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

[kimmar067]

One month to go until my trip. Time to start packing... On arrival day we were planning on just exploring the resort. Do they provide towels at the pool? I am hoping to not have to pack towels in my carry on?

We are only there for three nights before switching resorts, so what is the one "don't miss" food item? We have eaten at Boma several times, so I was thinking at Mara?

Thanks

...I don't know if they have it anymore, but one of my favorite things was the spicy stew in a bowl made out of bread....OMG, was that good!

 

[kimmar067]

November
Tarcc, Oct 25th - 8th, AKL
Disney Mom12, Oct 26th – 4th, AKL CL
Kimmar067, Oct 29th – 2nd, Mystic Dunes, AKL
PNO4TE, Oct 31st – 2nd, Kidani
DizDaD7, 1st – 8th, AKV

...thanks, Brandi!

 

[maryj11]

When I stayed at Jambo House in March, I wasn't happy with the bus situation. When the bus arrived to take us to the theme parks, it was already mostly filled with people from Kidani. No room for all of the people waiting at Jambo House. I ended up taking a cab to get to the theme parks.

Well, I just got back from Orlando. I stayed off-site because I was there for a convention. I went to the Magic Kingdom after the conference ended. I took a monorail to the Contemporary Resort.

The monorail pulled away from the Magic Kingdom, headed toward the Contemporary, and stopped.

There was a power failure at the Contemporary, and they didn't know what to do. We sat, and sat, and sat while they figured it out.

Meanwhile, I'm looking out the window. We were way up in the air. If we had to be evacuated, they would have had to bring in the fire trucks and take us down the ladders.

Fortunately, the problem wasn't with the monorail train itself. It eventually backed up to the Magic Kingdom, and we got off. But I swore I would never get on a monorail again.

If you're on a bus, and there's a problem, at least you can walk off the bus.

So I, personally, will never again complain about the buses.

(Or so I say now, anyway.)

How much did the cab cost and how long did it take ?

 

[maryj11]

We usually head back for a while right after lunch when the parks are the most crowded. We do a 7 pm dinner or so and we head back to the parks around 5 so we are not rushing to get to dinner. It helps a lot to rest the feet and body.

 

[PNO4TE]

It was fine in my list... Must have been kims list that auto corrected.

For someone who isn't planning on a WDW trip for quite a while you sure are conscientious about keeping our list. Thanks, Brandi!

 

[mevelandry]

Will be there on November 23 (1 night). Booked a Pool View. Anybody knows what a pool view might look like? (Anybody knows where I could find pictures?

 

[maryj11]

Will be there on November 23 (1 night). Booked a Pool View. Anybody knows what a pool view might look like? (Anybody knows where I could find pictures?

Here is a couple I found http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3230132&highlight=akl+pool+view

 

[Best Aunt]

How much did the cab cost and how long did it take ?

To get to Magic Kingdom:
15 minute ride to the Transportation & Ticket Center.
Cost $26 including 20% tip.
Once I got to the TTC, I took the ferryboat to the Magic Kingdom.

To get to Epcot:
Cost: $21 including tip. It was a 15-minute drive.

Both of these were at about 8:30 am in March.

I did not need to take a cab to Animal Kingdom because I was doing the Sunrise Safari. There were two buses just for the people taking the tour.

I did not go to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

 

[mevelandry]

Here is a couple I found http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3230132&highlight=akl+pool+view

Wow, thanks. Some of them are looking great!

 

[abja09]

To get to Magic Kingdom: 15 minute ride to the Transportation & Ticket Center. Cost $26 including 20% tip. Once I got to the TTC, I took the ferryboat to the Magic Kingdom. To get to Epcot: Cost: $21 including tip. It was a 15-minute drive. Both of these were at about 8:30 am in March. I did not need to take a cab to Animal Kingdom because I was doing the Sunrise Safari. There were two buses just for the people taking the tour. I did not go to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Thanks for the cab prices!,

 

[maryj11]

To get to Magic Kingdom:
15 minute ride to the Transportation & Ticket Center.
Cost $26 including 20% tip.
Once I got to the TTC, I took the ferryboat to the Magic Kingdom.

To get to Epcot:
Cost: $21 including tip. It was a 15-minute drive.

Both of these were at about 8:30 am in March.

I did not need to take a cab to Animal Kingdom because I was doing the Sunrise Safari. There were two buses just for the people taking the tour.

I did not go to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Ok thanks

 

[maryj11]

Wow, thanks. Some of them are looking great!

Your welcome, we are booking a pool view our next trip so I have been searching
You also can go to here and click on a room and it usually shows a picture of the view but Im not sure it will work unless your a member.
http://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge

 

[anjalee6]

Here is the latest list of everyone visiting in 2014

If you have any updates please let me know...

2014

November
Tarcc, Oct 25th - 8th, AKL
Disney Mom12, Oct 26th – 4th, AKL CL
Kimmar067, Oct 29th – 2nd, AKL
PNO4TE, Oct 31st – 2nd, Kidani
DizDaD7, 1st – 8th, AKV
YoYoAurora, 1st – 8th, AKL CL
PNO4TE, 2nd – 8th, BWV
RachelTori, 2nd – 8th, BWV
Grandma Rainbow, 5th – 9th, AKL
LMO429, 5th – 9th, Kidani Village
MomofDisneyLoversx3, 6th – 10th, Poly CL
Yoshiandi, 9th -14th, AKL
disney meema, 9th – 19th, AKL CL
Xclusive2WDW, 11th -16th, AKL
Disney9.9.10, 12th – 19th, Kidani Village
dolphingirl47, 13th – 23rd, Aulani
Traceylee, 20th – 29th, AKL
RapunzelsGoodMom, 22nd – 27th, AKV Kidani
saysib, 28th-Dec 12th, AKL

2015
January
Sndral, 1st – 11th, AKL
DINKaAtDisney, 9th – 13th, AKL
anjalee6, 15th – 20th, AKL
Ted in Halifax, 17th – Feb 2nd, AKL

Ok, we decided o change our January trip we just booked to a November trip to celebrate our anniversary. So, we are not going in January and our new dates are

November 13-16 @ AKL CL

 

[kimmar067]

To get to Magic Kingdom:
15 minute ride to the Transportation & Ticket Center.
Cost $26 including 20% tip.
Once I got to the TTC, I took the ferryboat to the Magic Kingdom.

To get to Epcot:
Cost: $21 including tip. It was a 15-minute drive.

Both of these were at about 8:30 am in March.

I did not need to take a cab to Animal Kingdom because I was doing the Sunrise Safari. There were two buses just for the people taking the tour.

I did not go to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

.....hmmmmm....that seems like money better-spent on Zebra Domes....or Dole Whips....or cream-cheese filled pretzels...or a Mickey Dove bar....or.....

....hey, gotta have my priorities....

 

[tiggrbaby]

.....hmmmmm....that seems like money better-spent on Zebra Domes....or Dole Whips....or cream-cheese filled pretzels...or a Mickey Dove bar....or.....

....hey, gotta have my priorities....

I like your priorities!

 

[RikkiTurner]

I'm very excited that I will be returning to Disney after a 10 year absence. I will be travelling with my girlfriend, parents and brother staying at AKL from 8th-22nd November.

We have 2 standard view rooms as we couldn't really really justify the extra cost for Savannah view, especially as it's a long stay and that we are travelling from Europe. We probably won't be in the hotel that much as we love being in the parks and doing other activities around Orlando. That being said It would be nice in the evening to sit out on the balcony and watch the animals.

I've been looking on touringplans.com and it seems as though there are quite a few standard view rooms on the Kudu and Zebra trails which appear to have either Sunset Savannah or Uzima Savannah views. The buildings highlighted in purple show where standard view rooms are.



In the below image all rooms highlighted in purple are standard view rooms. This is floor 4 but there are also options on 2 and 3 and are almost identical to the options on 4. I'm thinking about requesting 2 rooms in the area I've circled on the Kudu trail as I presume this will give the best animal viewing options. Can anyone who has been before clarify for me if this would be a good choice?



I'm aware this is quite far from the lobby but that really doesn't bother me or my family. Of the available options for standard view, with animal viewing in mind where would you choose?

 

[psac]

I'm very excited that I will be returning to Disney after a 10 year absence. I will be travelling with my girlfriend, parents and brother staying at AKL from 8th-22nd November.

We have 2 standard view rooms as we couldn't really really justify the extra cost for Savannah view, especially as it's a long stay and that we are travelling from Europe. We probably won't be in the hotel that much as we love being in the parks and doing other activities around Orlando. That being said It would be nice in the evening to sit out on the balcony and watch the animals.

I've been looking on touringplans.com and it seems as though there are quite a few standard view rooms on the Kudu and Zebra trails which appear to have either Sunset Savannah or Uzima Savannah views. The buildings highlighted in purple show where standard view rooms are.


In the below image all rooms highlighted in purple are standard view rooms. This is floor 4 but there are also options on 2 and 3 and are almost identical to the options on 4. I'm thinking about requesting 2 rooms in the area I've circled on the Kudu trail as I presume this will give the best animal viewing options. Can anyone who has been before clarify for me if this would be a good choice?


I'm aware this is quite far from the lobby but that really doesn't bother me or my family. Of the available options for standard view, with animal viewing in mind where would you choose?

Those are probably the people pen views. The immediate area in front of those rooms will have giant penned off areas that are designed to hold people inside/animals outside in case of an evacuation. But past those pens you should get a decent Savanna view. I agree, that would be worth the extra distance from the lobby!

I've seen people say they've requested "people pen Savanna views" when booking a standard, but I don't know how successful the requests are as opposed to trying to be very specific like it looks like you're trying to do. Good luck!!

 

[RikkiTurner]

Those are probably the people pen views. The immediate area in front of those rooms will have giant penned off areas that are designed to hold people inside/animals outside in case of an evacuation. But past those pens you should get a decent Savanna view. I agree, that would be worth the extra distance from the lobby!

I've seen people say they've requested "people pen Savanna views" when booking a standard, but I don't know how successful the requests are as opposed to trying to be very specific like it looks like you're trying to do. Good luck!!

Looking at Google earth, I think you are right that these are pen views. Does anyone know how high the pens are?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I have had the PP view a view times:
3542 (view North) - Giraffes
2541 (view South) - Honestly, we didn't see many animals on the Uzima Savannah

The pen is low..it doesn't block the view, but it isn't a true savannah, so probably why it is considered Standard

 

[parkhopmom]

Anyone have a picture of the people pen view? I have 1 night in a standard coming up and interested in some of the possibilities... I have had an Arusha savannah view before.