Back from 1 week at AKL

[SharonLowe]

I love these AKL threads now, as we will be there (villas) for the first time in April. I have a question, if you arrived at about 8 pm, what would you do with 2 teenage boys and spouse? Is the pool still open and how late does it stay open? I just took a look at the prices for Boma, yikes for dinner, it would be 104.00 for the 4 of us!! Thats pretty steep, I think we'll be hitting Mara alot. My DH loves to cook and says that he'd LOVE to try Jiko, but a 37.00 filet mignon?? Does anyone get price shock when they see this stuff or is it just me. I still cannot wait to stay here and see all the animals, especially first thing in the morning.

Since you are DVC and go frequently, why not have one person get an AP and then buy the DDE card. Gets you 20 percent off table service meals including alcoholic beverages. Well worth the $65 if you want to eat at TS.

And, yes, you will regret not going to at least one of their restaurants.

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

Thanks for the reviews! I'm staying at AKL in Nov. for the first time and I can't wait!

 

[PlutosFriend]

I love these AKL threads now, as we will be there (villas) for the first time in April. I have a question, if you arrived at about 8 pm, what would you do with 2 teenage boys and spouse? Is the pool still open and how late does it stay open? I just took a look at the prices for Boma, yikes for dinner, it would be 104.00 for the 4 of us!! Thats pretty steep, I think we'll be hitting Mara alot. My DH loves to cook and says that he'd LOVE to try Jiko, but a 37.00 filet mignon?? Does anyone get price shock when they see this stuff or is it just me. I still cannot wait to stay here and see all the animals, especially first thing in the morning.

I do, but the Dining plans help me with this now

 

[Mr Man]

I love these AKL threads now, as we will be there (villas) for the first time in April. I have a question, if you arrived at about 8 pm, what would you do with 2 teenage boys and spouse? Is the pool still open and how late does it stay open? I just took a look at the prices for Boma, yikes for dinner, it would be 104.00 for the 4 of us!! Thats pretty steep, I think we'll be hitting Mara alot. My DH loves to cook and says that he'd LOVE to try Jiko, but a 37.00 filet mignon?? Does anyone get price shock when they see this stuff or is it just me. I still cannot wait to stay here and see all the animals, especially first thing in the morning.

Pool is open 24hrs. It usually closes once a day for an hour for cleaning (but this seems to be done very early in the morning. There are no lifeguards after 8pm. Pool bar closes at dusk (darn).

Arcade is open until 11:00pm.

Victoria Falls Lounge is open until 11pm (you & DH if desired).

The shop is open until 11pm.

Note, a nice way to try some of Jiko's offerings (for free) is to do the Culinary Tour. It is run every afternoon at around 3:45pm or 4pm (depending on day). We did it twice last week. It was never crowded and the tour was very informative. Had some nice snacks too. Oh, did I mention that the tour is free?

Fear not, price shock is a normal reaction; however, Boma is quite reasonable to my mind, especially the breakfast. It is my favorite buffet at WDW by far.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Thanks for all the info here! Will you be adding pts here? Had to ask...lol...we were able to get into a studio,SV and concierge for 2 nights at the 6-7mth mark..very happy with that!
THe pool is open 24 hrs??? That is cool!

 

[holcomb-mania]

Arcade is open until 11:00pm..

We still have a card from SSR in June. Does the AKL arcade use these as well?

Victoria Falls Lounge is open until 11pm..

Tusker Lager.

...Boma is quite reasonable to my mind, especially the breakfast. It is my favorite buffet at WDW by far.

I completely forgot about Boma for bfast. We've done CM and 'Ohana, is Boma that much better?

 

[Jillpie]

Since you are DVC and go frequently, why not have one person get an AP and then buy the DDE card. Gets you 20 percent off table service meals including alcoholic beverages. Well worth the $65 if you want to eat at TS.

And, yes, you will regret not going to at least one of their restaurants.

I haven't bought the AP yet because we haven't gone twice in one year (although I did go last March, darn, I wish I knew we were going this April I would have considered it), and really don't plan on going more than once a year. But that was a great suggestion, I'll consider it for the future!

 

[Jillpie]

Pool is open 24hrs. It usually closes once a day for an hour for cleaning (but this seems to be done very early in the morning. There are no lifeguards after 8pm. Pool bar closes at dusk (darn).

Arcade is open until 11:00pm.

Victoria Falls Lounge is open until 11pm (you & DH if desired).

The shop is open until 11pm.

Note, a nice way to try some of Jiko's offerings (for free) is to do the Culinary Tour. It is run every afternoon at around 3:45pm or 4pm (depending on day). We did it twice last week. It was never crowded and the tour was very informative. Had some nice snacks too. Oh, did I mention that the tour is free?

Fear not, price shock is a normal reaction; however, Boma is quite reasonable to my mind, especially the breakfast. It is my favorite buffet at WDW by far.

Thanks alot for this info! We have tried Boma for bfast, really liked it, so we'll do that. I'm still considering making that Jiko ressie, but it hurts to think of the prices, I don't know if I can get beyond that. Its that good, ha? Oh, we'll definitely do that culinary tour, DH is quite the cook and hence my boys love to cook with him, they'd love it. thanks again!

 

[kcmyluv]

What are Zebra Domes?

 

[slenderella]

The first time we went to WDW, we were upgraded to a different resort; AKL. We actually had ressies at CBR, due to pricing. Our TA called us about 6 weeks before we left and told us that CBR was going through a refurb, so Disney was offering us a stay at the AKL with a Savannah view room. Boy, that was awsome. We will be going again next September for our 20th anniversary for ten days. We will be doing a split stay at WL, for 5 days and then AKL for 5 days. We are so excited. When we were there before we did not stay at the resort to do anything, because it was our first time at WDW, we wanted to take in everything at the parks. Plus it was kind of a short trip. I do have to admit the pool was great for our kids, at that time they were 8 and 3. They absolutely loved the pool, and to be able to see the animals...... WOW. Our 3 year old would see the Kudus and would call them doodoo's. Too cute!! She is looking forward to seeing them again. We just can't wait.

 

[Mr Man]

We still have a card from SSR in June. Does the AKL arcade use these as well?




Tusker Lager.




I completely forgot about Boma for bfast. We've done CM and 'Ohana, is Boma that much better?

I would at least try the arcade card at AKL. Not sure if all resorts have same company managing their arcades.

Tusker lager is great. At the pool bar they have an amber beer w/a zebra on the tap. Good pool-side beer......

Boma is my favorite buffet for any meal. DW thinks I like it best just because our room was very close to the restaurant and we could always smell the curry/wood fire smell...... could be ...... YMMV (your mileage may vary).

 

[Mr Man]

Thanks for all the info here! Will you be adding pts here? Had to ask...lol...we were able to get into a studio,SV and concierge for 2 nights at the 6-7mth mark..very happy with that!
THe pool is open 24 hrs??? That is cool!

Shhhh........ not so loud......DW might hear me......

Truthfully, we are planning to add on points.....just not sure where. AKV is definitely a possibility. We want to have 2 equal sized contracts so we can pass them on to our boys when it is their time to bring children to WDW.

But first, we have to use up 3yrs worth of points for Spring Break! What a nice problem to have.

 

[kimmar067]

Boma is my favorite buffet for any meal. DW thinks I like it best just because our room was very close to the restaurant and we could always smell the curry/wood fire smell...... could be ...... YMMV (your mileage may vary).

....


[...who YOU tryin' to kid?? You love it cuz' of the ZD'S!!!!!... ]

 

[kimmar067]

...But first, we have to use up 3yrs worth of points for Spring Break! What a nice problem to have.

....ohhhh, boo-hoo, my heart bleeds for ya....

 

[kimmar067]

I love these AKL threads now, as we will be there (villas) for the first time in April. I have a question, if you arrived at about 8 pm, what would you do with 2 teenage boys and spouse? Is the pool still open and how late does it stay open? I just took a look at the prices for Boma, yikes for dinner, it would be 104.00 for the 4 of us!! Thats pretty steep, I think we'll be hitting Mara alot. My DH loves to cook and says that he'd LOVE to try Jiko, but a 37.00 filet mignon?? Does anyone get price shock when they see this stuff or is it just me. I still cannot wait to stay here and see all the animals, especially first thing in the morning.

...are you staying at the AKL DVC??

 

[slenderella]

Oh the smell. Can't wait. YUMMY!!!!!

 

[Mr Man]

....


[...who YOU tryin' to kid?? You love it cuz' of the ZD'S!!!!!... ]

It's funny you mention the Zebra Domes. DW absolutely craves these things. Everytime we went to Mara (even if it was just to fill up our mugs), a container of zebra domes snuck onto our tray.

It got so bad that I actually had to remove bottled water from the fridge to make sure we had room to store ZD (I mean, what if DW wakes up at 2am and wants to watch the animals on the savannah.......ZD would keep her company.)

We took 2 containers of ZD with us for the flight back home. They didn't last long..... um, I did apologize for the mess we made in the rental car though.....

Fair disclosure (in case DW sneaks in here).........I ate them too! Yum.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

I'm glad your stay at AKL was so enjoyable. We have stayed there the last 2 years and really enjoyed it.