Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, or Animal Kingdom Lodge ?

[Soccer Princess]

We are considering a late-January trip and want to try a new resort. Which one should we choose and why do you like it ?

Thanks

 

[JBurke]

I want to know too!
I am just deciding between WL and AKL.
We have stayed at WL and I love it so much that I am afraid I will be disappointed with anything else.

Soccer Princess-the WL is beautiful and I would highly recommend it.

 

[cinmell]

I love the Contemporary! The MK view from the tower is awesome! You can't beat being on the monorail loop and you can walk to the MK within 10 minutes. There are 2 pools and there's a playground for children. We really enjoy the restaurants such as Chef Mickey's and we really like Concourse Steakhouse for breakfast. The food and fun center is okay and the arcade is pretty big. This hotel has a fun atmosphere and the rooms we've had have always been in great condition and very clean. The service has always been wonderful.

 

[Soccer Princess]

Just a note-- if we stay at the Contemporary it would be in a Garden room, not the Tower, if that changes anything......
More opinions please

 

[jwfla422]

Although don't know first hand, friends who have stayed at CR garden wing have been a bit disappointed (that doesn't include the opinions I've read here, because that can go one way or the other). I am not a big fan of the CR, just a little too hectic for me but if you like the very busy atmosphere it may be for you.

If it were me I'd pick WL, especially during that time of the year since it can get cool or even cold sometimes there's nothing like sitting by the big fireplaces in the lobby areas to keep warm, it's sooo cozy...I just think WL would be so much fun that time of year (or anytime)!

Out of the 3 WL has my vote, and that is from first hand experience, we've stayed there 3 times and have loved it each time!

 

[Kallison]

We basically use our room to crash after commando touring, so for us it would be the Contemporary. Stayed there last Sept. in the tower and loved it. Wilderness Lodge is no good because we have 3 kids and I do not like the boat transportation, AK is too far away from all the Park action. Have fun making your choice, they all sound great to me!

 

[the Legend]

Having returned from a 4 night stay at the WL Concierge and a 4 night stay at the AKL. AKL has my vote.

Beside the many activities (where else can you track the animals at night using nightvision googles while having a Ranger explain it to you!), the decor and food are absolute tops. The same can be said for the WL but for my own personal taste, AKL is the one.

 

[DisneyVirginia]

Have stayed at almost all on-site hotels, but not AKL, because of its remote location. Of course, it could not offer its unique theme if it were not remote.

I love the Contemporary. It is the old standard, and has a happening atmosphere. It has arguably the best location on the property.

But the reason I was drawn to answering your question is I love every chance to praise the Wilderness Lodge. It is so beautiful and peaceful. The theming and decor and pool make it my absolute favorite, even better than the GF, where I just spent a wonderful 12 days last summer.

 

[Plutolover108]

I would pick AKL. I haven't been to WL but I have been to the CR. I found the theming at AKL to be very nice. I epecially loved the savannah veiw. I love AKL!!! LOL.

 

[MickeyisanNDfan]

Hi
I am new here and I will admit that I am a Contemporary lover. I have stayed a number of places at WDW and I think the only other place I would stay is the Poly. The location, the activity and how cool is it, still, that the monorail runs right through the Tower? I am going back for Thanksgiving and 8 nights in the Tower, first time for that long and first time in the Tower. The wait is killing me!!

Sarah

 

[mareka]

We are staying at Wilderness villas in 5 days. Looking forward to the peace and quiet - We don't Commando Tour any more.
We hit the parks at opening then take a break in the afternoon to relax. Then go back to the parks or downtown Disney for the evening.

We've stayed at the Comtemporary and loved it but I loved the Boardwalk more for Location. So close to both Epcot and MGM.

But I'm easy to please as long as its Disney!!!!!!!!!

 

[las3888]

I would vote for the CR. The WL and AKL are very nice and I know many others love them - we just find them NOT QUITE on par with the other deluxes....partly due to location, but also because to me it is ultimate disney Magic! At our last stay at WL, we went to CR for dinner and felt...this is more like it!!! We have had a hard time getting wing view rooms at CR because of the SOG overflow for our last few trips, so it has been AKL and WL...both nice, but to me not as nice as CR...

 

[spudnig]

Having stayed at all the Deluxeand several moderates, for my money AKL is nearest and dearest to my heart. We just got back from WL after 10 days and loved it. That being said, I would choose AKL in the end. I still contend that Boma's has some of the best food on the property. If you haven't tried it, I highly suggest it.

 

[hallie]

Tough call between the AKL and WL. Before I went to the AKL, the WL was my favorite but the AKL won me over, I loved it. You really can't go wrong between the 2. The CR is so different in theming and feel, it's more hustle and high energy but it's still very nice and the monrail is great. Where the AKL and WL are more serene and mellow.

I'll say try the AKL next because of the transportation problems I've been hearing about since the WL started sharing busses with FW.

 

[LKS]

We split our June stay between CR - 6 nights and AKL - 3 nights and enjoyed both. For us, being on the monorail is just fantastic and I missed that at the AKL. The room at the CR was also definitely set up better - way, way better. There was room for us all to unpack (no way at the AKL deluxe room) and lots of counter space that we used to make PBJs, store snacks, etc... The kids really like the uncrowded and fairly large water slide. We were in a tower room this trip and while that is obviously preferable, you still get the great room and monorail access from the garden wings. We stayed in a north wing room in '97 and loved that too.

The AKL is a beautiful resort and we enjoyed the view (though being on the go, we didn't spend a lot of time sitting on the balcony) and the pool area, though the slide is smaller than the one at the CR. The food at Mara was surprisingly good, but breakfast at Boma was a waste of lots of money for us. We just don't eat that much. Transportation was more cumbersome from AKL, it's true. The gift shop there is superb.

All said, we would probably not stay at AKL again, but I'm glad we did it once. Have you thought of splitting your stay? It really wasn't too much trouble.

We visited and ate at lots of resorts and enjoyed seeing the WL and eating at Artist Point. Not sure we would ever stay there though, as it was not as exotic as AKL or as convenient as CR. (Plus, they don't have a room for a family of 5, as far as I know)We ate twice at the Poly and decided the atmostphere there was not our cup of tea, but thought we might like to try the GF some day - maybe - if we can drag ourselves away from the Contemporary.

 

[Bev J]

Another vote for CR, the rooms are huge! We hardly used our rental car at all with the monorail. We so enjoyed the MK view we had from our 11th floor room. With the monorail there are so many food choices and we enjoy visiting other resorts.
We did visit both AKL and WL last month and found both to be very cool resorts, wish we could have seen a room. The only thing is that neither resort has very good transportation options that are quick, we would be driving ourselves everywhere.