WL or AKL--Pros and cons?

[Brander]

Please, please, please---any advice form those who have stayed at both? What makes each better/worse than the other?
Thanks from someone who is very indecisive!

 

[johnsonet]

Well, If you have stayed at WL...why not try AKL? It is beautiful...so richly themed. The rooms are very nice and a savanna view is particularly fabulous. However, I think a pool view would be beautiful as well. The pool is large and has a very nice bar and a fun slide and 2 HOT hot tubs. One side of the pool is also bordered by part of the Uzima Savanna. What an amazing touch!
The Lobby at AKL is gorgeous and festive. Boma restaurant can be seen down below from the right side of the large Lobby. The Lounge, Victoria Falls is one level below (Boma is 2 levels below) Jiko is a fabulous restaurant, particularly for grown-ups. The "Gift shop" at AKL is the best!! Lots of fun browsing and buying in there.
OH- and the ANIMALS! Exploring the hotels and Arusha Rock is so much fun! And the kids activities at AKL are second to none!
I love WL and AKL. I HIGHLY recommend you try AKL

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Johnsonet: I could nave said it better!!!

We have not stayed at WL but we did stay at AKL and we are going back in April.
We also thought the bus service was very good and even though people always comment on how far away AKL is..... we got quicker bus service to the parks usually than when we stayed at the YC. They have direct service - only serving AKL.
Also we took the boat to MK from WL when we were there to look around . We thought it took quite a while since it made other stops. Don't get me wrong we LOVED the boat ride. Just something that we noticed.

 

[sherry8253]

We have stayed at both - They are both excellent but offer different things. Pros AKL - animals, animals, animals, cookie decorating for kids, night vision animal watching, great fire pit with story telling, my favorite breakfast spot Boma's, great place to simply relax. Pros WK - better transportation to MK (just a boat ride away), restaurants have more 'regular' food for picky eaters, hiking trails if you like that kind of thing, watch electric water parade from the beach, price is usually a few dollars less than AKL - I think courtyard at WL with AP is usually $139 vs $159 for standard savannah at AKL. WL used to be my favorite before I stayed at AKL. We still like WL and for a change tried to book WL for our stay last month but there were no AP discounts available during the time we wanted to go so we went with AKL again. I don't think you could go wrong with either choice. Let us know which you decide to go with! If you are like me planning is 1/2 the fun. I know I change my mind at least 20 times. My DH finally tells me enough - where we are booked is where we are staying! But then, I usually change them again anyway. I am lucky Disney doesnt charge for changing reservations or I would be in a world of trouble.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

Great descriptions of pros/ cons! What is there to add?

The design of both hotels is similar and the high lobbies are really striking. I've had great experiences w/ CMs at both resorts, though when we were at WL we were in concierge so I don't know about the regular service. However, I remember everyone being exceptionally nice and the Xmas decorations were great at WL. At WL there is a great themed pool area w/ a geyser, playground, kiddie pool, wildflowers growing about, and two jacuzzis, plus a quiet pool that is usually pretty lowly populated. My favorite part are waterfalls that flow into the pool and the stream that continues through the lobby. Very cool

AKL had a kiddie pool as well and a great playground. We've had several stays here both in concierge and non-concierge. We've had the pool view which was great (as well as the savannah view). There are plenty of areas to view the animals (and its fun exploring the resort while finding them all...) and so I didn't feel like I was missing out with the pool view, which was very pretty actually. Others say you shouldn't go unless you have a savannah view, so there are diff. views on this. You feel somewhat removed from the WDW at both resorts. We love AK so we enjoy the close proximity to AK from AKL when we are there, while WL, of course, has good access to MK.
Have a great trip!

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Love both!!! Can you possibily split your trip??? That would be your best bet, I think. Both have good themes and restraunts. AKL gives you a learning experience as well as a hotel. Good luck deciding!

Allison