Don't hate us but we did not like AKL

[MNRMommy]

Well to re-phrase we liked the lodge and the concierge staff could not have been nicer but we have always stayed at Epcot area resorts and felt completely isolated at AKL. After two nights of our five night reservation we requested and were transfered over to the Beach Club Concierge. We have always found the easy access to both Epcot and MGM to be highly favorable elements of the Epcot area resorts. I know that many people have said that the buses run regularly to the AKL but that is not what we found to be true. Disney is trying to institute a new on demand busing dispatch and the busses took FOREVER to get there. Basically there has to be enough people to justify a bus before it gets dispatched is what we were told. So if you are the only couple waiting to go to Epcot you WILL WAIT. Also, we did not like the unvarying offerings of the concierge lounge. The African inspired foods of Jiko and Boma were OK but not our cup of tea. They however were the only offerings unless you wanted tiny pb&j sandwhiches that I assume were for the kids. The breakfast offerings were good though and more continental. Again, we thought the lodge was absolutly beautiful and having the view of the animals from our balcony is beyond words. However, if you are used to an Epcot or MK area resort you will feel isolated. I recommend giving it a try but would not book my whole stay there. Try a few days and then head over to another resort. Luggage transfer makes this a very easy option. If anyone has any specific questions feel free to ask.

[Luv2Roam]

Oh -- we just HATE you! :jester: ;)
It is a beautiful resort. Although we just walked the grounds and ate at Bomo's. I can see how you would feel isolated too.
But aren't we glad not everyone likes the same resorts? :D
Sounds like you had a great time though! Welcome back!

[Michelle]

I TOTALLY understand, TC Mattoon, I'm an "Epcot Resorts Area" person myself. We enjoyed our stay at the AKL in August but I definitely did feel isolated. I like being able to walk right out of the hotel and be at the Boardwalk, or walk to Epcot, and have a choice of MANY eateries within a short distance. When we were there the bus service was pretty good at AKL, so that wasn't the big problem, it was just the isolation that was the issue.

Different strokes for different folks! :)

[mickey7861]

Every one likes something different. That's not good or bad, just different. We just spent 3 weeks at WDW from 7/27 to 8/16. We spent 2 weeks at the Beach Club Villas and hated it. We loved our weekend at AKL and plan a full week there next summer. We never waited more than 10 min. for a bus and never had more than a dozen people on it. A great change from waiting 45 min for a MK bus at the BCV and BWV and having it already packed when it arrives. Maybe it's because we were there at a busier time. Good thing WDW has so many different choices.

[dandave]

We'll <i>try</i> not to hate you... ;) ;) ;)
Thank you so much for your report! Glad you were able to transfer. :)

[anniet]

T C Mattoon you must have missed Mara the cafe at Animal Kingdom Lodge that offers more food court type fare.

We stayed at Coronado Springs in 2000-not far from AKL and there were 13 of us total. My Aunt, Uncle, cousin and his wife and two children decided NOT to rent a car and after day two realized it was a mistake. Luckily there were 3 other cars there so we were able to pile in and travel in a more timely manner. I agree the bus service at this end of the resort area leaves much to be desired.

Glad you were able to transfer and enjoy the remainder of your trip!:wave:

[jabrown40]

I stayed at BC in August, but took a ride over to AKL to see it. We all agreed we were very happy that we had not booked there. I thought the lodge was very dark and depressing, and I just didn't like that burning smell. Also, there wasn't a single animal out in the savannah area when we looked around. I know plenty of people like it however, I just like the colors at BC and atmosphere of the Epcot area as well.

[erikthewise]

Hate you?! Of COURSE not!! But recommend next time you try Sleep Inn Maingate :rolleyes: .

We're trying 5 days BCV followed by two days AKL. Perhaps we'll be Epcotted out by the time we hit AKL and won't miss it.

[markºoº]

We just got back - stayed one night at AKL prior to our cruise and 4 nights at BC after the cruise. We stayed concierge at both resorts.

We really liked AKL and liked our room, the concierge lounge, and the overall resort better than BC. Although acceptable, BC is showing some age and needs some work. AKL, on the other hand is new and spotless.

The AKL theme may not be for everyone as it is a dark, African themed resort. Lighting is very subdued throughout the resort and in the rooms. Disney could offer more light in the rooms.

That said, the BC is VERY convenient. Being able to push the stroller to EPCOT or onto the boat to MGM is very nice. We drove to MK, AK and Typhoon Lagoon rather than wait for a bus and had no problem driving. AKL's location was not a problem since we just hung around the resort all day. If we stayed longer at AKL, I would consider driving to the parks.

As for the comment about no animals - that is sometimes the case. When we checked in, the bellman said the animals are not always out. Sometimes they will be called in when there are people in the savannah. Also, the animals do move around and are not always visible unless you move around and look from different spots.

I spoke to a CM in the concierge lounge at AKL about its occupancy. She acknowledged it had not met Disney's expectations. She said AKL is, however, becoming a weekend get away resort. Occupancy is very high on weekends as many people come for the weekend and just hang around the resort or do things other than the parks. Our bellman's comment on Sunday as we left would confirm this - he said they had over 700 rooms checking out that Sunday. We noticed the pool, restaurants, and other parts of the resort were packed all day Saturday.

Everyone had differents tastes and needs - that is why Disney provides such a wide variety of resorts.

[PlutoPal]

Thats very true that it is isolated. We visited there, but never stayed there and we thought it was a knock off of WL. Out of 10 I would give it an 7.

[anniet]

Originally posted by PlutoPal
we thought it was a knock off of WL.

Close- they were designed by the same architect!:D

[DeeP]

I think people that really like the Epcot resort area are people that love the convenience to 2 parks, entertainment, multiple dining choices etc and miss the convenience and pampering that you get at the Epcot resort area when you go to a resort in a more isolated location. I am also a Epcot resort area person and I just love this area and for me it is the best location at WDW. When we stayed at AKL we thought it was beautiful and a very unique resort but we are definitely not in any hurry to stay there again. Give me an Epcot resort anyday. Some people do not like the Epcot resort area because they find it too busy, I find it fun, exciting and super convenient.

[carriep1657]

TC, thanks for your review. We will be staying at AKL in November. I'm very excited about the trip. But, I am a little worried about the dispatch on demand system for the busses. I hadn't heard about this. We were hoping to use the Disney transportation during our stay but I don't want to wait at the bus stop forever with two small kids. Could you explain a bit more about how it works?

[eeyore0062]

Oh TCMaroon, I am so sorry you were disappointed in AKL. I understand the feeling, though, as I was disappointed in WL, and everyone raves about that resort as well. I think it all depends on your likes and dislikes. I happen to like lighter more whimsical theming, and WL is a little too masculine for me. We were also disappointed with the room size for a deluxe accomodation. Of course that is not to say that we didn't think that the staff wasn't wonderful, the lobby breathtaking and the pool and guyser something to see... it just wasn't my cup of tea!

Isn't it nice that WDW has so many resorts from which to choose, so everyone can pick something that best suits their taste?!:)

[bjakmom]

Just back from last week of Aug stay - First 3 nights we stayed at BWV and final 3 at AKL. Loved both resorts, but have to say that we were actually relieved to be using AKL buses after spending the first few days making all those stops (Boardwalk,Swan, Dolphin, YC & BC!) every time we took a bus - and we had our longest bus waits there! Once we hit AKL we never waited more than 5 or 10 min for a bus (max) and they were always direct route. We also found it extremely easy to grab a bus to AK and jump onto a resort bus to get back to the Boardwalk area. Fortunately for us, they were not using any dispatch on demand system, since there were often only a few of us on the bus. Sometimes they change things so much and so quickly that we can all get very different experiences!
We loved spending the end of our trip at AKL, a great place to relax and unwind a little - couldn't wait to get back there at any time of the day!
PS: the animals were very active in the early morning - they take them out every day about mid day for an hour so they can clean and replant the savannah - then they were again very active in the late day - hey! it's hot out there! - the best time for me was at 4:30 AM when I woke up and sat on the balcony for over an hour - amazing! the animals were very close and active- if you wake up in the night like I sometimes do take a look out!:smooth:

[MNRMommy]

From what we observed of the dispatch on demand the busses no longer just loop around a set course going back to the same resorts each time. They go to a designated place like Epcot or MGM and when they arrive someone tells them which resort loop to hit next. So if you are on a bus from AKL and decide not to get off at MGM you are not guaranteed to go back to the AKL. The bus may next get dispatched to the Swan Dolphin etc. There was someone who would walk out and kind of check the situations at the bus stops and report back to the dispatchers. We waited 50 minutes one day at WL for a bus to Down Town Disney. We waited 40 for a bus to AK from BC once. And every bus we waited for at AKL took a while with the exception of one. We only waited ten minutes for a bus from the AKL to the AK one day. The other waits were over 30 minutes each. We had several people complaining to the bus drivers who said that they needed to let guest services know becuase that was the only outlet for saying this was not working.

[Gail T AGAIN]

I don't hate you at all, you think like me, I love the Epcot resorts, YC is my all time favorite. I stayed just one night at AKL so that wasn't bad but to be honest I could not stay there any longer. It is a gorgeous hotel, the food court is nice, Bomas was wonderful, the staff is one in a million but I still like those Epcot resorts, I'm with you:D

[Simba's Mom]

No problem! You're an example of how everyone's taste is different-even in the same family. That's why I get such a kick out of the "favorite" resort posts. I stayed at AKL solo and LOVED it. On my next trip with DH, I took him over there to see this beautiful resort, and while he thought it was "OK", he wasn't overly impressed. Sort of "Been there, done that, not going back".

[tycase]

We loved AKL and found the bus system actually better than Beach Club and Grand Floridian as the AKL busses are direct to your destination and don't make any stops. We never waited more than 5 minutes for one. We loved the theming of the lodge, kind of like another park. The cm's were fantastic. Jiko's was the best meal I have had in WDW. That said, two things... we had a room overlooking the "people pens" in one of the side savanahs. These are the same price as the other savanah view rooms, but you only have a view of fencing, concrete and occasional lower level **** sapiens spitting over their balconies (!!??). Also, the lighting is so low in the rooms, if you wear makeup, you need to go out on the balcony in the sun to apply it! This is my favorite resort, but I would not stay there again unless I could get a savanah view room overlooking the main savanah, and not over the people pens.

[Wilma Flintstone]

I seem to remember reading (in the early days of WL) that it was originally deemed a "moderate-price resort." That would explain the size of the room--the smallest in the "deluxe" category. When Disney got wind of its immense popularity, the hotel was changed to "deluxe" and extras were added: coffeemakers, iron/ironing board and newspaper delivery. They outdid themselves with the beautiful architecture, theming and "we try harder" attitude that was soooo refreshing when we stayed in '97. When we checked into the Yacht Club after checking out of WL, we noticed quite a difference in cast members' personalities: i.e. "cold shouldered indifference." I still LOVE the YC, but will continue to sing the praises of the wonderful cast members at the Wilderness Lodge. Hope this helped you...all the best, Wilma:wave: :wave: :wave:

[eeyore0062]

Wilma, I wasn't saying that the CM's at WL weren't wonderful, they were. I just don't like the room interior colors, even though they are appropriate to the theming. We were there when the WL was being built in 1993, and it was being touted as a resort between a deluxe and a moderate... so the room size doesn't surprise me... and wouldn't be too bad, except for the oversized furniture... it feels so cramped, especially for more than 2 people. As I said before, it just isn't my cup of tea... too masculine for me!

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by TC Mattoon
I know that many people have said that the buses run regularly to the AKL but that is not what we found to be true. Disney is trying to institute a new on demand busing dispatch and the busses took FOREVER to get there. Basically there has to be enough people to justify a bus before it gets dispatched is what we were told. So if you are the only couple waiting to go to Epcot you WILL WAIT.

AK Lodge is NOT part of Magic On Demand. In the morning, those busses will run on set routes, with fixed intervals. At 11:00am, MK, Epcot, and Studios all convert over to Flex Dispatch. Flex is a modified version of fixed routes, but allows for flexibility. Flex dispatch is NOT demand based, and most busses now run at 7-14 minute intervals.

On a side note, for those resorts who do have Magic on Demand... the busses will run a maximum of 15-17 minutes apart, even if there are only 2 people waiting. The "On Demand" part just signifies the addition of more busses as needed.

[Disneylvr]

Thank you Chip and Dale Express!!! I was beginning to get worried about my upcoming stay at AKL. I have heard such glowing reports about the resort's transportation.

[MNRMommy]

Chip n Dale Express

I am very happy to hear an actual transportation cast member say it is not based on how many people are waiting. That would have been horrible. We were told this by a member of the valet staff so now I have hope.

Perhaps they were just in transition from busy to non busy periods when we were there and were working out kinks. I know that we waited much longer than the average 15 minutes we are used to on several occaisions. We got to kind of making a game out of timing it so we wouldn't go crazy. Of course on Disneys defense we also had a little murphys law going on becuase when we were waiting on the Down Town Disney bus at WL (for 50 minutes) we did see three MK busses come and go.

Busses won't deter me from coming again though as we usually stay in the Epcot area and can walk or take launches to most places.

[jgates]

Just a thought on your problems - I didn't catch the dates you were there but.......

We had no problems when we were there, however, one night on the way back from MK (to Swan), the people for Y & B (are those the ones on the boardwalk?) behind our stop were IRATE. They had been waiting nearly an hour and they were starting to yell and become rather irate with the CM's who were in that area.

I was just ready to turn around and tell them to get on the S/D bus if it came before their bus and then give them directions on WALKING back to Y & B so they could get back faster. However then a bus for Y &B showed up (followed immediately by a S/D bus). They JUST ABOUT CHEWED THE DRIVER UP IN TO LITTLE PIECES AND SPIT HIM BACK OUT AGAIN!

The next day the driver taking us back to our resort said he had 4 busses break down on him the day before (and so did other drivers). The busses actually stil ran. But NO AIR CONDITIONING. He said that was the number one problem on the busses and of course, depending on which ones break down, they may not be able to get one 'back in the loop' of things right away.

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by TC Mattoon
we were waiting on the Down Town Disney bus at WL (for 50 minutes) we did see three MK busses come and go.

I'm assuming this is a typo, as MK Busses do not service the Wilderness Lodge.

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by jgates
We had no problems when we were there, however, one night on the way back from MK (to Swan), the people for Y & B (are those the ones on the boardwalk?) behind our stop were IRATE. They had been waiting nearly an hour and they were starting to yell and become rather irate with the CM's who were in that area.

I'm not discrediting your story or whatnot, but I personally find it hard to beleive that guests were at the MK waiting for a bus for that amount of time. In that period of time, there should have been 4-5 busses into that load zone. And with Flex Dispatch, which has been at the MK for quite some time now, if a bus goes out of service, it does not affect the frequency of service to any location.

Originally posted by jgates
However then a bus for Y &B showed up (followed immediately by a S/D bus). They JUST ABOUT CHEWED THE DRIVER UP IN TO LITTLE PIECES AND SPIT HIM BACK OUT AGAIN!
It really bothers me when folks do this. I understand they might be frustrated or whatnot, but the driver has no control over anything. They just go where they are told. 95% of the time it is not the drivers fault.


Originally posted by jgates
The next day the driver taking us back to our resort said he had 4 busses break down on him the day before (and so did other drivers). The busses actually stil ran. But NO AIR CONDITIONING. He said that was the number one problem on the busses and of course, depending on which ones break down, they may not be able to get one 'back in the loop' of things right away.

During peak summer months, when it gets the hottest, the A/C units get pushed to thier limits. And as all mechanical items, they are prone to failure when pushed too hard. Keep in mind, each bus runs an average of 16 hours per day, 7 days a week. 250-400 miles per day. If the A/C goes out on the bus, the bus WILL be removed from service. This even goes for late night, when it's cool. The A/C does more than just cool the bus, it de-humidifies it, and prevents the windows from fogging up. That's why the driver is unable to turn the A/C off.

Disney is very safety conscious, and as such, if the driver feels that the passengers safety is compromised in any way, the bus will be taken out of service. Whether it be bad brakes, or windshield wipers, the bus will be replaced.

In the past, when each bus had a set Route... if a bus went down, it created a gap in the route, until that bus could be switched out. With the new Flex Dispatch, if a bus goes down, it doesn't affect dispatch times. The driver simply removes itself from the system, replaces the bus, and enters back into the system.

[MNRMommy]

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express
I'm assuming this is a typo, as MK Busses do not service the Wilderness Lodge.

It was - I meant MGM. My husband caught that one too. My bad.

[PamNC]

Although we haven't stayed at the AKL I can understand how you feel. We LOVE the Epcot resort area - the location is second to none IMHO. In fact YC/BC is our favorite resort and we've found we can't stay away. We tried to stay at the GF during our May visit and after one night we transfered to the Beach Club. GF is gorgeous - but we missed the Epcot area and Stormalong Bay.

I think I would feel isolated at AKL - although we have visited the resort and I think it's lovely. We've decided that we want to try different resorts, but we feel like we're missing out if we don't stay at YC or BC. So, for our next trip we're going to split our stay so we can experience the other resorts.

PamNC

[las3888]

I know how you feel...we don't care much for WL either and as eeyore0062 has mentioned, many just love it.

We will be staying at AKL next month, and are trying to set our expectations somewhat low. We are in a standard view room and I know everybody says to book the savannah because that's what it is all about, but we didn't want to spend the extra money. Basically, I feel like we are staying at a deluxe for the price of a moderate on this trip. We LOVE the EPCOT/BW area and would love to stay there, but again didn't want to spend the extra money on this trip. It's kind of our last trip before my AP expires, so I want to really get my final use out of the pass without spending an arm and a leg...

I hope we won't be too sorry, but we are going into it with pretty low expectations. We will also have a car, so we will not have the problem with the busses. The way I look at it, we have stayed at all deluxes except AKL and BWI, so we are just trying something new!!!

We've been to AKL a few times and find it pretty, however, Boma is not our cup of tea either...oh well! To each his own!

[GinaDice]

We just returned last night from 6 absolutely wonderful nights at the the AKL.

We were originally booked at Coronado Springs for this trip, but since the trip was to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary I really wanted to upgrade to a deluxe resort and stay at the Animal Kingdom.

And we were not disappointed at all. The room was beautiful, we were on the sunset savannah. We could see the "people pen" but we still had a great view of the savannah and we saw animals every single day. While it was in the high 90's and very humid each day - the animals were out in the morning and then again later in the day - every day!

The bus service was better than any other time we have been at Disney. A direct route to each park! While we waited 10 minutes for a bus....once we were on board we made no other stops until we got to the park!!!

Yes, the rooms tend to be a bit darker than other resorts - BUT that it part of the theme. One of the best things about Disney is they offer something for everyone.

I for one prefer this resort to many of the others. It is much more relaxing and calming.

I agree that the food may not be to everyone's liking but having eaten in all three of the restaurants a the resort I can say that the menu offered the very basic to the more exotic.

If you are thinking about a stay at this resort - GO For it !! It is a wonderful place - and some of the nicest cast members I have encounterd at Disney work there! :)

[nwdisgal]

When I was there in July, the busses were running about every ten minutes. I was very impressed with AKLs transportation. I have never stayed at the Epcot resorts, but do like their proximity and the convenience (especially by foot) and will likely do that next time. I do agree that AKL is set out, but if the bus transportation is running smoothly it doesn't make much of a difference. It is a great place to get a way from the theme parks and relax. I can see why many make it a weekend destination.

If you want to be in the hustle and bustle, I can see why AKL might not appeal to you.