I'm back! UPDATE: Started posting trip reports! Also, AKL comments end of this thread

[TimNDansMom]

Hi everyone! We got back about 10:30 last night. I'll post more about our trip later, after all the laundry is done and everything is put away but I just wanted to say that we had a great time.

The best part was that we extended our 7 night stay (CSR and ASMu) by another 3 nights and stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I just phoned up Reservations the day before we were to check-out to see what was available and got the AKL special preview rate of $159.00. We just LOVED it!!

I just checked on the Niagara Falls DIS Meet and was glad it turned out so well. The photo was great, too!

Anyway, I'll post a trip report soon. Thanks for all the well-wishes before we left! :)

[CindyAnn]

Welcome home, Julie! Glad to hear you had such a great trip. I'd love to hear details about AKL - it just sounds so spectacular!

[#1 Disney Fan]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/sites/disneyfan/MickeyWave.gif Welcome home TimNDansMom!

I'm glad that you had a great time. Can't wait to hear all about it! :)

[PoohBWV]

Wow, sounds like a great trip. I'm anxious to hear about the AKL.

[dbltrbl]

Welcome Home!
Can't wait for your trip report! :)
Ahhhhh Animal Kingdom Lodge! It must have been WONDERFUL!

[Snowwark]

Welcome home Julie!

Sounds like you had a great time, and it seems that we're all very anxious to hear about AKL, LOL! What a fabulous "bonus" to your trip!

We missed you at the Niagara meet!

Kim :)

[sammi]

Welcome home!:) Glad to hear that you had a fantastic vacation! It seems you just got home in time....... what with all the storms in Florida!:D

[mickey65]

Welcome back! Looing forward to seeing the pics and the trip report!

[cotye]

Welcome back!! Looking forward to hearing about your trip! :D

[Baboo]

Welcome home Julie! Glad to hear that you had such a great trip! Looking forward to pics, etc.

[Canadave]

Welcome back. It sounds like you had a wonderful time. Make sure you post a trip report. (hope you can post pictures, too
) I've heard so many good things about AKL. It would be great to hear your review now that Disney has had time to iron out the bugs.
Canadave

[MickeyCanada]

Welcome Back! Sounds like you had a fantastic trip! Please tell us more about AKL. What kind of room did you stay in? What was the food like? How was the pool? How was the viewing of the animals? We will be staying there for 2 days after our cruise next month. So any info you can give will be MUCH appreciated!

[TimNDansMom]

The kids have been making up for missed computer time, since we've been back so I haven't been able to get much time to work on a trip report, plus I'm trying to remember all that we did! I really need to keep a journal. And you know what it's like when you come home from a great vacation--you're in a dream world for at least a week afterwards!

Anyway, I'm starting to get some things written down, which involves a lot of editing as I remember things. I hope to start posting within the next day or two and of course, you are all waiting to hear about our stay at AKL, which we enjoyed immensely, so I don't want to leave out any detail about that!

We don't have a scanner, but if I can get some done at one of the kid's friends, I'll post a few pictures, too.

:)

[cottontail]

Hi: Glad you had a great trip. How was the heat was it unbearable. It couldn't be any worse than it was here for the past few days. I am wondering if it was too hot to sit outside at the akl. on the balcony. Thanks,

Deb.

[TimNDansMom]

I have just started posting my trip reports but I will try and answer some questions here about our stay at AKL.

We had a wonderful time at AKL. I still can't believe that after visiting it a couple of times earlier in the week that we actually ended up getting a room there for 3 nights! (I wish now we'd stayed for at least 4 nights, but that probably wouldn't have been enough either!)

As far as the heat, yes it was very hot and humid during the day, but we found it cooled off to a more comforable temperature in the evenings and especially after the usual afternoon shower. We never did sit out on our balcony at AKL, we were bumped up from a standard view to a pool view which was very nice, but we spent so much time wandering around the beautiful hotel that I never even thought about sitting on the balcony. I think it would probably be comfortable after the heat of the day has dissipated!

The pool is beautiful and I sat at the pool bar one day for a Strawberry Dacquiri. My kids were more into the arcades this trip so the only time they went in a pool was at Typhoon Lagoon. It is a zero entry pool, so is great for small children. There is also a wading pool. I had what I thought was a very magical experience on our last night, while watching the animals, around midnight, after I had come out of one of the spas, which I will write about in my trip report.

Our room was beautiful, although not overly large. Still, it had a queen size bed and a bunk bed for the kids. (You also have the choice of 2 queens instead of the bunk bed.) There was also a good sized table and chairs. I liked the African flair in the decor. There is plenty of storage for clothing etc. as there was also a chest of drawers as well as the TV/armoire. There is also a decent sized closet where the room safe is located. The bathroom area is quite large, with a two sink vanity "room" that was great for changing in and a separate bath/toilet. My only complaint was that there could be a better light in the vanity area, for putting on make-up.

Food in the Mara Food Court was similar to the other food courts, although there is an African flair to some of the choices. DH and I went to dinner at Boma one night and thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was delicious. If we had stayed there longer I would definitely have gone again and would also like to try Jiko sometime.

I thought the best time to view the animals was early in the day, late afternoon or at night when it had cooled down. Most of them stayed back among the trees during the heat of the day and I suggest bringing a pair of binoculars, although the "Rangers" will be glad to lend you their's for better viewing during the day.

I would love to go back and stay at AKL, it was a wonderful, peaceful experience!

[MickeyCanada]

Thank you for the review on AKL. After reading your comments, I can't wait to experience this lodge!