Worried About Liking The Akl? Please Help!

[WDW LOVR]

We must be in the minority. We recently stayed at AKL for the first time and we thought it was just Ok. Don't get me wrong, it was nice, but seeing the same 2 giraffe's and 1 ostrich every day was nothing special after the first day or so (that was about the extent of our animal viewing, except for a couple warthogs once).

We also had a longer hike to our room than we do in BWV. I kept thinking of the comments on the Dis about returning to your room at BWV after a long day at a park and still having a 1/4 mile walk to your room. It felt like it was further at AKL. And from our room to Mara was about as far a walk as you could get.

We also had a few issues with our room. Maybe not the room itself, but there was trash left in the trash cans when we checked in, there were towels left on the floor in the bathroom when we checked in and also when they did up our room one day. We also thought AKL was just too far from everything except AK and BB. It seemed like it took forever to get home after a day at the parks. My kids thought the slide at the pool was pretty lame after experiencing the slides at Luna Park and Storm-a-long Bay.

Like I said, don't get me wrong, the theme of the place was outstanding and the staff was friendly and helpful, but we enjoy other resorts more.

I guess that's what makes WDW so great, a different resort for everyone's tastes!

 

[golfgal]

In my way of thinking, even if AKL is "dark" it will feel good going to a dark, cool feeling resort after a long HOT day at the parks.

 

[rgf207]

We just got back from the AKL last month. It was the most amazing place I have every stayed. I love every moment of it. They smell was magnificant. The scenery was amazing and everything was just breathtaking. We were upgraded for free to a savannah view room. We were above the "people pen" and we saw so many animals every day. It was great being on our balcony and seeing so many different animals so up close. Boma is fabulous. We at there 2 times. You have to try it. The mara has a good selection. The pool is huge and it is in such a great location. They have their own buses and they dont stop at other resorts. We didn't have much of a wait for buses. 20 minutes or less. once or twice it was more like 25. buses comming back from theme parks are very prompt too.

You will love the AKL

 

[LisaS]

I've been to WDW 3 times and stayed at AKL for the entire time on two of those trips and for half of our stay on one of them (split stay between AKL and YC). We have a trip coming up in May and we'll be staying at YC this time, but we're talking about going to Boma or Jiko for dinner one night just so we get to spend an evening back at AKL.

Our most recent visit was at the end of January. My DH and I desperately needed to get away for a few days to "de-stress". He told me he would take me anywhere I wanted to go -- just pick a place and we'll book it and go. All I could think about was how good it would feel to go back to AKL to be surrounded by animals, to eat at Boma and/or Jiko every day and just hang out. It's such a beautiful place, Boma and Jiko are our favorite restaurants at WDW, overall the service at AKL is excellent, and being able to sit and watch giraffes and zebras and ostriches and such wandering the grounds is so unique and so wonderful and so relaxing. So, that's where we went. We did spend a day at MK, a day at AK and a day at Sea World, but for two days of the trip we never left AKL! We just enjoyed being there, taking advantage of this unique and wonderful resort, checking out all the animal viewing areas to see how many different animals we could find, hanging out at the pool with a Mai Tai, relaxing and people watching in that beautiful lobby...

All of the CMs I've encountered have been great, especially the CMs from Africa! I love it when they sing African songs and dance in the waiting area outside Boma and Jiko, or when they are talking with each other in their native languages. It all adds to the feeling that you're no longer in Florida. I've never been to Africa, but AKL makes me feel like that's exactly where I am! So if your DH has always wanted to go to Africa, I think he'll really enjoy AKL. Take the time to speak with some of the African CMs -- they can tell you a lot about the animals and it's also very interesting to learn about their home countries and cultures. And definitely check out the night time animal viewing with night vision goggles. Very cool!

We had no problems at all with the rooms not being clean. The rooms are a bit dark, but not so much that it was a problem. Certainly during the day with the curtains open it was bright and cheery. The lobby is not as brightly lit as those in other hotels, but in this case it adds to the atmosphere. You have the impression that you are inside a huge hut with a thatched roof in the middle of Africa, so having the lighting a bit dimmer is in keeping with that illusion I think.

We some times waited 15 minutes or so for a bus, but we're in vacation mode when we're at WDW, so it wasn't a problem. We both enjoy letting somebody else take us where we need to go while we sit back and relax. If that means waiting 15 minutes for our "chauffeur" to arrive, I don't have a problem with that!

Depending on where your room is, it can be a bit of a walk to the lobby and restaurants, but my DH and I love to walk so we don't mind it at all. There is a coffee maker and a fridge in the room so your DH will have the option of making himself some coffee in the AM if he doesn't want to walk to the Mara to get it.

I hope that I've helped to ease your mind about choosing AKL. It's a unique and wonderful place. I hope you enjoy your stay there as much as my DH and I always do!

 

[caribear]

My family and I absolutely LOVE AKL The resort is gorgeous!! I always love walking into the lobby after a long day at the parks. I find it very relaxing and it really feels like I have left Florida and have been transported to another continent.

I do not think the beds are that comfortable and I have found goldfish crackers crushed on the floor, but these things are trivial to my family compared to the delight we have when visiting this particular resort at WDW.

Everyone has their own opinions, so you will never really know how you feel until you give the resort a try. I say, "Go for it!!"

 

[webray]

Wow, lol, never heard those comments about the AKL before.

We have stayed 1/2 dozen times at least, all different views. The last one was pool view, and we absolutely loved it, as we did all our other trips.

AKL is a place where you can go and never leave, it is a total vacation all on its own without the parks. The pool area is fantastic. The rooms are not dark. They are done in earth tones. The furniture is hand carved, in Africa..it is beautiful. The draperies are fantastic. The lobby is like a small museum of African art and crafts. While the thing we are least impressed with is the fast food area, the other restaurants are some of the most outstanding on disney property (Boma and Jiko).

 

[cdrn1]

In a word: beautiful! The decor is just amazing. It's like another world. The lobby is just breathtaking. The pool area is most enjoyable...where else can you be sitting in the spa and watch a giraffe wander by? The food at Boma is my favorite in all of WDW. Different and exotic but with familiar standbys as well for the less adventurous. We've never had to wait long (4 stays) for busses, busses were never crowded, and the art throughout the lodge is so interesting and beautiful. Not that everything was perfect; our last trip the housekeeping could have been a little better (on various mornings they didn't leave us coffee, coffee cups, shampoo) but after a couple days, a heftier-than-usual tip along with a note asking for the above brought them all in copious amounts. You have nothing to worry about and I sure hope that I like the WL just as well next month! (Decided to try something new!)

 

[chatty]

I am so sorry that it took so long for me to Thank Everyone for all your comments and Pictures. This morning at 11:20 am with my 8 month pregnant daughter and 21 month grandaughter we had a very bad car accident on the way to breakfast/lunch. I just got home from the hospital. a SUV Mountianeer crossed over 3 lanes and a turn lane and plowed into us as we were going straight. No one knows why at this point. There were so many police,emt,and fire trucks that came to help I was so worried for my Daughter and Grandaughter and the baby on the way. I Thank God for 5 point harness car seats, and us wearing the seatbelts without it they said things would have been grave. I just wanted to let everyone know That I wasn't able to write back to Thank You All.
Were all fine just alot of cuts and bruises. and the Taurus looks totaled? not sure for a few days but I don't care about the car just the kids.
Thank You Again
chatty

 

[LisaS]

So sorry to hear you've been in such a terrible accident. I'm glad you and your family are doing OK.

 

[joliesmom]

I've stayed at the Contemporary, the Poly (concierge), and AKL. I was nervous about staying off of a monorail resort, but I am now booking my next trip at AKL. IMHO the Poly was in need of vast refurbishment, and the Contemporary also needs a facelift (which is happening soon). AKL was absolutely wonderful! We've never had mousekeeping make us towel aminals at any other resort. The longest we waited for a bus anywhere was 8 minutes. I didn't think that the rooms were dark at all, and when you first enter the lobby you will fall in love with AKL. As for food, we ate at Mara and Boma, and had take out from Jiko. We will repeat dining at all of the restaurants during our next trip.

 

[CruellaDuVille]

AKL is hands down our favorite resort. We love everything about it. We have stayed there at least four times for extended stays and have not encountered any of the problems that you suggest.

Pool view will be lovely, I have booked it myself, but everytime when I get there I pay to upgrade to a savannah view. I just love it.

The food is my favorite hotel food in WDW. When we're not staying there we still stop by for dinner.

I love the pool, I love the spa....what's wrong with you? Don't stress! This is a no brainer!

 

[#1hockeymom]

AKL is my all time favorite resort. I am still trying to figure out a way to put a heavenly bed there, at a moderate to value price... so I could stay there every single time! Don't fret and have a WILD time!

 

[chatty]

This site is so Wonderful! I feel like I made the right choice now. I just can't wait to hear the beating drums! I think I will turn on the music from the Lion King to get all Geeked up. Thank You All Again.
Chatty

 

[cdrn1]

So glad that you were not seriously injured. How awful and scarey that must have been for you with your little gd and g-baby-to-be!

 

[chatty]

Thank You to all.. and Thank You for asking, were all just Great. I did have to laugh. Because of the neck burns from my seat belt shoulder harness it left what appears to look like a hickey on the upper part of my neck. I am 50 yrs. old and when I ran to the mall today to get my mother a pair of shoes I was standing next to a group of young girls which one started laughing and said Oh my Gosh (she used a different word) that old lady has a hickey, how gross. The old lady part was a bummer.
chatty

 

[Ladyhawke10]

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.

I agree, all of our AKL stays have involved immaculately cleaned rooms. I don't understand what's not to like about this resort...it is simply sublime and so exotic. I don't think I would have even noticed it was "dark" unless I would have read that on here, and I liked the rooms really well. They are very comfortable and well themed. This resort is so relaxing and divine...I have no idea why some are disappointed with its look. I have had consistently good food in the restaurants there as well. I love Mara's yogurt parfaits. They tend to sell out early in the day.