice hot tub to soak.
I remember the lines at the end of the day...I wanted a good bus I could get on no waiting.
I visited the Pepper Market and like the atmoshphere. They have good coffee for mom.
I find AKL dark. I wanted light bright and flowery not dark and safari ( I live in the North I get a really long really dark winter - so this light is important)
Honestly moderate and deluxe are generic lables... I look below what I want for my money. I am visiting AKL to go to JIKO