Back last week - AKL

[Looby Loo]

Hi All

Got back last week from 2 weeks at Animal Kingdom Lodge and had lots of catching up to do so sorry for the late post!! But I am sooooo BLUE!!! I want to go back tomorrow!!!

Shall post all my highlights/Lowlights later tonight if I get chance, but the one thing I do want to say is July is a fantastic month to go to Disney in !!! We had done the parks before so we just took it easy and I have to say the heat wasn't really a problem at all!!! I loved it

Any inital questions - fire away!!

 

[natalielongstaff]

WELCOME BACK

 

[allie5]

Did you travel with Virgin, and if so, what sort of room did you get at AKL?

Glad you had a great trip!

Allie

 

[shellbell]

welcome home Sounds like you had a great holiday. I know how you feel. We got back nearly 4 weeks ago and i still really miss it. If i could go back tomorrow i would. We have now booked for next year so i have something to look forward to but its not till October and it just seems so long to wait

Looking forward to hearing more about your trip

Michelle

 

[squitty]

Welcome Home

You have not got that long to wait till you go back

 

[nicknsara]

we are staying in AKL in oct 05.pluses and minuses very welcome.was the transport etc ok?

any info welcomed

thanks
nick n sara

 

[Miffy2003]

Welcome home!

We are staying at AKL for 2 nights in August so would love to know your thoughts

 

[KayleeUK]

Welcome Back I see you don't have long until your next trip

 

[rosiejo]

Welcome back! We're staying in AKL for our honeymoon in November so would love to know more -we're flying Virgin.

What view did you have from your room?

RJ

 

[Looby Loo]

Hi everyone!! I am really sorry for not posting replies earlier, but it has taken to now to get use to being back in the UK, having to get up early and not hitting the parks and have breakfast with "everyday" people and not Donald, Mickey etc etc!! I forgot how depressing it can be coming back to reality!!

Anyway in a bid not to doom and gloom the DIS Boards - here are my responses to your questions.....

AKL - All I can say is WOW and WOW again! It still takes my breath away everytime I think about it - Beautiful hotel!!! and up to now my favourite although I am off to WDW WL in December so we shall see. We arrived after 8 and a bit hours flying (PE so off the plane first which in my opinion made a huge difference!) and getting lost twice (don't worry - it's not hard to find it's just my sense of direction that isn't that great) to find that we had been complimentary upgraded to a Savannah room from a standard (we went on the 1st July so I was expecting no upgrade as it WAS busy, but I had sent a fax and I have a feeling it was because of that - but can't be sure!) so lots of pixie dust there!!! Our room was 4220 and I think that this was classed as the Giraffe Savannah (or something along those lines) We over looked a watering hole so we saw LOTS of animals. Sitting having a coffee in the morning on the balcony, watching the animals was blissful!

Transportation - We used the transport at AKL occassionally (due to the fact that I am the only one who drives so if I wanted a drink in the evening we used the WDW buses). We used the bus after the 4th July fireworks and the service was very quick - I think we waited 25mins for the bus to arrive, but given that was on one of the busiest nights, I thought the service was excellent! My only minor gripe (and please no flames here ) was that there were young children that could have sat on knees of adults sat on chairs and the lady I was stood next to (who could have been no younger than 65) stood and struggled all the way to AKL even when I offered to hold her arm to "anchor" her a little!! Like I said no flames, I have two younger sisters (youngest being 11, who I am taking away as a surprise in December and she always sits on my knee if public transport is full whether the person standing is 65 or 25! I figure if its safe and it frees up a seat why not! The elder sister 14 will "share a chair" with me and we both perch on the end!!

Food - Again excellent! We ate at Rainforest Cafe (okay) Boatwrights (Okay - but they had changed the menu since we were last there and our favourite dishes had been removed! ) O'hana's (good - I could have ate the starters all night - I am not really an all you can eat kinda person so I was slightly overfaced but the starters were DELICIOUS!) Fantasmic Hollywood and Vine was, well, Fantastic!!! Whispering Canyon - By far my favourite!!! We had the skillet and I will be going back in December - roll on 90 days when I can start my ADR's again!! Spoodles - Lovely food, lovely setting a shame about the weather!! this is the only evening that was wet in the 2 weeks that we were there!! We ate room service twice at AKL which was great after a day of travelling and a day in the parks if not a little expensive - but the service was extremely quick and the food delicious. Did others like Denny's etc etc but the above were the memorable ones (have photo's once I learn how to post them!!)

Fireworks - Did them all Epcot, Wishes, Fantasy in the Sky (4th July from Poly's beach) and Fantasmic - All mind blowing and unforgetable

Parades - Did them all and as above!

US and IOA - Fantastic for us older "kids"!!

Discovery Cove -

Seaworld - Fantastic new dolphin show!! But I managed to get a cold (even in the 90 oc weather!!) that lasted 3 days - this day being the worst so I was feeling a little sorry for myself!!

What more can I say - I WANT TO GO BACK NOW!!! As some have pointed out - not long till I return - in the meantime I will have to get my douse of the mouse through the DIS boards!!

Anymore questions - let me know and I promise this time not to leave it so long!!

 

[cazzie]

Sounds fantastic.

 

[Miffy2003]

Great review! Thank you.

I agree about the children on laps thing on WDW buses.

 

[cudworth]

Glad you had a good time. Could you tell me if they have surrey bikes at AKL.

 

[wilki32]

We're staying at AKL at the end of October and glad to hear it's so good.
What/where is whispering canyon?
Anthony

 

[Miffy2003]

Anthony, Whispering Canyon Cafe is a restaurant at the Wilderness Lodge, known for fun and games

 

[Looby Loo]

cudworth - no sorry no bikes that I saw and to be honest I dont think there would be anywhere to use them anyway!

wilki32 - Miffy 2003 is right Whispering Canyon Cafe is one of the restaurants at WDW Wilderness Lodge - It's not for the faint hearted!! Noisy and fun!! If you decide to go (the serve what I would call "stereotypical cowboy food" http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a392/Loobyloo01/DSCF0137.jpg) ask for ketchup and see their response!! Fantastic for younger children if you have any in your party (although just as much fun as me and the other half and we are 26! )

 

[Cyrano]

Thanks for review as AKL is on our wish list

Reid

 

[wilki32]

Thanks, we have an 11 yr old daughter so she'll probably love it, she may have to drag me along too though

Miffy have a nice time, I see your ticker says 3 days to go, Boardwalk is one of the places I'd love to stay.

Anthony

 

[wilki32]

Looby Loo, just had a look at that photo, is that for one person?
Anthony

 

[angel659]

Hiya

Pleased you had a great time. Savannah Room sounds lovely.

I totally understand about buses problem, but I am looking at it from a different view. I was annoyed that my 5 year old daughter could not get a seat at times. I personally have Casey sitting and myself standing. I think it can be dangerous at night in the dark driving back to the hotel. You have all these adults who could stand and offer my daughter a seat. This is when I get angry.