Help me decide WL or AKL?

[primgirl]

Hi everyone, I'm new and I need help!

Here are the details. We are a party of 7, 4 year old twin boys, 6 year old dd, dh and I are in our late 20's and we are taking my inlaws who are in their late 40's. This will be the inlaws first trip to Disney. Our family went last year and stayed at ASMO.

We are planning the trip for Jan 05.

Dh and I cannot decide between Wl and AKL. Inlaws say they have no preference and are leaving the decision up to dh and myself. We will be getting two adjoining rooms and dd will be sleeping in inlaws room, so space is not a problem.

WL
- I like that it is close to MK. With 3 small children we will be spending quite a bit of our 5 days at Disney at the MK.
-I love the pictures of the outside of the WL.
-We would like to eat at Whispering Canyon Cafe and would possibly make a special trip over there if we do not stay at FWL.
-Kids would probably enjoy the campfire.

AKL
-The kids would love the animals.
-I've read the transportation is a bit better at AKL than WL even though it is buses. We used buses when we stayed at ASMO, so it really isn't a big deal to use them again.
-We would like to eat at Boma and would probably make a special trip over there is we do not stay at AKL
-The pool looks neater, although it may be to cold to use in Jan.
-Although FIL says he has no preference he is a bit animal nut and I think he would enjoy AKL more than FW.


We really can't decide and have already changed our minds about a dozen times. I know we have plenty of time to decide, but I would like to hear some opinions.

 

[mep319]

Stayed at both a couple of times. We stayed at WL first and really like the location...it is DH, DD now 7 and myself. I wanted to try AKL but DH was concerned about it being remote and nothing to do. We split a stay in January a year ago. Well we fell in love w/ AKL....very sad when we had to leave! WL was a disappointment after that. Our daughter loves the resort there is a ton of stuff for her to do . We found the bus service at AKL to be much better than the bus service at WL and even better than the boat. I'm not a fan of sharing service w/ the campgrounds. DD likes the pool better at AKL. We also think the resturants are much better ...and DH is a chef. I found Whispering Canyon highly overrated..food mediocre at best and personally found the novelty of being yelled thru dinner to wear off really fast. Found the staff friendlier at AKL...certainly learned A LOT more from them! I think the lobby is much nicer at AKL...certainly is newer and I think WL is showing its age..I could go on and on. But I think you have the point. I think you wouldn't be disappointed either way....I gather you haven't stayed at both. But AKL is by far our favorite resort and I highly recommend it to anyone!

 

[Parrothd]

I'm confused. In one sentence you say FW. In another you say FWL (no such thing exists). I'm trying to decide (in my mind) if you're talking about Fort Wilderness or Wilderness Lodge. Based on your post (stating "Whispering Canyon Cafe"), I assume you're talking about the Wilderness Lodge.

Either way, I'd pick Wilderness Lodge (OR Fort Wilderness) over Animal Kingdom Lodge ANY DAY (just my opinion). I say that because the Magic Kingdom Resorts just can't be beat for location and convenience. If you're gunna spend most of your vacation at the Magic Kingdom, there's no comparison here. Also, the rooms at both WL and AKL are the same size......and the theming is very similar overall (OK, no zoo animals at the WL). So, it comes down to location.

At Wilderness Lodge, you have 2 methods of transportation......boat and bus. At Animal Kingdom Lodge, you're stuck with ONLY a bus........so the transportation issue is much better at Wilderness Lodge (and you're a very short boat ride away from the Contemporary......which gives you fairly easy monorail access to the Magic Kingdom, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Transportation and Ticket Center & Epcot -- nothing even close to that at AKL).

I'm sure that the AKL is "nice", but it's way over on the far southwest edge of the property........as far away from the Magic Kingdom as you can get while still being on Disney property.

 

[primgirl]

I'm sorry, I did mean the Wilderness Lodge.

We are planning on spending 1 day at each park and then dividing the last day between Epcot and MK.

 

[#1hockeymom]

Go with AKL! Your kids and your FIL will love the animals, and although it is in the far corner of the property, the bus service is very good and everything seems close! My advice would be to book at least one savannah view room if you can't book them both that way. Last January we booked a PS at Whispering Canyon for lunch on the day we knew we'd be at MK so we could check WL out.

Happy planning!
Debbie

 

[Donalds_best_pal]

Go AKL!

We have been to WDW 28+ times, all of those on property and AKL is one of my favorites. It is a very unique resort. Not just because it has animals but you feel so secluded when you really are not. Really cool themeing. Everyone says its so remote, the bus took us 15 to get to MK. IMHO that is not long ride at all. AKL has its own bus to all parks so it runs very fast. We just love the resort and this will be our 3rd time going in June. WL is a great resort and we have stayed there 4 or 5 times and love it there. I love WL but I just love the themeing of AKL is better.
Hope that Helps,
Matt

 

[d96j97]

I hate to tell you this but you are going to get many mixed reviews on this. If you dig deep into these boards you will find a multitude of opinions concerning both. We stayed at WL in 2001 and have our next trip planned for there again in May 2003. We just love it!!!! I was tempted to try AKL but heard the mosquitos were a bit of a pain and we are BIG, BIG, MK lovers. We are probably going to hit MK at least 4 of the 5 days in WDW. I don't think there is anything quite like seeing main street lit up at dusk into dark.

Good Luck making a choice and have a magical time no matter what you choose.

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Could you split your stay? Mom & I are spending 3 nights @ AKL & 1 night Wilderness Lodge. We are very excited & got good rates on both rooms. Good luck!

Allison

 

[Floundering Crab]

AKL, hands down. Both are very nice rooms, but for all that AKL offers, it's our favorite by far. Somebody mentioned splitting your stay, but if you do--begin at WL and end at AKL, or you will be disappointed. Don't get me wrong, WL is wonderful but AKL has such a variety of sights, sounds, tastes, etc. . . it's great for kids, too.

 

[TJA]

Wow, such different opinions here! My suggestion is that you scroll down and read the many threads regarding "WL or AKL." Some are filled with detailed comparisons and can be helpful. We've stayed at both recently. Here are our thoughts:

WL ~ GREAT location. Can't beat taking a boat over to MK. Can rent bikes, boats, there is a walking/jogging path.

AKL ~ Food is better here than at WL (just our opinions). The animals, to us, are overrated, unless you pay the extra money and stay in a savanah room. Cannot rent bikes or boats. I don't believe there is a walking/jogging path.

Both have very nice pools.

We stayed at AKL in November with our 7-month-old twins. We probably won't stay at a bus-only resort again until our girls are older. Good luck, really you'll love either resort -- let us know what you decide!

 

[siac]

Stayed a both. My husband and I loved WL. My kids boy 9 and girl 6 love AKL we stayed in savanah view. Disney Magic in both

 

[goodferry]

I would vote for Wilderness Lodge. Since the kids are young, I assume you will spend more time at the MK than anywhere else and purely for transportation reasons, I would stay there.