So, we gathered our carry on bags and headed into the AKL.
The first glimpse was just amazing. It is SO well done. We headed right over to check in, and there was no line, which was terrific.
I knew we were early, so I didn't really know if we'd have a room yet or not.
But, they did. The check-in CM was very friendly, and gave the kids "1st Time Visitor" badges right away. We got a handy folder with a map of the lodge, with the daily activities available listed on the back, a brochure about the
DDP (which I knew already, but handy to have anyway) and some other stuff. Our room was ready! Hooray!
We got our Keys to the World and headed off in search of room 2363. Yes, we had the map.
No, we didn't realize how far away it would be.
2363 is at the far end of the Kudu trail, at the VERY end of the horseshoe, in one of the two little angled wings at the end.
If you're not familiar with the AKL, the lobby is on the 3rd floor. The elevators to the guest wings are in the middle of the "horseshoe" shaped wings.
I think we walked for 10 minutes to get to the room.
We opened it up, yes, there are the coveted bunk beds!
We ran to the balcony, threw open the curtains, and....
Um, no.
Construction. About 20 feet of "savannah" with one lonely ostrich.
Lots of construction vehicles.
D. and I looked at each other. The boys were quite happily already claiming the bunks, but we were not thrilled. D. asked if we should call down. I said "Yes, please!"
I know they are building DVC villas there. I knew that before we went. But, we were paying for "savannah view" - that's no longer a freebie request, it's part of your reservation. The room was hell and gone from anything (we didn't even know yet how far away the park bus stops were from the lobby.) And, if that's a savannah, then I'm a kudu.
I wish I had taken a picture, but my stomach was too busy sinking.
D. got on the phone to the front desk. No problem, they had something else (I suppose maybe because we were checking in early...)
So, we trekked another 10 minutes back up to the lobby. D. went to the desk and got a map with our new room assignment. This time, 3411, on the Zebra trail. D. was heading off to check it out before the boys and I joined him, but it turned out to be just 3 rooms down the "trail." If it had been one room closer we would have asked for another change, as we were just on the edge of the savannah as it was, but it seemed much better. We immediately saw some zebra and some antelopish type creatures. Phew!
We were a little worried about the noise levels being bad later on, since we were so close to the lobby and therefore on the way to all the other Zebra trail rooms, but decided to try it. The guy at the check-in when D. went to get the 2nd room had said that they would be much less busy on Tues., post holiday weekend, so we figured we could move if need be on Tuesday morning.
Luckily, we never had a problem with it, and stayed put.
We had really planned to head straight out to the parks. It was now about 2:00. But, the boys, in typical 5-year-old, let's be contrary fashion, decided that they wanted to go swimming. I had packed swim suits and a little stick of sunscreen in our carry-ons (the checked baggage hadn't come in yet) and so off we went to the pool.