Which hotel would you choose? WL, AKL or POR

[lillykat]

Trying to decide where we want to stay for our 2013 trip. Leaning towards August of 2013 but not ruling out the Spring of 2013. We have 2 girls who will turn turn 4 and 6 - late spring early summer. We are leaning towards these three hotels - but can't decide which one would be best. Last 2 trips were at the Poly (because we had 2 under 3 and wanted the monorail for convenience) - the 2 trips before that DH and I stayed pre children at the AKL. I have also stayed in the past with family at CBR.

We have narrowed it down to AKL (standard view), WL (standard view?) or POR Royal Guest rooms. We have visited all three resorts to drive around or walk around when we had a car on previous trips. So we are vaguely familiar with their theme/layout etc. I think the girls would love all three, especially the princess rooms, or the animals but you can't beat the location of the WL to the MK. So we need some help from the experts.

We spend most of our time at MK and EPCOT but also really enjoy AK. We only spend one morning at HS. We would mostly eat TS at MK or EPCOT for dinners (but we would add one TS meal if we stayed at AKL or WL - Boma or WC).

DH and I loved the AKL but we had savannah view rooms the past 2 trips (not in our budget this trip). We also also had a rental car so we only used the buses here and there - no car this trip.

These are our concerns. Not in any particular order:

1) ease of transportation - we will still have a double or two umbrella strollers with us. I have read that all three have different transportation issues (AKL - more crowded buses since we stayed last before the villas); POR very spread out - buses make a lot of stops and sometimes share with POFQ?; WL buses are shared? (I remember the poly shared with the contemp) - boat doesn't run when it rains - we might go in August so that might be an issue? - Can you roll your stroller onto the boats at WL like you can the ferry to the TTC from the MK?

2) Better pool? Kids Amenities?

POR the royal guest rooms look adorable for the girls who are princess lovers but I'm not sure I like that the hotel is so spread out and the theme quite as much as the other 2 hotels - but - the price is also attractive.

If you stayed at all three or 2 or more - can you tell me how they compared?

Please help - I have read up on all three and would love to save the money and stay at POR royal guest rooms but not sure we would enjoy it as much as WL or AKL. Also when I price it out for this year - with the discounts there isn't a huge price difference. I would guess there will eventually be some kind of discount next year.

TIA!

 

[spiceycat]

everyone has different tastes - that say would go with WL. you won't have your own transportation and your main parks are Epcot and MK.

all the resorts (except Pop and AOA for now) share with other resorts or their own - POR has 4 bus stops plus POFQ for 5. Jambo House (akL) and Kidani (akv) are far enough apart when riding the bus - so it feels more spread out than it is.

don't remember who WL shares with - it could be Polyn, GF, CR/BLT or FW - so would still stay with it.

now POR is definitely cute with the princess rooms - but the transportation bus only - might be too much getting on and off buses.

same for AKL.

would go with 2 strollers vs one double - getting it on and off the buses can be problem if your strollers is too big.

 

[Planogirl]

This is a nice decision because you can't go wrong. All three resorts are nice.

I love AKL and I'd say POR for those special rooms but I do agree that the location of WL might be nice. Plus you have Fort Wilderness right there too.

As for kid friendly, I can only judge by mine. In that case, I'd say that they would all work.

 

[litlpixie]

Having stayed at all 3, I figured I'd chime in, although I'll admit I'm biased. POR is our fave. Totally worth the price, beautiful place and we love the boat to DTD. I've stayed there 6 times in the last 10 years, I have not once had a problem with the buses. However, as much as I love it, I would always request a building as close to the main house as possible w/out paying for preferred The Royal Rooms are on the other side of the bridge and a little bit of a walk away-not too bad-but in AUGUST, may be kind of a pain especially w/ little ones.

AKL- Standard view, you said? I wouldnt bother. Go to AK to see the animals, cuz the only ones you'll see at the resort are in the public viewing areas anyway.

WL- Not my favorite resort, but I live at the foothills of the Adirondacks, so the theming isnt a big deal for me. The boats nice, I'll give it that. Smaller FC than POR though...and dont forget at POR you can take the kids over to the French Quarter to swim in Dabloon Lagoon!!

Happy Planning!

 

[mickeynut1]

We've never stayed at POR, but have stayed at both WL and AKL and both are awesome resorts. With that said, WL would be our choice as we love the MK area and having the boat for alternate transportation is nice. Plus it's convenient taking the boat to the CR where you can hop on the monorail to visit, shop, and dine at the Poly and GF. But in all honesty, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. Good luck deciding and happy planning .

 

[Sue M]

I've stayed at all 3 and all are great resorts, but with young ones, I'd agree, WL would be the way to go. Benefit of having everything under one roof, one main bus stop, and boat to MK.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I've also stayed at all three and vote for the WL.

 

[MagicalMammi]

Good Luck (Personally I would go in the spring) just cause of the heat and since there are less people at Disney at that time (at least when we went)

 

[KatMark]

We've only stayed at one of your three -- AKL, and we would choose it above almost any resort at Disney. POR would be our choice of a moderate if our own moderate were not available. WL holds no appeal to me for a number of reasons. I would go with AKL or POR.

 

[elaw]

I've stayed at all 3 and all are great resorts, but with young ones, I'd agree, WL would be the way to go. Benefit of having everything under one roof, one main bus stop, and boat to MK.

I've also stayed at all 3 ... multiple times and rank them as follows:

1) WL
2) AKL
3) POR

 

[stephgles]

We are bias to WL. I love the boat ride to MK. We also take the boat to either MK or CR to get the monorail to main transportation center and get the monorail to Epcot. My daughter loves the bunk beds at the WL.

 

[Zanda]

I don't think you will go wrong with any of the resorts. However, our choice is usually WL especially when the children were young. The various transportation modes helped greatly. Now that they are older, and have tried other resorts the children still favor WL for the resort and transportation. Good luck on your decision, and have a great trip.

 

[tinkmom76]

I have stayed at all 3 and I would choose WL. I really like AKL but with a small child I prefer WL because of its location to MK. WL is also being refurbished this year so its like staying in a brand new room. We just got back from staying in a refurbished room there and are going back in December.

 

[ilovezach33]

I don't know if you've thought about this yet - but maybe you could rent DVC. You could get an Animal Kingdom Villa - Savannah view for 123 points a week. There is a verified website that sells them for $13 per point, although some people on the boards sell for $10-$12 per point.
123 x 13 = 1599. So it would cost $1599 for a studio villa with a savannah view.

Just a thought! Aside from that, I think POR is lovely and I'm sure your girls would love the princess rooms!

Have a good trip!

 

[pixarmom]

We've stayed at AKL, WL and POFQ (so close, but not quite!) And I've been staying at Poly since childhood. I'd choose Poly in a minute over all the rest, but if the choices are AKL, WL and POR, I'd rank them as follows:

1) WL - The location is great for small kids if you're not on the monorail, and the photos of the renovated rooms look great. The lobby is beautiful and I love the theming. We don't like QS, but far prefer Roaring Forks over the Mara. While there are buses involved, at least you can boat to MK, which is a HUGE benefit. If you can't walk or monorail, that boat ride in the early morning or late in the day is hard to beat. So peaceful!

2) AKL - Beautiful lobby, great pools and nice rooms (although the WL rooms may be better after the renovation.) We LOVE Jiko and Sanaa, but I'm not sure that factor is significant enough.

3) POR - Again, we've only stayed at POFQ, but the transportation situation involved many stops at POR and in the end, it was just too much bus time for us. POFQ is my favorite of the mods so far (also stayed at CSR and CBR) but the extra cost of WL or AKL would absolutely be worth it to me in the future.

Good luck with your decision!!!

 

[lillykat]

Thank you for all of the suggestions I will show rhem to DH. I didn't realize they did rehab to WL recently. That is good to know. Where can I find pics of the refurb rooms. AKL- has that been refurbed recently? We were there last in 2004. To an above poster not sure that spring is a better option b/c we would have to go spring or feb break with large crowds.

 

[karly05]

For pics of the refurbed rooms at WL, check out the first page of the big "Disney's WILDERNESS LODGE and VILLAS Information" thread on this board. It has info on the current refurb and links to posts with photos farther into the thread.

 

[lillykat]

Thank you! The problem is they are all great. Do you think AKL will be rehabbed soon? WL will be done by this summer right? You would think I would have an easier choice but all three look great. Hard choice.