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OrganicMama
So in love with my little man!
Member since 6/08 5172 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
My sister and I have decided to stay on site at Disney. We have got coupon codes for 20-30% off for the dates we are staying, so that has pushed us to stay Deluxe  Actually, a deluxe villa would work best for us because of the 2 bedrooms and full kitchen, but we are considering regular rooms too. These are my options:
20% off:
Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
Polynesian
Grand Floridian
Animal Kingdom - Standard View Room
30% off:
Yacht & Beach Club
Boardwalk Inn
Boardwalk Villas
Wilderness Lodge
Animal Kingdom Villas
Saratoga Springs
Old Key West
We're leaning towards a villa at Animal Kingdom, even though it's far from MK. We will be going to MK for 2 days and AK one day. The kids would LOVE AK (so would I), so we're really considering booking there.
What would you suggest?
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Posted 2/12/12 4:53 PM  |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
What about a villa at the Wilderness lodge? Is that included in the 30%? I say that because there is a boat that takes you to the MK, but you are right near the MK and that is a huge plus with little kids. I don't think 20% off the Poly is that great of a deal - BUT it IS on the monorail and the rooms are actually pretty big.
I love AKL so I would say the AKLV would be pretty great! The only downside is that it is furthest from the MK - but when we stayed at the AKL the buses were never a big deal to get to the MK or EPCOT which is where we spent more of our time. You are right near AK which is nice.
If you plan to do 2 days MK and 1 day AK I would go for the AKLVs for that short of time I wouldn't worry about the little extra trip and having the animals at the hotel is unique - is this Jambo or Kadini? Kadini has a nice pool from what I have read.
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| Posted 2/12/12 5:15 PM |
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OrganicMama
So in love with my little man!
Member since 6/08 5172 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
Posted by Lillykat
What about a villa at the Wilderness lodge? Is that included in the 30%? I say that because there is a boat that takes you to the MK, but you are right near the MK and that is a huge plus with little kids. I don't think 20% off the Poly is that great of a deal - BUT it IS on the monorail and the rooms are actually pretty big.
I love AKL so I would say the AKLV would be pretty great! The only downside is that it is furthest from the MK - but when we stayed at the AKL the buses were never a big deal to get to the MK or EPCOT which is where we spent more of our time. You are right near AK which is nice.
If you plan to do 2 days MK and 1 day AK I would go for the AKLVs for that short of time I wouldn't worry about the little extra trip and having the animals at the hotel is unique - is this Jambo or Kadini? Kadini has a nice pool from what I have read.
The 30% is off of both I'm pretty sure, I'm not sure which one is better though. The rooms are the same pictures on the website.
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| Posted 2/12/12 5:30 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
Well from what I have read - Kidani is quieter, has the better pool complex. The other is the main building (jambo)- so you are in the regular hotel building. Which has Boma and Jiko as dining options.
Here is a good site if you think that is what you want:
http://www.aklresort.com/content/dvc-animal-kingdom-villas
This site gives you a ton of info on AKL in general. But this would be helpful to you:
jambo vs kidani
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| Posted 2/12/12 5:52 PM |
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OrganicMama
So in love with my little man!
Member since 6/08 5172 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
Posted by Lillykat
Well from what I have read - Kidani is quieter, has the better pool complex. The other is the main building (jambo)- so you are in the regular hotel building. Which has Boma and Jiko as dining options.
Here is a good site if you think that is what you want:
http://www.aklresort.com/content/dvc-animal-kingdom-villas
This site gives you a ton of info on AKL in general. But this would be helpful to you:
jambo vs kidani
You are the BEST!!!! Thank you so much, you've made this process a lot easier 
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| Posted 2/12/12 5:53 PM |
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OrganicMama
So in love with my little man!
Member since 6/08 5172 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
Animal Kingdom had Kidani Villas available at 25% off, but it just ended up being too much money  We booked at Saratoga Springs for MUCH less, and we're very happy
Can't wait for Disney, I wish we were going tomorrow 
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| Posted 2/12/12 9:00 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
Posted by OrganicMama
Animal Kingdom had Kidani Villas available at 25% off, but it just ended up being too much money We booked at Saratoga Springs for MUCH less, and we're very happy
Can't wait for Disney, I wish we were going tomorrow
Oh, awesome! Saratoga Springs is a BEAUTIFUL resort. VERY relaxing.
Are you using a Travel Agent?
If so, you should make sure she puts in a request for you to be close to your chosen amenities, it's a VERY large resort. Let me know if you need help with that
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| Posted 2/13/12 10:22 AM |
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OrganicMama
So in love with my little man!
Member since 6/08 5172 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by OrganicMama
Animal Kingdom had Kidani Villas available at 25% off, but it just ended up being too much money We booked at Saratoga Springs for MUCH less, and we're very happy
Can't wait for Disney, I wish we were going tomorrow
Oh, awesome! Saratoga Springs is a BEAUTIFUL resort. VERY relaxing.
Are you using a Travel Agent?
If so, you should make sure she puts in a request for you to be close to your chosen amenities, it's a VERY large resort. Let me know if you need help with that
No, we didn't go with a travel agent. We rented a 2 bedroom villa and I would love to know what the best locations are. I was reading on Tripadvisor that the resort was huge and it can be a lot of walking. I'll be 6 months pregnant at the time so I don't want to walk a mile to get to the pool 
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| Posted 2/13/12 10:58 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
Do you prefer "quiet' pools for feature pools with slides, etc? Do you want to be near the main building, or is just having a bus stop nearby enough?
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| Posted 2/13/12 11:11 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
Posted by OrganicMama
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by OrganicMama
Animal Kingdom had Kidani Villas available at 25% off, but it just ended up being too much money We booked at Saratoga Springs for MUCH less, and we're very happy
Can't wait for Disney, I wish we were going tomorrow
Oh, awesome! Saratoga Springs is a BEAUTIFUL resort. VERY relaxing.
Are you using a Travel Agent?
If so, you should make sure she puts in a request for you to be close to your chosen amenities, it's a VERY large resort. Let me know if you need help with that
No, we didn't go with a travel agent. We rented a 2 bedroom villa and I would love to know what the best locations are. I was reading on Tripadvisor that the resort was huge and it can be a lot of walking. I'll be 6 months pregnant at the time so I don't want to walk a mile to get to the pool
We have stayed here, in the Congress Park section, and our building was a very short walk to the main building. Which was nice for the pool, bike rentals, children's activity room, etc. It's a very nice resort. Here is the map. http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/Saratoga.htm
I'm not sure how the two bedroom is, think it's the same, but the one bedroom has no door that separates the bedroom from the jacuzzi tub area in the bathroom. My kid kept turning on the water in the tub. Totally poor setup for people traveling with small kids! Not sure how old your child us, but I would probably pick the room without that setup for him/her
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| Posted 2/13/12 11:17 AM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
people usually request Congress Park or the Grandstand.
Here's some info (not my words):
Congress Park (Our First Choice):
Best non-themed pool on property in our opinion
Views of Downtown Disney
Close enough walk to Downtown Disney
Close enough walk to Artist Pallet
No pool beverage service
Springs:
Average views
Closest to everything
Can be noisy
Grandstand :
First bus stop
Views tend to be lawns, woods, golf
Nice enough themed pool
Pool-side beverage offerings (though limited)
Close enough to Carriage House and Artist Palate
Kinda quiet and relaxing
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| Posted 2/13/12 1:40 PM |
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KarenK122
The Journey is the Destination
Member since 5/05 4431 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
We stayed at Saratoga last May and LOVED it. My second choice to BLT. We also stayed in a two bedroom and it was huge. Your going to love all the space. Literally I would get lost with all the doors and kept ending up in the master bathroom lol.
We stayed in the Grandstand and it was great. Short 5 minute walk to the main building which had the food court, store, and the main pool. It was also the first stop for the bus so we always got a seat. We spent alot of time at the pool and it was a lot of fun. It is a zero entry so great for the little ones.
They also just opened a new feature pool at the Paddlock. So my choices would be either the Grandstand or Paddlock.
Saratoga is also really close to DTD and we ate there a bunch of nights and the Turf Club was really good too.
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| Posted 2/13/12 1:51 PM |
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OrganicMama
So in love with my little man!
Member since 6/08 5172 total posts
Name:
Mama
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Re: Disney pros.....more disney questions, lol
Posted by JenniferEver
Do you prefer "quiet' pools for feature pools with slides, etc? Do you want to be near the main building, or is just having a bus stop nearby enough?
Nearby bus stop is enough. We would love to be by the pools with a slide great for older kids, my nieces and nephews are with us and they are between the ages of 7-12. We are bringing food from home (I have to shop at specialty stores because DS has a million allergies) so being close to their shop with groceries isn't necessary (if they have one).
I just read the post above, and being close to the game room/arcades would be great for the kids! I will check out that map, thanks!
Message edited 2/13/2012 2:21:37 PM.
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| Posted 2/13/12 2:18 PM |
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