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

[Kala]

Sharon,

If you haven't seen it yet, I posted a few pics on the 10/17 MNSSHP thread, of our group and MsMouse. Also one of my husband with Goofy. Hope your stay will be as fun as ours was. The only disappointment was that we had a not very friendly Cast Member on check in, and we were not able to get a King Room. Other than that everything and everyone was perfect. We will definitely be going back!

Kelli

 

[Tig-girl]

Bumping a little! (and checking countdown)
Will you look at that! Woo Hoo!

 

[Disneyholic]

Just made my reservations at AKL Concierge Savannah View for January 7-9, 2005. Got the Manyama Sunset Safari for DH & I. At 65 days out I didn't think it would be available anymore.

:
Can you tell I'm bouncing off the walls right now. I got the AP rate of $384.68 tax included. Got it as a room only reservation so I have the 5 days prior cancellation policy. It's about the same price to book online, but the terms & conditions online say 46 day cancellation. I don't know that far out if a snow storm will come and make our trip impossible. We are leaving on New Years Eve to drive down from PA with ressies for Holiday Inn DTD the 2 - 7 then over to AKL from there. HI has a 48 hour cancellation policy so that is the beginning of the trip and gives us more than the 5 days needed for AKL.

 

[John's Mom]

Hightown,

My DH and I will be at the AKL CL Nov. 1-8. Will be looking for you at the end of our trip. We will be on the Sunrise Safari Saturday.

Kathy

 

[sweet angel]

Originally posted by John's Mom
Hightown,

My DH and I will be at the AKL CL Nov. 1-8. Will be looking for you at the end of our trip. We will be on the Sunrise Safari Saturday.

Kathy

We'll be there from 11/7 - 11/11 and then off to our cruise. We'll have our mickey heads on our fanny packs.

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

....how is the food [taste, variety, price, etc.] at Mara?? i got a ressies for 2/19-2/26 for AKL and I'm so excited, but my DH was diagnosed with Celiac Disease (gluten allergy - he can't eat grains) so I was splitting our stay between FT Wilderness cabins (where I can prepare his meals) and AKL (where I can be on vaca, too!) Also; I don't remember seeing it when we ate at Boma. Do you enter thru' Boma, or from the outside, by the pool??

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

Originally posted by Tig-girl
Bumping a little! (and checking countdown)
Will you look at that! Woo Hoo!

....don't get TOO excited; after all, you ARE a WL VET! (can't wait to hear all about AKL!!)

 

[MajorWoody]

Hello all,

We'll be staying at AKL once again from 12/1 through 12/5. We are starting off our trip with a night at the Wilderness Lodge in order to have easy access to MVMCP on 11/30. We then move over to AKL for a Savannah View room for four nights, and then finish it all off with four nights on the Disney Wonder. We also have a Boma PS for our first night at AKL, which is one of our favorite restaurants on property.

This is actually short trip by our standards, so I don't know how much time we'll have to relax around the resort. One of my best friends, who is also a co-worker, will be at AKL during the same time period as us. This is a first, although we have been down at WDW together for the last three Decembers, it's the first time we've stayed at the same resort, so that should be nice.

Take care,

Bill

 

[Tig-girl]

Hey Kim! You got ressies at AKL too? That's great. I'm really excited, and it would not have happened if I could have gotten a good deal at WL, but in spite of a gazillion phone calls, much begging, and some very helpful CM's, nada, zip! So the AKL discount was too good to pass up, and we will split the stay, with the last 3 days at WL. Glad you got yourself a dandy deal too!

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

Originally posted by Tig-girl
Hey Kim! You got ressies at AKL too? That's great. I'm really excited, and it would not have happened if I could have gotten a good deal at WL, but in spite of a gazillion phone calls, much begging, and some very helpful CM's, nada, zip! So the AKL discount was too good to pass up, and we will split the stay, with the last 3 days at WL. Glad you got yourself a dandy deal too!

....origianlly, I tried for WL, but the best quote I got was $239!! I agree, $161/nite IS too good to pass up!!

 

[SCohen]

Originally posted by HughJackman'n'me
....how is the food [taste, variety, price, etc.] at Mara?? i got a ressies for 2/19-2/26 for AKL and I'm so excited, but my DH was diagnosed with Celiac Disease (gluten allergy - he can't eat grains) so I was splitting our stay between FT Wilderness cabins (where I can prepare his meals) and AKL (where I can be on vaca, too!) Also; I don't remember seeing it when we ate at Boma. Do you enter thru' Boma, or from the outside, by the pool??

Hi!
You have to exit the doors between Boma and Jiko- like you are going to the pool, turn left and at the end is Mara. It is next to the pool showers, kids clubhouse area (babysitting) and the arcade.
The price of Mara was typical Disney fair. Not cheap but pretty good for counter service. The selection is amazing though! There is walk-up service where you order what you want. You can even request that it be fixed differently. My daughter wanted the cheeseburger, but she didn't need two patties so we got it with one. I saw others get pizzas with extra toppings and some without certain things- like just the chicken with no onions etc. My husband got the chicken on couscous- it was very good. I got the African stew- also very good. We also ordered macaroni and cheese ala cart. (for the chicken dinner, african stew dinner, pizza, cheeseburger and side of mac it ran somewhere around $40) Inside Mara there is also a wine area, frozen treat area (with Mickey Head ice cream treats), pre-packaged area with salads, sandwiches and those oh so yummy zebra domes and paw print brownies. I also picked up a Smirnoff Ice in there too. On the other side where the seats are at, are the drinking fountains. It is self-serve. After buying the AKL Mara refillable mug (there are two different sizes to choose from, somewhere around $12 each I think) we just hopped in there and refilled with their good tea when we needed it. They even had lemons cut up and ready to go. There are two sets of coke fountains. I believe there may have even been coffee and hot water with tea bags (but I would get verification from someone in the know before you plan on it). All in all we were very impressed with the amenities of Mara. And it closes late, so we would relax after a late day in the parks by letting the children swim and getting a snack from Mara.
Tracey

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

...it sounds alot like Roaring Forks at WL! Seriously, though, I hope the chefs can accomodate my DH, since there are NUMEROUS foods that contains wheat and/or wheat flour, so his menu will be limited....

(BTW ~ I remember the doors you are talking about...so, you DO, or you DON'T, go outside ??)

 

[#1hockeymom]

You have to be outside to enter Mara. You can either exit between Jiko/Boma, or you can exit from the doors by the elevator on Zebra Trail (first floor is where Simba's Cub House is located). We almost always used the Zebra Trail doors as it was a quick shot to our room from there. Depending on where your room is located you can get out several different ways. There are also stairwells located down both the trails that surround the pool area. The Boma/Jiko exit is covered all the way to Mara, so getting wet wouldn't be a problem is it was raining.

Debbie

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

....since you've stayed at AKL, what room/area would you suggest (I am just getting a std room, so I know it'll probably overlook the parking lot ) (PS ~ how are you and your dughter doing??)

 

[#1hockeymom]

http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/aklmap3.jpg

Using this map, you can see that Giraffe Trail and Ostrich Trail have the standard/facing parking lot views. If you want close to the pool/mara, I'd pick Giraffe Trail. On the opposite note, walking down the trails is an experience in itself. Ostrich Trail would have lots of look-out windows facing the sunset savannah. You would be able to see the animals every time you went back and forth from your room!

DD is doing much better, her ex-boyfriend of three years, not so well. Our town is still in hushed tones over the tragedy that took place, but everyone is trying to take the "life goes on" route, even if it unfortunately didn't for that poor girl. Thank you for asking. I just hope more people learn from this and realize that driving laws are there for everyone.

ok.. on a happy note.. HAVE A GREAT TRIP! I am envious! Last night was "scary movie night" rental for DS and I. He asked half way through the movie who the guy was in the movie. I said, "That's Hugh Jackman, a lady on the boards is crazy about him!"

Debbie

 

[HughJackman'n'me]

... !
(as a matter of fact, I'm watching Kate and Leopold right now!!

(Prayers and pixie dust to your DD's ex.... )

 

[SCohen]

since you've stayed at AKL, what room/area would you suggest

On a side note...being light sleepers, we noticed that we wouldn't want to stay on the third floor in one of the first few rooms off of the Great Room/Lobby Area. Any room after the first set of elevators is probably fine.
Seeing as this is a place where people actually sleep, when we traversed down the hallway we were quiet so as not to disturb others. Unfortunately, I don't think other people realize this. I guess when some people check in they get so excited that they are literally screaming with excitement down the hallway. We saw a family with a young boy that took off a few yards away (as youngsters often do) the mom yelled loud enough to wake the dead (or atleast those trying to sleep), "get back here so-and-so!". Then the boy screamed back and then the mother yelled back "and be quiet, people are trying to sleep!" We all got quite a chuckle out of it- but were secretly glad we weren't staying in any of the rooms they walked by. People will come into the hotel at all hours from their day at the parks, make their way down the third floor corridor, and then catch the elevator to their floor, all the while using their theme park voices. (I've been a teacher too long I guess, ie we have "inside voices" and "recess voices"- these people have "theme park voices", ones that are loud enough to be heard over the din of the rides, music and such)

Just a thought, it may not be an issue with you all. We were lucky enough to be at the very end. The hike was long and I got lost more than once, but it was very quiet. Funny story- One time I noticed that the tapestry in our hallway had been changed, originally it was only partially completed, but on one treck it had been completely finished. I was thinking to myself how cool it was that Disney even changed out the artifacts on a daily basis.That's when I realized that my key wasn't working. I looked again at the door and realized I was on the third floor still and had gotten so busy looking around that I had forgotten to catch the elevator. Oops! Atleast I had been quiet in the hallway and no one in the room jumped out at me- I probably would have died right there!
Tracey

 

[Tig-girl]

Hey Friends.................. Remember back when we were discussing the turn down service, and a lot of you really recommeded it? Well, I want to give it a whirl this time, but I wonder, what is the usual tip for turn down, and do you leave a special envelope for it, or what is the procedure? I usually leave my daily room tip in a "mousekeepers" envelope, but how do you handle the turn downs? Thanks guys!

 

[Kala]

We did the turn down service this trip and we just used our Mousekeeping envelopes. We left one envelope when we left the room in the morning. We always return to the room in the afternoon to regroup and rest and we would leave out another envelope at that time. There were 2 of us and we pretty much clean up after ourselves and we left $3 in each envelope.

 

[Angel16]

Tig-Girl - - Hi! I thought I'd jump in as my DH and I just got back from AKL on 10-23. We had a fantastic time. I am amazed how much we both miss it. Especiall AKL!

I did mousekeeper envelopes, but didn't put them together until the night before we left, so I didn't even think of any for turn down service. I just left $2.00 on the pillow of the bed. It worked just fine.

Turn down was great, the ones we had didn't turn the TV on, but a light was on and the bed ready with robes on the bed, and the great chocolate candies. Several nights there were suprised also waiting. One night we recieved a towel animal of two birds in a boat, they had little pillows at their backs of chocolate. There were two paddles made from Disney World pens, they had put stickies for eyes and heart, and other shapes of stickers on either side of the boat. SO Cute!

I worked on our pictures this week end. I will try to get it together enough to do my trip report with a few pictures.

Hope you have a wonderful trip.



Angel