Please help me feel excited about AKL during Christmas season.

[disney-super-mom]

Well, I booked two rooms at the AKL for a December trip (7th-14th), and I'm not sure why, but I'm not really very excited about the AKL.

DH and I visited AKL last January, and I loved the look of the resort as well as the lobby. We also ate breakfast at BOMA, which we very much enjoyed!

However, I'm having a hard time getting excited about actually staying there in December. Maybe because it's during the Christmas season, and I can't imagine AKL feeling very Christmasy. Plus, we were only able to book standard view rooms, and that's certainly not the view people want when they stay there.

Anyway, I read all these reports about how much people LOVE AKL, but those reports are by people who had awesome savannah views with the animals. Well, we won't have those views, and we'll be in an African themed resort for Christmas season, so how festive can that really be?

Why am I not excited? Am I completely off my rocker? (It wouldn't be the first time!)

 

[SUSIEQ]

Have you thought about booking at WL instead? It seems to be almost everyones favorite at Christmas time.
I'm like you - I don't think I could get too excited about staying at AKL at Christmas time, although a lot of people do like it.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Have you thought about booking at WL instead? It seems to be almost everyones favorite at Christmas time.
I'm like you - I don't think I could get too excited about staying at AKL at Christmas time, although a lot of people do like it.

I tried booking WL first, but it was already booked (except for a few villas). I was bummed.

 

[McKeeFamily3]

We stayed at AKL a few years ago at Christmas time. The holiday decorations were very festive while fitting in with the African theme. The Christmas tree in the lobby was fabulous! Put your trust in Disney to make you feel like it's Christmas in Africa. AkL is a beautiful resort even if you don't have a savannah view. You can still see the animals from the public viewing areas and enjoy the stories around the fire pit. And to be honest with you, with the savannah view the animals can be quite loud at night and kept me awake. DH insisted on sleeping with the balcony door open so he could feel like he was sleeping on the African plain If you decide to stick with AKL I really don't think you'll be dissapointed.

 

[disney-super-mom]

And to be honest with you, with the savannah view the animals can be quite loud at night and kept me awake. DH insisted on sleeping with the balcony door open so he could feel like he was sleeping on the African plain

That is one of the funniest things I've ever heard. Men are so funny. I swear, that's something my DH would do too!

Anyway, your response has made me feel a little better. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised? I hope so!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Both lodges (AKL and WL) are beautiful at the holidays, and both have impressive trees. The "vibe" is obviously slightly different, but the AKL really takes its theming to a whole new level. I would love this resort, even without the animals!

We've stayed at AKL 3 times - and only one of those trips was a savannah view room, while the first 2 were standard view rooms. While sure, it was neat seeing the animals from our balcony on our 3rd trip, we loved the Lodge just as much on our first 2 trips - there are so many public viewing areas for the animals, and sometimes, you can even see them better from these vantages.

We're actually booked to do a split stay at the AKL and GF for this upcoming December. I love the GF at Christmas, and am excited to get to experience the Lodge at this time of year, too. See you there!

 

[Tink415]

We stayed at AKV this past December and I thought the Christmas decorations were beautiful. The lights on the big tree were red and white this year instead of the amber they used to be. The color change added something extra to the Christmasy feel. And I think I liked it better than WL because the public areas weren't as crowded. We had a pool view, but I would also get a standard view. I think you'll be happy there!

 

[Dis Ohana]

We visited the AKL last December, we weren't there for Christmas day but got to see the hotel all dressed for the holidays. The lobby is incredible, but even more beautiful with all the decorations up.

As far as the room view goes, I would think that even if you had a view of the pool it would still be pretty awesome. There are big windows all along the walk to your room, and several viewing areas around the hotel for animal spotting.

 

[Girldreamer02]

We stayed at AKL this yr for Christmas. We were there dec22nd-30th and loved every minute of it. I found it to be very festive as far as resorts go around the holidays. It had the little reindeer lit up in lights outside where the bus pulled in every night by the AKL sign and there is the giant tree when you walk in and other festivities going on in the lobby at various times throughout the week. We also decorated our room, which helped to bring the Christmas feeling into our room. We brought stockings from home and got a tree from disney florists. If the tree isn't an option (it can be costly) then try bringing some decorations from home. We had the stockings, window clings that we clug to the mirror's and also snowmen lights. Or any kind of lights would do just fine. HTH and I hope you have a great time at AKL.

 

[ppony]

We stayed at about the same time frame as you will be but in 2006 and thought it was WONDERFUL! I didn't have ANY feeling that it wasn't Christmassy enough. Public places are limited as to how far they can go anyway these days. But the tree as you see was BEAIUTIFUL and the decorations wonderful. I loved everything about it and this is the very first resort we actually feel at "home" at and want to go back to immediately and forget all others. We're tough to impress. You'll love it! Don't worry!

 

[disney-super-mom]

WOW - I didn't think they decorated as much at the AKL for Christmas, but I guess I was wrong! That really does look very beautiful! Thanks so much for the pictures and all the great reviews of the resort and the rooms (even without the savannah views).

 

[MsStinkerBelle]

We stayed at the AKL 12/19 - 12/29 and it was absolutely GORGEOUS for Christmas! Aside from the huge Christmas tree in the lobby, there were African themed Christmas decorations everywhere. What impressed me most was the Christmas tree in Boma. They actually had a few glittery butterflies that would flap their wings every 30 seconds or so. Very subtle but added such a festive touch.

We're planning to try the Wilderness Lodge for Christmas of '09 (we're booked at the Poly for Christmas this year).

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Here is a nightime shot of AKL in 2006. It is so beautiful there at Christmas!! Especially at night when it's dark with those open fireplaces.... We loved it there!!

 

[heatherlynn444]

we were there in dec. and had a standard booked and asked for an upgrade and they upgraded us to a savannah view room. check out my TR I am doing for some pics of teh Christmas decorations

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1656523

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I have stayed at both lodges during that timeframe and I actually preferred AKL to WL. Just because it was so different than your typical tree and decorations. It was very neat. WL had more decorations and they were typical to the Northwest and Lodge feeling but AKL held its own.

We had a pool view and a savannah view. We had standard booked and they upgraded us to pool view. I dont think you will be disappointed.

 

[auntie]

Well, I booked two rooms at the AKL for a December trip (7th-14th), and I'm not sure why, but I'm not really very excited about the AKL.

DH and I visited AKL last January, and I loved the look of the resort as well as the lobby. We also ate breakfast at BOMA, which we very much enjoyed!

However, I'm having a hard time getting excited about actually staying there in December. Maybe because it's during the Christmas season, and I can't imagine AKL feeling very Christmasy. Plus, we were only able to book standard view rooms, and that's certainly not the view people want when they stay there.

Anyway, I read all these reports about how much people LOVE AKL, but those reports are by people who had awesome savannah views with the animals. Well, we won't have those views, and we'll be in an African themed resort for Christmas season, so how festive can that really be?

Why am I not excited? Am I completely off my rocker? (It wouldn't be the first time!)

Why don't you book the WL instead. I would think I'd that would be an ideal resort at Christmas time. It would be my first choice for anytime, but that time of year in particular.

Opps..sorry about that..saw that you tried to book it. Why then don't you keep the reservation you have and keep calling back for a WL reservation. Christmas is 11 months away, and I'm thinking that something is bound to open up before then. If it does..great, and if it doesn't you have a secure reservation at the AKL. People cancel reservations all the time..call first thing in the morning when they open....reservations for deposits not received cancell the night before, and you might be able to snag something for yourselves.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Thanks everyone for making me feel better!

Apparently I've got a case of the DisBoard pre-trip jitters.

If it was just DH and I going again this year, I wouldn't be so worried about it because I KNOW we'd love it at AKL. Even having a standard view wouldn't bother us because we're pretty laid back about stuff like that. But since I have four other family members counting on me to make their first WDW trip special in everyway, I'm feeling the pressure a bit.

I think AKL is a good decision though. After reading what you all had to say and seeing those wonderful pictures, I'm sure MIL, BIL, and our two boys will be in heaven there.

(Oh, I sure hope so!)

 

[karenklo]

I was looking into staying this coming holidays at the AKL, but saw that it will be under construction in 2008-09. Just something to think about!

 

[Girldreamer02]

its been under construction for about the past yr I think. We stayed there for Christmas...do you know what kind of construction it is? They have been working on savanah stuff (a place fore more animals or to spread out the animals they currently have and also they were working on the dvc villias.

 

[Disney5Mom]

We stayed at AK Lodge for New Years Eve this year and we loved it. The decorations are gorgeous and Mickey and Minnie came on NYE to the Lobby for photos. We had booked a savannah room for the first week of january the year before and were lucky enough to be upgraded from the CB this year. It is our favorite deluxe. We were not bothered at all by any construction. Enjoy