1st Trip Ever-AKL Concierge Check In and Room Service-Day 1
Our first trip ever to WDW!! My husband has to work 5 days at Wide World of Sports, so kids (son age 6 & daughter age 4), myself and my sister (18 year old) tag along for the fun.
Oct 9, 2002
AKL is a great hotel! We loved it! We arrived Wednesday night extremely late (11:30pm) and were taken care of as soon as we stepped out of the car in valet. Our bags were put on a cart and we were escorted to our room, along the way we were given a mini tour of the hotel, with an education on hidden Mickeys. My sister actually points out the first hidden Mickey right before our valet was going to show us so now shes hooked and determine to find them all. Note: since we are arriving late we do not need to check in until morning. The valet is ready with our keys and welcome information.
When booking this room I asked that we be close to an elevator (because my daughter has low muscle tone and I dont want to wear her out just getting to and from the room also Ive read that some rooms are a long weary walk to get to), we were assigned to 5223 on the 5th floor which is just perfect. We get to cross the 5th floor bridge which my kids think is cool, its not right next to an elevator but its close enough and Im glad Im not way down at the end of the hall. When we arrive to the room the first thing we do is run out to the balcony to see what animals we can spot. Our valet accompanies us and identifies each of the animals for us. What great service.
We had not planned on arriving so late so now were in a crunch for dinner. Room service is closing in 10minutes so we quickly call in our order. I get the Caesar salad with shrimp everyone else orders cheeseburgers and fries. Id have to say the salad sucked, way too much dressing and the greens were wilted but I think this is because we are ordering so late as later in the trip my sister has the same salad at Maras and it was really good, anyway the shrimp on my late room service salad are yummy and everyone else devours their cheeseburgers.
I think these deluxe rooms are really tiny!! I know theres 5 of us in there but still even if it was only 2 the tables practically unusable (eating room services in the room was awkward) Before we head to bed I unpack everything so I can stow the suitcase and create more space, it helps a little but Im glad Im in a deluxe room, Id hate too see how small the regular rooms are and I can only image the All-star rooms (the host hotel for my husbands event). And the bathroom is so small!! I guess it was fine for one person to get in and out but it was difficult for me to help my 4 year old in there as the door inevitably knocked one of us every time and Im petite). On the positive side the room is decorated beautifully and the sleeping arrangements are better than anything weve seen before. The bunk beds for the kids are an excellent idea; way better then having them share a queen. They fell asleep faster in a bed by themselves and stayed asleep longer. I wish all hotels offered this. In turn I slept better not having to share a bed with one of the kids.
Overall thoughts on day 1: AKL is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!! Late arrival is very cool, we felt very respected and trusted to be shown straight to our room, given our keys and told to check in concierge lounge when ever we were ready in the morning.
Our first trip ever to WDW!! My husband has to work 5 days at Wide World of Sports, so kids (son age 6 & daughter age 4), myself and my sister (18 year old) tag along for the fun.
Oct 9, 2002
AKL is a great hotel! We loved it! We arrived Wednesday night extremely late (11:30pm) and were taken care of as soon as we stepped out of the car in valet. Our bags were put on a cart and we were escorted to our room, along the way we were given a mini tour of the hotel, with an education on hidden Mickeys. My sister actually points out the first hidden Mickey right before our valet was going to show us so now shes hooked and determine to find them all. Note: since we are arriving late we do not need to check in until morning. The valet is ready with our keys and welcome information.
When booking this room I asked that we be close to an elevator (because my daughter has low muscle tone and I dont want to wear her out just getting to and from the room also Ive read that some rooms are a long weary walk to get to), we were assigned to 5223 on the 5th floor which is just perfect. We get to cross the 5th floor bridge which my kids think is cool, its not right next to an elevator but its close enough and Im glad Im not way down at the end of the hall. When we arrive to the room the first thing we do is run out to the balcony to see what animals we can spot. Our valet accompanies us and identifies each of the animals for us. What great service.
We had not planned on arriving so late so now were in a crunch for dinner. Room service is closing in 10minutes so we quickly call in our order. I get the Caesar salad with shrimp everyone else orders cheeseburgers and fries. Id have to say the salad sucked, way too much dressing and the greens were wilted but I think this is because we are ordering so late as later in the trip my sister has the same salad at Maras and it was really good, anyway the shrimp on my late room service salad are yummy and everyone else devours their cheeseburgers.
I think these deluxe rooms are really tiny!! I know theres 5 of us in there but still even if it was only 2 the tables practically unusable (eating room services in the room was awkward) Before we head to bed I unpack everything so I can stow the suitcase and create more space, it helps a little but Im glad Im in a deluxe room, Id hate too see how small the regular rooms are and I can only image the All-star rooms (the host hotel for my husbands event). And the bathroom is so small!! I guess it was fine for one person to get in and out but it was difficult for me to help my 4 year old in there as the door inevitably knocked one of us every time and Im petite). On the positive side the room is decorated beautifully and the sleeping arrangements are better than anything weve seen before. The bunk beds for the kids are an excellent idea; way better then having them share a queen. They fell asleep faster in a bed by themselves and stayed asleep longer. I wish all hotels offered this. In turn I slept better not having to share a bed with one of the kids.
Overall thoughts on day 1: AKL is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!! Late arrival is very cool, we felt very respected and trusted to be shown straight to our room, given our keys and told to check in concierge lounge when ever we were ready in the morning.
