Animal Kingdom Lodge - PLEASE HELP!!!

[minnie Mouse Maniac]

Can anyone tell me the good and bad about staying at AKL??
We always stayed at CS and like the sprawling atmosphere but we have a good deal at AKL with the FT package.

Any reason not to take it????

PLEASE HELP

 

[daannzzz]

Well the only reason you might not like it would be the theming and look of the architecture and decore. It is much more subdued, color wise (in most areas) than Coronado Springs. The furniture, walls carpets and such are all darker wood colors with sand, muted yellows and beige and earth tone colors. The bedspreads on the queen and king beds tend to have alot of color though. There is no lake to walk around but the resort is decent size and you can walk aorund to the different animal viewing areas. There are no quiet pools here, just the huge main poolwhich has alot of character but is not usually quiet. Transportation is about the same as you will take a bus to all destinations.
It is a wonderful place to stay. I love Corondo Springs but I like AKL even better. Give it a try and see.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi,

Well you never know when you will get a good deal on AKL again - so I would say "go for it"

To compare the 2 is apples to oranges.. one is southwest themed, one african... AKL is very unique from decor to restaurants to the interesting CM's who are great to talk to.. oh yeah, then theres the ANIMALS!

Have fun on your holiday...

>>^..^<<

 

[genmasjoy]

I think you will enjoy AKL. The resort is beautifully themed and it is amazing to look out your window and see African wildlife. At night at ground level they have night vision scopes so you can see the animals, we saw zebras only about 50 yards away. There was a campfire and a native African storyteller who enthralled us with tales of African mythology. It is a totally different experience from CSR but wonderful. The pool area is nice and there is an inexpensive snack bar, as well as a buffet and a sit down restaurant.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

We too got a great deal at AKL. We just got back and boy are we glad we took it. We fell in love with this resort. Took me completely by surprise since I have always loved having a water view. I can't praise it up enough. Everything was wonderful.

 

[epcotfan]

Aside from housekeeping issues the main reason I did not like AKL was because I felt trapped. The pool was always crowded. I had a guy ask my mother (who can't swim) to move so his kid could play where she was sitting-even though there were other unoccupied pool steps to play on) There was really no where else to walk to other than Arusha Rock and some of the viewing areas. Yes the lobby is nice but also tends to be busy. At first I couldn't put a finger on why I was unhappy there but then realized it was because I like having a resort that is a bit more spread out. I really like being able to get away from people. I also really missed out on the fact that there aren't any bodies of water. All the public areas at the resort were always busy.
I clearly knew exactly what AKL was like because I'd visited before but didn't think these things would bother me. But unfortunately they did.

I've stayed at other Disney deluxes and never felt the way I did about AKL.

That said, I just rebooked CSR. I love being able to take a long walk around the lake and take in the flora and fauna. I also adore the fact that there is more than 1 pool. If one is busy there are 4 pools to pick from. You can also go boating and rent bikes there as well.

 

[CarrieAP]

We too love CSR and could not imagine staying anywhere else- until we stayed at AKL last week. We split our stay starting out with 3 nights at CSR and then 7 at AKL. This place is amazing! I too love the setting and atmosphere at CSR, but AKL is unique and very difficult to compare the two. There is much more of an upscale feel to AKL, it felt luxurious and so restful. Had a hard time tearing ourselves away to go to the parks. Everything is so convenient and well layed out. Tons of kids and families yet never felt crowded.

My vote is to go for it. Hopefully good deals will be found again next year as my daughters are hooked and can't wait to go back.

 

[kdibattista]

What bad

Seriously.... it's our favorite resort. I don't think we will ever stay anywhere else!!!! You won't find any bad comments from me

 

[zurgswife]

I love AKL have never stayed at CSR.....

I've never had the crowded feeling though my stays have been in March. I love the zero entry pool. and the Animals...if you get a savannah room waking up and going to bed to the serenity of watching the animals is amazing...

 

[DisneyMim]

We've statyed at AKL 2X and love it!! We never felt crowded at all, but I suppose this depends on the time of year, etc. The only negative thing I have heard about the resort is the transportation and the feeling that you are a long way from everything. That is the point of the resort though. We always rent a car, cannot imagine not having one, so transportation is never an issue with us. The theming is awesome, the staff was great, the restaurants were wonderful. We love everything about this resort. It's funny I know a lot of people love CSR, but we don't like it. That's what's so great about Disney, there are a lot of different resorts to pick from and nobody can love everthing.

Have a Wonderful Vacation!!

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Just wanted to make a quick comment about the transportation at AKL. We had heard a few negative things about it too and were a bit apprehensive but it turned out to be the best bus service we have ever had at any Disney resort. We never waited more than a few minutes even after having just missed one. I love the set up there too. Each park had it's own little waiting area so you knew exactly where you were going. Completely different from WL. We will never choose to stay there again.

 

[ducklite]

I'm a huge fan of AKL.

For the people who felt there was nothing to look at but the animals, are you serious? We spent over four hours walking through the hotel looking at the largest collection of African art outside of Arica, and think we missed some of it!

I also don't like "motel's" like the mods with exterior corridors and having to walk (often in rain) to get to bus stops, food, shops.

The AKL is the only WDW resort that is jaw dropping, absolutely stunning. It's an incredible experience like no other.

Bus service has always been great, we never felt crowded, and the CM's we've encountered have been first rate with lots of Pixie Dust.

Anne

 

[Rneighh]

We go in Feb. so crowds are not an issue. We have stayed at both resorts. I loved CSP -- I was blown away by AKL. Take that great deal on AKL and enjoy.

Renee