how dark are the AKL rooms

[binkee917]

I have heard the rooms are a bit dark due to the theming. I dont like dark rooms and like to read in bed at night, etc. How dark are the rooms? Has anyone every brought higher watt light bulbs and replaced them during the stay? I am thinking about trying this...

 

[Marseeya]

I thought they were a bit dim, but not in a negative way -- more like a cool, shady way.

I have a hard time seeing in the dark, but I didn't have any trouble reading in bed there.

 

[SeattleMark]

I'm always amazed when I read this. The rooms have plenty of lamps and light. I think this "feeling" is sometimes due to the dark wood they use for the bed frames, armoire, etc.

Relax, there's plenty of light near the bed and elsewhere in the room.

This thing is taking on Urban Myth proportions.

 

[U2FanHfx]

I agree with SeattleMark! I found the rooms to be 'nicely' lit. I think they are perfect to maintain the theme even when you are in your room.

Regs,

CJM

 

[Fromeurope]

The rooms aren't dark at all
The color of the furniture is rather dark, but the bedspreads and curtains are very bright. And if you think it's dark, there are lots of lamps in the room.

 

[Frances999]

Well I am not a fan of the AKL rooms. I did find them to dark and the darkness also made them appeal smaller. Yes there were lamps, but I still found them too dark and I didn't feel for the decor either. This is just my opinion though, many, of course, love the AKL rooms But this is what will stop us staying there again.

 

[melanie18]

The rooms themselves were not as dark as I thought they would be. I never really even gave it a second thought after checking in. The bathroom, however, is another story. I swear they use night light bulbs in there. I have never been in a bathroom so dimly lit.

 

[dmslush]

We didn't have a problem reading in bed when we were there in 2001. There was plenty of light.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Before I share this, let me preface my comments by saying that AKL has been and continues to be our favorite WDW resort for the theming. I have never requested a room location and have always been very pleased with what I was assigned...until our most recent trip. On the first night of our May trip, we stayed in a 5th floor, parking lot - standard view room at AKL. This is one of the rooms that does not have the railing on the balcony. Instead, it is solid on the bottom. Also, the thatch roof overhangs quite a bit. Thus, very little natural light enters the room. I HATED it! It was so DARK compared to the other rooms. If this had been our room for the entire week, I would have switched to another resort -- ANY other resort!! It was that bad. Nothing else was available in the resort, so we dealt with it. On our second day, we moved to our savanna view room. The layout was exactly the same, except we had the railed balcony (which the majority of the rooms have). What a difference this made! Now, I might not have minded the dark room during the late fall or winter, when I want things to feel cozy. But it was horribly depressing in the spring. It also made the room feel much smaller than it actually was.

 

[Marseeya]

"Urban Myth"? I was just there, so here are some pictures of the actual lights so the OP can decide for him/herself. These pictures were taken in the middle of the afternoon with the curtains wide open. The bulbs were, I believe, 40 watt bulbs. We had to have one replaced while we were there.

There is another lamp identical to the one on the left of the queen bed on the other side.

That's the lamp in the sitting area. You can see for yourself how bright it is, although, again, it's in the middle of the afternoon.

 

[Marseeya]

There's an identical light to the left of the mirror as well.

And here's the "mythical" light in the shower.

 

[mpbs]

Dark! No, earthtone colors make it feel relaxing.

 

[julfre]

My first trip there I brought 75 W bulbs because everyone was saying it was too dark to read at night and it WAS! I changed the bulbs to the 75 and that solved the problem. I took them out when I left. My next trip I brought bulbs again and when I turned on the lights the first time , they were bright. I looked and they were already 75W ones. I don't know if they were put there by disney or someone else. I love AKL and the decor, but I need more than 40 W to read at night(regardless of the color of the decor). I don't know if you should bring bulbs or not and you have to decide if 40 W is enough at night to read by, but I know I will still bring bulbs.

 

[wendyl]

Its just a matter of personal perspective. I didn't find it too dark at all--it never would have occured to me to describe it as that--but others obviously think it is.

I just think the AKL has sooooooo much to offer--that it would be a shame to let the light in the room keep you from trying it--especially with the suggestions offered here like the "bring your own lightbulb" solution that has worked well for others.