Just booked AKL... Honest opinions

[Aurora410]

i just switched WL to AKL for Aug 27th- Sept 2. (For FD) I know nothing about AKL! It was never even my radar. I'm just read the "all about AKL" post and looked at some pictures.

What are your thoughts? What did you like? What didn't you like? My kids will 15 and 11 when we go.
TIA!

 

[Mousemommy1]

AKL is one of the few resorts we haven't stayed at yet, but we have visited. It's beautiful and lots of good dining options. I do hope to stay there someday, but as we are a family of five, our options there are limited.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Good: animals; atmosphere

Bad: if you don't like/get bored with the QS, too bad. Nothing else is close enough to be an option; small rooms, no daybeds

Ugly: buses. 15 min Epcot. 25 min MK.

 

[Branflakes]

The resort as a whole is really beautiful. The grounds are nice and the animals are a plus.
That said, I feel like it needs updating in the rooms. It's a touch dated imo.
We stayed 10 days late Sept/early Oct 2016, wasn't our first choice, but I was booking 6 weeks out, so it was the only deluxe with continuous availability.
Jiko is a very good signature restaurant. Boma is a good breakfast buffet, not really my thing though as I am not really a buffet fan.
The zero entry pool is nice, could be bigger.
The bar/lounge is nice too good cocktails and small plates.
BUT- the reason I will never stay here again is bus aggravation. We took a cab at least 6-8 times due to waiting for too long for busses to arrive. And due to the size of the resort, and number of families with strollers waiting, we often waited for two buses before loading to MK. That means waiting at least 30-45 minutes for the bus and then the time to get to a park. It was infuriating. We actually had to take a taxi to AK. After waiting 30 minutes, we would have beeen so late for a reservation, we'd have lost it.

So. I'd have stayed with WL it is second only to yc/bc for us.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

We have stayed there 3 times and each time have loved it. It's a very relaxing resort. We were just talking about going back there soon. The pool area is very nice and watching the animals is relaxing. Enjoy it!

 

[LindySpirit]

I absolutely love AK, it's my favorite resort. The food there is some of the best in WDW. We always rent a car, so transportation isn't an issue.

 

[Aurora410]

Oh no!! I was afraid there might be a problem with the buses! It is kind of far from everything. Ugh.

 

[JKMastalski]

Our home away from home for the last few trips. We love everything about it. Trust me, we are very impatient 40 year olds with no kids and have never ever had an issue with the buses. They always come quickly and exactly on time according to the tv boards. We do rent a car usually as well, but haven't really had to use it much. Jiko is fantastic and you can't beat a Savannah view room. I hope you love it!

 

[buzznina]

We have stayed twice and loved it both times, it is a GREAT and very unique resort with excellent TS restaurants. The FC is just okay, but that is our opinion of all Deluxe resorts FC's. We never had any issues with buses, not sure what families with strollers has anything to do with them either. Buses are hit or miss at any and every resort, if we stopped going to resorts based on transportation then there would not be many, if any, to go back too. The added distance adds up to just a couple of minutes travel time, depending on which resorts you compare it too and if that is a big deal for you then try looking at another resort. Our family does not let 10-15 minutes here and there bother us.

 

[DJFan88]

Wow! We had ZERO bus issues. In fact, this is the only resort where we always had seats! Never waited long. Didn't even notice the length going to anywhere.
We left saying that was the best resort we stayed in. The food court did us fine, but we do catch meals out a lot. this was last August. Early to mid august.

 

[Aurora410]

You all are calming me down
About the buses! I tend to overestimate travel time anyway so hopefully that will help too. We have tons of ADRs at the parks so one or two food court meals shouldn't bother my family. I'm feeling better!

 

[Aurora410]

Oh I saw that the rooms can either have 2 queens or a queen and bunk beds. How do I go about trying to request the bunk beds?

 

[Westcoastwild]

I ended up resort hopping there several times because the lobby is so cool.

Never had that much trouble with the buses. They're regular. But I feel like if you've stayed in a resort with boat or monorail access, the distance will bother you. It's just a little bit more time consuming to get to any of the other parks...but I mean, it's pretty much the same story for reaching AK park from the monorail/boat resorts. There's really no such thing as a Disney resort that is convenient to EVERYTHING. Which would you rather be closer to? I spend my evenings at MK or Epcot, not at AK, so I think staying at AKL would bother me. But I think that aspect works on its favor too- the buses are less crowded, the lobby isn't a zoo.

It's seriously an impressive hotel, and I would take kids there in heart beat. Last time I was there, a Cm was leading kids through the lobby in a drumming and dance session. Very immersive in a way that Contemporary or GF are not. I'm on Disney property for that immersive quality, so I wouldn't spend the money to stay monorail resort just for the monorail.

 

[BaymaxForever]

My family stayed there last September and loved it! That's where they want to stay again next trip (DH, DD12, DS8). I've watched you tube walk-throughs (I've got problems...) of all the other resorts high on my list and keep coming back to AKL. The rest of the family is not swayed! It's just a really immersive environment.
We didn't really have any isssues with the buses, but we also had our car. If we wanted some non-resort, non-park food it's just a very short drive over to Irlo Bronson that has a big variety.
I think you all may love it....if not, it will at least have been an experience!

 

[DJFan88]

We requested bunk beds but they weren't able to meet our request unless we wanted to move the next day, so we passed on it. He said he could also give us a better savannah view if we weren't set on them, and we Loved our view, so it all worked out.
Just request it if you want it, I believe that is all you can do.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

AKL is gorgeous! And we loved the Mara QS.

If the buses become a problem, I would suggest taking uber (if you uber to MK, just ask to be dropped off at CR and walk or GF and take the monorail). It's about $5-$7 per trip and it will cut down on transportation time considerably. We do this all the time now.

 

[jimmymc]

I think it really embodies the word "resort." There's everything from quick service to signature dining at the resort(and it's all good in my little experience), a great pool area, and obviously the animals, to the point where you could make a vacation out of this place without it being on Disney property. Savannah views are amazing but anyone can walk outside, so I would not avoid staying here if you can't afford one. Buses run pretty regularly so transportation is easy.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Oh I saw that the rooms can either have 2 queens or a queen and bunk beds. How do I go about trying to request the bunk beds?

I just got back from a stay over the weekend. When I booked a few months ago, bunk beds were a separate bookable category and were about $45/night more expensive than a standard 2 Queen bed room. I wanted bunk beds, but not enough to pay extra so I just booked the 2 queens. When we arrived, I didn't care for my room assignment and the cast member behind the desk offered me a room with bunk beds for no additional charge!

I just looked now for a random date in August, and while it appears that standard view there is no separate bookable categories for bunk beds, the pool view and savanna view bunk bed rooms are a separate category and cost extra: For example, the pool view bunk bed room is $318 but the pool view 2 Queen is $279. Interesting.

 

[oceanmarina]

You all are calming me down
About the buses! I tend to overestimate travel time anyway so hopefully that will help too. We have tons of ADRs at the parks so one or two food court meals shouldn't bother my family. I'm feeling better!

Glad to hear it! You will love AK. We stayed in Kidani, I would stay there again in a heartbeat. If you get a Savannah View room, those are amazing. One of my most magical Disney memories was sitting on my balcony having tea, eating Zebra Domes and having a cup of tea while I watched the animals.

The buses were fine, we never waited more than 10 or 15 minutes for one. It was no problem getting to MK - just like when you stay at Beach Club, WL or Boardwalk, it's a quick bus ride to MK. I think the ride from Kidani to MK was a few minutes longer, no biggie.

The theming of AK is truly amazing! I'm sure that you will love it

 

[KStash]

We stayed in November and thought it was fantastic. It was during a busy week (Jersey week) and we really didn't have problems with the bus waits. Granted, out of my party of 8, it was the first Disney World trip for seven of us, so we had nothing to compare it to. My niece and nephew (who are 14 and 11) loved the resort.