Is it worth it?

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Okay, we just moved back to Jacksonville, FL from Orlando, FL and our family is going through SERIOUS Disney withdrawls.. sooo we are going early next month... my question is this

Is it worth it to stay at AKL?

My kids are 5, 3, 2, and will be 4 months at travel.

All of my kids are ADDICTED to wild animals.. I'm studying to be a zoologist, my son wants to be a croc hunter, my daughter is in love with elephants and giraffe and my younger son is insanely addicted to the great apes. My kids will sit and watch wild animals for hours on end (even if the animal is only sleeping LOL)

Soooo how well do you see the animals from the room? Is it worth the money to stay in AKL or would our money be better spent elsewhere?

 

[justplaingoofy]

I would call Animal Kingdom lodge directly to inquire about this, but I've heard that alot of the animals are not around much because of all the construction going on....

 

[geokeim]

Well, it sounds as if you've already answered your own question.
If you have a Savannah view, obviously you will see many more animals. If you don't, you can go to one of the many viewing areas and take a seat in a rocker and enjoy yourselves.
Also, by the pool area, are many birds and flamingos. (one had just had a chick when we were there)
Mainly we saw the long horned cattle, gazelles, and giraffe.

If you can afford it, to me it's worth seeing at least once.
It is my favorite resort, for just the resort itself and we have been fortunate to stay at all the "biggies". I find it the most relaxing of them all.

Enjoy your stay!

 

[Donnainnj]

When we went to AKL I had a little trouble with waking up throughout the night to see the animals in my Savannah view room. I liked the resort, but am the kind of person that also really likes my sleep. The animals were hard to resist. It might be something to consider with your animal crazy family.
Donna

 

[EltonJohn]

If your children love animals then why don't you take them to a real zoo?

 

[*Emily*]

If your children love animals then why don't you take them to a real zoo?

Uh, because she's going to disney...

 

[EltonJohn]

Uh, because she's going to disney...

And?



OP~I think it would be a waste of money to stay at the AKL-take your kids to the zoo. But it's your money-do what you want with it.

 

[Northern_Julie]

And?



OP~I think it would be a waste of money to stay at the AKL-take your kids to the zoo. But it's your money-do what you want with it.

Considering she is studying to be a zoologist she has probably taken them to many zoo's.

 

[global_mom]

If your children love animals then why don't you take them to a real zoo?

This is the strangest comment. Why on earth would you ask that question when the OP has asked a simple question about staying at a particular resort at Disney World?

OP - we love AKL and AKV and have kids of similar ages. We found the animal watching to be great from the common areas and did not need a Savanna view room. As another poster said, the animals are being moved around b/c of construction, so a Savanna view room may not net you a view of all the animals. AKL is spectacular and you will absolutely love it no matter what view you have!

 

[heartbeeps]

I stayed there 5/2-5/6/08 in a savanna room. We had a full schedule so I really didn't get my money's worth out of the room. (We were right next to the alcove with the rockers and I could've settled for a lesser room category and seen as much right in the alcove.) However, if we were spending more down time at the lodge, I'd like to have enjoyed it more. (The only reason we had a savanna room is we were doing a "mock African Safari" in honor of DH's 80th b'day so it was a really special occasion.)

If I went back, I'd select a pool view room and ask to be on the Zebra trail near the pool elevator. That way I could walk to the Arusha alcove and watch the animals from there.

Of course, you don't mention if you have a budget or not. If you do, you could scale down by not getting a savanna room or really pare back by staying elsewhere and just visiting the lodge at feeding times.

To me, what was REALLY worth the money was the Wanyama sunset safari. The giraffes were literally IN OUR FACES! And, we got to see all the animals on all the savannas. Up close and personal (just not inexpensive and not for kids under a certain age).

 

[720L]

Your main question was "Is it worth it to say at AKL"? Yes yes yes! You will love this resort especially since you are all into animals so much. Even if you get a standard view, you can go to the viewing areas to see animals and talk to the CM's that are out there and can answer any questions about the animals for you. With kids your ages you will love the buses, you can almost always get a seat and AKL is the only place they stop at. There are lots of free activities for the kids to do that teach them about animals. The food court usually isn't that busy and it isn't as loud as other food courts. If you get a savannah view room you will love waking up in the morning and seeing animals on the savannah. You are only 5 minutes from AK where you can go see more animals!

 

[BamaFan121s]

I've never stayed there, but was going to on my upcoming trip. My concern was how would the construction going on at AKL affect my stay. There have been other members here that posted back w/ negative feedback regarding it, so we opted to hold off and stay there another time. I would be disappointed if I shelled out the $$$ to stay there and the only animal I saw was a 'Crane' or a 'Bobcat' a 'Bull'dozer.

 

[Ratpack]

AKL is definitely worth staying at. We were there in Dec and they animals were out, even on the Sunset Savannah which is the side where the new DVC building is taking place. However, and this is just me, I wouldn't spend the extra money for a Savannah view room unless you plan to do a lot of time in the room and on the balcony. There are so many areas to just walk down to and see the animals for "free" and even little quiet areas where you can sit and watch them inside the resort.

 

[irishelysia]

idk if this would be too much trouble with your little ones or not, but how about just tacking on an extra night to your vacay that is the AKL? (Ie stay at a value resort/moderate for 5 days, and do your parks and etc...then just get a v. nice AKL room for the last day, and plan to do all of the fun AKL-ness that day?)

Just a budgeting thought ^^

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Thanks for all of the input. I think we will just get a standard room there and walk and see the animals LOL.. I'm glad to hear that the food court isnt as chaotic LOL. When we stayed at POP, the food court was completely insane, almost not worth even trying to eat in LOL...

Oh, and we have been to the zoo many times. We do take a weekly trip to the zoo with our playgroups. We live about 8 miles down the road from the Jacksonville Zoo and are annual members. When we lived in Orlando, we were regulars at Animal Kingdom, Sea World and the zoo in Sanford. BUT, I figured since we will be staying in a hotel anyways, might as well look into Animal Kingdom where my kids can wake up and go see the animals immediately.

 

[720L]

AKL is definitely worth staying at. We were there in Dec and they animals were out, even on the Sunset Savannah which is the side where the new DVC building is taking place. However, and this is just me, I wouldn't spend the extra money for a Savannah view room unless you plan to do a lot of time in the room and on the balcony. There are so many areas to just walk down to and see the animals for "free" and even little quiet areas where you can sit and watch them inside the resort.

Ditto on the standard room.