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

[Kimmy2Disney]

Some of the pictures of the rooms at AKL I am seeing online (regular rooms, not DVC) show a dresser, or chest of drawers, in that empty space as you walk in the door. Do all of the rooms have this? Do ANY of the rooms have this now? We stayed at WL last December and that dresser was a nice addition!

We are staying at AKL right now- in a pool view room at Jambo house. My moms room is right next to ours- we have the dresser in that space and my mom doesn't even have that space, so no dresser- it's just a flat wall. It is really nice to have it because the drawers are huge!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

ummmm, here's something of an odd question.

i ordered a gift card last wednesday (july 10) and after realizing it would never make to our house by the time we leave (sat), i called and had the delivery address changed to AKL so we'd have the gift card when we're there. the representative said it *should* arrive around 7/23 - 7/24.

However, it still hasn't even shipped. We check out on the 28th. If it hasn't arrived by then, is there any way I can get AKL to forward it to me at home so we can use it for a later trip?

I am SUCH an idiot for ordering this stupid thing so close to our dates, but I thought 9-10 days would be enough. And it's apparently not. I can't just write off the amount of the GC--it's a lot of money. Do you think AKL will help in case it gets there after we leave?

Thanks. ugh, just kicking myself for being so stupid to cut it so close.

I am not sure of the answer..can you call your credit card and have them reverse the charge? Tell them you have not received the goods?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

We are staying at AKL right now- in a pool view room at Jambo house. My moms room is right next to ours- we have the dresser in that space and my mom doesn't even have that space, so no dresser- it's just a flat wall. It is really nice to have it because the drawers are huge!

I was in 3010 (Giraffe-pool view) room and I had the chest of drawers. They were nice and I put all my clothes in there since I was staying for a week. Pretty sure we have always had them in our AKL rooms

 

[mirage0306]

I am not sure of the answer..can you call your credit card and have them reverse the charge? Tell them you have not received the goods?

I was thinking of calling my CC company--but I also emailed IPO and asked, and they said if it arrives after we leave that they'd forward it on to us. So worst case scenario, I just put down a deposit on next year's trip.

 

[kallanach]

12 days--the countdown continues! Sad though because DD (11) is going across the country to visit cousins tomorrow with MIL and niece. 3 days after she returns we head for Disney. I have great anxiety about being so far away from her. I am happy for her too though. Trying not to worry and stay focused on packing and planning. Need good vibes!

 

[Ckmommy72]

I haven't stayed yet, going in November...but I thought bunk bed rooms was a separate catagory and cost more then standard. Maybe if they aren't full they will upgrade? but if you are paying for that catagory, I would think you will get it.
Also when I look at standard, it says 2 queens or king with daybed.

Copied and pasted from the disney website:

Standard View
View Photos
Views of Rooftop or Parking Area
2 Queen Beds or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Bunk Bed or 1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Day Bed
Sleeps up to 4

I hope this is correct, cuz my kids really want bunk beds!

 

[John's Mom]

12 days--the countdown continues! Sad though because DD (11) is going across the country to visit cousins tomorrow with MIL and niece. 3 days after she returns we head for Disney. I have great anxiety about being so far away from her. I am happy for her too though. Trying not to worry and stay focused on packing and planning. Need good vibes!

and

 

[John's Mom]

Some of the pictures of the rooms at AKL I am seeing online (regular rooms, not DVC) show a dresser, or chest of drawers, in that empty space as you walk in the door. Do all of the rooms have this? Do ANY of the rooms have this now? We stayed at WL last December and that dresser was a nice addition!

Chest of drawers are usually in end rooms.

When we stayed CL last year, we requested a chest.

 

[kallanach]

and

Thank you!!!!

 

[kallanach]

and

Thank you!!!!!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Chest of drawers are usually in end rooms.

When we stayed CL last year, we requested a chest.

I was in a room smack in the middle of the hall.. It was also connecting

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I didn't know either, but I noticed it said a standard had either 2 queens or 1 queen and 1 bunk bed, or 1 king on the website, so I asked when I called to change, and the CM said yes, which would you like to request?

I noticed that too & considered making that request but my boys are 16 & 13 and really don't do well sharing a bed. It's worth the extra to me to not hear them bicker each night so I booked a bunk bed room.

 

[Mayhem1976]

I realized I was looking at the old site (bookwdw) and for that it doesn't say bunk ned for standard, so I wonder if that's new!

 

[Kimmy2Disney]

Chest of drawers are usually in end rooms.

When we stayed CL last year, we requested a chest.

Yea, we are in the middle of a hall on zebra trail, but right next to a set of windows that is looking out to the pool, so that's kinda an end room!

 

[Ckmommy72]

Hi all!

This is our first time at AKL, and I know almost nothing about the resort...I'm reading and learning .

We have a standard room booked. Does that mean that most likely we'll be closer to the "center" of the building...i.e. lobby and restaurants? I'd like to be close to Mara if possible. With that in mind, should I just request close to lobby? Is it possible to request close to food court?

In addition to Mara, are there any other places to refill the mugs? Drink stations by the pool? DH and I like our coffee!!

 

[JessiMommy]

We go to WDW a lot but we've never stayed at AKL. As a matter of fact we had never even entered the AKL for a meal or a visit until about 2 trips ago. Should have known we were getting "the bug" after the first visit when we booked dining at the lodge for both trips after that and snuck over just for The Mara on two occasions.


We are booked for September, but currently we have a spit stay. Starting the trip at CSR and ending up at AKL. I think the more we all toss this around we are leaning toward an AKL only stay. For you AKL veterans...If we are so enthralled with the lodge we need to just book the entire week there right??? I keep asking myself what does CSR have to offer that AKL doesn't and I can't come up with anything... Will I regret spending a couple hundred dollars more? I'm thinking not...

 

[tarak]

JessiMommy - I can only relate our experience. The first trip we took to WDW as a family, we stayed at the Poly. When my husband was a kid, they either stayed there or at the Contemporary. That trip to the Poly was wonderful. The next trip as a family, I decided to try the WL. Not because I didn't like the Poly. Just wanted to try something else. That, I think, was the trip that killed the dining plan for me. Too many sit down meals and a need to have the day scheduled around eating. It's just not the way we like to spend time at Disney.

The next trip was our first at AKL. I'd been there with my mom before and just fell in love. We had to book two rooms because we had a party of eight that week. My husband had never been there before. He can only handle Disney every few years. That vacation, he said any time we wanted to go there, he was okay with it. I stayed a few extra days with my daughters and we moved to the Poly. We had a theme park view room and watched the fireworks from our patio. And it was just okay. I don't know if we were just all tired, or if it was a come down from AKL. Probably both. The Poly is beautiful, no question. But I think AKL is just home to us. More relaxing. The food options are better for us - we tend to prefer stuff that's more exotic, especially on vacation. We don't need to be in the thick of things. Our next trip, our youngest will be four, so we'll be a party of six. At that point, we'd most likely rent points for a 2BR at Kidani. A deluxe room at BWI is cheaper if we get a room only discount. I honestly don't think I'll be able to talk my husband into BWI. Maybe, just maybe, a split stay with the first few days at BWI to tour Epcot and HS. But the end of the vacation would have to be spent at AKL.

Not sure if that helps. I'd spend some time in the CSR thread if you haven't already. Read what other people love about it. Is it particularly close to any of the parks? Are there resort activities that appeal to you? I haven't been there before, so I can't help with that. I can speak to the buses at AKL. Aside from issues going to and from DTD (which I think is a problem with all of the resorts), I've found the buses to be fine. The pool at Kidani can't be beat (disclaimer - have never stayed at the YC/BC). There are a ton of activities you can't do at other resorts (night vision goggles to see the animals is the first that comes to mind).

I can make our ADRs in a week. My only plans are a lunch at Sanaa and breakfast at Tusker House. I haven't made ADRs for quite a while. But I think two for our seven-day trip is doable. I also want to reserve the boat cruise for illuminations.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Hi all!

This is our first time at AKL, and I know almost nothing about the resort...I'm reading and learning .

We have a standard room booked. Does that mean that most likely we'll be closer to the "center" of the building...i.e. lobby and restaurants? I'd like to be close to Mara if possible. With that in mind, should I just request close to lobby? Is it possible to request close to food court?

In addition to Mara, are there any other places to refill the mugs? Drink stations by the pool? DH and I like our coffee!!

Jambo!!! (I think that is Hello)

Standard rooms, except for a slight exception) is located in the Giraffe or Ostrich trail..to the left and right of the lobby entrance. I prefer Giraffe as it is very close to the pool/Mara and lobby (I like "Lobby level as I hate elevators). My room (3010) was a pool view and I looked at the Jiko/Mara sidewalk so 3011 would be an area that you may like. I have actually asked them to put "near room XXXX" on my reservation and gotten exactly what I wanted.

Giraffe is close to Mara and that is the oly place to refill mugs..it is adjacent to the pool area so perfect for you!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

We go to WDW a lot but we've never stayed at AKL. As a matter of fact we had never even entered the AKL for a meal or a visit until about 2 trips ago. Should have known we were getting "the bug" after the first visit when we booked dining at the lodge for both trips after that and snuck over just for The Mara on two occasions.


We are booked for September, but currently we have a spit stay. Starting the trip at CSR and ending up at AKL. I think the more we all toss this around we are leaning toward an AKL only stay. For you AKL veterans...If we are so enthralled with the lodge we need to just book the entire week there right??? I keep asking myself what does CSR have to offer that AKL doesn't and I can't come up with anything... Will I regret spending a couple hundred dollars more? I'm thinking not...

I have stayed at both and while CSR was good for my "needs" (ie cheap, quick trip) AKL is like a vacation itself. My friend drove over from the Tampa area one day and we walked around and looked at the art, animals and just enjoyed the pool area for the day.

CSR was spread out and I really like being able to spend time in the lobby if it is rainy or too hot. Can't really do that so easily in a mod!

 

[Ckmommy72]

Jambo!!! (I think that is Hello)

Standard rooms, except for a slight exception) is located in the Giraffe or Ostrich trail..to the left and right of the lobby entrance. I prefer Giraffe as it is very close to the pool/Mara and lobby (I like "Lobby level as I hate elevators). My room (3010) was a pool view and I looked at the Jiko/Mara sidewalk so 3011 would be an area that you may like. I have actually asked them to put "near room XXXX" on my reservation and gotten exactly what I wanted.

Giraffe is close to Mara and that is the oly place to refill mugs..it is adjacent to the pool area so perfect for you!

Jambo to you!!

Thanks for your response. I will definitely request Giraffe trail, as it sounds like it's close to it all.