Animal Kingdom Lodge Trip

[zippy789]

Just back from Animal Kingdom Lodge. Great place to stay. I don't think it matters much what actuall savanah you look onto but the center one is probably the best. Transportation is also a bit of a hassle if doing things late at night. For the Luau for instance we had to go to Downtown Disney to get back to Hotel.

And I would NEVER use Dreams Unlimited Travel agency again, EVER.

 

[njdc5]

Why not book with Dreams Unlimited Travel? I have heard many great things about them.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Yes, please tell why you will not book with DU again?

Thank you!

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Originally posted by zippy789
And I would NEVER use Dreams Unlimited Travel agency again, EVER.

I am curious too....

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by zippy789
Just back from Animal Kingdom Lodge. Great place to stay. I don't think it matters much what actuall savanah you look onto but the center one is probably the best. Transportation is also a bit of a hassle if doing things late at night. For the Luau for instance we had to go to Downtown Disney to get back to Hotel.

And I would NEVER use Dreams Unlimited Travel agency again, EVER.

I am also interested in why you would never use Dreams Unlimited Travel again? I have used them twice and are booked with them for a third stay.

 

[zippy789]

The agent lied to us. Said they would help us find the best rate. On a couple of occasions I asked about different discounts, such as annual passholder and what not. Was told no I had the best rate as I had a Deluxe view room. But in the end this was not the case. They had just told us that so we would not change our plan and they could earn the higher commission and I could have saved about 15% of our stay.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Originally posted by zippy789
The agent lied to us. Said they would help us find the best rate. On a couple of occasions I asked about different discounts, such as annual passholder and what not. Was told no I had the best rate as I had a Deluxe view room. But in the end this was not the case. They had just told us that so we would not change our plan and they could earn the higher commission and I could have saved about 15% of our stay.

I don't mean this the wrong way, but do you know for sure they could have found you the better rate? Did you call Disney to see if it was offered for the room and view you were holding?

What happened to you is why I am hesitant to try the Disney specialist travel agencies recommended on DIS or other sites such as mousesavers, allears, tagrel etc.

I always want to give one a try because there seem to be lots of good reports, but the 3 times I have asked for a quote it took days to get back to me and when they did I had already found something for less (than their quote) on my own.

Was DU's service good in other respects? Did you get the view you requested, how about travel or town car, car rental , PS's etc?

Thanks much and I'm sorry it did not work out as you expected.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Originally posted by zippy789
The agent lied to us. Said they would help us find the best rate. On a couple of occasions I asked about different discounts, such as annual passholder and what not. Was told no I had the best rate as I had a Deluxe view room. But in the end this was not the case. They had just told us that so we would not change our plan and they could earn the higher commission and I could have saved about 15% of our stay.

How do you know that other rates were available for your dates? Did you check directly with Disney or with another agency? How did you calculate a 15% savings?

 

[karensi]

Please tell me more about the AKL, we'll be staying there in Feb. What is the name of the "center" savannah that you were refering to? How is Boma's, we plan to have dinnr there for DGS's 1st birthday. We also have PS ressies for Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Hotel. When I made the PS ressies, the CM sid to allow about 45 minutes to get from AKL to Contemporary Hotel. I can't remember if I told her that we would have our own car, does it really take that long??

 

[zippy789]

The whole point of using a travel agent and one of DU's selling points is that they will do the work for you. I was just told I was getting the best rate which is just not true.

For AKL, I forget the name of the center savanah, if you request a rooom along one of the main trails, the one we stayed in was the Zebra trail and ask for an interior facing room you will be fine. The staff will try and take care of you.

Boma was fantastic. At first we thought the food might be too ethnic but it really wasn't. For example they had sirloin steak strips that were done in some spices that were wonderful and not spicy hot. They had butternut squash soup that was sooo good.

If you have your own car you should be fine with 45 minutes. Might be able to do 30 minutes but I wouldn't chance it. If using Disney transportation you should allow at least an hour. At least. You may make it in less than that but its a big risk. Wait on the bus at the hotel, get to magic kingdom, change to monorail and maybe wait for that. I didn't drive so I don't know if there could be any hangups getting your car around since the buses have preferred driveways and whatnot. Chef Mickey's was really nice also. Lots of good characters although it takes a long time for all of them to make their way all the way around.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Originally posted by zippy789
The whole point of using a travel agent and one of DU's selling points is that they will do the work for you. I was just told I was getting the best rate which is just not true.

But how do you know for sure that you did not get the best rate available for your dates, resort, view etc? How did you find out they did not get the best rate for you?

Thanks!

 

[DutchsMommy]

Please tell me more about the AKL, we'll be staying there in Feb. What is the name of the "center" savannah that you were refering to? How is Boma's, we plan to have dinnr there for DGS's 1st birthday. We also have PS ressies for Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Hotel. When I made the PS ressies, the CM sid to allow about 45 minutes to get from AKL to Contemporary Hotel. I can't remember if I told her that we would have our own car, does it really take that long??

The "centre" savannah is the Arusha savannah. You might want to post your questions under a new thread or try "searching" on AKL - there is a ton of info out there. We are staying at AKL in Feb '05 and I have asked for an Arusha savannah view, Zebra trail, preferrably near the Pool/Mara etc. I realize these are not guaranteed but it doesn't hurt to ask.

But how do you know for sure that you did not get the best rate available for your dates, resort, view etc? How did you find out they did not get the best rate for you?

Bacibecky - I used a company called "Magical Journeys" and they have been great. I definately think I could have found the same rates as she was able to get for me - especially because the people on the DIS often know when rates are released even before the TAs do, but to me it was worth it to deal with someone who understood "the world", how the ressies work, what codes are, could tell me whether to go with the AP rate or the room only etc. It also saved me from calling CRO very early in the morning and being on hold forever. To me, that is the reason I went with a "Disney Specialist" TA. I definately think I saved $$ over my local-down-the-street TA where I would have paid rack (ha) but I was not expecting my TA to get me any "better" deal than I could find. Gosh, if you can't find the best/cheapest/fastest way to do the World on the DIS then it probably doesn't exist!! But the TA doesn't cost me anything and saves me time and hassle which to me is priceless.

 

[karensi]

Thanks Zippy, Did you stay on the zebra trail? I've heard alot of people mention that particular trail. I'm so glad that you liked Boma's, we will eat there but probably not at Jikos as DGS will just be 1 yo (wouldn't want to chane it ), Karen

 

[karensi]

Also, thank you DutchsMommy, You and I must have been posting at the same time. I will call tomorow and request Arusha savannah, Zebra trail. Really want something convenient (and with GOOD views) as we will be celebrating DGS's 1st BD. Also, I have stayed at AKL before but it is the 1st time for DD and DSIL. Thanks again, Karen

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Thanks,DutchsMommy ~

I appreciate your answering my question about Disney specialist TA's! It helps to get honest feedback


karensi,
Arusha savannah: We had this view at AKL and it was quite nice (I almost did not want to leave the balcony to go to the parks!)...although I'd read that a really nice view can be had from some of the rooms facing the pool area - a savannah can be seen as well!

 

[SimonV]

It seems zippy is unable to answer the question about how he knows he could have got cheaper and, more importantly, what rate he actually got. From my own notes, at that time of year one of the most popular packages would have been the Dream-Maker 5+2 package, which means you get two nights for FREE if you pay for five. Seems a pretty good deal to me. Or perhaps zippy really wanted something else for nothing. Just a thought.............

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

The whole point of using a travel agent and one of DU's selling points is that they will do the work for you. I was just told I was getting the best rate which is just not true.

Zippy, are you assuming that because a rate was announced for your dates that DU could get those rates for you? Don't forget, all discounts, codes, etc are based on availability. As Mary says on Mousesavers "Be aware that discounted rooms are limited in number and will not be available for all dates at all resorts. You may have to be flexible with your selections." or as Disney.com says "The number of rooms available at these rates is limited. "