First time at AKL - questions

[DisneyMomx7]

The saga of changing resorts continues. Now that I have officially cancelled YC to AKL (was afraid kids were too small to enjoy Stormalong Bay) I have some questions for all the AKL lovers. I booked deluxe savannah (2 adults, 3 kids). CM said they only had queen, bunk bed room available. That was fine because the kids will love the bunk beds. I requequested Arusha (sp?) savannah view because I read that was the only savannah with zebras. Is that correct? I didn't realize you should also request a trail to (similar to requesting a bldg). What would you consider to be the best savannah view trails to be. I'm a total newcomer to AKL so bear with me. THe other question I had was about CL. I was going to change to CL but when I called CM told me they couldnt guarantee a savannah view - it would be either deluxe pool or deluxe savannah - they wouldn't know. Is this correct? Please tell me what your opinions are on the nicest savannah view rooms are. Our whole point of trying AKL is so the kids could get a good view of the animals. Also any suggestions on good things for kids at the hotel - I had heard of storytelling and cookie decorating - do they still do this. SOrry so long I'm just full of questions. Thanks.

 

[rob'n]

Hi DisneyMom...

I am jumping in on your thread because I am curious as well! We are 5 booked for the Del. Sav. Room, too...DH, me, DD, DS,DS...When are you going? We are booked for 10/13-10/22. I am curious about CL because of the sunrise safari...and even thought about just doing one night if we are able to book that during our stay (a CM told me they fill quickly) ...that way, we could probably just stay in our room and just have access to the CL ammenities.

We had the same dilemma with the BC...we decided to wait 'til our littlest was bit older.

Have a great day!
Robin

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We'll be at AKL July 13-16. That's the reason I was considering CL too - the Sunrise Safari. Hopefully we'll get some answers soon.

 

[ducklite]

I've stayed CL at the AKL three times and have always had a savannah room. Unless you want a smoking room the chances of not getting savannah view are very slim.

There's only maybe 20 non-savanna view rooms, and I believe they are all designated smoking. The would definitley fill these last. I think I've only once heard of someone booked non-smoking request CL at the AKL who was put in one of these rooms. Those are good odds

Anne

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Well we definitely want non smoking so now I feel that my chances are better. I was thinking of sending DH over really early in the morning to check us in, hoping to increase the chance of getting the room we want. Even though the room won't be ready I'll feel better if that's out of the way. Any special trail I should ask for?

 

[lisareniff]

First here is a Map from Allearsnet.com

I requequested Arusha (sp?) savannah view because I read that was the only savannah with zebras. Is that correct?

Yes. My daughter really wanted to see the zebras too.

I didn't realize you should also request a trail to (similar to requesting a bldg). What would you consider to be the best savannah view trails to be.

If you look at the map, you will see that there are two trail that have a view of the Arusha Savannah on one side. The animals wander through out the savannah so one particular room is not better then the rest. It seemed like some of the animals had particular or favorite feeding spots. For quick access to the pool and Mara the Zebra trail is nice. That is what we requested but were assigned the Kudu Trail (5311). At first I was bummed, (largely because the bellman took me to my imagined perfect room first, then realized it was wrong) but it ended up having a nice view of the zebras. It seemed to us that the zebras tended to eat over toward the Kudu side and the giraffes on the zebra Trail side.

THe other question I had was about CL. I was going to change to CL but when I called CM told me they couldnt guarantee a savannah view - it would be either deluxe pool or deluxe savannah - they wouldn't know. Is this correct?

Yes, but you shouldn't have a problem. If you look at the map... The CL is on the 6th floor located over the entrance to the AKL. Also on the 6th floor are rooms on two sides of the lobby. These rooms are all Concierge. The few on the right are pool view rooms and I believe they are all smoking rooms. The ones to the left have a view of the sunset savannah. People have commented on the view not being a good from these rooms due to the roof below. You must use your concierge room key to access the 6th floor. There are also concierge rooms on the 5th floor, but not all 5th floor rooms are concierge. I'm not sure if they have specific rooms or if you are assigned one and given concierge privilages. Just so you know there is a gated stairway from the 5th to 6th floor that we found handy. It is near the entrance to the ostrich trail opposite side from the elevators. I have read that there are 55 concierge rooms. If 15 are on the 6th floor (6 pool view) then the 40 others are on the 5th. So if you request Arusha savannah you should be fine.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

This past fall, dh and I stayed in room 25?? (can't remember exact number, would have to look back at trip lit.) on the Uzima Savanna. We saw lots of giraffes and other animals at all hours of the day and night! No zebra here, but there were some on the Arusha Savanna. We never checked out the Sunset Savanna, so I can't comment on it.

 

[doodlebug]

How do you pronounce Arusha???? I am getting ready to call and request Arusha Zebra trail for our trip and don't want to sound silly

 

[kimmar067]

How do you pronounce Arusha???? I am getting ready to call and request Arusha Zebra trail for our trip and don't want to sound silly

...ah-ROO-shah!

 

[doodlebug]

...ah-ROO-shah!

Thank you very much... Only one week to go until we arrive at WDW for the first time.. 6 nights POFQ and 4 nights AKL savannah view I think I am more excited than the kids are!!

 

[kimmar067]

...I'll do the "Happy Dance" WITH ya!

 

[acidreignn]

I stayed in AKL Dlx Sav. View. The resort is awasome! The room I had wasnt. We stayed right above the holding pin ( which held dirt while I was there) and my view was terrible. We were in room 5541 Zebra Trails. I did not complain though, because we were given the upgrade from regular sav view to deluxe and I just go with the flow) We did see some Kudzu ( I remember the name, not what animal it was) and giraffe and sometimes Zebra. I did not like the walk to Mira ( it was really out of the way and I went there once). The pool is great, has a slide and right behind the pool is a hot tub ( aaahhhhh ) I would go back to AKL now knowing NOT to take rooms near 5541.
Have Fun!

 

[kimmar067]

Here's a link, so you can get some other questions [you may have] answered, along with some pix:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=752192

Hope this helps....

 

[HopperFan]

~ Build an African Bead Necklace by participating in Flamingo Feedings, Animal Tracking, Junior Researcher, Music of the Savanna, and Games with Savanna Guides.

~ Also have: Horticulture activity, Culinary Tour of Africa, Cookie Decorating, Spirit of Africa Art Tour (art exhibited all over hotel), African Folktales around the Firepit, Animal Viewsing with Night Vision (if you have night vision on your video camera it works too), African Safari with Medallion Crayon rubbings, Pool Activities, African Games and Crafts.

~ My kids also enjoyed going all over the hotel pin trading with the CMs, there seemed to be a large number of CMs with pins to trade with. The also have many of the activities hosted by students from countries in Africa. They are very interesting and always willing to talk to you about where they are from.

~ The gift shop is great and has all kinds of African items to look at and on one of our stays had teens from Africa actually making beautiful natural art. The restaurants are awesome and BOMA especially would be a good thing to PS on a hotel day. There are lots of different spaces to view animals from, some with chairs & lenses. The art and artifacts are also spread all over hotel, so it is fun just to explore.

~ And of course, the pool, arcade, 2 hot tubs, kids club, spa.....

 

[schwenksvillemouse]

"I have read that there are 55 concierge rooms. If 15 are on the 6th floor (6 pool view) then the 40 others are on the 5th. So if you request Arusha savannah you should be fine."


I booked CL at AKL for early June and was told the majority of the CL rooms are on the 6th floor overlooking the savanah.