Beach Club vs. AKL

[lola]

Hello!

I'm planning a trip and I'd like to stay at a quieter resort with ease of access. For those of you who've stayed at the BC and/or AKL, what was the best and worst of it. I'm concerned that there's no food court at BC and I like the ease of that, but I don't want long bus waits either. Let me know what you think.

I would have considered PO, but it seemed dark, I wasn't sure about the bus system or how large the complex is. I was afraid it'd be like the Carribean with hassles at check in and long, dark walks to your room.

Thanks:)

[uscwest]

First off let me try to ease your mind about Port Orleans. If the long dark walks worry you then choose POFQ as it is much closer together than POR. However, even at POR, I didn't consider the walks either long or dark. Both resorts are beautiful.

Now for location, you can beat the Beach Club. True there is no food court. However it is an easy walk to EPCOT and you can even walk to MGM if you so desire. Another method of transport to both parks is the boat.

At AKL, yes you are isolated, but there is a food court. The lodge itself is spectacular and being able to see the animals up close and personal makes it worth it.

[JuniorMickey]

I recently stayed at POR and I've stayed at POFQ and I didn't find either dark

[Johnie]

If any of the resorts are dark, it would be AKL. I personally didn't think so but I've read many a report where others did.

[Keith]

Hello!


Hi and welcome :)


I'm planning a trip and I'd like to stay at a quieter resort with ease of access. For those of you who've stayed at the BC and/or AKL, what was the best and worst of it. I'm concerned that there's no food court at BC and I like the ease of that, but I don't want long bus waits either. Let me know what you think.


Bc has an excellent location it really does! So wonderfully close to epcot that you can walk to watch the fireworks, walk back, go to any of the restaurants etc. The lack of food court IS a pain though :/ We like to grab a bite to eat before we go out to the parks and unless we were going to epcot, the lack of food court was a real limitation. There is beaches and cream but it's not the same as a food court.

AKL is wonderful too.. it's themed fantastically well and you really feel like you're somewhere else. The music they play even out at the bus stops really does help and it's wonderfully relaxing. If anything I found AKL the most relaxing of any of the resorts. The bus service is excellent and it isnt shared with other resorts so the bus goes straight there and straight to the parks etc. Wonderful!


I would have considered PO, but it seemed dark, I wasn't sure about the bus system or how large the complex is. I was afraid it'd be like the Carribean with hassles at check in and long, dark walks to your room.


PO... well at night I guess the pathways could be said to be a bit dark? maybe? I can't say it's anything that gave me even a seconds thought. No hassles at checkin and a really beautiful resort with fantastic entertainment in the bar and a wonderful river ride down to downtown disney :)

[Cinderella]

I love both hotels but I have to say that if you want quiet the Beach Club is not the one. If you want to be in that area I would opt for the Yacht Club instead. Even though they are sister hotels the YC is much quieter then the Beach Club. Now saying that we never heard noise in our room but it just felt busier and the lobby was much louder.

[Scoootch]

Hello!

I'm planning a trip and I'd like to stay at a quieter resort with ease of access. For those of you who've stayed at the BC and/or AKL, what was the best and worst of it. I'm concerned that there's no food court at BC and I like the ease of that, but I don't want long bus waits either. Let me know what you think.

I would have considered PO, but it seemed dark, I wasn't sure about the bus system or how large the complex is. I was afraid it'd be like the Carribean with hassles at check in and long, dark walks to your room.

Thanks:)
Okay, my 2 cents....

....BC is awesome -- great decor & theming, Love Cape May Cafe' & Beaches -n- Cream and of course SAB Pool! Location is awesome to both Epcot & MGM (walkable or boat) but...there are downsides too. Bus service is shared with Swan,Dolphin,BW, and YC so it is a quite crowded bus often and long ride sometimes with all the stops and MK and AK and the waterparks & DTD are all bus service unless you walk through Epcot to take the Monorail - but that's only for MK and if you aren't already at Epcot...it's not convenient. The location to Epcot and MGM and SAB pool make up for the bus service for many though. There is no food court but....you have many resturant choices between WS at Epcot being so close and all the surrounding resorts that you can walk to from BC. Plus now the BC has the marketplace for quick eats so that's a plus.

Now, AKL I have yet to stay at as the decor and animals really don't appeal and I prefer the pastel colors of BC,OKW, GF most times to the dark theming of AKL.....though I have to say I do love WL too and that's dark so it's all in personnal taste. POR and FQ are both wonderful too and I've never found them to be dark....though at POR in the AB section the theming is more rustic and dark with bed frames made of logs and mirror frames of tree branches with darker colors....still alot of fun though:wink: Bus service at POR and FQ are very good too.

My first choice of the ones you mention would definetly be BC but I love POR and FQ equally and would stay there anytime too!

Let us know what you finally decide:)

[steery1]

The location to Epcot and MGM and SAB pool make up for the bus service for many though. There is no food court but....you have many resturant choices between WS at Epcot being so close and all the surrounding resorts that you can walk to from BC. Plus now the BC has the marketplace for quick eats so that's a plus.

If yiu are staying at the BCV is it possible to go to EPCOT to try one of the many eateries there without using up a day on your Disney pass?

[uscwest]

Unfortunately no. You enter the park for any reason you use a day.

[lola]

Wow!! Thank you for all the info. Well, I understand what you all are saying about BC; I too love the look of light colors, the sea, and the openness. However, I think given the things I really care about (buses, convenience at the end of a tiring day) I will now focus on AKL, perhaps even PO. Maybe you can direct me towards what I'm looking for:thumbs:

The things I care about are:
Buses you can get a seat on and that come fairly often and are easy (no looping to three different locations before you start your journey)
Food Court
Quiet Rooms (no screaming kid noises)
Relaxing/Pretty Theming
And nice cast members (I get ticked easily when I'm nicer than they are to me :lol: )

So any suggestions? I'm all ears. No I don't want to pay for GF, but I'm willing to pay more (or less) for the right place.

Thanks for the help and the warm welcome!!! :overhere:

[triciacarole]

If yiu are staying at the BCV is it possible to go to EPCOT to try one of the many eateries there without using up a day on your Disney pass?

Hi Sterry1, this depends on the type of pass you opt for. If you buy the 14 or 21 Day Ultimate Ticket you have full access to all Disney parks for that number days, so even if you did BB in the day you could pop to Epcot in the evening :)

[Mickeymac]

The things I care about are:
Buses you can get a seat on and that come fairly often and are easy (no looping to three different locations before you start your journey)
Food Court
Quiet Rooms (no screaming kid noises)
Relaxing/Pretty Theming
And nice cast members (I get ticked easily when I'm nicer than they are to me )

If you are focusing on AKL, they go direct from resort to park and back. It's the only Deluxe that routinely has private bussing, all year long. The other Deluxe resorts share in at least some capacity.

Mara is a great food court, which also offers food from Boma and Jiko from the night before. I have made the dark chocolate mousse cups into my own personal addiction.

Quiet rooms - ask for something at the end of one of the wings if you want more privacy. The savannahs are mood soothers in themselves, but close into the horseshoe is Arusha Savannah and it is open to everyone and there is chatter there day long. It's quite a hike to the ends of the wings, but it's very private.

I would not call AKL theming 'pretty' but it's exotically attractive, and appeals to a more earthy instinct. If you stay at this resort, I cannot stress taking downtime to experience the pace that is unique to this resort. It's wonderful.

Finally, some of the nicest Cast Members I have ever met, have been Savannah Guides at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. These are kids in college, or just finished, who come over to work for Disney for a year or so. Their sole purpose is to make the Guests feel welcome, instruct them on the animals in the savannah, raise awareness of the different countries in Africa, etc. They are an amazing group of individuals who have made a huge leap from the way of life that they know, just to play with kids and make people happy, a world away from family and friends. I've not met a Savannah Guide yet that didn't put a smile on my face. They are an amazing bunch.

If you do decide to head back over to Epcot, I thoroughly second what Cinderella is saying, and head to the Yacht Club.

[lola]

Thank you!!! That is sooo helpful. I still don't quite know where to stay, but the picture is much clearer now. At this point, I think I'd really like AKL, but I'm also open to other hotels. Thanks for any suggestions/info!