Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[SingingMom]

When people talk about rooms being far away form the lobby, how far are we talking? Only ever stayed in a moderate, so unsure.

I found it far. LOL But, so is the walk from some of the rooms to the elevator at the Dolphin, too. And, I think the walk at PO Riverside is extremely long!
Who are we kidding? Any walk feels long after hours of park touring! lol

 

[ZOOMAMA]

Question about resort parking- can family (or friends) staying at another WDW resort park at AKL for the day? DD and I will be arriving at AKL in 29 days (woot woot) for a week-long stay. We will not have our own car or a rental. My sister will be staying at All Star Sports for the first 3 days of our trip and will have her own car. Is it possible for her to drive to AKL to meet us and then leave her car at AKL while we use Disney transportation to visit MK. On our EP and AK days, we will likely take her car to the parks.

 

[brooke789]

FTR, when I saw my friend's baby announcement on social media I thought if I was doing it I would have wanted the character to be holding pink or blue balloons along with the "it's a" sign.

 

[cjhudson]

Cakes are expensive. The Confectionery on Main Street in Magic Kingdom used to sell "seasonal" cupcakes. You might be able to get some with pink or blue frosting.

Or - go into gift shops and take pics of her looking at gender-appropriate outfits. This comment may get me in trouble because some people think there are no gender appropriate clothes or toys. But it would be cheaper and easier than a cake.

Thanks for the info on the cakes. We will probably go the color and sign route with a character.

 

[bryana]

Thanks for the info on the cakes. We will probably go the color and sign route with a character.

I've actually been pleasantly surprised at how inexpensive some cakes are at WDW. If you head over to the Restaurants forum, there is a cake thread and the stuff in there is amazing.

 

[AinsleyLM]

Are there connecting rooms at AKL?

 

[mster425]

Just back from 6 nights in a value 1br value at Jambo!

The good:Room 5110 was updated and had a great view- zebras in the day and giraffes at night. The pool and activities were great. We also went to the pool at Kidani and liked that one too. The buses were really convenient and while we rented a car, we never used it except for the first day until we realized the buses were faster. We stayed at the BC last time and the buses took way longer bc there were more stops. My two year old threw his magic band off the balcony and they didn't make me feel like a terrible mother because of it, lol. Zebra domes- obviously. The new TVs are huge!

The "meh:" There was loud construction (which we expected) in the lobby throughout the afternoon and some on the 6th floor that woke us up at 5 am (!!). The air conditioning in the bedroom was not really working but it wasn't a huge deal. We did tell the front desk, and it seemed to work better for one night but not after that. Concierge gave out wrong information and told me it would cost $150 to add a day to our hoppers and was about to run my card for that- we left and went to MK and it cost $50 at the gate.

Overall, we would definitely stay there again, maybe try Kidani next time- it's smaller and more our style. If travelling without kids, I think we prefer the convenience of the Epcot resorts. But with kids, it was great to retreat to a quieter, calmer place after the chaos of the parks.

 

[Best Aunt]

Someone requested a picture of the fridge in a Jambo studio. Here's a picture from March 2015. As you can see, the "freezer" is just that tiny box on the top. Barely big enough for mini ice cube trays.

 

[yaya74]

How long is the bus ride from AKL to AK?
the transportation wizard at ourlaughingplace said 18 minutes, but 6 minutes by car.. why the difference??

I need to figure out how long it might take for me to go to Beach Club Resort from AKL for a dinner at Cape May Cafe and I will go to MK after dinner...

 

[2pinwheels]

We are booked for AKL in November 2016. Our magical 13th wedding anniversary trip with our sons, 9 & 7. Can't wait.

My question after going last year and staying at POFQ. Where in the lineup of bus stalls does the AKL bus land at most parks? Does this lineup change year to year, or is it mostly the same stalls for the same resorts?

I wonder, because our POFQ stall was almost at the end of a line of stalls. Its fine, but I'm hopeful that AKL buses get closer stalls to the park exit?

 

[2pinwheels]

For those trying to get between resorts, when we were at POFQ last year, we used uber between resorts. It was just too many connections with a DR deadline to depend on buses/boats/trains. Between the hotels and the parks, we used Disney transport. But, if we needed to travel between resorts, uber worked out better.

 

[DizDaD7]

How long is the bus ride from AKL to AK?
the transportation wizard at ourlaughingplace said 18 minutes, but 6 minutes by car.. why the difference??

I need to figure out how long it might take for me to go to Beach Club Resort from AKL for a dinner at Cape May Cafe and I will go to MK after dinner...

No way 18 mins..... 6 mins tops to AK.....20 mins the most to MK...I'd say 12 mins to the entrance to EPCOT & then a good 15-20 min walk or so to BC.

We are booked for AKL in November 2016. Our magical 13th wedding anniversary trip with our sons, 9 & 7. Can't wait.

My question after going last year and staying at POFQ. Where in the lineup of bus stalls does the AKL bus land at most parks? Does this lineup change year to year, or is it mostly the same stalls for the same resorts?

I wonder, because our POFQ stall was almost at the end of a line of stalls. Its fine, but I'm hopeful that AKL buses get closer stalls to the park exit?

I do believe they are never the same...They change for sure but do not know how often....

 

[scrapquitler]

No way 18 mins..... 6 mins tops to AK.....20 mins the most to MK...I'd say 12 mins to the entrance to EPCOT & then a good 15-20 min walk or so to BC.
I do believe they are never the same...They change for sure but do not know how often....

They use my visits as a schedule for the changes. Whatever resort I'm staying at gets moved to the furthest bus stop.

 

[DizDaD7]

They use my visits as a schedule for the changes. Whatever resort I'm staying at gets moved to the furthest bus stop.

Now thats funny.

 

[Best Aunt]

Photo taken March 2015 at Animal Kingdom Park:

 

[2pinwheels]

Well, if they change, I'll expect it will be the end of the line when we get there. Like scrapquitler, I have terrible line luck. If you see me in line, get in a different one--the one I'm in will surely take the longest.

 

[scrapquitler]

Well, if they change, I'll expect it will be the end of the line when we get there. Like scrapquitler, I have terrible line luck. If you see me in line, get in a different one--the one I'm in will surely take the longest.

We mostly stay at values, and those usually seem to be the furthest stops. On our recent trip, we stayed a few days at AKL, and I thought YES! I'm staying at a Deluxe, it's not going to be the last bus stop leaving the park. I was SADLY mistaken to find out that AKL had the farthest stop, even at AK, where I just guessed it would be the first one.

 

[McKelly]

Whenever we have stayed at other resorts, Blizzard Beach shares with the Animal Kingdom bus. I'm wondering if it's the same at AKL? If we want to go to Blizzard Beach, does that share with AK still, since AK is so close? Or does BB go with a different bus route?

 

[TeeterTots]

Whenever we have stayed at other resorts, Blizzard Beach shares with the Animal Kingdom bus. I'm wondering if it's the same at AKL? If we want to go to Blizzard Beach, does that share with AK still, since AK is so close? Or does BB go with a different bus route?

Nope...AK goes directly to AKL (and kidani of course)

 

[McKelly]

Nope...AK goes directly to AKL (and kidani of course)

Do you recall how you get to Blizzard Beach?