Pleeeease Help!!! Akl Or Wl????

[gusmydog]

We have been to Disney 3 times before and always stayed at the All-Stars (except for a brief trip to the Swan when my dad at a conference there). Because we were able to get a great deal on airline tix and had leftover park tickets from a previous trip, we have a little more $$$ this time. My dilemma: If you had a choice, would you stay at AKL or WL??? Here's the setup: It will be me, DH, DS (age 7), and DD (age 5). We will be there for 5 nights (next week!!! -- Jan. 28 - Feb. 2) Give me your thoughts on transportation/location, pool, etc. I just can't decide since I've never been to either one. Thanks so much!

 

[Kimberle]

I would stay at WL. We've stayed there & loved it.

I would like to stay at AKL, too. But WL is my first choice.

Good luck!! I sure you'll have a wonderful trip which ever you decide!

(PS: You could split your trip. 3 nights at AKL & 4 at WL. Disney will transfer your luggage for you.)

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Definitely WL! With young children you'll want to be near MK, and they'll also enjoy the Electrical Water Pageant at night. The pool is really great, the dining options are great, the lodge is beautiful... I would definitely do it!

I've never stayed at the AKL, but we went there once to visit. It's very nice, but I'd only recommend it if you're kids are really into animals and would choose that over being near MK.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

I had been wanting to stay at WL since the 1st time I saw it about 7 years ago. Last May we had a split stay for 3 nights at AKL (first) and then 5 nights at WL (second). The day before we were supposed to switch resorts we went to WL to see if they would allow us to look at a room (which they did) because we loved AKL so much that we were hesitant about switching. After looking inside the room we went back to AKL and asked the front desk if we could continue our stay at AKL instead of switching over to WL. So we ended up staying at AKL for 8 nights. The WL is nice but to us the rooms were boring and were showing some age and looked to me like they needed to be renovated. I would still like to stay at WL for Christmas one day but AKL is our absolute favorite resort hands down....I think your kids will love watching the animals, especially if you get a Savannah room (which I would highly recommend)......

 

[RobinMarie]

I've stayed at both, and think your 5 night situation cries for the WL. I loved the AKL on my solo trip but think the WL is a good choice for you this trip. You will have access to either bus transportation or boat, the water pagent, and a feeling of being more 'connected' to the World. My dd prefers Whispering Canyon at WL over Boma at AKL for dinner. Both hotels were designed by the same architect, so I believe the feel is similar in its rustic nature.

If it were me, I'd spend 4 at WL and final night at AKL - AKL is a great hotel to relax and wind down in.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Having stayed in both, I would stay at WL because it is closer to Parks, with your children MK will be a short boat ride away. But AKL is also beautiful and having a savannah view is awesome.

 

[nicdanh]

I have stayed in both and loved both. With kids I would stay at WL. Its much closer to the parks.

 

[SuzEm]

WL used to be my favorite until we stayed at AKL! Now my daughter wants to always stay at AKL, she loved the pool at AKL more than the pool at WL. And especially loved the story time at AKL. We didn't feel remote at all. The bus service is tremendous at AKL, I think better than WL. We had some transportation problems when we were at WL. If you stay very late at MK, you can only take the bus back to WL and you have to go to the TTC to get the bus back to WL (which is shared with the campground). The boat stops running at an earlier time. Since MK has cut back on hours this may not be as much of a problem as it was for us.

 

[dandave]

I've stayed in both as well. The first time at WL with only my sisters, and then with my family. We (myself, DH, and two dear sons) stayed at AKL for our 10th anniversary.
We prefer AKL, overall. The transportation is really "tit for tat", as far as I'm concerned. Although the AKL is farther away from MK, the bus is direct and not shared. Whenever we got picked up by the boat at WL, we had to chug-chug-chug along over to Fort Wilderness campgrounds before heading to the MK.
My children also preferred the pool at AKL, according to my (very informal) survey of them. They are now 7 & 9. They said that they preferred the AKL, because of the animals and they liked the pool better. They liked WL, because of the boat, however.

 

[Nolcrest]

I have stayed at WL and have visited AKL. I just love the theming of WL. I vote for WL for all of the other reasons stated and because you have the convenience of walking/boating to Fort Wilderness. That opens up a whole other place to explore. We enjoy Trails End Buffet at FW and the petting zoo.

 

[jlieblaw]

We stayed at WL last Sept. for a week. It's a beautiful resort and we used the boat quite a bit (My dd is 2). We enjoyed the pool except for the slide. My dd likes to go down with an adult and the lifeguards there won't allow it due to the design being dangerous for that situation. We only watched the ELP one night. In Dec. we spent a couple of nights at AKL-sav. view. We spent a lot of time on the balcony. It was incredible. We also walked around the resort some. We didn't use the pool, but I think my dd would have enjoyed it more due to the zero entry. I am looking forward to staying at AKL again sometime. While I wouldn't mind staying at WL again, AKL is at the top of my list.

 

[kerrynic78]

On our last trip we split the stay between WL and AKL. We did AKL first and after a night at WL we were so upset we left the AKL. We had problems from start to finish at WL and even though it was a beautiful hotel we will not stay there again. AKL was amazing and I can't wait to go back.

 

[3princesses]

We too split a stay between AKL and Wl and were a little disappointed when were at the WL. Our next three trips included at least a split stay at AKL. Though were really enjoyed the WL, our favorite (My girls are 11,8, and 4) is AKL. We can't imagine a trip to WDW without at least a few nights stay there!

 

[susy]

Both are great. It's a tough call!!!! I would split it. Do a few nights at WL and then AKL. Then you can have both experiences.

 

[twinmomplus2]

We have never had a transportation problem at AKl. Buses were not shared, always direct to your destination. The zero entry pool is one of the best. It is the only pool on property that I can see my 9 year old from almost any vantage point while I chase my 3 year olds. That is a huge thing for me. It is zero entry so easy on preswimers and you. It is my kids fave non DVC property. And they are 17,9 and 4,4, I must admit it is my fave hands down as well. We are 5 trips into the last 22mts and all have included an AKL stay. There is somthing about the beauty of the lobby and smell of the firepit. to make for a magic experience. The animals what can I say where can you sit and watch girraffes while you are sitting on your balcony? We are going in December and were going to do Universal and Sea World as well. We have just decided it wouldn't be Disney for us without AKL. I have not changed my countdown yet. But It will be AKL!