Help need info on Animal Kingdom Lodge

[phdhycster]

Just booked a few nights at the lodge for the beginning of September and was very excited UNTIL a friend said that due to the heat the animals do not come out and it is smelly. Can anyone tell me about their experience at the AKL in September?

 

[mapmakerj]

I have stayed there in the heat of summer and I saw animals active during the day. As far as animal smells go, I've stayed Savannah view several times and never once have I smelled animals and that includes when I was there when the heat index was over 100º two summers in a row. Go and enjoy!

 

[myjourney]

No it is not smelly. They are more active in the mornings and the evenings, but if you are staying there you will definitely see animals. I enjoy sitting on the balcony early in the morning with my coffee and watching the giraffes eat.

 

[DSNY4ever]

I have never noticed these problems at the AKL. I wouldn't doubt that sometimes animals rest in the shade etc. at certain times in the day, but we always seen some sort of animal at most times of the day while we visit. I have never noticed a bad smell either.

 

[Cotillard]

I'm guessing you're going to be a whole lot more focused on how incredible the smells coming from Boma and Jiko are, than from any animal smells
The lodge is gorgeous. Go and have fun!

P.S. They do take the animals in at some point during the day for care and maybe some feeding but they are out in the morning and afternoon and evening.

 

[Cappy81]

We were there last Sept. We were able to see tons of animals and did not smell any foul odors! You will love it!

 

[karmacats]

We've stayed at AKL three times and never smelled a thing (except Boma and Jiko!). Two of those trips were in early October, and it was hot, but there were still plenty of animals out and about. All 3 times we had savannah-view rooms and never smelled anything from our balconies, or from any public areas of the resort. The exception was next to the flamingo area, which smelled slightly fishy, but there are no rooms close by - it's behind the swimming pool (and you couldn't smell it from the pool - you really had to get right up close to it to smell anything).

Our third trip was last month and we did two of the tours that bring you onto the savannahs in jeeps, and even then we did not smell any animal/poop smells more than two or three times, and those times we were literally right next to the animals (maybe 6 inches between the jeep and the animal). Even from a couple feet away, we didn't smell anything.

There are animal keepers out there 24/7, looking out for the animals and scooping the poop! They don't leave it around to start smelling.

That's my long-winded way of saying, I wouldn't worry about the smells at all.

 

[karenklo]

We were there last June and it was hot! We had animals outside our balcony all the time! They were just laying around in the middle of the day, but morning and evening they were active. I really didn't notice a smell too much either. I will say, having animals outside was a quick way to get our boys up and out of bed! All I had to say was "Hey boys, there is a giraffe right outside" ad they were out of bed in a flash! I loved it there and you will too!

 

[Ilivetogo]

Just booked a few nights at the lodge for the beginning of September and was very excited UNTIL a friend said that due to the heat the animals do not come out and it is smelly. Can anyone tell me about their experience at the AKL in September?

Just stayed this past September. Didn't notice any animal smells.

Animals are definitely there. Don't worry - you won't miss them!!!

Absolutely gorgeous resort. Enjoy!!

.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I have never smelled animals and we arrived at 12pm in July and saw this outside our balcony:

 

[Magic3forme]

we were there in April and did for the first time notice a smell from our balcony. (we were at Kidani -- standard view room. .not sure what savannah we faced.) we were in the last section of Kidani.... pool side

 

[mmmears]

We've stayed there many times, always with a room facing the savanna, and never smelled anything. There are people maintaining the savanna all the time. Our hottest trip was in July -- the animals were still out all over the savanna. They do get more active in the early morning and the early evening, though. My family really enjoys the animals and we spend a fair amount on time on our balcony each trip, enjoying the view -- if there was a bad smell it really would have bothered us, but there wasn't one.

 

[Kimberle]

Has your friend actually stayed at AKL? We stayed for a full week in August. The animals were always out. They didn't smell at all. I would get our b/fast and we'd eat on our balcony. It was hard tearing ourselves away to go to the parks.

 

[kappyfamily]

Yep I agree, no smell at all!

 

[chocovrdmicears]

They are African animals living in Florida...trust me..they are used to the heat.

We have stayed at and visited AKL many times. NEVER had a smell issue. The only animal smell we ever encountered there was by the flamingo area...but they are the stinkiest creatures and even Disney Magic can't make it smell lovely all the time.

Be excited for AKL - it is an absolutely beautiful resort.

 

[phdhycster]

Thanks everyone for your input, getting excited!

 

[godoftheWorld]

Just booked a few nights at the lodge for the beginning of September and was very excited UNTIL a friend said that due to the heat the animals do not come out and it is smelly. Can anyone tell me about their experience at the AKL in September?

Haha, smelly, seriously? AKL is one of the best hotels on property. Say hi to Laura at the pool bar. You'll love the pool too.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

We stayed in a room this past Feb that faced the girraffe barn and every morning at 7:30 the animals, girraffe, gizzels, wilda beast would gather by the barn and pace around waiting to be let in. Around 8:00 everyday the animals are herded into the barn for their well check.
Not sure how long they are in the barn but we always saw animals every day. Never did we smell anything fowl.

 

[samserena]

stayed there last august. savannah room. was awesome. no smells and definitely animals to be seen. (even down to the swans they made with our bath towels!)

 

[mevelandry]

Just booked a few nights at the lodge for the beginning of September and was very excited UNTIL a friend said that due to the heat the animals do not come out and it is smelly. Can anyone tell me about their experience at the AKL in September?

It's not smelly at all!

And if you check in the morning and after dark, you'll see many animals. At 11:00 every night we got to see 4 to 5 giraffes eating right if front of us. MAGICAL.

AKL is my favorite resort.

You got savannah view?