Need help - now going to AKL instead of WL - Will we love it?

[ColoradoDis]

OK, we got an email code to use on our trip in October. Jean, at yourmagicaljourneys.com, was able to get us a pool view room at AKL for $119/night (not including tax) for our whole stay (no blackout). We were holding a rack rate woods view room at WL.

It will be my DD12 and me on our own for the first time. We've never stayed at either resort but have visited WL to eat at Whispering Canyon Cafe and really were looking forward to it.

What will we love about AKL that will overcome our fear of being too far away from everything. We'll have a car so we can drive from park to park if that works better. How is the pool and ease of getting around? What about the restaurants in AKL, we both don't mind trying new food, but don't like anything too exotic. What about the snack bar and shops?

Thanks for your advice.

:thewave:

 

[CoolBreeze]

The bus transportation from AKL to the parks, etc. is "express", meaning you don't stop at any other hotels going back and forth. It is really great.

The AKL is absolutely beautiful, new, clean and state of the art. Also, once you eat at BOMA, you may not eat anywhere else!!

Have fun. We'll be at the Boardwalk Inn in October also. Can't wait!

 

[HopperFan]

The hotel is beautiful - very similar in structure to the WL. There is wonderful art and artifacts all over the hotel. Enjoyable to walk around and look at it all.

I don't know why everyone thinks it is SO FAR away. No you can't walk anywhere, but transporation is so easy. The bus ride to the MK was barely over 10 minutes and MGM even closer. To drive around works great too. We like to do that when we are hopping directly from one park to the next.

Pool is very large with a decent slide. Two good hot tubs. Usually lots of kids, my DD 11 always finds someone to talk to. Love the way the pool area is right off the restaurants and the counter service. They have a nice selection of ready made and make to order food. We love the large salads and the kids liked the pizza there. They have the basics - burgers etc as well. BOMA is wonderful with plenty of new foods to try in addition to the standard roast beef etc.

There is a host of activities ~ animal viewing from everywhere, cozy spots all over, night goggles to use at night to see animals, guides all over from Africa, storytelling around fire, crafts, pool games, we saw an African dance troupe in the lobby and music. One trip they have kids from Africa doing beautiful artwork in gift shop. Very large gift shop, with lots to see. The CMs here are all so nice and friendly.

You got a great rate there, so go, you'll love it !!! You can pay rack rate anytime. (I would make a ps at Whispering Canyon)

 

[Disney Ella]

ColoradoDis,

We are in the same situation. No more codes left for WL, so we switched to pool view at AKL. (We're saving $250 over four nights.) The kids were very excited about WL, so now I have to get them excited about AKL. I like AKL, but I really liked the proximity of WL to the MK and monorail.

AKL is a nice resort so I know we'll have a great time; it's just a matter of changing our expectations a little.

 

[hightown]

Hi Coloradodis! My daughter's (will almost be 11 then) break is in November so we're going then.

I loved AKL! Have stayed at W/L before and it' was ok but the Northwoods/Yellowstone type thing doesn't do anything for me. Too 'usual' seeming.

AKL is similar with the same architect but I really enjoyed the exotic 'flavor' of everything from the lobby scents to the background music. Some of the music reminds me of Paul Simon "Rythum of the Saints". I really didn't think it would be anything special but it was!

Loved the giftshop and everyone working there.

We didn't spend a lot of time looking at the animals--too busy.

Thought the bus services was just fine and would much rather do their bus than be the 5th stop at the EPCOT resorts or if at W/L have to go out to Fort Wilderness to pick up!

I'm trying to get our November ressies (w/e mail discount) changed to AKL Concierge but having availability problems. We'll have a car but think the only time we'll use will be for downtown disney or to go over to the boardwalk

 

[polecat8888]

You can't go wrong with AKL. The atmosphere is amazing. The dining at AKL is great, too - especially Boma. Any room is great - even if it isn't a savannah view. You can practically look out any window and see the animals.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

If you have a car, you needn't worry about feeling too far away from anything. You'e also going to have the best food at your fingertips as well. Plus, you really can't beat the theming.

 

[blanq]

I have been to both AKL and WL. I love them both, but AKL is my favorite of the two. I think that the "up-north lodge look" is more common for lodging in other parts of the country; I live in Minnesota so maybe I see it more here. Anyway, I can't think of anywhere else in the country where you have the opportunity to view African animals from your resort. The whole resort is so unique and wonderfully themed that one feels totally transported while there.

I have found the transportation to be exceptional at AKL. Not sharing busses with other resorts is a plus. My family did not have a car when we stayed at AKL, and did not need one. Transportation to anywhere in WDW was efficient. Also, we did not feel far away from anything.

The food...well Jiko is one of the best restaurants on WDW, IMHO. The menu for Jiko is posted right outside the restaurant, so you can venture down there to look at it and decide if is right for your family. Also, menus for both Boma and Jiko can be found at allearsnet.com, but the menu offerings do get updated and there can be some lag time before Deb is able to post them to her site. Boma also is great, and we have eaten there for dinner and breakfast. There are unusual offerings at Boma, but plenty of choices for the non-adventurous eater. I would suggest a PS at Boma, no matter the time of year as the place can be very busy. We utilized the food court, and found that there were plenty of choices for everyone in our family, and the food was good.

The pool at AKL is not my favorite (SAB has it beat by a mile!). I think it's too small for the number of rooms, and it can get crowded. The zero-entry is nice, and my DS (age 10 at the time we went in 5/03) liked the slide.

The gift shop is my favorite of all the WDW resorts I have stayed at. I generally don't like gift shops, as I am not big into souveniers, but I found myself wandering down to that shop often during our stay. I really loved the unique African art and books.

I hope you enjoy AKL as much as my family does! You have gotten a great rate for your poolview room!

 

[ColoradoDis]

anyone else have ideas?

 

[Connor&Cody'sMom]

We stayed at AKL in May and loved it! My DS (9) talks more about missing AKL than the Disney parks! We loved Boma's breakfast; there was "normal" food there for that meal. The dinner was a little too "different" for us, but we planned on eating at Epcot resturants every night anyway. We loved the bus service; the fact that there is ONE bus stop made up for the resort being a little out of the way. I would rather make a little longer drive than have to stop to load/unload at different resorts, or having a bus show up at your resort after it's stopped at another resort and is almost already full. The buses that stop at AKL for pickup are always empty. We visited WL when we ate at Whispering Canyon. I had no desire to stay there after my visit. Not that it wasn't a nice resort, I just like AKL better. My DS's loved the pool. It was huge. Hope this helps!

 

[zurgswife]

Just stayed at WL for the first time this July...wish I had picked AKL. We had stayed at AKL before and abosolutley loved it....really wasn't thrilled with WL.

AKL has so much to do and see....like a mini park on it's own...your kid should love it...

 

[CindyAnn]

I think WL and AKL are both great resorts, but I would give AKL the edge. Jiko and Boma are both good restaurants - better than Artist Point and Whispering Canyon, IMHO. We've found that lots of the CMs at AKL are from Africa and are very interesting to talk to - your DD is probably old enough to appreciate that. You can decorate animal shaped cookies and learn how to track animals. There are several other activities too, and in fact we took a whole day off from the parks just to enjoy the resort. Your DD may enjoy getting a hair wrap by the pool and sitting around the firepit in the rocking chairs is good too (there's also a storyteller there).

I think the two of you will have a great time!

 

[lainie25]

we stayed there last september and had the best time. the pool is open 24 hours which was great even though i don't have any children there were definitly lots of kids in there at night. the hotel was actually full and it didn't seem crowded at all. Watching the animals at night through the night vision goggles was really fun and they also have huge fire pits and story time around that for the kids
i think that you can't go wrong with staying there.
as you walk to your room even if it is not savannah view, there are huge windows in the hall ways where you can look out and see the animals..

i was worried about the transportation because it always took so long when i stayed at cbr but we never waited more than 15 minutes the whole trip to or from the hotel and like someone else said the buses are direct and never stop at other resorts

enjoy your trip

 

[ktbugsmom]

We stayed at WL in March of 2003 and just got back from AKL on Sunday. Both are wonderful, but if I had to pick, I would choose AKL.

Yes - it is farther out, but the bus service is wonderful and efficient (we never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus in 5 days). Also, it has great restaurants and the resort is so unique with the African theming. And of course, there are the animals. I just got a kick out of seeing them all of the time.

The pool is wonderful and the hot tubs were great. Your rate is great. I had booked a pool view room as well ($132 AP rate) and when I go there, I just mentioned I wanted savannah view, but couldn't afford it. They offered me an upgrade for $10 per night. I jumped at it. Well worth it, but I am sure the pool view rooms are great too and there are viewing spots all over the place.

Enjoy!