AKL vs WL?

[Minderbinder5]

Hi all,

I last visited WDW in '88 when I was 7 yrs old. So, obviously I know nothing about the current layout of the World. I have already made reservations at the WL because it is so much closer to the MK and has that show on Bay Lake at night. But, my boyfriend keeps talking about how cool it would be to see the giraffe outside a savannah room at AKL. I'm afraid that AKL will be too much removed physically from the rest of the magic at WDW and that staying on Bay Lake will afford us much more fun being more in the heart of things. What are your thoughts? Is AKL as out of the way as it sounds in the guide books?

 

[HopperFan]

I don't think the AKL is so far out as everyone says.........the difference I would say is (1) No other part of Disney is visible from the AKL and (2) you can not walk anywhere from there. But transportation is great from there.

BUT, if I were in your shoes, I would stay with your choice of WL. My reasons are Location to MK and boat ride there, Smaller more intimate hotel, great landscape and pool area, physical amentities such as boat rental, beach, sit on the beach at night and watch the Electrical Parade, walking paths.......

AKL is great, but there is no water, boating, paths etc. Maybe another reason people feel isolated. While you will have no trouble seeing a giraffe....there is no guarantee he will have them outside his window.

Why not stick with WL and then make a PS to eat at BOMA at AKL. Tour the hotel, see the animals, have a great dinner......then return to a more cozy hotel for two.

JMO and I do love them both, that is just what I would do in your shoes !

 

[Demosthenes]

Yes, the AKL is out of the way. You do have only busses for transportation, you only have 1 pool, there is no tennis, jogging or boating. Access to other resorts is difficult, and so you are limted in your convenient dining options to those restaurants at the resort.

But...The AKL is the most unique resort at WDW. Your BF is right, it is neat to look out your window and see a giraffe. The theming at AKL is fantastic, and it is carried throughout the resort to the food, rooms, decor and even cast members, some of whom are native to Africa.

If you feel like you'd rather be closer to the action, you may want to stay away from the AKL; speaking as someone who likes the lodge, I must admit it is remote, and it feels that way. If you don't mind a little longer bus ride, and you can give up the outdoor recreation, you do pick up great views and a sense that you have been transported to a completely unique place.

 

[rlduvall]

Now, don't get me wrong, I think both hotels are great, but I also think people place too much emphasis on all that outdoor recreation. I normally don't have the time to do much of it anyway. That's just me. I am a park kind of gal, lol. The reason AKL doesn't have alot of the outdoor recreation is because it would be too disturbing to the animals, i.e. running paths, motorboats, etc. Seriously, you won't go wrong with either one. I personally prefer the remoteness of AKL. We always rent a car and the buses go directly to the parks, as opposed to some buses who pick up from other resorts. Have fun!!!

 

[KELLY]

I'm having the same problem we were booked at AKL changed it to WL because of all the resorts we have access to for dinner and the dinner shows and also for the beach area. We have no children so the MK being close doesn't matter to us. And I have heard that AKL transportation is excellent were WL is ok they share a bus with other resorts. On the other hand the AKL rooms look great and the pool area looks better than WL. But I haven't stayed at either resort so I can't compare. I have to make up my mind before this evening because I want to pay in full and not change again. So may decsions to make. Do people perfer WL to AKL and why?


KELLY

 

[goin2disneyagain]

I would choose AKL. It is further away from most of the parks but it really isn't that big of a deal. The AKL is awesome. Just seeing a giraffe off of your balcony makes the whole stay, the entire trip really, worth it. Personally I was very disappointed in WL.

 

[joats]

Our favorite is the WL. However, we went to Boma(at AKL) for dinner on our last trip. AKL is the only other resort we thought could compare (in our opinion) to WL.
This trip we are doing 3 nights at AKL to try it out and then head to WL for 5 nights as I said, it's our favorite.

I'm not big on the split stay, but didn't want go w/out staying at WL again and trying out AKL. Ever consider splitting your stay?

 

[KELLY]

Which resort seems to be quiter? AKL seems kind of out of the way does that make the resort more quiter than the WL. We have only stayed at moderates and my husband loved CSR was quite and nice pool area. Thanks KELLY

 

[leighe]

AKL was great for DH and I. I liked coming back to the resort after a busy day in the park and feeling "away from it all." Also - if it is just going to be you and your BF - AKL was super romantic! DH and I also really enjoyed the pool and Victoria Falls (the lounge). The bus service was great. I think the longest we every waited for a bus was 15 minutes to DTD and that was only one time. I have Christmas ressies at WL and I'm a little worried about the bus service - I'm considering switching to an Epcot resort or going back to AKL.

No matter which resort you choose, you'll be at Disney World so you're going to have a great time!

 

[buzz5985]

I have stayed at both AKL and VWL. If I had to pick a favorite - it would be AKL. There is nothing better, than sitting on your balcony watching a zebra. Or a giraffe. Or the cattle with the huge horns. It is very remote - but that is part of the charm. As for the VWL - the pool is great, the decor is great. Transportation is horrible. The boat is so slow to the MK. The bus is worse to every where else.

So my suggestion is - split your stay. You won't regret it.

Janis

 

[DONALD38]

Ask for opinions and you shall receive, ours is AKL. Its nice to be away. Yes some say the bus distance is farther from the parks but were only talking maybe 5 extra minutes. Its still less than
waiting for an attraction in the park for 30-45 minutes. Whats nice is there isn't any stops at other resorts.

 

[lyncruiser]

For a couple with no children I would choose AKL. We generally have found WL to be overrun with kids (presumably because of its proximity to MK). The lobby always seems noisy and frenetic, partly I think because of Whispering Canyon Cafe (which I think should be renamed Echoing Canyon Cafe).

As others have said, AKL is the most unique hotel on property. Get a savannah view on a lower floor, sit back and enjoy the animals. They are endlessly fascinating. When we stayed at AKL, we felt we'd been transported to someplace very far away and exotic. Bus transportation to MK is great. Jiko is a lovely restaurant, Boma is good if you like buffets and the atmosphere of the hotel is romantic and transporting.

 

[Winnie Pooh Fan]

I have a completely different opinion from those that posted negative comments about the WL. To be perfectly honest the comments don't even sound like the same resort I stayed at. I am so sorry they had a bad experience because we had a wonderful one.

This was absolutely no question about it the best resort I have ever stayed in. The CM's were great, the location and thememing fabulous, and transporation was no problem at all.

The WL is small enough to feel cozy and out of the way without feeling isolated and cramped. We had an inner courtyard view and enjoyed watching the lake and pool area from our balcony.

The EWP is something not to be missed. Beach and pool area are relaxing. Water mice, fishing on location. Horseback riding, petting, zoo, camp fires short walk or quick boat ride away.

The transporation was great. I highly recommend using the boats when possible as they were quick and refreshing. Short wait time for the busses and although they did share with the GF and FW, the WL is the first stop on and off so it works great.

I will say that AKL is the only other resort we have considered staying at because my son is an animal lover, however I do think we would miss WL too much.

 

[prairie]

It really may depend on what type of trip you have planned.

For our first and only trip to Disney last August, we stayed at AKL and loved it. Transportation was great, the theming was magnificent and also, it is a new hotel and it shows. Of course, I have nothing to compare it to, yet. It was a short, 5 day trip--with a 5 and 7 year old we were strictly in the parks all day. We had no interest or time for things like resort-hopping, recreation, or even (fine) dining for that matter. We really didn't take breaks so it was to the park in the morning and back in the evening.

This year, we are trying WL and looking for a more relaxed paced trip and not just park park park. For instance maybe renting a boat or bicycle, dinner at Chef Mickey's, checking out the Boardwalk and DD etc. If you are planning this type of thing and going back and forth a lot maybe AKL would feel a little distant. However, the peace and tranquility of AKL was a pleasure. Haven't seen WL yet but from what others say both hotels are lovely.

prairiegirl

03- AK
04-WL in 10 days!

 

[Minderbinder5]

Well, with reservations at WL (and APs so parking is all free), I was going to rent a car because we are planning on spending the days in the parks and then having dinner in various resorts and at Epcot, mostly. With 2 weeks at WDW, we will also take pleanty of time to have fun at DTD, PI, BB, and TL. We'll also be taking a couple days at the end up to Islands of Adventure and Universal. So, I am thinking that the poor (time wasting?) transportation from WL to all these places won't be a problem. However, if the park buses are so wonderful from AKL, perhaps I can drop the car rental and apply the $$ to a savannah room at AKL rather than WL...

...Without a car rental, though, I'm not sure how we will get to and from the airport and up to Universal...

 

[Winnie Pooh Fan]

This is a very interesting thread because I have never heard complaints about the WL transportation before and have heard numerous bad reports about the time consuming transportation issues at AKL.

We were at WL in July and although we had rented a car for the week we did not use it except for 2 off property trips. Otherwise we took a boat or bus where we needed to go.

One of the neatest thing about the WL boat was that we timed it one evening so that we saw Wishes from the boat and the EWP. We also enjoyed the water mice in the lagoon.

Just being at WDW is incredible so no matter what your end choice you will enjoy it.

 

[Minderbinder5]

From what I have heard, the transportation to MK is great (and actually really fun via boat), but it is the resort hopping for dining or going to places like DTD or Epcot that can get rather time consuming from WL because of all the stops along the way at the other various hotels served by the bus. AKL, on the other hand, has direct dedicated buses to the parks, but I feel that getting to different hotels for food could still be pretty tricky.

I have decided to go with the rental car for our trip to Universal and to probably buy breakfast off-property because we aren't big morning eaters. I also think it will just give us more flexibility and control over where and when we tour and eat thoughout the trip. I do plan on using the boat to MK, though, because that sounds charming.