7 DAYS AT AKL Part 1

[rimfire]

Just arrived home this morning after 7 days at the AKL (and 3 days in St. Augustine).
We had a deluxe savannah view and the animals didn't disappoint. Sadly that is more then I can say about the cleanliness of the lodge itself. Evidently housekeeping was in the top staff cuts by Disney - the dust underneath the sink area was visibly thick. The mirror frames were covered with it. The curtain sheers were stained - pop spilled on the patio table was there when we arrived and fingerprints all over the patio doors.
A couple of mornings when I went down early (around 7 am) to sit outdoors to have a cup of coffee I found the previous evenings liquor glasses and beer bottles and food debris still on the tables outside the snack bar.
Much to our dismay the staff was in the main hallways spraying for bugs at 8:30 am. Noxious stuff that gave me a headache - and up to then I thought I could handle everything.
The pool is great - my two youngest do not swim well so they were in 7th heaven since it wasn't the typical 6ft deep pool.
With the heat running so high we did the parks starting early in the morning and came back after lunch to relax and play in the pool. This also enabled us to get on the good rides with little to no wait (or use a fast pass or two per park).
We did find that the busses do not necessarily run every 20 minutes as promised from the Lodge. I spoke to several people who said they sometimes had a wait of an hour. After hearing what was running when it seems that the bus schedule isn't just by chance but by where Disney Deans decide they want to send you for the day.

 

[jordanyosh]

I am hoping the rest of your stay was better.

If I had a dirty room, I would have immediately called Housekeeping and had this taken care of. If a room was not cleaned properly, then Disney needs to know. I talked to a Cast Member who worked in housekeeping while she was cleaning our room. They have to clean 16 rooms in 8 hours. That's 25 minutes a room with 5 minutes to go from room to room--not a ton of time. If there is an extra messy room, they CAN ask for a floating CM to come and assist. If there was still fingerprints on the patio doors, soda etc....it probably was an extra messy room and maybe the housekeeper thought she/he could clean by herself.
There may be a number of reasons it wasn't fully cleaned.....That said, it should've been spotless. Period.


The great thing about WDW is their flexibility. I can go grab a few drinks at the bar inside; take my drinks outside to a table and hangout without being disturbed. No worries about where I'm drinking,etc as long as I go by the state laws....That's what probably happened in your case. People were up late and wanted to drink outside. The CMs cleaning up let them sit and didn't ask them to leave. The CMs leave and those folks could be there for another hour or two.... That stuff sits all night until the day crew comes on to clean it up....Not pretty to you and unfortunate, just trying to explain what happens....

As far as transportation, well.....it's a common topic at this site. Disney should address this and they keep trying to improve the system;maybe it's time to look at it again. That said, we always leave ample time for bus transportation as we know the busses are a convenience for the resort guests and should never be considered an express service. You said some people waited up to an hour and I could see that, even with busses running every 20 minutes, I could explain that but I am already rambling..........

No explanations will ever take away those memories from your mind. For that I am sorry. I just wanted to take the time to address some of the issues you had.

 

[rimfire]

Sadly I mentioned it to the front desk and I saw no improvement. The built up dust certainly eliminates any explanation of a one time hurry in cleaning - this took months to build up.
There was a mix-up - or so I was told - on our room reservations -we had requested prior to our reservation being made through Dreams Unlimited a smoking room. We didn't get one and told it was fine to smoke on the balcony because of this. The next night about an hour and a half after we went to bed the phone rang. The night manager Yvonne called to complain that we were smoking on the balcony and when I told her we had permission she was beyond rude.
The entire family was awake by then fearing that we received word that something happened to my elderly mother who we have in a long term care facility. Strict instructions were left at home not to call unless it was an emergency.
Needless to say I think the management staff is sorely lacking in communication, manners and common sense.
So while you offer a good explanation of the dirty outside tables - one cannot explain away the rest of the problems that would allow me to call AKL a "luxury" resort.
I certainly appreciate your input -

 

[jordanyosh]

I appreciate your further explanation as well.......

Sorry.....wish I was the Manager on Duty. These problems would've been remedied immediately

 

[OhMari]

After hearing what was running when it seems that the bus schedule isn't just by chance but by where Disney Deans decide they want to send you for the day.]

I just found your statement amusing, I sort of needed a laugh today.