Trying to decide between WL/AKL and Shades of Green with a family of 6. Help!

[Disneyfriend]

This really is one of those "where should we stay?" threads.

So . . . on our last trip (with 2 teens and an 11-month old) we stayed at Shades of Green. We got two adjoining rooms, since we and the teens find it mutually agreeable to have a bit of space and privacy while on vacation.

We rented a full-sized crib, toys, and a play zone (kind of a gated playpen equivalent that sits right on the floor) from A Baby's Best Friend, and were very happy with the setup. Our 11-month old had a very comfortable bed, toys to occupy her when we were in the room, and we had a safe place to put her when we had to run to the bathroom, etc.

As lovely as SoG is, though, we all kind of missed staying in a Disney resort. We had done a split stay between the Poly and the AKL on our first trip and loved those resorts.

Fast forward two years. We're planning a trip for next fall and have had another baby. So we'll be going with a 17 yo, a 14 yo, a 36-month old, and a 15-month old. We're considering staying at WL this time, or maybe splitting our stay between WL and AKL. We would have two rooms again, because while we technically could squeeze into one deluxe room at the CR, Poly, etc., none of us would enjoy that. The 2 BR villas would be perfect, but more expensive than staying in 2 rooms at a WL or AKL. And I'm too chicken to rent points from a DVC member . . . just don't want to risk it. Staying off property is not an option for us because we want the teens to be able to come and go to the parks, and dh will not consider letting them do that unless we stay at SoG or a Disney resort.

We could afford to stay for 15 nights at SoG, or 12/13 nights at WL/AKL. I know that sounds like a really long stay, but we're coming from very far away and don't get to go very often due to extremely high travel costs. Plus we'll be moving really slow and taking lots of breaks with two babies.

One of my main questions - especially to you AKL/WL vets - is whether it's possible to get a full-sized crib into one of the standard rooms there.

Any thoughts on where we should stay?

Pros of staying at SoG:

1. Low cost - and no waiting/watching for an AP rate or code in order to afford it (we can really only do 2 rooms at the WL/AKL if a serious discount comes out)
2. Larger room size
3. Plenty of room to rent a full-sized crib and play zone.
4. We could afford to rent a car, and would have lots of transportation flexibility. We would probably walk/shuttle to the Poly. and then take the monorail when going to the MK; for everything else we would just drive directly.
5. Convenient, cheap, and plentiful washers and dryers. When you're going as long as we are - and have as many kids as we do - laundry is a very big issue! Realistically, I have to do laundry every several days while at WDW. I was really happy (and surprised) last trip to see that SoG actually has many more washers and dryers than the Poly does, even though it is a smaller resort.

Pros of staying at WL or WL/AKL:

1. Wonderful theming
2. That wonderful, intangible magic of staying on a Disney property
3. Boat access to the Magic Kingdom!
4. Great restaurants at both the WL and AKL, plus easy access from the WL to the Contemporary and Hoop de Doo Review.
5. Many more recreational options (themed pool, access to Fort Wilderness, the marina at WL, the animals at AKL, etc.)

Any thoughts, advice, input? My family is sick of my trying to discuss it with them. Can't figure out why! I know my fellow DIS'ers will understand. I need to stop over-thinking this and just get some input.

Disneyfriend

 

[Sleepy]

We always stay at SOG. Your 3 year old wouldn't notice the lack of theming and staying at SOG would mean extra days in the parks, thus more Disney. I would always choose more days over theming. I guess you have a tough decision if theming is important to you.

 

[ducklite]

RENT POINTS! You can rent points and get a 2BR villa for the same price or less than you would pay for 2 rooms at a deluxe. Make sure you get one that's a dedicated 2BR not a lockoff.

The villa will give you a bedroom for the teens with two queens and their own bath. The living room has a queen sleeper sofa--the new ones are very comfortable according to DS. There's also a king in the master, and a full size crib could fit in there, or you could set it up in the living room area.

You'll also get a fully equipped kitchen which is perfect for breakfasts, a DVD player in the LR, and a washer/dryer. Oh, and a jetted soaking tub in the master bath.

It will give you more space then two SOG rooms, and becuase you can do laundry so conveniently, you can pack a lot lighter.

 

[PilotWife]

We stayed at the AKL in Sept (with a pack n play) and stayed at SOG last Dec. I would have to say that a full size crib would not fit in the AKL rooms. He had to rearrange some of the chairs in order for the pack n play to fit.

Jennifer

 

[suevee]

As much as I dream of the the other resorts when it comes right down to it the price can not be beat at Shades of Green, especially when you count the easy access to park, EE hours, Stars and Stripes ticket, and a quiet resort and pool area.

So even though we have stayed our dream trips at WL ($129 a night), CR(when it was pitchhitting for SoG at $89 a night), and Poly ($179!!!!! a night, won' happen again!!!), we will stay at SoG.

 

[GinnyFavers]

You would be fine renting points, I've done it about six times, you can feel from the person you're dealing with if there's anything weird, BUT,

I don't recommend you try it for this trip, because you will not be able to get a 2 bedroom villa in either of your preferred resorts. AKL there aren't enough built yet, and WL's there are very very few and they go the day the owners there can start calling for them at 11 months out.

We stay at SOG occassionally, and I'm with you that it's nice, but it doesn't feel quite "Disney" to us. Sometimes it feels like we're on base!

I say get up photos on your computer of both AKL and WL and let your family look at them, and tell them to pick. There's great slide shows at allearsnet.com and more pics here at wdwinfo.com, plus there's a few photos at Disney's own website.

My money is on them picking AKL!

If you book with a Disney specialty travel agent (not AAA, a Disney only agency), they will watch your dates for you and retroactively apply discounts if any crop up. You never know, you might end up affording those extra days you thought you'd have to scratch.

 

[LadyZolt]

I'm going to vote for SOG. It's got the large size rooms you need, it's totally affordable, it's conveniently located, and with your two younger ones, it would be very easy to stay in SOG as the little ones napped and let the older kids go to MK or EPCOT via Monorail. The little ones won't care much about Disney theming, and your teens could easily go over to the Poly, GF, or Contemporary if they want to check out Disney theming and more Disney shopping opportunities. The Poly has boat access to MK, too, and it's pretty easy to get from SOG to the Poly. For the amount of time you're planning on going, the teens can spend a couple days at the water parks and the little ones honestly won't care at all how much theming the pools have. They likely just want to splash around and have fun with their parents.

Of course, the final decision is yours, but with the ages you said your kids are, SOG seems to be a good choice because the older kids are old enough to go places without their parents and the monorail is very convenient for that. Good luck with your decision! Whatever you choose, have a magical time!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Sleepy]

We stay at SOG occassionally, and I'm with you that it's nice, but it doesn't feel quite "Disney" to us. Sometimes it feels like we're on base!

I just have to ask you how SOG makes you feel like you are on base. Other than needing to show your ID to check in and people occassionally asking you where you are from (which can happen in any WDW ride line), there is nothing about the hotel that makes me think I am on base.

 

[Disneyfriend]

We stayed at the AKL in Sept (with a pack n play) and stayed at SOG last Dec. I would have to say that a full size crib would not fit in the AKL rooms. He had to rearrange some of the chairs in order for the pack n play to fit.

Jennifer

Thanks to everybody who has responded so far!

Jennifer, your experience (having stayed at both resorts before) is extremely helpful. That's what I was afraid of, that there would be no real way to fit a full-sized crib in a WL/AKL room. Over the years my kids have sometimes done just fine in a pack-n-play, and other times they just haven't been able to get a good night's sleep in one.

 

[Disneyfriend]

As much as I dream of the the other resorts when it comes right down to it the price can not be beat at Shades of Green, especially when you count the easy access to park, EE hours, Stars and Stripes ticket, and a quiet resort and pool area.

So even though we have stayed our dream trips at WL ($129 a night), CR(when it was pitchhitting for SoG at $89 a night), and Poly ($179!!!!! a night, won' happen again!!!), we will stay at SoG.

Suevee, you described my dilemma so perfectly.

We got in on some truly fabulous rates at the Poly and AKL in 2001 (concierge room for $229/$239 a night, respectively!), but I'm afraid those days are looooong gone.

Plus we've been blessed with two brand new little ones since then, and our older ones are now teens who no longer want to squeeze in with Mom and Dad and two baby siblings. Can't figure out why.

 

[Disneyfriend]

You would be fine renting points, I've done it about six times, you can feel from the person you're dealing with if there's anything weird, BUT,

I don't recommend you try it for this trip, because you will not be able to get a 2 bedroom villa in either of your preferred resorts. AKL there aren't enough built yet, and WL's there are very very few and they go the day the owners there can start calling for them at 11 months out.

We stay at SOG occassionally, and I'm with you that it's nice, but it doesn't feel quite "Disney" to us. Sometimes it feels like we're on base!

I say get up photos on your computer of both AKL and WL and let your family look at them, and tell them to pick. There's great slide shows at allearsnet.com and more pics here at wdwinfo.com, plus there's a few photos at Disney's own website.

My money is on them picking AKL!

If you book with a Disney specialty travel agent (not AAA, a Disney only agency), they will watch your dates for you and retroactively apply discounts if any crop up. You never know, you might end up affording those extra days you thought you'd have to scratch.

Amanda, we actually stayed at AKL in 2001 and just *loved* it! When I talked to the two teens about our lodging dilemma, my 2nd daughter (14) said that she voted on stayed at AKL . . . "even if we have to stay in the broom closet. I'm sure even the broom closet would have a picture of a giraffe in it."

Now, just to keep it complicated, our oldest daughter (17 next fall) said that she would prefer SoG if it meant that we had larger rooms and could stay longer. Nothing's ever easy.

I see you're about to leave on your trip . . .have a fabulous time!

 

[Disneyfriend]

I'm going to vote for SOG. It's got the large size rooms you need, it's totally affordable, it's conveniently located, and with your two younger ones, it would be very easy to stay in SOG as the little ones napped and let the older kids go to MK or EPCOT via Monorail. The little ones won't care much about Disney theming, and your teens could easily go over to the Poly, GF, or Contemporary if they want to check out Disney theming and more Disney shopping opportunities. The Poly has boat access to MK, too, and it's pretty easy to get from SOG to the Poly. For the amount of time you're planning on going, the teens can spend a couple days at the water parks and the little ones honestly won't care at all how much theming the pools have. They likely just want to splash around and have fun with their parents.

Of course, the final decision is yours, but with the ages you said your kids are, SOG seems to be a good choice because the older kids are old enough to go places without their parents and the monorail is very convenient for that. Good luck with your decision! Whatever you choose, have a magical time!

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

Thanks Dorothy! Everything you said is very logical, honestly. I think it makes the most sense for us to stay at SoG. I wish I weren't so greedy in wanting the Disney theming and intangibles also.

 

[Colinsmom]

We just came back from AKL with a 5yo and a 22mo, who slept in the PNP. The room was VERY tight for us with the PNP set up, I can't imagine it with a full-size crib (unless housekeeping agreed to remove the table and chairs for your stay - not sure if they can/will do that). We had two queen size beds; the bunk bed rooms have a little more floor space, probably enough for a crib to fit between the two beds against the nightstand, but definitely not enough room for a playyard (unless you use the entire sink area for the playyard - not very functional for you, though).

For this reason, we won't be staying at AKL again until our kids are old enough to be in their own beds. Too bad, because we loved so many other things about this resort!

 

[LadyZolt]

I wish I weren't so greedy in wanting the Disney theming and intangibles also.

You will likely visit again at a future date, and then you can consider it all anew and then maybe stay at a more themed resort. We stayed at SOG in December because I couldn't bring myself to pay over $3,000 for what would cost me $480 at SOG. But I'm planning a trip with my DD18 to the Poly in August when the rate there is more reasonable than it is at Christmas. So, just think of this as one trip now, and SOG might make the most sense for it, but that doesn't mean another trip won't be at a different place.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[dairyqueenmom]

When are you planning on going?

I would encourage you to try renting points, you can get points for about $10.00 per point and depending on the time you are traveling you could get a 2 bedroom villa for between 450pts to 550pts for 15 nights. Then you would have a kitchen, washer and dryer, three rooms, and mostly plenty of space.

 

[bdcp]

SOG. You will get plenty of "Disney" everywhere else on property and it's such an easy walk to the TTC and Poly for the monorail or buses. The SOG rooms are large and it's cost effective as well. It also just makes economic sense.

 

[LadyZolt]

I would encourage you to try renting points, you can get points for about $10.00 per point and depending on the time you are traveling you could get a 2 bedroom villa for between 450pts to 550pts for 15 nights. Then you would have a kitchen, washer and dryer, three rooms, and mostly plenty of space.

With two rooms at SOG at $120 per room per night for 15 nights, the total would be $3,600. (The OP's rate might be less than this, too.)

With 450 points at $10 a point, the total would be $4,500.

It's still a significant savings to stay at SOG.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[AmyAllan&Eve]

The theming is REALLY important to me. And I agree with you about that wonderful, intangible magic of staying on a Disney property. You described the feeling so well. It is magic!

Could your 36 month old stay in a bottom bunk with guard rails? You could use the top bunk to store all your luggage, supplies, etc. That would afford you a little more room. Maybe you could forgo the Pak n' Play to make things simpler. You would have one queen bed, twin bunks, and a crib in your room. I think because of the bunk beds that might be doable.

Or, perhaps the 15 month old could be comfortable sleeping in the Pak n' Play and you could forgo the crib altogether?

If you opt for both, you could always fold the Pak n' Play up when not in use, and even store it in the teenagers' room.

Let us know what you decide. I am sure Shades of Green is lovely, too. That's the great thing about these kinds of problems--you win either way!

Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge are so special to me, that I would plan a vacation to stay there even if I couldn't afford any theme park tickets.