If transportation wasn't an issue would you pick AKL or WL

[FairyDust2008]

Which would you pick and why? Please include photos and just let me know which you would pick over the other if transportation wasn't at all an issue. THANKS DISBOARDERS-AS ALWAYS

 

[dandave]

I'd pick AKL, ummmm - because I like it better. I don't have pics, though. And I have absolutely never understood how the transportation is really touted as better or worse at either AKL or WL, and I've stayed at both. You bus from both, except that boat to MK from the WL.
I would rather hear fingernails across a chalk board than ride that boat. It's the same kind of sloooowwwww boat that travels from MGM to Epcot. Other than that, everything is accessed by bus. All the busses at all the resorts in my personal experience, are iffy. You may wait 5 minutes, or you may wait 25. It's the luck of the draw.
AKL is just nicer, IMHO. (Artist Point at WL is a must do, however.)

 

[DOOM1001]

I prefer the restaurants at AKL,but prefer the theme and environment of WL.

 

[ammo]

WL -- the National Parks theme just feels more inviting to us. I also prefer the setting in the woods on Bay Lake.

 

[dsquarednz]

WL - we've stayed in both, and while the animals are cool at AKL, I'd rather be free to roam around the resort. WL has bike and boat rentals, a beach, and a lovely walkway to Ft. Wilderness. Plus, we just love the "homey" feel of it!

There are heaps of pictures of the WL in this section as well as the DVC-Mousellaneous section.

 

[TLSnell1981]

DH and I have stayed at neither AK or WL...although DD has stayed at AK and absolutely loved it! ...but DH wants to try out WL.

 

[TinkTatoo]

We've stayed in both and WL would be the one I'd choose, what put me off AK was the smell from Boma that was everywhere. It was lovely at first but then after 5 days of smelling it constantly it started to make me feel sick

 

[EnnEss]

The boat is fun!

 

[Kimberle]

I have stayed at both. Transportation is not an "issue", at least for us. What is more of an "issue" is food choices. WL has easy access to many resturants, AKL does not. We like to eat dinner in or near our resort, not in a park. AKL only has 2 sit down resturants. Mara does not have much of a selection and we found the food not very good (like most WDW "fast food"). Also, AKL does not have a sit down resturant open at lunch time, making it very difficult when you are hungry and want a nice lunch mid-day. Aside from that, they are both lovely resorts. You should choose based on your theming preference.

 

[eliza61]

Transportation is not an issue for us, we've always had great luck on our vacations. Never had to wait more than 20 minutes for a bus and ususally it was only 15 minutes. Anway we love the National park theme of the Wilderness lodge, just seems to make us more relaxed. We love the slow boat to MK. we think it is a fabulous way to get to the parks but don't go by me because when I'm on vacation I'm never, ever in a rush (I rarely wear a watch). We love waking up to a woods view.

 

[enyaj40]

i don't have any photos, but we would pick WL

 

[madalex]

I have stayed at AKL in the past and am staying there again in March. I love the resort and its theming. Transportation to and from the resort has never been an issue for us. The bus rides to and from the parks are relatively long (other than to/from AK, of course), but the buses are not shared with any other resort, so that tends to balance out. The Disney transportation system overall is pretty good, but that doesn't mean you won't occasionally have to wait 20 minutes or more for a bus. That is true everywhere, however, and not limited to AKL.

I have never stayed at WL, but have visited and eaten there often. I do love the theming (but not quite as much as AKL), but have never gotten myself to make a reservation there. You really can't go wrong at either resort.

 

[Disney Ron]

WL without a doubt....our favorite resort!!!!!!!!!!

 

[simonkodousek]

Probably the WL. AKL is nice, but just not us.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Personal taste is what I think. I can visit a lodge anywhere in the US but it is a very rare thing to open your balcony door and have a giraffe out front. So we pick AKL. The pool is better, we like Boma and eat there every trip, the Mara is great. I have a toddler so the pool area having zero entry is a must for us. One of the hot tubs was right next to the playground so we could take turns watching the baby and relaxing in the hot tub. I just liked the layout and theme of AKL better than WL. I did stay on CL at both resorts and found AKL to be far superior to WL. The sunrise safari option available to CL guests was the highlight of our trip. The rooms are the same size at either resort. Short of a huge lobby at WL I didnt find it my type of place. I mean really how much time do you spend in the lobby. It is not a bad place. My husband liked it and would like to go back. Not so much for me though. I would rather sit on my balcony in the morning drinking coffee and watching the zebra and giraffe at their morning feeding. It was just more peaceful and the resort itself felt like a seperate vacation. I dont think you can go wrong with either resort. But my heart belongs to AKL not WL.

 

[PlainJane]

I personally prefer the following things about AKL over WL:
1. The restaurants
2. The pool
3. The gift shop
4. The view (even if you don't get a Savannah View, there are tons of viewing areas)
5. The room decor

I would return to either resort, but if given the choice I would choose AKL without hesitation.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Just wanted to add another thing. Have you went here:

http://www.allearsnet.com/

And looked at all the pictures and reviews on Debs site. That is what I usually do when choosing between two resorts. Have fun!

 

[FairyDust2008]

I was trying post a new post and typed in the reply section instead so had to edit it all-SORRY

 

[pepe of ohio]

I have stayed at both. Transportation is not an "issue", at least for us. What is more of an "issue" is food choices. WL has easy access to many resturants, AKL does not. We like to eat dinner in or near our resort, not in a park. AKL only has 2 sit down resturants. Mara does not have much of a selection and we found the food not very good (like most WDW "fast food"). Also, AKL does not have a sit down resturant open at lunch time, making it very difficult when you are hungry and want a nice lunch mid-day. Aside from that, they are both lovely resorts. You should choose based on your theming preference.

We've stayed at both, AKL once and Wilderness Lodge 8-10 times. For us, its location, we like popping over to the MK, spend most of our time there whether for half a day, full day or just an hour, the boat ride makes it easy. We also like the boat to CR to gain acess to the monorail and all their shopping, lounges and resturants. We take the boat to FW a few times for Trails End, Crocketts Tavern and the horse barn where the horses that pull the trolley in the MK are kept, at night FW is a quiet place with good pizza, our opinion, and a few pitchers of beer and then a boat ride back to WL, also we still enjoy the EWP. I guess its to each their own but we like walking around the WL and villas in the evening, down to the boat dock and beach to see the nightly EWP and what we saw from our Savannah room at AKL, just a few animals during feeding time, not worth the money and at night, no real walkways and not much else to do other than get a bus and go elsewhere. For the money, location, and more means of getting around and things to see and do, we pick the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[fla4fun]

I am one of the few people who doesn't like AKL. The theme and atmosphere just don't do anything for me. However, I love WL, and will often stay there for long weekends without even going to the parks. I love being on the lake, the walking trails to FW, renting bikes or boats, and just the whole feeling of not being in Florida anymore. I'll be back there for two weeks in September .

As far as the rooms go, they are similar in size and layout. The main difference is in decor.

So it's basically an aesthetic choice - which theme appeals to you more? Do you prefer to feel you're on an African Safari, or taming the Wild West?