First Time Trip - Feb '18 - AKL - Family of 5

adambaz · 25 Apr 17, 03:34 PM

Hi Guys.

I've recently booked for the beginning of February '18 for my family (Me, Wife, 2 Son's [5+7], and Daughter [1]) for our first ever WDW trip, booked direct including flights through Walt Disney Travel Company.

We visited DLP in December, in the gap between Xmas and NY for 5 days, and had a great time, so thought the next step should be Florida.

We decided on AKL given that the week after we come back, my Daughter will turn 2, and the AKL lodge prices for a 1 Bed Suite (which we would need to accommodate 5 "proper" people) effectively doubles the price compared to a normal room - So this will realistically be the only time we'll be able to go to this resort.

There were no Standard View rooms available, so given we were being "force upgraded" to Pool View (I'd have preferred no view rather than Pool View), we decided to go for Savannah View, and from there decided it was worth the approx. �250 upgrade to go for Club Level Savannah - which will hopefully be worth it for the Breakfast and Beer alone

I'm aware that we have access to services of the Itinery Planning Office via email which I understand I'm best off emailing them a couple of weeks before we are 180 days off arrival with our ADR's etc.

Is there anything that we should be aware of or shouldn't miss out on?

We're debating the pro's and con's of hiring a car while we're out there - any opinions on this point would be very helpful.

Also, my daughter doesn't appear to be on the Virgin Atlantic flights itinerary when logging into the booking on the VA website - Any past experience on when babies who are booked on laps appear on the booking would be helpful too.

Will be trawling the forums for hints and tips in the next 280 days or so until we go

Gezzs · 25 Apr 17, 03:45 PM

Sorry to hijack, but we're staying at AKL and have a Savannah View room. I wasn't offered any Club Level upgrade options. Please could you let me know what's included?

BigSkip · 25 Apr 17, 03:45 PM

We have never used the services of the IPO, but i have heard (from another forum - yes they exist!) that the service isn't that good. Personally i enjoy getting the ADR's booked myself.

There is no need to hire a car, however we often do, to get to the shops and a day trip to the coast as well, not gulf coast, Atlantic coast is far quieter, assuming you avoid Cocoa Beach.

You might find it cosy in a Savanah view room. We are off in November staying Club and will try to post Photos for you.

BigSkip · 25 Apr 17, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Gezzs

Sorry to hijack, but we're staying at AKL and have a Savannah View room. I wasn't offered any Club Level upgrade options. Please could you let me know what's included?

apinchofpixiedust/201...clublevel.html

Gezzs · 25 Apr 17, 03:54 PM

Thanks BigSkip.

adambaz · 25 Apr 17, 04:03 PM

As I say - It seemed to be worth the �20 a night upgrade, given that it includes breakfast, which will allow us to use some of the quick service vouchers for evening meals rather than using them for breakfast, and then double up for some of the 2 ticket Table Service meals without having to pay out of pocket.

And I liked the idea of nipping up to Club on an evening after the kids are in bed and sitting on the balcony with the wife and a glass of beer/wine.

adambaz · 25 Apr 17, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by BigSkip

We have never used the services of the IPO, but i have heard (from another forum - yes they exist!) that the service isn't that good. Personally i enjoy getting the ADR's booked myself.

There is no need to hire a car, however we often do, to get to the shops and a day trip to the coast as well, not gulf coast, Atlantic coast is far quieter, assuming you avoid Cocoa Beach.

You might find it cosy in a Savanah view room. We are off in November staying Club and will try to post Photos for you.

Thanks for the tip - I may well just book the ADR's directly - unless I'm struggling to get a particular date/time, then I might see what they can do.

Given it's our first trip I think we'll probably have enough to within WDW, if we were going to get a car it would be to aid getting to the parks quicker rather than relying on busses. We aren't planning on doing Universal, just WDW, so might get away with just the Disney Transport then.

**Rescuer** · 25 Apr 17, 10:08 PM

We stayed at AKL last July for 15 nights without a car and found the disney transport options good enough,
It's a lovely resort.

25 Apr 17, 03:34 PM	#1
	25 Apr 17, 03:34 PM adambaz Proud to wear my Ears
adambaz Proud to wear my Ears Join Date: Apr 17	First Time Trip - Feb '18 - AKL - Family of 5 Hi Guys. I've recently booked for the beginning of February '18 for my family (Me, Wife, 2 Son's [5+7], and Daughter [1]) for our first ever WDW trip, booked direct including flights through Walt Disney Travel Company. We visited DLP in December, in the gap between Xmas and NY for 5 days, and had a great time, so thought the next step should be Florida. We decided on AKL given that the week after we come back, my Daughter will turn 2, and the AKL lodge prices for a 1 Bed Suite (which we would need to accommodate 5 "proper" people) effectively doubles the price compared to a normal room - So this will realistically be the only time we'll be able to go to this resort. There were no Standard View rooms available, so given we were being "force upgraded" to Pool View (I'd have preferred no view rather than Pool View), we decided to go for Savannah View, and from there decided it was worth the approx. �250 upgrade to go for Club Level Savannah - which will hopefully be worth it for the Breakfast and Beer alone I'm aware that we have access to services of the Itinery Planning Office via email which I understand I'm best off emailing them a couple of weeks before we are 180 days off arrival with our ADR's etc. Is there anything that we should be aware of or shouldn't miss out on? We're debating the pro's and con's of hiring a car while we're out there - any opinions on this point would be very helpful. Also, my daughter doesn't appear to be on the Virgin Atlantic flights itinerary when logging into the booking on the VA website - Any past experience on when babies who are booked on laps appear on the booking would be helpful too. Will be trawling the forums for hints and tips in the next 280 days or so until we go Edited at 04:37 PM. Reason: .

25 Apr 17, 03:45 PM	#2
	25 Apr 17, 03:45 PM Gezzs Imagineer
Gezzs Imagineer Join Date: May 13 Location: 4200 miles from WDW	Sorry to hijack, but we're staying at AKL and have a Savannah View room. I wasn't offered any Club Level upgrade options. Please could you let me know what's included? __________________ Gez Florida: July 2009, Aug 2011, Sept 2014, Sept 2018, Sept 2024 Disneyland Paris: Dec 2023

25 Apr 17, 03:54 PM	#5
	25 Apr 17, 03:54 PM Gezzs Imagineer
Gezzs Imagineer Join Date: May 13 Location: 4200 miles from WDW	Thanks BigSkip. __________________ Gez Florida: July 2009, Aug 2011, Sept 2014, Sept 2018, Sept 2024 Disneyland Paris: Dec 2023

25 Apr 17, 04:03 PM	#6
	25 Apr 17, 04:03 PM adambaz Proud to wear my Ears Thread Starter
adambaz Thread Starter Proud to wear my Ears Join Date: Apr 17	As I say - It seemed to be worth the �20 a night upgrade, given that it includes breakfast, which will allow us to use some of the quick service vouchers for evening meals rather than using them for breakfast, and then double up for some of the 2 ticket Table Service meals without having to pay out of pocket. And I liked the idea of nipping up to Club on an evening after the kids are in bed and sitting on the balcony with the wife and a glass of beer/wine.

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