Wilderness Lodge or AK Lodge in Winter?

[Mazzy]

Which of these two Resorts would you choose for a stay in January? As there are less daylight hours in January, which hotel do you think has the best view early mornings and in the evenings? Are both the lake and the savannahs well lit or can't you see anything at AK Lodge once darkness falls (I guess the animals need to sleep!).

We have only ever stayed at the Dolphin, so looking for something different for the last 4 nights of our stay.

Which would you choose?

Thanks

 

[hoosll]

We have been to WL in Dec and Feb and I love the views from the resort. The fog rises from the lagoon and you really do feel like you are in the Northwest with the landscaping.

We visited the AKL on our Feb trip and I found the hotel dark yet not as cozy feeling as WL. The huge fireplace at WL is great.

We love the WL water views and the boat to MK so we will continue to choose WL.

I hope this helps.

 

[daannzzz]

The lake is not "lit" with lights though you can see it to some degree. The WL would be awesome in the winter.
The AKL does have "moonglow" lighting after dark. It is fairly sublt but we could see the Gemsbock settling in for the evening and the slept in the moonglow all night and we saw them and the wildebeast wake up in the morning. I don't know however if they would be out in the savanah all night if it is cold out. The AKL was awesome as well and felt about the same darkness as the WL to me. The room decore is prettier and more interesting at the AKL but the WL works better for colder weather and Christmastime. IMHO.

 

[josierac]

Here is another vote for the WL. We stayed there in January 2001 and loved it. It was so cozy to go into the lobby and sit by the fireplaces around the resort.

WL pictures

 

[Carol]

We were at WL in Feb. and thought it was the perfect winter resort. With all the fireplaces, the cozy feeling was perfect. There was nothing better than having a hot chocolate by a fireplace and people watching. We really didn't think WL would have as much appeal in the warmer months. We are going to AKL in Sept. for the first time, so we can't compare. However, the feeling we came away with from WL, was it definatley is a cooler month resort.

 

[sharoncity]

The savannah at AKL is lit so that it seems like a full moon every night. We were able to see all the animals whenever we looked out. The view is just incredible! And there are activities planned through out the day, so there is plenty to do there after the parks close. I did not find the rooms to be dark at all. They were decorated beautifully, with bright colored bedspreads. And IMHO, you will never be able to stay in a resort even remotely like this. To wake up and watch the animal keepers hugging the giraffes while he feeds them - truly unique. We visited WL on our last trip. I wasn't overly impressed by it. Certainly was very pretty, but it just wasn't a break from the ordinary for me (a New Englander). I would pick AKL hands down!

 

[eeyore0062]

The WL was nice in the winter, but either way, you will enjoy it. The animals at the AKL may be more frisky in the cooler weather as well. Both have that cozy, dark feeling and fires lit in the lobbies. As they are both designed by the same architect, you won't go wrong. WL is a bit more convenient, if that is a factor.

 

[CBRorBust]

WL

b/c I would think in January you would want that "warm cabin feel" rather than Zebra's in Africa feel.