AKL... Please tell me it's going to be ok.

[Spunky946]

I see that you are from Ohio....that is far away from everything Disney.

I am always perplexed by people who travel across country or across the world to get to Disney, and then complain because the resort (AKL) is a few miles from a park. To me, you're still right there. Heck, being from NH, if I am simply in Florida, I will consider myself close to Disney.

I have not stayed at AKL yet (not because of distance) but I have visited several times and taken buses to the parks....I did not really notice a huge difference from any of the other resorts we have stayed at. It is a beautiful resort and I think it's theming lends itself to being a vacation within a vacation. A nice respite from the hustle/bustle of the parks.

I think you are going to have a fantastic time, and especially with the extra perk of CL. Relax and have a fantastic vacation!!

I agree.

 

[nu2dvc]

We have stayed at AKV and really fell in love with it. The theming is just so special and unique that it makes up for the fact that you need to bus to all 4 parks. If your kids are older this really shouldn't be a problem, as it s always harder to deal with buses when strollers and young kids are involved. (harder to carry sleeping children off the bus at the end of the night.)

We enjoyed Jiko and Sanaa very much. Unfortunately we didn't get to try Boma. The pool area was great and if you invest in the Savannah-view you will marvel at the views off your balcony! I'm not the biggest animal-lover or anything, but it was amazing just to watch them in their pseudo-natural habitat.

OK well I hope your daughter loves the resort and that your whole family is happy with her decision!

 

[heimlichfan]

I have stayed at several places onsite and will be returning to AKL in a few short weeks. I too had reservations the first time I stayed there but here's what I learned:

1. I never felt frustrated waiting for a bus at AKL... at BLT, WL, BWV busses were shared with other resorts and it felt like it took FOREVER to get anywhere.

2. Boma is one of the best buffet meals in WDW. Jiko is beyond delicious as well. Make sure you eat at least one but try to eat at both of them.

3. We went out one night to a savannah viewing area and used night vision goggles while talking to a cast member who was from South Africa. Great experience!

4. AKL has one of my favorite resort gift shops... even if it is just for looking!

5. The lobby is beautiful!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[jaykorf001]

We will be heading back to WDW the end of May-beginning of June 2014. I decided to let my DD, who will be 16 at that time make the decision of where we will stay. I have to admit I thought she would say our favorite the WL, or perhaps the Poly; but nooooo she wants to stay at the AKL-CL. I have tried to discourage her with the, "it's way out there," " it's bus only," and other excuses but to no avail.

Please tell me that if I go ahead and book it we are going to enjoy this resort (I promised her so I will have to do it) . I have visited it and it does feel out there away from everything. Please tell me it's not that bad. (or is it)

We just stayed AKL CL in June. You will not be disappointed and I highly recommend the Sunrise Safari, available for AKL CL guests to book. With CL, you will get an Arusha Savanna view. We had an incredible view of giraffes, zebras, ostrich, red river hogs, et al outside our balcony. It may sound weird but I loved seeing a giraffe outside my balcony in the middle of the night.

 

[eeyore81]

We just stayed AKL CL in June. You will not be disappointed and I highly recommend the Sunrise Safari, available for AKL CL guests to book. With CL, you will get an Arusha Savanna view. We had an incredible view of giraffes, zebras, ostrich, red river hogs, et al outside our balcony. It may sound weird but I loved seeing a giraffe outside my balcony in the middle of the night.

Do you happen to remember your room number?

 

[MinnieSummer]

I think what always amazes me when people talk about the distance of AKL to everything else is they always bring up transportation and how much easier it is at the monorail resorts. I don't get it. The monorail only goes directly to MK. To get to Epcot you have to take the monorail to the TTC then get off go down the ramp and back up the other side to board a monorail to Epcot. That is not convenient IMHO. WL, Poly and GF share busses so they are almost always crowded. At AKL you get on the bus go to your destination and get off. I used to travel with my DD as an infant/toddler. I got on and off busses carrying her and her stroller all by myself. I stayed at CR, GF, OKW, AKL and most of the moderate resorts during that time. I preferred the busses -- except for the walk to MK from CR. Now that was convenient. AKL was so easy. Once I got seated I had time to relax before I had to get off. That worked for me.

 

[tiggerlvr27]

I have stayed at several places onsite and will be returning to AKL in a few short weeks. I too had reservations the first time I stayed there but here's what I learned:

1. I never felt frustrated waiting for a bus at AKL... at BLT, WL, BWV busses were shared with other resorts and it felt like it took FOREVER to get anywhere.

2. Boma is one of the best buffet meals in WDW. Jiko is beyond delicious as well. Make sure you eat at least one but try to eat at both of them.

3. We went out one night to a savannah viewing area and used night vision goggles while talking to a cast member who was from South Africa. Great experience!

4. AKL has one of my favorite resort gift shops... even if it is just for looking!

5. The lobby is beautiful!

Enjoy your trip!

Such positive energy gets me psyched for my first stay in November!!!
The DISboard rocks!!!

 

[tiggerlvr27]

AKL tends to get a bad rap because of its "out there" location which, to me, is incredibly sad because the resort is absolutely beautiful. The rooms are very aesthetically pleasing and well appointed, and the surroundings are magnificent. There is truly something magical waking up to giraffes, zebras and other African wildlife in your "backyard".

Aside from the values, I have stayed at all of the WDW resorts and AKL rounds out my "Top 3" list (also included are WL and GF); I feel as if I'm on a vacation inside of a vacation when at AKL. It's a great feeling too!

We tend to live in a "hurry up and go!" / "we should have been there yesterday!" society, and perhaps I'm the oddball out because that just isn't me. For 50/52 weeks I work incredibly hard. I wake up at 0430 and am lucky if my head hits the pillow at 2400. I'm the DON of a nursing home so while people clock out at the end of their shift, I'm on-call 24/7. I'm a single mom to a gorgeous and incredibly active 4-year-old who keeps me on my toes.

Yes, AKL is farther from MK, EP and DHS than the other WDW resorts, but its location isn't something that should be a deal breaker (in my opinion, that is). So what if it takes 20-25 minutes via bus to get to MK? It's a vacation. It's meant to be enjoyed but that doesn't mean we have to run around like a chicken with its head cut off to do so.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with AKL, not in the least!

Couldn't agree more! Slow down, smell the roses, and pull some Mickey ears

 

[msd1776]

AK is our home resort. I had a 1 bedroom booked for Kidani in October but changed it at 7 months to VWL, which will be fantastic, but I am sad I didn't keep the AK reservation (2 bathrooms!). Oh well. Like others have commented, I love the theming and the atmosphere. I truly feel like I am home when we are there.....next stay March 2014.

For anyone contemplating a stay, try it!!! I think you will really enjoy it. There is something so centering seeing the animals.

 

[buzznina]

We tend to live in a "hurry up and go!" / "we should have been there yesterday!" society, and perhaps I'm the oddball out because that just isn't me. Yes, AKL is farther from MK, EP and DHS than the other WDW resorts, but its location isn't something that should be a deal breaker (in my opinion, that is). So what if it takes 20-25 minutes via bus to get to MK? It's a vacation. It's meant to be enjoyed but that doesn't mean we have to run around like a chicken with its head cut off to do so.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with AKL, not in the least!

You can add my family to the "oddball" list I am sure a lot of posters think i"m nuts when, staying at a decent size resort like POR, I write that we will get off at the main building when our room is closer to one of the other bus stops so we can stroll and enjoy the the resort grounds

We really enjoyed AKL and walking into the Jambo lobby every day is fantastic.

 

[wdw_monster]

This is my favorite resort!! It's so beautiful!! You will not be disappointed!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[rolltidepixie]

We changed from WL when the discounts came out. They couldn't apply the discount to the rooms at WL. I've been wondering the same thing about if I would like it as much as WL. This thread has made me feel a whole lot better. Now I'm looking forward to the stay. Thanks for all your answers.

 

[smcabee]

Love the AKL. Not only is the sunrise safari nice but if you can afford the Wanyama safari in the late afternoon it is spectacular.

 

[goofy4prez]

Thanks again for all the imput. If you notice below I have now added a ticker for the AKL for June... Booked and looking forward to it. Now to crunch the numbers and see if I'm going to add the DDP this time or go OOP for our ADR's.

 

[jaykorf001]

Do you happen to remember your room number?

I do not remember the room number but we were quite a ways down the Kudu Trail on the Arusha side. We were not all the way to the end but it was a bit of a walk to get around to the main elevators. We had requested Zebra Trail to be near the pool and elevator but didn't get it. So we did have to walk a bit further to the room but we also had great views.