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

[kimmar067]

Just switched resorts to the AKL pool view!! yay!

....ni-i-i-i-ice!

 

[mum2four]

Just wanted to say hi!

We'll be staying savannah view at AKL for the first time on our next trip....still 11 long months away, ugh!

I'll admit, I'm having a hard time tearing myself away from my beloved WL, but I want to try something new. Very excited about AKL and I know my kids will absolutely love it!

 

[kimmar067]

Just wanted to say hi!

We'll be staying savannah view at AKL for the first time on our next trip....still 11 long months away, ugh!

I'll admit, I'm having a hard time tearing myself away from my beloved WL, but I want to try something new. Very excited about AKL and I know my kids will absolutely love it!

....well, if you love WL, you will adore AKL!

 

[dgbg100106]

That sounds wonderful. We loved BCV in December and the Flower and Garden Festival is on the bucket list. All going well and if the dates are roughly the same as this year, I will finally get to tick this off the list next year.

Corinna

Whoop!

 

[dgbg100106]

Well we haven't even been home for 3 weeks from our May trip and our next Disney adventure is already set!!! Can you add us to the guest list? We'll be there December 7th to the 12th!!!

December
saysib, Nov 28th-12th, AKL
nadira36, Nov 30th – 12th, AKL, DD will turn 8….
Cincystamper, 3rd – 14th, AKL
Emilyclaire, 4th – 10th, AKL
DevonsDisneyMom, 7th-12th, AKL
jcjen519, 14th – 23rd, AKV CL

 

[dgbg100106]

Booked May 5th-11th 2015. Kidani Savannah view! Oh, this is going to be a long countdown.

May
DgBg100106, 5th -8th, BCV (Flower and Garden)
ThisIsJason, 5th – 11th, Kidani

 

[dgbg100106]

Laura sorry we missed each other again!

I'm back at AKL Jambo studio 8/4-6 before our family BWI trip. Looking forward to relaxing at the resort those 2 days!

August
anjalee6, Jul 28th – 6th, AKL
jvattes, Jul 29th – 5th, AKL
AngiTN, Jul 29th – 5th, AKL
MICKEY'S DREAMERS, 4th, AULANI RESORT , Oahu.
TaraPA, 4th – 6th, AKL
bobbie68, 7th – 10th, AKL
KHWDW27, 10th – 16th, Kidani
MomofDisneyLoversx3, 11th -18th, WL
katema52, 16th – 22nd, Kidani
eangel12, 20th – 21st, AKL CL
MaggieMouse, 20th – 27th, AKL
15isto2, 30th-Sept 27th, Kidani

 

[dgbg100106]

Laura sorry we missed each other again!

I'm back at AKL Jambo studio 8/4-6 before our family BWI trip. Looking forward to relaxing at the resort those 2 days!

August
anjalee6, Jul 28th – 6th, AKL
jvattes, Jul 29th – 5th, AKL
AngiTN, Jul 29th – 5th, AKL
MICKEY'S DREAMERS, 4th, AULANI RESORT , Oahu.
TaraPA, 4th – 6th, AKL
bobbie68, 7th – 10th, AKL
KHWDW27, 10th – 16th, Kidani
MomofDisneyLoversx3, 11th -18th, WL
katema52, 16th – 22nd, Kidani
eangel12, 20th – 21st, AKL CL
MaggieMouse, 20th – 27th, AKL
15isto2, 30th-Sept 27th, Kidani

 

[dgbg100106]

Hi everyone!

I just booked AKL for 9/21-9/28. It will be DH and myself for an early anniversary celebration and birthday trip for him. I used the military salute discount and got a standard CL room for our stay. We've stayed CL at the WL and loved it. We stayed here waaaay back in 2001 in a regular savannah room, not CL, so we're really looking forward to this little treat!

I called about the Sunrise Safari, but there's no availability for the one day when we can do it. Still, they took our info and said they'd see what could be done, so fingers crossed!

I've been reading through this thread but haven't gotten too far yet. Can anyone tell me, do "standard" CL rooms have a savannah view? I thought standard and savannah views were different, even at CL. Doesn't matter, though. I'm just happy to be going at a great rate!

September
15isto2, Aug 30th-27th, Kidani
pamelasu1 – 8th -12th, AKV Jambo studio
skatalite, 10th – 20th, AKV Jambo House
ShelliRenee, 14th – 19th, AKL
Sturowski, 16th – 22nd, AKL
Paula Sedley-Burke, 18th - 25th, AKV
Jackiemarie21, 19th – 24th, AKL
LJD2143, 20th – 27th, AKL
PFlamingo, 21st – 28th, AKL
Jennasis, 22nd – 28th, Kidani
PNO4TE, 25th-29th, BWV
RachelTori, 25th-29th, BWV
Paula Sedley-Burke, 25th – 28th, The Dream
aaarcher86, 26th – Oct 6th, Kidani
Paula Sedley-Burke, 28th – Oct 1st, BCV

 

[ah10is]

Just got off the phone with WDW. Not very helpful. Basically told to call back next week if they haven't arrived yet. Couldn't tell me if they were shipped yet either. Frustrating.

20 days to AKL! Beyond excited!!!! Finally got someone on the phone at WDW that was helpful about my magic band order not shipping yet. Barnaby the CM - found them to be stuck in the system. Took him about 20 minutes to work his magic but he was then able to make me a new expedited order so I should have my magic bands by early next week. My fingers are crossed!

 

[jd4nati]

My family and I are just back from our first trip to WDW (we are Disneyland vets) and we stayed at AKL. I had booked a pool view room to avoid a parking lot view and figured that we could view animals from the public viewing areas. Well the Disney magic started at check in when we were upgraded from a pool view to a Sunset savannah view! We flew on a red eye from LAX so we arrived around 9:00 a.m. I was hoping the room would be ready early so that we cold nap and change before entering the parks that afternoon. The check in cast member noticed my groggy but happy daughters and said she would work her magic to get us into a room early and she didn't disappoint. The room was ready around 10:00 a.m. We couldn't have asked for a better start to our trip!

We loved everything about the resort and can't see staying anywhere else for future trips. Waking up and sipping coffee on your balcony with a view of the animals is amazing. I don't think there was a time that we ever looked out of the window and didn't see animals. Just magical!

The only issue we had was with the buses toward the end of our trip as crowds picked up. We were there from June 3-10. On our last morning we went to Magic Kingdom and had to wait for the third bus before we got on. I feel like this issue was more about the crowds than frequency of buses so I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again. There also seemed to be no real line for the MK bus and we wanted to be polite so hung back for the second (and then third bus). I can't say the same for some families that walked up as the bus approached and pushed their way into the mob to get on the bus. We never waited longer than 10 minutes for a return bus and never had to wait for a second bus.

I can't imagine staying anywhere else for future trips and Disney has made a savannah view believer out of our family.

 

[lmbcdb]

Is there anywhere to get a Pina Colava or a Lapu Lapu at AKL? I've never had either.

 

[cruzergirl]

Back from an amazing May trip and booked a return to AKL Dec 14-22, Jambo. Agree with all that savannah view is beyond magical! It was our first time at this resort and I still can't get used to not having zebras munching on the grass and giraffes in my trees :/ Can't wait to see it decorated for the holidays!

 

[krismanda]

Can we be added to December? 16th - 23rd! Thanks!

Any must not misses with regards to dining at AKL? Any meals/desserts you have to have when you are there? Just another week til I can make our ADRs and I am fine tuning what I have. I'm so excited...it seems so "real" after you get those reservations done. lol

 

[PFlamingo]

All Non-DVC CL rooms are Arusha Savannah

Thanks! We're sooooo excited about this trip! After looking at the pictures on the AKL pics thread, I really want a DSLR camera for savannah pictures.

Those lovely CL people were able to work their magic and get us on the Sunrise Safari! Should be interesting. I'm not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination. (My DH, on the other hand, is one of those disgustingly perky morning people.) Just have to make the coffee extra strong that morning (so as not to kill DH when he's all perky).

Now to make some dining ressies. We've got Boma for dinner on arrival day, and for breakfast departure day. I'm hoping something at BOG will open up for dinner. We usually go to Artist Point for our celebration dinner, but might try something else for a change. I just love to plan WDW trips!!

 

[hpfan100]

Can we be added to December? 16th - 23rd! Thanks! Any must not misses with regards to dining at AKL? Any meals/desserts you have to have when you are there? Just another week til I can make our ADRs and I am fine tuning what I have. I'm so excited...it seems so "real" after you get those reservations done. lol

I love breakfast at Boma. Dinner at Jiko is pricey but great tasting. You'll love the resort it's so fun and beautiful. All of the restaurants are yummy.

 

[OhThePain]

Thanks! We're sooooo excited about this trip! After looking at the pictures on the AKL pics thread, I really want a DSLR camera for savannah pictures.

Those lovely CL people were able to work their magic and get us on the Sunrise Safari! Should be interesting. I'm not a morning person by any stretch of the imagination. (My DH, on the other hand, is one of those disgustingly perky morning people.) Just have to make the coffee extra strong that morning (so as not to kill DH when he's all perky).

Now to make some dining ressies. We've got Boma for dinner on arrival day, and for breakfast departure day. I'm hoping something at BOG will open up for dinner. We usually go to Artist Point for our celebration dinner, but might try something else for a change. I just love to plan WDW trips!!

The CMs with IPO and in the lounge are fantastic. The Sunrise Safari is a good time. You get to see a little bit of the backstage area. Where the normal ride for KS is about 18 minutes or so, with the Sunrise Safari it lasted about 90 minutes, then the breakfast at Pizzafari after is good too.

If you really want a phenominal experience, check and see if there is any availability for the Wanyama Safari. You get really upclose to the animals that are wandering the savannahs at AKL/AKV. They only take about 12 people (ages 8 and up) so it is a much more intimate experience. After touring the savannahs at the lodge, you go for a phenominal feast with wine pairings at Jiko. The whole experience runs about $200 per person (at least back in 2011 thats how much it was) including tax and gratuity, but it is worth every penny and then some (not something you can really say about most experiences at WDW).

 

[dgbg100106]

Joining this thread!!! My DH and I will be staying at AKL 8/29, checking out for our Disney Cruise on 8/30. We have visited the resort before and ate at Boma, which I love, but we have never stayed there. I cannot wait!!!

August
anjalee6, Jul 28th – 6th, AKL
jvattes, Jul 29th – 5th, AKL
AngiTN, Jul 29th – 5th, AKL
MICKEY'S DREAMERS, 4th, AULANI RESORT , Oahu.
TaraPA, 4th – 6th, AKL
bobbie68, 7th – 10th, AKL
KHWDW27, 10th – 16th, Kidani
MomofDisneyLoversx3, 11th -18th, WL
katema52, 16th – 22nd, Kidani
eangel12, 20th – 21st, AKL CL
MaggieMouse, 20th – 27th, AKL
DznyCrzy11, 29th, AKL
15isto2, 30th-Sept 27th, Kidani

 

[dgbg100106]

Back from an amazing May trip and booked a return to AKL Dec 14-22, Jambo. Agree with all that savannah view is beyond magical! It was our first time at this resort and I still can't get used to not having zebras munching on the grass and giraffes in my trees :/ Can't wait to see it decorated for the holidays!

December
saysib, Nov 28th-12th, AKL
nadira36, Nov 30th – 12th, AKL, DD will turn 8….
Cincystamper, 3rd – 14th, AKL
Emilyclaire, 4th – 10th, AKL
DevonsDisneyMom, 7th-12th, AKL
Cruzergirl, 14th – 22nd, Jambo House
jcjen519, 14th – 23rd, AKV CL

 

[dgbg100106]

Can we be added to December? 16th - 23rd! Thanks!

Any must not misses with regards to dining at AKL? Any meals/desserts you have to have when you are there? Just another week til I can make our ADRs and I am fine tuning what I have. I'm so excited...it seems so "real" after you get those reservations done. lol

December
saysib, Nov 28th-12th, AKL
nadira36, Nov 30th – 12th, AKL, DD will turn 8….
Cincystamper, 3rd – 14th, AKL
Emilyclaire, 4th – 10th, AKL
DevonsDisneyMom, 7th-12th, AKL
Cruzergirl, 14th – 22nd, Jambo House
jcjen519, 14th – 23rd, AKV CL
krismanda, 16th – 23rd, AKL