Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[kimmar067]

Not really AKL news, but I just read the HS hat is being torn down 1/6-7... I knew it was leaving but hoped we could see it one last time...we are just going to miss it! I know it didn't really fit where it was but we liked it, and the pin shop.

....awwww, glad I took a pic of it when we were there in October....

 

[BestVacaEver]

....awwww, glad i took a pic of it when we were there in october....

nice

 

[LiamsDISMom]

Hi all I am so excited that I just switched my bounceback in august to AKL for a pretty small price difference compared to POR. This will be my first family trip staying deluxe. We always did moderates until my husband and I just spoiled ourselves at the YC for our anniversary. Now I don't know if I can go back to mods I have pool view and am already scouting out rooms and thinking about requests. Have visited the lodge many times and love the atmosphere and cannot wait to be immersed in it and not have to leave after dinner. So with that being said, what is your advice on room location for pool view. Being august I plan to use the pool a lot as well ad my 10 year old son, so quick access to that is important. I also want to really get the feel of the lodge and would like to be close to being able to walk out on the public savanna viewing areas. My husband and I would also like to have a short walk to pop down to the bar for a drink to bring back up to our balcony and enjoy. We go to disney every year and do spend a good amount of time at the resort and will do more so on this trip so transportation being close not a big priority. Don't know if such a room exists, but if it does I figured you guys would know.

 

[kimmar067]

nice

....probably saw it in my TR.....right?

 

[kimmar067]

 

[Lovinallthingsdisney]

I am so excited! We booked the bounce back offer for December while we were there just before Christmas. We will be staying CL December 14-22. We stayed AKL CL in December 2013 and fell in LOVE. Stayed at Coronado BC last month and although it was very nice, it was just not the same. All it took was one comment from DH about it not feeling "the same", and I was on the phone booking for next year. Now I have to wait until June to be able to book anything further..eeek!

 

[RachelTori]

The following isn't at AKL, but it is at Animal Kingdom (the park), so I thought it worth posting:

On 2/27/2015, the 3 hour (ages 16 and up) Backstage Tour is ending.

It will be replaced by a 3 hour and 45 minute tour "Backstage Tales" ($90; information on possible discounts not yet available) and be open to guests 12 and older. Here is the description from WDW Info:

"Backstage Tales - begins 3/1/15: Taking place at the Animal Kingdom, guests will head backstage to check out the park's Veterinary Hospital, housing for animals and the Animal Nutrition Center (more than 3 tons of food are served each day!). Guests will see the creative techniques Disney uses to promote conservation and perform behavioral studies. They will also see the Animal Programs Administration building and learn about wildlife conservation around the world."



Wild by Design is gone; Sunrise Safari (which was open to AKL-Club Level guests) ended 12/28/2014; and now Backstage Safari ends 2/27/2015. At least they have a replacement for that one!

 

[BestVacaEver]

....probably saw it in my TR.....right?

YEP! And thanks for posting here too.

 

[Sinderelly]

Can you please add us to the list for...
May. 30-June 6 2015
Kidani

 

[amandaw]

Is there any place that lists the bus transportation times from AKL to the different parks? We will most likely be driving to all the parks except MK. But given how far away AKL is from MK, I'm trying to decide if the bus is still the best option or if it would actually be quicker to drive even though parking for MK is a pain. Also, I don't know if this will factor in much but we will also be going at a ridiculously busy time: 4/3-4/11. Thank you!

 

[DizDaD7]

Is there any place that lists the bus transportation times from AKL to the different parks? We will most likely be driving to all the parks except MK. But given how far away AKL is from MK, I'm trying to decide if the bus is still the best option or if it would actually be quicker to drive even though parking for MK is a pain. Also, I don't know if this will factor in much but we will also be going at a ridiculously busy time: 4/3-4/11. Thank you!

I prefer to only use WDW transportation. Even when driving down and having a car, Id rather not have to deal with the whole parking issue and shuttles and stuff.
I'm sure someone will chime in with a link for times, but it's all relative,and there is no set time limits. Especially for different times of the year.

Here's what I've discovered based on 2 separate stays at AKV .

From:
AKV. -->AK, roughly 5 minutes
AKV. -->HS, roughly 7 , 8 mins.
AKV. --> EP, roughly 10 mins or so
AKV. --> MK, I'd say around 20 minutes. This is were you would initially save time driving there, but would have to wait in a long line to pay to park, then find a spot, then either walk or find a shuttle to transportation center, then either embark on the boat or monorail. To me it's not worth the time and hassle. either route enjoy your stay here, for this place (AKV) is truly Magical.

 

[VbChristy]

Is there any place that lists the bus transportation times from AKL to the different parks? We will most likely be driving to all the parks except MK. But given how far away AKL is from MKI'm trying to decide if the bus is still the best option or if it would actually be quicker to drive even though parking for MK is a pain. Also, I don't know if this will factor in much but we will also be going at a ridiculously busy time: 4/3-4/11. Thank you!

I cannot fathom a scenario where driving would be quicker to the MK. You park, have a 15 minute walk or wait for a tram, and then take the monorail or boat and then still get to the front... Only issue would be if you had to wait 20 minutes for the bus...

 

[amandaw]

I prefer to only use WDW transportation. Even when driving down and having a car, Id rather not have to deal with the whole parking issue and shuttles and stuff.
I'm sure someone will chime in with a link for times, but it's all relative,and there is no set time limits. Especially for different times of the year.

Here's what I've discovered based on 2 separate stays at AKV .

From:
AKV. -->AK, roughly 5 minutes
AKV. -->HS, roughly 7 , 8 mins.
AKV. --> EP, roughly 10 mins or so
AKV. --> MK, I'd say around 20 minutes. This is were you would initially save time driving there, but would have to wait in a long line to pay to park, then find a spot, then either walk or find a shuttle to transportation center, then either embark on the boat or monorail. To me it's not worth the time and hassle. either route enjoy your stay here, for this place (AKV) is truly Magical.

Thank you for those numbers. I had read that the bus ride to MK was longer than that & that's why I was concerned. We will stick to the bus for MK.

I cannot fathom a scenario where driving would be quicker to the MK. You park, have a 15 minute walk or wait for a tram, and then take the monorail or boat and then still get to the front... Only issue would be if you had to wait 20 minutes for the bus...

We normally don't drive to MK but I was just asking b/c I had read on another thread that the bus ride from AKL to MK was at least 30 min. As much as we dislike driving to MK, if the bus ride was that long I was willing to consider driving as an option.

 

[jcjen519]

Only issue would be if you had to wait 20 minutes for the bus...

Which can and does happen. It happened to us more than once on our dec trip. Ak is a great resort but transportation, especially to and from the mk, is not one of its selling points imho.

 

[amandaw]

Which can and does happen. It happened to us more than once on our dec trip. Ak is a great resort but transportation, especially to and from the mk, is not one of its selling points imho.

That's exactly what I'm afraid of....a long wait plus a long ride. That's why I'm wondering in that type of scenario if it's not best to just drive to MK. Oh well, guess I won't know until we get there. We've toyed around with changing from AKL to another deluxe but I think we're going to stay put. We have a couple of days scheduled for MK. If the bus is horrible the 1st time we go (which I'm expecting it to be since it'll be Easter Sunday), then we may drive the next time we go.

 

[kimmar067]

Hi all I am so excited that I just switched my bounceback in august to AKL...This will be my first family trip staying deluxe. We always did moderates until my husband and I just spoiled ourselves at the YC for our anniversary. Now I don't know if I can go back to mods....

....I know what you mean...

 

[kimmar067]

That's exactly what I'm afraid of....a long wait plus a long ride. That's why I'm wondering in that type of scenario if it's not best to just drive to MK. Oh well, guess I won't know until we get there. We've toyed around with changing from AKL to another deluxe but I think we're going to stay put. We have a couple of days scheduled for MK. If the bus is horrible the 1st time we go (which I'm expecting it to be since it'll be Easter Sunday), then we may drive the next time we go.

....just my 2c....when we were there in October there seemed to be more buses running from MK to AKL - that was my observation. I think that the longest I have ever waited for a bus at AKL is 15 minutes....

 

[amandaw]

....just my 2c....when we were there in October there seemed to be more buses running from MK to AKL - that was my observation. I think that the longest I have ever waited for a bus at AKL is 15 minutes....

Thanks! I'm going to cross all my fingers & toes that they'll have extra buses since we're going during Easter. As many times as I've been to WDW, I've never been during a crowded week. The thought of long bus waits on top of crowds makes me !

 

[kimmar067]

Thanks! I'm going to cross all my fingers & toes that they'll have extra buses since we're going during Easter. As many times as I've been to WDW, I've never been during a crowded week. The thought of long bus waits on top of crowds makes me !

....I'm also guessing that the time of day you will be traveling dictates the frequency and traffic of the buses....traditionally, the only problem I've ever encountered was a bus to DTD, but that was from ANY resort that i've ever stayed....

 

[kimmar067]

....here's the link to my TR - my FINISHED TR (yes, you read that correctly!):


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3351956