Trying to choose between AKL and the Poly-- help!

[Abra Cat]

Hi all! So, here's my situation-- when free dining came out, I originally made reservations for a standard room at the Poly for my family of five (me, my husband, 18 year old daughter, sons 15 and 11) for our December trip. We were really excited to stay there for the first time... and then I started playing around to see what else might be available-- big mistake! For $600 more, we can stay at my very favorite resort, AKL, in a Jambo House 1 bedroom standard villa with a pool view, complete with kitchen and washer and dryer. We have stayed at AKL MANY times, but it's been probably six years since we last stayed, and I've always wished we could go back (once my youngest hit three years old, it was cheaper to stay at POR or even one of the other deluxes!). So as it stands, I have reservations for both resorts, and I have to figure out which to cancel. My family's not much help deciding, since they can't choose, either!

The Poly has so many things that I'm truly excited about-- the beautiful grounds, Trader Sam's, being on the monorail, watching Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach, etc. But I'm really tempted to stay at AKL again-- it just feels like "home." We'd have a pool view, which is fine, I guess, though it DID take a bit away from the experience the one other time we stayed at AKL with a pool view. I'm not terribly worried about construction at the Poly (though maybe I should be?), since it seems that most of it will be focused on the pool when we're there in December, and we won't be swimming anyway. I think regardless of which one we choose this trip, we'll do the other next year if it's available. I just don't know which to do THIS year! Please help! Thanks!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

That's a tough choice! Being close to MK over the holidays is so nice. Especially if you plan to go to MVMCP. We were at the WL last Christmas and loved being able to zip over to MK to catch the holiday wishes and christmas parade multiple times. On Christmas Day when traffic was gridlocked and nobody could get in to MK we boated over quickly and easily, never had to mess with traffic. I love being near MK. AKL is great too though. I love having the w/d and kitchen, extra space to spread out is great, but of course you are further from the action out there. Did you check availability at Kidani? I like their one bedrooms because the kids get their own bathroom.
Whichever you choose I think you'll have an amazing vacation!

 

[Abra Cat]

Hi TigrLvsPooh,
You pretty much sound like the discussion going on in my brain! We've always loved staying at WDW in the weeks before Christmas, it's so beautiful and festive! Last year we stayed at the CR right before Thanksgiving (our first monorail resort stay), and the convenience is hard to beat, even with our car. Yes, I checked Kidani, which was about $700 more than Jambo House for a savanna view, but I was turned off by the lack of a quick service breakfast place-- I don't want to haul it over to The Mara every morning. Thanks for your help!

That's a tough choice! Being close to MK over the holidays is so nice. Especially if you plan to go to MVMCP. We were at the WL last Christmas and loved being able to zip over to MK to catch the holiday wishes and christmas parade multiple times. On Christmas Day when traffic was gridlocked and nobody could get in to MK we boated over quickly and easily, never had to mess with traffic. I love being near MK. AKL is great too though. I love having the w/d and kitchen, extra space to spread out is great, but of course you are further from the action out there. Did you check availability at Kidani? I like their one bedrooms because the kids get their own bathroom.
Whichever you choose I think you'll have an amazing vacation!

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Hi TigrLvsPooh,
You pretty much sound like the discussion going on in my brain! We've always loved staying at WDW in the weeks before Christmas, it's so beautiful and festive! Last year we stayed at the CR right before Thanksgiving (our first monorail resort stay), and the convenience is hard to beat, even with our car. Yes, I checked Kidani, which was about $700 more than Jambo House for a savanna view, but I was turned off by the lack of a quick service breakfast place-- I don't want to haul it over to The Mara every morning. Thanks for your help!

When staying in a villa we always have groceries. Either ordering them to be delivered or driving to get them. I think that's the best part of having a kitchen, it saves so much time when the kids can eat and then just head straight to the park. The Mara can be really crowded and waste a lot of precious time if you plan to do rope drop.

 

[happymommy]

To me, the larger space and washer/dryer is worth it! No way I'd do 5 in one hotel room ever (matter of fact, we 4 outgrew that years ago!). The washer/dryer means less packing. Kitchen is great for snacks! You may find a rental cheaper and skip dining, but it may not save since you have 5! I'd go for the villa!

 

[Abra Cat]

My youngest and I are early risers, so we get showered and dressed while the rest of the family sleeps, and then get breakfast when they open to bring back to the room while everyone else showers and dresses. It's a nice start to our morning, and we rarely keep more than some cheese sticks or leftovers from dinner in the fridge anyway. I probably wouldn't choose strictly on the availability of a kitchen. The W/D is DEFINITELY tempting, though! Thank you for your suggestions!

When staying in a villa we always have groceries. Either ordering them to be delivered or driving to get them. I think that's the best part of having a kitchen, it saves so much time when the kids can eat and then just head straight to the park. The Mara can be really crowded and waste a lot of precious time if you plan to do rope drop.

 

[Abra Cat]

Hi happymommy,

The W/D has huge benefits, definitely! Much nicer to run a load when we get in for the night, rather than running back and forth to the laundry room! Staying onsite is a big part of our WDW trips, and with two boys who eat like grown men, free dining is a great deal for us. I should say that while the W/D and the kitchen are great conveniences, my biggest difficulty in choosing is between themes-- AKL's African theming and animals, which we're very familiar with and love; or the Poly, with its beautiful theming and the monorail. Why is it so hard to choose?!???

To me, the larger space and washer/dryer is worth it! No way I'd do 5 in one hotel room ever (matter of fact, we 4 outgrew that years ago!). The washer/dryer means less packing. Kitchen is great for snacks! You may find a rental cheaper and skip dining, but it may not save since you have 5! I'd go for the villa!

 

[mickeynut1]

Hi all! So, here's my situation-- when free dining came out, I originally made reservations for a standard room at the Poly for my family of five (me, my husband, 18 year old daughter, sons 15 and 11) for our December trip. We were really excited to stay there for the first time... and then I started playing around to see what else might be available-- big mistake! For $600 more, we can stay at my very favorite resort, AKL, in a Jambo House 1 bedroom standard villa with a pool view, complete with kitchen and washer and dryer. We have stayed at AKL MANY times, but it's been probably six years since we last stayed, and I've always wished we could go back (once my youngest hit three years old, it was cheaper to stay at POR or even one of the other deluxes!). So as it stands, I have reservations for both resorts, and I have to figure out which to cancel. My family's not much help deciding, since they can't choose, either!

The Poly has so many things that I'm truly excited about-- the beautiful grounds, Trader Sam's, being on the monorail, watching Wishes and the Electrical Water Pageant from the beach, etc. But I'm really tempted to stay at AKL again-- it just feels like "home." We'd have a pool view, which is fine, I guess, though it DID take a bit away from the experience the one other time we stayed at AKL with a pool view. I'm not terribly worried about construction at the Poly (though maybe I should be?), since it seems that most of it will be focused on the pool when we're there in December, and we won't be swimming anyway. I think regardless of which one we choose this trip, we'll do the other next year if it's available. I just don't know which to do THIS year! Please help! Thanks!

I would choose the Poly (but then the Poly is our favorite resort) as it's great being on the monorail and so close to MK, especially during the holidays. We have stayed at AKL and love it, but the Poly is just amazing!! We've never stayed in any of the villas as I don't cook or do laundry on vacation, so the full kitchen and washer/dryer is not a perk for us as we'd never use either one. With that said, if you want/need the extra room (and/or the kitchen and washer/dryer), I'd go with the 1 bedroom; otherwise, I'd go with the Poly. Good luck.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

My youngest and I are early risers, so we get showered and dressed while the rest of the family sleeps, and then get breakfast when they open to bring back to the room while everyone else showers and dresses. It's a nice start to our morning, and we rarely keep more than some cheese sticks or leftovers from dinner in the fridge anyway. I probably wouldn't choose strictly on the availability of a kitchen. The W/D is DEFINITELY tempting, though! Thank you for your suggestions!

I love bringing Starbucks from home and brewing it in the mornings as the official EVERYONE GET UP signal LOL

 

[Abra Cat]

Thanks, mickeynut1!

I would choose the Poly (but then the Poly is our favorite resort) as it's great being on the monorail and so close to MK, especially during the holidays. We have stayed at AKL and love it, but the Poly is just amazing!! We've never stayed in any of the villas as I don't cook or do laundry on vacation, so the full kitchen and washer/dryer is not a perk for us as we'd never use either one. With that said, if you want/need the extra room (and/or the kitchen and washer/dryer), I'd go with the 1 bedroom; otherwise, I'd go with the Poly. Good luck.

 

[Abra Cat]

Ha, yes! That would wake me in a heartbeat!

I love bringing Starbucks from home and brewing it in the mornings as the official EVERYONE GET UP signal LOL

 

[robinb]

I would choose AKV over the Poly with a family of 5. You and your DH get your own room with a king-sized bed. Your kids get the living room and they can fight over the sleeper chair. The biggest room at the Poly is 476 square feet. A 1BR at AKV is 629 square feet. If Kidani is available for the same price, I would stay there instead. 1 bedrooms at Kidani have 2 bathrooms.

 

[pmaurer74]

How long is your trip? If it is more than 5 days with kids your age I would choose the villa. I originally was going to say the Poly due to the location until I saw the ages of your kids.

 

[Abra Cat]

Thanks robinb and pmaurer74-- space isn't a huge priority for us. We have a small house and have traveled quite a bit together, so we've learned how to share space comfortably.

 

[mickeynut1]

Thanks, mickeynut1!

You're welcome . Good luck with your decision.

 

[Vaughn4380]

Pick one of the following:

1. African animals outside your window in the mornings; or,

2. Monorail access to two parks.

Both are great, but they each offer different benefits that are not very similar in my opinion.

 

[robinb]

Thanks robinb and pmaurer74-- space isn't a huge priority for us. We have a small house and have traveled quite a bit together, so we've learned how to share space comfortably.

We also have a small house and we usually book DVC studios for 3-4 of us since we are perfectly happy in a studio. That being said, we really love being in a 1 BR. It's a different experience.

 

[Vaughn4380]

But I'm really tempted to stay at AKL again-- it just feels like "home."

After reading your above statement, my vote is for AKL. If it feels like home then you won't be 100% satisfied anywhere else.


Maybe 99%, but not 100%.

 

[Abra Cat]

Thanks everyone-- I appreciate all your feedback. I may wind up just flipping a coin!

 

[huntconn]

I personally prefer the Poly to AKL by quite a large margin. But, like a PP stated, if AKL "feels like home" to you, that may be your best option. Keep in mind, the construction will still be going on to some degree at the Poly so that may factor into you decision.