AKL for 1 night - what to do?

[triciari]

Yahoo! My waitlist came through! We've reserved a two bedroom, so I need a recommendation on what to request. After reading some posts, I think I want Arushka savannah, 3rd building? Or close to elevators? We want to be close to the pool, but also want a great savannah view, since it'll be our only trip to AKL. (Or so I say now.

If we arrive at the resort around 1, should we head for AK until 4:45, and have dinner at yak & yeti, then go to pool before bedtime? Or should we just go to the pool in the afternoon, have dinner at boma at 6, and then enjoy a bonfire (?) later? (I don't know where I got this idea? Am I correct in thinking there's one?)

And then the next morning...

I'm booking a limo to port. I haven't checked I. For the cruise yet, but am hoping to get an early port arrival time. Should I?

We could have an 8:30 breakfast at boma, gather our stuff and head for the port at 10:15. Or, we could go to tuskerhouse at 8, ride on one of the first safaris, get back to the room and leave for port around 11.

Any other ideas are welcome!

Tricia.

 

[triciari]

Yahoo! My waitlist came through! We've reserved a two bedroom, so I need a recommendation on what to request. After reading some posts, I think I want Arushka savannah, 3rd building? Or close to elevators? We want to be close to the pool, but also want a great savannah view, since it'll be our only trip to AKL. (Or so I say now.

If we arrive at the resort around 1, should we head for AK until 4:45, and have dinner at yak & yeti, then go to pool before bedtime? Or should we just go to the pool in the afternoon, have dinner at boma at 6, and then enjoy a bonfire (?) later? (I don't know where I got this idea? Am I correct in thinking there's one?)

And then the next morning...

I'm booking a limo to port. I haven't checked I. For the cruise yet, but am hoping to get an early port arrival time. Should I?

We could have an 8:30 breakfast at boma, gather our stuff and head for the port at 10:15. Or, we could go to tuskerhouse at 8, ride on one of the first safaris, get back to the room and leave for port around 11.

Any other ideas are welcome!

Tricia.

Any suggestions?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I understand that earlier port arrivals are preferred. That's what we try for, we have 11:30 - noon time arrival for ours. Maybe they get backed up.. For our first DCL with family the port was closed due to bomb scare when we arrived, & the lucky early arrivals were on the ship while chaos reigned on land. We missed life boat drill that time it was that touch & go!

I love Jambo house, there's a storytell around fire, night vision glasses for seeing animals and a cultural safari in a room off the lobby. There's another cultural safari by a different CM at Kidani about an hour later if you enjoy that sort of thing, I do!

Personally, if you can get an early arrival, I would eat breakfast & leave. We especially enjoy breakfast with the characters at Cape May Cafe, as they are in beachy costumes and that gets us ready for the cruise. We are not at BCV this time, so we'll be missing that!

Bobbi

 

[triciari]

Thanks, Bobbi!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I second Bobbi's advice about the cultural presentations. FYI, the ones at Kidani are much more polished, since it is the more senior exchange people who give them over there.

I also would recommend a meal at Sanaa....ABSOLUTELY the best restaurant in Disney World that is affordable! I never miss it now. I used to say that about Jiko, but Sanaa is my current favorite.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I second Bobbi's advice about the cultural presentations. FYI, the ones at Kidani are much more polished, since it is the more senior exchange people who give them over there.

I also would recommend a meal at Sanaa....ABSOLUTELY the best restaurant in Disney World that is affordable! I never miss it now. I used to say that about Jiko, but Sanaa is my current favorite.

Thanks for the info on the respective quality of the cultural presentations, Diane. I went to a couple at Jambo house, but I've always been kind of disappointed in the amatureness (is that a word?), lack of organization, that sort of thing. I'm going to try one at Kidani next time.

 

[triciari]

Thanks for the info on the respective quality of the cultural presentations, Diane. I went to a couple at Jambo house, but I've always been kind of disappointed in the amatureness (is that a word?), lack of organization, that sort of thing. I'm going to try one at Kidani next time.

What time are the presentations?

 

[SamSam]

I second Bobbi's advice about the cultural presentations. FYI, the ones at Kidani are much more polished, since it is the more senior exchange people who give them over there.

I also would recommend a meal at Sanaa....ABSOLUTELY the best restaurant in Disney World that is affordable! I never miss it now. I used to say that about Jiko, but Sanaa is my current favorite.

I agree on both. Kidani cultural presentations are much more polished and Sanaa is fabulous (at least for me).

 

[amyy]

Another vote for the cultural presentations. In Feb we spent 3 nights at the resorts instead of the parks just to take in all that was offered. if I remember correctly CM spend the first part of their stay doing the "canned" presentations at Jambo. For the 2nd part of their stay they create the presentations that are put on at Kidani. Last time we did 1 at Jambo and 2 at Kidani. Given the CM we loved all of them. The one at Jambo was about Africa. At Kidani one CM talked about Kruger National Park and how his family use to vacation there every year. He had tons of info about the animals, size etc. The second presentation was on hyenas which was that CM area of research interest. The crowd was smaller at Kidani so we had more time to ask random questions after.

 

[ToddyLu]

At Kidani there is a drum cafe for kids (and adults...ask me how I know) around 7:30 and the presentations are in the same room (Library)about 8p.m. and last about 30 minutes. The one we saw was about Victoria Falls and was excellent. There are also stories around the firepit at night. Certain nights there are movies by the pool at 8 p.m. I think. I popped my popcorn in the microwave and enjoyed it while I watched Tangled. I love the activities around the AKL resorts.

 

[triciari]

At Kidani there is a drum cafe for kids (and adults...ask me how I know) around 7:30 and the presentations are in the same room (Library)about 8p.m. and last about 30 minutes. The one we saw was about Victoria Falls and was excellent. There are also stories around the firepit at night. Certain nights there are movies by the pool at 8 p.m. I think. I popped my popcorn in the microwave and enjoyed it while I watched Tangled. I love the activities around the AKL resorts.

That sounds so great!

So, how did you learn about the drum cafe - and what is it?