AKL or WL in Jan?

[missmun52]

I know this has been asked 1001 times before but which is better?

My DH and I are planning a trip for jan 2009, It will be our 5th Anniversary and my DS will also be celebrating a B-Day. I am in LOVE with AKL (from visiting) but have never been to WL at all, which is better during the cooler times?

 

[missmun52]

 

[MissionMouse]

I have stayed at both resorts (Oct-Dec) and these types of questions always come down to personal preference (i.e., location, rate, theme, room selection, transportation, park plans, resort isolation/leisure, pool, restaurants, view, water activities, etc.) We normally select resorts in the Epcot or MK area, but we also had an enjoyable time at the AKL. I prefer resorts in the Epcot or MK area due to a combination of reasons I cited above, but the AKL is a lot of fun.

 

[J and R's mom]

I voted for WL. I prefer the theming and location.

You can take a boat from WL over to the CR and hop on the monorail to resort hop or just to ride the monorail. You can catch a boat (or walk the nature trail) over to Fort Wilderness and sit around the camp fire at night and sing with Chip and Dale and watch a Disney movie outdoors. The pool is nice as well.

One thing to keep in mind about AKL is that there will be construction going on there throughout 2009 as they finish building the DVC sections. Although they try and minimize construction visability and noise, it will still be evident.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Although it truly is personal preference, voted for WL due to the time of year.

For some reason WL appeals to me in Dec/Jan and the easy water launch to MK and other MK resorts is great - then monorail to EPCOT instead of bus sometimes.

AKL we enjoy in warmer months - loved it in late August - had a Savannah view and it was hard to leave the balcony. Do not like zoos, but AKL was fabulous!

 

[disneychic]

I prefer the Wilderness Lodge. I don't care for the location of the AKL.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I went w/ WL. I am in the same spot and I think I have ruled out AKL for our Jan trip. I am totally in love w/ it but for Jan the coziness of WL just seems so appealing. The location is wonderful, too. Espically if you plan on visiting MK more.
Good luck!
I'm stuck on WL vs. CR vs Poly now. It's gonna depend on what the best deal is for me when AP rates come out.

 

[missmun52]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I wish I stoped by WL on my last stay so at least I could have seen it in person; I wanted to but it never worked out. My big concern about AKL is the construction that will be going on, I dont want it to put a damper on the experience.

My Dh was not really in love with fort wilderness, does WL have the same type of feel?

 

[MinMouse]

My Dh was not really in love with fort wilderness, does WL have the same type of feel?

I definitely vote for WL. I think it's location definitely tops AKL (But I'm not a huge AK fan) especially with a five year-old. DH and I went to WL for our 15th anniversary last year. The setting is very nice and the lobby is amazing. It definitely has a western lodge feel to it. IMHO Fort Wilderness doesn't even compare.

 

[SFLTIGGER]

I have not yet been to AKL, but as a DVC member am looking forward to the new DVC building . I agree with the construction issues, althought the Jambo House construction is to be finished (I think) by mid-2008, there will probably still be the DVC construction into 2009.

Personally, I love WL also. If you have not yet, this is a great thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=658804 for WL! Good Luck!

 

[missmun52]

I have not yet been to AKL, but as a DVC member am looking forward to the new DVC building . I agree with the construction issues, althought the Jambo House construction is to be finished (I think) by mid-2008, there will probably still be the DVC construction into 2009.

Personally, I love WL also. If you have not yet, this is a great thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=658804 for WL! Good Luck!

Thanks for the thread!

 

[Colleen27]

We had the same conversation briefly, because the kids loved AKL when they stayed there with my inlaws and have been asking to go back, but we decided to stick with WL because of the added transportation options and the dining options that come from being a boat ride from the monorail. We have 3 MK days planned, plus an early morning tour at MK on one of our off days, so that's the park I'm most concered with being able to get to quickly and easily.

 

[missmun52]

We had the same conversation briefly, because the kids loved AKL when they stayed there with my inlaws and have been asking to go back, but we decided to stick with WL because of the added transportation options and the dining options that come from being a boat ride from the monorail. We have 3 MK days planned, plus an early morning tour at MK on one of our off days, so that's the park I'm most concered with being able to get to quickly and easily.

I think the transportation is one the main reasons I am so undecided. my son will be turning 4 when we go and so we will be at MK alot

 

[pilferk]

One thing to keep in mind about AKL is that there will be construction going on there throughout 2009 as they finish building the DVC sections. Although they try and minimize construction visability and noise, it will still be evident.

Just to be completely clear, the interior construction/DVC conversion should be done by mid to late Jan (the last set of conversions is slated to come on-line around January 28th). The only construction going on at AKL will be the new DVC building, across the Sunset Savannah from the main lodge. I'm not sure how much effect that will have, other than on site lines, on Lodge guests.

 

[pilferk]

I have not yet been to AKL, but as a DVC member am looking forward to the new DVC building . I agree with the construction issues, althought the Jambo House construction is to be finished (I think) by mid-2008, there will probably still be the DVC construction into 2009.

Originally, the conversions were slated to be complete by May of '08.

However, the DVC members site AKV FAQ was updated pretty recently, and it now states they'll be done by Jan 28th.

So if the OP's primary worry is about construction, it looks like they have little to worry about now.

 

[Flossbolna]

However, the DVC members site AKV FAQ was updated pretty recently, and it now states they'll be done by Jan 28th.

That's great, we will arive at AKL in Jan 29th!!!

To the OP: I voted for AKL as I will be staying there. As others said, it is more a question of personal taste, I have only visited WL but stayed at AKL. I think both are wonderful hotels and if AKL would have been not available I would have loved to stay at WL.

For me a trip to Florida in the winter is about escaping the grey and cold days at home, so even if it is not hot, AKL feels more like summer to me. I think if I would ever go in the summer, WL would be more appealing as it has this cool mountain and woods air feeling.

I actually found the AKL transportation to be great, we rarely had to wait more than 5 minutes for a bus and the trips to most parks are really not too bad, only MK is about 15-20 min. But then the bus never stops anywhere else than your destination (if Blizzard Beach is open the Studios bus stops there, but it will be closed in January).

 

[missmun52]

Thanks for all the replies. I know I want to go to AKL but the transportation at Wl seems better.

Can anyone tell me what the bus service is like at AKl and WL?

I do not think we will be renting a car. I am assuming it should be better than the values.

 

[J and R's mom]

Thanks for all the replies. I know I want to go to AKL but the transportation at Wl seems better.

Can anyone tell me what the bus service is like at AKl and WL?

I do not think we will be renting a car. I am assuming it should be better than the values.

I only visted the AKL once when coming back for AK shortly after the hotel opened so I can't give you much feedback on AKL bus service. I do think that the AKL has dedicated busses, though.

I have stayed at WL twice and can't complain much about the busses there. It didn't seem any worse or better than the other hotels I've stayed at. The thing I did like, though, was the boat to MK. It was nice to have some other mode of transportation during the stay.

I can't say that deluxe resorts get better bus service than values, though. I believe the opposite might actually be true. Most vaule resorts have dedicated busses and do not have to share with other resorts, like most deluxes do.

Another added bonus to the WL is the boat over to the Contemporary. It gives access to yet another mode of transportation...the monorail.

 

[Buzz2001]

Akl

 

[Flossbolna]

I agree that busses at AKL seem to be better.

Both hotels are located on the edge of WDW property, so both are bound to have some long travel times (AKL to MK and WL to AK). WL has boat and bus to MK, the boat ride might be a nice feature, but it actually isn't very fast. WL also has a boat to the Contemporary and to Fort Wilderness, so if you would want to go there this might be a transportation advantage.

AKL however has the great advantage of designated busses, you won't end up going to other hotels first before you are on your way to the bus. Besides that, I have been monitoring posts about transportation for both hotels for quite some time and from the feedback here on the boards, AKL service seems to be much more consistend, most people claim that they had a regular flow of busses.