WWYD DVC Resort Edition

[crazywig]

Agree 1br BLT if you have the points (more space and two bathrooms). But if not, Poly. It's more convenient for mid day breaks and also so close to MK the older girls can head over on their own at night without you worrying. Being at an MK resort cannot be beat for someone's "big" trip.

 

[zackiedawg]

Not a bad problem to be having - which great resort option to pick for a Disney trip. That said, just one curious question - your 6 year old mentioned Poly being her favorite resort - how many has she stayed at or visited? Has she ever stayed at AK Lodge or visited? What about various other DVC options like Boulder Ridge or Boardwalk - has she visited those or stayed there? I ask only because you might find even more favorable point charts that can fit in a 1-bedroom, and everyone might end up really loving that resort too - or even more. Boulder Ridge has boat access to MK which can be fun. Boardwalk has walking and boat access to Epcot and DHS.

If sticking to the two you mentioned, it's a tough choice for me as I'd always prefer more space and separation, so I'd tend to want a 1-bedroom. But I would prefer Poly's location and easier proximity to at least one park...I just don't know if I'd start to feel cramped with 4 in a studio - even a larger one that has two showers.

 

[sndral]

I am going to throw a curve ball and say BLT 1 bedroom. Extra bathroom. Close to parks. Monorail. Super cool hip vibe in the rooms. Decent point chart.

The pools at BLT wouldn’t be my first choice.
I assume OP will have many future visits w/ her daughter where they can stay at the Poly - so in OP’s shoes I’d be focusing on the nieces & what I could do to make this a very special trip for them. At ages 17 & 19, I’d forward photos/ videos of a Poly studio & of the Kidani 1 br. & the grounds of both resorts & ask them which one they wanted to stay at .
I recently treated one side of my extended family to an AKV stay & then a couple of months later the other half to a stay next door to the Poly at the VGF, both groups had a blast & enjoyed their respective resorts, so either choice will be lovely. If the nieces opt for Kidani, they keep those WDW buses artic cold which is not the case w/ the monorails.

 

[DisMomNCM]

Not a bad problem to be having - which great resort option to pick for a Disney trip. That said, just one curious question - your 6 year old mentioned Poly being her favorite resort - how many has she stayed at or visited? Has she ever stayed at AK Lodge or visited? What about various other DVC options like Boulder Ridge or Boardwalk - has she visited those or stayed there? I ask only because you might find even more favorable point charts that can fit in a 1-bedroom, and everyone might end up really loving that resort too - or even more. Boulder Ridge has boat access to MK which can be fun. Boardwalk has walking and boat access to Epcot and DHS.

If sticking to the two you mentioned, it's a tough choice for me as I'd always prefer more space and separation, so I'd tend to want a 1-bedroom. But I would prefer Poly's location and easier proximity to at least one park...I just don't know if I'd start to feel cramped with 4 in a studio - even a larger one that has two showers.

My daughter has been fortunate to stay in most DVC resorts, though I am not sure she remembers AKL because it was her third birthday the last time we stayed there. The two of us are going to Disney next month and are doing a split between BWV and BRV.

The more I think about it, the more I think just sticking with the one bedroom at AKL makes the most sense. If I am truly struggling with the bus situation, we will just take a Minnie Van, but I can't imagine the transportation situation will be THAT drastically improved at the Poly when we are only spending one day at MK.

 

[DisMomNCM]

I am going to throw a curve ball and say BLT 1 bedroom. Extra bathroom. Close to parks. Monorail. Super cool hip vibe in the rooms. Decent point chart.

While I love BLT for the location, I don't think it's the unique Disney resort vibe I am looking for for these girls. That was what drew me to AKL in the first place!

 

[zackiedawg]

Sounds like a solid decision. Since your daughter has been to so many of the resorts, and sounds like you'll likely be going many more times, she'll have plenty of time for Poly, and as you said, she might have been too young to really remember or experience Kidani.

The lack of connection to any park is the one thing I dislike about AKL - though I love the actual buildings, restaurants, and animals. Using Minnie Van should solve that issue if you're willing to pop for it. The one small advantage AKL has with busses is that they're always dedicated - you don't share busses with additional resorts so at least when you get the bus, you know it's going straight to your resort. But I'm not a big bus fan - I use them when I have to, but I strongly prefer either walking or taking boats to parks as it's just more relaxing. Skyliner is fun too.

When I've stayed at AKL, I just accepted the bus situation and allotted a little extra time when going to the parks...I always enjoy the vibe in the buildings, especially Jambo, Jiko is my favorite restaurant in Disney, and it's so relaxing watching the animals from the balcony in the mornings and evenings.

 

[DisMomNCM]

Sounds like a solid decision. Since your daughter has been to so many of the resorts, and sounds like you'll likely be going many more times, she'll have plenty of time for Poly, and as you said, she might have been too young to really remember or experience Kidani.

The lack of connection to any park is the one thing I dislike about AKL - though I love the actual buildings, restaurants, and animals. Using Minnie Van should solve that issue if you're willing to pop for it. The one small advantage AKL has with busses is that they're always dedicated - you don't share busses with additional resorts so at least when you get the bus, you know it's going straight to your resort. But I'm not a big bus fan - I use them when I have to, but I strongly prefer either walking or taking boats to parks as it's just more relaxing. Skyliner is fun too.

When I've stayed at AKL, I just accepted the bus situation and allotted a little extra time when going to the parks...I always enjoy the vibe in the buildings, especially Jambo, Jiko is my favorite restaurant in Disney, and it's so relaxing watching the animals from the balcony in the mornings and evenings.

I definitely prefer walking options as well, but not in July lol. I think that ultimately the AC'd hallways and cold buses will probably be my best option for this trip!

 

[zackiedawg]

I definitely prefer walking options as well, but not in July lol. I think that ultimately the AC'd hallways and cold buses will probably be my best option for this trip!

True that. I'll be at Disney in June - same thing - hot and humid with frequent chance of rain. But I live in S. Florida, which has the exact same weather, so it's easy to justify a summer Disney trip - it's either sit at home and the office in the heat and humidity, or be at Disney in the heat and humidity. I'll take the Disney option! Being close by, I'm at Disney every 3 months or so, generally 4 or 5 trips a year and stay in many different DVC resorts just to mix it up. June will be Cabins at Fort Wilderness - the trees make it more bearable in the shade and I'll have a golf cart to ride around to the busses and boats, so it's a pretty neat place to stay in the hot summers.

 

[DisMomNCM]

True that. I'll be at Disney in June - same thing - hot and humid with frequent chance of rain. But I live in S. Florida, which has the exact same weather, so it's easy to justify a summer Disney trip - it's either sit at home and the office in the heat and humidity, or be at Disney in the heat and humidity. I'll take the Disney option! Being close by, I'm at Disney every 3 months or so, generally 4 or 5 trips a year and stay in many different DVC resorts just to mix it up. June will be Cabins at Fort Wilderness - the trees make it more bearable in the shade and I'll have a golf cart to ride around to the busses and boats, so it's a pretty neat place to stay in the hot summers.

I've been wanting to stay there, but the last time I considered it I was going to be 32 weeks pregnant and figured that would be a terrible choice for a resort lol, so we opted for a Riviera/Poly split instead. Definitely plan on going there for a low parks trip when my littlest is a bit older.

 

[CarolMN]

Can you swing TWO studios? You can get connecting studios at the Poly.

 

[DisMomNCM]

Can you swing TWO studios? You can get connecting studios at the Poly.

I wouldn't want to risk NOT getting the connected studios in this instance

 

[CarolMN]

I wouldn't want to risk NOT getting the connected studios in this instance

Understand. AFAIK, the vast majority of Poly studios do connect, though. ( Not talking about the tower, just the long houses).

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

I lean AKK over Poly. Two teenagers and four total people, all girls, that's potentially a ton of luggage and toiletries and paraphernalia. I don't think you'll enjoy fighting for chairs at Poly/PIT versus Kidani/Jambo pools, and the bus situation at AKJ/AKK, I think, is really well run! We almost never wait longer than a minute it seemed for a bus, and I don't find the monorail back and forth from Epcot/TTC/Poly to be any sort of time saver, especially if it rains.

Just a note, did you misspeak with Minnie Vans? It's an option, but very expensive. No shade if you're balling, LOL, but Uber/Lyft will get you around for +/-$10 versus the +$50ish for Minnie Vans.

 

[VGCgroupie]

If Minnie Vans are on the table I’d go AKV. If I were a young girl I’d be in awe if my friends mom got us picked up in a Minnie Van! I would remember that for life. Core memory stuff right there.

 

[Wedgeout]

Minnie Van too I’ve heard are the only ones that drop off up at Magic Kingdom. Would be special feel from AKV.

 

[DisMomNCM]

I lean AKK over Poly. Two teenagers and four total people, all girls, that's potentially a ton of luggage and toiletries and paraphernalia. I don't think you'll enjoy fighting for chairs at Poly/PIT versus Kidani/Jambo pools, and the bus situation at AKJ/AKK, I think, is really well run! We almost never wait longer than a minute it seemed for a bus, and I don't find the monorail back and forth from Epcot/TTC/Poly to be any sort of time saver, especially if it rains.

Just a note, did you misspeak with Minnie Vans? It's an option, but very expensive. No shade if you're balling, LOL, but Uber/Lyft will get you around for +/-$10 versus the +$50ish for Minnie Vans.

Haha I wish I had misspoken, but with a 6-year-old, Minnie Vans are the best option because of the car seat situation. We've used them in the past when the transportation has just gotten too tricky or annoying to deal with. I know that she doesn't technically need one anymore in Florida, but we are from Massachusetts, where the requirement is 8 years old in a booster I believe

 

[CarolynFH]

I wouldn't want to risk NOT getting the connected studios in this instance

Only two (or maybe three) of the Poly longhouse studios do NOT connect, so a request for connecting studios there has a very good chance of being fulfilled.

That said, I'd book AKV Kidani. It's just special!!