AKL LITE unofficial FAQ thread#10 - I believe that's known as a 'Jambo Dozen'

[Shaden]

We were just there two weeks ago. We found the pre-made salads and the burgers to both be very good!



The DME takes about 35 minutes as said, but we had to wait for the bus to load, and then stop at Art of Animation and Pop Century before going to AKL. I think about 90 minutes from landing time is a better estimate, to be honest, although you're getting in SO early, it might be really quick!!

For DTD, it was about 30 mins going, and maybe 50 back.

Enjoy!

really ????? 30 To DTD and 50 Back !? I am pretty sure we have taken a bus from DTD to AKL ... and it didn't take anywhere near 50 ...

Anyone else have some input on those times ?

 

[hill6]

Three weeks from now we will be there. Can't wait. Tax season ends tomorrow and it has been a brutal one.

 

[nighttowll]

really ????? 30 To DTD and 50 Back !? I am pretty sure we have taken a bus from DTD to AKL ... and it didn't take anywhere near 50 ... Anyone else have some input on those times ?

I don't think 50 minutes is too far off if there was traffic. I think it took us about 35 to 45 minutes riding the bus depending on traffic to go one way. It took between an hour to hour and a half if you counted the whole process walking to and from bus stops, waiting for DTD bus to come by. One day we waited longer for the DTD bus to come then the drive took. We waited almost an hour. I know we were timing it. Never left the bench. A million other buses came by, just not a DTD bus. I always gave us 2 hours between leaving the resort and when our DTD dinner reservations were just to be safe. Then if we had extra time, we just window shopped, but a few times we barely made it. That doesn't mean the drive took 2 hours just the whole process, walking to stop, waiting, riding bus, walking from stop to restaurant, waiting in line to get checked in.

 

[AngiTN]

Anyone have any opinion on Kudu Trail vs Zebra Trail, Club Level? I looked at some of the room views at Touring Plans to get an idea but it didn't help tremendously as so many of the views are from different floors (not 4). In some of the shots they have up you can't see savannah. That's not the case is it? I assume it's because those shots are not 4th floor, but I hate to assume and be wrong.

I know it's only a request but I'm only putting in the one, which Trail I want, so hopefully I'll stand a chance of getting it. Being able to see well from our balcony is paramount on this particular trip since we are planning a lot of Resort time, which is why we sprung for CL rooms.

 

[Shaden]

I don't think 50 minutes is too far off if there was traffic. I think it took us about 35 to 45 minutes riding the bus depending on traffic to go one way. It took between an hour to hour and a half if you counted the whole process walking to and from bus stops, waiting for DTD bus to come by. One day we waited longer for the DTD bus to come then the drive took. We waited almost an hour. I know we were timing it. Never left the bench. A million other buses came by, just not a DTD bus. I always gave us 2 hours between leaving the resort and when our DTD dinner reservations were just to be safe. Then if we had extra time, we just window shopped, but a few times we barely made it. That doesn't mean the drive took 2 hours just the whole process, walking to stop, waiting, riding bus, walking from stop to restaurant, waiting in line to get checked in.

We have just never had an experience like that, well, maybe once, but still no where near that bad. We have never understood what people are complaining about with the busses. We seem to walk to the bus stops, wherever we are and ... BAM ... there is a bus. We hop on and a few minutes later, we are at our destination.

Weird.

 

[hill6]

Related question. We are planning to take an afternoon break from MK back at AKL. We then have dinner reservations at 'Ohana. Should we just take a taxi from AKL to 'Ohana? And then from the Poly back to MK... ferry or monorail?

If you want a direct trip I would take a taxi. If you are not in a rush then a bus and either ferry/monorail is a good option. I love the monorail

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I am excited!! 17 days till we are back at AKL.. Requested "my room" 3010.. Hoping I can get it

 

[hemmie]

If you want a direct trip I would take a taxi. If you are not in a rush then a bus and either ferry/monorail is a good option. I love the monorail

Thanks! So how long do you think the bus-ferry/monorail combo would take?

Also, what do you think is the best way back to MK? As in, are the ferry & monorail the same time-wise and it's just a personal preference?

 

[ipuffyheartdisney]

My family will be there June 13 one night at BLT and June 14-21 Jambo House!!!! So excited to be back!

 

[nighttowll]

We have just never had an experience like that, well, maybe once, but still no where near that bad. We have never understood what people are complaining about with the busses. We seem to walk to the bus stops, wherever we are and ... BAM ... there is a bus. We hop on and a few minutes later, we are at our destination. Weird.

I've never really understood the complaining either. Overall, we didn't have too many issues. Going to the parks was pretty much as you described it. Walked out, bus showed up, maybe waited 5 minutes. The only time we ever had issues was just to DTD. I kind of felt the DTD bus was cursed or something.

It's just one of those Murphy's Law things for us. If we are rushed and need to get there ASAP, something happens, and it takes 1.5 hours. If we have all day, we get there in under 30 minutes. I just always feel less stressed if I plan for a worse case scenario, then if it doesn't happen, we have some free time. Because you can be sure the one time I don't give us that extra time, will be the one time we really need it.

 

[DizDaD7]

Buses to and from DTD always tend to be long...Especially returning.And this is for ANY resort. It usually takes a while to catch a bus down there, then hopefully if its not full already get on then stip over at the Westside then stop at TL then finally on to your resort.....

It is very frustrating but something you have to deal with. Im hoping to stay in SSR when DTD Is completed , just to have a nice leisurely stroll over the new bridge...

 

[hill6]

Thanks! So how long do you think the bus-ferry/monorail combo would take?

Also, what do you think is the best way back to MK? As in, are the ferry & monorail the same time-wise and it's just a personal preference?

Personal preference. Maybe do one way from MK to Poly and the other way back.

 

[GirlGoneTexan]

30 day countdown!!!

First time for my kids, princess-crazed 5 yr old daughter & animal-crazed 7 yr old son. We are surprising them on departure morning.

Going May 16-20. Never stayed onsite before.

We booked a standard view room because our airline tickets ended up being more expensive than expected. Disney travel agent said she put a note in our reservation for "view"... any chance we will get any type of view or upgrade with a standard room? Do ALL the rooms have balconies, even standard?

 

[AliceandAriel]

I've never really understood the complaining either. Overall, we didn't have too many issues. Going to the parks was pretty much as you described it. Walked out, bus showed up, maybe waited 5 minutes. The only time we ever had issues was just to DTD. I kind of felt the DTD bus was cursed or something.

It's just one of those Murphy's Law things for us. If we are rushed and need to get there ASAP, something happens, and it takes 1.5 hours. If we have all day, we get there in under 30 minutes. I just always feel less stressed if I plan for a worse case scenario, then if it doesn't happen, we have some free time. Because you can be sure the one time I don't give us that extra time, will be the one time we really need it.

Yeah, the Disney buses unfortunately are hit or miss. I used to think people were nuts for saying it took them forever to show up. And then I needed to get to MK one morning for a CRT 9AM ADR, and waited nearly 45 minutes in line at AoA before a bus showed up. It was absolutely insane. After that, I planned out to be at a bus stop at least an hour before the time of whatever I needed to do, just in case the bus wanted to take its sweet time showing up. But for the most part, the buses always popped up within a few minutes.

 

[RapunzelsGoodMom]

30 day countdown!!!

First time for my kids, princess-crazed 5 yr old daughter & animal-crazed 7 yr old son. We are surprising them on departure morning.

Going May 16-20. Never stayed onsite before.

We booked a standard view room because our airline tickets ended up being more expensive than expected. Disney travel agent said she put a note in our reservation for "view"... any chance we will get any type of view or upgrade with a standard room? Do ALL the rooms have balconies, even standard?

That is so exciting! Have a great trip! My kids adore AKL!

Last time I was there I requested (and got) a reclassified Savanna view. It has a view that is a bit obstructed by fencing, "people pens" or other issues so they moved it to standard. I absolutely loved it. Giraffe and Zebra, etc. an African crane had her nest just below us. Amazing. Not sure if all of those are at the end of the halls but the long walk was definitely worth it to me.

But an upgrade to true Savanna view isn't completely out of the question!

And yes, all rooms have balconies!

 

[kimmar067]

30 day countdown!!!

First time for my kids, princess-crazed 5 yr old daughter & animal-crazed 7 yr old son. We are surprising them on departure morning.

Going May 16-20. Never stayed onsite before.

We booked a standard view room because our airline tickets ended up being more expensive than expected. Disney travel agent said she put a note in our reservation for "view"... any chance we will get any type of view or upgrade with a standard room? Do ALL the rooms have balconies, even standard?

....first of all, to our thread and congrats at the on-site stay! As for the standard-room dilemma, you will definitely have a balcony and you shouldn't be too concerned about a view, since not much time is spent in your room. Having said that, you will be going at a slower time of year, so there is a better chance of being upgraded to a room with a view, especially since you have young ones. However, it isn't written in stone, so please don't be too disappointed if it doesn't happen.

 

[psac]

Anyone have any opinion on Kudu Trail vs Zebra Trail, Club Level? I looked at some of the room views at Touring Plans to get an idea but it didn't help tremendously as so many of the views are from different floors (not 4). In some of the shots they have up you can't see savannah. That's not the case is it? I assume it's because those shots are not 4th floor, but I hate to assume and be wrong.

I know it's only a request but I'm only putting in the one, which Trail I want, so hopefully I'll stand a chance of getting it. Being able to see well from our balcony is paramount on this particular trip since we are planning a lot of Resort time, which is why we sprung for CL rooms.

We were in a zebra trail CL room last year and we really liked it. Good view, and we were close to the first elevator out on the trail so if we walked out to that one, it took us right down to the pool and Mara. Seemed like a perfect location. Here are some view pics from my phone.

 

[AngiTN]

Oh, those are awesome shots! Exactly what we hope to end up with. Thank you for sharing. Close to Pool is also very good since we'll be using it a lot.

If you don't mind me asking, did you find it fairly easy to dart up to the CL lounge? I assume the same elevator that goes down to the pool goes up to the lounge?

We were in a zebra trail CL room last year and we really liked it. Good view, and we were close to the first elevator out on the trail so if we walked out to that one, it took us right down to the pool and Mara. Seemed like a perfect location. Here are some view pics from my phone.

 

[kimmar067]

...there are a set of four elevators to the right as you enter the lobby that you use to reach CL....

 

[AngiTN]

...there are a set of four elevators to the right as you enter the lobby that you use to reach CL....

Those stop at both 4 and 6, right? So we can go from room to lounge without going to the lobby first.

Brings up another question.... can you use stairs from the lobby to the 4th floor, if we were so inclined? With it being 1 level there may be times we'll do that rather than an elevator, if there are stairs with easy access.