AKL: Pro/Con

[LukenDC]

Thank You from us as well - we have been dithering for 2 days about where to stay for one of our two weeks, AKL, CBR or POR. You guys have just sold it to us.

One question, how many animals are actually there on a regular basis? Do you have to be up at sunrise to see them before they dash undercover for the rest of the day. We can't splash out on an upgrade so what will we have to do to see the animals?

Thanks
Gail

There are several public viewing areas that any guest or visitor to the AKL can enjoy. The animals are most active in the morning, but they can still be seen later in the day.

 

[Disneynewbie]

AKL is our new fave!

PROS- The resort is beautiful!
- Animals!
- Boma! My fave restaurant in WDW.
- Good bus service (no sharing)
- Nice pool.

CONS- ??? Maybe price, although you can find discounts if you know where to look (Mousesavers, AAA, AP). I got pool view for $130ish in Feb. '05.

You can't go wrong with AKL.

Jimmie:

I am new to the boards (and to Disney planning)!! Where did you get the pool view for $130ish? Are you an AP?

Thanks!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Just over a year ago (Sept 04) we got AKL pool view for just over $100 per night. It was an unbelieveable price. We jumped on it. We got a postcard in the mail with the code on it. I was so happy. From what I hear, it doesn't happen all that often and we just lucked out. We don't have the AP! Good Luck!~

 

[wendypooh]

Karla - Same thing happened to us last year, we got an email with a discount code. We stayed at POFQ for around $70.00 a night.

 

[Harambe]

You guys convinced DH, we are all booked, paid for, and now just waiting....................

We are so excited about going to AKL......... DH and DS LOVE animals, I do too, but they are almost fanatical about it.......... all I can say is in Jan. watch out if you are anywhere near the zebra domes!!!!!!!! LOL

AND, save some night vision goggles for my little one!!!!

And the best part of going in January, is if it is a cool evening, you will really enjoy not only the outside fire pit with the storytelling, but also the firepit in the lobby, which is one of my favorite spots to hang out! They burn some spices or herbs in with the fire, and the aroma is lovely!

 

[zachnlucy]

Does anyone know if any of the rooms will sleep 5? I didn't see any on allearsnet.com or thru WDW site.

 

[Stitches]

Pro - the atmosphere

Con - not on the monorail

 

[mrscoobs]

Well, the family is convinced! We are going to stay in AKL for our upcoming trip : We are going to cheat though, by splitting the stay with poly

Just over a year ago (Sept 04) we got AKL pool view for just over $100 per night. It was an unbelieveable price. We jumped on it. We got a postcard in the mail with the code on it. I was so happy. From what I hear, it doesn't happen all that often and we just lucked out. We don't have the AP! Good Luck!~

Funny on how this is why we are planning our next vacation, we love these postcards as our family seems to get one telling us to comeback to "see ya real soon" for discounted room rates (reason we went for a May mother's day trip as well). We've gotten one that was 25% off once, but normally 20% rack rate for value or regular season

 

[never_enough_pooh]

Pros: Beautiful Resort, lovely scenery, great restaurants!

I really don't see any Cons with AKL. I really don't think the bus rides are really that much longer than some of the other resorts, and actually, AKL is closer to some of the parks than other hotels!

For instance, in the new Unofficial Guide:

From AKL to:

MK: 8:15 min
Epcot 6:15 min
MGM 6:00 min
AK 2: 15 min

From POFQ:

MK: 12:00 min
Epcot 8:00 min
MGM 12:30 min
AK 16:15 min

From POP:

MK 8:30 min
Epcot 6:30 min
MGM 5:00 min
AK 6:15

So, just from these examples, AKL is actually a shorter distance every park than POFQ and POP! I think it just feels longer, as it is not in walking distance to other parks.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Pros: Excellent restaurants (nearly best on-site), great wines and desserts, best general store, some great public and private views of animals and scenery, good pool, nice decor, fantastic concierge level service.

Con: Not attached to a park (or within walking distance).

 

[letterdavidman]

Thanks for the replies so far I had a feeling that AKL is a wonderful experience. All the pros seem wonderful, but the transportation seems like it would be a long walk to the bus stop and as mentioned, a pretty long ride to some of the parks (we never drive and utilize disney transport the entire time we are on property). I guess we just need a few more praises for AKL Decisions, decisions!

Well, as I just got done extolling the (many) virtues of the AKL in my first ever trip report of any kind, I can't tell you not to stay there. Nope, just not possible.

However, to address the bus stop/bus ride issue, I will say that it didn't seem that long of a trek to or from them in either the morning or the evening. And, to be honest, the longest-seeming (and maybe the actual longest) bus ride from AKL was to/from Downtown Disney. Not even the ride to/from the Magic Kingdom seemed all that long. And, as I recounted in my trip report, the longest wait for a bus from a park to AKL was at Animal Kingdom and the wait was 35 minutes. And, while it is true that AKL doesn't share its bus route with any other hotel, that doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be going directly to your chosen destination from AKL (ex.: the ride on the bus from the AKL to Downtown Disney includes a stop at Typhoon Lagoon), or directly from whatever park you're at to the AKL (ex.: sometimes our evening ride from Epcot back to AKL included stopping at the Animal Kingdom to drop people off who had parked there). But, by and large, the average wait for a bus from the AKL to anywhere was around five or ten minutes.

And, as for your specific question...

Pros: -Exotic animals EVERYWHERE
-Stunning hotel, inside and out
-Peerless service
-Boma and Jiko, two of the absolute best restaurants to be found on
WDW property
-I could go on...

Con: -No table service restaurant open for lunch

 

[Boomdocker]

We love AKL too!!

Pro's: The theming and atmosphere really lend themselves to a really relaxing, quieter vacation than we have experienced at any other resort (so far). Bomas is fantastic for breakfast (mmm frunch) and dinner. havent tried Jiko yet but will next time. We found the bue service to be similar if not quicker than other resorts we have tried. Obviously the animals, I love giraffes. For us the balcony was an extension of our room and you can enjoy mornings and evenings before or after parks and take in the atmosphere. Totally relaxing.

Cons: Nothing really apart from our room was a looooong way from the lobby and amenities. This in itself isnt an issue unless you have tired legs at the end of the day. Other than that the room was actually in a great viewing location and was soooo quiet we couldnt hear anything. So even this con is really a pro! lolol

Really thrilled to be going back soon.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Oops...one pro I forgot to mention. Their food court has excellent pizza. One night after MK closed and we waited a while to get on the bus back to AKL we were exhausted and hungry. We stopped at the food court on the way back to the room, picked up pizza's and ate in our room. The pizza's were WONDERFUL. Maybe because we were so hungry, but I honestly think they were great. It was one of our best meals...my grandson loved it. Picnic on his bed at 10 pm.

 

[Tikiman]

Here are my pros and cons but regardless of my opinion I think you need to try it to find out for yourself.

Pros:
Great theme
Some of the best food in WDW
Interesting views with the animals
Great CMs
Good price
Does not share a bus

Cons:
Does not have the feeling that you are in the middle of WDW (might be a pro to some)
You can only take a bus everywhere (I love the monorail resorts)
No place to walk around other than the pool are and a small viewing area.
No activities like boats or bikes
No other resorts to walk to
My experience with the busses was that sometimes there was quite a bit of a wait.
Rooms are not very large

Like I said I think you need to try it yourself to see if you like it.

Aloha

Steve

 

[kytiam]

I was researching resorts for our trip next summer. We are a family of 5. The WDW website gave us a room at AKL with a set of bunk beds, a double (or was it a queen?) and a fold out sofa thing. This was a "deluxe savannah view" room and we were quoted a price of $2731.82 for seven nights. That's roughly $390/night. Kinda pricey for my budget.

 

[wendypooh]

Hey Steve!!!! How's the little cherub?? LOL I wish we could stay at the Poly, but, right now, AKL is more in our budget!!! ( Gotta save up for that Maui trip)

As for the OP, Yes, they do have rooms that can sleep 5, as the op said, I believe they are deluxe rooms.


To the original poster, if you just aren't sure, do a split stay........ try AKL, and try somewhere else. Depending on the length of your stay, that may be the best thing for you.

 

[Tygan]

My wife and I stayed there on our honeymoon just a few weeks ago. Didn't really deal with the hotel staff too much, but they were all very friendly.

Pros:
Nice rooms.
Animals.
Animals.
Did not feel crowded.
Feels very isolated...was very nice to feel like we had our own little place.

Cons:
Was absolutely frigid in the lobby/hallways.
Was sick one night and asked for a thermometer..front desk said the gift shop could bring it to my room...the gift shop made me go down there to get one.
The walk from room to lobby....LONG!

 

[ajc8699]

aw:

Stayed their for about 6 days at the beginning of June.

Pros:
Animals
Relaxation
Pool and slide
2 hot tubs
great decor
short walk from lobby to bus, the rest of the time you are walking inside
no bus sharing (longest trip was Magic Kingdom and that was only about 10 minutes.
African guides (very informative and friendly, enjoyed talking with them)

Cons:
Made me want to skip some stuff at the parks so I could stay and relax at the resort
The staff is friendly, but not overly Disney friendly as at other places (this can be a pro or con).

 

[Stitches]

Well, the family is convinced! We are going to stay in AKL for our upcoming trip : We are going to cheat though, by splitting the stay with poly

Sounds like the perfect vacation! Happy planning!