Splurge on AKL or save on OKW or POFQ??

wootejl

Earning My Ears
Joined
Jan 11, 2018
We are renting DVC points for our next trip so we have limited options on availability. We all love AKL Jambo House but just weren't as crazy about Kidani Village on our last stay. Jambo House only has availability for the Savannah View rooms which are amazing of course, but a lot pricier. Should we splurge on the Jambo House savannah view or save $600 and stay at Old Key West or Port Orleans French Quarter?? Or even drop from a 6 night to a 5 night stay in order to stay at AKL? We are so torn!!
 
I think it depends on how much time you spend in your room. AKL may only be worth it if you have a daily rest and/or more resort time planned.

FYI, OKW’s amenities will be closer to Kidani than Jambo (only a walk up QS window at OKW). If a decent QS selection is important, than PORFQ’s food court would be a better option (and the beignets are a wonderful treat!)
 
Those are both great points Minnesota! and hakepb... thanks for the feedback! I thought everyone would say to splurge on AKL so I'm happy to see some vote for OKW and PO. We've never stayed at OKW before and I havent been to PO since I was a kid, but the idea of those just don't get us as excited as other resorts do.
 


At OKW most of the buildings do not have elevators. There are a few buildings that have studios on the third floor (so that's a bunch of steps to haul your stroller, luggage, etc - we were just in one for four nights, but it was okay). OKW the first DVC resort built. So the rooms are pretty big, but they thought most of the guests there would use their kitchenettes or kitchens to prepare their meals. So the table service, Olivia's, is really nice, but Goods to Go is very limited. It is basically a pool counter service with picnic tables outside. They have a pretty limited menu, but they do offer breakfast items. If you have a refillable mug, it isn't that convenient for refills either. You go to Goods to Go, or maybe the Turtle Shack if it is open (only open seasonally and shorter hours). Back when we had refillable mugs at OKW in 1997, it wasn't even free refills. It was $1.00 refills with the mug. But you could use it on future trips.
 
Thanks everyone! I'm actually now leaning toward splitting the difference between the two price points and choosing between either a standard view at Kidani or Saratoga Springs. They're both within a couple of dollars per night of each other. Normally I'd say Kidani hand down, however I think the ability to walk to Disney Springs from SSR would be awesome and on our last trip to kidani we all just kept saying "I really wish we could have stayed at Jambo". We also paid extra for a savannah view room at kidani last time and saw almost no animals at all. My husband and I had a much better view and saw tons of animals in our standard view room at Jambo so we were left a little disappointed after our kidani stay. I may post a new thread to get some feedback.
 
Thanks everyone! I'm actually now leaning toward splitting the difference between the two price points and choosing between either a standard view at Kidani or Saratoga Springs. They're both within a couple of dollars per night of each other. Normally I'd say Kidani hand down, however I think the ability to walk to Disney Springs from SSR would be awesome and on our last trip to kidani we all just kept saying "I really wish we could have stayed at Jambo". We also paid extra for a savannah view room at kidani last time and saw almost no animals at all. My husband and I had a much better view and saw tons of animals in our standard view room at Jambo so we were left a little disappointed after our kidani stay. I may post a new thread to get some feedback.
Just keep in mind the closest rooms at SSR to Disney springs are those in congress park which requires booking a preferred room category (ie costs more points). We have walked from the middle of the paddock section (a handful of times) which isn’t too bad but if you book a standard view and get placed in carousel or the far end of paddock/grandstand that would be alot further to walk.
 


Just keep in mind the closest rooms at SSR to Disney springs are those in congress park which requires booking a preferred room category (ie costs more points). We have walked from the middle of the paddock section (a handful of times) which isn’t too bad but if you book a standard view and get placed in carousel or the far end of paddock/grandstand that would be alot further to walk.
There is a second bridge to Disney Springs near the Carriage House and it isn't too far from the Grandstand area. There is also a boat dock there to take the boat over to Disney Springs.
 
I think we have FINALLY decided to save some money on this trip and go with either POFQ, POR, or OKW (all roughly the same price). We're getting two separate rooms (my parents in one room and me, my husband and little girl in the other) and the overall consensus from everyone in our family seems to be that they'd rather stay at the resort with the nicest/most updated rooms. So even though OWK has the largest rooms for example, if they are outdated and/or not in the best shape, they'd rather go with one of the others. Just from looking at pictures online it looks like POFQ has the most updated rooms (plus, well, beignets!!). I also read that renovations at OKW began last year and would go through 2019. Not sure if we would be in one of the updated rooms or not there.
 
I would go with POFQ. They are refurbing the rooms and I *think* they are scheduled to be done sometime in the spring.
 
Oh wow I didn't know that! I think that may make our decision right there :) Thanks for the info!

We are going in November and excited about the refurb.

This is the info from http://www.portorleans.org/rehab.php

The planned dates for the upcoming Port Orleans French Quarter guest room soft-goods refurbishment project over the first half of 2018 are as follows. Please remember that this schedule may be subject to minor changes:

 
If you plan to rent points, you can only use them at the DVC resorts, of which POFQ is not one (a DVC resort). There is an option to change DVC points into hotel use points, but those cost a lot more and have a fee too.
 
We are going in November and excited about the refurb.

This is the info from http://www.portorleans.org/rehab.php

The planned dates for the upcoming Port Orleans French Quarter guest room soft-goods refurbishment project over the first half of 2018 are as follows. Please remember that this schedule may be subject to minor changes:

WOOHOO! That's great! My husband and I are actually going (just the two of us) for a short birthday trip in early March and are staying at POFQ. I didn't realize they would be undergoing renovations at that time though. Hopefully it won't negatively impact our stay.
 
If you plan to rent points, you can only use them at the DVC resorts, of which POFQ is not one (a DVC resort). There is an option to change DVC points into hotel use points, but those cost a lot more and have a fee too.
We would only be renting points if we went with AKL or OKW. If we go with PO then we'll book through a TA.
 
WOOHOO! That's great! My husband and I are actually going (just the two of us) for a short birthday trip in early March and are staying at POFQ. I didn't realize they would be undergoing renovations at that time though. Hopefully it won't negatively impact our stay.

I would request a refurbed room. It's only a request but it won't hurt! I don't think it'll impact your stay since it's just a soft goods refurb in the rooms.
 
FQ is my families favorite resort. The look, the feel and the compact nature. We are staying at AKL for the 1st time but only because my daughter will be starting college (engineering) and 2 weeks trips are going to become a lot harder to schedule. And given a choice of an extra day or better lodgings she would still take the extra day.
 
FQ is my families favorite resort. The look, the feel and the compact nature. We are staying at AKL for the 1st time but only because my daughter will be starting college (engineering) and 2 weeks trips are going to become a lot harder to schedule. And given a choice of an extra day or better lodgings she would still take the extra day.
You will have a blast! And congratulations to your daughter! Also... 2 week trips.... I'm so jealous!!
 
You will have a blast! And congratulations to your daughter! Also... 2 week trips.... I'm so jealous!!
I agree with you! The longest we’ve gotten to stay is 1 week.
We are a young couple so like to save money to travel other places besides dw.
 

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