JAMBO! The UN-official AKL Thread ~ UPDATED(short film/pg 8 & slideshow/pg 12) Part 2

[kimmar067]

We are going on our honeymoon start of Feb and staying at AKL. I just checked Disneys website to see what they were saying if you tried to book and such at AKL, and it ONLY gave me kilamajaro lvl. It did NOT offer anything else at all. Not sure why since for the longest there was plenty of other offerings. I hope our reservations will be fine since this is our honeymoon and we have NEVER been to wdw I want this to be really special and AKL looked really neat which is why we chose it, but with all the confusion is construction and the rooms and all I have been reading about I am getting a bit nervous.

...first of all, CONGRATS on your upcoming nuptuals - if you are staying CL, ask for Don - he is wonderful and will help you with all your needs.....

 

[SeaSpray]

Terri, I hope you don't cancel your resort plans. I would contact IPO and share your concerns with them. Perhaps they can give you some insight. You ask where they could put a concierge lounge on the fourth floor. I do not know. I would imagine they would pull some rooms from a central place on the floor and design one. If this ends up happening I hope they have windows to look out onto the savannah. That would be a plus.

I love sitting up on the 6th floor marveling at the wonderful workmanship of the lobby, handcarvings and the ceiling is something amazing. I remember being on the Sunset Safari and having our guide tell us that Disney brought over native African contractors to do the work. OSHA had a fit because the workers did the roof and hatch work barefoot. So they would keep shoes near where they worked and put them on when inspectors were in the area, taking them off as soon as they left. They preferred to work barefoot, as well as some of the work they used their feet to achieve. The lobby is such a beautiful place. I feel like I have just been transported to Africa.


Angel

Hi Angel

We've decided to keep our AKL CL reservations afterall. First of all, we got an excellent rate - $308 per night including taxes, that's with the AAA discount. When we booked, it said "Standard - Kilimanjaro Club" so I believe that we did pay a lesser amount for a standard sized room (as opposed to a deluxe room). This trip is only my DH and myself, so that size room is fine for us.

Secondly, there does not seem to be much availability at all at any of the other resorts that we'd be interested in. Thirdly, we loved the AKL when we were there last spring, so that reason alone helped me to change my mind about switching. Also, wallyb's update from AKL IPO made me feel a bit better about the situation (they said construction may not start until March, our trip is Feb).

 

[jennz]

Hi everyone! We're just back from our trip to AKL and thanks to this thread I have developed an addiction....Zebra Domes! YUM!!!!

 

[kimmar067]

Hi everyone! We're just back from our trip to AKL and thanks to this thread I have developed an addiction....Zebra Domes! YUM!!!!

"....dun, dun, dun, another one bites the DUST,
Dun, dun, dun, another one bites the DUST....."

 

[kimmar067]

Hi Angel

We've decided to keep our AKL CL reservations afterall. First of all, we got an excellent rate - $308 per night including taxes, that's with the AAA discount. When we booked, it said "Standard - Kilimanjaro Club" so I believe that we did pay a lesser amount for a standard sized room (as opposed to a deluxe room). This trip is only my DH and myself, so that size room is fine for us.

Secondly, there does not seem to be much availability at all at any of the other resorts that we'd be interested in. Thirdly, we loved the AKL when we were there last spring, so that reason alone helped me to change my mind about switching. Also, wallyb's update from AKL IPO made me feel a bit better about the situation (they said construction may not start until March, our trip is Feb).

...THAT'S an awesome rate!! I thought $319 was good for AKL CL, but, $308 - WHEW!!!

 

[jennz]

"....dun, dun, dun, another one bites the DUST,
Dun, dun, dun, another one bites the DUST....."

You guys are so corrupting me!! Now I have to plan another trip to AKL just for the Zebra domes, plus some chocolate mousse crunch. How many weight watcher points do you think those guys are??

 

[Cass]

I'm going to have to try them again, I was pretty sick from food poisoning at Prime Time Cafe last trip and I really couldn't eat much for days. My Boma night was a bit of a waste, I think I only had carrot ginger soup for dinner and a bite of a ZD that did not sit well with me.

 

[dogsmom]

Hi everyone! We're just back from our trip to AKL and thanks to this thread I have developed an addiction....Zebra Domes! YUM!!!!

Okay, another thing to go on the WDW things to do list:
zebra domes
dole whips
Visa meet and greet
don't get rooms 4382 or 2345

38 days to go till AKL

 

[jennz]

Darn it - we missed the Visa meet and greet! I even planned to go to it and completely forgot until I read this...guess we'll have to go back!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hi Kristin, You are going to LOVE AKL. The resort is my favorite. What a perfect place to spend your birthday. I would call CR and have them add to your ressie that your celebrating your birthday. When you check-in have someone in your party (or yourself) work that it is your birthday trip into the conversation.

As for the cake. Welll, AKL has a great bakery. My DH ordered a fantastic chocolate Amaretto cake to our room for our anniversary last year. OMG it was sooo good. They also make a zebra cake that looks quite nice. I would give the resort a call and ask for (in room dining) Their number is AKL 407 938-3000.

This thread has many, many pictures and good ideas for cakes. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1173219&referrerid=70923 Zurgswife did a fantastic job of putting all this information and pictures together in one place. Thank you Zurgswife.

We will be at AKL during the same time as you, we arrive in 30 days. We have a week at The Poly first, then a wondeful relaxing week at ALK.

I hope this helps you make your decession. I know you will have a great birthday. Enjoy your trip.

Angel16

Thanks Angel! My bday is already noted on our ressie and DH will be mentioning it upon check in. Thanks for the cake info. I am a regular member over on Zurgswife cake thread, but no one there seemed to know if getting a cake delievered to the room would be a problem. Thanks again!

 

[wallyb]

What is the Visa meet and greet?
And What are the fecal flats?

 

[tiggrbaby]

Okay, another thing to go on the WDW things to do list:
zebra domes
dole whips
Visa meet and greet
don't get rooms 4382 or 2345

38 days to go till AKL

Hey, I didn't know they were still doing the meet and greet! Guess my list will match yours! But I'll be there in 10 days!

 

[dogsmom]

What is the Visa meet and greet?
And What are the fecal flats?

I'm not sure what the Fecal Flats are (although I think I can guess).
The Visa meet and greet is for Disney Visa card holders. I learned on another thread that they were still having it. You enter around the back side of Inovations at Epcot, show your Disney Visa card and have your picture taken with various characters. It's a free picture. I'm sure someone else may have the exact details, but it's a nice perk from the Disney Visa .

 

[TiggerAllie]

I'm not sure what the Fecal Flats are (although I think I can guess).
The Visa meet and greet is for Disney Visa card holders. I learned on another thread that they were still having it. You enter around the back side of Inovations at Epcot, show your Disney Visa card and have your picture taken with various characters. It's a free picture. I'm sure someone else may have the exact details, but it's a nice perk from the Disney Visa .

Oh yeah-- I forgot about the Disney Visa meet n' greets... Maybe I'll remember it for Dec.

"Fecal Flats" was a term developed by DVD_CM
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=15192221&postcount=5362
to describe the area near rooms 2345 and 4382 where I was first put at AKL before we moved (you can see it in my trip report here:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1257569
The ostriches liked to poop there.

I promise, in my next trip report installment I'll reveal "the Secret of Fecal Flats" as we learned from the animal care CMs at AKL. I'll try to finish it tonight!

 

[RachelTori]

My bags are packed......... leaving tomorrow for AKL!!! I'll be back 11/6 and will post if I get any *new* information!!

Bye!

 

[brookelizabeth]

..... oh my, I forgot to wish brookelizabeth a HAPPY WEDDING....hope that the newlyweds are having a wonderful time at AKL.....

I'm just now finally reading this! No problem Kimmar--I couldn't read the thread 2 days before the wedding, and didn't even THINK about email and internet throughout our entire honeymoon!

As I said on the other thread, a trip report is coming soon....as a preview: IT WAS AWESOME!

 

[cupcaketrip]

I wish I'd found this site -- particularly this thread -- a month ago! We just got back from an unpleasant stay at AKL. It was our fourth stay there, but this experience makes it our last. TiggerAllie, our room also had a view of Fecal Flats, but we were refused a move.

From looking around, it seems like the tone of the board is positive and I don't want to bring anyone down, but I can't emphasize enough to refuse that area of rooms, even if you get a parking lot view instead.

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

What Savannah are these fecal flats on?? I think I had that the very first time we stayed there. I was not to impressed to say the least but gave it another try and loved the second trip.

 

[Cass]

My bags are packed......... leaving tomorrow for AKL!!! I'll be back 11/6 and will post if I get any *new* information!!

Bye!

Hey, have a great trip!

 

[cupcaketrip]

What Savannah are these fecal flats on?? I think I had that the very first time we stayed there. I was not to impressed to say the least but gave it another try and loved the second trip.

They're the 341-366 and the 371-395 sections on all floors, at the back left of the property, on the Kudu trail. (I saved my map, but my scanner isn't working.)

Basically, the closer to the lobby you are, the better. It seems to have an effect on the quality of housekeeping, as well. We noticed that the further away from the lobby we got, the grubbier the hallway floors were. Since we were about as far away as possible, well...