Now Live From AKL Club Level!!!

[kaffinito]

We are now LIVE from AKL CL. :)

And boy oh boy did I ever screw up this split stay! Future rules for me to keep in mind:

1. Never book an early morning character breakfast when switching resorts.
2. Never book anything else until the evening of resort switching day. :)

More later- I'm late for my massage. :goodvibes

[PolyAddict]

I'm in!!!:goodvibes

[zoie101]

oh come on!!!!!!
lets here more I stayn akl in Sept!

[magicbride2b]

Can't wait to hear more...we're staying there the end of Sept:woohoo:

[kaffinito]

You got it!

We checked out of Poly CL this morning and went to our character breakfast at Cape May. The breakfast was ok and I was glad to see Goofy, Donald and Minnie Mouse in their beach attire. DN5 is afraid of characters though so whenever one got within his eyesight we had to throw a napkin over his face. :lmao:

Then we went to AKL to check in. More in a few - I have to check on the boys. :)

[disney pro]

kaffinito, you are doing the same split stay that we did last Oct. that is sooo cool. Your right on the day that you are changing resorts it is better to leave that day wide open and do dinner that night.

I hope that you are having a blast.

Are you going to do the Sunrise safari?

I am sooo jealous, this brings back all the wonderful memories from Oct. and I have to wait 7 months before I get my Disney fix. So keep posting. I will live vicariously through you. :rotfl:

[MudEJeep]

49 days til AKL CL!!! :cool1: Want to hear all about it!!

MudeJeep

[kaffinito]

kaffinito, you are doing the same split stay that we did last Oct. that is sooo cool. Your right on the day that you are changing resorts it is better to leave that day wide open and do dinner that night.

I hope that you are having a blast.

Are you going to do the Sunrise safari?

I am sooo jealous, this brings back all the wonderful memories from Oct. and I have to wait 7 months before I get my Disney fix. So keep posting. I will live vicariously through you. :rotfl:

So which resort did you like better for CL? So far I can rank them BWI, AKL and then Poly. :).

Hopefully that 7 months goes by quickly for you! :goodvibes

[kaffinito]

So the check in process actually went smoothly! I was shocked that Bell Services took my luggage. I hadn't had much success with that in the past. ;)

The room wasn't ready yet- no surprise since it was only 10:30 am :lmao: but they had a room for us by 12:00. :yay: The room size is a bit of a shocker coming from the Poly but I made
the right call getting a bunk bed room. We're on Zebra Trail near the elevators in room 4411.

So now I have to check in for dinner at Boma so it's looking like this live TR is going to be a bit spotty. :goodvibes

[MudEJeep]

How's the "commute" from your room to the CL lounge? I, too, have requested a bunk bed room on the Zebra trail and would like to know how you like your location and room. Also interested in your Boma visit. I might be bugging you for info your whole stay popcorn::

MudEJeep

[kaffinito]

How's the "commute" from your room to the CL lounge? I, too, have requested a bunk bed room on the Zebra trail and would like to know how you like your location and room. Also interested in your Boma visit. I might be bugging you for info your whole stay popcorn::

MudEJeep

The commute is very short - we are only three doors down from the hallway along the lobby leading to the elevators. It only takes a few minutes to get from where we are to the Lounge. The bank of six elevators is very fast. :)

It only takes a few minutes to get to Boma, Jiko and the pool too. You just zip down to the 1st floor, step off and you are there.

[momtolots]

popcorn:: I can wait to hear more.

[Minnie&Nana]

How'd I wind up so late??? Anyhoo, I'm here with bells on and wanting to hear more...or at least see more....pics.:cheer2:

[mickey2minnie1]

Ohhhh! I am in. I was going to do a character meal at the Poly when I split stay there. I guess that would work since I would be checking in there from CBR.

Please advise.

You rock for sharing your stay with us!

[lissiesmum]

How's your view, Kaffinito? Can you tell us about the offerings in the lounge? Do they ever serve soup in the evening in the lounge? What do you think about the new "blue" pool?

[RachaelA]

Have fun! We'll be there as well in 24 days!!

[momof2minnies]

We will be there in 60 days- do you have savannah view or pool view?

Linda

[kaffinito]

Here are a few pics for you. :)

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000771.JPG


http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000752.JPG


http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000750.JPG


http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000738.JPG


http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000735.JPG

[kaffinito]

How'd I wind up so late??? Anyhoo, I'm here with bells on and wanting to hear more...or at least see more....pics.:cheer2:

:goodvibes

Ohhhh! I am in. I was going to do a character meal at the Poly when I split stay there. I guess that would work since I would be checking in there from CBR. Please advise.

You rock for sharing your stay with us!

You are welcome! We had the DDP for both parts of the stay, and when we switched from Poly to AKL I didn't check into AKL before going to the character breakfast, so I had to pay OOP for it. :sad2: My advice, if you are doing the DDP is to make sure you have received your next batch of credits before the meal! :)

If you aren't doing DDP then just make sure you have enough time to check out of one resort and get to the next. We had to get up at 7:15 to make it to breakfast on time. :upsidedow

How's your view, Kaffinito? Can you tell us about the offerings in the lounge? Do they ever serve soup in the evening in the lounge? What do you think about the new "blue" pool?

We have savanna view and have a great view of some zebras when they're around. There were a few of them running around last night. :)

The offerings are as described - and are very very good. Lots of cheeses, marinated and cooked vegetables, dips, and last night we had lamb and fig tarts that were excellent. I don;t know about the soups but I will ask someone. I know that WL has soups in their lounge from time to time.l :)

As far as the blue pool? I HATE IT! It totally ruins that lovely effect that the brown bottomed pool gave the area. The blue pool just makes the whole area look average. :headache:

We will be there in 60 days- do you have savannah view or pool view?

Linda

Hi Linda! We have savanna view on the Zebra Trail. When you stay CL all of the rooms are savanna view. I actually tried to get them to give me a pool view room, but they wouldn't. :rolleyes:

[momtwoboys]

First off your pictures are beautiful! Hope the weather is just as nice. We are checking in, in 7 days and I had a strange question....if you happen to be in Zawandi gift shop can you look if they sell jugs ( gallon size) of spring water in the "food section"?? Only if you happen to be in that area, please do not go out of your way! Eat some yummy food from Boma for us:cool1:

[Minnie&Nana]

What a great view!!! I am so happy everything is going well and you're having a wonderful time!::yes::

Thanks so much for checking in and sharing pics! :flower3:

[momof2minnies]

Thank you for the quick reply- we are so excited.

Linda

[kaffinito]

First off your pictures are beautiful! Hope the weather is just as nice. We are checking in, in 7 days and I had a strange question....if you happen to be in Zawandi gift shop can you look if they sell jugs ( gallon size) of spring water in the "food section"?? Only if you happen to be in that area, please do not go out of your way! Eat some yummy food from Boma for us:cool1:

Thank you! The weather has been in the 80's the last few days, but today it's cloudy with thunderstorms expected for a while. It should clear up before the Herman's Hermits concert tonight though! :goodvibes

They have large sized bottles of Dasani water in the gift shop, but no gallon sized - sorry. :)

We had dinner at Boma last night and it was delicious! :cloud9: My new favorite dessert is the Kenyan Coffee Tart. :lovestruc I followed my usual pattern of dessert first, then dinner, then a little bit more dessert. :upsidedow (Which might explain why I'm gaining a bit of weight. :rolleyes1)


What a great view!!! I am so happy everything is going well and you're having a wonderful time!::yes::

Thanks so much for checking in and sharing pics! :flower3:

You are very welcome! Don't forget that someday I expect (and am hoping for) a TR of some kind from you! :laughing:

[momtwoboys]

That plan of attack on dining is a great idea! I promise to give everyone a report of how things were when we get back. We will be there April 16-24th:)

[DisneyBelle27]

Thanks so much for posting a live report! We will be staying at AKL in June for the first time (not CL or anything) and it's my dream place to stay so I love reading/seeing what it's like!

[Minnie&Nana]

You are very welcome! Don't forget that someday I expect (and am hoping for) a TR of some kind from you! :laughing:


:rotfl2: :rotfl: :lmao: :rotfl2: :rotfl: Don't hold your breath!!! :rolleyes1

Any word on the corner Tokelau rooms or saving that until you get home?:thumbsup2

[kaffinito]

:rotfl2: :rotfl: :lmao: :rotfl2: :rotfl: Don't hold your breath!!! :rolleyes1

Any word on the corner Tokelau rooms or saving that until you get home?:thumbsup2

Well, let's put it this way. Your view from the corner room at Tokelau nearest Tahiti has a wonderfull view of a LOT of trees. You would honestly be better off getting a room in Tahiti. Sorry!

[Minnie&Nana]

Well, let's put it this way. Your view from the corner room at Tokelau nearest Tahiti has a wonderful view of a LOT of trees. You would honestly be better off getting a room in Tahiti. Sorry!

Just as I suspected!!! Thank you so much for confirming! :flower3: Tahiti would be at least LV (do not like GV side) or try for Figi marina GV...decisions, decisions. :rotfl:

How did you all spend the day? :goodvibes

[kaffinito]

Yesterday we saw Hermans Hermits in concert (which was the whole reason for the trip :rolleyes1) and boy were they fantastic! It was a great concert and DS9 was in heaven. :love: Now he has a crush on Peter Noone. :upsidedow

Afterwards we rushed to the Wishes Dessert Party and had some wonderful desserts. They had a creme brûlée there that was :cloud9:

The poor babysitter I got for DN5 was up a little late last night but I gave her a good tip.

More later. :)

[kaffinito]

We went to the Askerhaus lunch yesterday with DN5 and he actually liked
meeting the Princesses. That, the bus and the monorail are the only things here he has liked so far.

[iwrbnd]

That's a good tip! I wouldn't have thought about that when switching resorts!

Do you think they painted the pool blue because of safety issues? Can you see the bottom better when it's blue? Maybe people thought it was dirty w/brown bottom. I haven't see it yet but it sounds more authentic with a brown bottom.

[sjs314]

Subscribeing, I need my Disney fix, won't be at AKL until November :sad1:

[rysmomma242]

Trying to decide if we want to upgrade or not. Are you doing the safari??? That's really the only reason I want to be on the CL!! Have a glass of Indaba for me!!!

[Little Lulu]

Hey, kaffinito! Sounds like you're having a great time!
Knew that Herman's Hermits was going to be great! Awesome! :thumbsup2

[kaffinito]

Sorry I had to run - the "amazing pucking boy" was at it again. :upsidedow. DN5 seems to do that a lot unfortuatly.

The resort is just as beautiful as I had rembered it and the pool - aside from it's blue color is still as lovely as ever. The water here is colder than the water in the Volcano pool though! Today is a
down day until a late lunch at Teppen Edo and another Hermans Hermits concert tonight.

[kaffinito]

That's a good tip! I wouldn't have thought about that when switching resorts!

Do you think they painted the pool blue because of safety issues? Can you see the bottom better when it's blue? Maybe people thought it was dirty w/brown bottom. I haven't see it yet but it sounds more authentic with a brown bottom.

I have another tip for you when doing the DDP and CL. DON'T! It's way too much food, and you might find yourself, like us, just not eating in the lounge or not going to our ADR's because we are too full. The breakfast part has proved useful, but we will end up going home with a few TS remaining and most of our CS and snacks remaining.

I'm not sure why they painted the bottom blue, but it sure looks :sick: now. It kind of wrecks the whole swimming hole motif they had going. Now it looks like a regular pool. I also didn't think it was difficult seeing the bottom of the pool when it was brownish, but I know a lot of folks complained because they thought the pool was dirty.

Trying to decide if we want to upgrade or not. Are you doing the safari??? That's really the only reason I want to be on the CL!! Have a glass of Indaba for me!!!

We aren't doing the safari, I couldn't quite see us getting up that early to go. We tend to get up at the crack of 9:30 when at WDW. :lmao:

I do really like CL here. I just wish AKL wasn't so far from the parks. I think I would love it if AKL's CL was moved to the Poly. :upsidedow

Here the upgrade in price is well worth the $$$ IMO. The breakfast offerings, evening and desert offerings are really quite good. And there is enough of a variety to please just about everyone. I think an upgrade to CL here is worth it, and would do it again here (and at BWI in a heartbeat).

[kaffinito]

Other tips I have are:

Make sure to pack your own suntan lotion. The stuff they sell here isn't very effective and I have major sunburn now. :)

If you go during a busy time of the year make your ADR's around the parade and fireworks times. The crowds can be brutal if you are rushing to an ADR and have to wade through a parade or firework crowd at the parks to try to make your ADR time.

If you are staying CL make your ADR's around the times of the offerings if they are important to you. Otherwise you might miss about half of them. For example, we still haven't had the afternoon tea here and that was our main reason for staying CL here! :confused3

I'll have a few more tips later and some more pics. :goodvibes

[mmmears]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying CL at AKL. I think it's one of the best at WDW!!! And I totally agree about the blue pool -- it was our one complaint about AKL on this trip... I hope your son gets to have a scone and some tea in the afternoon... And I'm glad that they gave you a room near the elevator -- that makes getting to and from the lounge SO much more convenient!

Hope the rest of your trip is wonderful!!!:goodvibes

[mmmears]

Oops -- I need to add 2 things:

1) Are you enjoying the espresso machine??? Much better than the swill at the Poly lounge, huh?

2) I'm here in rainy CA, jealous that you're still there and my trip is over now!:sad2::sad2::sad2:;)

[kaffinito]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying CL at AKL. I think it's one of the best at WDW!!! And I totally agree about the blue pool -- it was our one complaint about AKL on this trip... I hope your son gets to have a scone and some tea in the afternoon... And I'm glad that they gave you a room near the elevator -- that makes getting to and from the lounge SO much more convenient!

Hope the rest of your trip is wonderful!!!:goodvibes

Hi! :). It was lovely meeting you the other day! I'm glad to hear you had a good trip home but sorry to hear it's raining in CA. :goodvibes

I :lovestruc the espresso machine! The coffe is really good too - that stuff at Poly was so horrible, wasn't it? They
have some nerve calling that coffee! :lmao:

[mmmears]

Hi! :). It was lovely meeting you the other day! I'm glad to hear you had a good trip home but sorry to hear it's raining in CA. :goodvibes

I :lovestruc the espresso machine! The coffe is really good too - that stuff at Poly was so horrible, wasn't it? They
have some nerve calling that coffee! :lmao:

Hi!:) It was so nice meeting you, too! I'm glad you're liking the CL at AKL -- I think the food and the coffee are much better there!:goodvibes

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

So glad you're lovin the AKL! You've given us alot of handy info in this thread already. :thumbsup2 Thanks!
Gretchen

[#1hoosierfan]

I am glad that you are having a good time.... sorry about the sunburn.

So what are the busses like to MK? How long do you have to wait for a bus, and how long does the trip take?

[kaffinito]

I am glad that you are having a good time.... sorry about the sunburn.

So what are the busses like to MK? How long do you have to wait for a bus, and how long does the trip take?

20 minutes once they pick up from Kidani, and 25 minutes on the trip back. the buses stop at Kidani first on the way back. I've found the bus service here to be just as good as it was before Kidani opened. :)

And thanks for your sympathy on the sunburn! Unfortunately I'm one of those fish belly white people who has to burn before I can tan so every April when I'm here I'm multi colored for a few days. :)

[kaffinito]

Thanks to all of you for reading so far and for your well wishes on our trip. :goodvibes

I am now on post #4000! :yay: And I'm glad that I'm celebrating it here on this and the Poly CL thread with all of you wonderfully nice people :hug:

I took some good pics of the food at CL so I'll post those hopefully tomorrow. :)

[kaffinito]

Flower and Garden Festival pics :)

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000635.JPG

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000648.JPG

Topiary
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000640.JPG

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000663.JPG

My favorite flowers...
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000655.JPG

[kaffinito]

Yucky blue pool.

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000775.JPG


Scenery
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000784.JPG


http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000782.JPG


http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000776.JPG

[jlcd]

Thanks so much for the live report!! We check in on Friday for our first AKL stay.

[momtwoboys]

They are getting me excited even more for our trip! We check in on Friday too:goodvibes

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

Beautiful pics, great info. Thanks!

[kaffinito]

Appetizers


Cheeses
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/IMG_4428.JPG

Dips
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/IMG_4426.JPG

Vegetables
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/IMG_4423.JPG

Hot appetizer - a lamb and fig tart with yogurt topping. Delicious! :)
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/IMG_4422.JPG

Desserts

Cookies
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/IMG_4434.JPG

Yummy!
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/IMG_4435.JPG


There were Kenyan Coffee Tarts last night - I think I have a new favorite dessert here! :cloud9:

[Zuzu03]

Sorry it took me awhile to follow you over here! Thank you for your great updates and pics, the AKL CL looks great! Now I'm rethinking Poly CL for July - yikes! The Epcot F&G show is so pretty, your pictures of it are gorgeous!!!! Take care of your sunburn!

[zoie101]

oh i am so jealous five more months for me.....
:cheer2:

[lissiesmum]

There were Kenyan Coffee Tarts last night - I think I have a new favorite dessert here! :cloud9:

We had these tarts in February at Boma...I must have eaten at least five of them...on top of all the other delicious desserts as well! They had a much better selection of desserts there than in the past :)

[dischic89]

Lovin your report! I'll be at AKL in one month from tomorrow!:cool1: I've never stayed there before so I hope I don't mind how the pool looks:confused3 I need to go find a picture of how it looked before!

[kaffinito]

Here are a few more pics.

Towel Mouse. The card next to it reads "It all started with a Mouse" I think this is the best towel animal I've ever received. :goodvibes

http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/IMG_4418.JPG

Mask in fourth floor hallway - Zebra trail.
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000786.JPG

Elephant mask and cape above entrance to Lounge
http://photopost.wdwinfo.com/data/500/medium/P1000790.JPG