Which "Feels" the Nicest to You: RPR or Disney's AKL?

[Jalva22]

I subscribe to the theory that on a split stay, you should stay at the nicest resort last. For those who have stayed at both AKL (savannah view) and Royal Pacific at Universal, under that theory, which would you stay at last. I know they are radically differently themed. But just on your overall impression, which do you feel has the nicest feel to it?
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[damo]

I'm not a big fan of AKL. It looks to me like it is just unfinished. We spent a night there two years ago and not one of us can even remember what the room looked like, it was so unimpressive.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

That's a tough one! The entrance to AKL's lobby is just awe-inspiring the first time. It's just a bit grandiose that way, while the RPR still has some beautiful visuals while walking in.. so that's just impressions-wise.

Both hotels are beautiful and it'd be hard to figure which one is "nicer." I'd be more worried about getting spoiled with unlimited Express pass and then heading over to Disney and waiting in unlimited lines.

So if it were up to me, I'd do AKL first and then RPR.

 

[fort lauderdale dave]

enjoyed AKL savanah but wasnt crazy about the food at the hotel, love the RPR cant go wrong there

 

[gschmerl]

I agree that express access at the Universal Parks will spoil you if you go their first and then WDW. I'd do Disney first and then relax and enjoy express access.

 

[bumbershoot]

We had NO complaints at RPR, and they were so nice to us. My son lost his HP wand inside of something like 5 minutes after leaving our room (room, hall, Club lounge, hall to elevator, elevator, noticed it was gone), and as we looked for it, I went to the front desk to ask if anyone had turned it in. I went back upstairs to check the room (son and hubby had looked, but not me) and they called. A fellow guest had turned it in, and they remembered me and called immediately. Very kind.

At AKL, where we went next...we had complaints. Ended up with a credit on our room account (for one problem) AND switching rooms AND not having to leave our first room while they prepped our second room (that was for a room problem). This took quite awhile to accomplish, and we missed getting to do anything/go anywhere on our entire first full day at AKL because we wanted to be ready to switch rooms as soon as the call came in. As hubby was at the front desk the two or three times he had to be, there were LONG lines of complaints, almost all bonafide from what he could hear. IMO, that's just not right for a deluxe hotel!

 

[tink1957]

We stayed at AKV Kidani for 2 nights in May and then went to RPR for 4 nights. While it was nice seeing the animals from our balcony and having a microwave and fridge, we liked RPR better. It may have had something to do with the endless hallway that we had to walk at AKV after the parks each day ( I think we walked more to get to our room than we did in the parks )

Both of the resorts are great, you can't go wrong either way just ask for a room close to the lobby if you stay at Kidani.

 

[keishashadow]

I subscribe to the theory that on a split stay, you should stay at the nicest resort last. For those who have stayed at both AKL (savannah view) and Royal Pacific at Universal, under that theory, which would you stay at last. I know they are radically differently themed. But just on your overall impression, which do you feel has the nicest feel to it?
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AK

Just be warned it's no fun to wait in WDWs lines after enjoying the FOTL perc

Actually, I think they do share an 'exotic' vibe and the grounds are lovely at both resorts. We enjoy RPR, had substantial room issues during two different visits, it happensyet I was annoyed that management was lackadasial at best in their response and I had to contact corporate for satisfaction.

AK is amazing in that where else in Orlando can you wake up and find this outside your room? It sure makes for an enjoyable 1st cup of coffee on the balcony during your stay. The flamingos near our lounge chairs by the pool were icing on my cake.

 

[okiedokieartichoke]

AKL is a lot more expensive than RPR if you are looking to save some money. Having worked for both companies I am not at all biased in any way so I would say that both properties are top-of-the-line and you can't go wrong. However, I like RPR better You truly get that ''on vacation'' feeling!

 

[Inkmahm]

Great thread! We are doing exactly this in March. We own at AKV so we are there for a week and then moving to RPR for two nights. Sounds like we are doing it in the correct order. We've never been to Universal at all and the only reason we are staying on proerty this time is to get the FOTL benefit. If we decide we love it, we may be back in the future! But we are definitely Disney people at heart so this is a stretch for us.

 

[La2kw]

I like the lush tropical feel at RPR. AKL is nice, but way overrated and overpriced. The service at RPR is much, much better also. WDW has no idea what hotel service is supposed to be. Loews, which operates the RPR, is a hotel company and understands how to run a hotel.

 

[horseshowmom]

That's a tough one! The entrance to AKL's lobby is just awe-inspiring the first time. It's just a bit grandiose that way, while the RPR still has some beautiful visuals while walking in.. so that's just impressions-wise.

Both hotels are beautiful and it'd be hard to figure which one is "nicer." I'd be more worried about getting spoiled with unlimited Express pass and then heading over to Disney and waiting in unlimited lines.

So if it were up to me, I'd do AKL first and then RPR.

Great thread! We are doing exactly this in March. We own at AKV so we are there for a week and then moving to RPR for two nights. Sounds like we are doing it in the correct order. We've never been to Universal at all and the only reason we are staying on proerty this time is to get the FOTL benefit. If we decide we love it, we may be back in the future! But we are definitely Disney people at heart so this is a stretch for us.

I have to agree. While I have only stayed at RPH, I have been in AKL many times (we enjoy breakfast at Boma). I think the lobby at AKL is probably more impressive in a massive way, but RPH is also very beautiful (just in a different way).

I do think that the FOTL benefit makes it a better choice to put RPH last. We just got back and even though I had a house rented for the week, we booked one night at HRH (wish we had gone back to RPH after the fact because it was so serene and better suited to our tastes) just for the two days of FOTL access. My daughter and her husband stayed in the room that night while my husband and I went back to the house to stay (we had actually booked the room for 4 adults so we had 4 room keys).

 

[glocon]

We've stayed at HRH and visited friends at RPH. Stayed at AKL on the same trip. Definitely liked AKL better then either of the Uni hotels, but did like our Uni trip better overall. SO worth the $ to stay on site to get fotl access and early entry to wwohp. Also preferred access at restaurants at UO. I guess its a personal preferance for the resorts. Loved the patio at AKL, and the animals of course. Also all the activities at AKL. But the UO part of the trip (second part of the trip) was more fun, and both HRH and PBH are gorgeous resorts. Wish we were planning a trip soon. Have fun- it will be great no matter how you do it.

 

[cheshireqt]

Have actually stayed at both! Both are beautiful resorts but RPH rooms felt larger and loved the feel of the resort. At AKL the decor in the lobby is so dark it felt kind of strange walking through after coming in on a bright day. Agree about the FOTL, it would be hard to go from that perk to lines at Disney.