OK, OK Now I have planned my 1st disney trip! so AKL OR WL???

erinsn77

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 16, 2008
Messages
133
We are FINALLY Going to disney!! it will be our 10 yr anniversary and we are also including out 8 and 3 yr old who will be 9 and 4 in Dec. when we arrive.. Now to the BIG QUESTION!! I have changed my ressie 4 times now! LOL I cant make up my mind but im now staying in a Deluxe the AKL standard view.. No Savahnnas left.. now Im questioning myself yet AGAIN about staying at AKL :confused3 !! I see WL is closer to MK which im sure we will be spending more time there... so can anyone tell me WHICH IS THE BETTER ONE TO STAY??? like i said 1st time to Disney and want it to me a nice smooth one!
 
AKL is a bit out of the way, but it truly is a beautiful resort. WL is close to MK and it truly is a beautiful resort. You will not go wrong with either one and there are also lots of areas to view animals at AKL. Why not split the ressies up and stay a few nights at each hotel?
 
WL. AK is nice but it's really out of the way. Your kids are small and I'd think the close access to MK would be better for you.
 
We just stayed at the WL this past July and had a wonderful time. It is a really beautiful resort and it is so easy to get to MK from there. I would probably say WL, because, from what I hear, it is really really BEAUTIFUL when decorated for Christmas.
I think we may try the AKL for our next trip. Both are great, and I doubt you can go wrong with either.

Michele
 

I've stayed at both resorts in December and I like the decorations at the WL alot better than the ones at the AKL. I also like the fact that the restaurant at the WL has a regular menu whereas Boma is a buffet and only open for Breakfast and Dinner, not lunch.
If it were me, I'd go with the WL. The WL does book up quickly for stays in December so you may want to make your decision soon.
 
I would also agree with WL. It is so beautiful! Love the pool, location, and the feel of the resort.

I would also go along with split your stay if your really can't make up your mind.
 
Ok this is what sways me 1 WL is closer to MK but AKL has its own bus.. which has the better transportation? gets you to MK faster? the own bus thing is what made me chose AKL to begin with but then I read how WL is so great too!! I would love to split my ressie up but this being out 1st time and all I think that would be a bit much this year..
 
Ok this is what sways me 1 WL is closer to MK but AKL has its own bus.. which has the better transportation? gets you to MK faster? the own bus thing is what made me chose AKL to begin with but then I read how WL is so great too!! I would love to split my ressie up but this being out 1st time and all I think that would be a bit much this year..

It is far easier to get to MK from WL, where you have the boat (15 minutes and a beautiful ride), and also now they have added a bus, which I have heard takes only 5 minutes.

Yes, AKL has its own buses and WL has to share, but AKL is much further from anything (except AK), so the extra stops vs. distance come out as a wash. We've used bus service from Poly, CR, BC, YC, AKL, CBR (not WL yet), and honestly, it's ALL hit-or-miss, depending on the day. No matter where you are, you could catch a bus when you arrive at the stop, or wait 30 minutes...that goes for AKL, WL and every other Disney resort, value, mod or delux.

Both resorts are gorgeous and offer lots for families with young children. Why not pick one for this trip and plan the other for next time? Have fun planning!
 
I really don't think transportation is a big enough issue to be a deciding factor. Someone, perhaps it was you, noted above that it's really a wash when you consider that WL makes stops at other resorts and AKL does not. I should say it's a wash unless you are just looking at MK park. WL is obscured by trees (to give it a "wilderness" feeling...), but when you're on the boat to MK, once it goes around the trees, you can see just how close WL really is to MK.

It sounds like you've done your research on both resorts, so I'm sure you know the pros and cons of each. We stayed at WL pre-kids and are going to try it again in a few months. We stayed at AKL when our babies were 7 months old, and we will try it again in the future when they are out of strollers. We love both resorts equally, but for different reasons. We feel when we stay at AKL, we have a unique experience given the animals there. When we stay at WL, we feel like we'll be close to MK and will feel the disney magic each day. In your shoes, I'd simply choose one resort for this trip, then the other resort for next trip. It will give you a reason to plan another trip! I can't imagine your not liking both of these resorts, so don't stress over your decision. You've chosen 2 very good options.
 
I really don't think transportation is a big enough issue to be a deciding factor. Someone, perhaps it was you, noted above that it's really a wash when you consider that WL makes stops at other resorts and AKL does not. I should say it's a wash unless you are just looking at MK park. WL is obscured by trees (to give it a "wilderness" feeling...), but when you're on the boat to MK, once it goes around the trees, you can see just how close WL really is to MK.

It sounds like you've done your research on both resorts, so I'm sure you know the pros and cons of each. We stayed at WL pre-kids and are going to try it again in a few months. We stayed at AKL when our babies were 7 months old, and we will try it again in the future when they are out of strollers. We love both resorts equally, but for different reasons. We feel when we stay at AKL, we have a unique experience given the animals there. When we stay at WL, we feel like we'll be close to MK and will feel the disney magic each day. In your shoes, I'd simply choose one resort for this trip, then the other resort for next trip. It will give you a reason to plan another trip! I can't imagine your not liking both of these resorts, so don't stress over your decision. You've chosen 2 very good options.


Thank you so much!!
 












Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE













DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top