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

[Aisling]

bumping

 

[Angel16]

I am sorry I do not know where you can smoke other than the balcony of a pool view smoking room. Hopefully, someone will be along to answer your question.

 

[SeaSpray]

Thank you!

 

[John's Mom]

Bumping

 

[Disneyorl]

Am subscribing. I just found out today that I will be staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge so I am anxious to learning everything about AKL! Any other hints and tips are welcome. We will have a 1-1/2 year old also. Thanks!

 

[MattNash]

I'm making a checklist for my stay at AKL May 8-14. Please tell me what you would add to the list:

Request turn-down service.
Get one of those endless refill mugs at Mara.
Take the Culinary tour.
Go to the Africa lectures (cultural safari) and to the firepit storytelling.
See the baby giraffe!
Night-vision viewing of the wildlife.
Eat Zebra Domes!
Eat at Boma and Jiko multiple times.

What else?

 

[BensMom]

Well, it sounds like you got it covered! Concierge is nice. If you have children, Simba's can't be beat. Don't forget to have a drink at Victoria Falls. Anthony, Rose and Lorna are some of the best bartenders in the World. Jiko...great choice. Sit at the "Cooking Place" bar and watch the staff prepare the food. They have great personalities, and it's very interesting to watch them. I recommend Karim as a waitstaff. He's great. (can you tell I go here often?!)

 

[Angel16]

Am subscribing. I just found out today that I will be staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge so I am anxious to learning everything about AKL! Any other hints and tips are welcome. We will have a 1-1/2 year old also. Thanks!

Hi Disneyorl, You are going to love love love AKL. It is my DH and my favorite lodge. We are returning again but this time we are going after Thanksgiving and staying for 7 nights.

I will be happy to anwer any questions you have about AKL. Just let me know and I will do my best. However you may also want to check out the sticky at the top of the resorts board. They have a great deal of information on all the resorts.

There is so much to see and do at AKL. The CM's are wonderful and the resort is so beautiful. The sights, smells and sounds will fill your spirit. Ahhh I am getting home sick just talking about it.

You may also want to take a look at this thread. They have a lot of pictures and many of us post over there too:
JAMBO! The UN-official AKL Thread ~ UPDATED(short film/pg 8 & slideshow/pg 12)

Let me know if I can help.

Ann

 

[matt&jakesmom]

Wow my head is in information overload. We are going to AKL at end of August. We are so excited. Originally we were booked at All Star Sports but when the free dining came out we upgraded to a deluxe.

By reading this thread, I did jump ahead, there is so much to do and see at the resort that we'll need a day just to sightsee. My DS's are 9 & 7 and I think they will be amazed as to all there is especially DH.

I'll keep referring back to this thread for additional info and tidbits.

 

[SplashMom]

We are also staying at AKL for the first time in August and I'm so excited! Our trip was originally planned for April--we were supposed to arrive today for 10 days. Unfortunately, I had a medical emergency and I am unable to travel for another month or so. I was so disappointed. Then the free dining came out and we were able to schedule vacation in August. We are at Pop for the first 7 nights and AKL for the next 7 nights. We had originally been booked at CBR with dining for 10 nights and the new vacation cost exactly the same price but now we are staying for a longer period and we are at AKL for 7 nights!!! We have visited the resort before and have eaten at BOMA (and loved it!). There are so many questions but reading these threads certainly helps. We have a pool view room booked--any suggestions on good locations?

 

[taekwondo mom]

I just booked our first stay at AKL for Dec.19-25 as a surprise for DD 13 for Christmas .. ( Plus our friends .. they have.. DD 13, DD 6 & DS 11 also are booking a trip at the same time)
I'm so excited ..... Now to read all of the info..
any info or suggestions ..

 

[ktink]

We are staying at AKL for the first time in Sept. and I am soooooo excited.

 

[luvfigment]

I just booked our first stay at AKL for Dec.18-23 as a surprise for DD 13 for Christmas .. ( Plus our friends .. they have.. DD 13, DD 6 & DS 11 also are booking a trip at the same time)
I'm so excited ..... Now to read all of the info..
any info or suggestions ..

To start off make sure you take time to explore the hotel. There are a lot of activites for kids and a lot to see in general. You can also use the night vision googles to see the animals at night from Arusha Rock. You are going to have a great time! Make sure you check out the other AKL thread Jambo! UN-official AKL Thread ~ UPDATED(short film/pg 8 & slideshow/pg 12).

 

[Angel16]

Bumping for a friend.

 

[bgmvp]

How do the floors differ in terms of views of the savannahs?
Are different floors better according to the savannah?

We checked in early once and got an "upgrade" to an upper floor overlooking
Uzima. We told the bellman we were there to see the giraffes and didn't
have kids. He showed us the upgrade room which had a broader vista, but
suggested we look at a second floor room because we would be closer to the
animals.

We ended up taking the lower floor (and tipping him accordingly) because the
giraffe seemed as they were at eye level.
We even witnessed the "circle of life" below our window as a bird caught and
ate a new bunny.

We're heading back in September and will be watching the FAQ's to see your
recommendations for floor levels
overlooking each savannah.

 

[WAHMto5]

We are also going this September for our first time at AKL and can't wait!!!

 

[gems_smiling]

Sorry if this question has been asked before but what floor would you recommend we request (we have 2 standard rooms)? Also we have requested a room near or above the lobby. Do you think we should change our request to just ABOVE the lobby as i wouldn't like to be on the same floor as the lobby facing the buses? (hope that made sense).

 

[gems_smiling]

Sorry another question -

Last year we did not request a coffee maker and still got one in both of our rooms (we also go a fridge for the first time). She we still request these?

 

[BensMom]

I think you answered your own question. Actually, I personally don't think it's the floor level so much as it is where your room is in relation to the savannah. Sticking to the second floor would be a good idea, and you want to get farther out into one of the "wings" (giraffe, ostrich, etc.). If you knew where they fed the animals, especially the giraffes, you'd be better educated as to where to pick your room. Of course, this is hard to do, for they pick for you at your time of checkin, I believe. Hope this helps.

 

[BensMom]

Fridges are now standard in every room, every resort (maybe not "value," because I have no personal experience with them). A coffee maker will still need to be requested, I believe. Have not actually stayed there since November of 2005.

You guys are going to love AKL! We live in the area and always find an excuse to go back, for dinner, etc. It's instant relaxation walking through the double sets of doors at the front. It's the smell, the music, the glorious grand lobby, everything. I am sad when the valet people ask if we're checking in, and we say, "no." Boo hoo! This is by far our favorite big hotel resort on "campus."