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

[MomofDisneyLoversx3]

I'm so happy Kim!!! In just worried about the flight price changing!!!

 

[dgbg100106]

....he called about 15 minutes ago, asking if it was snowing here [it's been snowing in so. Jersey for over an hour now]; I give him all the particulars (the info I had already listed) and he seemed pretty receptive to it - I'm gonna wait till he gets home before I decide to book it, especially since that airfare is with HIS Visa card, not mine...

I'm so happy Kim!!! In just worried about the flight price changing!!!

I understand about waiting but I agree with MomofDisneyLoversx3

 

[nadira36]

This thread has been very entertaining! I do have one complaint though - Last night I was sitting at my computer looking at pictures of food from Sanaa and baby (I'm a few months pregnant) decided it HAD to have lamb as well as mustard crusted scallops - or else. The best I could do was make an ADR - baby is still unimpressed.

I've wanted to stay at AKL since it first opened, but we haven't. First we were broke, then we wanted the monorail - and after staying at the Poly my kids refused to stay anywhere else. We attempted to purchase DVC at AKV 3 times and each time we backed out within the first 10 days - we've decided it just isn't for us. But that being said, we really love the look/feel of AKL.

We've dined at Boma and Jiko a couple times before - and our last trip we spent some time watching Dumbo at the pool and letting our kids play in the playground after dinner. The playground sealed the deal - they decided AKL would be MUCH better than the Poly.

So we decided that our next trip would be at AKL - we had it all planned - beginning of Sept for our DDs 5th birthday - 2 weeks. It couldn't be better than that - but then we decided to have another baby - and I'm due end of Aug - so no trip after all.

We decided it'd be a good thing to save the money anyhow and life could get easier if we didn't spend so much on our annual trip. Well that was the plan.

But almost 2.5 years between trips? I just can't do it. It's only been a few months, but thinking about so much time has me in withdrawal already. And Dh has to work for pretty much the next 4.5 months (12hr shifts, 12 on 2 off) Trying to figure out a way to not go insane trying to parent on my own for so long with 3 little girls missing daddy made me think a mommy/daughters only trip would be a great idea - but DH wasn't so impressed with the idea.

So he decides if I really want to go to Disney and the girls really want to go, then he'll find a way - he played with the work schedule (it helps that he's the one in charge of it) and with only losing 1 OT shift and taking 1 vacation day we managed to get (just barely) enough time for a trip. Though this is the shortest trip we've ever taken - we don't like going for less than 2 weeks b/c we live so far away (Canada - 1.5 ft of snow yesterday and today) and flights cost the same as our room/tix/DDP combined.

So short notice trip (we normally book 200+ days out) 3 days ago we decided to book a trip - April 22 to 27th AKL bunkbed pool view. We lose first and last day to travel - we get up at 4 AM to leave for the airport by 4:30 - and we arrive at MCO at 6PM - and typically ME doesn't get us to the resort until 7:30. We're not making an ADR for arrival night - instead hoping we'll be able to pick something up - though not holding our breath b/c we have dietary restrictions and we find value resorts much better at accommodating at quick service than the deluxe resorts are - yes, we know Disney does a fab job of accommodating, but some places are better than others.

Please add me to the list!

 

[kimmar067]

This thread has been very entertaining! I do have one complaint though - Last night I was sitting at my computer looking at pictures of food from Sanaa and baby (I'm a few months pregnant) decided it HAD to have lamb as well as mustard crusted scallops - or else. The best I could do was make an ADR - baby is still unimpressed...

....baby has really discerning tastes....BTW ~ always remember: Never put baby in a corner!

 

[dgbg100106]

This thread has been very entertaining! I do have one complaint though - Last night I was sitting at my computer looking at pictures of food from Sanaa and baby (I'm a few months pregnant) decided it HAD to have lamb as well as mustard crusted scallops - or else. The best I could do was make an ADR - baby is still unimpressed.



Please add me to the list!

Baby will be happy in month or so....

I have added you to the List

 

[dgbg100106]

....baby has really discerning tastes....BTW ~ always remember: Never put baby in a corner!

 

[kimmar067]

I'm so happy Kim!!! In just worried about the flight price changing!!!

....me too, but it's still cheaper on the Visa Freedom ultimate rewards website....

 

[t_daniels]

....I've been on the 'puter all morning, scrambling to get something that's really not going to break the bank. Mind you, the budget is even tighter than this time last week, so I have had to get SUPER creative now. This is what I came up with:

Flight:
LGA 4/5 7:05AM - arrive 9:51AM
4/10 1:00PM - arrive 3:37PM

23,190 points (DH's Chase Freedom points) + $201.70 out-of-pocket

Accomodations:
4/5 - 4/7 ASMu $307 (room only w/tax)
4/7-4/10 AKL std $1,630.38 (room w/tax, Dining, 4-day basic park tix)

$1,937.38 total, minus about $1,200 for Disney Rewards points, or $737.38 out-of-pocket.

Remember, we won't have any passes for Friday or Saturday and no meal plan for those two days either...

Congrats!! You're going!

Eta. Spoke too soon. Sounds like you're going, anyway.:/

 

[Funkygreta]

I've searched around to no avail. We booked for April 28-may 4 yesterday through orbitz. We were booked at pop with Disney direct but decided to go deluxe or stay home . We got a good deal so we are happy! We've only been once last summer and stayed at POR which we loved but for a bit more AKL was an option. We have a pool view And maybe will be upgraded to savana view...seems to happen often? So excited...the kids will love it.

So my question....I'm a coffee freak! Can't wait to try the French press at boma...anyone know if we can get it to go without eating?

Also...my son has celiac disease and a dairy allergy so I'm Hoping we have good luck at Mara when we need it. I plan on bringing some stuff for the room to eat like cereal, sammies, etc. I'm really interested in gluten free waffles! We plan to do boma for breakfast a couple of times and once for dinner. We're thinking of Sanaa too. I was more interested in Mara for quick things as needed. I had this all researched at POP and then we moved!

Any rooms more special than others?

Thanks
Greta

 

[MidwestMulan]

Hi AKL Fans!

We are currently booked at POP for our August vacation, but based on what estimated savings may be coming in for that time frame are considering switching to AKL Standard View. We ate at Jiko there on our last trip and loved the resort. Can anyone reference programs or things their kids loved that would help us make the decision? I'm trying to convince my DH that we should go Deluxe for the first time!

 

[kimmar067]

Congrats!! You're going!

Eta. Spoke too soon. Sounds like you're going, anyway.:/

 

[kimmar067]

I've searched around to no avail. We booked for April 28-may 4 yesterday through orbitz. We were booked at pop with Disney direct but decided to go deluxe or stay home . We got a good deal so we are happy! We've only been once last summer and stayed at POR which we loved but for a bit more AKL was an option. We have a pool view And maybe will be upgraded to savana view...seems to happen often? So excited...the kids will love it.

So my question....I'm a coffee freak! Can't wait to try the French press at boma...anyone know if we can get it to go without eating?

Also...my son has celiac disease and a dairy allergy so I'm Hoping we have good luck at Mara when we need it. I plan on bringing some stuff for the room to eat like cereal, sammies, etc. I'm really interested in gluten free waffles! We plan to do boma for breakfast a couple of times and once for dinner. We're thinking of Sanaa too. I was more interested in Mara for quick things as needed. I had this all researched at POP and then we moved!

Any rooms more special than others?

Thanks
Greta

....W-T-G on the AKL vacay - my DH has celiac also, and one thing that imressed me was that they [AKL] went out of their way to accomodate him....

 

[kimmar067]

Hi AKL Fans!

We are currently booked at POP for our August vacation, but based on what estimated savings may be coming in for that time frame are considering switching to AKL Standard View. We ate at Jiko there on our last trip and loved the resort. Can anyone reference programs or things their kids loved that would help us make the decision? I'm trying to convince my DH that we should go Deluxe for the first time!

...there is an activities board to the left as you enter the lobby, with chock full of things that the kids can do....flamingo feeding, arts's'crafts, and things to earn special animal beads to make a necklace or bracelet...

 

[psac]

Staying club level, you should have a better chance of getting a king bedroom. We didn't request one, but got one; it was a handicapped accessible room.

I assume the HA rooms have a walk in shower instead of a tub? Anything else different? Thanks!

 

[dgbg100106]

I've searched around to no avail. We booked for April 28-may 4 yesterday through orbitz. We were booked at pop with Disney direct but decided to go deluxe or stay home . We got a good deal so we are happy! We've only been once last summer and stayed at POR which we loved but for a bit more AKL was an option. We have a pool view And maybe will be upgraded to savana view...seems to happen often? So excited...the kids will love it.

So my question....I'm a coffee freak! Can't wait to try the French press at boma...anyone know if we can get it to go without eating?

Also...my son has celiac disease and a dairy allergy so I'm Hoping we have good luck at Mara when we need it. I plan on bringing some stuff for the room to eat like cereal, sammies, etc. I'm really interested in gluten free waffles! We plan to do boma for breakfast a couple of times and once for dinner. We're thinking of Sanaa too. I was more interested in Mara for quick things as needed. I had this all researched at POP and then we moved!

Any rooms more special than others?

Thanks
Greta

I have added you to the list... Congratulations on booking deluxe

 

[dgbg100106]

Kimmar ?????? Well did it get booked last night?

 

[t_daniels]

...there is an activities board to the left as you enter the lobby, with chock full of things that the kids can do....flamingo feeding, arts's'crafts, and things to earn special animal beads to make a necklace or bracelet...

I'd be tempted to try these activities!

 

[kimmar067]

I'd be tempted to try these activities!

....why not? Go for it!

 

[kimmar067]

Kimmar ?????? Well did it get booked last night?

....uhhhhh......errrrrrr......ummmmmm......uhhhhhh......

 

[TyRy]

....uhhhhh......errrrrrr......ummmmmm......uhhhhhh......

I really really hope it works out Kim. Point out how you can relax at the hotel/tour others the first couple of days keeping the price down.