Connecting rooms at AKL or POFQ

[rainbow]

We are arriving 2 April 2006 as a family of 5 for 2 weeks.
In the past we have had one garden view room at CR in 2000 and one water view room at YBC in 2002.
I was not particularly impressed with the Contempory and found it to be very basic, but the location made it worthwhile as we had 3 young children at the time.
We loved the Y and BC however the cost of two rooms this time put it way over budget.
This year our three girls are 9, 11(12 during our stay) and 14 and we think we should book two rooms for more space and privacy (and most importantly with 3 daughters, two bathrooms). We would like these to be connecting so we can get in easily to sort out the many squabbles!

Having always stayed in deluxe resorts we would like to do so again, but the cost of two rooms is a huge consideration. The AKL seems to be the cheapest option with 2 standard rooms, the children also would love to be around so many exotic animals, however Savannah view rooms would be out of our budget.
I have also read some good reviews of POFQ, however I do not like hotels with exterior corridors - do any of the blocks here have interior corridors?

Any tips as to where we could stay would be greatly appreciated.

Also could anyone help with regards to my daughters birthday. Who should we tell and will Disney or the hotel do anything special for her.
Which park would be best to visit on this day for special birthday options?

[uscwest]

To the best of my knowledge there are no interior corridors at either POFQ or POR.

[Joy]

Make sure that you tell CM at check-in that you are celebrating your daughter's birthday! There just may be a surprise for your daughter on the eve of her B-day!

I would probably vote for MK....be sure to get a B-day button from city hall. You'll be amazed how much attention she'll get from strangers (...and how many people also share her B-day)!

[Scoootch]

To the best of my knowledge there are no interior corridors at either POFQ or POR.
That is correct. No indoor corridors in ANY of the moderate resorts (or value resorts either of course).

However, POFQ is an awesome resort if you can get past that fact:)

As for resorts with indoor corridors...you'd need to bump up to a deluxe and the 2 cheaper options would be AKL as you've already mentioned or WL. And the CR in a wing room. I'd try a moderate though. They will guarantee connecting rooms when you have minor children staying in the 2nd room:wink:

[rainbow]

Thanks for everybodies replies.

We've had a family vote and decided to go for AKL as it seems to offer an extra dimension that we haven't had before.

Even though we can't stretch to Savannah view rooms, what do you think our chances of an upgrade are, bearing in mind that we need two connecting rooms and are staying at Easter. (Does the fact that it will be fairly busy make it more or less likely do you think ?). :confused:

Is it worth asking about upgrades before we arrive or when we check in ?
I don't what to appear too presumptious, but I don't want to miss out just because I was too nervous to ask !

[Scoootch]

At Easter time, I'd have to say your chances of a complimentary upgrade are probably slim to none. However, there's always a chance so why not ask?! The worse they can say is "sorry, no can do" ;) But you'll never know if you don't ask. Most of the complimentary upgrades I've read about people posting or experienced personnally, have been mostly during slower times though. I guess it makes sense too....if people can't even get a room reserved because resorts are booked solid (and Easter is one of the busiest times of the year) then I'd think they wouldn't have the room available to upgrade you to. But again, though the chances for that time of year may be slim to none, there's always that slim chance and if you don't ask you'll never know. If you don't get the upgrade, you'll be no worse off and if you do then whoo-hoo!

:wave:

[scubamouse]

we did connecting non-savannah rooms when we stayed at AKL in 2003. given your need for 2 bathrooms it'd be great. we had to rent a fridge but i think they may be standard now. it saved us a bunch to have bfast in the room!