Upgrade to AKL?

[sadossey]

We are going on our first ever WDW vacation in may, me DW, DD5, DS2. We are booked in a RGR at POR which I think my daughter would love. However, she saw a show on travel channel that featured AKL and flipped out. She does not know we are going so I keep telling her "maybe we can go someday but not til baby brother is older." Anyway, after she saw that show I called about upgrading to AKL and priced the upgrade. Could afford the std room but not the savannah view which is what she saw on tv. Would it be worth the upgrade with no animal view? About $450 more. I'm leaning to just staying put, I think the RR will be plenty "magical" for her and there doesnt seem to be much difference with transportation issues (as good or better from POR with boat to DTD?). Just wanting opinions, other pros/cons that I havent mentioned.

 

[minnie mum]

I think that staying put for now is probably a good idea, since this won't be a once in a lifetime trip. Might be a good idea to save something special for a future trip.

 

[pixie08]

Yes! AKL is such an amazing resort. i have stayed at POR and then AKL many times and there absolutely no comparison savannah view or not. You can see the savannah from many public areas in the hotel. For $400 to upgrade to a deluxe I would go with it.

 

[sadossey]

Ok... 1 stay, 1 go... Keep em coming.

 

[mickeynut1]

We've never stayed at POR, but we loved AKL. The savannah view rooms are great as you can sit on your balcony watching the animals roam around, but we've also had a pool view room which I thought was just as nice. We had a great view of the pool and our room was located close to the lobby and was very convenient to the elevator to go down to the pool and Mara for quick CS meals. I was going to book a standard room since savannah view wasn't available, but the pool view was only $10 more a night, so I went with that....and the room/view was great. So I think you can still have a great stay at AKL even without staying in a savannah view room. With all of that said, I think it would be worth the upgrade, but I'm sure you will have a magical trip if you stayed at POR as the royal rooms look great .

 

[Sue M]

I think she would love the Princess rooms at POR. It;s our fav moderate. I'd request Oak Manor location.

Hard to say of the upgrade to AKL will be worth it, without a savanna view. She's only 5, so will prob. be thrilled to stay anywhere at WDW. I'd be inclined to stay with the princess room. POR is a wonderful resort, so beautiful. They also have Horse & Carriage rides there which may be fun for her. A boat to DTD, and fun evening entertainment in the lounge. Also night time movies on the lawn of Oak Manor.

 

[jc040404]

Have you shown your daughter pics/videos of POR? I recently had the exact issue you do. It really wasn't much more to go from the RGR at POR to AKL, so I considered it for our "big" trip of the year. We were looking at pool view, but ultimately decided to stay with POR. It's really a wonderful resort, and my favorite (so far!) of those we've tried at WDW. I think she'll love it and you could put that 450 towards other activities.

 

[Singinglizzie]

I have stayed in both the Savannah view rooms and the standard rooms and had great trips both times. Of course the Savannah view room is great, nothing like waking up and opening your window and seeing Giraffes, but that greatness also comes with a bigger price tag. There are plenty of viewing spots to watch the animals and most likely you will be spending time at the parks, so I'd say go to AKL and stay standard, since that's in your price range. I absolutely love AKL - the attention to detail, the animals, the themeing, it's really my happy spot. It's the one resort I would stay at, if I wan't going to any of the parks! POR is nice (I have been there too) but AKL IMHO is just a special place. You truly feel like you are on a safari. Ok, I'll stop gushing now.

 

[sndral]

I suspect your daughter fell in love with a room w/ animals outside the balcony and not AKL as a whole. I suspect that it was the animals that sparked her imagination, not the resort as a whole. It's a lovely resort, but, in a room with roofs or road outside the balcony rather than the giraffes she probably saw, the wow factor will be gone - so save the $450 and spend part of it on experiences you know will wow.
I suggest that you book lunch at Sanaa in AKL's Kidani - it has a wall of windows on the sunset savannah and you eat right next to the animals. And then book lunch or dinner @ Boma, the buffet in Jambo @ AKL, and arrive early/stay late and visit the public viewing areas( if dark including the night vision goggles out by the pool.)
Plan to spend some time in AK walking the gorilla and the tiger trails in addition to the safari ride.
What about a meal at the Coral Reef - ask to wait until you can be seated right next to the aquarium window and eat next to a wall of fish swimming by.
BTW, the princess buffet in Norway is great for little girls because you get a lot of princesses visiting your table likewise the breakfast buffet at 1900 park faire in the Grand Floridian has a bazillion princesses roaming around.

 

[Dsnygrl1205]

AKL is our favorite resort! Like others have said there are so many viewing spots around the resort you don't really need the savannah view room. We book standard when we stay there but have been upgraded to SV on one occasion. That was a nice surprise but in no way expected. POR is beautiful but nothing compares to walking into the lobby at AKL. It gives me goosebumps.

 

[rentayenta]

We've stayed a both POR and AKV and there really is no comparison of the two resorts. AKV is a beautiful destination in and of itself. POR is a nice resort but on a lower scale. We didn't stay in the new royal rooms but even from the pics I've seen, the two don't compare. We had great visits at both resorts but we much preferred AKV. The pools are amazing and the theme is stellar.

 

[chalee94]

one downside to AKL is that it is kind of a long bus trip to MK. i don't know if i'd recommend AKL for a trip with a lot of MK time.

i'd agree that you should at least go to the AKL for a meal (or even just to check out the animals on the savanna). it's a beautiful resort and worth checking out if you have a little extra time.

 

[akl-fan]

I would not let standard view put you off going to AKL. There are plenty of viewing areas and the pool area is fabulous. It is way out of the league of POR imo.

 

[lucyem]

The more I plan on staying in the resort the better the resort I am willing to pay for. The less time in the room the less I want to spend. With little ones who need naps I would be more inclined to go to AKL because I know I would be spending more time at the resort. Also consider what the resort has to offer. With little ones it is nice to come back to the resort and stay put and not have to get back on a bus. There is a lot to do and see there for kids and lots of food options.

 

[pamkat1820]

Our daughter's first trip we did the same and upgraded from CBR to AKL for the exact same reason. She was 3 1/2 at the time. I was a great trip, we loved the look of the resort, BUT she never talks about the resort with the animals outside her window. (she does talk about the adult that pooped in the pool, YES! nasty) Personally I think the magic of any of the disney resorts is wonderful.
This trip we are staying at POR in a RR room. She has no idea about the room. the traveling to and from AKL was long to the parks. and you have the same option with POR, personally I would go with what would suit your pocket more. Spend your saving on dinner or lunch at AKL. There is a lot to do at POR for kids. We are traveling April17-24 we can give you a review.

 

[sadossey]

Thanks for all the input. After reading all the advice I had just about decided on upgrading but I called and they said AKL now had no availability. I called about a week ago and got the price for upgrade and now they say AKL is booked solid. However, I put in our dates on the website and it seemd like they had all types available, dont see how that could be. Anyway, just decided to stay at POR. Being our first trip I think we will be happy anywhere, especially with the RGR.