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

[CaliforniaDreamer]

SCohen, nice job of making us feel like we were there. Glad your stay was so enjoyable!

 

[Tig-girl]

SCohen--- I'm so glad to hear you say you were putting the monorail around your tree! Makes me feel less crazy since that is exactly what we did last year! You should have seen peoples faces when they came to our house and saw the EPCOT ball and the Contemporary REsort (which we managed to light up) with the monorail going thru it, around the tree. It was great! We have been collecting a piece each trip, and I don't know what the boys are planning to get this trip! I'll let you know!


So again AKLodgers, anyone ever do just desert and coffee at Jiko?

 

[#1hockeymom]

I feel like I am back at the lodge! Thank you for such a great description!

I have never done just coffee and dessert at Jiko, but their coffee and dessert is wonderful! When we had dinner there there were plenty of empty tables. I wouldn't see a problem with it at all! Make sure you order the pressed pot of coffee with those yummy desserts!

 

[SCohen]

Hi Y'all!
Oh you are all making me so "home"sick! I truly could live at AKL.
I had thought the same thing with collecting a peice of the monorail everytime we go back- I hope they keep adding pieces haha! Every Christmas we have Jack Skellington as our "angel". My husband has the poseable one with the different heads. It only seemed right that we should have a monorail at the bottom.
Enjoy a paw print brownie by the pool while listening to the African music for me! Sweet luxury!
Take care!
Tracey

 

[storybookmum]

Is my poor baby going to have any dairy-free goodies to choose from?? All those yummy desserts, and they all sound milky to me. Wah!

She is SO good, she never complains or fusses when we tell her things have milk, she knows it makes her sick. But I really hope there's something delicious for her to have.

IPO already knows and promised dairy-free food in the lounge for her...I wonder what they might be. No Simbas or Zebra Domes for her....(Mommy shouldn't either, but I'm likely to try a bit here and there and suffer the consequences, because my three-year-old is smarter than I am).

Can anyone, offhand, think of anything yummy she might get to have?

Thanks,

Kris

 

[#1hockeymom]

I would talk to the chefs and I am sure they would be able to whip her up something glorious!

 

[BambiTamby]

Kris...hockeymom is right!
They will whip something SPECIAL for your family!
And more than one.....look on ourlaughingplace.com.
The webmaster is diabetic and has alot of requests done for her at all of the CL's and restaurants.
You just have to give them notice.

 

[storybookmum]

I'll check that out, thanks, Ladies!

Kris

 

[Kala]

We finally checked in today, and it's every bit as beautiful as you all said it would be. We spent most of the day here at the hotel. We had breakfast at Boma, and dinner from Mara in the room. Mousekeeping came and did turn down service when we went to walk around the resort tonight. We were at Pop for the last 4 nights, and it was nice, but now I remember why I love staying at Deluxe level so much. And this hotel is just wonderful so far. Our view is wonderful, we have a deluxe Pool view on Zebra Trail. We spent quite a while today and tonight looking out over the Savannahs however, from the public viewing areas. Even looked out with the night vision goggles.

We did a DIS meet at MNSSHP on Sunday, and only a few showed up, but it was fun. Hightown has some wonderful news to share, but I'll let her share it. I'll post some pics when I get home and figure out how to post pics... just too tired tonight to learn a new skill.

Thanks to all of you who shared your love of this resort so I would try it. So far we have nothing but a positive impression.

Kelli

 

[BambiTamby]

Originally posted by Kala
We finally checked in today, and it's every bit as beautiful as you all said it would be. We spent most of the day here at the hotel. We had breakfast at Boma, and dinner from Mara in the room. Mousekeeping came and did turn down service when we went to walk around the resort tonight. We were at Pop for the last 4 nights, and it was nice, but now I remember why I love staying at Deluxe level so much. And this hotel is just wonderful so far. Our view is wonderful, we have a deluxe Pool view on Zebra Trail. We spent quite a while today and tonight looking out over the Savannahs however, from the public viewing areas. Even looked out with the night vision goggles.

We did a DIS meet at MNSSHP on Sunday, and only a few showed up, but it was fun. Hightown has some wonderful news to share, but I'll let her share it. I'll post some pics when I get home and figure out how to post pics... just too tired tonight to learn a new skill.

Thanks to all of you who shared your love of this resort so I would try it. So far we have nothing but a positive impression.

Kelli

Oh, Kelli! You're making me miss the AKL with your report!

Have a wonderful time!

 

[#1hockeymom]

Thank you for your report! We look forward to your pictures!

Missing akl,
Debbie

 

[mom23guys2]

I hope someone might know this answer. Some members of our group are flying back on SWA. You can go online and print your boarding passes. Is there a business center with printer so we could do this. It means being at Disney a little longer and at the airport a little less time.

Oh and do your have to request a refrigerator or will one be there when we check-in(going in March)

We've stayed 3 times at AKL. It is our favorite resort. We were even there the first week it opened. That was incredible.

 

[Tiffany]

Hi All,

Does anyone know if they have put fridges in the regular rooms at the AKL yet? I thought I read that all value and deluxe resorts were getting fridges.

Also, does anyone know if you can get a coffee maker from housekeeping?

 

[#1hockeymom]

You can request a coffee maker from housekeeping when you check in *I always do this AFTER I get my requests in! * They'll give you the starter set up of coffee for their four cup coffee maker. Bring more of your own *always tastes better!* or you can buy more at Zawadi Market Place.

I am uncertain if the fridges are all installed in the mod-deluxe resorts. I know no one has been charged for one since Disney said they'd be in the rooms. If there isn't one in the room, I'd ask for one from housekeeping.

I totally forgot that I could probably have concierge make my follow up boarding passes when I booked concierge. When I was just at POP, I ended up calling home and having my husband check us in, and I just got in line for the "real" passes, but I was happy knowing that I had our seat assignments through him at home. I do know that the Dolphin has a full business center where you could get online and print out your passes.

I hope you both have great trips! *I miss AKL, I miss AKL*
Debbie

 

[SCohen]

We were there Oct 10-12 and did NOT have a refrigerator in our Savannah view room. We had been at OKW for the 5 days before so we had already eaten what was perishable, so I didn't ask for one either. We were at the very end building so maybe that is why.
Be sure to ask for turn-down service at least once, I think if you aren't staying concierge you have to actually request it. It was really neat.
Have fun! Take me! Take me!
Tracey

 

[sweet angel]

I can't wait to get there in 11 days!!!!!

 

[Kala]

When we checked in on 10/19, we requested a refrigerator, but hadn't gotten it after a couple of hours so I called back. Someone came almost immidiately and brought a small (and somewhat beaten up) refrigerator, but it was fine and I put my bottle of wine and water bottles in it just fine. When we returned to the room the next day early afternoon someone had come and replaced it with a brand new one enclosed in a wooden cabinet that was a light wood, but the style matched the rest of the furniture. The refrigerator itself was a little bigger and with the cabinet was much taller, and a better height to put things on as we entered the room. I can only assume that these will be the permanent ones for the room. Nice touch.

 

[hightown]

Hi Kelli

Loved hearing bout your stay at AKL. I'm on the final countdown now and just can't wait to get there. Have made three trips so far this year but this one to AKL is the 'going home' feeling!

Enjoyed meeting you and the others. I don't know how to post pics yet but will figure it out this weekend when I put my shots in the computer to clear my card.

Loved being able to share my good news with DIS friends. Thanks for the congrats (see my signature/trip history)

Sharon

 

[Cendrillon]

We have a savannah view room for Oct. 31- Nov. 2nd, but we really want to stay in a concierge room. We're paying $180 or so for the savannah view but were told by CRO that it would be another $200 a night to upgrade to concierge. I've seen some people posting that they were able to upgrade for $85 a night, how were you able to do this? Has anyone upgraded at check-in and how much extra did you have to pay? Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[storybookmum]

Hi, Cendrillon, and welcome to the boards!

I upgraded to Concierge at AKL for another $85 a night, but I think the difference may be this: we had a DELUXE savannah BUNKBED, which is a more expensive room than a simple savannah room (it's a bit bigger, and can hold five people instead of four). So that may explain it. We were paying a higher savannah rate to begin with.

As for upgrades at checkin, they are common from what I understand from a standard or pool view, but I don't think it's usual to be upgraded to concierge at a complimentary rate. I would be careful before upgrading to concierge for cost at checkin, because you'll have missed some of the perks, which is the joy of having the Itinerary Planning Office help you with all your planning, and you also could miss out on the safaris if they're already fully booked. If the lounge alone would be worth it to you, you'd be fine (and turn-down service, or last minute Priority Seatings....).

Concierge is about $480 a night in value season. It's insane, I don't know how I talked my husband into it for two nights. All I know is that once we committed to it, I fell utterly in love with everything about our plans. My only regret is that we have five nights at Port Orleans Riverside first, so I don't think it's as do-able to have them help me leave little surprises in the room for the girls (though we're debating getting some little stuffies to wait on the beds).

Whatever you decide, you'll still be at an utterly spectacular resort and can enjoy ever so much. If you decide to bite the bullet and go concierge, please join us over at the Lizard Lounge (the "Have you been bitten by the concierge" thread....)

God bless,

Kris