I would stay at the Wilderness Lodge over the Animal Kingdom. However, I would stay in a one bedroom suite at the Villas rather than one of the smaller rooms. These rooms are superb and the interiors are great, and staying at the Villas adds another dimension to the Lodge experience. The downstairs lobby at the Villas is really nice and has some real intersesting Disney memorabilia.
The Animal Kingdom is great, but you are more limited in some ways when compared to the Wilderness Lodge. The Wilderness Lodge has the feeling of seclusion that the Animal Kingdom Lodge has, yet you are more connected to "the world" and there is a feeling of much more light and openness. You have the lake on the one side of the lodge which is really nice and creates an area that you can walk around and use. Taking boats to the MK or over to the Hoop de doo Revue (sp?) are very special, also you can catch a boat to the Contemporary (its restaurants) and thus the monorails (and the other hotels) very easily. I am a big fan of the boats and the monorail and the WL easily flows into both unlike the AKL which is a pure bus land.
The restaurants in the Animal Kingdom are very nice (Jiko's is perhaps better than the Artist Point right now), as is the bar, but they are darker, literally down below the main lobby of the hotel. Also, I just prefer the theming of the Wilderness Lodge better than the African theming of the Lodge. And, as I said, with the WL you have more ready access to a much bigger world of dining via the boats and monorail. So, we always do a nice dinner at the California Grill and do the H.D.D.R. when we are at the WL taking the boats back and forth.
If you are really into looking out your window and seeing the animals then clearly the Animal Kingdom Lodge is the place for you. There is a reason the hotel remains cheaper than is sister the Wilderness Lodge and that is location and access to the rest of the world. I think they are both amazing places. But, a room in the WL villas, overlooking the quiet pool and the lake beyond, is really really nice.
I do think you are comparing two great places. I see a lot of people are really devoted to the Poly but as regards the aesthetics and restaurants I would take either of your choices before the Poly.