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

[kimmar067]

Hi Everyone
Dropping in to see if I can get some help!
My in-laws have generously offered to "upgrade" our resort (from moderate to deluxe) for my family's vacation in February - including ML/FL, myself/DH, and numerous BIL's/SIL's and children - 22 of us needing 7 rooms.
We are planning to book Standard view, as that is what ML has offered.
I know very little about ALK - I have been to dinner at the resort twice during vacations over the past few years.
I'm confused as to what the "standard view" room options are; I've visited touringplans.com room view finder and there appear to be a lot of standard view rooms, but not many of them offer the nice picture view.

Do you all have some recommendations?
I don't know if we should be looking for something closer to the lobby, closer to the pool , etc. Not knowing the resort room layout is challenging . . . and my family is looking to me to make some recommendations.

Thanks for any help you all can provide!

Sherri ~
First of all, to our thread. You will gain so much valuable info here - feel free to ask questions, and we will do our best to answer them. Before you decide on any rooms, if I were you, I'd immediately call WDW to find out about GROUP RATES, since your party is more than 20 people. Since you probably will be booking standard rooms, personally, I'd request Giraffe Trail, lobby floor. It is conveniently located near everything. Let's face it - all the std rooms face the parking area, so you might as well be located in a part of the resort that has easy access to lobby, pool, restaurants, and buses, and Giraffe Tail can offer all that....

 

[kimmar067]

Hi all, quick question. Does Sanaa do takeout and is this where the room service comes from? Staying at kidani with very picky eaters but I love indian food! Yes I know they have a few other options but heaven forbid they don't have chicken nuggets! Lol. Thanks!

JAMBO! and welcome! I am not sure if Sanaa does take-out, but WDW has a way of making magic happen, so I don't see why not. Please remember that you can always just head on down to The Mara, located at Jambo House. It may be a little inconvenient, but it will satisfy the taste buds of even the pickiest of eaters. As for chicken nugget/hot dog/fries fare, I'm thinking that those kinds of foods are probably offered by the pool area.....

 

[Sherrkel]

Sherri ~
First of all, to our thread. You will gain so much valuable info here - feel free to ask questions, and we will do our best to answer them. Before you decide on any rooms, if I were you, I'd immediately call WDW to find out about GROUP RATES, since your party is more than 20 people. Since you probably will be booking standard rooms, personally, I'd request Giraffe Trail, lobby floor. It is conveniently located near everything. Let's face it - all the std rooms face the parking area, so you might as well be located in a part of the resort that has easy access to lobby, pool, restaurants, and buses, and Giraffe Tail can offer all that....

Hi kimmar . . .thank you for the warm welcome.
The Giraffe Trail area sounds like it would work well for our family; right off the lobby, and with the pool close too. Is that area limited to where all the standard view rooms are located (Giraffe and Ostrich Trails)?
We have looked in to group rates in the past, but it doesn't work for us (must have minimum of 10 rooms, only give up to 8-day park hopper - we're staying 9 nights/10 days - and if you get free dining PINs, which we did last year, you cannot use them with the group rate).
Thanks again, and looking forward to continuing researching this thread.

 

[xjay]

Hi all! My boyfriend and I are headed to Disney in December. We just switched our dates around and we decided to book a standard CL room at AKL for our first night (can't wait to see the animals when I wake up on my birthday ). Anyways, we were wondering if any of the rooms have been refurbished. We saw on another thread some pictures of an updated room, but they were just from one person and were the only ones that I could find anywhere online. Does anyone know if the CL rooms have been refurbished? Also, is there any requests we should make? We just want a good view of the animals. Thanks in advance!

 

[EeyoreIsMyName]

We are planning to stay at AKL for the first time next summer. I need your advice about an Arusha view room.

Would halfway down afford us unobstructed views of the savannah or is it better to go more towards the end of that long hallway?

Is a third or fourth floor room better than a second floor room for animal viewing?

We'd like to see giraffes and zebras. Is Arusha the best savannah location for that?

Are there other designated viewing areas to see the animals (besides the sunset viewing area) for those of us who will not be concierge guests?

We are only planning on walking to the restaurant in morning and evening as the main reason we are staying here is to see the animals.

 

[maryj11]

Is there a map that shows the locations of the laundry rooms ?

 

[Valgoof]

Just switched our SSR reservation to Kidani for November!! I am so excited to stay there! I am using a friend's CM discount and the only thing available this late was standard view, so hoping that isn't too bad.

 

[kimmar067]

We are planning to stay at AKL for the first time next summer. I need your advice about an Arusha view room.

Would halfway down afford us unobstructed views of the savannah or is it better to go more towards the end of that long hallway?
...not necessarily. Pretty much, every Arusha room has a great view.

Is a third or fourth floor room better than a second floor room for animal viewing?
...typically, the higher the room the better the view, although the top floor is a little obstructed because of the roof's overhang.

We'd like to see giraffes and zebras. Is Arusha the best savannah location for that?
...it usually is, but, with the construction of Kidani, the animals periodically get 'switched around'.
Are there other designated viewing areas to see the animals (besides the sunset viewing area) for those of us who will not be concierge guests?

We are only planning on walking to the restaurant in morning and evening as the main reason we are staying here is to see the animals.
...I'm not sure what you are asking here...

....see above responses....

 

[kimmar067]

Just switched our SSR reservation to Kidani for November!! I am so excited to stay there! I am using a friend's CM discount and the only thing available this late was standard view, so hoping that isn't too bad.

... ...don't fret - you'll have plenty of opportunities to view the animals in the public areas....

 

[kimmar067]

Is there a map that shows the locations of the laundry rooms ?

....the main laundry room is near the elevator at the beginning of Zebra Trail's hallway, next the Simba's Den. It is on the 1st floor. There is another one a little more than halfway down the Kudu Trail. I don't remember if it's on the 2nd or third floor....

 

[grkmbee]

.....see? This thread is so friendly that folks can even ask a question about a stapler!

Although usually a lurker, I always feel comfortable posting silly questions.

Perfect!

 

[maryj11]

....the main laundry room is near the elevator at the beginning of Zebra Trail's hallway, next the Simba's Den. It is on the 1st floor. There is another one a little more than halfway down the Kudu Trail. I don't remember if it's on the 2nd or third floor....

Ok thank you

 

[kimmar067]

Ok thank you

 

[think-like-tink]

Back to work I go this morning, I am missing our new "home" AKL. Where are my giraffes? Not in Wy.

 

[kimmar067]

...Where are my giraffes? Not in Wy.

....I should hope NOT!

[ ]

 

[xjay]

Does anyone know if the CL rooms have new bedspreads or not?

 

[kimmar067]

....sorry can't answer that definitively, since it's been a long time since we've done CL. However, in general, WDW resorts usually periodically update/redecorate....

 

[think-like-tink]

hmmm,bed spread no.


We had a new runner on our bed.

 

[nadira36]

Two questions - though only one is related to AKL...

First if staying in a suite are there washing/drying machines? Or is that a strictly DVC perk? I need to know if I can plan to easily wash clothes, or if I should just pack more.

And second hypothetical question - if you were sitting there minding your own business and discovered a bag FULL of money in your yard - not hidden, but not just tossed there either. What would you do? Would you keep it, or would you call the police, do something else? Please, I need reassurance here!

 

[Sydney2977]

Back to work I go this morning, I am missing our new "home" AKL. Where are my giraffes? Not in Wy.

I know what you mean! I keep telling my DH that a giraffe would be perfectly happy in our backyard, but he says the dogs would annoy it... excuses, excuses...