Question for all AKL lovers...

[flyball]

Which resorts have you visited after staying at AKL and loved just as much??? We've stayed at the WL, CR, and POR prior to our stays at AKL. We're interested in expanding our horizons, but are worried that we won't be as happy with the ambience and theming of another resort!

 

[kdibattista]

Uggg... that's the problem we are having now. We have stayed at AKL for the past couple of years and are truly afraid to try anything else. We are staying at BCV this January with our inlaws but we are staying at AKL for the first night that we fly in.

 

[candleonwater]

I know I'm in the minority here, but after our stay at AKL in April - I can't WAIT to get back to the Beach Club! We really didn't enjoy AKL as much as we anticipated...

 

[luvmk]

We are in the same situation. This will be our third trip in a row to AKL. We can't get our kids to stay anywhere else. It doesn't help that dh and I love staying at AKL. We aren't exactly motivated to try somewhere new. I had been trying to get them to stay at the Poly, but after recent reviews, I'm glad we are sticking with AKL.


Rachel

 

[k&a&c'smom]

DD and I both vote AKL our favorite WDW resort. We love the Poly, it's now in second place! It has that element of the exotic that we so enjoy at AKL.

We have not had a stay after AKL that we have loved as much, but we have had some very nice resort stays that were great! Nothing seems to match AKL, though.

We haven't stayed there yet, but the WL was designed by the same man, so we thought that would be a good choice. We are definitely going to try WL on one of our next trips. Unfortunately, the AP discounts have been sold out on our last two tries!!

Good luck!

 

[Aisling]

After staying at AKL and loving it, we stayed at CR, and before that on a previous trip, the BC, which was so-so. Going from AKL to CR was as dofferent as night and day, tow totally different experiences. I loved the dim lighting and warmth of AKL, but I LOVED the excitement and open-all-night feel of the CR. I guess it's truly a matter of personal taste, but after 5 days of seeing the animals outside our balcony, it lost it's initial wow-factor. I do wish I had more time at AKL to enjoy the lounges and activities there. And the ambiance of the pool at night was great. But I'd stay at CR again before AKL.
This time we're trying WL, but only because it'll be Christmas-time, and we've heard that WL is beautiful at Christmas. I guess I'm a real city girl, because I still yearn for the CR.

 

[flyball]

How does BWI or BWV stack up to AKL?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Of the Epcot resorts, BWI is our favorite. We just returned from a stay at BWI CL, and we had a great time!! Granted, we were in the concierge level, but we really enjoyed this resort and definitely plan to return in the future. The whole family stayed at the BWI on our second trip to WDW, and the guys enjoyed it, too! There are lots of activities, if you are like us and spend time at your resort. There are entertainers on the Boardwalk in the evenings, and we had a fantastic Illuminations cruise that I would highly recommend. Wow!

It's very hard to make a comparison to AKL, though, as they are so very different. BWI has a Victorian New England beach resort feel, with pastels and boardwalk decor like the carousel horses, brass, etc., while AKL is African decor, rich colors and textures, the smell of exotic spices and fire. But, it makes a nice contrast, I vote for a split-stay!!

 

[flyball]

Thank you for your reply k&a&c'smom! I know how much you love AKL from reading through these threads, so your opinion on the BWI really helps. We'd probably think about staying concierge, as we tried it at AKL and embraced the experience wholeheartedly (even the kids)!!!