AKL - WL or the Dolphin

[Gretchen]

Need opinions please. AKL or Wilderness Lodge. I have res right now for POR and the Dolphin. Thinking of changing to the WL if I can get a good rate/code. 4 people, me DH, DD and DS. Kids are 6 and 8 mos respectively. Also, any opinions on crowds dec 1-6?
Does the WL have regular rooms or just bunks?
Thanks

 

[pooh.kim]

I would go for the AKL - an awesome resort! We did AKL and Dolphin - we seriously regretted moving to the Dolphin. JMHO

 

[daannzzz]

Any of your choices will be good. The WL and AKL have the same size rooms with different decore. Both have regular rooms with two queen beds and then some rooms with a queen and bunk beds. Both have deluxe rooms but they are very different from eachother. The deluxe rooms at WL are a Jr suite (500 square feet) with a living room and french doors into the bedroom. They sleep six.
At AKL the deluxe rooms (380 square feet) are just a larger room and some of them can sleep 5.
At WL you have the rustic "mission" decore. It is nice enough.
At AKL you have rustic African decore that is wonderful.
WL has boat transport to MK and bus to other destinations. There are views of the woods and lake and a few rooms with views of the parkinglot/loading area.
AKL has bus transport to all locations and has views of the Savannah animals, pool and a few rooms with a view of the parkinglot.

 

[Gretchen]

Thank you! Deluxe room at Wl has 2 rooms huh?
If I opt for the basic at AKL, is it worth it or should I do the Savanah view? and what's the bus service like from AKL?
Thanks again.

 

[daannzzz]

It is my opinion that the whole point of booking at the AKL is to have a Savannah view. While the rest of the hotel is wonderful and exotic and you can view the animals from different public areas, it is sitting on your own balconey relaxed after a day at the parks or when rising in the morning that makes a stay at the AKL incredible. Certainly if you have a standard room you can get up in the morning and while others are getting ready you can leave the room and walk down the hall to one od the windows and look out or go down to the lobby and go out onto the Arusha Savannah. But getting out of bed and making coffee and sitting on your balconey watching the animals wake up is much better!
The bus service from AKL is dedicated to the lodge only and is quite good. It is about 3-5 minutes longer of a drive to the MK than from the other deluxe resorts.
The Deluxe rooms at WL do have two rooms. It is a really neat layout which includes two balconies ( one standing room only), a wet bar with fridge and ice maker, two TV's lots of windows but only one bathroom.

 

[sleeping beauty 2]

We stayed at AKL last Oct and had a Savannah room. We saw giraffes & zebras every morning and evening from our balcony. Well worth the extra. We had a room on zebra trail on the lobby floor (3509). Didn't have a problem with the transportation, although some time the trip back from the parks was long enough for the kids (2 & 4) to fall asleep, which made getting back to the room difficult.

This Oct we plan to be at WL for a change and the convenience of the boat to MK.

 

[richard3330]

If you stay at AKL you MUST have a savannah view room, it just isn't the same otherwise. It is well worth the extra for the upgrade to the savannah view room; I highly reccomend it.

 

[las3888]

We just stayed at WL and were somewhat disappointed. I guess I felt that we paid for the courtyard view and it wasn't worth it (standard view was sold out). It really is just a room overlooking a loud crowded pool. The Electric Water Pagaent can be seen from your room every night, but to us it just didn't warrant the extra $$$. Now, that is just my opinion - I know a LOT of people LOVE the WL and the courtyard view on the boards here.

We are booked now for AKL standard view for Oct. I KNOW everybody says to get the savannah view, and it does sound really nice, and it is something I would pay extra $ for, because a view of wild animals versus a pool is no contest! However, we got such a good rate with the standard, and we are in cost-cutting mode, so we are going to leave it as is. In the back of my mind, I am hoping for a comp upgrade, but trying not to get too used to that idea.

The Dolphin is fantastic. I love it. I know it gets alot of flak on the boards for not being Disney, but I am a Disney freak, and don't find that I am missing out on the Disney experience there at all. It is such a great location and full-service hotel. Keep it in mind!!!

I would stay at the Dolphin out of all 3 of your choices, except we are trying to stay at all the WDW resorts at some point, so we are going to try AKL. Couldn't beat the deal we got. Once we've stayed at AKL, all we have left is BWI. After that, S/D I think will be in my top 3 places to stay down there.

Good luck!

PS - at the WL they do have regular rooms without bunk beds. I have read on the boards that it is, in fact, somewhat difficult to get a bunk bed room.