Should I Chose AKL or WL?

[lordmadcow]

Ok I have a dilemma this is the first time we will be staying at a deluxe resort with our 3 kids ages 7,2 and 2. Which would you chose Wilderness Lodge Courtyard View or Animal Kindgom Water View. Thanks I appreciate your input! Thanks in advance.
Sandi


One more thing is there any chance to catch a view of an animal with a water view?

 

[Disney Anna]

My vote is for the Wilderness Lodge. This is my absolute favorite resort. It is simply breathtaking. So beautiful.

What's strange is that the WL and the AKL have the same basic floor plan. I just think, however, that the WL is so much more impressive and quite a deal more beautiful.

I think your kids will love staying at the Lodge. The pool is wonderful, beautifully themed with a water slide and of course, the geyser. You can take the boat to the MK, Contemporary or Ft. Wilderness. Can hike the wilderness trails, lay on the beach.

Both places are nice, but again, my personal all-time favorite is the WL. Have a great vacation.

 

[caseih]

Have you considered splitting your stay between the two?
We did that in Dec. 03. Stayed at WL for four nights and AKL for 2. Loved them, they are both awesome!

 

[MScott1851]

We've stayed at both, and I think we prefer WL.

It just seems closer to the action, so to speak.

Both are gorgeous, you really can't go wrong.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I had the same problem when deciding where to spend my vacation this past June. I asked for advice on the board and got a lot of great comparisons. Here's the link: WL vs AKL

I wound up staying at WL, and I absolutely loved it. Breathtaking. I visited AKL and, while it was nice, it wasn't nearly as impressive to me. Good luck deciding!

 

[lordmadcow]

Thanks for the advice, I enjoyed reading your post from June. I think I too am leaning toward Wilderness, only because of Magic Kingdom access. Does anyone know how long the boat ride is? Thanks again!! Sandi

 

[HopperFan]

We stayed at WL when the kids were younger (about that age) and we loved it. It is smaller and easy to move around, the pool was perfect size, the boat to MK, the Electric Water Parade which we watched from the beach........it would be my choice for you with kids your ages.

Now we love AKL and I would say don't miss it, but would wait until your youngest are alittle older and able to truly appreciate the animals and all of the children's activities. Water view means pool view, and I would never pay for that again. Save up and get a savanna view room for a future trip. But even if you don't have savanna, plenty of viewing spots of the animals.

 

[Rowlf]

I've stayed at both and would 100% pick AKL over WL anyday UNLESS the MK boat access is important. The hotel, people, and rooms are just nicer at the AKL. (Then again, I stayed concierge at AKL and regular at WL, so that might affect my perception...)

 

[confal1]

I have stayed at both and am a bigger fan of AKL. One main reason is that AKL has the 0 depth entry pool and WL does not. That will be great for your 2 year olds. Also if you get a day that is rainy AKL has a lot of family activities and you can still see all the animals without leaving the resort. I have always asked for and been given a complimentary upgrade to the Savannah View, so make sure to ask at check in if you choose this resort.
Good Luck

 

[michelewdw]

I have stayed at both and absolutely love both, but with the ages of your kids I would lean towards WL. The pool area is great(Not too large for keeping track of the kids) and they do also have a kiddie pool adjacent to the main pool. Also the beach is great for playing in the sand . At night you can view the water parade that goes by all of the Bay Lake resorts. Lastly the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom is about 5 minutes long. It is also nice to have boad access to Fort Wilderness and CR to enjoy all that they have to offer. Either way you can't go wrong. Have a great trip.

Michele

 

[jhorras]

I have three kids as well (7, 6 and 4) and we are splitting our stay this time AKL only for one night because we have a DVC 2-bedroom villa at WL for the rest.

Although we are excited to try AKL, we love WL because our kids enjoy the MK the most and we are only a boat ride away (and usually a quick one if you get a boat that goes direct);

Also, some of the boats go to the Contemporary and we usually do a Chef Mickey meal and it's easy for us to get there by boat;

The kids love the buses too, but it can take a bit longer and I want them to enjoy the parks more than I want to sit on the buses when I can avoid it;

Either way though from what I hear you shouldn't go wrong; For our one night at AKL (1st night) we are planning on enjoying the resort and maybe doing a DTD shopping night so we can avoid the longer bus ride that first day there.

Hope this helps!!!

 

[Brygida]

I have stayed at both and am a bigger fan of AKL. One main reason is that AKL has the 0 depth entry pool and WL does not. That will be great for your 2 year olds. Also if you get a day that is rainy AKL has a lot of family activities and you can still see all the animals without leaving the resort. I have always asked for and been given a complimentary upgrade to the Savannah View, so make sure to ask at check in if you choose this resort.
Good Luck

Agree here. AKL has a better pool for your youngest to access, and he can play on the beachsand in front of the pool. Whereas at WL, the pool is separate from the beach and you CANNOT swim in the lagoon.

Also, AKL had many, many activities for kids (making cookies at Boma, interaction with the animal guides, etc)... even for your youngest. WL only has the Cub's Den (which you pay for and is only for ages 4 and up).

My 16 month old absolutely loved toddling around the savannah viewing areas and squealed in delight every time he recognized an animal.

Brygida.

 

[Brygida]

Lastly the boat ride to the Magic Kingdom is about 5 minutes long.
Michele

Disagree here. Took the boat many times, trip averaged about 30 min. Even if you have the luck to get to the boat just before it sails, you still have to endure the trip to Fort Wilderness (in the opposite direction!) before you proceed to MK.

Only benefit to the boat was being able to keep my toddler in his stroller during the trip!

Brygida

 

[Brygida]

Ok I have a dilemma this is the first time we will be staying at a deluxe resort with our 3 kids ages 7,2 and 2. Which would you chose Wilderness Lodge Courtyard View or Animal Kindgom Water View. Thanks I appreciate your input! Thanks in advance.
Sandi

Why the courtyard view? One benefit of staying at WL is to be able to watch the fireworks from your balcony (pick a 5th floor room facing MK) while the toddlers sleep... or keep them entertained by watching the fireworks if they happen to be awake.

Brygida

 

[Troy08]

My vote goes to the WL. Had some time to kill last July after doing AK, so we decided to bus over to AKL to check it out. It was very nice, we toured the grounds, lobby andf pool area-but we all agreed it pales in comparision to the granduer of the WL.

The boat to the MK is a plus-even in the height of the summer season, never waited longer then 5-6 minutes and the ride is so relaxing and refreshing.

You can see Wishes from the boat dock or the front drive at the WL and you can rent bikes or surreys for a very relaxing and fun drive over to FW.

I am sure you will have a wonderful time wherever you stay but my vote definately goes to WL-courtyard view!

 

[lordmadcow]

Ok so do I want a courtyard view? Is that what looks at Magic Kingdom, or at least in that direction? Thank you so much for all your responses!
Sandi

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Not sure how many nights you are staying, but I'd split the resorts. We are trying a split resort stay this time for the first time and I'm really looking forward to it. it will be a great way to see both resorts and to compare them equally. Have fun

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Disagree here. Took the boat many times, trip averaged about 30 min. Even if you have the luck to get to the boat just before it sails, you still have to endure the trip to Fort Wilderness (in the opposite direction!) before you proceed to MK.

Only benefit to the boat was being able to keep my toddler in his stroller during the trip!

Brygida

When I was there, the boat went straight from WL to MK, and when we left the park, it took us straight back to WL. Trip took about 8 or so minutes, I guess. Maybe it depends on the season (aka how many boats they run)?

 

[SorcererDonald16]

Ok so do I want a courtyard view? Is that what looks at Magic Kingdom, or at least in that direction? Thank you so much for all your responses!
Sandi

Courtyard view, hmm... I believe you might be able to see the higher fireworks from above the roof, but not sure; depends on which direction you're facing. We booked a standard room and got upgraded (for free, without asking ) to a pool view room, but we could also see the edge of the courtyard and a lot of the lake... so I'm not really sure what view room it was. It was a corner room, right next to the elevator, very quiet. Couldn't even hear the elevator, surprisingly. Room # was 5031, I believe. We couldn't see the fireworks from our balcony since we were facing the wrong way (although we did see flashes of red around 10pm... Epcot, maybe?), but the window at the end of the hall was awesome! You could see the castle and pretty much all of the fireworks from there, even without having a room facing that way. Just have to open the shutters. That might be a solution to your problem... get a room on that floor (you'd have to keep in mind the room number though so you get the right 5th floor section) facing the pool or courtyard and you can have that view from the balcony and the fireworks view from the hall window. Although they may not be able to grant that specific of a request. Hope this helps a bit.