AKL (or somewhere else) for the holidays??

[Jess G]

Currently have AKL booked for the week before Christmas super excited to see all the holiday magic throughout the parks. We enjoy spending time at the resort.. Just curious if AKL keeps up with holiday decor... We enjoy animal watching... Will animals be out and about this time of year?

Wondering what others thoughts are? This is my first time is Disney for the holiday season. Deff want to stay somewhere with holiday magic and good for relaxing during the day.

 

[sxeensweet]

Yes as all Deluxes do AKL Jambo has a huge tree in the lobby and garland and other decorations around the lobby area etc. No deluxe does not do a grand tree and decorations for Christmastime. Even Kidani next door has a very large tree in the lobby and other decorations. I love AKL Jambo and Kidani around Christmas as we usually visit the first few weeks of December most trips and stay at Kidani often then. All the other Deluxes are awesome as well at Christmastime. No AKL does not have some type of Gingerbread display (but you can go visit those if not staying there as we always do but do love to stay at GF as well) like GF, Contemporary, Boardwalk, and Yacht club but it's absolutely gorgeous.

 

[mouse_luv]

Yes, all of the above that @sxeensweet said, and the animals are out year round

 

[sxeensweet]

Yes, all of the above that @sxeensweet said, and the animals are out year round

Oh forgot to answer that part thank you! Yep they are always out year round unless it's a freeze type of situation they may have some that are not out. But I have never experienced a freeze at WDW in December. Colder weather yes but not below freezing. Most years are actually very pleasant weather but have experienced 90+ to 40 degrees in December. Haha!

 

[Swissmiss]

I've stayed at AKL twice in December, once the first week of December and the second time from mid December for about a week (leaving 4-5 days before Christmas). Both times AKL was beautifully decorated and we've gotten some fabulous family photos in front of the huge tree. This past time there were choral groups singing in the lobby (I assumed that they were there to participate in the candlelight processional at Epcot) which just added to an already festive atmosphere. If you already enjoy AKL at other times of the year you will love it even more during the holidays. Enjoy!

 

[epcotisbest]

Currently have AKL booked for the week before Christmas super excited to see all the holiday magic throughout the parks. We enjoy spending time at the resort.. Just curious if AKL keeps up with holiday decor... We enjoy animal watching... Will animals be out and about this time of year?

Wondering what others thoughts are? This is my first time is Disney for the holiday season. Deff want to stay somewhere with holiday magic and good for relaxing during the day.

Great place any time of the year, but especially just before Christmas. I personally would not go during a holiday or heat and crowds of summer, nobody goes then, it's way too crowded.

 

[lostpro9het]

Currently have AKL booked for the week before Christmas super excited to see all the holiday magic throughout the parks. We enjoy spending time at the resort.. Just curious if AKL keeps up with holiday decor... We enjoy animal watching... Will animals be out and about this time of year?

Yes and Yes:
Here is Jambo's lobby this past christmas:

And Kindani's

Wondering what others thoughts are?

Our favorite place to be! We will be spending our 4th Christmas there again this year.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Agree - it's a nice, though subtle (in a good way) addition. The animals may be somewhat less active if a cold from comes through. But, it's often still quite nice in Florida in December. I think it's a good choice!

And, as others have mentioned, resort hopping to see the decorations is a nice way to spend some lower key time out of the parks. Personal favorites - Swan and Dolphin (Swan has a HUGE chocolate display and Dolphin does a massive tree made of white poinsettias); Grand Floridian (obviously), Wilderness Lodge, Port Orleans Riverside, Coronado Springs and the gingerbread and train displays at Yacht & Beach Club (each lobby has one).

 

[mj2v]

AKL is our holiday go to. We always visit the other resorts, but AKV is our spot to stay.

Can't beat it.

They even have their own Christmas Music.

 

[harryk]

All the delux resorts are great during the holiday season. Just depends upon how much time you want to take travelling from the resort to the various parks. AK is 'way out there', but it does have the 'wildlife' around it. So - it depends on what you want. WL (although it has no gingerbread displays) happens to be my families favorite resort during the holidays.

 

[mouse_luv]

All the delux resorts are great during the holiday season. Just depends upon how much time you want to take travelling from the resort to the various parks. AK is 'way out there', but it does have the 'wildlife' around it. So - it depends on what you want. WL (although it has no gingerbread displays) happens to be my families favorite resort during the holidays.

No, it's not "way out there"

See this thread: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/travel-times-from-kidani.912186/#post-7172102

 

[CaptainAmerica]

All the delux resorts are great during the holiday season. Just depends upon how much time you want to take travelling from the resort to the various parks. AK is 'way out there', but it does have the 'wildlife' around it. So - it depends on what you want. WL (although it has no gingerbread displays) happens to be my families favorite resort during the holidays.

Yeah that's not true at all. AKL is closer than Wilderness Lodge to any theme park besides the Magic Kingdom. It looks further on a map but it's plugged into the rest of property with very direct and fast roads.

 

[Matt_Black]

I have not stayed at AKL during Christmas; I have, however, visited the resort at Christmas to eat at Sanaa, and it is absolutely lovely. While there, my sister and I got our picture with Santa Stitch, who met guests after White Christmas Sweater Donald Duck left.

Also, I just noticed that I appear to be pointing at my leg here; I haven't the foggiest notion as to why.

 

[Wngo905]

AKL is our holiday go to. We always visit the other resorts, but AKV is our spot to stay.

Can't beat it.

They even have their own Christmas Music.

Yes. To all the posters above. AKL is a great place to stay at Christmas. The entire family noticed right away this music while walking from the parking lot to check in. It IMMEDIATELY became our favorite resort sound track We were so bummed when we went to the shop to buy it and they don't sell it However, my wonderful DW found this youtube video for me and I recorded it through Audacity. We play it all round the house during Christmas and even sometimes throughout the year when we want to remember "Home".

YES, YES, YES Jess G to this resort. HAVE FUN!!!!

 

[Jess G]

Ok! Deff sticking to AKL... I just stayed there for the first time few weeks ago and loved it.. Wasn't sure if I should branch out or not but all of your pictures and opinions have convinced me I made the right decision to go back cannot wait!