GoofyDisney
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- Joined
- May 14, 2001
- Messages
- 845
We were at the AKL last weekend. I just wanted to share a few thoughts about our trip.
First you should know. In the past, we have stayed at the CSR, FQ-RVSD, ASMu and WL. When we booked, GF and Poly were full, so we decided on AKL. I was originally not too enthused about the thought of it. But after seeing pics from LadyTrampScamp & Angel on this board, I began to get excited.
Second, there are two things that you want to be prepared for when you arrive.
1. You will not want to leave this resort. Even when you are at the park, you want to go back to your room, just to sit on your balcony.
2. You may never want to stay at another resort.
This is not too say that the experience was perfect, but it was really great.
When you first arrive, you notice the smell. The smell of a camp fire burning. It is really nice, and sets the mood for when you walk in the doors. We were greeted at the curb by the bellmen. We entered into this amazingly elaborate lobby. In shape, it is reminiscent of the Wilderness Lodge, but of course decorated differently. WHile we were checking in, there was an African CM giving tours of the lobby, explaining all the art and designs.
We went to our room on the zebra trail. We had, what I felt was the perfect view. There was a watering hole and a giraffe feeder right outside our room. When you first walk in, you immediately go to the balcony to see what animals are outside.
We had a room with a queen and a bunk bed.
The rooms are decorated right out of 'Out of Africa'. Some on these boards have complained that at night, these rooms have poor lighting, and to some extent, I must agree. But, from the balcony, when you look out at all the rooms, it looks like lots of campfires. Such an interesting experience.
We spent a lot of time on the balcony. Even at midnight, the giraffe would come to the feeder, and it was fascinating to watch them move in the night. There are trucks that come around twice a day to feed the animals. There was never any smell, and seemed almost as if these animals never went to the bathroom.
We ate at Mara one morning. Best breakfast wrap I have ever had. We would have eaten there both mornings, but the first morning, I couldn't find it. I asked someone and then walked around. They never mentioned that you had to enter it from the outside. Once this was clear, we knew exactly where to find it.
Then one night we ate at Boma. There were lots of things I liked. The pork and roast beef were amazing. You can ask and they will put a piece on the grill so it gets more well done. There was a small section of "american food". Macaroni & cheese, spagetti and meatballs with sauce on the side, chicken tenders, etc. Our DD ate some pork and then mostly from this section. So did I. Beyond the pork and beef, most everything was cooked with bell peppers or was spicy. Two things that I can't really tolerate. (They did not sit too well with my preggers SIL either.) I enjoyed this meal immensely. What I had was delicious. The rest of the family ate a little of everything and loved it all. I would recommend this restaurant. The desserts were yummy. Ours may have been sitting there a little long, but when they were fresh, they must have been out of this world. We would do this restaurant again. Price was reasonable, good food and good service.
The pool is so fun. It is large. Some other resorts have more interesting pools. But we loved the green floor and wade-in entrance that made it look like an african watering hole. Really beautiful! Two hot tubs, one 1' deep pool called the watering hole. The pool area was striking at night. As was everything else.
Both our room and my FIL and MIL's room had a playpen in the closet. So nice to have it at the ready verses having to call the front desk and hunt around and hope they have one, cause DD2 was not sleeping on the bunk bed. Though, when we had housekeeping come to the door, they were on their way to deliver bed rails to someone else who was going to use the bunk beds.
Some problems: Our Queen mattress had a deep hole in it where the spring had broken and was poking up through it. (Couldn't iamgine that no one caught htis before) It was late when we noticed it, and rather than have someone come up and replace it, and risk waking DD2 up, we called just to make them aware and had them fix it in the morning. Which they did. Also, we had to send a shirt and pair of pants to be dry cleaned. We asked for no crease in the flat front pants, they even tagged it with a no crease tag...guess what, they had a crease. These problems weren't really too bad if you ask me!
We had a rental car, so we never used the bus system. AKL was easy to find and easy to get to and from the parks.
I must say that I want to go back and stay there again and for a longer period of time. I want to thank my friend LTS & A who really got me excited about this resort. What a good friend you have become!
Did I forget anything? If anyone has any questions, please let me know! I truly enjoyed my stay.
karen
First you should know. In the past, we have stayed at the CSR, FQ-RVSD, ASMu and WL. When we booked, GF and Poly were full, so we decided on AKL. I was originally not too enthused about the thought of it. But after seeing pics from LadyTrampScamp & Angel on this board, I began to get excited.
Second, there are two things that you want to be prepared for when you arrive.
1. You will not want to leave this resort. Even when you are at the park, you want to go back to your room, just to sit on your balcony.
2. You may never want to stay at another resort.
This is not too say that the experience was perfect, but it was really great.
When you first arrive, you notice the smell. The smell of a camp fire burning. It is really nice, and sets the mood for when you walk in the doors. We were greeted at the curb by the bellmen. We entered into this amazingly elaborate lobby. In shape, it is reminiscent of the Wilderness Lodge, but of course decorated differently. WHile we were checking in, there was an African CM giving tours of the lobby, explaining all the art and designs.
We went to our room on the zebra trail. We had, what I felt was the perfect view. There was a watering hole and a giraffe feeder right outside our room. When you first walk in, you immediately go to the balcony to see what animals are outside.
We had a room with a queen and a bunk bed.
The rooms are decorated right out of 'Out of Africa'. Some on these boards have complained that at night, these rooms have poor lighting, and to some extent, I must agree. But, from the balcony, when you look out at all the rooms, it looks like lots of campfires. Such an interesting experience.
We spent a lot of time on the balcony. Even at midnight, the giraffe would come to the feeder, and it was fascinating to watch them move in the night. There are trucks that come around twice a day to feed the animals. There was never any smell, and seemed almost as if these animals never went to the bathroom.
We ate at Mara one morning. Best breakfast wrap I have ever had. We would have eaten there both mornings, but the first morning, I couldn't find it. I asked someone and then walked around. They never mentioned that you had to enter it from the outside. Once this was clear, we knew exactly where to find it.
Then one night we ate at Boma. There were lots of things I liked. The pork and roast beef were amazing. You can ask and they will put a piece on the grill so it gets more well done. There was a small section of "american food". Macaroni & cheese, spagetti and meatballs with sauce on the side, chicken tenders, etc. Our DD ate some pork and then mostly from this section. So did I. Beyond the pork and beef, most everything was cooked with bell peppers or was spicy. Two things that I can't really tolerate. (They did not sit too well with my preggers SIL either.) I enjoyed this meal immensely. What I had was delicious. The rest of the family ate a little of everything and loved it all. I would recommend this restaurant. The desserts were yummy. Ours may have been sitting there a little long, but when they were fresh, they must have been out of this world. We would do this restaurant again. Price was reasonable, good food and good service.
The pool is so fun. It is large. Some other resorts have more interesting pools. But we loved the green floor and wade-in entrance that made it look like an african watering hole. Really beautiful! Two hot tubs, one 1' deep pool called the watering hole. The pool area was striking at night. As was everything else.
Both our room and my FIL and MIL's room had a playpen in the closet. So nice to have it at the ready verses having to call the front desk and hunt around and hope they have one, cause DD2 was not sleeping on the bunk bed. Though, when we had housekeeping come to the door, they were on their way to deliver bed rails to someone else who was going to use the bunk beds.
Some problems: Our Queen mattress had a deep hole in it where the spring had broken and was poking up through it. (Couldn't iamgine that no one caught htis before) It was late when we noticed it, and rather than have someone come up and replace it, and risk waking DD2 up, we called just to make them aware and had them fix it in the morning. Which they did. Also, we had to send a shirt and pair of pants to be dry cleaned. We asked for no crease in the flat front pants, they even tagged it with a no crease tag...guess what, they had a crease. These problems weren't really too bad if you ask me!
We had a rental car, so we never used the bus system. AKL was easy to find and easy to get to and from the parks.
I must say that I want to go back and stay there again and for a longer period of time. I want to thank my friend LTS & A who really got me excited about this resort. What a good friend you have become!
Did I forget anything? If anyone has any questions, please let me know! I truly enjoyed my stay.
karen
