Having an egg-citing time at AKV

[LisaS]

DH and I are here at AKV on our once in a lifetime Concierge trip! We got a savanna view so our room faces the Sunset Savanna. We were out on the balcony late this afternoon watching some animals. Two ostriches were walking around with their wings out, cooling themselves off. One of them sat down in the dirt roadway in this strange pose:

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/81115Ostrich1_1.jpg

and then she got up again and what a surprise! She had laid an egg!

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/81115Ostrich2_1.jpg

She nuzzled it a bit

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/81115Ostrich3_1.jpg

but then just walked away leaving it right in the road:

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/81115Ostrich4_1.jpg

We had learned this morning that the ostriches here lay eggs from time to time but since they have only female ostriches here at AKL/V the eggs are not fertilized. The staff does pick them up off the savanna. So we let someone here know about it and they contacted the animal programs staff. A short time later, someone came along to collect it. He picked it up and then looked up at us and gave us a thumbs up!

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/81115Ostrich5_1.jpg

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/81115Ostrich6_1.JPG

It was all very amazing! We also saw little "Kidani", the 6-week-old baby zebra out on the Sunset Savanna. I took a few photos of him and this is one of the better ones:

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/81115LittleKidani.JPG

[Chuck S]

What a neat experience. I wonder what they do with the unfertilized eggs..if they simply dispose of them, or use them for animal feed?

Great picture of Li'l Kidani.

[LIFERBABE]

Hi Lisa!

How neat! We saw the Ostriches "lay" something too, but it wasnt an Egg!:rotfl:

They seem to like that area of the Sunset Savannah.

My DS decorated a Christmas ornament with colored Ostrich Egg shells when we were there in Dec. We made a donation.

They use the eggs to help raise money for their conservation programs.

Kidani is really cute!

Have a great stay! We return to AKV Con. in Sept!

[4 Little Bears]

Thanks for posting the pictures. Kidani is just darling!

[Claire L]

Great piccies and Kidani looks so sweet :)

Claire ;)

[DISNEY FIX]

Lisa I hope you have a great time. What is your opinion of the Sunset Savanah? Your room door faces the main lobby right?

[bobbiwoz]

Oh, thank you telling us your story and showing the pictures!!!

Bobbi:goodvibes

[luna99]

oh my goodness, thank you for this post!! How amazing that you got those great shots and Kidani is just adoreable... now I'm second guessing myself about staying at AKL/AKV.

[DVC Jen]

What a cool thing to witness. Thanks for sharing your photos.

[pyrxtc]

hey, Lisa S, I'm across the hall from you right now and will be til Saturday. we'll have to meet in person. I'm in room 6401 name is Linda. And yes this hotel is beautiful and the staff is so great! I am looking at the pool but am still having fun.

[dianeschlicht]

How great that you got the savanna view, Lisa!!! We weren't so lucky last month. When we were on the sunset safari, the keeper with us went out and collected an ostrich egg too. They are HUGE and weigh about 15 pounds!

[ranthony]

Thanks for taking the time to post these photos. What a neat experience. Have a great trip!

[LocustPoint]

Great story. Love the pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[ead79]

What a cool thing to see! Glad you're enjoying your stay at AKV concierge!

[LUVMICKEY]

Great pictures. Thank you for sharing them. This is where we want to be in January of 2009.

[disfanforlife]

How neat! What a great thing to be able to see - thank you for sharing. Also, thank you for giving me another reason to be happy that we bought at AKV!!! Can't wait until we can go there - sometime after 5/09!

[bobbiwoz]

How neat! What a great thing to be able to see - thank you for sharing. Also, thank you for giving me another reason to be happy that we bought at AKV!!! Can't wait until we can go there - sometime after 5/09!

You are very patient, but I think the experience of being there will be worth the wait!

It's the savannah view rooms that made buying some AKV points a "necessity" for me!

Bobbi:goodvibes

[alldiz]

hey, Lisa S, I'm across the hall from you right now and will be til Saturday. we'll have to meet in person. I'm in room 6401 name is Linda. And yes this hotel is beautiful and the staff is so great! I am looking at the pool but am still having fun.

It's a small world after all:goodvibes


Thanks so much for posting....your pictures are so awesome....that baby Zebra is soooo cute. Concierge w/Savannah view:love:
Enjoy the rest of your trip
Kerri

[abk96]

Wow! Great photos! Thanks for sharing them with us.

I'm glad you both are having a great time. Enjoy the rest of your trip and I look forward to reading and seeing more.

[manntra]

Thanks for the great photos! Lil' Kidani is adorable! Have a great rest of your trip! :flower3:

[AKV707]

Lisa, thanks for the pics! Incredibly cool. Another thing that makes AKV awesome!

Love the pic of baby Kidani, I have a pic of him as my desktop. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

[drag n' fly]

Have a wonderful trip and thanks for sharing the beautifiul pics....concierge WITH savannah view lucky you!:lovestruc

[liznboys]

That's pretty cool! :) Fun pix!

[disney0210]

That's so cool, thanks for sharing your pictures with us. Enjoy the remainder of your stay and hope you witness more egg-citement!

[LisaS]

Lisa I hope you have a great time. What is your opinion of the Sunset Savanah? Your room door faces the main lobby right?I've stayed on the Sunset Savanna before (as an AKL guest on a lower floor) and didn't mind it. It's not as pretty as the Arusha Savanna but at that time we saw plenty of animals so I had no complaints. Up here on the 6th floor we're in a closed-in corner of the Sunset Savanna. The animals have to come all the way in before we can see them and even then the tree tops block a lot of the view. So it's not the best animal viewing we've ever had. The ostriches wander by fairly often but the only other animals we've seen from the room are two giraffes and a zebra, and that's only when the food truck comes around. We had to go out on one of the fire exits further out along the horseshoe to find little Kidani. I haven't seen him in this area although other people told me he has been around.

It's also a bit noisy in this area because they are doing some exterior painting and using some loud equipment to power the paint sprayers. They also have a couple of large vehicles with buckets to provide the painters access to the balconies on the higher floors. And then there is the Kidani Village construction though there isn't a lot of noise coming from there.

Yes it's true that all of the AKV Concierge rooms open up right on to the lobby. The view across and down to the lobby is wonderful. We're actually up higher than the lobby light fixtures, right up there with the decorations that surround the lobby ceiling. It gives you a whole new perspective from up here. Very interesting! I'll take some photos tomorrow. You do hear noise coming up from the lobby which isn't too bad unless there are excited kids running and screaming which happens from time to time, even as late as 11pm. This morning I was awakened when they turned on the lobby music around 7:30-7:45 am. It was a nice way to wake up with African music floating up from below but if you plan to sleep in it may be too loud for some people.

Overall we're having a great time. The view is not the best savanna view in the house but we knew that going in. This trip is really about doing the two safari experiences and experiencing concierge and we're enjoying ourselves.

[LisaS]

hey, Lisa S, I'm across the hall from you right now and will be til Saturday. we'll have to meet in person. I'm in room 6401 name is Linda. And yes this hotel is beautiful and the staff is so great! I am looking at the pool but am still having fun.I'll be watching out for you!!

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

You do hear noise coming up from the lobby which isn't too bad unless there are excited kids running and screaming which happens from time to time, even as late as 11pm. This morning I was awakened when they turned on the lobby music around 7:30-7:45 am. It was a nice way to wake up with African music floating up from below but if you plan to sleep in it may be too loud for some people.

Overall we're having a great time. The view is not the best savanna view in the house but we knew that going in. This trip is really about doing the two safari experiences and experiencing concierge and we're enjoying ourselves.


Glad that you are enjoying the 6th floor. It is great. I must admit that I miss that espresso machine already! :guilty:

I will agree with you that we thought it got a little loud a little too early in the morning and even later at night with noise and music from the lobby. But hey it's good to get into the habit of waking up extra early because when you do the Sunrise Safari, you'll already be on the bus heading to the park by 7:30am! Have fun! :banana:

[dgaston]

Hope you and DH have a super time. Don and I head to Concierge in July, so I'm awaiting your reports eagerly. We're doing both Safaris too and looking forward to eating at Jiko (which I seem to remember you love) and repeating at Boma (one of our favorites). Thanks for taking the time to post and include the photos.

[DisFlan]

What great pictures!


DisFlan

[Donald is #1]

LisaS, awesome pictures! Thanks so much for posting them. I am very excited to hear another report on AKV conceirge since I will be there in 16 days.

[ScottakaMickey]

Lisa,

Great pics. What an experience to see the egg laid. Wonder if they would bring it up for you and make scrambled ostrich egss as a finders fee. LOL

We'll be checking in Thursday for our first Conceirge stay. We are kind of hoping for the pool view, but no matter what we get I'm sure it will be great. We are doing the sunrise safari on Sunday, so if your still there and going on the Sunday safari instead of Thursday, we'd love to meet.

Enjoy your vacation!!

[DISNEY FIX]

I've stayed on the Sunset Savanna before (as an AKL guest on a lower floor) and didn't mind it. It's not as pretty as the Arusha Savanna but at that time we saw plenty of animals so I had no complaints. Up here on the 6th floor we're in a closed-in corner of the Sunset Savanna. The animals have to come all the way in before we can see them and even then the tree tops block a lot of the view. So it's not the best animal viewing we've ever had. The ostriches wander by fairly often but the only other animals we've seen from the room are two giraffes and a zebra, and that's only when the food truck comes around. We had to go out on one of the fire exits further out along the horseshoe to find little Kidani. I haven't seen him in this area although other people told me he has been around.

It's also a bit noisy in this area because they are doing some exterior painting and using some loud equipment to power the paint sprayers. They also have a couple of large vehicles with buckets to provide the painters access to the balconies on the higher floors. And then there is the Kidani Village construction though there isn't a lot of noise coming from there.

Yes it's true that all of the AKV Concierge rooms open up right on to the lobby. The view across and down to the lobby is wonderful. We're actually up higher than the lobby light fixtures, right up there with the decorations that surround the lobby ceiling. It gives you a whole new perspective from up here. Very interesting! I'll take some photos tomorrow. You do hear noise coming up from the lobby which isn't too bad unless there are excited kids running and screaming which happens from time to time, even as late as 11pm. This morning I was awakened when they turned on the lobby music around 7:30-7:45 am. It was a nice way to wake up with African music floating up from below but if you plan to sleep in it may be too loud for some people.

Overall we're having a great time. The view is not the best savanna view in the house but we knew that going in. This trip is really about doing the two safari experiences and experiencing concierge and we're enjoying ourselves.

You hit the nail on the head it is almost the same Sunset Savannah view we had , non conceirge. While we really couldn't complain about the amimals I was so dissapointed when I went to the window opened the curtains and looked out. It was almost like being in a bowl. Lobby can get crazy at night as well. Hope your safari's are great and enjoy the rest of your trip. Have you taken in one of the fireside stories, it was really good.

[sweetminnie]

My goodness, your photos are gorgeous!

I am loving your reports especially the very descriptive view of the concierge sunset savanna rooms.

It is good to hear you are having a lovely time.

Thank you for posting as they are fun to read as well as very informative especially to a newbie like me. Very much appreciated.

[LisaS]

What a neat experience. I wonder what they do with the unfertilized eggs..if they simply dispose of them, or use them for animal feed?

Great picture of Li'l Kidani.
As LIFERBABE said they sell them. The animal programs CM who led our Sunrise Safari told us they blow them out and then sell them. I did see some painted ostrich eggs on display in the gift shop but there was no information about whether or not the eggs were from AKV's own ostriches.

[flemdog]

Wow, what a great experience and I love your pictures.

[kgc07]

Did you end up with a HA room? If so, what do you think of it?

[keishashadow]

sounds positvely magical to me, thanx for sharing...

how many people can say they saw an ostrich lay an egg:thumbsup2

[DIZBOUND]

This trip is really about doing the two safari experiences and experiencing concierge and we're enjoying ourselves.

Glad you are having a fabulous time. We are looking forward to our 2nd stay in Nov. Excellent picts!

I know you have posted the answer to this question in at least one other post, but of course I do not remember the answer and can not find the thread. So if you would not mind, could you please let me know which safari experience is it that is like 65 per person and where do I go to sign up for it? Thanks and enjoy the rest of your trip!

[LisaS]

Did you end up with a HA room? If so, what do you think of it?We're in a studio and there are no HA studios in Concierge.

I know you have posted the answer to this question in at least one other post, but of course I do not remember the answer and can not find the thread. So if you would not mind, could you please let me know which safari experience is it that is like 65 per person and where do I go to sign up for it? Thanks and enjoy the rest of your trip!The Sunrise Safari is $55 for adults. I don't know the children's price. To sign up you need to contact the Itinerary Planning Office. You can sign up 180 days in advance.