It's NEVER Too Late, for Number 8 - the most UNOFFICIAL, 'official' AKL thread yet!

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Ok thanks! And, one more question...are there any pool view rooms that have a partially, obstructed view of the savannah? :confused3

....nope....the rooms directly face the pool. At the end of Zebra Trail you can see some views but those rooms are suites...:confused3

The only time I stayed at AKL I was upgraded from standard view to pool view, and I could see a bit of the savanna off to the right. I don't know what room number I had, but judging from the map of the resort, I would say that I had to have been on the Giraffe Trail. The only thing though, is that it was a fifth floor room, which if I understand correctly, are now all DVC. However, I would assume that there are rooms on the other floors in comparable locations.
 
Well...we decided on AKL over BC. I had to make a final decision and I just can't bring myself to go to BC when there are so many things we love about AKL. Love the restaurants. Love the pool view and the quietness of the morning. Love the resort activities. Love that we feel like when we leave the parks we are still in Disney, but yet far enough away the the evenings are quiet. I would love to try BC one day, but we want to wait until the kids can walk more on their own with no stroller so we can go between HS and Epcot easily. Hate pushing the stroller through World Showcase. So right now, think we are happier staying with the PlaceGermantown love....now to decide on a month. Thought I was set on June, but now thinking maybe August right before we go back to school. Ugh....another decision to make.
 
Tell me more.....:cloud9:

I think I will really LOVE AKL - I'm always oooohing and aaaahing over the pictures! :goodvibes

Are the public viewing areas usually really crowded??? I'm talking about the shaded areas that have the rocking chairs that I've seen?

I have stayed AKL/AKV many times and I have never seen the public areas crowded. At most there might have been one or 2 other families in the area. :thumbsup2

The public balcony off Sunset Lounge (just off the lobby) is another good public area to view giraffe. No chairs on that balcony.

I also enjoy going down to the very end of Kudu Trail, out on the staircase. Depending on time of day, you might see animals playing; waiting for their signal that it's chow time, or lining up to go into the barn! (each species responds to a different sound!) :goodvibes
 


I have stayed AKL/AKV many times and I have never seen the public areas crowded. At most there might have been one or 2 other families in the area. :thumbsup2

The public balcony off Sunset Lounge (just off the lobby) is another good public area to view giraffe. No chairs on that balcony.

I also enjoy going down to the very end of Kudu Trail, out on the staircase. Depending on time of day, you might see animals playing; waiting for their signal that it's chow time, or lining up to go into the barn! (each species responds to a different sound!) :goodvibes

Good to know!!!! Any other tips would be wonderful!! :goodvibes
 
Good to know!!!! Any other tips would be wonderful!! :goodvibes

On the second or third floor along Kudu and Zebra trail there are also patios that overlook Arusha savanna that have chairs. They are between the "houses" along the trail. I really like those as you get a slightly different view from each of them.
 
.....it's actually kinda nice sitting on the balcony of a pool-view room early in the morning, sipping a cup of coffee....

Tell me more.....:cloud9:

I think I will really LOVE AKL - I'm always oooohing and aaaahing over the pictures! :goodvibes....

I can add a bit, if you don't mind. :goodvibes

We stayed AKV, Savannah view last month. Me and DH, no kids.

The time: Midnight.
The scene: We return to the resort after a packed day. DH is exhausted as we enter the room.

He puts down his backpack, heads to the sink area to brush his teeth, change into PJs, etc... and crawls into bed. Me? I walk straight by the bathroom, pass by the bed, kick off my shoes, open the balcony door, and stand on the balcony while my eyes adjust to the darkness of the savannah. I have the camera in my hand. I sit down on the chair, hearing DH crawl into bed. I know they are out there. Giraffes. Zebra. Antelope. Cattle. I can hear them. My eyes continue to adjust. Then... - GIRAFFE!!! - Eeek! Two! Sleeping, right in front of our balcony! Eeeek! How can DH sleep at a time like this?!?!?! THERE'S a GIRAFFE IN OUR BACKYARD!!! And I am simply mesmerized. I can't go inside and go to sleep. There are giraffes RIGHT THERE! I can sleep in a few days, back at home, when the only critters in my yard are such that my pup will chase after them. Right now, 2am, there are WAY too many exciting things in my backyard for me to go to sleep.

Well, at least by choice. At least two mornings, I woke up at 4am in that chair on the patio. AHAHAHA! Then I finally gave in and crawled into bed next to my sleeping DH, feeling sorry for him for what he missed, and feeling the exhilaration of a six year old who just saw the tooth fairy. I tell people that AKV is an almost magical place. And it is. Where else can you see a giraffe, much less FOUR(!), having a slumber party right in front of your balcony? Yeah, I love it there. :wizard:

- Dreams
 


Tell me more.....:cloud9:

Any morning started on a balcony @ AKL is a good morning. I like savanah view. Watching the animals start their day as I'm starting mine. Can't beat it.

We also like winding down the day with a glass of wine or beer on the balcony. It is just so beautiful & the animals so amazing to watch.
 
I can add a bit, if you don't mind. :goodvibes

We stayed AKV, Savannah view last month. Me and DH, no kids.

The time: Midnight.
The scene: We return to the resort after a packed day. DH is exhausted as we enter the room.

He puts down his backpack, heads to the sink area to brush his teeth, change into PJs, etc... and crawls into bed. Me? I walk straight by the bathroom, pass by the bed, kick off my shoes, open the balcony door, and stand on the balcony while my eyes adjust to the darkness of the savannah. I have the camera in my hand. I sit down on the chair, hearing DH crawl into bed. I know they are out there. Giraffes. Zebra. Antelope. Cattle. I can hear them. My eyes continue to adjust. Then... - GIRAFFE!!! - Eeek! Two! Sleeping, right in front of our balcony! Eeeek! How can DH sleep at a time like this?!?!?! THERE'S a GIRAFFE IN OUR BACKYARD!!! And I am simply mesmerized. I can't go inside and go to sleep. There are giraffes RIGHT THERE! I can sleep in a few days, back at home, when the only critters in my yard are such that my pup will chase after them. Right now, 2am, there are WAY too many exciting things in my backyard for me to go to sleep.

Well, at least by choice. At least two mornings, I woke up at 4am in that chair on the patio. AHAHAHA! Then I finally gave in and crawled into bed next to my sleeping DH, feeling sorry for him for what he missed, and feeling the exhilaration of a six year old who just saw the tooth fairy. I tell people that AKV is an almost magical place. And it is. Where else can you see a giraffe, much less FOUR(!), having a slumber party right in front of your balcony? Yeah, I love it there. :wizard:

- Dreams

Thanks for sharing. That is exactly why I wanted to book the a room with a savanna view.

Any morning started on a balcony @ AKL is a good morning. I like savanah view. Watching the animals start their day as I'm starting mine. Can't beat it.

We also like winding down the day with a glass of wine or beer on the balcony. It is just so beautiful & the animals so amazing to watch.

That is exactly how I want to start and end every day of our trip. I am really thinking, if our room is ready when we check in, of spending the rest of the day just sitting on the balcony watching animals.
 
Im going to be staying at AKL in May for 6 nights in the Arusha Savannah view type. I previously stayed in 2001 when there was only 1 type of Savannah view. Can anyone tell me which rooms are considered Arusha Savannah? Thanks for the help!

I'm so excited to finally be staying in my favorite WDW resort! It is always so magical to see African animals right in your own backyard!
 
Im going to be staying at AKL in May for 6 nights in the Arusha Savannah view type. I previously stayed in 2001 when there was only 1 type of Savannah view. Can anyone tell me which rooms are considered Arusha Savannah? Thanks for the help!

I'm so excited to finally be staying in my favorite WDW resort! It is always so magical to see African animals right in your own backyard!

I found this map, after reading your post. Since we booked the same view, I was wondering the same thing.
AnimalKingdomLodgePropertyMap.jpg
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I assume that since the Arusha Savanna is marked inside the "horse shoe" of the AKL, and it is just off the main lobby, the Arusha view rooms should be all of those that have balconies facing that savanna. Of course that is just a guess, but I hope I'm right. If I am, I wonder if I should add the Zebra Trail as a request to our ressie as I want to make sure we see them.
 
So, another question...:goodvibes

How long is the actual bus ride to MK (and the other parks for that matter)??? I feel like people greatly exaggerate the length of the ride...we have stayed at all of the values and would imagine the distances to be about the same as from AKL...am I wrong??

We don't mind the buses at all...but I was just wondering?? :confused3
 
So, another question...:goodvibes

How long is the actual bus ride to MK (and the other parks for that matter)??? I feel like people greatly exaggerate the length of the ride...we have stayed at all of the values and would imagine the distances to be about the same as from AKL...am I wrong??

We don't mind the buses at all...but I was just wondering?? :confused3

This November, we timed it just to see. Never really gave it much thought before, but without the kids we were curious. It took us 15 minutes from pulling out of AKL to pulling in to the bus area of MK. It took 8 minutes for us to get to Epcot, 9 1/2 minutes to get to HS, and just under 3 minutes to get to AK. The buses have never been a problem for us. Sometimes the longest part is waiting for the actual bus to come.
 
This November, we timed it just to see. Never really gave it much thought before, but without the kids we were curious. It took us 15 minutes from pulling out of AKL to pulling in to the bus area of MK. It took 8 minutes for us to get to Epcot, 9 1/2 minutes to get to HS, and just under 3 minutes to get to AK. The buses have never been a problem for us. Sometimes the longest part is waiting for the actual bus to come.

Thanks! That's pretty much my expectation! And I agree, sometimes waiting is the longest part. :goodvibes
 
I found this map, after reading your post. Since we booked the same view, I was wondering the same thing.

I assume that since the Arusha Savanna is marked inside the "horse shoe" of the AKL, and it is just off the main lobby, the Arusha view rooms should be all of those that have balconies facing that savanna. Of course that is just a guess, but I hope I'm right. If I am, I wonder if I should add the Zebra Trail as a request to our ressie as I want to make sure we see them.

The Arusha Savanna view rooms face the Arusha Savanna (inside the horseshoe). I always request the Zebra Trail. The pool and restaurants are located on this side of the lodge.
 
This November, we timed it just to see. Never really gave it much thought before, but without the kids we were curious. It took us 15 minutes from pulling out of AKL to pulling in to the bus area of MK. It took 8 minutes for us to get to Epcot, 9 1/2 minutes to get to HS, and just under 3 minutes to get to AK. The buses have never been a problem for us. Sometimes the longest part is waiting for the actual bus to come.

Thank you for posting this - I was curious about this and had been meaning to ask. None of those are terrible amounts of time on the bus. From the way I have read some posts, I was expecting 30+ minutes on the bus for several of the parks and was trying to figure out how that was possible. :confused3
 
The Arusha Savanna view rooms face the Arusha Savanna (inside the horseshoe). I always request the Zebra Trail. The pool and restaurants are located on this side of the lodge.

Anyone familiar enough with club level requests to know if Zebra Trail is a good one to make? Also was planning to ask for a king bed, if by some miracle we could get one of those. (Just me and DW.)
 
Anyone familiar enough with club level requests to know if Zebra Trail is a good one to make? Also was planning to ask for a king bed, if by some miracle we could get one of those. (Just me and DW.)

Club Level rooms will be on the 4th floor, Savannah View, in the first pod or two off the lobby in both Kudu and Zebra Trails. If you want Zebra Trail, have AKL-IPO add it to your reservation :thumbsup2

Not sure on the King bed though. I hear they are few & far between. :confused3
 
The Arusha Savanna view rooms face the Arusha Savanna (inside the horseshoe). I always request the Zebra Trail. The pool and restaurants are located on this side of the lodge.

Sweet!! That's what I was hoping. Do Zebras roam over the entire Arusha savanna? If I want to make sure we can see them from the balcony, should we request a room on the Zebra Trail.

Also, a bus-type question from the hubby. When we stay at the Pop, it seemed like we were always the last bus stop at the parks. I'm not sure if they change bus stop numbers around or not, but about what number bus stop is the AKL at all of the parks? I tried Google'ing it, but couldn't find anything.
 
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