Number 9 is really FINE! Welcome to AKL LITE - the 'unofficial' FAQ Thread

[TruBlu]

Example of the bus service: yesterday we waited over an HOUR for a bus to Animal Kingdom. And that was with a lady working the bus stop telling us she had called for a bus. After about 30 minutes she walked down to the last bus stop & never came back.

That should never happen when you're going to AK. It's right across the street!!!!!!!!!!

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BUT - The resort is so amazing it's worth dealing with crappy busses.

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[Flossbolna]

Example of the bus service: yesterday we waited over an HOUR for a bus to Animal Kingdom. And that was with a lady working the bus stop telling us she had called for a bus. After about 30 minutes she walked down to the last bus stop & never came back.

That should never happen when you're going to AK. It's right across the street!!!!!!!!!!

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I don't think however that this is something confined to AKL. I had experiences like that in the past at the Poly (DHS bus), at the Boardwalk (AKK bus) and at AKL (MK bus). I think it just shows that the WDW bus system has huge flaws. I still believe that if they ran it on a real schedule it would be much better. I don't understand why all the large cities I have lived in (Munich, London, Frankfurt, Berlin) were able to have a far more functional bus system than what WDW is able to offer.

However, they recently hired someone from outside who has experience in running a city's public transportation system. So there is hope that there will be improvements in the future.

Good to hear that you did not let the transportation issues take away from your experience! Sounds like you had a truly wonderful trip despite that. And I am looking forward to seeing your pictures!

 

[zima-cheryl]

Example of the bus service: yesterday we waited over an HOUR for a bus to Animal Kingdom. And that was with a lady working the bus stop telling us she had called for a bus. After about 30 minutes she walked down to the last bus stop & never came back.

That should never happen when you're going to AK. It's right across the street!!!!!!!!!!

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What time of day?

 

[psac]

Example of the bus service: yesterday we waited over an HOUR for a bus to Animal Kingdom. And that was with a lady working the bus stop telling us she had called for a bus. After about 30 minutes she walked down to the last bus stop & never came back.

That should never happen when you're going to AK. It's right across the street!!!!!!!!!!

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

I would also say this isn't an issue confined to AKL, I've had the same elsewhere at other Deluxes as well. But I agree this is unacceptable for the AKL and the AK bus. They could have taken another bus that just did an AK drop off, had it do the AKL pickups, then go back to its normal route without too bad of a delay. Glad you enjoyed it otherwise!

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Can anyone tell me if I can make room location requests if I'm renting points or does the DVC member I'm renting from have to do it for me? Thanks!

Anyone? Thanks!

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Anyone? Thanks!

Never mind!!!! I found where someone answered me! Silly me!

 

[kgreen]

Have you stayed in the 1 bedroom suites/conceirge level. I am wondering what the view from your balcony would be. Is there a possibility of having a room really far from the elevators? Not that I want this.. lol my mil can only walk short distance, & will be in a wheel chair 99% of the time. We can make due with anything though. We have stayed at AKL but have never been to the 5th or 6th floor. I think we were super spoiled on our last trip, we got a room with a view of the Arusha savanna, & it was only a few steps away from the lobby. Any thing you could tell me about staying in the suites/conceirge level would be great! Thanks

 

[kimmar067]

BUT - The resort is so amazing it's worth dealing with crappy busses.

...relatively speaking, they're not THAT crappy....

 

[kimmar067]

Anyone? Thanks!

...the DVC member has to....

 

[moopdog]

Example of the bus service: yesterday we waited over an HOUR for a bus to Animal Kingdom. And that was with a lady working the bus stop telling us she had called for a bus. After about 30 minutes she walked down to the last bus stop & never came back.

That should never happen when you're going to AK. It's right across the street!!!!!!!!!!

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

This scares me! We have an 8 am ADR for Tusker House this Saturday..... What time should we be at the bus stop??

 

[mouseketeermama]

Does AKL have a business center? I have to host a conference call the 2nd day that we are on vacation.

 

[Flossbolna]

This scares me! We have an 8 am ADR for Tusker House this Saturday..... What time should we be at the bus stop??

Don't be scared, the very early busses have less chances of getting delayed by something. I am sure you will be fine! For Tusker House I think 7:20 am would be absolutely fine!

 

[Debrn]

I was gonna rent points but the AP 37% discount was pretty close. I owned BLT prior to my divorce loved it.
I decided 1 night pop then 7 nights YC CL made the change last night
I am thinking next family trip a split with AKL/Poly because I really want to stay at AKL. The no changing is scarey. Have fun .

I'm a splitter. And a resort changer! I feel your pain! I'm trying to rent points for the 1st time for the AKV portion of our stay in March - and it scares me that I'll be locked in with points- no changing or cancelling!

 

[TaraPA]

I did it! I did it! I rented points for the 1st time!!!

The girl I worked with (private rental, not through a service) was sooooo beyond nice & accomodating, and PATIENT. Since it's such short notice it took her several tries to get what I wanted. Soooo my dates don't change, or my room (AKV 1BR Jambo standard) - but I got 2 nights on points now instead of cash which is saving me almost $400!! She has the other 2 nights waitlisted for me as well. I know there's no guarantee that we will stay in the same villa when switching from a cash ressie to a points ressie, but I don't care. I will have DS15 borrow a laundry cart & we'll load up & roll on down the hall!! Woo hoo!

I still didn't find that other map I was looking for that had every villa highlighted as to standard, value, savannah, etc. I'm assuming most 1BR standard are pool view - can anyone let me know if this is right? I want a pool view, so I didn't know if I should let the owner add it as a request on the ressie or not. If all 1BR are pool view then no worries! I don't want to bug her anymore, she was a SAINT all day!

Woo hoo I rented points - I'm a big girl now!!

 

[Debrn]

Awesome congratulationsl

I did it! I did it! I rented points for the 1st time!!!

The girl I worked with (private rental, not through a service) was sooooo beyond nice & accomodating, and PATIENT. Since it's such short notice it took her several tries to get what I wanted. Soooo my dates don't change, or my room (AKV 1BR Jambo standard) - but I got 2 nights on points now instead of cash which is saving me almost $400!! She has the other 2 nights waitlisted for me as well. I know there's no guarantee that we will stay in the same villa when switching from a cash ressie to a points ressie, but I don't care. I will have DS15 borrow a laundry cart & we'll load up & roll on down the hall!! Woo hoo!

I still didn't find that other map I was looking for that had every villa highlighted as to standard, value, savannah, etc. I'm assuming most 1BR standard are pool view - can anyone let me know if this is right? I want a pool view, so I didn't know if I should let the owner add it as a request on the ressie or not. If all 1BR are pool view then no worries! I don't want to bug her anymore, she was a SAINT all day!

Woo hoo I rented points - I'm a big girl now!!

 

[franandaj]

Have you stayed in the 1 bedroom suites/conceirge level. I am wondering what the view from your balcony would be. Is there a possibility of having a room really far from the elevators? Not that I want this.. lol my mil can only walk short distance, & will be in a wheel chair 99% of the time. We can make due with anything though. We have stayed at AKL but have never been to the 5th or 6th floor. I think we were super spoiled on our last trip, we got a room with a view of the Arusha savanna, & it was only a few steps away from the lobby. Any thing you could tell me about staying in the suites/conceirge level would be great! Thanks

We stayed in a 1 bedroom suite back in 2007. It was on the lobby level, but we were all the way at the end of the right side of the end of the hotel. We had a Savannah view and were near the jacuzzi that no one knows about. Our second day, the maids showed us that our one bedroom suite opened up to a second bedroom that had a savannah view to the inside curve of the resort, so we had a dual savannah view. Sweet. :good vibes

After that trip we bought DVC and have only stayed in villas. That room was a real treat!

 

[kimmar067]

This scares me! We have an 8 am ADR for Tusker House this Saturday..... What time should we be at the bus stop??

...chances are, if you are at the bus depot by 7:15, you are there for an ADR for breakfast and the drivers will do their best to get you to your destination on time. Of course, AK is less than a mile from AKL so you probably could afford to get there a few minutes later, especially if it's not an EE morning at AK - you won't hit the crowds that early.

 

[TruBlu]

I wouldn't worry at all about an early morning bus! We only had long waits at around 9-ish. Both times we had crazy long waits we were going to AK, but it was around 9-10. We never make rope drops. Just can't get my boys moving before 8 am.

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[Flossbolna]

I did it! I did it! I rented points for the 1st time!!!

The girl I worked with (private rental, not through a service) was sooooo beyond nice & accomodating, and PATIENT. Since it's such short notice it took her several tries to get what I wanted. Soooo my dates don't change, or my room (AKV 1BR Jambo standard) - but I got 2 nights on points now instead of cash which is saving me almost $400!! She has the other 2 nights waitlisted for me as well. I know there's no guarantee that we will stay in the same villa when switching from a cash ressie to a points ressie, but I don't care. I will have DS15 borrow a laundry cart & we'll load up & roll on down the hall!! Woo hoo!

I still didn't find that other map I was looking for that had every villa highlighted as to standard, value, savannah, etc. I'm assuming most 1BR standard are pool view - can anyone let me know if this is right? I want a pool view, so I didn't know if I should let the owner add it as a request on the ressie or not. If all 1BR are pool view then no worries! I don't want to bug her anymore, she was a SAINT all day!

Woo hoo I rented points - I'm a big girl now!!

Congratulations! And I hope your waitlist comes through!

There are standard villas that have a savanna view, but not a very good one. Mainly those that are at the very end of the trails and some just above the "people pens". There is a thread on the DVC board that had a lot of room numbers. So, if you know that you want pool view, I would suggest to have it added to your reservation as a request.

I wouldn't worry at all about an early morning bus! We only had long waits at around 9-ish. Both times we had crazy long waits we were going to AK, but it was around 9-10. We never make rope drops. Just can't get my boys moving before 8 am.

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That's exactly my experience as well. All my bus nightmares have been around that time frame. I guess this is when the transportation system is so stretched because everyone is travelling at the same time.

 

[RachelTori]

All this talk about Value Villas lately got me motivated! I started playing on the DVC site yesterday and before I knew it, I had 2 nights Value studio in late August booked; then added on a night in a CL studio!

So I have 3 nights booked............ certainly that won't be enough!!