Is it POSSIBLE?? AKL LITE IV?? You betcha...

[CJsMom]

Jumping into flame resistant suit.....Oh and I didn't get a pic of Zebra Domes....

I bought some right before the Magical Express arrived and thought they would hold up till the airport. I was thinking of a snack while waiting for it. Well, even though I placed them in a cooler bag they didn't hold up well, look wise, but BOY Howdy! Are they tasty!

Wahooooooooooooo

Just got off the phone with a wondferful person on the planning staff and we have now confirmed the following items:

April 30: arrive using ME (wish Disney would have this for DL)
May 1: Pirates League for DS and a chance to be in parade that day
Have requested the Tomorrowland Terrace Desserts for Fireworks but isn't in the system yet, they will keep an eye on it for us. Got to love that type of service.
May 2: San Angel Inn 5:30
May 3: Sci-Fi Dine In Theatre @ 6pm
May 4: Donald's Breakfast Safari @ 8am
RainForest Cafe @ 5:30
May 5: Sunrise Safari !!!!!!!!!!!!
May 6: Jiko @ 8pm (mom and dad time with DS at Simba's)
May 7: Mickey's Backyard BBQ @ 6:30
May 8: (mom's day, probably spa morning) Teppan Edo @ 7pm
May 9: have to go using ME to MCO

As you can see we are not on a dining plan as we do not normally eat full meals at the parks when we go. We are also going to do one of the water parks during our stay, which will probably be on the 5th after the safari or on the 6th. I also plan on taking full advantage of the resort itself and will probably stay at AKL the entire last day with the exception of dinner.

Hope everyone else is having a happy planning day also, any thoughts on how to surprise a 5 yr old with this trip at Christmas? We were thinking balloons, a count down calendar, memories book with autograph space, t-shirt, etc... does WDW do the character calls like DL does? Any info would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Looks like you have a great trip planned!
A friend surprised her kids at Christmas by putting a couple of helium-filled balloons in a box. She wrote "We're going to Disney World" on the balloons. When the kids unwrapped and opened the box, the balloons floated out. Very cute. I think she put a few other items in the box too (autograph books, pins, etc).

 

[kimmar067]

Looks like you have a great trip planned!
A friend surprised her kids at Christmas by putting a couple of helium-filled balloons in a box. She wrote "We're going to Disney World" on the balloons. When the kids unwrapped and opened the box, the balloons floated out. Very cute. I think she put a few other items in the box too (autograph books, pins, etc).

....yay! So I;m not the ONLY ONE NOT GOING TO AKL then, eh?

 

[miprender]

OK guys............. a quick BYE - we're headed EARLY in the AM - and YES, I"m still packing!!!

See you crazy schweddy balls when I get back!!!!

Tell Mickey I am right behind you!!!!

Just stumbled across this thread. Have lots of reading to catch up with but thought I'd pop in with a
!

Hello everyone, I have only read to page 22 but had to skip to the end to say hello. Our family will be heading out to WDW in May for the first time and it is threads like this one that have made our resort choice so easy, thanks for all the great info and trip reports so far, keep up the great work.....

And what a wonderful resort! We did not want to leave. I even cried a little. Especially since we came home to 20 degree weather and snow....

As soon as we go through our pics I will try to get them posted.
Here's a teaser mini trip report.

We had a wonderful view! We got upgraded from standard to savana! Our room number was 2503. It was a great view of the savana and close to lobby and the restaurants off the zebra trail. It was such a HUGE change from our 1st night's stay at POP. DH is glad I convinced him to go deluxe. I don't think he will EVER want to stay any lower than a mod. He really thought POP would be fine, but seeing the difference 1st hand changed his mind.
We have never stayed at such a nice resort! DH and I are thinking of trying to go for our 1st aniversary trip, just the 2 of us this time. Just for a few days, no parks, just relaxing at the resort. We didn't get to expereince all the resort amenities this trip with all the go-go of visiting the parks and trying to make all the ADRs. Plus, we had the kiddies with us. This was a combo celebration trip: 1st trip for DS/2, DH's b-day and our familymoon. We got married in April and couldn't think of leaving the kids at home for a 1st trip after the merging of 2 families. We wanted to bond as a family especially since there is such a a gap in ages between DS/2 and DD/17. And it worked! They had some great brother/sister bonding!

We booked FD and it was WAY too much food. We were NEVER hungry. Just the opposite, we all agreed that we all felt stuffed all the time. We even left with one day CS meals and 1 person TS meal (DH got SO tired with a headache that he didn't go to the Whispering Canyon). There wasn't really any need for us to "save" the deserts, like a fruit cup, for a breakfast. We did try that and we ended up leaving a frig full of food! Though, some saving did help with DS/2, since he wasn't on the plan.

Well off to unpack some more.

Welcome back. Can't wait to see pics.


DID I MENTION... only 3 days

 

[dgbg100106]

DID I MENTION... only 3 days

have a wonderful trip!!!!

 

[John's Mom]

Tell Mickey I am right behind you!!!!

DID I MENTION... only 3 days

Have a wonderful trip! Hope the weather warms up for you.

 

[CJsMom]

....yay! So I;m not the ONLY ONE NOT GOING TO AKL then, eh?

Nope, you're not the only one.

 

[torsie24]

Morning everyone!

106 days until I get to open the door to my savannah view room and share my favourite hotel ever with family and friends!

Why won't it get here faster!?!

All my ADRs are done though. We have:

Jiko 8pm taking my parents as a pre wedding 'thank you'

Whispering Canyon 5pm welcome meal for the whole wedding party

Narcoosees 8pm this is the day after our wedding, we'll have moved to the GF by then and I don't think I'll eat much on the day, so wanted a nice meal booked fr the two of us.

During our Boardwalk stay we have a few EPCOT meals booked including:

Teppan Edo
Via Napoli
La Hacienda

For that time we also have Ohana breakfast booked with my bridesmaids and their family and a lunch at Sci Fi with Jacks best man and his wife. We also have an 8am tusker house so I can finally meet daisy!

Then once we move out to Blt for our last 4 days we have two dinners booked:

Ohana and California Grill for our last night.

Also I shall be eating at least 4 Earl of Sandwiches!!!!!! Nom!

 

[tiggrbaby]

Nope, you're not the only one.

Add me to the list of no go!

Morning everyone!

106 days until I get to open the door to my savannah view room and share my favourite hotel ever with family and friends!

Why won't it get here faster!?!

All my ADRs are done though. We have:

Jiko 8pm taking my parents as a pre wedding 'thank you'

Whispering Canyon 5pm welcome meal for the whole wedding party

Narcoosees 8pm this is the day after our wedding, we'll have moved to the GF by then and I don't think I'll eat much on the day, so wanted a nice meal booked fr the two of us.

During our Boardwalk stay we have a few EPCOT meals booked including:

Teppan Edo
Via Napoli
La Hacienda

For that time we also have Ohana breakfast booked with my bridesmaids and their family and a lunch at Sci Fi with Jacks best man and his wife. We also have an 8am tusker house so I can finally meet daisy!

Then once we move out to Blt for our last 4 days we have two dinners booked:

Ohana and California Grill for our last night.

Also I shall be eating at least 4 Earl of Sandwiches!!!!!! Nom!

Wow! I can't believe it's getting so close! What wonderful plans!

 

[John's Mom]

Nope, you're not the only one.

I'm not going either.

 

[kimmar067]

..... HEY! We could all have a PITY PARTY!

 

[TruBlu]

3 more days for me until our first stay at AKL!!!

Can't hardly wait!

 

[kimmar067]

3 more days for me until our first stay at AKL!!!

Can't hardly wait!

...don't forget - ZD pic with you in the pic...

 

[John's Mom]

3 more days for me until our first stay at AKL!!!

Can't hardly wait!

Have a great vacation!

 

[LBollengier]

SUMMARY: DO NOT pay DELUXE prices for this resort.

We are currently in the midst of a 11 night stay at the AKL. We have a beautiful room and are thoroughly enjoying this fantastic resort - except when we want to go anywhere!!!

We wait for a bus to leave typically 15 - 20 minutes with the following exceptions: once a bus was there plus one time it was 45 minutes. Then at least half of the trips we have had to stand because the us driver went to Kadani first - which appears to be standard.

Then on coming back to the room... We have stood up every time but one. When we go out to the bus stop, the Animal Kingdom is always the longest line, last night at Magic Kingdom at 1AM, the only bus with a line was the Animal Kingdom lodge!!! THe only one on either side!!! THen a bus came and loaded the long line of people in which we were near the end. There were at least 10 people standing but the bus driver waited at least 10 minutes and squeezed 6 more unfortunate travelers on the bus. Obviously all to stand.

I noticed the Pop and All Star Resorts would have 2 buses loading side by side and we wait and wait... I am too old to stand up on the bus... My husband gets up and offers his seat to women and children or older gentlemen but no one else on these buses wants to be chivalrous. Also I have several times put my 10 year old in my lap so someone could sit. Tons of these people have a 2 year old and a 3 year old taking up a seat a piece, no empathy or concern.

Perhaps I have been spoiled, I have not stayed at the AKL since 2002 and it was so novel and magical, the bus ride did not bother me but since that stays at Polynesian and Epcot resorts have REALLY made this stay and transportation look bad. If I were staying at a moderate or a budget resort, I would expect a little less service for the dollar but for a "Deluxe" resort, this is just sadly lacking.

 

[CJsMom]

Morning everyone!

106 days until I get to open the door to my savannah view room and share my favourite hotel ever with family and friends!

Why won't it get here faster!?!

torsie - your plans sound wonderful!!

SUMMARY: DO NOT pay DELUXE prices for this resort.
We are currently in the midst of a 11 night stay at the AKL. We have a beautiful room and are thoroughly enjoying this fantastic resort - except when we want to go anywhere!!!

Hmm, things must have changed, because when I stayed there at this time of year in 2007 we had no problems with transportation. Has Kidani made that much of a difference?

 

[CJsMom]

..... HEY! We could all have a PITY PARTY!

I'm in!!

 

[CJsMom]

3 more days for me until our first stay at AKL!!!

Can't hardly wait!

Have a great trip! Bring back lots of pictures for us!

 

[kimmar067]

I'm in!!

...yay....

 

[tiggrbaby]

..... HEY! We could all have a PITY PARTY!

Sounds perfect to me!

3 more days for me until our first stay at AKL!!!

Can't hardly wait!

Have a magical trip!

 

[kimmar067]

....sooooo, who's brinin' the ZD's to the pity party???? And, of course, we gotta post ALOT of AKL pix!