Quick AKL review

[Chelley00]

DD7 and I just returned from a 10 night stay for her birthday. This was our first time onsite. It was fabulous! A quick rundown.

Check in: We did use online check in. Arrived at AKL at 10:30am on Thursday morning. I had written a note to security and front desk in that we were checking in but was surprising my daughter, and handed it to them. Everyone played along, and the security guard even told my daughter to "Enjoy your look around!"

Check in was s l o w, but only because there were non-English speaking people complaining about something using the only online check in person, even though they were not checking in. She finally handed her off to someone else who spoke Spanish and checked us in. After that it was very quick. They made a birthday button for DD and an I'm Celebrating button for me and handed us our folder.

We used the buy 4 get 3 pkg for the first 7 nights, then a room only discount for the last 3 nights. I had to go check out/check back in on Thursday and that was quick and painless. Took maybe 3 minutes.

Room: We were in room 3508, Zebra Trail, Uzima Savannah. I was at first disappointed not to be on the main savannah, but we ended up LOVING our view! The giraffes were ALWAYS there! We always had tons of animals right beside our balcony. The location was perfect. Walk past 4 rooms to the elevator to level one, and we were just a few steps from the pool, hot tub, Mara etc, yet it wasn't that long of a walk to the lobby.

The first couple days of mousekeeping was pretty lame, but for the rest of the week we had a mousekeeper named Diana and she was fabulous. She always arranged DD's stuffed animals, one night hanging Baby Simba from the curtains. She left us extra towels and shampoo often and it always smelled fresh and clean when we returned.

The bed was comfy and we had everything we needed. We had to call for the ethernet cable and it was delivered in minutes. We had groceries delivered from Garden Grocer and it was delivered quickly after we stopped at Bell Services to ask about them. The fridge was not on when our groceries arrived, so it took awhile to cool the fridge down. Bell services took our milk and juice back downstairs so it would stay cold and we picked it up later that night.

Food: We visited Mara maybe 4 times? The chicken flatbread was good, and we enjoyed our breakfasts. It was easy to get around and they had quite a few choices for both DD and I. The cast members were very knowledgeable about the dining plan and our choices on it.

Activities: DD7 loved all the activities around the resort, especially the bead earning ones. (we missed one activity and were one bead short of her totem bead) She especially enjoyed the night vision goggles! The parade through the lobby was pretty lame and she thought it was boring, but she got a certificate at the end so that made her happy. The pool temp was warm and wasn't really crowded.

Busses: We rented a car after reading about spotty bus service at resorts. DD loved the busses and it turned out the rental car was a total waste of money. We never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus, and we used the busses at all times of day (early morning breakfasts, park openings, park closing, after MVMCP at midnight and during the afternoons)

My only complaint was that you could hear the neighbors flush or take a shower, and sometime around this weekend we started hearing kids running and jumping upstairs. I always travel with a fan, so we used it to try and help drown out the noise to sleep. Just a little disappointed that the walls seemed so thin.

Other than that tiny complaint, we LOVED our stay at AKL. I think we may be spoiled by being onsite and it was perfect since it was just DD and I, it's just not cost effective for our whole family. DD has already requested her next big birthday party year (13) we go to AKL again

Any questions?

[Amy&Dan]

Thank you for a great review, I am so glad you enjoyed your first onsite stay (you did it right staying at AKL you lucky think )!

I have learned that when I stay onsite at WDW, I need to shut the bathroom door to drown out those turbo toilets. I take a fan too and sleep like a rock but those toilets are loud! Shutting the bathroom door is a tip I got from disboards and its made a huge difference.

[BebopBaloo]

What a neat birthday surprise! I'm glad you had a good trip and that the giraffes made good neighbors!

[chanti]

thank you so much for this review!!! I am even more excited to go now!!!

[MerryFlora]

Thanks so much for the review! AKL is in our top 3 for next trip.

So, AKL does not have a "fan only" switch on the thermostat? We always like some white noise in a hotel.

[MomsOf2boys]

Great little report! Glad to hear you had a special birthday with your daughter!!!

We are heading down there on Thanksgiving and will be packing a fan for white noise as well now.

After doing online check in, was your room ready at actual check in?

[TxDisFans]

Thanks for the review! We're booked in a 1 br villa at AKL in April - thinking about switching into a villa at Kidani... but still thrilled to be staying in the AKL area!! Thanks for getting us excited.

[Chelley00]

Originally Posted by MerryFlora

So, AKL does not have a "fan only" switch on the thermostat? We always like some white noise in a hotel.

I didnt' check, but the a/c seemed to run very quiet. A lot hotels have the quiet fans now, so I always pack my little box fan with me.

Originally Posted by MomsOf2boys

After doing online check in, was your room ready at actual check in?

The room was ready. We were at the hotel a little after 10:30am and our room was available. It may depend on how busy it is.