AKL and Lighting Concerns

[letterdavidman]

Hi, there!! My DW and I are going, as I've posted before, to AKL for eight days at the end of August. We've been reading many (oh, so many)accounts from people who have stayed there, and several have mentioned the (excessive?) dimness of the rooms. DW would like to know if she should bring along a lighted make-up mirror with her, or would that just be unnecessary spending of more money, and *I* would like to know how difficult it'll be for me to do my nightly reading whilst in bed.

If anyone who has been to AKL could let us know, we would be sooo grateful!!

Thanks!!
--Jeff

 

[Ilovestitch]

We just got back from AKL and I was worried the room would be too dark but it wasn't at ALL! I think there's 4 lights above the beds and I found the area with the sinks/mirror to be brightly lit. I had no problem doing my makeup w/these lights.

The seperate shower/toilet area was kinda dim but why would you need a bright light in there?

Here's some pics of the lighting fixtures:

 

[letterdavidman]

We just got back from AKL and I was worried the room would be too dark but it wasn't at ALL! I think there's 4 lights above the beds and I found the area with the sinks/mirror to be brightly lit. I had no problem doing my makeup w/these lights.

The seperate shower/toilet area was kinda dim but why would you need a bright light in there?

Here's some pics of the lighting fixtures:

Thank you so very, very much Ilovestitch!! Mind you, the brightness (or lack of it) wasn't that much of an issue with me (more for DW), but I thought I'd ask.

How was your stay at AKL, incidentally? Were any of the negative reviews I've read correct? As in, how was check in for you? Mousekeeping? Did you have trouble finding a bellhop to assist you with your luggage? How was the staff, overall?

Man. DW and I are going in August, and it just can't get here fast enough!!!

 

[SeattleMark]

I read that occassionally too and just can't understand it. We've stayed there many times and the lighting is perfectly fine to us. Just normal hotel room lighting. I think maybe because the woods used in the room are a dark wood that it gives the illusion of being darker, but it's totally fine for us.

 

[2MuchOhana]

We didn't have problems with the lighting while we were there. However, I have heard or read that if you have a room with bunk beds it gives the appearance of being darker; as you lose one of the sets of lights.

Hope that helps!

Jodi

 

[letterdavidman]

We didn't have problems with the lighting while we were there. However, I have heard or read that if you have a room with bunk beds it gives the appearance of being darker; as you lose one of the sets of lights.


Thank you, Soltwisch Family! Fortunately, as it's just me and my DW going (we've no kids yet, but I think we'll start trying on our trip ), we'll have no bunk bed. I don't think. I hope not.

Anyway, all I can say is... We're exactly ninety days away from checking into AKL!!!!!!!!!

 

[2MuchOhana]

letterdavidman:

Happy to help and pass on what I know or have heard! We have one dd but did not have a room with the bunk beds. We opted for the two queen beds.

Good luck with starting a family ! Hopefully they will give you a room with a king bed!

Enjoy your stay at the AKL! Have a magical vacation! I am jealous! We still have 129 days left to wait!

Jodi

 

[heffalump9]

We just returned from AKL and have never complained about the lighting. I think people feel it is dim because they use 60 watt compac flourescent lamps and they don't always turn on all 5 light fixtures in the bedroom area. The dressing/sink area has plenty of lighting.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Thank you so very, very much Ilovestitch!! Mind you, the brightness (or lack of it) wasn't that much of an issue with me (more for DW), but I thought I'd ask.

How was your stay at AKL, incidentally? Were any of the negative reviews I've read correct? As in, how was check in for you? Mousekeeping? Did you have trouble finding a bellhop to assist you with your luggage? How was the staff, overall?

Man. DW and I are going in August, and it just can't get here fast enough!!!

I'll give it a shot on answering your questions since we just returned.
We had no problem with bellservices, the bellman when we left had his hands full and went aboveboard to get us loaded up. Mousekeeping gave us no problems and were prompt when we had a problem. And, checkin was very easy, of course I was lucky. The line got REAL long behind me, so I picked a good time to get in line. And, best of all we got the free upgrade to a savannah view room, without asking!
Kim

PS, someone mentioned you lost a light with bunkbeds, but it turned out that each bunk had it's own light over it.

 

[letterdavidman]

I'll give it a shot on answering your questions since we just returned.
We had no problem with bellservices, the bellman when we left had his hands full and went aboveboard to get us loaded up. Mousekeeping gave us no problems and were prompt when we had a problem. And, checkin was very easy, of course I was lucky. The line got REAL long behind me, so I picked a good time to get in line. And, best of all we got the free upgrade to a savannah view room, without asking!
Kim


Cool! Yeah, I know check in can sometimes be a hassle, through no fault of the Hotel. I figure that we'll be arriving at AKL sometime between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on a Sunday> I know official check in time is not until 3:00 p.m., so I was planning on leaving my luggage with bell services and going either into the parks or to DTD for a few hours. I've heard that if I go that route, my luggage should be waiting for me in my room when I get back. Is this right?

We have a PS (or ADR, or whatever their called now ) at Boma for 5:00 p.m. I just made the ressie today!

Anyway, thank you, Luvn~Travel, for your very knowledgeable response to my questions!!

--Jeff

 

[septbride2002]

Hello! We stayed at the AKL in February 2004 and I thought the lighting was fine. I'm an avid reader and I had no problems laying in bed and reading a book. The lighting is softer then most resorts, we even had a lamp that gave off a pinkish hue. I loved it! The lighting around the mirrors and sinks is more then enough to apply make-up.

The staff at AKL was awesome. Mousekeeping was great and our room was always tidy. The staff would answer any questions you had, especially those around the Savannahs. We had a great conversation with two staff members about where they were from and their villages.

We took care of our own suitcases since we were so late arriving and their was not reason to check our bags.

Bus service was top notch. It was certainly better then when we stayed at the Poly since you didn't share the bus with any other resort.

You'll love the gift shop - it is huge and with a lot of different souveniers you won't find elsewhere on property.

Boma is excellent - I highly reccommend it. And if you can afford it, try Jiko. I wish we had. Boma is more family oriented, while Jiko is more quite and romantic. The fast food place Mara is great. Try the African Stew in a bread bowl - heaven.

~Amanda

 

[letterdavidman]

Hello! We stayed at the AKL in February 2004 and I thought the lighting was fine. I'm an avid reader and I had no problems laying in bed and reading a book. The lighting is softer then most resorts, we even had a lamp that gave off a pinkish hue. I loved it! The lighting around the mirrors and sinks is more then enough to apply make-up.

The staff at AKL was awesome. Mousekeeping was great and our room was always tidy. The staff would answer any questions you had, especially those around the Savannahs. We had a great conversation with two staff members about where they were from and their villages.

We took care of our own suitcases since we were so late arriving and their was not reason to check our bags.

Bus service was top notch. It was certainly better then when we stayed at the Poly since you didn't share the bus with any other resort.

You'll love the gift shop - it is huge and with a lot of different souveniers you won't find elsewhere on property.

Boma is excellent - I highly reccommend it. And if you can afford it, try Jiko. I wish we had. Boma is more family oriented, while Jiko is more quite and romantic. The fast food place Mara is great. Try the African Stew in a bread bowl - heaven.

~Amanda

Thanks, Amanda!! You definitely seem to have enjoyed yourself.

I just made advanced dining reservations for dinner at Boma this morning, and will be making ADRs for both Boma (breakfast) and Jiko (dinner) tomorrow morning... wow, this is almost overwhelming being here at the ninety day point from our long, loooong awaited vacation to WDW!!!

Tomorrow, when I make the ressies, I'm going to let them know that the dinner at Jiko will be my wife's big birthday dinner. It'd be just entirely too cool if they did a little something special for her!

Anyway, thanks again!!