It's The Magic That Can Happen When It's Autumn! - Animal Kingdom Lodge - Club Level

TheLittleKatie · May 1, 2017

Put on your new fall hat
We're taking a stroll
'Cos Disney sure is fine in autumn!

There's nothing like the breeze and the falling leaves
A blue sky above
The one that you love!
:love2:

JAMBO!

Welcome welcome!
Hello Disboards :wave2:

My name is Katie!
I’ll be your skipper, your guide, your swim instructor, your ghost host, etc etc etc, but most importantly, your trip reporter :goodvibes

Welcome to my third trip report here on the DIS!
In September 2016 Jamie and I went to Walt Disney World for 3 WHOLE WEEKS.
Holy cannoli!

We stayed at
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE – JAMBO HOUSE!
In a savannah view room, with club level access!

This trip took place from August 31st – September 21st 2016.
We had an incredible trip filled with fun new experiences and lovely new people.

Highlights include:

* Our first time with free dining, so lots of new restaurants! *
* Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! *
* Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival! *
* Universal overnight stay! *
* Keys to the Kingdom tour! *
* Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue! *
* Starlight Safari at AKL! *
* Meeting Dis-ers and Instagrammers! *

So put on your new fall hat,
We’re taking a stroll (down memory lane)
‘Cos Disney sure is fine in autumn!

:tinker:

Meet the cast, and other trip report links

Katie

I’m Katie and I’ve loved Disney my entire life.
From my mum singing The Ugly Bug Ball to get me to sleep as a baby, my first trip to Disney World at 4 years old, and through many more trips to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris, Disney has always been a huge part of my life.
My obsessions are all of the Walt Disney World hotels, Splash Mountain, and fun facts/secrets about the parks.

Jamie

I introduced Jamie to Walt Disney World for the first time in 2012.
Each year he has enjoyed and appreciated it more and more, and now he is always eager to go back!
His obsessions are Be Our Guest turkey sandwiches, competitive Disney activities (Test Track, Toy Story Mania, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin), and petting the cow at Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

If you’re interested, my previous reports can be found by clicking the links below:

Oh It's A Jolly Holiday With Katie! - September 2014
Everything You Do, CELEBRATE YOU! - September/October 2015

So now, let’s finally kick off this September 2016 trip report!

DISNEY!!!!

TheLittleKatie · May 1, 2017

DisFan2 · May 1, 2017

Looking forward to reading all about it. First in!!!!

BaymaxForever · May 1, 2017

Excited to follow along! My family and our friends were at Jambo House September 16-20! We loved it

JessH87 · May 1, 2017

Joining In! I followed your last report and I'm happy to see you back! Every time I read Jamie's name I read it as "Hymie" now! I can't wait to hear how the trip went.

TheLittleKatie · May 1, 2017

Pre-Trip
Monday 29th August/ Tuesday 30th August 2016

WE’RE GOING TO DISNEY!
WOOO.

We were having some lovely weather in the UK so I was already in the Florida spirit.

We were leaving for the airport hotel on Tuesday afternoon.
However Jamie and his friends went to Notting Hill Carnival in central London from Saturday to Monday. :sad2:

As much as I enjoy my boyfriend being at a festival where people are routinely stabbed and attacked, I was keen for him to get home so that we could go to DISNEY!

I messaged him on Monday morning bugging him to come home.
…and again at lunchtime…
…and again mid afternoon…
…and again late afternoon…
…and again in the evening…

He eventually finished up his bromancing and I picked him up from the station at 9pm.
When we leave tomorrow lunchtime, and he still has all of his packing to do.

It was ok though (kinda) because I knew he’d be able to pack up quickly.
We got home and I ironed the laundry I’d done for him in an attempt to pressure him into packing, but ALAS, he put it off until Tuesday morning!

On Tuesday I woke up at 8am and went to my nail appointment at 10:30am.

Then I went to Sainsbury’s to get some $$$.
The exchange guy asked where I was going and when I said Florida he got so excited!
He asked if I was going to Disney and I said of course!
He'd heard about new Star Wars stuff and was really eager to see it.
Me too, Mr. Exchange man!

At around lunchtime my mum drove us to The Radisson Blu hotel at Manchester airport, and we checked in at around 2:30pm.

This is hotel 1 of 3 this year!

The room was very nice and modern and clean.

I’d emailed earlier in the week asking for an airport view, and this is what they gave us…
Oh well!

As we were settling in, Jamie said “this room is really nice!” and I replied “shall we just stay here for 3 weeks?”
He scrunched up his face into an ugly crying face and sobbed,
“NO, I want to go to DISNEYYYY!”

We went for a walk along the skylink to gage the distance to the airport check in.
It’s literally about two minutes!
The hotel is actually part of the airport.

Then we came back to the room and drank some prosecco, and watched Ellen and Jeremy Kyle (awful daytime TV), and then some YouTube.
We were cracking up at the end of this video:

Then I completed the airport's online check-in, got our boarding passes, and ordered our turkey sandwiches for our first Be Our Guest trip eeeeek!
Jamie dreams about this all year

Then we ventured out to get dinner.

We ate at the hotel restaurant and it was very fancy.
I had a fillet steak with peppercorn sauce, and Jamie had the sirloin with garlic butter.
We also got some sweet potato fries to share which were amazing.
The whole meal was great!

My steak was a little overcooked, but that's too much information for non-Disney food.

After the meal we returned to the room and finished off our prosecco.
We also had some chocolates that my dad had picked up for me in Italy the previous week.

We watched Location Location Location, and 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (that must sound like a strange show if you’re not familiar!)

Before we knew it, it was time for bed!

I actually slept very well, which is unusual for me the night before Disney.
Maybe part of my “too-excited-to-sleep” thing comes from being anxious about getting to the airport on time.
I was feeling very relaxed this evening!
I fell asleep at around midnight!

Disney tomorrow!

Click for Day 1 - Part 1!

Madonna3 · May 1, 2017

Omg.... cannot wait.

FantasiaMagic · May 1, 2017

I'm here!

So excited to read more of this TR! And 3 weeks?! That sounds like HEAVEN! :goodvibes

TheLittleKatie · May 1, 2017

Day 1
Wednesday 31st August 2016
Part 1 - I’ve nailed up my door I’ll see you around, the laughing place is where I’m bound!

IT’S DISNEY DAY!
Here’s a travel morning selfie to show how excited we both were...!

I woke up at 6am before my alarm.
I got ready, woke Jamie up, packed the last of our things, and we headed out the door at 7:40am!

We walked over to the check-in desk and no one was in line, yay!
But then we hit the longest security line EVER.
I have never seen it so big.
Thankfully it moved very quickly, and we were through to the gates at 8:15.
We had plenty of time before our 10:30am flight :thumbsup2

We did a little shopping and walked through duty free.
Jamie said “maybe I should get some new cologne…”
But I had to rush him out of there, because I’d bought him some as a gift for when we got to Disney!

We went to Frankie and Benny’s and we each got a New England Breakfast.

This was so much food!
I guess it was good practice for our first year on the Disney Dining Plan!

We were done eating at 9am, so we wandered around some more shops.
As we were browsing, Jamie asked,
“We’re there for 3 weeks, right?”
“Yes, why?”
“…I need to buy 21 pairs of socks.”

This is what happens when you leave all of your packing until the morning we leave…!

After buying a handful of socks we finally sat down at gate 210 at around 9:30am.

At 9:45am they called us for boarding!
We sat in our usual seats, at the back of the premium cabin on the right-hand side.
We love these seats, it's so nice and cosy sitting together in a two.

As soon as we were sat down we were given complementary champagne and orange juice!

My view for the next 8 hours…

I got settled in the window seat, and Jamie fell asleep before the plane had even moved!

I posted this on Snapchat:

Very soon we were taking off!

Come on everybody, here we goooooo!
Off to Neverland!

:tink:

It was a grey and rainy day, but it was beautiful above the clouds!

Soon after take off we were given some complimentary Amarula, and I watched Zootopia!

I fell asleep before the end of the film though, doh!

Later on I had a chicken, pasta and broccoli lunch, it was pretty good!

I also watched The Jungle Book and ate a Fab popsicle.

…and I fell asleep for the end of the Jungle Book too, ugh I’m so annoying.

I woke up for afternoon tea!
We had some sandwiches, scones, tiffin and a proper-sized cup of tea!

I got up to stretch my legs a few times.
Here’s where I lived for 8 hours.

At 2:20pm EST, it was time to land at Orlando International!

WOOOO USA USA USA!

We were very efficient getting through immigration, baggage claim and secondary inspection.
It only took us half an hour between landing and getting to the fake-orail.

First ride of 2016!

We made our way through the airport and I posted a sequel to my previous “bye.” Snapchat.

Click for Day 1 - Part 2!

TheLittleKatie · May 1, 2017

Day 1
Wednesday 31st August 2016
Part 2 - Animal Kingdom Lodge - room 4229

In no time at all, we were on board the Magical Express!!!

Our driver slowed right down as we went through the Walt Disney World archway so that everyone could get a photo!
We were sat in the second row with nobody in the priority seats in front, so we had a great view at this moment.

We stopped at Coronado Springs first...

Then we headed over to Animal Kingdom Lodge!
Welcome to our new home for the next 3 weeks!

We grabbed our bags off the bus and headed inside!

We went to reception and a CM escorted us up to the club level check in.
And as we were leaving reception, Br'er Bear casually strolled past!

Anyone who followed my previous trip reports will know that I am a huge Splash Mountain fan, so I was very excited by this!
Br'er Bear just chilling at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, no big deal.
Mr. Smee and King Louis also came out to mingle!
Needless to say, this was a good first impression of this hotel!

We went to the elevators, and you have to boop your magic band to get up to level 6, it’s very exclusive!

The Kilimanjaro Club had been refurbished back in May/June and it looks great!
We were given sangria, beer and scented hot towels on arrival.
They had some trouble locating a room that was ready for us, so they offered us a bunk bed room instead. :rolleyes2

I asked how long it would be until we can get a regular room, thinking she would say 2 or 3 days, but she said "like... 45 minutes" :laughing:

So fine girl, we can wait.

We were given our new magic bands; I'd ordered purple and Jamie had grey.
We have all of the colours now!
Then the CM went through our itinerary with us.
She actually blew my secret though, because she pointed out the Starlight Safari that I’d booked as a surprise for Jamie! Doh.

While we waited for our room we sat at a table in the lounge and ate some rice crispy treats.
Jamie spotted a fridge that was loaded with chocolate milk, so he was very excited about that!

The lounge is on the top floor and overlooks the lobby :lovestruc

It wasn't long before our room was ready!
We were in 4229 on floor 4!
We were located here, in the second block, second room along:

I really liked the room!
Even though there isn’t a lot of storage space, the room itself was bigger than I expected.
It seemed like they’d rushed a bit to get it ready for us though.
There was a decorative plate that had come off the wall and was just sat on top of the fridge counter, and there were no chocolates or a note to welcome us like I’ve read there was supposed to be with club level.

But we had a GREAT savannah view!!!
We unpacked, and frequently stuck our heads outside with the viewing guide to spot some animals!

We saw a sweet baby giraffe!
Jamie didn’t realise it was a baby until he saw it’s mom, who was huge in comparison!
He was being silly, pointing at animals and asking “what type of dog is that?” :laughing:

We spotted the warthogs running towards a food truck, and it was the cutest little-legged run ever :lovestruc

I wish I'd caught it on video!

So lovely!

Click for Day 1 - Part 3!

TheLittleKatie · May 1, 2017

Day 1
Wednesday 31st August 2016
Part 3 - Club lounge and exploring AKL

Once we’d unpacked I gave Jamie his new cologne which he was thrilled about!
Then we headed out to explore and get some food from the lounge.

The evening food had been put out in the lounge, and it was SO good!
It was much better than the selection at the Polynesian's club level in my opinion.
There was so much variety!

I had some brie, peas, apple and cucumber, and Jamie had crackers and hummus.

We discovered they also had a hot section with “special ourdeuves” too!
We had some “Mozambique Duck with Bulgur Pilaf and Quince Jus” (!) and “Trofie Cut Pasta with Fufu Cheese Sauce” – which was basically posh mac and cheese!

YUM AND WOW!
The duck was good but it had sultanas in it so it was a little fruity for my taste, but the posh mac and cheese was DELICIOUS!

Then I got some more cheese...

...with some tomato and apple.

Jamie also wanted more cheese, but he only wanted to eat it off my plate.

I got food.
He ate it.
Repeat several times.
:laughing:

Jamie grabbed a chocolate milk and we went off to explore!

Here’s Jamie on the bridge.

And there's the club lounge straight ahead.

We found a little outdoor covered seating area with rocking chairs, which I loved!
So we sat our here for a while.
It was a miserable evening because there was a big storm coming the next day!
But it was very warm and the animals were still out to play, so we watched them for a bit and relaxed.

Then we went downstairs and outside and found the pool, arcade and the fitness centre, and the quick service restaurant called The Mara.

There were a lot of delicious looking things at The Mara, but the screens were showing the calories!
That's not something anyone wants to think about on holiday!

We got our refillable mugs that came with our dining plan.
I got blue and Jamie got red.
And we filled them up with…
WATER.

We went back into the lobby and stopped to look at the Jiko menu, since we were eating there on Saturday!

We had a look in Zawadi marketplace, which might be one of the greatest shops ever I DON’T KNOW.

Then we sat down by the fire-pit, which is located in the far right-hand corner (looking from the entrance).

Sitting here I just felt so content!
We talked about all of the things we were looking forward to doing this trip and I was so excited and happy!

Before heading back to our room we checked out the rhino sculptures.
Figment rhino!

Joe Rohde rhino!

When we got back to our room we’d had turn down service!
I’m always surprised when they’re able to nip in and do it during the short time you’re out.

We were SO tired!!!
Here’s Jamie demonstrating how exhausted he felt at this moment.

I got changed and got into bed to write some trip report notes, but I fell asleep by 8pm!
That’s 1am back home so it’s not too crazy, but I always try to stay up and adjust to the time difference.
But oh well.
Looks like it will be an early one tomorrow!

Goodnight!

Click for Day 2 - Part 1!

Madonna3 · May 1, 2017

WOAH! I so envy people that can get up early, take a super long flight, land, and instantly hit the ground running. I cannot wait to read about THREE whole weeks of a Disney vacation. I stay there a week and I am ready to go home!

vrajewski10513 · May 1, 2017

Holy quick updates Batman! I'm here, but proper responses I'll have to get to later. So excited to hear about this awesome trip!

TEAMJACOB · May 1, 2017

Thanks for the laugh! Kermit cracked me up. That is just how I feel when I know I am going to Disney. 3 weeks in Disney..... how WONDERFUL. Is that enough time?

BibbitybobityLu · May 1, 2017

Gurl!!!!! I haven't even finished reading your new updates to your last TR and now a new TR?!

When you decided to update, you update! :laughing:

Not that I'm complaining :thumbsup2

Okay. Now I have to go and read you bazillion updates! :rotfl:

Be right back! :tiptoe:

(But I will

)

jessi1375 · May 1, 2017

Long time reader, never poster....but I'm happy you are back to posting. Love you reports!

Reflections of Earth · May 1, 2017

Joining in! :wave:

Can't wait to read all about your trip!

BibbitybobityLu · May 1, 2017

TheLittleKatie said:

TheLittleKatie said:
My name is Katie

Hi Katie

TheLittleKatie said:
I’ll be your skipper, your guide, your swim instructor, your ghost host

I hope not in that order...or it seems like you really aren't all that great at your job..

TheLittleKatie said:

It's you again! :wave:

TheLittleKatie said:
In August 2016 Jamie and I went to Walt Disney World for 3 WHOLE WEEKS.

What?! I had no idea! :ssst:

TheLittleKatie said:

Hi Katie and Jamie :wave:

TheLittleKatie said:
We stayed at
ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE – JAMBO HOUSE!
In a savannah view room, with club level access!

TheLittleKatie said:
We had an incredible trip filled with fun new experiences and lovely new people.

Like who??

TheLittleKatie said:

Hmmm....those people look familiar :scratchin

TheLittleKatie said:

Hey those also look familiar :scratchin

TheLittleKatie said:

Did you by any chance have some snack credits left? :lmao:

TheLittleKatie said:
Katie

Hi Katie

(man my arm is getting sore! :laughing:

)

TheLittleKatie said:
Jamie

Hi Jamie

And hi to the guy holding him! :wave:

TheLittleKatie said:
So now, let’s finally kick off this Septmeber 2016 trip report!

DISNEY!!!!

Yay!!

TheLittleKatie said:
We were having some lovely weather in the UK so I was already in the holiday spirit.

We were? That sentence does not seem right. Lovely...weather...in the UK? Nope. You lost me. :rotfl:

TheLittleKatie said:
We were leaving for the airport hotel on Tuesday, however Jamie and his friends were at Notting Hill Carnival in central London from Saturday to Monday.

TheLittleKatie said:
As much as I enjoy my boyfriend being at a festival where people are routinely stabbed and attacked, I was keen for him to get home so that we can go to DISNEY!

TheLittleKatie said:
I messaged Jamie on Monday morning bugging him to come home.
…and again at lunchtime…
…and again mid afternoon…
…and again late afternoon…
…and again in the evening…

He eventually finished up his final bromancing and I picked him up from the station at 9pm.
9pm.

So just a normal amount of messages then ::yes::

TheLittleKatie said:
When we leave tomorrow lunchtime, and he still has all of his packing to do.

Boys.

TheLittleKatie said:
On Tuesday I woke up at 8am and went to my nail appointment at 10:30am.

Pretty

TheLittleKatie said:
Then I went to Sainsbury’s to get some $$$.
The exchange guy asked where I was going and when I said Florida he got so excited!
He asked if I was going to Disney and I said of course!
He said he kept hearing about the new Star Wars stuff and was really eager to see it.
Me too, Mr. Exchange man!

TheLittleKatie said:
This is hotel 1 of 3 this year!

Pfff. Amateurs!

TheLittleKatie said:

I always say Prosecco is best kept in the sink :thumbsup2

TheLittleKatie said:
As we were settling in Jamie said “this room is really nice!” and I replied “shall we just stay here for 3 weeks?”
To which he scrunched up his face into an ugly crying face and sobbed,
“NO I want to go to DISNEYYYY!”

TheLittleKatie said:
Jeremy Kyle (awful daytime TV)

Jeremy Kyle awful? :eek:

Jermey Kyle is TV gold! ::yes::

(It's terrible! :laughing:

)

TheLittleKatie said:
8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (that must sound like a strange show if you’re not familiar.)

But how cool would it be if it was ACTUALLY 8 cats out of 10 cats doing Countdown!

Who wouldn't watch that?! Also 8 out of 10 cats does Countdown is hilarious!

TheLittleKatie said:
Disney tomorrow!

Woo hoo!

TheLittleKatie said:
We walked over to the check in and no one was in line, yay!

But we “yay”ed too soon, because we hit the longest security line EVER.

Bleg!

TheLittleKatie said:
We were done at 9am so we did a little more shopping.
Jamie asked,
“We’re there for 3 weeks, right?”
“Yes, why?”
“…I need to buy 21 pairs of socks.”

TheLittleKatie said:

Okay, for a second there I thought that was Jamie's foot! :rotfl:

That would have been really weird! :laughing:

TheLittleKatie said:
I also watched The Jungle Book and ate a Fab popsicle.

How fab! I'm see myself out...

BibbitybobityLu · May 1, 2017

But now I'm back! :rotfl:

TheLittleKatie said:
We were staying club level and usually someone is waiting out front to greet you when you arrive, but no one did today.

We didn't get a greeter either. I wonder if they have stopped doing that? :confused3

TheLittleKatie said:
As we were leaving reception, BR’ER BEAR CASUALLY STROLLED PAST.

Just a casual Br'er Bear encounter! But seriously dude STILL no pants?!

TheLittleKatie said:
On arrival at the check in desk we were given sangria, beer and scented hot towels.

What?! We didn't get that!! :sad:

TheLittleKatie said:
They had trouble locating a room that was ready for us, so they offered us a bunk bed room instead.

TheLittleKatie said:
She actually blew my secret though, because she pointed out the Starlight Safari I’d booked as a surprise! Doh.

Urg!

TheLittleKatie said:
Jamie spotted a fridge that was loaded with chocolate milk, which he was very excited about.

Of course! :laughing:

TheLittleKatie said:
We were located HERE – second block, second room along:

Wow you were soooo much closer than we were!

TheLittleKatie said:
It seemed like they’d rushed it to get it ready for us though, for example, there was a decorative plate that had come off the wall and was just sat on top of the fridge counter, and there were no chocolates or a note or anything to welcome us like I’ve read there was supposed to be.

Bummer!

TheLittleKatie said:
But we had a GREAT savannah view!!!

Aren't they the best?!

TheLittleKatie said:
We saw a baby giraffe that Jamie didn’t realise was a baby until he saw it’s woofer of a mom who was huge in comparison!
He was being really goofy asking things like “what type of dog is that?”

TheLittleKatie said:
There were a lot of delicious looking things at The Mara, but the screens were showing the calories!
This was not something I wanted to think about on holiday thanks!

Yeah no thanks!

TheLittleKatie said:
We were SO tired!!!
Here’s Jamie demonstrating how he felt in this moment.

Twinning!

There I am all caught up here! :thumbsup2

You're other TR is a totally different kettle of fish :earseek:

That is a weird saying isn't it?

But seriously you haven't even been back a full day and you already finished your other TR, started this TR and already you are as far into your TR as I am in mine! :faint:

I miss our Full House Club! :grouphug:

Okay, now that I just spammed your new TR I'm be going! :lmao:

3tiggerstoo · May 1, 2017

Love your TR and can't wait to hear more! We're staying at AKV Kidani for the first time and we leave in a few weeks, so I'm especially enjoying the info and photos from AKL.

It's The Magic That Can Happen When It's Autumn! - Animal Kingdom Lodge - Club Level

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