Ok, it's between WL, AKL, and Ft. Wilderness cabins....

[mrsannb]

We were thinking about a moderate, but have decided on a deluxe. We'll either stay at a standard AKL, woods view WL, or FW cabin.
They are all in the same ballpark price-wise for our stay and availability.
We're going May 4-9 and have three small children, age 5, 2, and baby.
(The 5 & 2 year old will fight over the top bunk at FW.)
I would guess that we will split our time pretty evenly between the parks. We'll probably end up in MK 2 times, going to Epcot 2 times for our ADRs, and also going to Poly and WL for dinners, and to a waterpark, MGM (DHS?), and AK. I don't see much advantage travel-time wise with any of them, do you?

Important to us: comfortable beds, nice pools, quiet atmosphere, neat experience, good counter service food.

Does any of these have a significant advantage over another in these areas? I've been inside of AKL and WL, and been over near FW, so I kind of know what they look like and what the theming is, and that's not helping. lol

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Wilderness Lodge offers a boat to the MK - that might be more fun to your kids than always taking a bus. AKL offers the animals and lots of other kids' activities - hard to top that! It also has one of the largest pools on property, and it is zero-entry. Your little ones could get in the pool to a comfortable depth without having to be in our their heads. Both WL and AKL also have bunk bed rooms if you want those, but they cost more. AKL and WL are pretty compact - not a lot of walking to your room with tired kids.

I have heard horror stories about transportation from FW, but I have not personally stayed there.

I'd pick AKL, with WL a close second, then FW third, but that is just my opinion!

 

[typhoonlagooner]

Will you have a car? If not, I'd "avoid" the cabins at FW. The Cabin loops are the fartherest from Bay Lake and the MK boat dock, plus a good distance from the main resort amentities. You basically have to take two buses to make it to the parks (one from your loop stop to a depot, another from your depot to a park). We love the idea of the cabins, but with having 3 small kids, we'd look else where before choosing the cabins.

We're huge WL fans, everything from the new rooms to overall theme and location. We love the location on Bay Lake and the boat over to the MK (the have a bus to MK as well). The lodge is "smaller" and we found that we can easily get around to everything the resort has to offer.

We stayed at AK and wasn't overly impressed. I think the huge draw here is a "savanah" view room, but we were booked in standard (upgraded to pool) and feel that we missed this "aspect" of the resort. We loved the pool area (it's zero entry which is a great plus with little ones) and overall the resort has a really laid back feel.

I'd say transportation wise, WL and AKL are on par with each other: semi-equal distances to DHS and EPCOT. WL is of course closer to MK while AKL is closer to AKL, WL is farthest from AK while AKL is farthest from MK. I'd say AKL has the better CS location but both are on par based on food quality. AKL had a larger seating area.

It's really a hard decision, but with 3 small kids; we probably choose WL. It's more of a personal preferrence choice though, as the theme and atmosphere at WL appeals to us more. This factored in with the location to MK, new rooms, and the resort amentities like beach and a boat to MK is what would sell us.

 

[mrsannb]

We won't have a car, just disney transportation.
That's a bummer though as the cabins sounded pretty good space wise, so the kids could be in bed and we could stay up.

 

[Northern_Julie]

We won't have a car, just disney transportation.
That's a bummer though as the cabins sounded pretty good space wise, so the kids could be in bed and we could stay up.

We didn't have a car and didn't find it bad. They also have golf carts to rent which we didnt. The space was nice and the kitchen/bbq made dining easy some nights. My 4yr old nephew loved visiting the the horses, and the nightly campfire.

 

[mrsannb]

Do you get daily maid service at the cabins?

 

[typhoonlagooner]

Do you get daily maid service at the cabins?

Yes, the cabins do provide you with daily maid service. Like another poster said, the cabin's aren't "that" bad, but to us just more of a hassel.

If a seperate sleeping area is important to you, why not also consider the Family Suites at Asmu; especially if your going to rely more on CS meals than cooking/preparing. You wouldn't have the bunk bed fight issues, a seperate sleeping area with Queen bed (cabin has a double), 2 bathrooms, great resort location close to main pool and second pool, great food court, and a kitchenette to store snacks/drinks/etc.

 

[Kelly5908]

what do you mean the 'new rooms'?

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Loved AKL great transportation. WL very pretty bad transportation. Just my opinion of course. I walked over to FW one day and I would say that you better rent that golf cart or it will be a hike to the pool. Transportation is always an issue here I have had 3 seperate family members stay in the cabins and they all said if they didnt have their cars they would have changed resorts.

 

[typhoonlagooner]

what do you mean the 'new rooms'?

The Contemporary, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Wilderness Lodge were recently renovated with new decor, furniture, and linens. Before and After shots of the WL can be found at allears by using this link:
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/g_wl.htm

The "new rooms" at these 4 resorts have much more of a "deluxe" feel to us and we really like the new Flat Screen TV and dresser combo, something AKL does not have.

 

[Kelly5908]

Should I specifically ask for a newer room?? Or were they all redone

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Given your circumstances, I would probably recommend WL. Having said that, you really can't go wrong with any of the ones you mentioned! For more space, great things to do outside of the parks, and the nicest neighbors you could ever want, FW is the BEST! For a jaw-dropping, heart stopping, beautiful resort, AKL is it! WL is gorgeous and in a wonderful location! FW is lacking in the "pool" area for now, but offers the campfire program and so much more. If you get a bunk bed, just trade off nights with your kids!

 

[tinkermamaof2]

I chose AKL for our most recent trip and my husband who is not a Disney fanatic said he would do Disney again...if we stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. You should consider savannah view though, it isn't that much more really and worth it. We were going to book standard but went with savannah when we realized the price difference.. The children will love it and so will you and your husband. My husband and I had coffee and breakfast on our balcony almost every morning, we left the balcony door open and my daughters wandered in and out as they were getting ready, checking out the animals. The pool area is great and the staff throughout the entire lodge is as well. The counter service restaurant is small but it serves it's purpose, and the variety is just fine. If you book AKL you will not regret it, it is gorgeous. I have been to the Grand Floridian and I love AKL much more. Bus service is amazing. Just ask for a room on the Arusha Savannah Zebra Trail close to the lobby. When you are checking in and they are showing you your room on the map make sure that you are not at the end of the resort and you will be fine. The resort looks larger on a map than it actually is. They have many daily activities and the resort is very calm. Good luck, and if you book AKL enjoy!

 

[mrsannb]

I think we're leaning toward AKL...gotta see how much more that savannah view is.

 

[ConcKahuna]

FW is my favorite of the options. Most of the horror stories you hear about the transportation are just because people didnt take the time to familiarize themselves with the routes. Of course, just like any other resort there CAN be transporation delays, but I have never had the problems I hear about here.

If you do stay in the cabins, I suggest the "high numbered' cabins in the 2100 loop. They put you near a walking trail that cuts through the 1100 campsite loop directly to the meadows area (where the campfire and main pool are), and you are only 2 bus stops from the Settlement where the MK boat is, as well as only 2 bus stops from the Outpost for transport to all of the other parks. It is also a very short walk to the "loop pool" near the other cabins.

 

[Hopefully]

I definitely vote for the FW Cabins for your family makeup. We have stayed here 3 times with 3 children and loved it.
Your earlier post was exactly what drew us here the first time, the ability to put the kids to bed in the bedroom with a closed door, and for DH and I to have the Living/Dining room to relax in ourselves. Sitting on a bed in a darkened room, whispering is not my idea of a fun evening. The extra room in the cabins is priceless, in my opinion. In the Family Suites, although you will have 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms, the "Living Area" becomes the kids bedroom with all the pull outs in the evening. Again you are back to sitting on a bed to relax after they are asleep - at least you can have a light on and not whisper, but still not my idea of a relaxing adult evening.
There are tons of activities for little ones in FW too. The boat ride to the MK is easy and fun.
We have stayed here with and without a car. We rented Golf Carts one trip and the kids considered them another "ride". It was lots of fun. I think the transportation is slightly less convenient than some other resorts, but I do not feel it is the nightmare some describe. The trip became part of the fun.
Having the full kitchen for breakfast, cold drinks and snacks saved us a lot of money. We always ate breakfast in, so we could get an easy early start to our day. If we came home during the day for a rest we had cold drinks and snacks available.
We loved the Cabins with younger children.
Hope this helps.

 

[danielle782001]

WL- Great atmosphere, great counter service, boat to MK, beads of comfortable, playground on the beach

AKL-Animals, great counter as well, comfy beds, zero-entry pool (great for small ones), wonderful playground, BUT it is far for MK

 

[PEANUT1]

I think with 3 little kids convenience is a must! If you have to wait a long time for buses, it could get hard with sleepy children. I wouldn't stay at the cabins for that reason unless you want to rent a car. I would vote for Wilderness lodge bc you can boat it over to the MK and also to Contemporary for ADR's. I really like the counter service at WL and Whispering Canyon has great food with a fun atmosphere.

We love Animal Kingdom too. The theming is great, lots of fun things for the kids to see and do and Boma is an amazing place to eat. I think both places have about the same quality pool. I don't think I would stay at animal kingdom without a car...just my opinion. I don't think I would love AK as much without a savannah view...you just can't beat waking up in the morning and going outside with the kids and a cup of coffee...ahhhhh I get nostalgic just thinking about it.

 

[daveb]

Hi have stayed at all 3 numerous times and will vote for the cabins,you said quiet ant that is the only of the 3 that is quiet.The akl will win for the better pool but if you just want a pool you could request a cabin right next to the smaller pool at fw.