Would you split your stay AKL - WL ?

[pandora174]

Here's my dilemma & I need all of your opinions since in my house I alone am responsible for making the Disney vacation decisions. My DH is happy wherever I tell him to go as long as he's in Disney ! We have booked 8 nights at the WL, woodsview from Sat 9/11 thru Sun 9/19. We love the WL & have stayed once about 5 years ago. Now I have always wanted to stay at the AKL but not for the entire stay since I can't live without either the WL's boat to MK or the beach were you can see the light parade & the fireworks. I was thinking about splitting the stay & adding 1 more night. I was thinking of 5 nights at the WL (Fri. 9/10 thru 9/15) & then staying at the AKL (pool view) for 4 nights (9/15 - 9/19). We would be arriving around 4 pm at the WL on Fri. My question is would it be too much ? Not enough time ? Is this crazy ? I know that Disney will move the luggage from hotel to hotel but would anyone recommend this ?

Please help !

 

[Ladyhawke10]

This is a wonderful plan! AKL and WL are both deeply themed in unique ways, so you have picked two really great hotels--plus their locations are close to different parks. You could spend your first half of the vacation going to Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach a lot (or whatever you want, but those are closest to AKL--plus AKL is a destination in itself) and then spend the last half going to MK and taking the monorail (if you took the boat to MK and then got on the TTC monorail) to Epcot.

Anyway, Disney does move your luggage. We usually switch hotels twice during our stays (once we switched five times--three days each at five diff. deluxe hotels--just to try all of them). It is very easy to switch, because you can check-out online, call bell services to pick up your luggage (and they will transfer it to the hotel you specify), go to a park or straight to the hotel if you choose (I usually call first from the hotel that I am leaving to see if the room is ready), check-in, and then bell services from the new hotel will bring over your bags, usually after 3 pm, when you are ready for them (usually they say 3 but we'll get them closer to 1pm). Sometimes we bring our bathing suits and have a pool day at the new resort while we are waiting for our bags. Fun. I never had any problems transferring and actually much prefer it because I like experiencing the trip from a new vantage point to the parks. 4 and 5 days at each hotel is great and you will have two very different experiences at AKL versus WL. Have fun !

 

[stinkerbelle]

We split our honeymoon between the WL and AKL (both concierge) we were 3 (or 4?) nights at WL then 7 at AKL.

the switch over was VERY easy...we checked out of WL around 8am and were in our room at AKL by 9am. (we actually had a car, so we didn't have to worry about luggage)

the ONLY problem? WL PALED in comparison to AKL. WL was beautiful and I really enjoyed that resort...however the AKL blew me away and became my favorite. (It's all a matter of opinion of course)

I think a 5/4 split is good...not rushed at all.

enjoy!

 

[bsears]

I agree, this is a great plan. Moving is really quite easy. You pack, leave your things with luggage service, go off for the day, and show up at your new hotel to find your lugage waiting.

 

[mep319]

Definately do AKL last. It is more relaxing and is simply wonderful. We split a stay once from AKL to WL and we were so disappointed in WL after being at AKL!

 

[jadedNYer]

We stayed 6 nights at AKL and then 3 at WL last summer. They moved the luggage for us and it was very smooth. I do agree with Stinkerbelle though about AKL v. WL. This time, AKL only. I would have thought that my two boys (6 and 10) would have preferred the WL but I was very wrong on that assumption.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

It was great! I wish I had booked another night @ WL. Loved it! Love AKL too. Have fun!!!

Allison

 

[sweetypie925]

I stayed at AKL for my honeymoon and loved it. I will be staying at WL this year in December. I would definately recommend AKL!

 

[palmtreegirl]

We're going that our next trip. First we're staying at the AKL, we'll also be joined by various family members during this time. Then after they all leave we're switching over to the VWL and staying on our DVC.

 

[pandora174]

I did it , thanks everyone ! I booked 5 nights at the WL (woods view) and 4 nights at AKL (pool view) ! Used Dreams Unlimited & I got the reservations made the same day ! Used the Sept code & am looking so forward to this vacation. Now if only the time could go a little faster

 

[Cameo]

We split our stay last time and now can't even think about staying more than 5 nights at one place. We felt like we had two vacations and didn't even get that "now I'm ready to go home" feeling by the end like we usually do. Our next trip we have 5 nites at WDW, a 4-nite cruise and one extra nite. We figure that we will try to stay at 3 different resorts. Someone suggested that we take our own luggage to the next hotel and check-in early in the morning. Luggage services takes your bags and stores them until your room is ready. I'm glad I checked in early because then I was more assured of getting the room I requested. Also glad that we took our own bags over, as I've heard some people have a lengthy wait for their bags if they have them transferred.

 

[RachelTori]

Originally posted by pandora174
I did it , thanks everyone ! I booked 5 nights at the WL (woods view) and 4 nights at AKL (pool view) ! Used Dreams Unlimited & I got the reservations made the same day ! Used the Sept code & am looking so forward to this vacation. Now if only the time could go a little faster

I love both AKL and WL. When we stayed at AKL, we had savannah view and it was awesome - peaceful & serene. We heard from people who had pool view that their area "could be noisy" (depending how busy the pool was). I just thought you might want to know. Since you're going in September, an upgrade probably wouldn't be a problem. Have fun!!

 

[christianweecare]

DH & I split our stay between the WL & AKL last year and will be doing the same this year. We love staying at two resorts. It makes it feel like two vacations. Go for it!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I've had a pool view room and it wasn't noisy at all--quiet actually. I think AKL is the quietest resort on property. It seems to have been built w/ a lot of insulation--maybe because it was built in the '90s. But we were on the second floor, right over the pool, and unless you left the patio door open during prime afternoon hours, it was very quiet. Even if I left the door open the sound of people playing in the pool didn't bother me. At night it was virtually silent--no problems at all. I've had deluxe and regular savannah views in addition to the pool view, and I would recommend any of them--but I found the pool view just as satisfying during our stay. It was great . The pool area is gorgeous--the prettiest onsite, in my opinion, and we could see the flamingoes from our room.