Worried About Liking The Akl? Please Help!

[chatty]

I was so so very happy to get a last min. pool view AP discount at the AKL that I never really checked out the guest comments until last night. WOW! Between it's too too dark in the rooms, to the food is not so good, to the busses being slow, to the cast members being rude, and reading that the rooms are not cleaned very well? This has now caused me to worry some. We were all set for POFQ which DH loves but I thought I would surprise him being that he always wanted to go on an African Safari but now I am starting to worry. Please if you can help me out on my worrying. Thank You..
Chatty

 

[Feralpeg]

I've stayed at AKL twice and we loved it. The decor is beautiful. I certainly didn't think it was too dark. Our room was very clean and, again I loved the decor. If you are talking about Boma or Jinko, the food is different, but very good. The food court is just like all of the other resort food courts. It took a little while for the buses. It is one of the out lying resorts, but it really didn't seem that much slower than when I stayed at other WDW resorts, included POFQ.

 

[MickiMouth]

I don't think you need to worry at all especially if your DH wants to go on an African safari. We stayed at AKL and loved it. It was me, DH our two DD's then 3 and 12, DD's friend also 12 and my parents were in an adjoining room. We all loved it. We ate at the food court and liked it. We loved the animals and the pool. Our room was a little dark (not bad at all) but we had bunk beds. The resort is so beautiful. My parents used the bus one day to leave MGM early and they said the bus ride was fine. They actually enjoyed it and we were there in Aug.

 

[beth_cam]

Other than being dark you will find these same comments about every single hotel. I have read many more glowing reports of akl than negative. I cant wait to experience it and I'm trying not to listen to negatives about it. I know me I'll probably be looking for what people said was bad instead of just enjoying my vacation.

 

[leighe]

AKL is my favorite resort! Initially I wasn't at all excited about staying there - I just booked it because we were travelling with my MIL and FIL and my MIL is an animal lover. As soon as I walked into the lobby I LOVED the resort. I didn't think the rooms were dark at all. MIL and FIL had a pool view and it was just lovely! We really enjoyed Mara and Boma (we did not get to Jiko's that trip).

 

[sheri236]

we're staying at akl for the second time apr 23-30 and imho its awesome!! beautiful decor, excellent restaurants and the busses were very dependable. they don't share busses with any other resort so you will have a direct trip and we never waited longer than 10 minutes for one to arrive. stop worrying because i can't imagine that you won't love it!!!

 

[Rattat]

We will be staying at the AKL for the first time in June. I received a really good deal on a standard room. I'm just happy to be staying at the AKL.
Just remember your going to hear bad and good reviews. The good reviews on AKL overpower the negative. It will be just fine, remember your going to be at WDW the" HAPPIEST PLACE IN THE WORLD"!

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

As others have stated, you will find a variety of opinions on every resort.

We have stayed at AKL three times and have really enjoyed each stay. We have found the transportation to be among the best at WDW.

Enjoy!

 

[chatty]

I can't Thank Everyone Enough for your help and thoughts on the AKL.... We are in our 50's and my husband has a thing with POFQ being that he can open his room door and basically roll right into the food court for his coffee and pastry.. I know there will be alot more walking at the AKL to the goodie shop. I had POFQ at an AP rate saving around $100.00 and than yesterday when I was offered the AKL poolview at $312.00 more total than what I was paying for the POFQ, I just threw caution to the wind and said YES,YES, YES and I kept saying Thank You to the Great CM. Once off the phone I started checking on different sites and YIKES! I thought "What Did I Do?" So Thank You for calming my fears.
Thank You
chatty

 

[racheltyler]

I had the same concerns before trying AKL last August. I heard some of the same reviews about being dark, food not good, etc. I was blown away at how wonderful this resort is. Prior we stayed at BW, BC/YC, moderates, WL, Dolphin/Swan. But AKL has now become one of our favorites. To the contrary, our room was very well lit - the color scheme is vibrant in the bedspreads and beautifully decorated with the netting above beds. I fell in love with the pool view - it was absolutely gorgeous! And having the food court is so great - it has everything you'll want and more. The food might be named different but is really normal food. For instance, the "African House Salad" is just a salad w/ vegetables, grilled chicken and vin. dressing. And Boma is great and we are mainly typical American fare eaters. The pool is huge w/ zero entry. And the best part is exploring and viewing the animals from the many areas throughout the resort. There are activities, story time to enjoy also. This really feels like the most deluxe resort you could stay at. We found the CM's to be the nicest of any we've ever met. Didn't use transporation much (had rental car) so can't comment on this. You will love, love this resort!!

 

[pearlieq]

You'll find the same comments about every single resort. Take it with a grain of salt. I will agree that the rooms are a little dark, but it didn't ruin our vacation or anything.

Be sure to ask at the front desk if any Savannah rooms are available--it's pretty easy to score a free or cheap upgrade.

Hope you have a great time!!!

 

[AJKMOM]

First, you will find bad comments here about all the resorts. Sometimes I wonder about that.... Anyway, as you have read here, AKL is a beautiful place. Yes, the wood is everywhere, and it is stained a dark color. However, there are other colors everywhere, too. The African artifacts in the lobby, the ornamentation and decoration; all are beautiful The good thing is that even if you absolutely hate it there, it can't be bad enough to ruin your vacation, and you know where not to stay on the next trip.

We just bought DVC in 2002, and AKL is the one resort I will miss staying at, we loved it.

 

[mamalle]

thanks from me also. I just called a booked another trip for the summer and I also got a AP pool view. Im hoping the kids will like it.

 

[disneyfan67]

I'm going to there on the 27th of this month and I can't wait to check it out. I know from reading a lot of info on this resort that it's supposed to be a little dark in the decor. When you use deep rich woods with dark stain you're going to get this affect. This was in the plan when they built the resort and I'm not going to let affect my vacation. I can't wait to go to the Poly on the 29th but I'm looking forward to AKL just to see what it is like. My goal is to stay at all of the deluxe resorts in WDW and most of the moderates as well. So in few years I'll be able to answer just about any question fellow DIS'ers can throw at me!


Going to the World on April 27th to May 4th and will be celebrating 8 years of being married to a great woman and my 38th birthday all in one week!

AKL and Poly here I come!

 

[ChrisNif]

I took a tour of AKL in december as it was going to be a choice for our honeymoon (never having stayed at a deluxe and knowing i would be able to afford it being a AP holder). My fiance and I both decided that we love animals but that the novelty of the savahanna would wear off quickly and we'd be stuck in a hotel far from all parks (except AK of course) and a really dark hotel (the lobby has huge windows but the halls were dark).

We decided on POFQ because it felt cute and quaint. I'm kinda stuck tho, My fiance and I dont really wholeheartedly like ANY of the deluxe resorts, we each like one or two things about each (except the epcot deluxes which we both agree are too stuffy even more so than GF) but we dont like any of them enough to justify more then $20-30 more then a moderate or at most $50 over a value resort. But that will probably change as we get older hehe maybe


Chris

 

[Peter Pirate]

Boy you really had to condense or read only negative AKL comments to worry about these issues (and why would you add this stress). Are there legitimate complaints with AKL? Certainly...Just like EVERY DISNEY HOTEL. But if you search all AKL reports and reviews you'll find an overwhelming approval, I think.

AKL is the most unique hotel at WDW, maybe anywhere. The feel and atmosphere is beyond belief and the food is great...Wherever did you hear it was less that great? Mara perhaps? But even it is better than most foodcourts (except Pepper Market).

Relax and let yourself get excited at visiting the coolest of WDW's Resorts!

 

[HopperFan]

The hotel is decorated in darker rich colors with splashes of bright yellows and oranges. No it isn't "miami vice" colors but I found it to be much more colorful than POR for a comparison. The food is excellent at each restaurant and the food court, and depending on your room, it may only be a couple minutes away. The transportation was very good, and we usually prefer driving to the parks. I have never met a rude CM there, if not the contrary. Housekeeping was fine, nothing special but they covered the bases. Our requests were always taken care of quickly.

For some great pictures that show it's a beautiful hotel look at http://www.yourmagicaljourneys.com/AKL/akl.htm

 

[DeanDoug]

Not to worry! AKL is one of our favorites... the lobby and hotel are extraordinary. We loved our room and didn't find it dark at all... the restaurants are some of our favorites... yes, they are African, so some different spices, but in the food court you can find just about anything. We love the pool...
We have stayed at POFQ, and I like AKL much better. Have fun!

 

[mamalle]

hopperfan thanks for the great link. I just called and requested a room with bunk beds for the kids. they would just love that. the resort looks just beautiful!

 

[MickiMouth]

I'd like to add the housekeeping we received at AKL was wonderful. Our room was spotless. We were left extra towels everyday. We were left cute/amazing towel animals everyday. One day our housekeeper asked if we'd like to see a suite down the hall from us. She took us on a tour of it and it was awesome. She was absolutley great.
Also DD and I did the Hidden Mickey search and all the CM's we asked for clues were so nice. In the lobby, restaurants, everywhere. The CM's at AKL were the best.