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

[brookelizabeth]

I can't believe we're at the 30 day mark!!! We'll be checking into AKL concierge for our very first trip to WDW! We're celebrating the kids' birthdays while there. It's a secret until we get to the airport,then we're going to tell them and watch the mayhem ensue.

That means I only have a month to pack!!!

How exciting! I love it when I hear of these types of stories-the surprise on the kids. I'm gonna have to do that someday when I have kids!

I went to AKL in October, our first trip to WDW too-it's WONDERFUL! You are gonna loveeeeeeee it! In case you don't know, you can get "1st Trip" buttons to wear throughout your trip.

 

[Little Flower]

When in June? How many nights? What "view" have you booked? What kinds of things are you wondering about?

We're flying out 1st June (Friday) and are staying for 2 weeks. It's only our second trip to Disney and we've never stayed at a Disney resort before. I have yet to reserve a room type, any suggestions??? I guess i just want to know is, is it going to be as good as i am hoping and is there anything we can do that will make the trip any more amazing than i already know it will be

Can you tell i'm excited????

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

We booked a trip for September (end of September) while we were in Disney this last time and we are SO excited!!! We're booked in a Savanah view room for 5 nights! I've got a few questions though and really couldn't wade through over 400 pages to find the answers LOL!

I've heard you can't eat or drink on the balconies, is this true?

Can you see any fireworks at all from any of the balconies on the Savanah view? I didn't figure you could but I wanted to make double sure.

Do you have any other fantastic tips about this resort for us? We stayed at POFQ last time and loved the private feel of it... so we're not knowing what to expect at AKL!

Thanks a bunch!!

 

[Cass]

I've heard you can't eat or drink on the balconies, is this true?

No way, we have dinner out there and drinks all the times. There is a notice on the railing not to feed the animals, but you can feed yourself

 

[TiggerAllie]

I've heard you can't eat or drink on the balconies, is this true?

I believe the rule is you can't SMOKE on the balconies.
And as Cass said, you can't throw food/stuff off of them.

 

[RachelTori]

We're flying out 1st June (Friday) and are staying for 2 weeks. It's only our second trip to Disney and we've never stayed at a Disney resort before. I have yet to reserve a room type, any suggestions??? I guess i just want to know is, is it going to be as good as i am hoping and is there anything we can do that will make the trip any more amazing than i already know it will be

Can you tell i'm excited????

2 weeks - WOW!!! That IS exciting!!!

OK, JAMBO group, let's help Little Flower.

If you have your heart set on seeing the animals from your balcony, you should book a Savannah view. There are many viewing areas within the resort, so if you don't have to see them from your balcony, a pool or standard view might work for you. I've stayed Pool & Savannah and was happy with both!

You might want to look at this site, which will give you some information about AKL and all the wonderful things available there:

www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_akl.htm


This is a great place to ask any questions you might have - lots of AKL experts here!

 

[Little Flower]

I think we will try and get a savanah room - any particular savannah that is better???

What do you think of the restaurants - are there any that we shouldn't miss

 

[RachelTori]

I think we will try and get a savanah room - any particular savannah that is better???

What do you think of the restaurants - are there any that we shouldn't miss

I think Zebra Trail is the preferred Savannah. I've stayed on Kudu and Zebra - both were awesome! Zebra would be closer to the pool and the restaurants.

The restaurants at AKL are wonderful. Jiko is a 'fine' dining experience and Boma is a buffet - you should definitely try it for Dinner and Breakfast! Lots of other wonderful restaurants at WDW, but there's nothing like the convenience of a great restaurant at your resort!

 

[Little Flower]

I'm starting to get really excited and i've got ages to go yet!!!!

I'm so excited i can't even think of specifics!! tell me all the good things!!!

 

[RachelTori]

I'm starting to get really excited and i've got ages to go yet!!!!

I'm so excited i can't even think of specifics!! tell me all the good things!!!

There are so many good things! Who is in your travelling party? Adults only? Children - what are their ages?

There's an Activity Board at AKL you should check each morning. One of the things you should definitely plan to do is the Culinary Tour of Jiko & Boma - it's offered daily at either 3:45 or 4:00 (check the board!). I would suggest you try to do this BEFORE you eat at either restaurant - it'll be so helpful since you haven't dined there before!

 

[Little Flower]

There are so many good things! Who is in your travelling party? Adults only? Children - what are their ages?

There's an Activity Board at AKL you should check each morning. One of the things you should definitely plan to do is the Culinary Tour of Jiko & Boma - it's offered daily at either 3:45 or 4:00 (check the board!). I would suggest you try to do this BEFORE you eat at either restaurant - it'll be so helpful since you haven't dined there before!

It's just me and my husband - we're both 27 although it will be my birthday whilst we're there. He's in the airforce so, as you can imagine, he's slightly bonkers so we will probably be spending the holiday as excited as small children!! We don't have any children of our own.

Any good birthday ideas??

 

[Michelle1125]

My husband and I love AKL!! We'll be there in two weeks! It's such a beautiful resort and the savannah view is so neat. Jiko and Boma are both very good. We had the best steak at Jiko (served on top of macaroni and cheese. ) I haven't tried the dinner buffet at Boma, but the breakfast is great! We went to Jiko for our anniversary and they asked us when we were being seated if we were there for a special occasion. They brought us a complimentary dessert and a card signed by all the waiters, waitresses and hostesses. It was so nice.

 

[kimmar067]

I think Zebra Trail is the preferred Savannah. I've stayed on Kudu and Zebra - both were awesome! Zebra would be closer to the pool and the restaurants.

The restaurants at AKL are wonderful. Jiko is a 'fine' dining experience and Boma is a buffet - you should definitely try it for Dinner and Breakfast! Lots of other wonderful restaurants at WDW, but there's nothing like the convenience of a great restaurant at your resort!

...what Laura said.... !!

 

[kimmar067]

I believe the rule is you can't SMOKE on the balconies.
And as Cass said, you can't throw food/stuff off of them.

...yes, and they are very strict about this policy - the safety of the animals is their first priority.....they will let you know about this at check-in....

 

[Cass]

No Zebra Domes for the Zebra

 

[kimmar067]

No Zebra Domes for the Zebra

....
[...wizenheimer.....]

 

[Flossbolna]

It's just me and my husband - we're both 27 although it will be my birthday whilst we're there. He's in the airforce so, as you can imagine, he's slightly bonkers so we will probably be spending the holiday as excited as small children!! We don't have any children of our own.

Any good birthday ideas??

Hi Little Flower! Your trip sounds fabulous: two weeks and your birthday at WDW!! I spent my 33rd birthday at WDW two years ago and got a birthday button at guest services of MGM. It was great to wear this throughout the day and have lots of people saying Happy Birthday to me! So this is something I can thoroughly recommend for a birthday!!

 

[saffy]

Hi! I've been lurking for about a month now - trying to get info to plan our first trip to WDW next year!
I grew up a few miles away from D-land here in CA (still live close and have had AP's for the last 20 or so years!) but this will be my family's first trip to WDW!
It's been overwhelming to try and sort through all the hotel/food/extras options! But, I FINALLY seemed to have settled on a plan.

I'll be going with my parents (the 3 of us sharing a room - somehow at 30 years old, that loses it's thrill, but hey, they're paying, so I can't complain!) and after reading all the reviews, it looks like the AKL is definitely where we want to stay.

We're thinking of doing a standard concierge room with DDP (I know, it will be more food then we can manage, but we think the concierge will be good to help us plan everything, being our first trip and all. The standard room is just much more affordable than the deluxe CON ones are), and staying 9 nights, starting Thanksgiving Day - Dec 1, 2007.

We FINALLY figured out that this is where we want to be, and are VERY excited about the trip, but now I read that there is going to be construction at the resort and am second guessing our plans. I haven't been able to get through this whole thread, and don't see if anyone's said exactly what construction plans are for that time, but please reassure me that it won't ruin the vacation if we do that! Frankly, now I've made up my mind about the AKL and don't want to have to look into another resort.

I have zillions of other questions, too, but since we haven't booked the trip yet, I figured starting with the resort was a good place to start.

Thank you!

 

[RachelTori]

Welcome saffy!

No one knows for sure how the construction will affect the resort, but I have been "assured" by IPO, that they will take care of the Concierge guests. We don't know where the lounge will be, but I suspect by the time of your trip, things should be up and running pretty well.

Our trip is the end of May/beginning of June and we're not worried. We're confident that the inconvenience to guests will be kept to a minimum.

My advice, have fun planning and stay with us here. This is a great thread with a great group of DISers. We'll keep everybody updated as we return from our trips and everyone's happy to answer any questions you might have!

Happy Planning!

 

[saffy]

Thank you!
I wasn't too worried, I know Disney does normally take care of their guests, but just had a moment of panic there!

So, does it say something about me that I don't have reservations made yet (although we plan to go to AAA sometime soon to get them), don't really have an itinerary planned yet, but I already know where I want to eat dinner every night of our trip?
These boards have been so helpful, and I'm really looking forward to going! Too bad we've got 11 months to go still!!!

Thanks for the reassurance.