Lodging - which would you pick?

[sarahsas]

Bay Lake Tower @ Contemporary (studio deluxe room)

or...

Wilderness Lodge? Choice of standard courtyard view or club level.

Traveling with a 1 year old for a long weekend in early December. Staying at the Yacht club for a few days for a conference but they are booked over the weekend and my selections are limited. Plan on hitting the MK and probably AK.

[nextbigthing]

Bay Lake

[curbsideprophet]

With a one year old, I would definitely pick BLT.

[lala]

I lean slightly BLT b/c of the ease to the MK - that said, I think the WL will feel so much more cozy & christmassy and you do still have the boat to MK.

[Amy]

Sept 15, 2016 6:37:01 GMT -5 lala said:

I lean slightly BLT b/c of the ease to the MK - that said, I think the WL will feel so much more cozy & christmassy and you do still have the boat to MK.

This is exactly how I feel. I'd probably end up at WL

[Deleted]

The rooms at BLT are small, but with just two adults and a one year old they are doable PLUS walking back and forth to MK is PRICELESS with a baby that age.

Will Wilderness Lodge Construction be done at that time? I would still pick BLT in your circumstances.

[Amy]

Sept 15, 2016 9:44:27 GMT -5 @savestheday said:

The rooms at BLT are small, but with just two adults and a one year old they are doable PLUS walking back and forth to MK is PRICELESS with a baby that age.

Will Wilderness Lodge Construction be done at that time? I would still pick BLT in your circumstances.

I just want to jump in and say this is probably the correct answer, I just have a personal preference for WL - Listen to STD

[pagas]

Bay Lake.

WL is my least fav resort. I hate it.

[ilikedonuts]

BLT. what view type is it?

[sarahsas]

Thanks for all your input!

So I called back today thinking I'd book BLT and BOTH of these options are no longer available! UGH.

But... my first choice from when I started to research, Animal Kingdom Lodge, WAS available. With a Savannah view. So I booked it. And spent more than I intended but f it. MICKEY HERE I COME!!!!

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2016 22:27:09 GMT -5 sarahsas said:

Thanks for all your input!

So I called back today thinking I'd book BLT and BOTH of these options are no longer available! UGH.

But... my first choice from when I started to research, Animal Kingdom Lodge, WAS available. With a Savannah view. So I booked it. And spent more than I intended but f it. MICKEY HERE I COME!!!!

I love love LOVE AKL. Seriously. I have never had a bad MOMENT there. The busses are great, the food is great, it is SUPER beautiful. You will love it.

[lishie]

I LOVE ALK. It is such a nice resort. There are some great food options too. My boys absolutely love staying there. It's always our choice when we're planning to spend lots of time at the resort.

Until I saw your update I was going to be the lone dissent and vote for Wilderness Lodge. BLT is convenient with a child that young, but WL is so, so amazing at Christmas that I'd take that over the convenience, esp when you were planning one day at AK anyway.

Enjoy your trip.

[ilikedonuts]

AKL is awesome! Are you staying at Jambo or Kidani?

[sarahsas]

ilikedonuts Jambo! It's the 1br suite.

@savestheday lishie glad you guys love it!! Any tips on things to do there or good restaurants? I'm a vegetarian but my son and husband aren't. Trying to decide on if I should do the dining plan.

[lala]

While AKL is not my favorite resort (mostly for location reasons) the restaurants are great! We loved Sanaa for lunch (the bread service w/ all the dips is so good!) and Boma for breakfast on our last trip. We've eaten at Mara a few times and Jiko pre-kids.

[lishie]

Sept 16, 2016 17:59:21 GMT -5 sarahsas said:

ilikedonuts Jambo! It's the 1br suite.

@savestheday lishie glad you guys love it!! Any tips on things to do there or good restaurants? I'm a vegetarian but my son and husband aren't. Trying to decide on if I should do the dining plan.

Both Sanaa and Boma at AKL are veg friendly. I enjoy them both. If you go to Sanaa make sure to get the bread service.

I can't remember how old your kids are. Mine are 5 & 7 and really enjoyed earning the beads with the resort cast members. They also enjoyed the story time in the Jambo lobby in the evening.

[lishie]

Also the splash pad at the Kidani pool is great for little ones. I preferred the kidani pool, but I like that you can use both pools at AKL. Both are great.

[ilikedonuts]

There is a great playground at Jambo and then the water area at Kidani. Night vision googles every night usually you can go use. Bonfires.

[Amy]

That's great!

[sarahsas]

lishie thanks! My son will be 19mos at the time of our trip. Will the pools be open/heated? We are going the week after Thanksgiving. Weather says low 70s is high around then.

[lishie]

Sept 16, 2016 22:20:23 GMT -5 sarahsas said:

lishie thanks! My son will be 19mos at the time of our trip. Will the pools be open/heated? We are going the week after Thanksgiving. Weather says low 70s is high around then.

The pools are pretty much always open and heated. We've gone at Christmas when it's been 85 degrees out. Florida winter weather is so unpredictable. When we were there this past January we had one day where it was warm enough to swim comfortably, and we took advantage of it and spent the afternoon swimming. 

I loved going with my boys when they were around 18 months. The looks of excitement on their faces when they met the characters was priceless to me. Have fun!

[sarahsas]

lishie lala Managed to snag dinner reservations @ Boma and Sanaa. Seems like a lot of places are already booked, ugh. Was hoping to do Tusker House for breakfast or lunch when we go to the AK but it's booked. Any idea how I could get in there? If a place is booked can I wait in line and get in?

[Deleted]

Sept 17, 2016 22:46:07 GMT -5 sarahsas said:

lishie lala Managed to snag dinner reservations @ Boma and Sanaa. Seems like a lot of places are already booked, ugh. Was hoping to do Tusker House for breakfast or lunch when we go to the AK but it's booked. Any idea how I could get in there? If a place is booked can I wait in line and get in?

So people cancel all the time, but especially 48-24 hours in advance so thier credit cards don't get charged the cancellation fee. Keep checking the app.

Boma & Saana are great restaurants!! You will love them. Boma has a very similar menu to Tusker House ( more selection at Tusker ) so I would choose 1 or the other.

If you are vegetarian check out Disney Hipster Blog for LOTS of tips.

[Amy]

Also, check 30 days before your trip, people cancel when their final payment is due. If you have a paid subscription to Touring Plans they also have a reservation finder you can use.

[lishie]

Reservations definitely open up. If you can do a late breakfast when Tusker starts switching from breakfast to lunch, you can experience a little of both menus, which is fun.

[curbsideprophet]

Just keep checking, reservations definitely open up.

We really enjoyed our Sanaa dinner!

[krystee]

Sept 17, 2016 22:46:07 GMT -5 sarahsas said:

lishie lala Managed to snag dinner reservations @ Boma and Sanaa. Seems like a lot of places are already booked, ugh. Was hoping to do Tusker House for breakfast or lunch when we go to the AK but it's booked. Any idea how I could get in there? If a place is booked can I wait in line and get in?

I should see if they'd change our Tusker House to six instead of three and then you could come with us!

[sarahsas]

Sept 18, 2016 15:56:46 GMT -5 krystee said:

Sept 17, 2016 22:46:07 GMT -5 sarahsas said:

lishie lala Managed to snag dinner reservations @ Boma and Sanaa. Seems like a lot of places are already booked, ugh. Was hoping to do Tusker House for breakfast or lunch when we go to the AK but it's booked. Any idea how I could get in there? If a place is booked can I wait in line and get in?

I should see if they'd change our Tusker House to six instead of three and then you could come with us!

When are you all going? That would be super fun!

[Deleted]

They have a culinary tour at AKL at 4:00 at Boma. You get samples. They also have cookie decorating for kids somewhere too.