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

[My sister's princess]

Are you staying on points or a cash ressie? If its cash then you get Mousekeeping every night & all the free coffee replenishment that you want. If you're DVC or renting DVC points, then you can purchase a "coffee pack" for $3 from Mousekeeping.

We will be on points, thank you so much for your quick response.

Here's to hoping we are close to the Mara I guess

 

[TaraPA]

We're there half cash half points....so I'll have to hoard the coffee packets the 1st 2 days I guess!

 

[Pinkocto]

So happy to hear you were there after a cruise! The majority on the cruise board says to do WDW before the cruise but it just doesn't work with our schedules to do it before. I was really doubting WDW after and was thinking of doing something else but now I'm really excited for AKL!

The safari is called the Wanyama Safari and Dinner and luckily its ages 8 and up so we are good!

Thanks again so much!

The main reason I loved WDW after the cruise is because we were among the few that weren't super sad the cruise was over and we had to go home. The post cruise blues were pushed aside for excitement that vacation wasn't quite over. Ill always do it that way when leaving out of Port Canaveral.

The Wanyama Safari is fantastic.

I will definitely try the zebra domes then!

Can I get some opinions? We got the standard room for 8 nights but I'm still trying to decide if we want savannah view. The difference is $1400 and my kids will be 6 and 8 years old. I'm thinking the money could be better spent elsewhere but I also don't want to miss out on it if it's the most awesome thing ever. I just don't know how much time we will spend in the room...tough choice.

There are many many viewing areas around the resort. That said, it is very lovely to have a savannah view in the comfort of your own room. That's a tough choice. If you're a commando type family it probably isn't worth it since you won't be in the room that much. Maybe a split stay to cut down on cost?

 

[TruBlu]

I will definitely try the zebra domes then!

Can I get some opinions? We got the standard room for 8 nights but I'm still trying to decide if we want savannah view. The difference is $1400 and my kids will be 6 and 8 years old. I'm thinking the money could be better spent elsewhere but I also don't want to miss out on it if it's the most awesome thing ever. I just don't know how much time we will spend in the room...tough choice.

I would say don't do it unless you plan to spend an hour or two awake & in the room each day.

I think we are going to go with pool view for most of our trip then upgrade on the last two nights next trip. We just don't spend enough time in the room to justify the expense. We were on the sunset savannah but were never there for a sunset & they were always prepping the area when we were leaving in the mornings, so we didn't get a lot of animal time. The time we did get was amazing, but probably not worth the extra $$$ because we are park hopping commandos!

4 parks in one day is the norm for us!

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MomofDisneyLoversx3]

For $400 I would say 'yes, safari view'. But $1400?!?! Nope even this safari view snob would say no. You will enjoy it anyway you do it.

The spas are now run by WDW themselves. I had always thought in the past the prices were reasonable and SO badly needed a deep tissue massage this trip. We go back in oct with 2 days in the parks and 2 days in the resort. PRAYING the $180 quote I got was a mistake.

 

[Flossbolna]

I will definitely try the zebra domes then!

Can I get some opinions? We got the standard room for 8 nights but I'm still trying to decide if we want savannah view. The difference is $1400 and my kids will be 6 and 8 years old. I'm thinking the money could be better spent elsewhere but I also don't want to miss out on it if it's the most awesome thing ever. I just don't know how much time we will spend in the room...tough choice.

I had stayed twice in pool view rooms and then on one trip got upgraded to a savanna view as they were refurbishing the pool at that time, so it was just a big building site. While it was nice, I would never pay $1400 for it over pool view. However the standard rooms (not DVC rooms) overlook the front of the building, so streets and parking spaces. Have you considered upgrading to pool view? That will at least give you a nice view to enjoy from your balcony, but it will be much more affordable.

 

[FoursCompany]

Thank you for the advice! My husband was also saying no since it's such a large price difference. I'm going through a TA and asked about pool view but didn't get an answer about price. Worse case scenereo is parking lot view, but I think we could handle it. I don't like to spend much time in the room on vacation so I guess it wouldn't be the worst thing to happen.

The price difference seems huge - I'm getting the Spring deal on our room so maybe that has something to do with it, I'm not sure.

 

[TruBlu]

Thank you for the advice! My husband was also saying no since it's such a large price difference. I'm going through a TA and asked about pool view but didn't get an answer about price. Worse case scenereo is parking lot view, but I think we could handle it. I don't like to spend much time in the room on vacation so I guess it wouldn't be the worst thing to happen.

The price difference seems huge - I'm getting the Spring deal on our room so maybe that has something to do with it, I'm not sure.

Have you already booked with the TA? I find it much easier and more fun to book myself thru Disney.

 

[TruBlu]

Balloons are still not allowed at the Lodge, right? I have someone on another thread saying they saw a CM delivering a bunch to a room at AKL.

I find that hard to believe!

Would they deliver them to a room?????

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

 

[FoursCompany]

Have you already booked with the TA? I find it much easier and more fun to book myself thru Disney.

Yes, I booked through her already. I figured it would be easier because both DH and I work around 60 hours a week each and I don't have a lot of time for planning.

 

[TruBlu]

Yes, I booked through her already. I figured it would be easier because both DH and I work around 60 hours a week each and I don't have a lot of time for planning.

Yikes! I think I'd use a TA, too!!!
Hopefully she will work out the pool view for you. I think it only raised our $ by about $80 for 7 nights.

Sent from Tracey's iPhone using DISBoards

 

[MomofDisneyLoversx3]

When we were there over MLK weekend they still told us the policy of no balloons. Not sure about the other thread.

 

[kimmar067]

We're there half cash half points....so I'll have to hoard the coffee packets the 1st 2 days I guess!

........that might not be a good idea....it COULD get outta control:

 

[kimmar067]

....I figured it would be easier because both DH and I work around 60 hours a week each and I don't have a lot of time for planning.

....but THAT'S half the fun of a Disney vacay....

 

[pghsteelerfan]

Would I be able to book a bounce back offer if I'm staying in a rented AKV room?

I think I may have gotten lost in the shuffle . Does anyone know about this?

 

[franandaj]

I think I may have gotten lost in the shuffle . Does anyone know about this?

I don't know what a "bounce back" is, but if you have entered into a contract with someone renting points, I would read the contract. If it were me renting the points, I would have a non-refundable deposit attached to the rental agreement just to guard myself against someone making a flighty decision to change from renting points to booking on cash.

 

[pghsteelerfan]

What I think a bounce back offer is is when you make reservations for your next trip at a discounted rate. I wasn't sure if you had to currently be in a room in which you paid cash for as opposed to renting points for your current room. I think I had seen somewhere that when you rent DVC points you would not be eligible for a bounce back rate....but I'm not sure! I'm just earning my ears

 

[franandaj]

No, you won't get one of those. As a DVC member, they figure that the people staying in the room on points are members, so we don't get those kinds of offers. I remember when we used to pay for rooms, they had those in the room. Didn't know what they were called, but it makes sense, just like on the cruise, they try to hook you into coming back before you leave.

With DVC they know you are coming back so they don't have to offer you a sweet deal.

 

[pghsteelerfan]

No, you won't get one of those. As a DVC member, they figure that the people staying in the room on points are members, so we don't get those kinds of offers. I remember when we used to pay for rooms, they had those in the room. Didn't know what they were called, but it makes sense, just like on the cruise, they try to hook you into coming back before you leave.

With DVC they know you are coming back so they don't have to offer you a sweet deal.

Thanks so much for the info!

 

[rachel09985]

We are looking at renting DVC Points. A value Savannah room at AKL.

Do all of the rooms have a pullout sofa or are there some rooms that have 2 queen beds?

Is the sofa comfortable for an adult??