Which would you do? CSR or AKL?

[Buzz'sBetterHalf]

Save your money and go with CSR.

 

[stepdisney]

I think we should start a club. The CSR, AKL resort changers club!! I, too, started with AKL, switched to CSR to save money but switched back to AKL on Monday. I've always wanted to stay at AKL, and this year I am celebrating a special occasion so my DH said "Do It" and I did. I think you should stay where you've always wanted to stay if you can. The hardest part is that I fell in love with CSR while doing research so I know I'll stay there eventually, just not this time. I agree that you'd be thinking "I wish I'd chosen AKL" even if everything is perfect at CSR.

 

[Lilolvr]

CSR! Save the money for other things.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Akl!

 

[LoraJ]

You've had your heart set on AKL, that's where you should stay. I'd love to stay there someday.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I love CSR, but I think that you've had your heart set on AKL for this long and you'd be disappointed in any other resort.

Check out the DIS front page, in that top box where the current news is. I think today's headline was a resort discount for Aug/Sept. Check it out - maybe you can save a little $$!

 

[bytheblood]

AKL is a beautiful resort. I am not impressed with CSR at all. It is not on my list to go back.

I would be torn in the decision to save money with raising gas and grocery prices (cost of living period) and staying some place nice that I would really enjoy.

If I were making your decision, I would spend the extra $60 or so a night and stay at AKL. Go with your heart and gut. You might be kicking yourself in the pants later.

PS - I was booked for the WL last December and switched to the BC bc of the discount code. When we arrived at the WL for lunch at WCC, I was VERY disappointed that I changed. Always go with your first instinct.

 

[loco4dis]

I just got back from a week at CSR last night! I posted a review on this board, so look for it. Your post got my attention because I have always wanted to stay at AKL. Since we had a rental car, we drove over to AKL yesterday after we checked out of CSR to check it out. I am so glad we did that because I did not like AKL at all! After CSR, it felt like a real step down. I know that will shock people, but it was dark, unimpressive, and so, so crowded. We could hardly get into the lobby there we so many people standing around. People (and tons of kids) were running around looking for animals, and there weren't any. The pool — which you have to take an elevator down to — was small, with green, almost slimy looking water.

CSR is a tropical paradise, particularly if it's just you and your DH. It's worth it alone for the walks you'll take around the lake. The Maya Grill at CSR is also very romantic, and the Pepper Market is so peaceful compared to other counter service restaurants. I have totally lost my "AKL envy" after that visit and would never, ever pick that over CSR. Not in a million years. I have also stayed at Wilderness Lodge and if you're looking for a deluxe, I would pick that any day of the year over AKL. AKL was just yuck, yuck, yuck.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I said go for the AKL....DH has a very high stress time comsuming career and he lives for our vacations, I would feel like I cheated him out of a nice relaxing vacation if I pulled a switcheroo on him

 

[Disney8704]

The reason why its so dark in there is because of the themeing. They made it that way on purpose. As for all the people, I think you might be exagerating a little. First off, about 90% of WDW guests during the day are at the parks. 2nd, how do you know that all those people werent there for Boma or Mara. And most of those people were probably in the lobby because they stayed there. Besides you cant judge a resort because theres sooooooo many people around. Its summer time. Its gonna be busy. Cant handle crowds? Dont go during the summer. As for the pool, I to have heard the same thing. It was brought up on the AKL thread and the people on there said its just the way it looks. Its really not slimy or the water is green. Its just the way they did the pool. So all those negative points you just told me doesnt mean anything to me. I've done all the research on AKL that I can do. I've learned everything I need to know about AKL. Next time you go to Disney try to have more of an open mind and go back to AKL for another visit. Try to see it a different light. Go during mid after noon when most people are at the parks. The only place thats open for meals would be Mara and generally most people who eat the Mara are the ones who are staying there.

As for choosing resorts, DH refuses to let me change my mind so he told me to not worry about it and stay with AKL. He said that if I wanted to do CSR, we should have booked that in the 1st place. So AKL it is! I will give a report of my stay with pics when we get back. That way if anyone has doubts about AKL, they can read it and decide for themselves.

I just got back from a week at CSR last night! I posted a review on this board, so look for it. Your post got my attention because I have always wanted to stay at AKL. Since we had a rental car, we drove over to AKL yesterday after we checked out of CSR to check it out. I am so glad we did that because I did not like AKL at all! After CSR, it felt like a real step down. I know that will shock people, but it was dark, unimpressive, and so, so crowded. We could hardly get into the lobby there we so many people standing around. People (and tons of kids) were running around looking for animals, and there weren't any. The pool — which you have to take an elevator down to — was small, with green, almost slimy looking water.

CSR is a tropical paradise, particularly if it's just you and your DH. It's worth it alone for the walks you'll take around the lake. The Maya Grill at CSR is also very romantic, and the Pepper Market is so peaceful compared to other counter service restaurants. I have totally lost my "AKL envy" after that visit and would never, ever pick that over CSR. Not in a million years. I have also stayed at Wilderness Lodge and if you're looking for a deluxe, I would pick that any day of the year over AKL. AKL was just yuck, yuck, yuck.

 

[loco4dis]

The reason why its so dark in there is because of the themeing. They made it that way on purpose. As for all the people, I think you might be exagerating a little. First off, about 90% of WDW guests during the day are at the parks. 2nd, how do you know that all those people werent there for Boma or Mara. And most of those people were probably in the lobby because they stayed there. Besides you cant judge a resort because theres sooooooo many people around. Its summer time. Its gonna be busy. Cant handle crowds? Dont go during the summer. As for the pool, I to have heard the same thing. It was brought up on the AKL thread and the people on there said its just the way it looks. Its really not slimy or the water is green. Its just the way they did the pool. So all those negative points you just told me doesnt mean anything to me. I've done all the research on AKL that I can do. I've learned everything I need to know about AKL. Next time you go to Disney try to have more of an open mind and go back to AKL for another visit. Try to see it a different light. Go during mid after noon when most people are at the parks. The only place thats open for meals would be Mara and generally most people who eat the Mara are the ones who are staying there.

As for choosing resorts, DH refuses to let me change my mind so he told me to not worry about it and stay with AKL. He said that if I wanted to do CSR, we should have booked that in the 1st place. So AKL it is! I will give a report of my stay with pics when we get back. That way if anyone has doubts about AKL, they can read it and decide for themselves.

Good grief, you asked for opinions and I gave mine. I thought that's what you wanted, and I felt I had a rather current opinion to give. You asked "what do you think?" and I told you in as much detail as I could. I thought it was what you wanted, but you attacked me. What's up with that?

 

[Disney8704]

Didnt mean to come off as an attack. Sorry. Not sure where in my post I attacked you...Im just telling you that your points arent valid and gave you the reasons and just told you that you should go back to AKL one more time to give it another shot. You never know. You might go back there next time and you might see it in a whole different light.

Good grief, you asked for opinions and I gave mine. I thought that's what you wanted, and I felt I had a rather current opinion to give. You asked "what do you think?" and I told you in as much detail as I could. I thought it was what you wanted, but you attacked me. What's up with that?

 

[ukdisneydave]

I've stayed at AKL & this year will be my first time at CSR!

We really enjoyed AKL & had Savannah view, the kids (& me!) enjoyed waking up to giraffes outside our bedroom window.

I'm hoping CSR will live up to expectations as it does tend to get some mixed reviews.

The food at AKL is great, I'd recommend both restaurants & the food court to try some African flavours.

 

[DC_Tink]

This is my first time posting, but since I was in a similar situation, I thought I would respond. I am heading to WDW from July 27 - Aug 2 with my husband and my 2 teenage brothers. We originally booked a room at CSR and recently switched to AKL. I have been dying to stay at AKL for some time now. The thing that made me change was that it was only $164.20 to switch from my water view room at CSR to my standard view room at AKL, and since I was "upgrading" I wasn't charged the $50 fee. While I don't have the Savannah view at AKL, I do get to stay at there and that is good enough for me. I think you have to decide how how much you want to stay at AKL and what works for your budget. If you are ok without a Savannah view room, then the price difference from AKL and CSR isn't bad.

 

[KatMark]

I've always wanted to try the AKL and my DH offered it to me for our special anniversary this year but I chose to stay with the CSR as I am very happy there. My best male friend just came back from Disney and stayed at AKL and personally he hated the themeing...he said it was too dark for his taste. He did, however, enjoy sitting on his balcony every day and watching the animals. But he said he would not pay to stay there again.

 

[stepdisney]

The water is not green. The pool is painted to give the water the natural look of a watering hole. It is almost tropical. There are pictures on the AKL site where children are playing in crystal clear water. Someone took a picture from under water. AKL has one of the most beautiful pool areas on Disney property.

 

[Brer Shay]

I see it this way:
1 - The trip is already paid in full
2 - You won't have a problem saving the cash for other spending
3 - You've waited five years through pretty rough circumstances to do this.
4 - DH said to stay where you are

STAY AT AKL! This is a great opportunity. Enjoy it!!

 

[MomtoAlexnWilliam]

I feel your conflict and like you, have decided to keep the AKL ressies. We were originally booked at CSR then switched over due to the GREAT AAA room rate. I'm excited and second guessing myself all at once.

Have fun!!

 

[disney-super-mom]

We had 2 standard view rooms booked at AKL for our upcoming December trip using a 40% off code, but no one in my family was excited about staying there. I think they weren't excited because we weren't able to book savannah view (they didn't have any open for reservations using the discount code), and because the pool slide there is small. (Although we have two young boys who have a big pool slide high on their list of priorities. )

Soooooooo, I switched us over to CSR, and now everyone is VERY excited. Even my MIL is excited because she just thinks CSR looks so open and bright and colorful and pretty. My DH is completely ga-ga because he can get a big steak dinner for a CS credit at the Pepper Market.

DH and I did eat at Boma once, for breakfast, which we thought was wonderful, and what we saw of the resort was beautiful. I think had we been able to book savannah view rooms, we would have stayed at AKL.

I say why not?!?! Stick with AKL, put your sore, tired Disney feet up on the balcony table, and spend some nice quality time together enjoying those animals and maybe having a nice glass of wine. Ahhhhhh, a little romance.

(Although, don't get too frisky on the balcony. They have video cameras all around keeping an eye on those balconies to make sure the guests don't do anything to put the animals in jeopardy. Not that friskiness would put the animals is jeopardy, but........well, you get what I'm saying here.)