It's NEVER Too Late, for Number 8 - the most UNOFFICIAL, 'official' AKL thread yet!

[Flossbolna]

Originally Posted by Mousemommy1

Good to know!!!! Any other tips would be wonderful!!

On the second or third floor along Kudu and Zebra trail there are also patios that overlook Arusha savanna that have chairs. They are between the "houses" along the trail. I really like those as you get a slightly different view from each of them.

[Disney Dreams]

Originally Posted by kimmar067

.....it's actually kinda nice sitting on the balcony of a pool-view room early in the morning, sipping a cup of coffee....

Originally Posted by Mousemommy1

Tell me more.....

I think I will really LOVE AKL - I'm always oooohing and aaaahing over the pictures! ....

I can add a bit, if you don't mind.

We stayed AKV, Savannah view last month. Me and DH, no kids.

The time: Midnight.
The scene: We return to the resort after a packed day. DH is exhausted as we enter the room.

He puts down his backpack, heads to the sink area to brush his teeth, change into PJs, etc... and crawls into bed. Me? I walk straight by the bathroom, pass by the bed, kick off my shoes, open the balcony door, and stand on the balcony while my eyes adjust to the darkness of the savannah. I have the camera in my hand. I sit down on the chair, hearing DH crawl into bed. I know they are out there. Giraffes. Zebra. Antelope. Cattle. I can hear them. My eyes continue to adjust. Then... - GIRAFFE!!! - Eeek! Two! Sleeping, right in front of our balcony! Eeeek! How can DH sleep at a time like this?!?!?! THERE'S a GIRAFFE IN OUR BACKYARD!!! And I am simply mesmerized. I can't go inside and go to sleep. There are giraffes RIGHT THERE! I can sleep in a few days, back at home, when the only critters in my yard are such that my pup will chase after them. Right now, 2am, there are WAY too many exciting things in my backyard for me to go to sleep.

Well, at least by choice. At least two mornings, I woke up at 4am in that chair on the patio. AHAHAHA! Then I finally gave in and crawled into bed next to my sleeping DH, feeling sorry for him for what he missed, and feeling the exhilaration of a six year old who just saw the tooth fairy. I tell people that AKV is an almost magical place. And it is. Where else can you see a giraffe, much less FOUR(!), having a slumber party right in front of your balcony? Yeah, I love it there.

- Dreams

[zima-cheryl]

Originally Posted by Mousemommy1

Tell me more.....

Any morning started on a balcony @ AKL is a good morning. I like savanah view. Watching the animals start their day as I'm starting mine. Can't beat it.

We also like winding down the day with a glass of wine or beer on the balcony. It is just so beautiful & the animals so amazing to watch.

[Mousemommy1]

All of these tips are fabulous! I can't wait to explore this wonderful resort!!!

[letthewookiewin]

Originally Posted by Disney Dreams

I can add a bit, if you don't mind.

We stayed AKV, Savannah view last month. Me and DH, no kids.

The time: Midnight.
The scene: We return to the resort after a packed day. DH is exhausted as we enter the room.

He puts down his backpack, heads to the sink area to brush his teeth, change into PJs, etc... and crawls into bed. Me? I walk straight by the bathroom, pass by the bed, kick off my shoes, open the balcony door, and stand on the balcony while my eyes adjust to the darkness of the savannah. I have the camera in my hand. I sit down on the chair, hearing DH crawl into bed. I know they are out there. Giraffes. Zebra. Antelope. Cattle. I can hear them. My eyes continue to adjust. Then... - GIRAFFE!!! - Eeek! Two! Sleeping, right in front of our balcony! Eeeek! How can DH sleep at a time like this?!?!?! THERE'S a GIRAFFE IN OUR BACKYARD!!! And I am simply mesmerized. I can't go inside and go to sleep. There are giraffes RIGHT THERE! I can sleep in a few days, back at home, when the only critters in my yard are such that my pup will chase after them. Right now, 2am, there are WAY too many exciting things in my backyard for me to go to sleep.

Well, at least by choice. At least two mornings, I woke up at 4am in that chair on the patio. AHAHAHA! Then I finally gave in and crawled into bed next to my sleeping DH, feeling sorry for him for what he missed, and feeling the exhilaration of a six year old who just saw the tooth fairy. I tell people that AKV is an almost magical place. And it is. Where else can you see a giraffe, much less FOUR(!), having a slumber party right in front of your balcony? Yeah, I love it there.

- Dreams

Thanks for sharing. That is exactly why I wanted to book the a room with a savanna view.

Originally Posted by zima-cheryl

Any morning started on a balcony @ AKL is a good morning. I like savanah view. Watching the animals start their day as I'm starting mine. Can't beat it.

We also like winding down the day with a glass of wine or beer on the balcony. It is just so beautiful & the animals so amazing to watch.

That is exactly how I want to start and end every day of our trip. I am really thinking, if our room is ready when we check in, of spending the rest of the day just sitting on the balcony watching animals.

[Ltl Mermaid]

Im going to be staying at AKL in May for 6 nights in the Arusha Savannah view type. I previously stayed in 2001 when there was only 1 type of Savannah view. Can anyone tell me which rooms are considered Arusha Savannah? Thanks for the help!

I'm so excited to finally be staying in my favorite WDW resort! It is always so magical to see African animals right in your own backyard!

[letthewookiewin]

Originally Posted by Ltl Mermaid

Im going to be staying at AKL in May for 6 nights in the Arusha Savannah view type. I previously stayed in 2001 when there was only 1 type of Savannah view. Can anyone tell me which rooms are considered Arusha Savannah? Thanks for the help!

I'm so excited to finally be staying in my favorite WDW resort! It is always so magical to see African animals right in your own backyard!

I found this map, after reading your post. Since we booked the same view, I was wondering the same thing.
[IMG][/IMG]

I assume that since the Arusha Savanna is marked inside the "horse shoe" of the AKL, and it is just off the main lobby, the Arusha view rooms should be all of those that have balconies facing that savanna. Of course that is just a guess, but I hope I'm right. If I am, I wonder if I should add the Zebra Trail as a request to our ressie as I want to make sure we see them.

[Mousemommy1]

So, another question...

How long is the actual bus ride to MK (and the other parks for that matter)??? I feel like people greatly exaggerate the length of the ride...we have stayed at all of the values and would imagine the distances to be about the same as from AKL...am I wrong??

We don't mind the buses at all...but I was just wondering??

[anjalee6]

Originally Posted by Mousemommy1

So, another question...

How long is the actual bus ride to MK (and the other parks for that matter)??? I feel like people greatly exaggerate the length of the ride...we have stayed at all of the values and would imagine the distances to be about the same as from AKL...am I wrong??

We don't mind the buses at all...but I was just wondering??

This November, we timed it just to see. Never really gave it much thought before, but without the kids we were curious. It took us 15 minutes from pulling out of AKL to pulling in to the bus area of MK. It took 8 minutes for us to get to Epcot, 9 1/2 minutes to get to HS, and just under 3 minutes to get to AK. The buses have never been a problem for us. Sometimes the longest part is waiting for the actual bus to come.

[Mousemommy1]

Originally Posted by anjalee6

This November, we timed it just to see. Never really gave it much thought before, but without the kids we were curious. It took us 15 minutes from pulling out of AKL to pulling in to the bus area of MK. It took 8 minutes for us to get to Epcot, 9 1/2 minutes to get to HS, and just under 3 minutes to get to AK. The buses have never been a problem for us. Sometimes the longest part is waiting for the actual bus to come.

Thanks! That's pretty much my expectation! And I agree, sometimes waiting is the longest part.

[John's Mom]

Originally Posted by letthewookiewin

I found this map, after reading your post. Since we booked the same view, I was wondering the same thing.

I assume that since the Arusha Savanna is marked inside the "horse shoe" of the AKL, and it is just off the main lobby, the Arusha view rooms should be all of those that have balconies facing that savanna. Of course that is just a guess, but I hope I'm right. If I am, I wonder if I should add the Zebra Trail as a request to our ressie as I want to make sure we see them.

The Arusha Savanna view rooms face the Arusha Savanna (inside the horseshoe). I always request the Zebra Trail. The pool and restaurants are located on this side of the lodge.

[prairiesarah]

Originally Posted by anjalee6

This November, we timed it just to see. Never really gave it much thought before, but without the kids we were curious. It took us 15 minutes from pulling out of AKL to pulling in to the bus area of MK. It took 8 minutes for us to get to Epcot, 9 1/2 minutes to get to HS, and just under 3 minutes to get to AK. The buses have never been a problem for us. Sometimes the longest part is waiting for the actual bus to come.

Thank you for posting this - I was curious about this and had been meaning to ask. None of those are terrible amounts of time on the bus. From the way I have read some posts, I was expecting 30+ minutes on the bus for several of the parks and was trying to figure out how that was possible.

[psac]

Originally Posted by John's Mom

The Arusha Savanna view rooms face the Arusha Savanna (inside the horseshoe). I always request the Zebra Trail. The pool and restaurants are located on this side of the lodge.

Anyone familiar enough with club level requests to know if Zebra Trail is a good one to make? Also was planning to ask for a king bed, if by some miracle we could get one of those. (Just me and DW.)

[RachelTori]

Originally Posted by psac

Anyone familiar enough with club level requests to know if Zebra Trail is a good one to make? Also was planning to ask for a king bed, if by some miracle we could get one of those. (Just me and DW.)

Club Level rooms will be on the 4th floor, Savannah View, in the first pod or two off the lobby in both Kudu and Zebra Trails. If you want Zebra Trail, have AKL-IPO add it to your reservation

Not sure on the King bed though. I hear they are few & far between.

[letthewookiewin]

Originally Posted by John's Mom

The Arusha Savanna view rooms face the Arusha Savanna (inside the horseshoe). I always request the Zebra Trail. The pool and restaurants are located on this side of the lodge.

Sweet!! That's what I was hoping. Do Zebras roam over the entire Arusha savanna? If I want to make sure we can see them from the balcony, should we request a room on the Zebra Trail.

Also, a bus-type question from the hubby. When we stay at the Pop, it seemed like we were always the last bus stop at the parks. I'm not sure if they change bus stop numbers around or not, but about what number bus stop is the AKL at all of the parks? I tried Google'ing it, but couldn't find anything.