Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort Frequently Asked Questions (slight update 5/14)

[disneyberry]

hi all... just had to say, during our 2 night stay last week in a 4th floor std savannah room on the Zebra Trail overlooking Arusha Savannah... we hardly saw ANY animals!!!
what a bummer!

we also didn't have enough time to take the lodge tour or go on to Arusha rock during the daytime. (next time we'll have to stay longer)
so we never found out an important piece of info:


when are the feeding times???


btw, our last night we wandered around the resort taking pics, and at the Sunset Savannah lookout.... oh my lord, there had to be about 30 animals all at once in the Sunset Savannah area... i wished we had had a room there!!! maybe in the past the best animal viewing was at Arusha Savannah, but now with weather changes maybe they're rotating it to Sunset Savannah...

speculations?

 

[Janet2k]

I found the following bit of information in the Fall 2001 edition of the “Disney Magazine”:

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Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Dedication: Orlando, Florida, May 22, 2001 – Amid 100 fluttering paper birds and a flurry of leaf-shaped confetti, Shelia Gibbs belts out “Circle of Life.” Gibbs, who plays Rafiki in Broadway’s “The Lion King,” and four of her fellow cast members performed the song at the opening of Walt Disney World’s newest resort. Adding harmony was the 50-member Seminole High School Choir from Sanford, Florida. Lion King ensemble members Ron Kunene and Lindiwe Diamini followed with a reading of “Africa – We Thank You,” a poem about their native land.
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There was also a beautiful photograph in the magazine that was taken during the dedication ceremony. I wish I could have been there for it, I bet it was a wonderful thing to experience.

A few of our fellow Dis’ers were there for the AKL dedication event and posted what they saw in the thread “AKL Dedication ceremony” that was started by Piratesmate.

 

[Mickey_k]

I was also wondering about the concierge rooms. Are the views good or are they blocked by trees?. What is the best request for a concierge room? ALso how is the transportation?

 

[Janet2k]

Mickey_k, are any of the concierge rooms’ views blocked by trees? I don’t know for certain but I would think that most of them (if not all of them) are not blocked. What would be the best concierge room to request? I don’t know. I had a concierge room on the fifth floor that overlooked Zebra Trail. I really loved my view. If you’d like to see the view from my room, here is the link to my on-line photo album: Janet2k's On-Line Photo Albums

A lot of folks really like staying in a savannah view room (non-concierge room) on the lower floors because they love the close-up view of the animals that it affords. Other folks prefer the higher-up floors for the overall view of the savannah that it affords. I can see both points. But I really feel that no matter what floor you stay on, and what savannah view you have, you will still have an incredible stay. There are also many wonderful public-viewing spaces scattered around the lodge, both inside and out. The best views are probably from those spaces, in my humble opinion. I love the AKL.

The transportation was fine during my AKL stay. As you well know, WDW transportation is really hit or miss from ALL of the WDW resorts. You'll hear good things and bad from many folks. I can only state that it was perfect during my stay. As with anything Disney, if you are in a hurry, use your car or take a taxicab. That way you will be assured of getting where you need to go at the correct time.

 

[MomofKate]

I am so excited. We are leaving for Disney in just 4 more days! This is the first time I have read the thread about the AKL. Things look great here and I can't wait to experience it.

I do have a question. We are traveling with a party of 5. I booked a room for 4 of us, because the room for 5 was $50.00 more. Is it going to be ok to "sneak" in the extra person or will there will be trouble for doing this? Do they give you a bigger room for 5 people? I wonder exactly what I am paying for with that extra $50.00? Any ideas/suggestions on my dilemna? I want to be honest about having 5 in the room, but why the $50.00 more? Thanks for your help..

 

[dandave]

MomofKate, Hi! The Deluxe room is appx 380 sq.ft as opposed to 340 sq.ft. The only Deluxe room which will sleep 5 is the 1 queen bed, bunk beds, and daybed combo room. The deluxe with 2 queens does not have a daybed. If you have a child 2 or under, then you can put that child in a crib.
If you have more than two adults in a room, then their is also an extra charge for the 3rd adult.
Is your 5th person 2 or under?

 

[MomofKate]

In our room there would be myself, my husband, and our three children. Ages 9, 10 and 11 years old. We could put on on the floor if that's the only difference in the extra $50.00 a night. We are only staying one night there, so it's not a biggie where we will sleep. I am just worried about one of the kids not getting a transportation pass or something if we don't register him there? Will that happen? We haven't been to Disney before, but I am assuming the hotel gives you passes for the transportation system? Will one of the kids not get a pass if we don't tell them he is staying with us? My parents will be there in their RV, but we don't want to be driving that around.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[dandave]

MomofKate, No, I don't think transportation will be the problem here. If Disney finds out that you are sneaking in this 3rd child, then you could be asked to leave. I'm sure that is not what you wanted to hear, and I'm sorry to have to tell you that. It is potentially a very embarrassing situation for you and your children. If it were me, then I'd try to quickly change my ressie to a deluxe and include the 5th person on the ressie.

 

[MomofKate]

Originally posted by dandave
MomofKate, No, I don't think transportation will be the problem here. If Disney finds out that you are sneaking in this 3rd child, then you could be asked to leave. I'm sure that is not what you wanted to hear, and I'm sorry to have to tell you that. It is potentially a very embarrassing situation for you and your children. If it were me, then I'd try to quickly change my ressie to a deluxe and include the 5th person on the ressie.

Thanks DanDave! I am going to do that now....

 

[dandave]

I hope ya'll have a wonderful time at the AKL! It is very beautiful and peaceful. I think you will be able to enjoy your stay there and be much more relaxed with the Deluxe and the 5 person ressie!

 

[actuarian]

DW and I are staying at AKL concierge in January. We saw several posts here about the Sunrise Safari but no mention of who to call to reserve it. Does anyone have that information?

 

[Janet2k]

Actuarian, you contact the AKL concierge and let them know that you would like to attend the Sunrise Safari and Breakfast event. There is a per person charge for this, as well as the fact that you will need to have a theme park pass (park hopper, annual pass, etc.) in your possession the morning of the event.

 

[49rt67]

Regarding coffee makers on request at AKL, do they provide the coffee, sugar, & cream, or do I have to provide it myself? Thank you for any assistance!

 

[actuarian]

Thank you, JANET2K. Do you by any chance know the number to call for the AKL concierge? (I assume that the concierge will call us eventually but I understand this event can and should be reserved 90 days in advance. Based in prior experience in concierge rooms at other hotels (GF, Polynesian, Boardwalk Inn), the concierge will not call us until about 10 days before the reservation).

 

[Janet2k]

I don't have the concierge number but here is the number to the AKL resort: (407)-938-4760 (I got that phone number from the WDW webpage for the AKL). I bet if you give them a call, they could connect you to the Kilimanjaro Club (the concierge lounge) where you could speak to (or leave a message for) one of the concierge CMs.

 

[Janet2k]

I was just on the www.disneyworld.com webpage and saw on the left-hand side of it something entitled, "Taking the President's advice, 'I went to Disney World!'" by Liz Smith. If you click on that link, you'll find an article about her trip. Here is the blurb in it regarding the AKL resort:

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" Instead of flying off to Africa on safari, give yourself a break and go to the Animal Kingdom Hotel. In this luxurious inn and theme park, which is the least commercial of all the Disney playgrounds, wild animals from Africa look in your window or can be seen from your tour bus or from the little train that takes you behind the scenes."
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If you read her entire article, she mentions a lot about the Animal Kingdom Theme Park. It sounds like she had a wonderful time in Walt Disney World. Do you think she might have spent a night at the AKL? I wonder.

 

[Janet2k]

I received my “100 Years of Magic: Walt Disney World” vacation planning video the other day. For those of you who have this video, if you go approximately 28 minutes into the tape, you’ll be in the “resort” section. Right at this point they show an exterior shot of the AKL. I want you to take a look at the following photo in my on-line photo album: Janet2k's Favorite Exterior View Of AKL

Now compare that photo with the image on the Disney videotape. The two shots are basically identical. Great minds think alike, eh?! By the way, when I first viewed my videotape, I shouted out, “Hey, kids, there’s a shot of our old AKL resort room!” They got a kick out of viewing it and reminiscing about our last vacation. *Sigh* I can’t wait to go back to the AKL.

 

[carterman_12]

I too just recieved my 100 years of magic video (though not going this year, made a choice to save the money for next year and wait for Mission: Space) It really shows great shots of AKL. Worth the 2 seconds it took me to order it, plus, the video was free!

 

[Janet2k]

There's a thread on the "Rumors" board that mentions that "Live with Regis and Kelly" will be filiming in WDW in December. They are offering a travel package on the Live website that includes four nights at the AKL. Here's what is being offered:

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Join Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa as they help kick off the biggest celebration in the history of Walt Disney World Resort--100 Years of Magic- spectacular yearlong celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney's birth. Be the first to experience new attractions, parades and shows in all four theme parks during the celebration of creativity, innovation and family entertainment.

From December 1 -December 5, "Live with Regis and Kelly" will take their show on the road and tape from the Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. And, as a special treat, fan club members will have a chance to meet Regis' new co-host Kelly Ripa, during a fan club luncheon.

Here's what the package will include:

"Five days, four nights accommodations at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge...home to a picturesque savannah where giraffe, zebra and other exotic animals roam about a spacious wildlife reserve.

Walt Disney World passes which will include admission to: The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, the Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom

Welcome breakfast
Luncheon with Kelly
Ground transportation to and from airport
VIP tickets to the "Live with Regis & Kelly" show tapings December 4 and 5
VIP tickets to one taping of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire"
Plus, there'll be SURPRISE AND GIFTS!
Be a part of this spectacular vacation for just $1,084 per person, plus airfare (based on double occupancy)
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I wonder if Regis and Kelly will be staying at the AKL. For anyone vacationing at the AKL at that time, let us know if you bump into them in the resort's hallways. I remember reading about a fellow Dis'er and his wife bumping into Regis in the Bally store at the GF a few years ago. That was one of my favorite WDW stories.

 

[dandave]

All rooms are themed liked Africa. All rooms feature 2 queen beds, 1 king and a daybed, and 1 queen and bunk beds. Deluxe rooms have the same except all feature a daybed and, of course, have more space.

carterman12, Hi! Thanks for the great AKL FAQ! I do not believe that a deluxe room with 2 queen beds has a daybed. It is my understanding that only the deluxe with the queen/bunkbed combo and the deluxe with the king have daybeds.
If I am correct, then the queen/bunkbed/daybed deluxe room is the only one that will sleep five.