Is it worth 800 to upgrade to from Moderate to to AKL(standard)

[Club Cooloholic]

I am planning to book our trip this week and it looks like a price difference of about 800 dollars for 7 nights between one of the Moderates or an Animal Kingdom Lodge Standard. I know the view at AKL will be nothing to look at, so for those that have stayed at say POFQ and AKL Standard, is it worth the extra 100 or so a night to upgrade? We will have an infant and nearly 4yr old girl on this trip. Thanks!

 

[jlsHouston]

We are splitting our stay between four nights at CSR and four nights at AKL, making the move on our not-in-the-Parks day. On one hand, we don't think we'll be at the resorts very much, but on the other hand, we think we will make an effort to take advantage of the pools at both resorts and spend a little time exploring AKL's zoological and cultural offerings. Our sons will be nine and seven when we go, so they will be at the ages to enjoy and actually learn something. Also, we will be celebrating the hubby's birthday while we're there, so we're willing to plunk down a few more benjamins.

To get back to your situation, it's really up to you whether you think the benefits outweigh the additional costs.

We split our stay last summer between BC and AKL and well if AKL is anything like it was last summer, your kids will have a blast there. The lifeguards are super with the kids and the pool games, the evening activities are interesting and fun .. my grandkids cried when their mother the park commando told them it was time to visit the park ...

 

[jlsHouston]

I am planning to book our trip this week and it looks like a price difference of about 800 dollars for 7 nights between one of the Moderates or an Animal Kingdom Lodge Standard. I know the view at AKL will be nothing to look at, so for those that have stayed at say POFQ and AKL Standard, is it worth the extra 100 or so a night to upgrade? We will have an infant and nearly 4yr old girl on this trip. Thanks!

I would say no for the ages of your children, and unless you are big into the African theme and seeing animals out windows that is not the deluxe I would upgrade to.. I would think if your daughter likes the princess theme, you might want to stay at PORS and upgrade to a Royal Room....

 

[lebeau]

I have done both and for me, AKL is not worth the upgrade unless it is something you just HAVE to do. The mods are generally more centrally located. AKL has nicer ammenities, but how likely are you to use them? Probably not very. The rooms are larger, but not that much larger. And with a standard room, you're not even getting the savanah view.

Personally, I'd rather pocket that $800 or upgrade other experiences. Add BBB, nicer meals or Photopass. We would rather spend the money on experiences outside the resort. But if you're going to spend a lot of time in the resort and AKL is important to you, go for it.

 

[lebeau]

I would say no for the ages of your children, and unless you are big into the African theme and seeing animals out windows that is not the deluxe I would upgrade to.. I would think if your daughter likes the princess theme, you might want to stay at PORS and upgrade to a Royal Room....

With a 4-year-old girl, I'd definitely recommend this over AKL if you were going to upgrade.

Fortunately, Disney has lots of ways for you to spend that money if you are so inclined.

 

[RickP330]

Well this is exactly what we just did. Were considering PORR, and went with AKL as an upgrade! I am trying not to think about the increase in price LOL
RP

 

[J_Carioca]

With a 4-year-old girl, I'd definitely recommend this over AKL if you were going to upgrade.

Well, I was once a four year old girl and I can tell you that at that age, there would have been no contest between a room decorated with princesses and a room that looked out onto a savanna with giraffes, wildebeest, and antelope. If AK had existed when I was a kid, I would have begged to go there.

 

[jlsHouston]

Well, I was once a four year old girl and I can tell you that at that age, there would have been no contest between a room decorated with princesses and a room that looked out onto a savanna with giraffes, wildebeest, and antelope. If AK had existed when I was a kid, I would have begged to go there.

Uh huh I have 3 granddaughters ages 6-8, one is exactly as you describe yourself, the other would pick the princess decor, and the third would want a princess room overlooking the savanna with the animals roaming around

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Well, planning to get this done tommorow, with a trip the the AAA office. I swore after my last experience I would not book through AAA but they are giving a $100 gift card too, and this time I want to meet my agent in person! I'll update on what I go with

 

[dreamfinder]

I can only say from my experience being there in June. The CMs there even told us that when it gets hot the animals liked to go to a particular place where it was supposed to be a bit cooler and that it was too far away for people to see form the Hotel. I can only assume you must have been there when it was cooler.

Was there last week during record highs. Mid 80s most of the week. So not really cool, but according to Weather.com, average Jan temps ate 71-91, so definitely pretty close to the average June highs.

 

[lebeau]

Well, I was once a four year old girl and I can tell you that at that age, there would have been no contest between a room decorated with princesses and a room that looked out onto a savanna with giraffes, wildebeest, and antelope. If AK had existed when I was a kid, I would have begged to go there.

Uh huh I have 3 granddaughters ages 6-8, one is exactly as you describe yourself, the other would pick the princess decor, and the third would want a princess room overlooking the savanna with the animals roaming around

Obviously, all kids are different. Most 4-year-old girls I know (and I have known quite a few through my kids), would jump for joy at the princess room and be relatively bored by AKL. AKL definitely skews towards adults wheras AoA and the Princess rooms at POR are designed with kids in mind.

If you have a kid that would beg to stay at AKL, that's a different story. Maybe it's worth the upgrade under thos conditions. Although even if I had a 4-year old begging to stay in a Deluxe resort, I could still think of much better ways to spend $800 at WDW. Especially if that $800 doesn't even buy you a savanah-view. What's the point of that?

 

[Club Cooloholic]

For Savanah view it's another 1500 on top of the 800!

 

[Lord_Vader]

We are splitting our stay between four nights at CSR and four nights at AKL, making the move on our not-in-the-Parks day. On one hand, we don't think we'll be at the resorts very much, but on the other hand, we think we will make an effort to take advantage of the pools at both resorts and spend a little time exploring AKL's zoological and cultural offerings. Our sons will be nine and seven when we go, so they will be at the ages to enjoy and actually learn something. Also, we will be celebrating the hubby's birthday while we're there, so we're willing to plunk down a few more benjamins.

To get back to your situation, it's really up to you whether you think the benefits outweigh the additional costs.

Not on topic but...

Discuss with your Bellman/Concierge, Disney will transfer your bags from your room to the new resort/room. All you have to do is call the Bellman at your existing resort and ask for the transfer, they will come to your room and pick them up, provide you a claim-check and haul them away. When you check-in at your new resort let their Bellman know you are expecting bags transferred and what your new room # is, simple and pain-free. My family and i typically stay for two weeks, this year split our stay and used this and was fantastic!

Good luck

 

[ddbowdoin]

Ive never stayed at the AKL... but the way I see it, if you're going to upgrade from a moderate to a deluxe it better come with the right perks. For example, by upgrading to AKL what are you really gaining? The rooms may be better themed but how many people actually spend considerable amounts of time in their rooms? I've said this before, the perks of the deluxe resorts are access. We stay, or we try to, in the Epcot resort region. Why? Because from those locations I can walk to two gates (hence avoiding buses) and have many dining options. I could care less about the theming. So... what does AKL offer besides being really close to AK?

 

[ddbowdoin]

Not on topic but...

Discuss with your Bellman/Concierge, Disney will transfer your bags from your room to the new resort/room. All you have to do is call the Bellman at your existing resort and ask for the transfer, they will come to your room and pick them up, provide you a claim-check and haul them away. When you check-in at your new resort let their Bellman know you are expecting bags transferred and what your new room # is, simple and pain-free. My family and i typically stay for two weeks, this year split our stay and used this and was fantastic!

Good luck

I didn't have the same experience... they ended up bringing our bags to our new resort at like 9:45PM even though I left them earlier that morning at 8:30. It wasn't even the time that killed me, it was the fact that every time I called I got a different answer, no one knew where the bags were, if they had left the Poly or not. The BC CM's ended up personally driving a van over to collect our bags.

 

[googilycub]

AKL all the way. I will never stay in a moderate again!

 

[luv]

I cannot judge your finances. But I think if you hesitate before spending $1000, it might be a good idea not to spend it.

Aside from the money, its a toss up. My biggest vacation blunder was getting a standard-view room at AKL. I didn't realize how much I value a non-parking lot view until I woke up to see a parking lot. Not for me. I would likely go with a better view at a mod...I guess...maybe...AKL is so nice, I'd hate to pass it up.

It's a really hard call.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I cannot judge your finances. But I think if you hesitate before spending $1000, it might be a good idea not to spend it.

Aside from the money, its a toss up. My biggest vacation blunder was getting a standard-view room at AKL. I didn't realize how much I value a non-parking lot view until I woke up to see a parking lot. Not for me. I would likely go with a better view at a mod...I guess...maybe...AKL is so nice, I'd hate to pass it up.

It's a really hard call.

Thanks Luv. Thats the thing, I probably would upgrade to the pool view but still, I hear the pool area there is really loud. I made the booking and went with PORS. I was super tempted to go for the AKL because with the current offer, it's a better savings than what I am getting at PORS, but a few things factored into my thoughts.
1. Best fit for my family. I have a daughter who will be just about 4 when we go, and I think I could picture her running around the lawns more than staring at the fire in the fire pit, our other kid is only going to be about 5 months old. I had visions of sitting on a balacony looking at the animals, but an free upgrade can't be expected, so the visions turned to sights of rumbling buses, or people canon balling at 10PM.
2. We will rent a car and have a stroller too, so at PORS I can see getting from the car to the room in under 5 mins. That just won't happen at AKL.
3. The boat to downtown disney will be nice. My wife was more excited about AKL till she realized you can't walk to AK from there(I do all the planning...lol)
4. Hey, it's we are still saving money, it's not a major expense to upgrade, but the money can still be better spent on the many baubles and food we will get!
Again I appreciated all the input, and I do plan on AKL one of these days, we do plan to go this time to at least check it out and eat.

 

[RickP330]

Sounds like a well thought out plan. I'm sure you will enjoy PORS. I went there last year and it was awesome. You guys are going to love it. My 5YO DD loved it. Great choice enjoy!!!

 

[lebeau]

Again I appreciated all the input, and I do plan on AKL one of these days, we do plan to go this time to at least check it out and eat.

The best parts of the resort are open to the public. You will get to enjoy the good stuff without paying top dollar.

Enjoy

 

[hiptwinmama]

We loved AKL/KIDANI... walking to our room and in halls we always stopped to look at the animals. Samawati Springs at the Pool was a blast. We like the peace and quite and loved feeling a bit removed from all of the hustle and bustle of WDW. We did not get the savannah view because we didn't think we would be in the room enough to use it. I wish we had gotten it because the kids loved hanging out on the balcony. The dining choices are nice too.