AKL or WL

[Mousemom]

Hoping I can get some thoughts from those who have stayed at both of these resorts. We are booked for 5 nights in September at AKL. We have stayed here 4 time and have enjoyed our visits. We have never stayed at WL but have been to this resort to eat and thought it was really beautiful. We have the room only discount for AKL. WL was not included in this discount. We have AP's so if they release an AP discounts for WL that we can use we might switch. Which resort do you favor and why? I do like the idea of the boat to MK. Is it a benefit to those who have stayed here?

 

[Karabee]

I'm sure many people will disagree with me, but I personally was not at all impressed with WL. In fact, while there we went to AKL to eat and wished we had just gone with my gut and stayed there again. I'm all about the Northwest theme, but I found the rooms to be so dated and worn out - however they are going through a refurb so hopefully this changes. Also, the service at WL was not really the Disney service I love. Our check in was horrible - we were sent to an occupied room, when we got to our room we looked down and there were old boxers on the roof below, I found the maid smoking on the balcony next to ours and it went on and on. I will say, the boat was nice and the grounds were lovely, but that didn't do it for me. AKL pool also wins out in my opinion.
I'm sure people will have plenty of horror stories about all resorts, but for me, the service at WL turned us off.

 

[Wooden Eye]

If I experienced some of the things Karabee experienced, I probably wouldn't be too thrilled with WL either! But, we've stayed at WL numerous times, and fortunately, never had a bad experience. Mom, looks like you're from PacNW, so WL probably is right in your comfort zone as far as the deco/theme. The rooms have been updated, and look wonderful (we were just there last week). True, the pool at WL doesn't seem as big as the one at AKL, and it doesn't have the zero entry like at AKL. But, the positives: good dining choices, 'out of the hustle bustle' atmosphere (I guess AKL can claim that feeling too), extras: electric light parade on the lake, view of some of Wishes from some of the rooms, proximity to Fort Wilderness (nice 1 mile walk over to see/ride the horses etc). Also, we love being on Bay Lake - lots of fun renting boats etc.

My opinion - you can't go wrong with either, but I think WL has a more laid back feel and has a few more 'extra' options.

 

[Pixiedust34]

If you're able to get the discount, I'd switch to WL. You've already stayed at AKL 4 times, so trying a new place would be fun. Perhaps you'll discover a new favorite resort--you won't know until your try.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I haven't stayed at the AKL, but I stayed at the WL last week and adored it! I have to say that the transportation was delightful. You can get a bus to anywhere in WDW from the Magic Kingdom, which generally has the longest hours of all the parks, so we found it very convenient.

Our rooms (3 of them) were just redecorated and so nice! I loved every little detail from the comforter wrapped in sheets on the beds to the headboards that had carved animal reading lights.

 

[ChocoKat]

I am a big fan of AKL, truly, never had a bad stay there and I have been in all of the different type of rooms, all the way from standard to club level.

I still want to stay at the WL one day though, probably will do it during the Christmas holidays though. Having stayed at the Contempo and GF though I can see the draw of being close to the MK, overall if one has little kids along.

Nothing quite like a relaxing boat ride to and from the MK or a short bus ride. I have eaten at the WL many times and I have even sat down at their lobby to rest after running around MK and before going back to the Contempo, just to see how I liked it, and it was very nice.

That said, I still love the AKL and we just booked a stay for a long weekend there. We don't plan on going to the parks much since we really don't like touring in the summer months (way too hot), we plan on staying at the resort, relaxing and maybe go to MK one day to watch the summer overlay of the Magic, Memories and You.

If I were planning on going to the parks more, I would def. consider WL, but since I am not, the pool at AKL along with the animals, the relaxing and far removed atmosphere really sell it for me.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

We have stayed at both. We haven't had a bad experience at either. At WL, we do like the boat to MK as an alternative form of transportation. We also like the electric water parade that we can watch from the beach in the evening.

We have never had a bad experience at either. If the theme here appeals to you, it is worth a try at least once.

 

[mickeynut1]

We've stayed at both and while AKL is a beautiful resort and we've had great stays, the WL is our favorite of the two. We love the MK area and while we've never had any trouble with the buses, we love taking the boat back and forth to MK. It's also nice taking the boat to the CR where it's easy access to the monorail for visiting, shopping, and dining at the Poly and GF. You really can't go wrong with either resort as they are both great, but if a good discount came along for the WL, that would be my choice.

 

[raven69david]

We are AKL fanatics. We tried WL once and once was enough for us. The resort is similar in most aspects, but the magic to us was just not there. We enjoyed our stay, but we do not see ourselves going back anytime soon. All future trips are scheduled for AKL and/or split stays at AoA/AKL.

 

[Sue M]

We love both resorts. We had 1 stay at AKL in 2009 so its been awhile an decided to go back in aug. looking forward to it.

We stayed 3times at WL and never had a bad stay. Love the boat to MK or the resort boat to cr or fw. Electric water parade, beach & marina.

Both are wonderful.