Which Resort

[d'Isigny]

We just booked the Animal Kingdom Lodge for June. We recently read some poor reviews about the AKL. We also considered Wilderness Lodge but again read some not so favorable reviews. Port Orleans Riverside has always been our resort of choice.

Has anyone stayed at this particular moderate resort and AKL or WL and made a comparison? What would your recommendation be?

 

[Monty]

I loved AKL! Great theming, wonderful animal-watching [even without Savannah view] and great restaurants.

Only negative in my view was if you're in a room at either end it can be a very long walk to/from the buses. There are no exits except the main entrance or the store except in the case of a fire alarm.

I haven't stayed at POR or WL yet, but intend to.

 

[d'Isigny]

Thank you...the resort does look very nice...
it does however, have only one bus stop

I loved AKL! Great theming, wonderful animal-watching [even without Savannah view] and great restaurants.

Only negative in my view was if you're in a room at either end it can be a very long walk to/from the buses. There are no exits except the main entrance or the store except in the case of a fire alarm.

I haven't stayed at POR or WL yet, but intend to.

 

[happymom52003]

We just booked the Animal Kingdom Lodge for June. We recently read some poor reviews about the AKL. We also considered Wilderness Lodge but again read some not so favorable reviews. Port Orleans Riverside has always been our resort of choice.

Has anyone stayed at this particular moderate resort and AKL or WL and made a comparison? What would your recommendation be?

Honestly, I would not take reviews too serioulsy. They can sometimes be useful to find out specifics about the resorts.....but keep in mind that you will find both negative and positive reviews for any resort. Everyone has different tastes when it comes to themeing, and everyone has different priorities (cost, location, transportaion options, dining options, etc).

We've never stayed at AKL so I can't help you out there, but we have stayed at WL four times and have had zero complaints about it....I can't say enough good things about the WL. The only thing negative thing I've noticed that comes up alot about the WL is the bus system, but we have never been bothered by it. You will also find people who dislike the WL for other reasons....which is why it is hard to make a decison based on reviews.

I would just choose the resort that is most appealing to you. Make a list of your priorities such as transportation options, dining options, etc.. and pick a resort that best matches them.

 

[krankenstein]

Thank you...the resort does look very nice...
it does however, have only one bus stop

I can't think of a single deluxe resort with multiple bus stops. That seems to be a feature reserved for moderates because they tend to be spread out a lot more than the deluxe resorts.

AKL is fabulous! You will not regret booking a stay there! I can't think of one bad thing to say about the resort. The amenities are second to none, the busses work well, the store is great and the atmosphere is truly unique. As I mentioned earlier, it is my absolute favorite resort.

Make sure you have a savanna view, it's kind of pointless to stay there without one. It is a truly unique experience.

 

[d'Isigny]

Thank you... a big thing for us is bus transportation...
having to wait and the amount of time stuck on a bus...

Honestly, I would not take reviews too serioulsy. They can sometimes be useful to find out specifics about the resorts.....but keep in mind that you will find both negative and positive reviews for any resort. Everyone has different tastes when it comes to themeing, and everyone has different priorities (cost, location, transportaion options, dining options, etc).

We've never stayed at AKL so I can't help you out there, but we have stayed at WL four times and have had zero complaints about it....I can't say enough good things about the WL. The only thing negative thing I've noticed that comes up alot about the WL is the bus system, but we have never been bothered by it. You will also find people who dislike the WL for other reasons....which is why it is hard to make a decison based on reviews.

I would just choose the resort that is most appealing to you. Make a list of your priorities such as transportation options, dining options, etc.. and pick a resort that best matches them.

 

[d'Isigny]

Thank you...
our biggest concern was transportation because we read where one guest spent over an hour on a bus because the resort shares buses

I can't think of a single deluxe resort with multiple bus stops. That seems to be a feature reserved for moderates because they tend to be spread out a lot more than the deluxe resorts.

AKL is fabulous! You will not regret booking a stay there! I can't think of one bad thing to say about the resort. The amenities are second to none, the busses work well, the store is great and the atmosphere is truly unique. As I mentioned earlier, it is my absolute favorite resort.

Make sure you have a savanna view, it's kind of pointless to stay there without one. It is a truly unique experience.

 

[Monty]

Thank you...
our biggest concern was transportation because we read where one guest spent over an hour on a bus because the resort shares buses

An hour on any bus in WDW is a major anomaly! Or the guest in question 'felt' they were on for an hour. Worst case under normal circumstances I've never spent more than 45 minutes total to get from one point to another in WDW, including the wait time for a bus to arrive. I wouldn't put much weight behind the complaints, for the vast majority the buses are efficient and fast.

If I remember correctly, the longest actual distance by bus is AKL to MK and that was about 25 minutes. Disney transportation is quite good. I've used it exclusively from any resort I've stayed in except Contemporary, but that trip I actually drove down from Ottawa - and even then, I mostly used the buses. The only time I didn't was when we were eating at another resort, then I drove.

 

[DISMOM]

Don't be afraid to try Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you stay there and don't like it, then don't go back. [write a review for us, though] We loved Wilderness Lodge and were very scared of what we would find at the French Quarter after reading horrible housekeeping reviews....well, lo and behold, we loved it just as much as the Wilderness Lodge. You could have knocked me down with a feather.!!:ROFLOL::ROFLOL:
Have a great trip.

 

[d'Isigny]

A few years ago, I stayed at the Swan Resort. It has one bus stop and that stop was packed...I had to wait for 2 buses before I got a turn... and I was lucky I got on that one because during the wait time, more people showed up and felt that the should be first in line...

An hour on any bus in WDW is a major anomaly! Or the guest in question 'felt' they were on for an hour. Worst case under normal circumstances I've never spent more than 45 minutes total to get from one point to another in WDW, including the wait time for a bus to arrive. I wouldn't put much weight behind the complaints, for the vast majority the buses are efficient and fast.

If I remember correctly, the longest actual distance by bus is AKL to MK and that was about 25 minutes. Disney transportation is quite good. I've used it exclusively from any resort I've stayed in except Contemporary, but that trip I actually drove down from Ottawa - and even then, I mostly used the buses. The only time I didn't was when we were eating at another resort, then I drove.

 

[d'Isigny]

I love your signature...
I get asked that alot too...

The Resort can be a big part of the trip...though you don't spend much time there... you still look forward to the little conveniences that you've grown accustomed to...I've always stayed at Port Orleans Riverside and enjoy the walk to the food court...the fact that you can get your own drink with a refillable mug...4-5 bus depots...etc.

I stayed at Old Key West once...and they didn't have a food court...only a quick service window that was operated by an unfriendly employee. She actually denied a refill to a 12 year old boy...who seemed to be holding a refillable mug. There was no vending machines in sight, so you couldn't get a bottle of water or anything in the evening and the Rude and Serve window had closed early...

as nice as the room was...it didn't make up for the fact that if you wanted to eat anything...you had to go to the restaurant or the Rude and Serve...

Don't be afraid to try Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you stay there and don't like it, then don't go back. [write a review for us, though] We loved Wilderness Lodge and were very scared of what we would find at the French Quarter after reading horrible housekeeping reviews....well, lo and behold, we loved it just as much as the Wilderness Lodge. You could have knocked me down with a feather.!!:ROFLOL::ROFLOL:
Have a great trip.

 

[krankenstein]

Thank you...
our biggest concern was transportation because we read where one guest spent over an hour on a bus because the resort shares buses

I've never had to share a bus when staying at AKL. Heck, I've never had to share a bus and I've stayed at all 3 All-Star Resorts.