Back from AKL ...loved it

[RedE2Go]

Thank you to all who helped me decide if this was the hotel for us. I was very hesitant and couldn't decide between AKL or WL. We went with AKL and I absolutely loved it. We never stayed at a deluxe before, so I'm sure any of the deluxes would have impressed me. But I don't see how they could have topped this.
I expected AKL to be "dryer" looking, but there were so many lush green plants. It was beautiful. We booked a standard room, but were upgraded to a savannah. The location was great, close to Mara and pool. We were on the 2nd floor which I think is ideal. We were below the treeline so we could see far back. Plus, being on the second floor, we didn't have to rely on elevator...just take a flight of steps up for lobby or down for pool. I think we would have been fine with a standard view. While it was great to look out our balcony at any time of day and see an animal (if they were around), we still wound up going to a lot of the other viewing areas. The only standard view that I would think would be bad is the one right by where the busses let you out. I wouldn't like to be on the same floor as everyone walking by my room, looking in. I don't know how the noise of the busses would be, but I wouldn't feel very relaxed sitting on my "balcony" as everyone walked by. Just my opinion.
Anyway...thanks to all of you who put up with my questions and lurkings. I have no complaints about the hotel. Bus service was fantastic. Only twice did we wait, and that was for 12 minutes. We used the bus a lot and it was always there or there within 2 minutes. Only once was it standing room only, and that was coming back from MGM after Fantasmic. I suspect all busses would be crowded then.
Let me know if you have any question.

 

[KyMattDisney]

Thanks so much for the review of AKL. We are going from July 11-18 and staying at AKL for the first 2 nights and then over to Boardwalk Villas....

My question is....we have requested a Savannah view room (1 queen bed and bunk beds, since I have 2 boys..ages 8 & 4)......and I have been trying to decide which trail/floor to request....

What would be your opinion? I would like a good view of the animals and be close to the pool area.....Thanks!!!

Did you eat at Boma? What did you think?

 

[Minnie's Mate]

KyMattDisney,
This is our favorite hotel, Disney or other! We have also stayed at Polynesian, Yatch Club, Dolphin, and Caribbean Beach Club. We have stayed at AKL twice and leave in two weeks for our third stay (we have two young boys who love the animals.) In fact, my two year old said this morning he wants to go the the Animal Kingdom Lodge completely out of the blue!

Boma is a great buffet unless you are a pickey eater. My wife and I love the Zebra Domes so much I got the recipe. All of their deserts are great.

The Zebra Trail is probably your best trail to request. It has pool view, Savannah view and standard view rooms. There are bunk beds available in each of the views but are hard to get if you want Savannah view. Second floor or third floor is the best location for access to Mara, pool and lobby and viewing Savannahs. Also, we haven't stayed in a standard view room, but my understanding is that none of the standard view rooms on Zebra overlook parking or bus stop.

 

[ljsmom]

My family will be staying at AKL for the first time in May. We booked a standard view, but are hoping to be upgraded. Did you have to ask for your upgrade or did they just give it to you?

Glad you had a good time!

 

[csmommy]

Originally posted by ljsmom
My family will be staying at AKL for the first time in May. We booked a standard view, but are hoping to be upgraded. Did you have to ask for your upgrade or did they just give it to you?

Glad you had a good time!

Hey fellow New Yorker, we will be there in May also!

RedE2Go
Glad to hear you enjoyed your stay.
I also booked a standard view room. What do you think I should request so that I do not end up with noisy buses as my view?
TIA

 

[Ilove8Trax]

That's nice that you got an upgrade...did you ask for one, or were you those guests that were "in luck"?

----I was just wondering if there was anyone out there who have actually stayed in those rooms that are parking lot view, first floor...basically right in the car drop off, valet area??

 

[RedE2Go]

I will agree with Minnies Mate....I think Zebra Trail would be best. It is closest to the pool and Mara. We were on the Zebra trail in one of the buildings that sticks out of the main section. As far as viewing animals, it wasn't the "prime" savannah view. We overlooked the hot tub and then the savanna was behind that. Because of the trees, we couldn't see as many of the animals as the ones on Zebra trail facing the interior savannah (the one that faces Arusha Rock.) We still saw giraffe and all sorts of animals out our balcony, but not as constantly as the inward savannahs. I am definitely not complaining, especially since it was a free upgrade. But if I were paying top dollar for the upgrade, I may have been a bit disappointed. I just want others to be aware of this. Still, that location was great because there are stairs on the end right by our room, so we could slip out that way to the pool or Mara. Verrrrry convenient. There was a great viewing area on the 2nd floor that faced the Arusha rock area. It had a couple of telescopes there and some rocking chairs. That is where we saw the most animals, and easiest to see. We walked up an outside flight of stairs to the 5th floor to see what the view was like. It was nice, but I still think being down lower like we were was better. If I were able to have my perfect choice, it would be 2nd floor, Zebra trail facing Arusha Rock. But not toooo far down the hall....maybe the section right across from Mara (if your looking at the AKL map).
KyMattDisney...we got the bunk beds too. Kids loved them. They are 6 and 10 yrs.
We ate dinner at Boma. We enjoyed it. Kids mostly ate the macaroni and cheese and the chicken. But they tried a few of the other foods. We would eat there again.
ljs mom and csmommy...I didn't request and upgrade but I did fax then a few days ahead with some requests. I don't remember exactly what I said but it was something like this:
Looking forward to our stay blah blah blah...excited...blah blah ...first time in deluxe...blah blah (you get the idea) I'm hoping you can try to accommodate a few requests.
non-smoking
bunk beds - children are really excited about this
Ostrich Trail - this is just to be away from the noise of the busses and to avoid people walking by the bus stop and looking in our room. We would love to be able to see the animals from the room, if possible.
Thanks you in advance blah blah blah....

I hope this answered some questions you may have. I know there are many more people that are much more knowledgable about AKL than I am. But I wanted to feel like I was at least giving back a little since you guys helped me so much!
By the way...my kids really enjoyed the Hidden Mickey hunt. Some of them were kinda tough (we had to have help). Also, kids really got into pin trading and the people that worked the gift shop were very kind and helpful when trading with my kids.

 

[susy]

Glad you loved AKL!! We loved it , too!!!!

I don't think those balconies by the bus stops would be very safe for us DIS'ers. Too tempting to pass out touring plans and give advice to the people waiting for buses !

 

[joyful1nh]

We love the AKL too. I also vote for Zebra trail, but I prefer the Uzima savannah to Arusha & like a higher floor, we've stayed on the 2nd and 4th -- my vote goes to #4. We always book a savannah view so I don't know any tips on an upgrade, but if you are not offered one you may want to inquire as to the cost to upgrade.

Boma is awesome! We try to go there even when we stay at another resort. Even DD 5 found something she liked, as did my meat and potatoes DH.

 

[MinnieGi]

So glad you had a great stay at AKL! We too just loved this resort!!!!

 

[RedE2Go]

Suzy...you cracked me up about passing out the info by the bus stops.
joyful1nh....Which one is the Uzima Savannah? There was one savannah that was closed off for construction. I think it was the one with ostrich, out by the Sunset Overlook. Never mind...I just looked on my map and I think I see which is Uzima. We peaked around there a bit, but couldn't see well from our view. I agree that may be a great area because when your sitting out on your balcony, no one else can see in your room, right? Isn't it a more secluded feel? I guess your could always go out to Arusha rock or those overlooks to see those animals, but you probably had some views that only people staying in your area could see. I can see why you like it there!