Hi and welcome to the boards.
First off the week of Thanksgiving is usually not to crowded till the day before and the weekend after. Espically busy is the Thanksgiving and the Friday and Saturday after.
Also, as to the odor of the AKL. There is absolutly no odor at all from the animals. We stayed there a year ago and the temps were in the 90's and if it was going to smell it would have then and we noticed nothing at all. Also, the animal keepers are out and around a lot picking up debris so there really in even none to see.
Enjoy your stay and we will be arriving the day after Thanksgiving at AKL again for our first Christmas trip.