Animal Kingdom vs. Wilderness Lodge - Help please

[WIDisneyFan]

Thanks to a lucky chain of events I will need to be in Orlando for a week for work this summer - I am planning on having my wife and infant son join me for the week and cap it all off with a 3 day stay on-site at Disney. In looking at the options available we are thinking of trying either Animal Kingdom or Wilderness Lodge. The last 2 summers we have been lucky enough to enjoy a week at the Polynesian and loved every minute of our stay, however, since this is such a short stay we thought this would be a great chance to try someplace new So what thoughts can you all share to help with our choice!

Thanks in advance

 

[disfanRN]

How old is the infant? They are both beautiful resorts- personally I like the theming at WL better. One thing to consider is the proximity to the Magic Kingdom- if you enjoyed that aspect of the Poly. WL to MK is just a boat ride away, a longer bus ride from AKL. Either way, you will be happy. Good luck with your decision!

 

[WIDisneyFan]

Just over 2 weeks as of now so by trip time he will still only be 3 months. We had planned to wait a year before returning to disney (let the little guy be a bit older) but with the way things are working out just too good an oppertunity to let it pass

 

[shellybaxter]

I've stayed in both - eight days at AKL and eight days at WL. We are returning in just six days and will be spending half of our trip at POFQ and the other half at AKL. Which would seem to indicate that we liked AKL better. I'm not sure that's true. We loved both resorts. Both had decent tranportation options, good food, and plenty to see and do. AKL has the animal "WOW" factor, which is the reason we are going back there now. My Dsis has never been to disney and loves animals. I REALLY want her to expirience the AKL savannah balconies. I think she'll love them. But for DH and I we felt more "comfortable" and "at home" at WL. I guess both are good choices, but for totally different reasons.

Shelly

 

[HopperFan]

I would pick WL !! The architecture and overall feel is similar but the WL is so much smaller. With a child that young (and we stayed with a 1 yr old) it would be so much easier to enjoy the hotel, the pool area is smaller and more intimate, you have the boat to MK and it just has a cozier and quieter atmosphere. It would be very relaxing.

The AKL will be a great resort when he is old enough to enjoy the animals and all the kid activities. The AKL pool is also very crowded, and I wouldn't be comfortable hanging out there with a young one or taking him in the water. There seems to be a different method of maintenance in that pool..... It is a much bigger hotel and depending on where your room is, could involve extra walking.

 

[LuvTigger]

I have stayed at both, and I prefer WL over AKL. WL was my favorite-themed resort prior to AKL opening. There were so many rave reviews about AKL, and I love animals, so we decided to stay there last year. We really liked AKL, but between the two, we still prefer WL. I think for me, I prefer the woodsy-theme and also the lake being right there.

Whichever resort you choose, I'm sure you will have a great time! Perhaps what you could do is have one of your dinners at the resort you are not staying at? That way you could at least experience it in some way.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

Nice big Rocking Chairs at WL ,too.How nice would that be to rock the baby to sleep at night in front of the large stone fireplace!!!

 

[WIDisneyFan]

Thank you all for the comments anybody have any more ?