Uggh What To Do

[Goofy88]

I have booked a trip to Disney (very excited), but now having reservations, on where we are staying. Have chosen AKL for me the wife and kids (16, 18, well guess not kids), got a Savannah view bunk room, have gotten alot of information on here, but now wonder if my kids will be bored. Some people have said that the room will be small and I should consider another room, or another resort, as AKL is far away from everything. Hmm what should I do. I asked the kids and my son was funny he's 18 wants to see animals (lol). I wonder if I should talk with them and give them the reviews I have heard on here. Oh what am I to do.

 

[lilyv]

I think you're older teens will have an amazing time. Google Animal Kingdom Lodge photos, you'll see lots of terrific pictures. Boma's is a great place to eat, and I'd recommend you consider it, as well as Jiko's if you're interested in signature dining. Lots of interesting artwork all around, the animals, it's a great place to explore.

 

[litlpixie]

Having stayed at AKL, I can truely say it's gorgeous!! However, we stayed in a concierge room, pool view. We saw animals not from our room, but in all of the viewing areas of the hotel, which was, for us, just as good. We loved the lounge and all it offered and I will stay there again, but remember the savannah view doesnt guarantee animals just the view of the savannah. Not to say this will happen to you, but I have heard stories from people who had a savannah room and saw nothing when they happened to be in their room. How much are you going to be in your room, you know? Maybe the teens would like one of the Epcot resorts better. The pool area is fantastic, its walking distance from DHS and Epcot.

 

[gatorfreud]

I haven't stayed at AKL, but honestly, I think anywhere is great! All resorts have their pros and cons. We have loved every single place we have stayed for a different reason! AKL is supposed to be beautiful and I'm sure you will enjoy it! If you switch for something else, then it will be like, well now we missed the animals, etc... Just have fun!

Kim

 

[MAGGIED]

I think you will like AKL... I stayed there in Novmeber with my DD for her 18th birthday, my DS and my Dad....4 adults in the room... the beds were comfy, the hotel is very nice.... while I prefer to stay other places I am glad we stayed there... we also had a savannah view and it was amazing..... Boma is one of our fav. places to eat..... I thought the pool was okay.... it was pretty buggy there because of all the trees... but the staff was very nice. The folks working on the savannah took time to talk to us and explain things... I learned alot about flamingos!!!! Take time to explore and relax on some of those wonderful rocking chairs.....And don't worry about it being far from everything....nothing is really that far... take the time you are on the bus to discuss your plans for the day.... my kids at 18 and 15 and still love to go to WDW... next week we will be at the SOG for 10 days!!!!!! can't wait.....

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Lesson # 1 - Don't read the boards too much!

AKL is a beautiful resort and I'm sure your family will love it. You can easily find people who dislike every resort on property for one reason or another. The best advice I can give you is to stay there yourself and make your own opinion. I think we've stayed at almost every resort and there are good things about all of them. Trying different resorts every time you go just gives you another good reason to take lots of Disney trips!!!

 

[LivingtheWDWdream]

Not Everyone will like every resort, and a lot of time people will post more negative concerns then postive. But for every negative there are usually 3 or 4 more postive things about something.

I am staying at AKL in May for the first time, I upgraded from AKL from Port Orleans Riverside. I was perfectly happy with POR, even though I had read about Poor Housekeeping Bus Rides that would seem more like cattle herding, and other complaints. But then I would read people's reports and comments who posted postive things and I would get so confused. But I have learned that I have to trust my gut instincts I know my family best, I know they will love POR but why the upgrade to AKL?

Well because, 1. We got a great AP rate so the savings to move up to a Deluxe were very enticing. 2. I know with my Grandma along having everything in 1 building will be helpful 3. We are going to spend a lot of time at the resort so for this Trip a Deluxe was more our style.

We are staying at POR in September and can't wait, but for each hotel and trip that we go on we go in with an open mind, what others see as cons you may see as a pro.

So I say go with your original plan, and have an open mind. If you find when you get there that it isn't for you talk to the front desk see if they can move you somewhere else. I am sure Disney would want to help you if your unhappy but I think you will enjoy AKL very much!

Just my experience and thoughts.

 

[magicaddict]

Also remember that at 16 and 18 your kids probably wouldn't want to be forced to share a bed so your options are really limited to either bunk beds or one of the DVC resorts where you have extra space. That being said we loved AKL on both our trips there. It's just so cool to wake up and look out at the animals or come back to the room later in the day and have "visitors" milling around outside your balconey. The food at AKL is also really great although we ate mostly at Boma and Jiko and not so much at the Mara. It's a beautiful place and you won't regret the experience.

 

[msmayor]

I would probably re-think the bunk beds if your kids are tall. We had bunks at the WL when my kids were 11 and 13, and I gotta say my 13-year old daughter said the bed was a bit small for her (she's 5'5", average weight) and my son was a bit shorter, but now that he's approaching 6' there's no way he'd be comfortable sleeping in one of those beds.

We've already decided that our next stay at WDW with the kids will require either two adjoining rooms or one of the 'family' rooms at WL with two beds and a sofa-sleeper if we're going to be comfortable.

 

[mickey&minniealways]

We were going to stay at AKL, something different this time. Had no qualms about staying there. Just decided that we didn't want to be there while the construction is still ongoing. So we opted to go back to OKW. My kids are estatic that we are going back to OKW it is there favorite resort. DD is almost 13. One DS is 19 the other is 21(special needs - permanently stuck at 14. They love it there but definatly want to go back to Boma for dinner. There jaws nearly dropped when they walked into the lobby at AKL. They are all so different it depends on what you are looking for.

 

[IggyLans]

Lesson # 1 - Don't read the boards too much!

AKL is a beautiful resort and I'm sure your family will love it. You can easily find people who dislike every resort on property for one reason or another. The best advice I can give you is to stay there yourself and make your own opinion. I think we've stayed at almost every resort and there are good things about all of them. Trying different resorts every time you go just gives you another good reason to take lots of Disney trips!!!

OT, sorry, but Erika, seen you on TV! How cool!

 

[pepe of ohio]

We didn't have bunk beds when we stayed at AKL but we had them is our room at WL. There was just me and the wife so we opted for them to perhaps give us more space. We decided to give the beds a whorl, let me tell you, I'm late 50's and 5'11" and it was a chore getting into them, they have built in side rails and the top bunk is rather close to the lower, you just can't do a sit up to get out, you have to crawl over the side rail. These might be good for real young children but for older? Just be prepared, ceilings in the resorts are not that high and a set of bunks in them are not the conventionable set.