What would you do?

[KatMark]

Okay, in trying to plan our next trip, we've decided to do as we did this year. Disney for 5 days and then Marco Island. Of course, we've already booked at the CSR as we love it there. I've always wanted to stay at AKL, but with only a five night stay, I don't want to do a split stay. I can get the AKL with a savannah view for only $440 more for the entire five nights. Or as a good friend here on the DIS suggested, I could do AKL for three nights, go to Marco Island, then end my trip at Disney with three nights at the CSR. So what do you guys think?

 

[dischic89]

I love CSR too... but for our next trip we decided to do AKL (with the help of a 40% off pin!). I would just stick with AKL for five nights. I would rather just upack and really unwind for five nights then have to leave after three. And there is sooo much to do at AKL that I really don't think three nights will be enough. Hope this helps!

 

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Well, you know my choice for sure. I would love to start my vacay at Disney, go relax and return for the fun. I would have a hard time being that close on the way home and not going to the World. It is a pain with the constant pack/unpack but I feel it to be worth it.

Ginny

 

[snykymom]

I love CSR, and I would certainly vote for it if the $440 is an issue for you. But if you can swing the money, I think you'd regret not trying something else. I love CSR, too, but really enjoyed my time at AKL, and I didn't even have a savannah view! CSR will continue to be here for you. Variety is the spice of life! (Of course, to me personally, $440 is more than I'd be willing to spend; that's why I didn't do savannah view before!)

If you do go to AKL, don't skimp. Be sure to try Mara, Boma and Jiko. And do the restaurant tour - we didn't do Boma because we don't do buffets, but got to do a tasting there.

 

[rie'smom]

Kat, I voted for option #3. You can start off with the excitement of a new resort, AKL< relax at Marco, and then go home to CSR. You know that you love CSR, this way just in case you and Mark do not fall in love with AKL, you will be able to stay at your sure thing resort! For us, it isn't a Disney trip unless we spend a couple of nights "at home."

 

[that's nice]

This is a tough one. I think you have stayed at AKL before... or was it you always wanted to stay there???? Marco is about a 4 hour drive right? Would you be traveling back to Orlando for your flight home? If you wouldn't mind a split stay, I'm going to vote for the split. That way you get to experience AKL and go home to CSR too!

Hurray for the savanna view too!!!!

 

[dizneeat]

Wow Kathy, that's a tough one!
I am torn between option 2 - the 5 night AKL and option 3 - the 3 night CSR and 3 nights AKL.
My thoughts - you are going to love AKL! We have stayed there twice and it has that WOW factor! There is A LOT to see and do, so if it is not that much more I would go for it.
On the other hand option 3 gives you the best of both worlds - a taste of AKL and going back "home" to CSR!
In the end I voted for option 3 - because I LOVE AKL and because it feels so good to drive through the gates of your favourite resort! (Plus it is one more night at WDW! )

 

[HsvTeacher]

I voted for staying at AKL, then heading to Marco Island.

In May, we went to Disney for a week, then went to Vero Beach for a few days. That was the BEST trip ever! We were worn out from going, going, going at Disney, and it was pure heaven to sit on the beach and soak up the sun. We were so relaxed when we made it back home!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I voted for the three part option! Start with the new resort you have always wanted to try, then go to Marco and relax, then come back and finish the vacation off "at home". To me, that sounds totally perfect and the best of both worlds as far as the WDW portion(s) is concerned.

I can't wait to hear what you decide upon!

 

[kaffinito]

Well it's a lot of packing, unpacking and moving but I voted for AKL - Marco - CSR. CSR is your "home" so it's appropriate for you to end your trip there.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I voted for option three. Start with a new resort (ya'll haven't stayed there before have you?), go relax at Marco Island and end the trip at your favorite CSR!

 

[Sorcerer Fan]

I also voted option 3.
Reasons:
1) It's cheaper
2) If you really don't like AKL, you're not "stuck" the whole time
3) You get to begin and end your trip at Disney, and "home"

 

[LuvvsMickey]

Guess which one I voted?

 

[Deb & Bill]

Aha, another Marco fan. This year we did one night at SSR, then five nights at Marco, then 9 nights at BCV. Last year we did a week at OKW, then a week at Marco, then stopped back at WDW for lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch before heading on home. Our first trip to Marco, we did five nights at Marco, then a week at BCV.

Where are you staying at Marco?

 

[chocovrdmicears]

I voted for 5 days at AKL then off to relax at Marco Island!

I know how much you love CSR...but I truly think(hope!) you are going to LOVE AKL...and to get a full appreciation for the resort you should spend 5 days there... Then I would head to Marco to relax for the post-Disney part of your vacation.

Doing the 3-Marco-3 seems a little too much traveling around to me...but hey! It's your vacation...and you would get to experiece something new, and something you love...well that didn't help much, did it?

 

[KatMark]

Aha, another Marco fan. This year we did one night at SSR, then five nights at Marco, then 9 nights at BCV. Last year we did a week at OKW, then a week at Marco, then stopped back at WDW for lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch before heading on home. Our first trip to Marco, we did five nights at Marco, then a week at BCV.

Where are you staying at Marco?

A good friend of ours (a lawyer I work with) has a two bedroom condo at Eagle Cay that we spent 6 days at last month. We fell in love with seeing the dolphins and the manatee and looking out at the water every morning. Now, I need hubby to retire so we can move there permanently.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I like the idea of the AKL in the beginning, come to Marco to see me and have lunch and bring me goodies and tell me all about your trip and then go back to CSR...it will feel like 3 vacations in one.

 

[KatMark]

I like the idea of the AKL in the beginning, come to Marco to see me and have lunch and bring me goodies and tell me all about your trip and then go back to CSR...it will feel like 3 vacations in one.

And you could come back with us to CSR because by the time we got there it would be time for Food&Wine.

 

[MickeyNicki]

And you could come back with us to CSR because by the time we got there it would be time for Food&Wine.

Ooh I like that idea....sounds perfect, book it Dan-O

 

[KatMark]

Thanks everyone who has voted and given your thoughts and comments so far. Keep them coming.