WL, AKL, or DVC rental??? Help!

[Keara'sMom]

Hi all,
Well, my dh yesterday said "go for it" for a January WDW trip for our family of 3 (me, dh, and dd10)! I love to plan, but I'm feeling a little stressed about this trip and am seeking advice from the best source on the web--the dis!!

Here's the story: we've been several times and had the best time when we stayed at WL in a woodsview room with bunk beds (we've also stayed at the Poly, Pop, and BWV), so we're leaning that way again. If I can rent points for a studio at VWL, though, it'd be much cheaper, but we'd miss the towel animals, etc. That said, I've always had a curiousity about staying in a savannah view room at AKL. My only concern there would be the distance from the parks. What do you all think? Would we love AKL so much that the distance wouldn't bother us?

Thanks for the help!!!
Leslie

 

[spiceycat]

you daughter is old enough so that MK is not a must.

so might go with the new (brand new just opened in July) AKV. these are pretty wonderful. even the studio have the flat screen TV and DVD.

don't know about savannah views - some are great - others just aren't.

 

[iluveeyore]

We love our DVC, but for DH's 40th we just spent a few days two weeks ago at the AKL for the first time and loved it. We couldn't get any of the AKV studios, but got a great AP rate. We only had standard view room, but we were still able to see plenty of animals (the night vision viewing was neat!). They have bunk bed rooms available there as well for your DD. And she would love being so close to AK - my DD is 12 and it's her favourite park (mine too!). We went to MK and the buses come often (didn't wait more than 10 minutes for any park) - quick drive, took about 15 minutes, but didn't feel like it. I found AKL to be closer than WL to the other parks, especially Epcot and MGM.
They have lots to do at the AKL your DD would enjoy as well. We didn't spend a lot of time at the resort as the weather was gorgeous and we were enjoying the Food & Wine Festival, but there was a list of daily activities, and we did try the night vision viewing.
Try it - you'll love it!

 

[Deb & Bill]

When do you plan to go in January? That could be a big factor in renting a DVC reservation. The earlier part of the month could be impossible.

 

[Keara'sMom]

Thanks, Deb and Bill! I have someone looking into DVC availability, but I'm having my doubts, too. I guess, then, we need to decide between AKL (which is where I'm leaning since we've never stayed there) or WL, which we love. I asked my dd10 today, after hearing from those of you with kids this age, and she said she really didn't care! She does want to go to MK, though, as MK and EPCOT are her favs. Ahhhh, choices!

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thanks, Deb and Bill! I have someone looking into DVC availability, but I'm having my doubts, too. I guess, then, we need to decide between AKL (which is where I'm leaning since we've never stayed there) or WL, which we love. I asked my dd10 today, after hearing from those of you with kids this age, and she said she really didn't care! She does want to go to MK, though, as MK and EPCOT are her favs. Ahhhh, choices!

We're not fans of AKL, stayed once and that was enough. Just too far from the glitz and glamour of the World. At night its the lodge and thats it unless you bus to another group of resorts. We had Savannah, saw only a few animals, not a balcony I wanted to spend alot of time on.

WL, is a favorite of ours, just on location only, throw in the price and FW is a favorite haunt of ours reachable by boat and hooking up to the monorail via a boat to CR another plus. Seems to me your daughter leans in the direction of WL with the easy access to the MK and just a boat and monorail ride to EPCOT. Last September we never went to AK, not a park we like and we prefer MK and EPCOT too. When staying at WL, the fireworks from the MK are visible by boating to the monorail loop resorts or just the really high ones can be seen from the WL, plus we do enjoy the EWP just about every night from the beach. We go off season and the pool and hot tubs are real nice late evening.