Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[gwynne]

We're going in Feb.
Feb 10-14 Jambo CL

We are so looking forward to this trip.

 

[ItsOnlyMoney]

It's snowing and sleeting --- BUT in only 8 DAYS I'll be at AKL!!

 

[dgbg100106]

We're going in Feb.
Feb 10-14 Jambo CL

We are so looking forward to this trip.

February
hdrolfe, Jan 30th – 8th, AKL
Victoriasmom98, 4th – 9th, Kidani
Gwynne, 10th – 14th, Jambo CL
CookieandOatmeal, 14th – 16th, AKL Honeymoon
Sherrkel, 19th – 28th, AKL
Jeniie, 25th – Mar 10th, AKL Jambo

 

[Ferrentinos]

Looks like we will be booking our post-cruise stay at akl CL in July!! Woohoo! It will make getting off the ship a little easier to know we are headed there instead of home!

 

[anjalee6]

We booked a bounce back during our anniversary stay a couple of weeks ago. We are going back in August. August 3- 10 @ AKL CL.

 

[White Rose]

Sounds great! Regarding the paid upgrade, Disney resorts generally aren't like regular hotels that way, but it certainly couldn't hurt to ask, especially if you do offer to pay for it. However, since it sounds like you have a pretty full itinerary planned for that one night, upgrading may not be worth it if you wouldn't be in the room to actually see the animals! You might be fine just walking out to the overlook (outside at the back of the lobby) before you leave for the MVMCP and spending 30 minutes out there watching the animals. Enjoy!

that is why I had a small limited amount I'd be willing to pay- considering we will be there for such a brief time! We had savanna view last time (2003) and I was hoping for a morning view of Fred George and Bob from our room...of course we named the animals.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[White Rose]

....don't hold my words as Gospel Truth, but when the resort is not full capacity, sometimes they upgrade to a better room. Typically, December 4 is not considered 'High Season', so you may have a better chance. They won't come out and tell you; you'll realize it when you wind up with a pool-view or savannah-view room. When checking in, if you request an upgrade, it is definitely going to be more than $50! Even if you don't get an upgrade, there are plenty of locations to view animals throughout the resort...you are going to love this resort!

I know upgrades for free are not to be expected. We honeymooned on the platinum plan and stayed at AKL - we paid for Savannah view, and could not even get a king bed! (We were told that people on the premium/platinum plans and celebrating a big occasion many times get upgraded...not that trip! We were checking in on Columbus day.) Originally we were put in a room with bunk beds...for our honeymoon...lol.

When we stayed at the Poly for our 5th Anniversary, the person providing our room cards just told us that our room was in the Hawaii building, and that is how I found out we got upgraded to CL MKV that trip - she didn't make a big deal about it. (I, on the other hand, wanted to hug the CM! I let out a little squeak of excitement. My hubby had to hold me down, I was bouncing.)

I am willing to pay a bit, at check-in, for an upgrade - I'll ask and see what's available.

Thank you for your advice!

 

[BestVacaEver]

Live, laugh, love, be happy and safe.....and those lucky enough to be at WDW today, well I am just jealous and have no words

 

[kimmar067]

....TR updated....

 

[BLTLDZ]

2 more days until we get there! Can't wait!!!

 

[myminnieme]

Can anybody tell me how long the bus ride is from akl to magic kingdom? And general review of transportation. Would love to stay there but most of our time will be at magic kingdom. Would it be a bad idea?

 

[RikkiTurner]

Can anybody tell me how long the bus ride is from akl to magic kingdom? And general review of transportation. Would love to stay there but most of our time will be at magic kingdom. Would it be a bad idea?

Here's my experience having stayed at the lodge the past few weeks. Buses to Magic kingdom averaged around 17 minutes from from bus stop to bus stop.

I have to admit I was disappointed with buses from the AKL. They were extremely irregular. They are supposed to be every 20 mins or so but during my 2 week stay that was not the case. On several occasions we were waiting 30 mins plus for a bus. This becomes somewhat more frustrating when you see multiple buses turn up for the same location over and over.

On one evening we had a reservation for 8:30pm at Via Napoli. We were at the bus stop at 6:55pm and yet we didn't get to Epcot until just past 8:30. We ended up getting to the restaurant at 8:45 having had to go through bag checks and then run to the opposite end of the park.

I really liked the AKL but because of transport issues I would not return again.

 

[myminnieme]

Here's my experience having stayed at the lodge the past few weeks. Buses to Magic kingdom averaged around 17 minutes from from bus stop to bus stop. I have to admit I was disappointed with buses from the AKL. They were extremely irregular. They are supposed to be every 20 mins or so but during my 2 week stay that was not the case. On several occasions we were waiting 30 mins plus for a bus. This becomes somewhat more frustrating when you see multiple buses turn up for the same location over and over. On one evening we had a reservation for 8:30pm at Via Napoli. We were at the bus stop at 6:55pm and yet we didn't get to Epcot until just past 8:30. We ended up getting to the restaurant at 8:45 having had to go through bag checks and then run to the opposite end of the park. I really liked the AKL but because of transport issues I would not return again.

Well that's not good news. I was hoping they would have decent transportation since they are kind of a ways a way from MK.

 

[jimandami]

Well that's not good news. I was hoping they would have decent transportation since they are kind of a ways a way from MK. dde1f

The things is, you can and will have transportation issues from every single Disney resort! The monorail may break down, the boats may be delayed, or you may have random long waits for a bus. Unless you stay at one of the resorts where you can walk to park, it's never guaranteed to be quick...and even then, transport to the other resorts may be slow. We have stayed at many, many resorts and have had some great bus luck and some bad bus luck. I certainly don't think AKL is worse than any other resort, especially since it doesn't share buses.

 

[VbChristy]

The things is, you can and will have transportation issues from every single Disney resort! The monorail may break down, the boats may be delayed, or you may have random long waits for a bus. Unless you stay at one of the resorts where you can walk to park, it's never guaranteed to be quick...and even then, transport to the other resorts may be slow. We have stayed at many, many resorts and have had some great bus luck and some bad bus luck. I certainly don't think AKL is worse than any other resort, especially since it doesn't share buses.

I agree with this post. In general, I think the transportation reliability has gone down in every mode of transportation. I've experienced a lot of annoyances in the Past couple years and we've been quiet a bit. But it is still better than staying off property- did that for the last trip, and while there were benefits, the transportation issue is still a big one!

 

[lions1995]

Here's my experience having stayed at the lodge the past few weeks. Buses to Magic kingdom averaged around 17 minutes from from bus stop to bus stop.

I have to admit I was disappointed with buses from the AKL. They were extremely irregular. They are supposed to be every 20 mins or so but during my 2 week stay that was not the case. On several occasions we were waiting 30 mins plus for a bus. This becomes somewhat more frustrating when you see multiple buses turn up for the same location over and over.

On one evening we had a reservation for 8:30pm at Via Napoli. We were at the bus stop at 6:55pm and yet we didn't get to Epcot until just past 8:30. We ended up getting to the restaurant at 8:45 having had to go through bag checks and then run to the opposite end of the park.

I really liked the AKL but because of transport issues I would not return again.

I have to agree. Disney transportation must have some issues somewhere in their logic. One day everyone was at Kidanni waiting for AK and saw 4 (four I say) MK buses in less than 15 minutes. It was really ridicules. I don't think there was one person who got on any one of those four buses.

Later in the week, heading to Epcot, I saw very similar thing. 3 MZ buses in a very short period of time.

I do think a disney wants to get a better handle on these issues, but I suspect they are relying on their IT staff for the programming. And, well, we all know that IT and Disney do not mix well. And I do not think the is a resort specific issue. So you can go to another resort and will still have similar issues when using buses.

 

[dgbg100106]

All, I will be going on vacation and will not have internet for 2.5 weeks. So I will not be able to update the "list". I will take care of it upon my return.

Here is the latest list of everyone visiting in 2014


2014
December
saysib, Nov 28th-12th, AKL
NaughtyQueen, Nov 30th – 6th, AKL
mmafan, 1st - 10th, AKL
Miranda, 2nd – 8th, AKL
BLTLDZ, 3rd – 8th, AKL
jce2, 3rd – 10th, AKL
Cincystamper, 3rd – 14th, AKL
Emilyclaire, 4th – 10th, AKL
Geminierin, 4th – 10th, AKL
ItsOnlyMoney, 4th – 13th, AKL
Andrea464, 5th – 9th, AKL
Abbydancer, 6th – 15th, Kidani
DevonsDisneyMom, 7th-12th, AKL
disney2014plan, 10th -14th, AKL
tiggrbaby, 11th – 14th, POP
LvsTnk, 13th – 22nd, AKL
Cruzergirl, 14th – 22nd, Jambo House
jcjen519, 14th – 23rd, AKV CL
krismanda, 16th – 23rd, AKL
RachelTori, 20th – 26th, BCV
Courtneybeth, 21st – 27th, AKV

2015
January
Sndral, 1st – 11th, AKL
Mama Steph, 2nd – 6th, AKL
DINKaAtDisney, 9th – 13th, AKL
Mariethecat, 17th – 24th, AKL
Ted in Halifax, 17th – Feb 2nd, AKL
C2disney, 20th – 24th, AKL
ssmurphy28, 21st – 31st, AKL
tlovesdis, 22nd – 27th, AKL
suemom2kay, 24th –31st, Kidani
hdrolfe, 30th – feb 8th, AKL

February
hdrolfe, Jan 30th – 8th, AKL
Victoriasmom98, 4th – 9th, Kidani
CookieandOatmeal, 14th – 16th, AKL Honeymoon
Sherrkel, 19th – 28th, AKL
Jeniie, 25th – Mar 10th, AKL Jambo

March
Jeniie, Feb 25th – 10th, AKL Jambo
Srauchbauer, 4th – 9th, AKL

April
Franandaj, 13th – 20th, VWL
Franandaj, 20th – 24th, DCL

May
DgBg100106, 5th -8th, BCV (Flower and Garden)
ThisIsJason, 5th – 11th, Kidani
Dolphingirl47, 11th – 14th, BCV

June
ChgoMusicGirl, 8th – 13th, Jambo House
think-like-tink, 15th – 25th, AKL

July
Denamac, 20th -26th , Jambo CL

August
MICKEY'S DREAMERS, 3rd – 13th, AKL
Ebonyeyes, 10th – 21st, AKV Kidani
Pandv_2000, 15th-29th, AKl CL
NatalieMT, 24th – Sep 1st, AKL

September
VeronicaBride, 11th – 18th, AKL
Sailored, 15th – 22nd, AKL
October
LJSquishy, 21st – 30th, AKL

November

December

 

[kimmar067]

..... I'm a little surprised that more of you haven't ventured over to read my TR....

 

[kimmar067]

All, I will be going on vacation and will not have internet for 2.5 weeks. So I will not be able to update the "list". I will take care of it upon my return.

Here is the latest list of everyone visiting in 2014

....shouldn't it be '2015'?

[BTW ~ have a great time on vacay! ]

 

[John's Mom]

Brandi, hope you and David have a wonderful vacation. Thanks for keeping the list.