I have a few questions but don't get me wrong, I've eaten at Boma so I've been to the resort before and therefore I have picked this resort for more reason's than that it's the cheaper of the deluxes. But I'm curious and want to get other's thoughts.
When the promotions came out I was already booked rack rate at AKL and I couldn't get a promotion but of course I still looked at other resorts but I told myself I was 99% sure I wouldn't switch (unless it was a room at Poly) and I didn't so I really really want to try this resort out.
My question's for those that have stayed AKL before and have stayed other deluxes, truthfully, is this your favorite resort and if so why? Where else have you stayed?
We are staying AKL for first time in 56 days. We have stayed at CBR and CSR and think the moderates are just too big for us. We've stayed BC a couple times and WL and my husband loves BC because of the location. Can't really get better than that. I love WL for location and theme. That's why I think I will like AKL since it's similar to WL with it's rustic theme.
If you take the animal part our of AKL, would you still love it? We are doing standard so not sure we will experience what others experience.
I know a lot of people say they feel like they are away from everything when they go there and it's like another vacation when they get back to the resort. But for me, I personally love being in the Disney theme all week long. I don't necessarily want to feel so far away that it doesn't feel Disney anymore.
I'm babbling but my question's are:
Where have you stayed besides AKL and why is it your favorite?
For deluxe resorts, I have stayed at both AKL Jambo House and AKV Kidani Village, Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan and Dolphin, and Saratoga Springs (many of these multiple times), and AKL Jambo house is my favorite resort, a close second would be the Yacht and Beach Club resorts (I mostly think of them as the same resort). I love all of the restaurants, they are by far my favorite on property, the general vibe and feel of the resort is awesome, and we have always encountered excellent CMs. The pools and hot tubs are great (second favorite pool after SAB), as is the fitness center. Just because you have a standard room, doesn't mean that you won't experience the animals, as there are wonderful viewing locations all around the resort. I also love being in the Disney theme all week, and I don't think that AKL is any less Disney than the other Deluxe resorts, it also really isn't that far away, I still absolutely get that Disney feel while I am at AKL.
That said, AKL isn't for everyone, but I have enjoyed every one of my trips, and is the only resort that my husband and I absolutely MUST return to each and every year (we also choose AKL as our longest of the 3 trips we take each year). I will be trying out BLT and WL next year, and although I am sure that I will like them both, I know that I will return to AKL time and time again.
Edited to add: the previous poster reminded me how much I love the AKL gift shop, I think it is the best resort gift shop on property, and I enjoy browsing there multiple times each trip, even though I usually don't purchase anything.