Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[Ruth B]

Agree with everything RachelTori wrote. Link the reservations and specifically request rooms near each other on both reservations. Good luck!

How do you link reservations? We have one room booked through Disney and another booked through agent but would like them linked. Thanks

 

[Kudmani]

Does anyone have a photo of the December recreation guide with special activities for Christmas Day/Christmas Eve from last year? Found an image at one time on Google, but I can't seem to find it again.

 

[DINKsAtDisney]

We have a Savannah view for our upcoming trip and in the online check-in only Kudu is available as an option. Should I leave it unchecked and hope for Arusha, or should I select it as the best expected option?

 

[sndral]

We have a Savannah view for our upcoming trip and in the online check-in only Kudu is available as an option. Should I leave it unchecked and hope for Arusha, or should I select it as the best expected option?

Actually the rooms/villas on one side of Kudu trail face Arusha savanna, the rooms/villas on the other side face Sunset savanna.
That said, last trip I left the online check in choices blank and ended up on Zebra trail facing Arusha savanna. I was in a DVC savanna view villa.

 

[TreeFalls]

That's not correct. CL rooms for non-DVC (resort guests) are on 4th floor, in the first pods off the lobby on Kudu and Zebra Trails. Occasionally, a CL resort guest will be in the 2nd pod - usually Kudu Trail, but they try to keep CL guests as close to the lobby (with Arusha Savannah view) as possible.

DVC CL is very limited and that is on floor 6 (where the CL Lounge is located). The 5th floor is DVC (non-CL). I hope this all makes sense!

TreeFalls: Did you link the reservations? That's the easiest way for you to get a room near your parents. Otherwise, your best bet would be to request "near lobby". You might still be on a different floor (2 or 3), but you would be in close proximity, without a long walk down the corridors! Good luck and have a great stay!

Thank you, that is exactly the info I needed. I assume our travel agent linked the reservations, but I will check with her to make sure.

 

[RachelTori]

Thank you, that is exactly the info I needed. I assume our travel agent linked the reservations, but I will check with her to make sure.

Happy to help! Yes, the TA or Disney can easily link the reservations! Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[JohnDaleswife]

So does anyone know what all online check-in options there are now since Disney updated them?

 

[heidia]

So does anyone know what all online check-in options there are now since Disney updated them?

 

[JohnDaleswife]

May splurge for a pool view now.

 

[maranara]

Trying to figure out plane tickets for our January trip. We're not planning on going to a park the day we arrive - just exploring and enjoying AKL. If we take a flight that arrives at 11...I'm assuming we won't get to AKL until 1...I know that we won't be able to check in, but will we be able to stash our stuff and enjoy the resort? Or are we better off taking a later flight? There's one that arrives at 3, but then I'm not sure we'll have enough time to swim and do some activities. THANKS!

 

[iona]

Trying to figure out plane tickets for our January trip. We're not planning on going to a park the day we arrive - just exploring and enjoying AKL. If we take a flight that arrives at 11...I'm assuming we won't get to AKL until 1...I know that we won't be able to check in, but will we be able to stash our stuff and enjoy the resort? Or are we better off taking a later flight? There's one that arrives at 3, but then I'm not sure we'll have enough time to swim and do some activities. THANKS!

Definitely! Leave your bags with Bell Services, grab some lunch at Mara and then take it from there!

 

[2pinwheels]

I have a standard room at AKL booked. My plan is to ask for third floor, near the lobby.

My aim is to not walk too much from the bus stop. Enjoy views of animals from the common areas. Enjoy the activities at AKL with the kids.

Does this type of room request seem foolish for any reason to more experienced people?

 

[maranara]

Definitely! Leave your bags with Bell Services, grab some lunch at Mara and then take it from there!

PERFECT! Thanks - my daughter is an early riser, so I would so much rather take the 8 am flight down and have the day to play.

 

[RachelTori]

Trying to figure out plane tickets for our January trip. We're not planning on going to a park the day we arrive - just exploring and enjoying AKL. If we take a flight that arrives at 11...I'm assuming we won't get to AKL until 1...I know that we won't be able to check in, but will we be able to stash our stuff and enjoy the resort? Or are we better off taking a later flight? There's one that arrives at 3, but then I'm not sure we'll have enough time to swim and do some activities. THANKS!

Definitely check-in when you arrive. There's always a chance your room will be ready! And if you do online check-in and request a text, you may get off the plane and receive a text with your room number!!

I always take an early flight -- room ready or not, I'm happy just to be there!

 

[RachelTori]

I have a standard room at AKL booked. My plan is to ask for third floor, near the lobby.

My aim is to not walk too much from the bus stop. Enjoy views of animals from the common areas. Enjoy the activities at AKL with the kids.

Does this type of room request seem foolish for any reason to more experienced people?

That's a great request! Put the more important request first, but I doubt you'll have trouble having both requests met. There are a good number of standard view rooms near the lobby, many are on the 3rd (lobby level) floor!

 

[archdandy]

Is it just me or does Mara seem to have a pretty boring menu compared to some of the other resorts counter service? Does anyone have any recent pictures of some of the offerings there so I can get a excited about it? Or should I just plan on not eating counter service at the resort?

 

[yaya74]

Trying to figure out plane tickets for our January trip. We're not planning on going to a park the day we arrive - just exploring and enjoying AKL. If we take a flight that arrives at 11...I'm assuming we won't get to AKL until 1...I know that we won't be able to check in, but will we be able to stash our stuff and enjoy the resort? Or are we better off taking a later flight? There's one that arrives at 3, but then I'm not sure we'll have enough time to swim and do some activities. THANKS!

Our room at AKL was available at 10am when we were there last month. Just make sure you indicate your arrival time when you do online-check in. There is a great chance that your room will be ready when you arrive!!!

 

[yaya74]

Is it just me or does Mara seem to have a pretty boring menu compared to some of the other resorts counter service? Does anyone have any recent pictures of some of the offerings there so I can get a excited about it? Or should I just plan on not eating counter service at the resort?

Disneyfoodblog has some picture on this page: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013/03/10/review-the-mara-at-disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge/
I don't find the food boring. In the contrary, my family love the food there!! The vegetable flatbread was quite delicious. I LOVE the breakfast platter too.

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Wonder why they took Kudu Trail view off of the standard rooms with online check-in. Touring Plans shows quite many standard view rooms on Kudu Trail.

 

[Bork]

Anyone else have bad experiences with buses? We just got back from a 2 week split Pop/Kidani stay. Of course, getting a bus at park close was a lot better at Kidani vs Pop, but we had some terrible waits in the mornings, especially to MK. Two mornings, we could see the MK bus pull away as we got there. One morning, we had to wait 40 minutes for a bus at park open. Then 2 buses came at once. We basically lost an hour of park time because of the bus.