Which resort? AKL or Boardwalk?

[jam224]

We're planning a last minute trip to WDW next month. Our choices for resorts are Animal Kingdom or Boardwalk. We've only stayed at Coronado Springs and the Contemporary. (We loved the monorail at the Contemporary!) Would love to hear your thoughts! Please and thank you!

[billysmommy]

We love the Boardwalk! It's great being able to walk (~5 minutes) in the International Gateway to Epcot (enters right between France and the U.K.), no waiting in lines to get on a bus/monorail/boat after Illuminations! An easy 20-25 minute walk over to Hollywood Studios or you can hop on one of the Friendship boats which takes about the same time after stopping at Beach Club and Swan/Dolphin.
We love grabbing a quick breakfast or snack at the Boardwalk Bakery or Goofy's candy shop.
When the boys were younger and still napped, DH or I would head back to Epcot for a quick ride or two or to grab a snack in France while the other stays with the napping kids.
If you ask for a room on the 4th or 5th floor facing France (Boardwalk Inn side) you will have a great view of the fireworks from your room!4347


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[kristenk]

I'm going to vote Boardwalk just for its proximity to other stuff. AKL is so far away from everything.

[pharmjenn]

I'm going to vote Boardwalk just for its proximity to other stuff. AKL is so far away from everything.

I will give you a third vote for Boardwalk. We loved our stay on the DVC side a couple years ago. AKL sounds wonderful as well, but it really does seem far away from the parks.

[keh602]

We stayed at AKL for our first two trips, and it is an absolutely gorgeous resort. Having the animals RIGHT THERE is awesome. The only issue we had was having to take buses everywhere. There wasn't anything wrong with the bus service--it was great--but hauling sleeping kids and the double stroller off the bus every.single.night was enough of a pain that we started staying at our home resort of BLT once we had our third kid. Now that they're older, I think we'd do fine at AKL again.

Having said all that, I really really want to stay at Boardwalk before too long. It is just beautiful back in that area. We took an Epcot fireworks boat ride and fell in love with that part of the World. I would love to walk to Epcot in the evenings to walk around the world showcase. :heartbeat:

I don't think you can go wrong with either resort. :)

[TwinFoxes]

I'd vote BW. We've stayed there, and it is very convenient having two parks in walking distance, and it's not far from DTD. AKL is cool with the animals, it's pretty, and has great restaurants, but it is very far away from everything. So, for convenience, BW, for resort coolness, AKL.

[WatchingThemGrow]

My friends did a "resort only" vacation at AKL last summer. They did all the free kid activities, and it kept them busy enough they stayed on the resort property for days at a time and loved it. Is it the same price at The Boardwalk? usually it's very pricey.

[anonomom]

Will you have a car? Are you a "parks morning to night" person, or do you like to spend time at your resort?

If you'll have a car and some time to spend at the resort, then I'd recommend AKL, and in particular a safari view room (if it's feasible). It's just an amazing resort. There are a ton of activities all day long and it is so amazingly cool to walk out onto your balcony and see a ton of animals. The counter service restaurant has a better menu than I've seen at any other resort (and I've stayed at many of them), and Boma is really great too. Aside from the distance, the only other downside is that the rooms are kind of small and cramped (for our family of 5). To be honest, AKL was the one resort I never had any interest in visiting, but we ended up booking it for our own last minute trip in January 2014 and it ranks in my memory as my very favorite WDW trip.

That said, the Epcot resort area is nice. It's really great to be able to walk to the parks.

[elbenn]

We stayed at Boardwalk and it was really nice to be able to walk to Epcot. When we visited another park during the day, we would go back to our hotel for awhile and then go back out to Epcot for dinner and evening activities. Very convenient location.

[megs4413]

Will you have a car with you? If yes, you MUST stay at AKL with a savanna view room. It's our favorite place to stay hands down.

If not, the Boardwalk might be more convenient, travel-wise. I actually really don't like the Boardwalk, though. The corridors make me feel claustrophobic.

[hellokitty01]

We loved akl! It feels like a true resort. The busses were great, and didn't bother us at all. Boardwalk is on my list of places to try, but akl is a very unique resort, it is so well themed, you feel as if you aren't even in the US.

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[jam224]

Thanks everyone for the awesome feedback! We booked our stay for Boardwalk. Yes, Boardwalk is more expensive, but the dates were more convenient than AKL, so that's ok. Yes, we will be driving (this will be our first time driving). Usually we rely on Disney transportation, but it might be nice to have our own car as another option.

Even with the "last minute" nature of our trip, I'm happy with our FastPass confirmations. We didn't manage to snag the ever elusive and still insanely popular Elsa & Anna meet and greet, which is a bummer, but not surprising. I'm excited that I got to choose the new purple color for my MagicBand! :)

[keh602]

Thanks everyone for the awesome feedback! We booked our stay for Boardwalk. Yes, Boardwalk is more expensive, but the dates were more convenient than AKL, so that's ok. Yes, we will be driving (this will be our first time driving). Usually we rely on Disney transportation, but it might be nice to have our own car as another option.

Even with the "last minute" nature of our trip, I'm happy with our FastPass confirmations. We didn't manage to snag the ever elusive and still insanely popular Elsa & Anna meet and greet, which is a bummer, but not surprising. I'm excited that I got to choose the new purple color for my MagicBand! :)

I hope you love the Boardwalk! It truly is beautiful in that area.

I had no idea there were purple magic bands!! I'm so excited to order one for our October trip!

[SummerBaby]

You will love the Boardwalk. It's really beautiful and so easy to walk to either HS or Epcot. Even if you don't go to a park at night they have entertainment on the Boardwalk. My girls loved it. We have also stayed at AKL and it's also really beautiful...but after a couple nights we were bored and wished there were more entertainment options without having to go to a park.

[marymoo86]

Thanks everyone for the awesome feedback! We booked our stay for Boardwalk. Yes, Boardwalk is more expensive, but the dates were more convenient than AKL, so that's ok. Yes, we will be driving (this will be our first time driving). Usually we rely on Disney transportation, but it might be nice to have our own car as another option.

Even with the "last minute" nature of our trip, I'm happy with our FastPass confirmations. We didn't manage to snag the ever elusive and still insanely popular Elsa & Anna meet and greet, which is a bummer, but not surprising. I'm excited that I got to choose the new purple color for my MagicBand! :)

Keep checking on FPs - I got one three days before we had planned to do MK. People constantly changing plans. Otherwise I noticed a lull around lunch time and then of course if it is an early magic hour at MK that is a good time too if no FP

[jent]

I'm excited that I got to choose the new purple color for my MagicBand! :)

Wait, there's purple?! I just chose my band a few weeks back and was hoping for purple, but no dice. I've got to check again before they ship!

ETA: have a great trip!!

[jam224]

Keep checking on FPs - I got one three days before we had planned to do MK. People constantly changing plans. Otherwise I noticed a lull around lunch time and then of course if it is an early magic hour at MK that is a good time too if no FP

Thanks for the encouragement! As an update, we did manage to snag Fastpasses for Elsa & Anna! :boogie: I'm also really excited that we booked Be Our Guest for dinner. I've heard mixed reviews, but I'm eager to try it myself! I love the new purple MagicBand as well. The corresponding luggage tag is super cute:
http://www.doctordisney.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/purple-luggage-tag.jpg

The one thing I am disappointed about, is the news that they've canceled the new Rivers of Light show for Animal Kingdom. We were looking forward to it! There's no news on the new debut date.

[npace19147]

We really liked Be Our Guest, the theming is great. Make sure you go into each separate dining room, they each have a different Beauty and the Beast theme and are well done. In the west wing room, if you stay long enough it does this cool simulated thunderstorm and you can see the portrait of the prince turn into the beast.

[jam224]

As an update to this thread, we LOVED Boardwalk!! You ladies rock! We stayed at Club Level and it was fabulous. Highly recommend! We had an amazing trip and are already looking forward to coming back! ;) Also, I can't believe my little girl is now FIVE!! :eek:

[frugalmom]

My friends did a "resort only" vacation at AKL last summer. They did all the free kid activities, and it kept them busy enough they stayed on the resort property for days at a time and loved it. Is it the same price at The Boardwalk? usually it's very pricey.


What free activities do they have?