Would love pros and cons for WL & AKL!!

[anniebell]

Hi all

We have recently had to postpone our trip to the Beach Club because both of our boys got really really sick the night before we were leaving! I have another thread explaining all that....anyway....

We are rescheduling our trip and the only time we can go is the day after Thanksgiving...so the boys won't miss much more school, and because it's the first availablity in the resorts, it seems.

We are no longer going to the Beach Club....I feel like I want to start fresh, and the boys really wanted to go to AKL, anyway!

I am thinking about WL as well...I would love to hear some pros and cons about each resort....just so you know, we will go to MK one day and MGM another day....thanks!!

 

[scanne]

I love both resorts. The AKL is away from everything and it's just beautiful. However, the rooms are dark and if being away from the action isn't appealing, then that can be seen as a con. I like the seclusion.

But, my family and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the WL! It is our favorite, followed closely by the Polynesian! The lobby is breathtaking, the theming is superb and the location is wonderful. We love the boat to the MK - very relaxing. We happen to love Roaring Fork, although Mara (the 24 hour food place at AKL) does have the WL beat with its size and food offerings. We love WCC and the antics that go on there.

I think you will be pleased with either resort. I would definitely pick AKL or WL over BC - but that's our personal taste. (And I haven't been able to get my DH to try an Epcot resort yet).

 

[huey578]

I sugguest you try AK. Your entire family will enjoy the stay

 

[WILDERNESSWOMAN]

WL and AKL are the only two resorts we have stayed at. They are very similar - which makes the choice even harder. We found the transportation at AKL to be much better. Even though it is often described as secluded, it is very quick and direct to get where you want to go using Disney transport. The WL transport was not as quick and was a little convoluted depending on where you were going - however, the boat to the MK is fantastic! It was like an extra attraction every day. At AKL I thought the animals would be a big draw, but after a while, the kids didn't seem too interested. The landscaping of the AKL savannas didn't appeal to me - it was kind of scrubby, and I guess I prefer more of a lush look. THe AKL pool area, however, was very lush. The drawback of AKL is that all of the grounds are devoted to the animals so there isn't really much area for people to walk around. We liked that at WL we could walk/bike the path to the campground, plus there were animals at the little farm there. Also liked that we could see the water pagent at WL. Finally, when it comes to food, the AKL wins hands down. Roaring forks at WL is way too small, while MAra at AKL was just right. The buffet at BOMA's was great and had many kid-friendly foods as well as more exotic things. The Whispering Canyon at WL was too much noise and fooling around for me. The pool at AKL is bigger and has the zero entry which we loved. Honestly, if we had to pick I still don't know which is my favorite! Although we liked the pool, transportation, and food better at AKL, we also liked the boat ride, bike path, and lake at WL. I don't think you will be disappointed with either one - flip a coin!

 

[catbertdave99]

We've been to WL, AKL, and CBR. Believe it or not, my kids (DS14 and DS11) favorite now is CBR!

However, both WL and AKL are great! Next time we visit one of them, it will be WL. We had an AKL Savannah room when we were there, and my kids loved it. We had animals outside our balcony CONSTANTLY -- it was great! However, my DS10 (at the time) did not like the buffet at Boma -- not enough "American" food that he would like, and he's not terribly picky -- but my older son and I loved it. Transportation was great, and the pool is too.

WL is just beautiful. Food/restaurants are great/fun. The pool is good, not quite as large as AKL, but prettier, I think. We didn't have any problems with transportation at WL, and yes, we liked the boat too. One thing WL has going for it is the boat/watercraft rental and the small beach it has. The place is just beautiful overall.

You'll get a hundred different opinions -- I don't htink you can go wrong -- they're both great!

 

[Bashful2]

AKL is a beautiful resort. We had heard about it being so dark, but didn't find it to be overly so. Even without a Savannah view, there are many places to view the animals. Our 2 teenagers loved the pool and spent as much time as possible there. Cast members were extremely nice and mousekeeping was great. The only cons I can think of are that it is so far away from everything except AK and, when we were there, bus service was lousy. If we ever go again, we'll be sure to have a car. Also, our room was a very long walk from the lobby and pool.

WL, I have absolutely no cons. It is one of our favorite resorts. The lobby is beautiful. The rooms are nice, although not as big as the other deluxe resorts. Cast members were friendly. Mousekeeping was good. In fact, I think that was one of the few times we ever received a towel animal. The grounds are also beautiful.

 

[ktbugsmom]

We have stayed at both WL and AKL. We loved them both. If I had to pick again, it would be tough... We thought the transportation was best at AKL - but maybe we got lucky. Never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus. The boat to MK from WL was nice, but always crowded and if you missed it or too crowded, long wait... and when you can see MK, it is torture!

The activities at AKL were nice - coloring, cookie decorating, story telling. We loved ALL of the restaurants there. DD5 did too.

We thought the pools were overcrowded for both resorts. (Went in March one year to WL and August another year to AKL). Not enough seating near the edges of the pools and hard to watch your kids.

So - long and short - won't miss with either choice. Stick with AKL and enjoy the animals. Try WL on another visit. Gives you an excuse to go back...

And as long as you are going back (it is an addiction!) - give the Epcot resorts a try. That is our favorite area due to the night time activity. We live in the middle of no where, so when we go on vacation, we want action! We also like being able to walk to 2 parks - Epcot and MGM.

 

[anniebell]

These reviews are fantastic!!! Every one of you have different views, opinions, and suggestions...I LOVE THAT!!! It makes it so much easiet for me than viewing tons of threads! So, thanks so much!

It is a tough choice, though! My boys really want to go to AKL...describing WL to a 7 and 4 year old is tough....I can't really excite them about it...but on the other hand describing AKL sounds so much more exciting (to them, especially).

Hmmm...I still don't know...and then of course, I have to decide if we should pay the extra for a savannah view! Oh my


Keep the suggestions coming...I'll keep reading! Thanks!!

 

[ktbugsmom]

Anniebell,
I did not notice when you were going. When we went, I booked pool view because I could not justify the savannah view price difference. I figured we would see the animals at other places in the resort (and you can). However, when I got there, I mentioned to the CM that I really wanted savannah view, but couldn't justify the expense to my husband. She offered me an upgrade for $10 per night! I jumped on it and we loved it. It was cool to see the animals from our balcony.

We went in mid to late August, so maybe it was not as busy and they had availability and the CM was offering some Disney Magic. I would not count on an upgrade, but it would not hurt to ask.

Seriously though, either place is lovely. We felt more "removed" at AKL - but some love that part. And, like I said, the buses were the best we have experienced in the last 4 years - and we have stayed at POR, OKW, BWV, BCV, AKL and WL during that time.

 

[anniebell]

We would be going over the Thanksgiving weekend...and although there is a choice of pool or savannah view right now, I am afraid if we don't choose the savannah off the bat, it will be all filled up, as I am sure it is a terribly busy time of year there...or anywhere for that matter! However there is a $200+ difference between the two views over the course of our stay....as opposed to only $10 upgrade choice at arrival...wow, that's fantastic! But I certainly am not going to count on that and will probably just book the view we really want...that way we don't have to worry about it at all!

Still considering WL...sounds like a great place too! Oh well...I'll keep reading!