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

[mousegear]

I just booked our first half of our trip at AKL Pool View, 8/15~8/21 using %35 room discount. I've been wanting to stay at AKL for a very long time. However, DS is very sensitive to smell and he has been vetoing my choice. DS fell in love with Jiko last trip and he got to try on the night vision to watch the animals at night. He admitted that it is cool to stay at AKL. We agreed on Pool View since DS is afraid that Savanna View might give him that constant smell. I was only too happy to finally book AKL. I'll just have to roam around the hotel a lot to watch the animals.

 

[tazdev3225]

Looking at your avatar... Did you really fall up the mountain while skiing and is this how your ankle became injured?

This sounds like a story I should get my popcorn ready for....

I actually did fall up a mountain but that was many years ago when I was a very young teenager. It was a rope tow, the snow was uneven and my boots were too big so both ankles got mild sprains.

This injury was dumber. I was walking with my granddaughter to pick up her siblings from school, trying to be healthy. Someone's sidewalk was uneven from tree roots. I missed one elevation but came down on another one and completely rolled my ankle. I heard it pop so knew I was in trouble. Good grandmom that I am I walked about 6 blocks on it (close to 1/2 mile) to get my grandkids.

Just did a lot of damage that hasn't healed well.

...but that's part of the fun...

I will read them all, I promise. Actually it will help me get ready for my trip.

Aww, sorry about the injury, but I hope your trip still goes well. My DH had ankle surgery before trip and had to rent an ECV too. Everyone was so nice about it, from bus drivers to CM's at rides. He had a big boot around his bandages so he could get off and limp onto most rides. Have fun with the ECV and decorate it if you want. My now retired boss had to use one for the last few years and a couple co-workers and I decorated it for Christmas- then she wanted it decorated for every holiday and month after that!

It's been about 18 months since the original injury so I am used to it now. Don't need the huge boot but will have the brace. I find that people are nicer about the scooter if they see you have an injury. They tend to get attitudes with the unseen issues.

I have decorated the scooter just about every trip the past few years. Back issues and 6 knee surgeries, I am a walking disaster area according to my DH. I have lights just trying to decide if I want to decorate for F&G, Star Wars or the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. Really wish I had bought the Yoda lights at Christmas now.

 

[hill6]

At MCO heading home. Had a great stay at Kidani. Had a few maintenance issues in our room and felt like the person I spoke to on phone was rushing me and got annoyed that I had three things that need corrected.

We had two reservations since we were waitlisted at BCV on DVC points from our friend. One was three days the other two. We never got a cleaning or trash/towel cleaning.

Loved the resort overall.

 

[AliceandAriel]

Are the hot tubs typically dominated by families, or more of an adult only deal? Does it matter on time of day? I'm a sucker for a good hot tub soak, but not if I'm dodging munchkins left and right.

 

[The Sunrise Student]

You know, I'm not so sure there are King rooms that are not HA on Club Level. Looking at the Disney site, it doesn't mention King rooms on Club Level.

This is all it shows
2 Queen Beds or 1 Queen Bed and 1 Bunk Bed or 1 Queen Bed

So it doesn't show King rooms there.

But, if you click the box for HA it shows

1 King Bed and 1 Day Bed

and nothing else. So I think, despite what the CM on the phone said, there are no non HA King rooms on CL

That's what I thought! I am going to make sure it is just a single queen request.

Thank you!

 

[The Sunrise Student]

On the Jambo House side there are two hot tubs near the Uzima pool. Here's a picture of one:

Oh very cool, or should I say HOT, thank you!!!

 

[psac]

At MCO heading home. Had a great stay at Kidani. Had a few maintenance issues in our room and felt like the person I spoke to on phone was rushing me and got annoyed that I had three things that need corrected.

We had two reservations since we were waitlisted at BCV on DVC points from our friend. One was three days the other two. We never got a cleaning or trash/towel cleaning.

Loved the resort overall.

Glad you enjoyed your stay! Generally when you call you get a call center, not the front desk. For quicker attention it usually helps to actually go to the front desk.

Weird you didn't get the towel and trash, we usually have the opposite -- we stay for 8 nights, so we get T&T on day 8, and we usually call and try to cancel since we're checking out the next day. And they usually still give us the T&T anyway!

 

[hill6]

Glad you enjoyed your stay! Generally when you call you get a call center, not the front desk. For quicker attention it usually helps to actually go to the front desk.

Weird you didn't get the towel and trash, we usually have the opposite -- we stay for 8 nights, so we get T&T on day 8, and we usually call and try to cancel since we're checking out the next day. And they usually still give us the T&T anyway!

Days 3 and 4 had us out of the room almost all day so we didn't realize it wasn't done till very late and we were not going to call when we got back.

I had actually ordered extra towels on the 2nd day so we had plenty. We had the trash bin just down from our room and took out our own trash.

I will make sure I let Disney know what happened. There was a glitch somewhere.



We will be heading back in November - just need to confirm vacation availability at work and price out the flights. WE WILL BE USING THE DVC POINTS WE BOUGHT WHEN WE WERE THERE. Our home resort is Villas at GF.

 

[Wanna be Ariel]

Hi All, I have not had a chance to read through this whole thread so feel forgive me if this info is somewhere on it. We are staying at AK Jambo house DVC Studio for the first time in 4 days. My question is do they have full size cribs available by request or are they just the pack n plays?

 

[Ferrentinos]

We will arrive on Thursday at AKL CL! Super excited! We are planning to take ME to AKL and arrive bright and early around 8:45am to MCO. Does AKL share ME buses with any other resorts? Is it roughly the same amount of drive time from the airport as the other WDW resorts?

Hoping to get to AKL by 10am (barring any flight delays) so that we could have the tail-end of the breakfast offerings in the lounge. I was just curious if you thought that was reasonable.

Thanks!

 

[psac]

We will arrive on Thursday at AKL CL! Super excited! We are planning to take ME to AKL and arrive bright and early around 8:45am to MCO. Does AKL share ME buses with any other resorts? Is it roughly the same amount of drive time from the airport as the other WDW resorts?

Hoping to get to AKL by 10am (barring any flight delays) so that we could have the tail-end of the breakfast offerings in the lounge. I was just curious if you thought that was reasonable.

Thanks!

On our last trip we shared with Art of Animation and Pop Century, Jambo was third and Kidani last. AKL might also physically be the furthest resort on property from MCO, so you might have to factor in an extra 10 or 15 minutes just in drive time. Like you said, I think the biggest question will be how close to 8:45 you actually get off the plane. You might not actually get to the DME until 9:15, which would make 10 impossible. If your plane gets in early you might be lucky!

 

[Disney9.9.10]

Are the hot tubs typically dominated by families, or more of an adult only deal? Does it matter on time of day? I'm a sucker for a good hot tub soak, but not if I'm dodging munchkins left and right.

We stayed at Kidani in August 2011, and my grandma and I went down to the hot tub for a soak every night. We weren't usually too late, maybe 9pm? There were occasionally kids there but we had no problems with them running around and splashing in the hot tub, stuff like that. Usually it was just adults.

 

[LMO429]

I am staying at Kidani for the first time in Nov. We have a Savanna View. I hate taking elevators what location/floor should I request????

 

[psac]

I am staying at Kidani for the first time in Nov. We have a Savanna View. I hate taking elevators what location/floor should I request????

You would want second floor, close to lobby.

 

[jvattes]

I just booked our first half of our trip at AKL Pool View, 8/15~8/21 using %35 room discount. I've been wanting to stay at AKL for a very long time. However, DS is very sensitive to smell and he has been vetoing my choice. DS fell in love with Jiko last trip and he got to try on the night vision to watch the animals at night. He admitted that it is cool to stay at AKL. We agreed on Pool View since DS is afraid that Savanna View might give him that constant smell. I was only too happy to finally book AKL. I'll just have to roam around the hotel a lot to watch the animals.

Congrats!

Like you, we have dreamed of an AKL stay for a long time - pretty much since it opened, really! We also get to finally go, and will be there just ahead of you at the very start of Aug (and very end of July).

We are pool view too - have you seen the view from some of these rooms?! WOW! - but for us it was a $$ thing. Maybe we'll get some pixie dust and be upgraded, but we are happy just to be there.

 

[jvattes]

I actually did fall up a mountain but that was many years ago when I was a very young teenager. It was a rope tow, the snow was uneven and my boots were too big so both ankles got mild sprains.

This injury was dumber. I was walking with my granddaughter to pick up her siblings from school, trying to be healthy. Someone's sidewalk was uneven from tree roots. I missed one elevation but came down on another one and completely rolled my ankle. I heard it pop so knew I was in trouble. Good grandmom that I am I walked about 6 blocks on it (close to 1/2 mile) to get my grandkids.

Just did a lot of damage that hasn't healed well.

Ouch on both counts!

 

[think-like-tink]

64 days away.*I can't handle the excitement. I'm looking at pics, reading reports, Disney on the brain 24-7.

 

[clouds]

What time should we be at the bus stop to make an 8:10 am crystal palace reservation if staying at AKL this Friday?

thanks!

 

[kimmar067]

64 days away.*I can't handle the excitement. I'm looking at pics, reading reports, Disney on the brain 24-7.

....that's me anyway...whether I have a vacay planned or not...

 

[kimmar067]

Are the hot tubs typically dominated by families, or more of an adult only deal? Does it matter on time of day? I'm a sucker for a good hot tub soak, but not if I'm dodging munchkins left and right.

I've stayed at AKL several times now and have never experienced a problem with children....of course, I've only used the one that is 'more secluded'...