Just returned from a great stay at WDW (AKL) - Sept 2009 - The DIS Discussion Forums

sparkey · 09-30-2009, 11:27 AM

We have just returned from our sixth September visit to WDW. We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House, a great hotel set in fantastic surroundings. We were lucky enough to get a room which had a view of the sunset savanah, albeit slightly blocked, but as we had a standard room we considered ourselves very lucky. The facilities were great too.
We did all the parks (several times each!) but couldn't help noticing how much busier they have become in September, probably due to the introduction of the Disney Dining Plan over the past few years, but this did not mar our visit too much however we will probably look at going later in the year next time without cutting it too close to all the Christmas celebrations, tricky!!
I think one of our favourite rides was Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios - what a brilliant concept and soooo much fun. The queues are still quite long at times, I think 30 mins was the shortest for us and 50 the longest (it was up to 70 minutes one day, we decided to go back later!). However it is worth the wait if you have no choice on the day.
We ate in several of the Disney resort resturants and were lucky enough to catch the Wishes fireworks from the top of the Contemporary Resort as we had a 9 O'clock sitting at the Californian Grill but we were called in late which worked in our favour - we had a lovely meal here. We also had lunch at The Wave at the Contemporary and apart from the air conditioning be a little too cold the food was lovely aswell.
Our favourite meal was dinner at Artists Point at The Wilderness Lodge, the food was great and the service was brilliant. Would highly reccomend it.
We ate at Jikos at AKL but found the food a little spicy for our taste. Bomas at AKL was completely booked out for the duration of our stay so I can only assume it must be good! We did eat at Sanaa (Kinadi Village at AKL) and enjoyed the meal there and the service was good.
One of the other great things we did while we were at WDW was the Natures Inspired Segway Tour at EPCOT (age restricted - 16 years and above I think?) and although it was an extra cost it included priority seating on Soarin' and you go behind the scenes at the Land and the Seas. It was approx 3 hours in total, inlcuding an indoor training session on the Off Road Segway before they let you loose in the park and behind the scenes!! I think at the moment they are only running this twice a week but may look to extend this? Worth looking up if you fancy a go - can't post photoes as you are not allowed to take photoes backstage, understandbly.
We had a fab time and have come back aboslutley exsausted - please excuse any spelling errors, jet lag kicking in! - a sure sign of a great Disney holiday!! Could write more but probably bored you by now...

natalielongstaff · 09-30-2009, 11:34 AM

im glad you had a good trip

jockey · 09-30-2009, 11:37 AM

Sounds as tough you had a fab time. I love AKL

jen_uk · 09-30-2009, 12:36 PM

Sounds like a brilliant trip

suzycute · 09-30-2009, 12:47 PM

to the boards!

Thanks for sharing your recent trip - sounds like you had a great time. We love Toy Story Mania too!

Chilly · 10-01-2009, 05:38 AM

Sounds like a great trip.

mark&sue · 10-04-2009, 03:34 AM

sounds like a great trip thanks for sharing

susan

SusanEllen · 10-05-2009, 12:25 PM

Thanks for taking the time to post. Glad you had a good time.

09-30-2009, 11:27 AM	#1
sparkey Earning My Ears Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2	Just returned from a great stay at WDW (AKL) - Sept 2009 We have just returned from our sixth September visit to WDW. We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, Jambo House, a great hotel set in fantastic surroundings. We were lucky enough to get a room which had a view of the sunset savanah, albeit slightly blocked, but as we had a standard room we considered ourselves very lucky. The facilities were great too. We did all the parks (several times each!) but couldn't help noticing how much busier they have become in September, probably due to the introduction of the Disney Dining Plan over the past few years, but this did not mar our visit too much however we will probably look at going later in the year next time without cutting it too close to all the Christmas celebrations, tricky!! I think one of our favourite rides was Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios - what a brilliant concept and soooo much fun. The queues are still quite long at times, I think 30 mins was the shortest for us and 50 the longest (it was up to 70 minutes one day, we decided to go back later!). However it is worth the wait if you have no choice on the day. We ate in several of the Disney resort resturants and were lucky enough to catch the Wishes fireworks from the top of the Contemporary Resort as we had a 9 O'clock sitting at the Californian Grill but we were called in late which worked in our favour - we had a lovely meal here. We also had lunch at The Wave at the Contemporary and apart from the air conditioning be a little too cold the food was lovely aswell. Our favourite meal was dinner at Artists Point at The Wilderness Lodge, the food was great and the service was brilliant. Would highly reccomend it. We ate at Jikos at AKL but found the food a little spicy for our taste. Bomas at AKL was completely booked out for the duration of our stay so I can only assume it must be good! We did eat at Sanaa (Kinadi Village at AKL) and enjoyed the meal there and the service was good. One of the other great things we did while we were at WDW was the Natures Inspired Segway Tour at EPCOT (age restricted - 16 years and above I think?) and although it was an extra cost it included priority seating on Soarin' and you go behind the scenes at the Land and the Seas. It was approx 3 hours in total, inlcuding an indoor training session on the Off Road Segway before they let you loose in the park and behind the scenes!! I think at the moment they are only running this twice a week but may look to extend this? Worth looking up if you fancy a go - can't post photoes as you are not allowed to take photoes backstage, understandbly. We had a fab time and have come back aboslutley exsausted - please excuse any spelling errors, jet lag kicking in! - a sure sign of a great Disney holiday!! Could write more but probably bored you by now... __________________ DW - AKL 2009 DLP - Santa Fe 2008 NY DW - CBR 2007 DLP - Hotel Cheyene 2004 DW - Off site - Springhill Suites 2003 DW - Off Site - Marriot Suites 2000 DW - Off Site - Marriot Res Suites 1998 DW - Off Site - LBV Comfort Inn 1994 DLP - Paris Off Site 1993

09-30-2009, 11:34 AM	#2
natalielongstaff I need a cup of tea and a big bar of free chocolate nowI will be back later too stalk some more Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: leicestershire,england Posts: 71,497	im glad you had a good trip __________________ April 2003 DLRP, November 2004 WDW and Barbados, September 2005 WDW, September 2007 WDW,October 2009 WDW

09-30-2009, 11:37 AM	#3
jockey Repeat after me....I LOVE CROC's, I LOVE CROC's, I LOVE CROC's!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: N.Ireland Posts: 5,794	Sounds as tough you had a fab time. I love AKL __________________ ,

09-30-2009, 12:36 PM	#4
jen_uk Eurovision Nut !! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South East Posts: 6,516	Sounds like a brilliant trip __________________ My dis buddy is Carolfoy

09-30-2009, 12:47 PM	#5
suzycute DIS Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: St Albans Posts: 1,087	to the boards! Thanks for sharing your recent trip - sounds like you had a great time. We love Toy Story Mania too! __________________

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10-01-2009, 05:38 AM	#6
Chilly I was having a bit of a blonde moment D'oh! Married my prince at WDW Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Reading, England Posts: 7,897	Sounds like a great trip. __________________ Claire Claire & Mikes Planning Journel & Trip Report for their Disney Wedding DIS Buddy I.C.E DisneyJo 2009 Dec /2010 Jan DFTW WDW Onsite @ GF, Poly & AKL Plus DCL on the Wonder 2008 July Engaged DLRP Onsite @ Santa Fe 2007 September WDW Onsite @ Pop 2006 September WDW Offsite 2005 May Disneyland Offsite

10-04-2009, 03:34 AM	#7
mark&sue I keep trying to convert everybody, but they just don't want to be converted I can only get a tag if its near the weekend. a monday, tuesday and some wednesdays are definately no tag days Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: London,England Posts: 5,005	sounds like a great trip thanks for sharing susan __________________ Oct 1992: off site - April 1998: Dixie Landings - Oct 1999: DL California - Oct 2000: Grosvenor Resort - Oct 2001: POFQ - Dec 2001:Disneyland Hotel - Oct 2003: Davy Crockets Cabins - Oct 2004: Grand Floridian -May 2005: SSR (DVC) & HRH - Oct 2005: New York Hotel - Oct 2006: SSR and BCV (DVC) - Aug 2007: SSR (DVC) and 1st Disney Cruise - July 2008: Sequoia Lodge 2010/11: Several trips to our Dream holiday Home in Spain July 2010 Treehouse Villas, Saratoga Springs Resort to celebrate end of Kirsty's GCSEs and Sequoia Lodge Oct 2010 My ICE buddy is Craig's Bride

10-05-2009, 12:25 PM	#8
SusanEllen DIS Veteran Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A. Posts: 1,515	Thanks for taking the time to post. Glad you had a good time. __________________ A few words about the place where the Magic began: Yet Another Happiest Place on Earth Report Disneyland, June, 2008 Pre-trip w/index to the entire report

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