Anyone else find AKL sort of depressing?

[MeridaMerida]

A friend told me it reminded her of a sad, urban zoo (like a low budget zoo you would see in a city). I loved the theming, restaurants and hotel itself but couldn't get over her description.. I got the same vibe! The savannah area seemed sad and lackluster to me too, even though I LOVED AKL and AK overall. I didn't feel the same way about seeing the animal viewing areas at the actual theme park but something about the hotel's savannah didn't seem great to me.

 

[Disneylovingmomof2]

Nothing about it feels urban to me. In fact I’d say I got quite the opposite feeling.

 

[Princess Mulan]

We’ve stayed multiple times at AKL and enjoyed it. But two of our friends visited and immediately described the hotel and the savannah as depressing. Their reaction surprised me, but perhaps they are not alone in their opinion.

 

[MaidMarian444]

I just commented on a different thread, my Disney-hating husband got into the biggest funk after seeing the gorillas at Animal Kingdom Park. He thought they looked so miserable. He started to hate Disney even more after that. We didn’t see the lodge so I can’t comment.

 

[dansdad]

We've never had that feeling. Totally feels like we are somewhere that is far removed from anything remotely urban.

 

[snappy]

I stayed in a studio in a Jambo and a 1 bedroom in Kidani. The rooms were dark to me, dark furniture and woodwork. In the Kidani 1 bedroom we saw lots of animals from the balcony. One night the zebras slept directly under our balcony. That was cool. However, I have to admit I prefer seeing water and well kept landscaping from the balconies at WDW resort. Good views like that make me happy. I do enjoy greatly eating at Sana’a and viewing animals from the lookout but it is unlikely that I will stay at Jambo or kidani again.

 

[VAfamily1998]

Honestly, I just got back from a 10 day trip to Kenya. On many occasions throughout the trip, I thought to myself that Disney got a lot of things right when designing AKL and AK park!

 

[rlk]

Honestly, I just got back from a 10 day trip to Kenya. On many occasions throughout the trip, I thought to myself that Disney got a lot of things right when designing AKL and AK park!

We visited Kenya and Tanzania last year and agree that Disney's AKL is a very good representation.

 

[karen4546]

No, i do not feel like AKL is depressing. I love it ! I enjoy drinking coffee on the balcony watching the animals. I like sitting by the fire outside and inside. I love seeing the beautiful Christmas tree during the holidays. I love hearing the drums. I enjoy Jiko, Boma and Sana'a. I love going to the CL lounge for afternoon tea/wine.

nope-not depressing at all to me.

 

[Jennasis]

No, but I understand people who feel that way about animals in captivity.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

One has to hope that Disney does everything it can to enrich the lives of the animals in its care. Many people, quite rightly, do not want to see wild animals in captivity unless it is for conservation reasons, part of a worldwide breeding programme etc. Hopefully the days of keeping wild animals in captivity just so that we can gawp at them ‘for entertainment’ has long gone.

 

[oceanmarina]

I personally loved my stay and having tea and zebra domes on our huge balcony watching my savannah view (this was the only balcony we ever used at a WDW hotel) was just magical. I would stay there again In a heartbeat. My DH however found it dark and didn’t like it. So I agree with other posters that it’s a mixed bag.

 

[Minnie1222]

I love the design of the resort, but it is depressing to see animals in captivity. Especially at night with that not-so-low light constantly illuminating the sleeping animals.

 

[DLgal]

I get a really weird vibe from that hotel. I just feel very uneasy in there and have no desire to ever go back. Can't put my finger on it, but something about it completely turns me off.

 

[Disneylover99]

I don’t find it depressing, just not appealing.
I’m not interested in seeing animals at a hotel.

 

[shocker]

Honestly, I just got back from a 10 day trip to Kenya. On many occasions throughout the trip, I thought to myself that Disney got a lot of things right when designing AKL and AK park!

We visited Kenya and Tanzania last year and agree that Disney's AKL is a very good representation.

We had the same experience by visiting the French Quarter in New Orleans & two nights later staying at POFQ. Disney nailed it! We only thought it was a bit cleaner.

However, Disney does need to do a better job with their beignets!

 

[rlk]

I don’t find it depressing, just not appealing.
I’m not interested in seeing animals at a hotel.

In Kenya, we stayed at a resort by Lake Naivasha that had animals roaming the grounds. It had a similar feel to AKL, except that we were allowed to walk among the animals. We commented several times that this would never be allowed in the U.S. Unfortunately, the day before we arrived, a tourist did not listen to the safety instructions and got himself killed by a hippo.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I stayed in a studio in a Jambo and a 1 bedroom in Kidani. The rooms were dark to me, dark furniture and woodwork. In the Kidani 1 bedroom we saw lots of animals from the balcony. One night the zebras slept directly under our balcony. That was cool. However, I have to admit I prefer seeing water and well kept landscaping from the balconies at WDW resort. Good views like that make me happy. I do enjoy greatly eating at Sana’a and viewing animals from the lookout but it is unlikely that I will stay at Jambo or kidani again.

Honestly, I just got back from a 10 day trip to Kenya. On many occasions throughout the trip, I thought to myself that Disney got a lot of things right when designing AKL and AK park!

Yes to both of these. It DOES look like authentic savana. And authentic savana DOES NOT look like a well manicured resort. That’s what the ground looks like when animals make it their home. It doesn’t look like a sad zoo at all to me. It looks like a small well maintained savana that’s directly next to a hotel.

 

[MrsDuck]

I've never felt that way.

Those animals are very well taken care of.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I’ve alwAys thought that the Savannahs at the lodge are wonderful. We too have been to Africa and the landscape is very close to what you see in a game drive. Way more room than any zoo and the animals look healthy and I’ve always thought very content. The safari ride is also great to me. The animals are obviously so well taken care of and have lots of space. In the park itself, there is a walk, I alwAys forget the name, off of the safari ride, which is incredible. The great ape area in particular is very special. They have acres to roam and seem so healthy. We usually see babies every year. I can stand there for an hour just to watch their Interactions and the silverbacks are spectacular. I’ve alwYs wAnted to go on a gorilla trek in Uganda but this experience is a close second for me.