AK or Wilderness Lodge... Help Please

[MK Rookie]

I'm planning a trip to WDW in October for my family - 2 adults and 2 kids under 6. We cannot decide between AK and Wilderness Lodge and would appreciate the input of anyone who might be familiar with both.

On one hand, we LOVE animals and would enjoy spending time with the zebras... on the other hand, we will probably be going to MK almost every day and would really like the more convenient transportation.

The cost is about the same and we can reserve at either one... as you can tell, I'm in need of assistance.

Thanks!

 

[RickEff]

Originally posted by MK Rookie
The cost is about the same and we can reserve at either one... as you can tell, I'm in need of assistance.

Thanks!

How many days are you going for? Would you consider going to both? I love switching resorts in the middle of a trip! Disney will move all your bags for you. Just pack one bag with everyone's swim suits, go to the new resort and make it one of your relaxation days!

If you're going for an extremely short period of time (like 4 days or something) then that's out of the question. But - if you're going for a week, then it's a real possibility.

Just something you may not have thought of.

Have fun!

Rick

 

[jordanyosh]

I don't know if you've already read the thread Animal Kingdom Lodge Two Thumbs Down, that's one side of the coin. We've only stayed at WL and we loved it. Transportation is easy to MK. We rented boats and were in heaven speeding around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. The theming was awesome. If your main reason for picking a resort is proximity to MK, then I would think WL may be your choice.

On the other hand, AKL is BEAUTIFUL. We visited some friends there and were blown away. We had a great meal at JIKO and had fun watching the animals from my friend's balcony. I hope some people who love AKL will post some of their thoughts on the hotel and some who don't. That way you will get an accurate picture of what the resort is like. (I am waiting for Akira Raptor)

They are both great resorts. It just depends on your main priorities and desires. Good luck.....

 

[MK Rookie]

I guess I should have metioned that we will be staying for 7 days. I hadn't considered changing resorts mid-stay but it may be worth looking in to. I'll bounce it off the family. Thanks!

 

[no2apprentice]

We have only stayed on property twice, and guess what...this year it was WL, and last year it was AKL. Here's my observations on the two.

WL
Very impressive lodge. The lobby is very dramatic, with six story totems and pole carvings. A lot of wood used in the themeing. Wood floors, wood railings, wood furniture, wood decorations...did I mention the wood? Some great stone work, also. One pool, and I think I only spotted one hot tub. Large pool, with a minor water slide so the small ones can handle it. There are a tremendous amount of activities going on for families and children. If there's not enough for you to do at WL, you have Fort Wilderness just up the road for other activities. Keep in mind that at WL there is no direct bus from the lodge to MK. The direct route is taking the boat ride, which is actually quite nice (or at least we thought). There is a possibility that if going by bus to other parks (or returning), you might make a stop at another resort. This is a major issue for some guests...for us it was no big deal. The only thing we experienced was going to Studios in the morning, we made a quick stop at Grand Floridian. Probably added 4 minutes to our trip, no biggie for us.

AKL
Very impressive lodge. Obviously, the themeing is Africa. The colors are bright and eye catching (not everyone likes this, we did). The pool at AKL didn't seem quite as large as the one at WL, and also has a small child friendly water slide. Two hot tubs. The animals and the savannahs are the big draw. Activities for families and kids, but there didn't seem to be quite as many as what WL had available. Keep in mind that Disney goes to great lengths to protect these animals. The closest you can get is probably about 30 feet, and the animals rarely come right up to the barrier line. As some people have pointed out, being on the higher floors gives you a better view of the savannah, but you are farther away from the animals. I sometimes get the impression that people expect a zoo like experience, where you are up close to the animals in a small enclosure. That is not how Disney designed the savannahs, but rather that you are overlooking a natural savannah environment. The animals are free to wonder over a large area, and Disney uses tricks to try and get the animals closer to the viewing areas (feeding time being the best trick). Something else at AKL are the Savannah Guides. These are young people from Africa that Disney employs to talk to guests about the animals, and also the traditions and customs of the different peoples of Africa. My family really enjoyed getting to know some of the Guides (hopefully, AKL still has the Guides...I haven't seen anyone posting about them lately). Another favorite for many at AKL is Boma and Jiko, the two sit-down restaurants. Some of the foods and spices are exotic, which some enjoy...and some don't (we did...well, at least my wife and I, the kids were happy with chicken and burgers). As far as transportation, some people have complained about extremely long bus times and waits. All I can say is on our trip last year during the spring break crowds, the longest we waited for a bus was 10 minutes, the longest ride was to MK at 14 minutes.

After our stay at WL, we all decided that we preferred AKL, because we felt the AKL had more of an exotic feel to it. Of course, that's just us. If food is a concern for your family (it is for mine!), you can check out the menus for dining at the resorts at www.wdwig.com.

Several people (myself included) have posted photos in the PHOTO ALBUMS section of both resorts. This might help in your decision. Whatever you decide, I hope your family has a great time!

 

[stephsim]

WL

Hi,
I went to WL in March and it is so breath takingly beautiful! We had our 2 girl ages 3 & 2. They loves it too! We also went to MK a lot! The ferry was just a short relaxing ride(no buses to make it seem stressful) to MK! That was one of our favorite times to just relax and enjoy the scenery. Now I must say it was not very busy when we went and that may make a difference in October. I am not sure how busy it is then. I have never been to AKL so I can't say much except that it may take longer to get to MK if you go there a lot, especially if it is busy. If you do choose WL it has such a great theme. It definitly has that Disney magic! The Whispering Canyon Cafe food was great and at a resonable price. Another thing about Transportation is we went to MGM via bus and it was fine. Since WL shares buses with the monorail resort the bus isn't packed (except when a park closes) b/c they use the monorail. We never had to wait more than 10-15 mins and we went back and forth to and from MGM and the WL about 4 times that day. We stayed at the Villas and they were nice and roomy. I don't know how there "regular" rooms are but I have heard they are smaller that other Deluxe resorts. Well I hope this helps!

Steph

 

[lentesta]

I've stayed at both. I think the restaurants at AKL are a little better, and the rates at the AKL might be slighly less than the WL. But you can't go wrong at either resort. The lobbies of both resorts are somewhat similar (and impressive).

I don't think the transportation difference is as big as you might think. Room square footage, amenities, restaurants and and pool facilities might play a larger role in making your decision.

Hope this helps. Have a great time!

Sincerely,

Len

 

[tigsmom]

We love the WL...we spend most of our time in the MK and the ferry service is great. Also you can see the floating parade from the dock. There is a kidie pool for the little ones. We love the Whispering Canyon for breakfast (get the skillet). Don't really care for the dinner (just our family's taste), but the food is good and they have pony races for the kids. It's noisy and fun (just don't ask for a straw or ketchup or you will find out about their off beat sense of humor! :lol: ) The bus rides aren't bad at all. The Roaring Forks snack bar is great if you have little ones.

The AKL was designed by the same person and is similar in it's general design. We have friends who have stayed there and loved it, but it is a little farther away from everything.(some people like this).

We like the WL because it reminds us of home (upstate NY in the woods). Though I'm not for changing Resorts mid vac alot of people swear by this and it may be an option for you.

Don't forget to buy the refillable mugs...with 2 little ones you will save a bundle.
Whatever you decide, enjoy your VAC.



Wilderness Lodge Aug 2- 9th. :sohappy:

 

[epcotisbest]

Originally posted by MK Rookie


On one hand, we LOVE animals and would enjoy spending time with the zebras... on the other hand, we will probably be going to MK almost every day and would really like the more convenient transportation.

As you state that you will probably be going to the MK almost every day, that makes the choice easy. Pick Wilderness Lodge. If you look at a map of the whole "world", you will find that the AKL is far away from everything except the AK.

Having stayed at both places I can tell you that both are wonderful places with magnificant themes, and good resturants. Veiwing the animals from the AKL, I find is not as special as you think it will be. They are of course a long way away. This is no petting zoo, and you can see more and get closer on a visit to the Animal Kingdom itself. The key is location, location, location. Most children (and some adults, myself included) even find that the ride on the boat transportation to and from the WL is an adventure in itself. Believe me, the buses, while not a bad way to get around, are no adventure, and from the AKL you will spend a good amount of time on them.

I sorta like the advice about changing resorts during the middle of your trip. That way you can stay at both places. Personally, I would take the WL for the whole trip and enjoy the location. Whatever you choose, have a wonderful trip. October is a good time to go.

Ricky

 

[Lil'mermaid]

Over at the WL they have this thing... The Hidden Mickey Hunt I thing its called. We stayed there once with 5 kids ranging from 14 to 4, And we had a BLAST! The lil ones were the best at finding them although some are really hard to find or see how that could be one even! Im 15 now I still dont see how some of them were even Mickey! Have Fun where ever u pick!

 

[AkiraRaptor]

Ok, I'm chimming in!

I'm all for AKL. But I've never stayed at WL so my opinion is mostly one sided.

On WL, over the years we've eaten at Artists Point several times so I've been there and walked around. These are my observations:

The place look great. Warm, inviting, cozy. The CM are fun. There seems to be an aura of "fun" around. Everyone was making jokes, telling stories. It was very nice. We walked about outside, and I really liked the theaming. Felt like our area back home in PA.

What I didn't like was the noise factor. The lobby just seemed to be very busy and loud. Almost like Grande Central Station. Very busy. But other than that, the place looks great.

We drove over, so I have no idea about the bussing from WL.

Now on to AKL.

Just to add to what's already been said, it is a great place. In my opinion, there is nothing like it anywhere.

The CMs have all been great to us. And the Savannah Guides are a must to talk to. We've spoken to most of them each time we go. On one occation, one seemed a bit homesick for Africa but he said being surrounded by AKL really helped because it was so like home. I take that as a great complement for AKL. Who knows better than someone who lives in Africa.

Boma is one of our favorite places to eat. My wife and I talk constantly about Breakfast at Boma. We eat there every morning we can. Heck, if I lived near Orlando, I'd make trips just for the breakfast.

Jiko is very nice as well, and if you feel like spending a bit more money, give it a try.

I always feel the best walking around at night. Almost no one around. You can still view the animal because of the special "moonlight" lighting they have. It's so very relaxing.

I also feel they have one of the best resort stores. Zawani Marketplace is a really cool place. I would keep finding myself going into every day, even though I wasn't looking to buy. I never did that at other resorts. Like Poly, one walk through their stores, and I never went back in the rest of the trip.

Now let's talk bus times. I've copied a section of another thread in here. This is fron Tyler:

------------------------------------------------------------
AKL -> DAK - 5 mins
AKL -> Epcot - 9 mins
AKL -> Studios - 8 mins
AKL -> MK - 13 mins

Port Orleans/OKW -> MK - 11 mins
Port Orleans/OKW -> Epcot - 6 mins
Port Orleans/OKW -> Studios - 9 mins
Port Orleans/OKW -> DAK - 13 mins

Coronado Springs -> MK - 10 mins
Coronado Springs -> Epcot via BB - 10 mins
Coronado Springs -> Studios - 6 mins
Coronado Springs -> DAK - 7 mins

Caribbean Beach -> MK - 11 mins
Caribbean Beach -> Epcot - 7 mins
Caribbean Beach -> Studios - 5 mins
Caribbean Beach -> DAK - 7 mins

Epcot Resorts -> MK - 11 mins
Epcot Resorts -> DAK - 11 mins
(Depending on route... add 2 mins per resort...)

MK Area -> Studios - 11 mins
MK Area -> DAK - 13 mins
WL/FW -> Epcot - 6 mins

Routes can vary. Add for the following:
CR/Po - Add 4 for CR
CR/Po/GF - Add 7 for CR, 4 for Poly
WL/GF - Add 5 for WL
WL/Outpost - Add 5 for WL
WL/Settlement - Add 3 for WL
FW alone - Add none
---------------------------------------------------------

So what's all the talk about AKL being so far away?

For these times, and from going in October the last few years, I can say that these are acurate. I'm assuming that say mid summer they could take longer with larger crowds, but I'd bet all the other resorts suffer similarly.

The only bus issue I had was getting to MK one night. We were running late, MK was filled to capasity that night, and everyone at AKL want to go at the same time. We went another route (Epcot/Monorail/MK). Only add a few min, and we got to use the monorail, which is something we normally miss. And MK getting back that night was busy for ALL the resort. Everybody was waiting, not just AKL.

I'm sorry for those that have had issues with AKL busses, but I just have never really seen it.

So you have a tough choice, WL or AKL. Both are nice. I'd think about resort hopping. And that would be a cool thing to remember for you and you family. Plus you get to stay in two great place, and not just one.

Have fun! :sohappy:

 

[TURKEY]

I've stayed at AKL during this past Christmas/New Year's week.

I never had any problems with busing. The only time I had a wait was as the bus was pulling out as I was walking to the stop. Otherwise it was a 5-10 wait for the bus with a 10-15 minute trip.

I find it more convienent than CB/CS/PO with multiple stops. I also found that AKL didn't have as big of crowds waiting as the AS.

 

[MK Rookie]

Thank you all SO much for all of the wonderful, thoughtful responses. What a friendly bunch of people for spending so much time helping a stranger plan a vacation.

We're leaning towards WL at this point but we still have a few days to decide... As so many of you have said, we can't go wrong.

I have one other question for the group... what reservations do we need to make in advance? I read the Club Mickey takes reservations 90-days in advance, but I'm not sure what else we need to look into. THANKS AGAIN!

 

[jordanyosh]

Depending on your tastes, you may want to make a few Priority Seating Arrangements. Check on booking windows. A few like Cinderella's Royal Table for their Character Breakfast, go very fast.
If you want a few sit down dinners, most places are very kid friendly as well as dress-code friendly.

If you are doing a date night of some sort, you make look into some of the Fireworks Cruises or Cirque. Those reservations should be booked ahead.

If you have any other ????, feel free to ask.

 

[no2apprentice]

MK Rookie, I just noticed something else that may aid in your decision. You mentioned the interest in zebras at AKL. Don't know if you knew how the layout works at AKL, but there are three savannahs surrounding AKL. Each savannah has different animals, with the only common animal between each one being giraffes (they are the only animal that can coexist with the all the other animals at the AKL). So there is no guarantee that you will have a view of zebras from your room.

 

[Main Street USA]

Originally posted by MK Rookie
Thank you all SO much for all of the wonderful, thoughtful responses. What a friendly bunch of people for spending so much time helping a stranger plan a vacation.

We're leaning towards WL at this point but we still have a few days to decide... As so many of you have said, we can't go wrong.

I have one other question for the group... what reservations do we need to make in advance? I read the Club Mickey takes reservations 90-days in advance, but I'm not sure what else we need to look into. THANKS AGAIN!

I would personally choose Wilderness Lodge. having never stayed at either I was in the same boat as you up until about 3 weeks ago when I decided WL was the place to be.

Also, a quick jaunt over to www.mousesavers.com is a must before booking anything. This can save you a ton of money if you just take the time to read and look for discounts. They are EVERYWHERE!

Have an awesome time at The Wilderness Lodge! Er, wherever you choose.