Can anyone compare AKL to WL

[Ms. Diz]

Wondering if anyone has stayed at both and how they compare. We have stayed at WL and are interested in staying at AKL. We loved WL and don't want to be disappointed by AKL. Thanks for any help.

 

[skyhog]

Sorry, no one likes to be disappointed, but you have to take a chance sometimes... these are two of MY favorite resorts and VERY special in their own ways, and also like ... in that the design and attention to theming are very similar...

I guess the biggest difference is you are trading the lake and MK proximity for a fantastic African savannah experience...

I do make a rec that you plan to spend more resort time to fully appreciate the animal viewing opps...

Either choice is a GREAT resort... what you like is hard to say...

 

[ead79]

I have stayed at both the WL (in Dec. 2000) and AKL (in Dec. 2001) and liked them both. I do strongly prefer the AKL though. I think you would find many similarities (they were both designed by the same architect), but they are not too similar to enjoy their differences. The AKL lobby is huge and gorgeous, with a huge window that overlooks Arusha Rock (a large rock-shaped savannah viewing area). The resort's restaurants are 1 level below the lobby, and the wonderful smell of the food drifts up to the lobby and makes your mouth water. The views from a savannah view room are just amazing. We saw tons of animals on our last trip. The staff is super friendly, and the theming of the AKL is just spectacular. The room size is about the same as the WL--two beds and a double vanity outside the shower/toilet area. The decor is is dark, tribal colors, and is really neat. I would give it a try. I think that the WL and AKL offer similar experiences.

 

[hallie]

We were in the same boat you were!!! We LOVED the WL and thought we'd never find something better. Well we just got back from the AKL and it's now our favorite-lol.

We even went back to the WL to compare the 2. Here's my thoughts........................

The Pool-The pool is much bigger at the AKL. The AKL has 2 hot tubs(as does the WL) but one of them is larger, about twice the size. Then there is another hidden hot tub about the size of the ones at WL. They both have a water slide that's about the same.

The *food court*. The AKL, Mara, is run differently then the Roaring Forks at the WL. At the Mara, it's much larger and you order your food and then they bring it out to your table, either inside or out. They have a bigger menu then I remeber the RF having, I think. They have a lot of desserts and bakery products as well, great chocolate chip cookies-lol. In the sitting area there is a TV that plays Disney movies too. We ate at the mara alot and really enjoyed it. The only thing they didn't have is when we were at the WL my daughter got this cool kids meal that came in a little Roaring Forks lunchbox she still uses for crayons now. They didn't have that at the Mara but then I don't even know if they still have it at the RF-lol.

The rooms- Are very similiar in size and design, there are no major differences.

The view- We had a courtyard at the WL and a savannah at the AKL. Both were great and equal in their own ways.

Then lobby- The WL lobby apears larger then the AKL, not sure if ity actually is or not. Both are beautiful, the AKL had more little paths and decorative bridges in it. They also have a suspended bridge that 's on the 4th floor. Oh the major difference is the lobby is on the 3rd floor at the AKL, it took some getting used to since our room was on the 2nd floor and we went up to the lobby. Different but no big deal-lol. The lobby at the AKL also has a lot of overlook areas onto differernt levels. you can look down onto the bar and Boma restaurant. They both had TV's with videos. They are both beautiful in their own ways.

Transportation- The major difference here is that the AKL is all busses. I worried about this but was proven there was no need to. The busses were great, in 2 weeks the longest we waited was 15 minutes and that was only 2 times. The rest of the times it was FAST. I've seen people complain about the long rides but even to the MK it only tyook 12 minutes or so. They were rarely crowded even the week after Easter and we didn't share any busses with other resorts.

Overall I fell in love with the AKL, I thought it was just wonderful and I didn't want to leave. We even went back to the WL to visit and compare-lol. Even though I loved the WL and thought it coould NEVER ever be replaced as my #1, the AKL did it, I was very surprised.

I worried so much before we went and I shouldn't have the AKL was NOT a disappointment.

I hope you have great time, I'm jealous I want to go back-lol. If you have any other questions please just ask! I hope this helped!


Hallie(please excuse any typos, I didn't proof read)

 

[jaguar9748]

If you love WL, definitely visit AKL. They are the same and different at the same time. With AKL, they took all of the things that were "mistakes" at WL and "fixed" them. It is even more guest friendly than WL! One danger of AKL, you have so much fun exploring the resort that you almost forget that the rest of Disney is out there waiting for you to visit! We spent a night at AKL and can't wait to go back!

 

[klmall]

Although our stay at the WL was in 1997 and before some of the big changes our stay at AKL was just a few weeks ago.

1) WL is much, much quieter overall in the lobby and restaurant areas.

2) We found the WL pool to be warmer (but remember that was a long time ago).

3) If your room is located way out at AKL you will walk a great distance for mug refills and snacks etc. (and we were on the closer side of AKL)!

4) You will ride a distance on the buses to almost everywhere (except AK) from the AKL. It was a long 25 minute ride to/from the Magic Kingdom standing up for us. You have a few more choices when staying at the WL.

While we loved the AKL's animals etc. we now have a new perspective on the WL! We appreciate it much, much more but that is another story!

 

[hallie]

Quote-) You will ride a distance on the buses to almost everywhere (except AK) from the AKL. It was a long 25 minute ride to/from the Magic Kingdom standing up for us. You have a few more choices when staying END QUOTE

Why did it take you so long? We just got back from the AKL(April2nd-13th) and I timed the ride to the MK on my watch and it was only 12 minutes during an afternoon ride back to the Lodge. And during the 2 weeks we were there it was never as long as 25 minutes, I think the longest it took was 15 minutes. Just wondering....



Hallie

 

[klmall]

But we timed it also on our watches! Maybe because it was Easter week and the roads were crowded or our drivers took the long way! But it did take forever!

 

[hallie]

Weird, because we timed it too-lol But depending on the day, I bet it changed a lot. Plus we never went over early because it was SO crowded and we were going to be there the next week too. One day we asked a CM manager type if it would be less crowded the next week and they said like day and night. So, we gave up and only went out in the late afternoon, after 4.

That's funny, how different the ride can be-lol.

 

[LillersMom]

I've stayed at both the WL and AKL within the last year and if I was advising a family member who was going I'd tell them AKL all the way. The WL is beautiful and the proximity to MK is great , but the overall feeling and beauty of the AKL is amazing. My kids were thrilled every morning to wake up and see the animals and then thought ..."oh yeah we're at Disney too", it doesn't get any better thatn that. When the kids like the hotel as much as the theme parks that's saying something!

 

[DeeP]

I have stayed at both resorts and they are both wonderful resorts, as are all the WDW resorts. We found both WL and AKL resorts to be beautifully decorated and have the most amazing theming. There are certain things we prefer at each resort.
Although the rooms are the same size, we like the AKL rooms much better. The hand carved furniture and the wall decorations are beautiful. We enjoyed Mara food court much more than WL food court and we also loved Jiko but we rate Artist Point on par with Jiko, we prefer Boma to Whispering Canyon. We like both gift shops but give AKL's the edge for having some really unique items, unfortunately so did WL gift shop when it first opened but no more,I hope AKL's gift shop does not follow suit. We found the CMs to be equally as nice at both resorts. The lobby at AKL is very nice but we think the WL lobby is breathtaking. We prefer the pool at WL over AKL because to us it has more theming and wonderful views as you look back at the lodge or out to the 7 Seas Lagoon. And our biggest preference for WL is definitely the location. We enjoy viewing the animals from our Savannah view room but we enjoy more so the wonderful location of WL to the MK, being able to view the Electrical Water parade from our resort, the close location to FW, the FW campfire, petting zoo, Hoop Dee Doo Revue, Trails End buffet, Poly, Contemporary, MK & GR resturants, we enjoy having the boat and bike rentals, the walking and biking paths, etc that WL offers. We like both resorts very much but if we had to pick one it would definitely be WL. But, we are a family that likes to be in a convenient location, we prefer to be close by a park & other off resort restaurants, etc.
We also have never gotten to any park other than AK in less than 20-25 minutes by bus from AKL, however we have stayed at AKL in the summer and during the holiday season.
Either resort is wonderful, you can't go wrong! Enjoy!!