Love AKL - will I love WL?

[Barcino]

We have been to AKL 2x and absolutely adore it! Love how new and nice it looks - love the animals. We have had the savannah views both times but this time we decided we won't be in our room enough to spend the $$ on that and opted for a longer stay instead.

Thinking about the WL - but have a couple of questions. Does it feel as new as AKL? I think the refurbished rooms look nicer than they used to for sure.

MK boat ride is tempting - we do drive to parks since we have our car and don't find much of an issue with that but I would like the boat to MK which we love.

Any other AKL lovers out there that can pitch in?
How are the new rooms in comparison with AKL rooms and how about common areas?


Thanks so much!

Also are wood views ok?

 

[nolanboys]

Although I can not speak of regular rooms, as we are DVC members, we stayed at VWL on our last trip for the first time and loved it. We have stayed at AKV twice and loved it as well. The lobby at WL is gorgeous. The pool is nice, although I do prefer the pool at AKL. The quiet pool at WL is also nice and relaxing. We felt very secluded there and loved being a quick boat ride to MK. We also enjoyed the s'mores on the beach in the evening. My 4 boys loved it there and actually preferred it to AKL. I would say go for it. I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[letsgoreds]

You will really, really like WL. We usually toggle between WL and AKL (although next stay is BC and BLT) for our stays. I would give WL the edge. And I really like AKL. The proximity to MK is wonderful. We chose the boats most of the time...although the bus to MK is also mighty quick.

The pool isn't quite as big/cool as what is offered at Jambo (especially Kidani, enjoy that pool) ,but the setting, nestled in the big C of the beautiful WL resort, is awesome + Bay Lake views. For me, the approach and lobby feel is even more impressive than Jambo...but that may be because we stayed there first?

Have fun, and give it a go!

 

[clapton]

You won 't be disappointed! It's a beautiful resort! Enjoy!

 

[2infinityandbeyond!]

In my opinion there is no comparison between the 2. WL wins hands down. The boat ride is awesome especially when leaving MK at night. No big crowds and hardly a wait time at all. Very peaceful and secluded. Chances are one trip to WL and you will never go back to AKL.

 

[LovinPooh]

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??

 

[tiggerlvr27]

We have been to AKL 2x and absolutely adore it! Love how new and nice it looks - love the animals. We have had the savannah views both times but this time we decided we won't be in our room enough to spend the $$ on that and opted for a longer stay instead.

Thinking about the WL - but have a couple of questions. Does it feel as new as AKL? I think the refurbished rooms look nicer than they used to for sure.

MK boat ride is tempting - we do drive to parks since we have our car and don't find much of an issue with that but I would like the boat to MK which we love.

Any other AKL lovers out there that can pitch in?
How are the new rooms in comparison with AKL rooms and how about common areas?


Thanks so much!

Also are wood views ok?

I am at the opposite side...stayed at WL and LOVED IT! Now I have booked AKL and I am worried that my DH won't like it as much Is there a true downside to traveling to the World?

 

[Mousemommy1]

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 heard the ferries from our room every morning and night.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Sorry to intrude it's just I have the same predicament! Does anyone know how long the boatride takes from WL to MK and if they take a wheelchair ( not ECV ) . Thanks

 

[wiigirl]

You won 't be disappointed! It's a beautiful resort! Enjoy!

 

[Mousemommy1]

Sorry to intrude it's just I have the same predicament! Does anyone know how long the boatride takes from WL to MK and if they take a wheelchair ( not ECV ) . Thanks

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.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Sorry to intrude it's just I have the same predicament! Does anyone know how long the boatride takes from WL to MK and if they take a wheelchair ( not ECV ) . Thanks

They use two types of boats at WL, one is small and requires a stroller to be folded up, since you have to step down into the boat. The other one is a larger launch in which you can roll a stroller, wheelchair or ECV aboard. The boats alternate, so that if the smaller launch arrives, the next one will be the larger boat.

 

[Barcino]

I absolutely LOVE AKL - For those going there and wondering I would say not to worry! We have been there in the summer and fall and find it very relaxing to come back to the hotel after a hot day at the parks. The buses were not a big deal to us - we had to take monorail one and found the crowds worse than the buses. However we do drive to Disney - so we have a car and many times we will use the car because we have that flexibility.

 

[Wood Nymph]

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 had a woods view room in the north wing and could hear the ferries, the explosions from the Wishes fireworks, and the music of the Electric Water Pagent. We could also see a partial view of Cinderella's Castle, Wishes, the monorail and the Contemporary, and Bay Lake. It was really nice.

We have been to AKL 2x and absolutely adore it! Love how new and nice it looks - love the animals. We have had the savannah views both times but this time we decided we won't be in our room enough to spend the $$ on that and opted for a longer stay instead.

Thinking about the WL - but have a couple of questions. Does it feel as new as AKL? I think the refurbished rooms look nicer than they used to for sure.

MK boat ride is tempting - we do drive to parks since we have our car and don't find much of an issue with that but I would like the boat to MK which we love.

Any other AKL lovers out there that can pitch in?
How are the new rooms in comparison with AKL rooms and how about common areas?


Thanks so much!

Also are wood views ok?

We also had a fear that we wouldn't like the WL after staying at the Epcot resorts almost exclusively the last twenty years. And to tell the truth, we did miss the BC, especially every time we had to ride a bus. We had gotten totally spoiled by being able to walk to two parks when staying there. But we also loved many things about the WL. The resort is gorgeous, Roaring Forks was really convenient, the boats to MK were really nice, much nicer than the motor launch from YC to HS, and the proximity to FW was nice.

So now we love two resorts, instead of just one. We are going back to WL in December for Christmas, but are also planning a trip back to the BC in April. BC might still have the edge, since we love the location so much. But I am really glad we tried a different resort.

 

[Barcino]

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.

 

[mickeynut1]

We have been to AKL 2x and absolutely adore it! Love how new and nice it looks - love the animals. We have had the savannah views both times but this time we decided we won't be in our room enough to spend the $$ on that and opted for a longer stay instead.

Thinking about the WL - but have a couple of questions. Does it feel as new as AKL? I think the refurbished rooms look nicer than they used to for sure.

MK boat ride is tempting - we do drive to parks since we have our car and don't find much of an issue with that but I would like the boat to MK which we love.

Any other AKL lovers out there that can pitch in?
How are the new rooms in comparison with AKL rooms and how about common areas?


Thanks so much!

Also are wood views ok?

We've stayed at both and love them for different reasons as both resorts have things that are appealing to us. One of our favorite things about WL is taking the boat to MK and the CR. One thing about AKL that I like is that since it is out away from everything, it's kind of quiet and peaceful. We like the theme/decor at both resorts and wouldn't hesitate to stay at either one again. I would give WL a try as it really is a beautiful resort .

 

[disd55]

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.

WL is not any busier than AKL. Both those resorts were designed by the same architect, if you haven't noticed both have a horseshoe sort of shape. WL is actually more expensive than AKL by about $10 a night and I think there is a reason. Probably because of the proximity to MK. The boat is so nice, also the boat to FWC and CR is great. Also, the bus to MK is super quick. Roaring forks is nothing to brag about but its small because the resort is small. Also, don't forget the Electric Water Pageant on the lake every night around 8 I believe. That's a water pageant you can only see from WL, CR, BLT, and parts of GF and FWC.

 

[Barcino]

Thanks for all the input I might just have to make my husband choose. I am pretty much stuck Ha

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

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.

Oh thank you. I prefer slow and pretty. Am in no rush

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

They use two types of boats at WL, one is small and requires a stroller to be folded up, since you have to step down into the boat. The other one is a larger launch in which you can roll a stroller, wheelchair or ECV aboard. The boats alternate, so that if the smaller launch arrives, the next one will be the larger boat.

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?