AKL or WL..

I have not stayed at either resort but this past trip we did visit both of them.
I am drawn to AKL for numerous reasons... I love that the pathways outside to the buses
and to the pool, etc. are all under shade. If you are going in the warmer weather, this is
certainly a cool relief. It felt like everywhere we walked was shaded.

It also feels more exotic to me in decor ( I live in Michigan so Wilderness
Lodge feels similar to the wooded areas I'm near).

I liked that AKL had posted activities with live music, educational classes and festivities...
I didn't see this at Wilderness, but perhaps I missed it?

I am also an animal lover, so walking out to a shaded veranda and sitting down in a rocking chair
while watching a giraffe slowly eating was a wonderful treat.

While we are usually running park to park and don't spend much time in our hotel..
this past trip Amy had a migraine and I found myself wishing we had stayed at AKL
so I could have had things to do to keep myself occupied while still being on the
Resort property so I could check in on her.

Thank you Magic Mirror for your thoughts..Very interesting points of view, and much appreciated..

I prefer WL. Everytime I've gone its been very peaceful and quiet. I like how you can take the boat to the MK. And I think the grounds are great to wonder around. I like AKL but I felt like it was too far from every other park except AK. But even that you had to take a bus to which was disappointing. I just don't like it as much because its so far out.

If you aren't intending to spend much time in your room, I might be tempted to go with WL, as you can get a boat to MK and for there a monorail to Epcot and not have to rely on buses the whole time like at AKL. But if you are hiring a car, AKL wins hands down! What dates are you looking at?

Well we are considering October for the first time...The 11th is a Tuesday and much cheaper than the Saturday flight,also to leave again in ten days,the Thursday flight works out a lot cheaper than the Saturday..Going from a 9 day/10 day trip instead of the usual 14 saves us around $2000...

We are flying the 11th of October.... Erm, It's a Saturday though? Our friend is coming out with us, she's flying Monday the 13th till Tuesday the 28th, as those were the cheapest dates when she booked at christmas. We fly back on a Tuesday too cause those flights are so much cheaper.

Aren't flight prices just crazy? I mean all over the place. It's the only form of transportation I know of where the person sitting next to you may have paid half or double what you did to be on the same flight.

I think October would be a great time to visit the World btw. We're thinking of booking October 2014.

Do it! October is awesome! Our last trip was in October 2012 and we LOVED it! There was ever so slightly higher crowds then your September trip, but still very reasonable. We also had awesome weather (warm but not stifling heat, no rain) and F&WF and MNSSHP.

Silly me...I'am getting too excited..Yes Oct 14th is a Tuesday flight...I've just received an e-Mail from Complete Orlando who have undercut Disney by PS40.....

Have you tried Expedia too? I have been looking there for a friend and they have come back the cheapest, as I said before, afraid I'm a never again kinda person after CO truly messed up

I have stayed at both resorts and enjoy both resorts. I think that the pools and restaurants are fairly equal. To me the real advantage of Wilderness Lodge is the direct boat to the Magic Kingdom. However I think I enjoy the rooms at Animal Kingdom Lodge a little better.

AKL Kidani is fantastic the buses were really good. The advantage is that the buses stop at Kidani first so you always get the bus and a seat. We ate at WL and it is lovely but I like the animals. Yes the cost of flights is dreadful the only way we managed to go this year was by using our air miles with a small air miles top up. Got the flights for less than the price of one economy

I loved the AKL Aside from the animals and savannah views it has my favorite restaurants. I've visited WL and I do want to stay there but its more of a bucket list thing than a strong desire to stay.

AKL!!! We have stayed at both and prefer the Savanah view!! Oct. is a wonderful time to visit. Enjoy!!

Cheers everyone...WL wins...AKL has indeed three awesome restaurants but is too wayyyyy out for my liking...My favourite park is MK and the thought of sailing to it by boat is a dream come true...

Evil laugh lets hope the weather is good! Otherwise here comes the bus

Even bigger evil laugh...I control the weather...Thor is my second cousin...