Love AKL - will I love WL?

[GrandCalifornian]

Any issues with seating at Roaring Forks? We usually had breakfast at Mara and never had a problem finding seats etc... Roaring Forks looks smaller than Mara to me from pictures and maybe not quite as nice?

Is WL a lot busier than AKL?

For WL I like the outside, the trees and the water, the activities, the MK ferry

For AKL I like the details and finishes better - the rooms slightly better (seem newer), the pool, the QS restaurant better and the peacefulness of it.

We come at it from the other side, having only stayed at WL but we looked around AKL last trip and saw some things we liked.

Mara is definitely bigger than Roaring Fork, so if you are going during a busy time that might be an issue. We love the food quality at Roaring Fork though, and it is our favorite QS. It doesn't have Zebra Domes though, which is a minus...

The pool at AKL seemed a little nicer than the main pool at WL, mainly because AKL is zero entry. The decor and theme of the WL pool is impressive though, with the stream leading into it. Also WL has another nice separate pool by the villas (The Hidden Springs Pool) that all guests can use.

Woods View is nice, and on the North Side of the resort you might catch Wishes over the trees. An Inner Courtyard view gives you the best view of the lake and main pool, but the extra cost to guarantee courtyard view isn't worth it for us, but may be for others.

From what I've seen I wouldn't say WL is busier than AKL. It has a similar peacefulness as you walk around the lobby and the resort.

The area surrounding WL is wonderful, and ties into the theme well. You can walk through the woods towards Fort Wilderness, or stroll down to the marina to catch a boat. Being on Bay Lake is the deciding factor for me, it is just so beautiful and offers the boat transportation to MK and to the CR to catch the monorail.

Either way you'll be in an awesome resort. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Wood Nymph]

That's useful to know. How nice a boat ride to MK. Does the bus take you to MK gate or TTC do you know?

The bus takes you to the MK gate, the same place as all the other resort buses go to. The boat dock is much closer to the main gate then the buses are. It is one of the reasons why the boat is so appealing.

 

[GrandCalifornian]

That's useful to know. How nice a boat ride to MK. Does the bus take you to MK gate or TTC do you know?

The bus goes right to the Gate, a 5 minute express trip!

 

[dansdad]

Does the bus take you to MK gate or TTC do you know?

The gate.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

The gate.

Cool. Well I am sold anyway. Good luck thread starter! Be there or be square

 

[mlain]

It is about 15-20 minutes. It's a nice ride. There is a small boat and a big boat and I think only the big boat can take ECV's, but I could be wrong about that.

Quite honestly, the 5 minute bus ride is much quicker...just not as pretty.

How long does it take to get from AKV to MK? And is the quickest/only available route bus?

 

[disd55]

How long does it take to get from AKV to MK? And is the quickest/only available route bus?

The only way by disney transport is by Bus, 20 minute ride. You could rent a car or get a Taxi.

 

[DizneyNutz]

I have had this very same issue. We absolutely adore akl. But i love the proximty to mk with wl. We are nighttime mk people and thinking it would be so much easier to stay here. Plus we love wcc and hated boma.
Can you hear the sounds of disney?? Like the ferries and such??

We are DVC owners at VWL. Yes you can hear the sounds of Disney from there. You hear the train whistle, boat horns, fireworks, etc. You can hear Ole Faithful go off hourly. There should be a CD of just sounds from outside the WL made so a person could play it and let their memories fill in the visions.

 

[LovinPooh]

Love all the info and loving our decision to go to WL. Thank you all so much

 

[Barcino]

I am still undecided because I love AKL and I feel i home! Had I not gone there first I would be no doubt going to WL without questions we shall see!

 

[mrsp1030]

We love both resorts and will only stay at AK with a car. It actually makes it pretty easy and quick to get around. WL is by far the best for overall food, access to MK and you can take the boat to CR also for other food options. It is always hard for us to decide.

 

[Barcino]

Ok after lots of reading - decided - back to AkL we love it so. It's home to us. We drive to WDW so we will fr sure make a point to visit WL. Maybe next time we will do WL - thanks for all the awesome posts! So helpful! YAY I'm so excited!!!

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We decided why decide! Spilt stay for us! 10 nights total so..... 5 at AK 5 at VWL i use to be indecisive but now I am not so sure...

 

[Barcino]

We get there in sep 25 so if we split stay we loose the free dinning offer for the second stay.
Next time we will do a split if we can

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

We get there in sep 25 so if we split stay we loose the free dinning offer for the second stay.
Next time we will do a split if we can

Oh! Oh no I can see how that would not work. We got an annual pass so don't do the free dining. But maybe next time for you guys! I will still be thinking about AK the whole time lol...

 

[Barcino]

Yes I think next time we will do a split stay either WL or poly

 

[Princess Leia]

We get there in sep 25 so if we split stay we loose the free dinning offer for the second stay.
Next time we will do a split if we can

We were in the same situation in trying to decide. We decided on a split stay but discovered that couldn't be done with free dining. We decided on Wilderness Lodge which we booked over a year ago. This time next week we will be there. We will go back to AKL for meals at Boma and Sanaa. I don't think there is a wrong decision - it's Disney after all.

 

[blondemom]

We are doing a split too! AKL and Wilderness Lodge! They are both beautiful!

 

[Momofone92]

I have stayed at both. All things being equal I like both for different reasons

AKL:

animals
food
Boma
Dr. Pepper (the only resort that has it)
quiet


WL:
easy to get to the other hotels
easy to get to magic kingdom
my daughter loved the pool and the gyser

Honestly if both were the same price I would pick WL but I have stayed at AKL twice now and WL once. My biggest complaint about the AKL Savannah room was the walk at night I didn't have that at WL but my biggest complaint about WL was the lack of food choices compared to AKL Both are minor complaints as I don't think one can go wrong with either option

 

[Oh So ONO]

Glad I discovered this thread today. I booked my own split stay this morning for Sept 1-10. 4 nights at AKL, followed by 5 nights at WL. I just couldn't decide. Mainly because my original plan was POP & WL. So glad with my decision. Can't wait to go.