Which one BC, BW, AKL

[pens4821]

I am debating a split stay (did this in January at CR) and was wondering others opinions. 5 adults one 7 year old. Two BC standard and a kidani AKL savannah villa are about the same price (just using random dates from this year), while two BW water view rooms would be a bit more.

I'm not big on the looks of the BW and BC rooms, but love the look of the AKL rooms. BC view wouldn't be good, but my nephew loves to swim and I've read they have an amazing pool. It seems like it's so close to epcot so is it a better view of illuminations than BW?

Don't know much about BW pool, but would LOVE the location at night. Would be nice for a couple of us to walk to one of the nearby places for a few drinks at night (but will we be up for it after a day in the parks). Not too many disney hotels offer this so close. We haven't been on the boardwalk, but I love boardwalks and think it'd be great for a stroll. What's the pool like?

AKL rooms look the the best, and we could have a savannah view. However, how much will we really be there to watch for animals. Not like we will see them at night. Would also be nice to have washer dryer.

If you've stayed at any (or better yet all three) what's your opinions? They seem to have plus minuses to me. For me AKL has nicest rooms, BC has best pool, and BW has best relaxing nightlife/dining options.

 

[jupers]

Your assessment of these 3 resorts is right on. I have stayed at all 3 as a DVC member. I found AKV extremely relaxing, but we had a car. If I was strictly using Disney transport then BC or BW is the place to be. The pool at BC is amazing as it appears...And BW is awesome...I'm trying to make the same decision for our next trip and can't decide!! Good Luck!

 

[Wood Nymph]

The location of the BC and BW can't be beat. It is great to be able to walk into Epcot and HS. There are a lot of entertainment and dining options. The whole area is beautiful. The AKL is very isolated and you have to take a bus everywhere. Even though the rooms may look better to you at AKL, how much will that really matter in the long run?

 

[NicoleLarson]

I am debating a split stay (did this in January at CR) and was wondering others opinions. 5 adults one 7 year old. Two BC standard and a kidani AKL savannah villa are about the same price (just using random dates from this year), while two BW water view rooms would be a bit more.

I'm not big on the looks of the BW and BC rooms, but love the look of the AKL rooms. BC view wouldn't be good, but my nephew loves to swim and I've read they have an amazing pool. It seems like it's so close to epcot so is it a better view of illuminations than BW?

Don't know much about BW pool, but would LOVE the location at night. Would be nice for a couple of us to walk to one of the nearby places for a few drinks at night (but will we be up for it after a day in the parks). Not too many disney hotels offer this so close. We haven't been on the boardwalk, but I love boardwalks and think it'd be great for a stroll. What's the pool like?

AKL rooms look the the best, and we could have a savannah view. However, how much will we really be there to watch for animals. Not like we will see them at night. Would also be nice to have washer dryer.

If you've stayed at any (or better yet all three) what's your opinions? They seem to have plus minuses to me. For me AKL has nicest rooms, BC has best pool, and BW has best relaxing nightlife/dining options.

I too have stayed at all of these. First off, how do you feel about clowns? The BW pool has a scary clown face that is the bottom of the slide, worse yet, the eyes glow at night! Other than that the location can't be beat. BC/YC has a great pool and you are very close to the BW, so it would be very easy to enjoy all that is going on there. I personally love AKL and you can see the animals at night. However, I'm 99% sure you're over capacity for a 1 bedroom. There's a king, pull out and sleeping chair. So with 6 and one of them not being under 3, that's not an option. If you are referring to a 2 bedroom then I would pick akl, hands down. The pool at kidani is great as well. Just word of the wise this may cause you to buy into DVC! . Oh and p.s. IMO you can see illuminations better from BW

 

[lovin'fl]

Stayed at all 3, and they are the best 3 resorts at WDW IMO, as a DVC member and BC is the very best (mostly for location and size of the resort). It is a quick shot to/from Epcot and has that great pool...plus you can easily walk over to BW for the nightlife. And I like that it's a smaller resort...BW and Kidani have long long hallways to get to your room. I will say, for resort stay only, that AKV is my very fave. The decor and the animals are wonderful as is the 3 dining venues. But there is also plenty of dining choices in the BC/BW area.

Having said that, we chose to buy BWV points instead of BCV points and that was solely because we could save points by booking a standard view villa (cheaper than BC's villas). Can't go wrong with any of the 3 but we'd lean towards BC if it were us.

 

[kapoof]

Our favorite would be the bwi...we loved the pool and it was never too busy. Akl is very nice and themed very uniquely but in your case I would lean towards the bc...the pool is very big and would entertain your nephew. The resort itself is wonderful as well. Love all three actually.

 

[pens4821]

Thank you all for your thoughts on the resorts. We're just in the preliminary planning stages, so there will be alot of back and forth I'm sure.