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

[ktink]

Gdad, those pictures are absolutely breath taking. I am sooo excited just counting down the many days that we have left.

 

[jaycns]

Gdad, those pictures are absolutely breath taking. I am sooo excited just counting down the many days that we have left.

When will you be at AKL? We will be there 9/1-9/9. I will be the one with the very goofy grin and the constant camera flashes going off!

 

[denise5374]

Hi all!

This is my first post on this thread and I am so excited to stay at AKL! We are going 8/18-8/26 and have a savannah view bunk bed room. This is our first stay at a Deluxe, stayed at POFQ and SSR.

Thanks for all the pics!

Denise

 

[ktink]

When will you be at AKL? We will be there 9/1-9/9. I will be the one with the very goofy grin and the constant camera flashes going off!

We will be there at the same time! Only you'll have a couple more days than us. We arrive on 9/2- 9/8. I'm sure I'll have a goofy look of my own going on, probably mouth wide open in awe.

 

[renessa]

Gdad- Those are some amazing pictures. I'll show dh (our family photographer) when he wakes up. I can't wait to see the rest of your pics when you return! Have a great trip!

Oh, and a great big welcome to Denise. I've only been here for a few days but everyone has been warm and friendly!!! It will be our first Deluxe stay, but we're not Disney newbies.

 

[pooksma]

Gdad,

Would you mind if I used your pic for my desktop background? It is by far, the most beautiful pic I have seen. I can't wait to see this live!

 

[jaycns]

We will be there at the same time! Only you'll have a couple more days than us. We arrive on 9/2- 9/8. I'm sure I'll have a goofy look of my own going on, probably mouth wide open in awe.

We don't have long until our 180 window opens up!! Do you have any dining plans made? Is Boma or Jiko on your list??!! I am so excited about my trip to AKL...I am going back home! What are you looking forward to most? For me it will be sitting on our balcony *crosses eyes and fingers in hopes of a savanna view* eating dinner while watching the animals. AHHH....my dream!

 

[Tinkaroo]

I have a Nikon D70s - these were taken with a Sigma 10-20mm lens. Here's one from inside the lobby.

Thanks all.

Gdad - I hope you and your family enjoyed your stay!

My DH (the photographer in the family) wants to know what settings you used to take these photos. The colors are so rich for nighttime.

Thanks!

 

[ktink]

We don't have long until our 180 window opens up!! Do you have any dining plans made? Is Boma or Jiko on your list??!! I am so excited about my trip to AKL...I am going back home! What are you looking forward to most? For me it will be sitting on our balcony *crosses eyes and fingers in hopes of a savanna view* eating dinner while watching the animals. AHHH....my dream!

Well I'm a little torn. I called CRO and tried once again for the 40% code but to no avail. She went on to tell me that DH and myself had PINs attached to our names but AKL wasn't available. Then she looked further and said that nothing was available for our timeframe the code was valid for Feb and a couple of weeks in March but for value resorts only. Feb and March are out of the question so I'm disgusted.

We've already paid for our package but when I was on the phone w/ her I questioned free dining promo. Of course she said that the CMs only know of this as the public does. So when I booked I was planning on free dining and being able to add it to the package and then if they don't come out w/ free dining I could either stay value and WDWT would owe me around $300 or I could stay moderate and owe them $300.

I'm most looking forward to free dining and staying at AKL. And those pictures that Gdad has posted have done nothing but hope even harder.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Hey y'all

I just posted about my 2 AKL days in my trip report (see link in sig)- there are dozens more there, but I thought I'd post a few of the photos here for all my fellow AKL fans!

 

[ktink]

Crystal, those pics are great!

 

[ms_mckenna]

Those are great pics Crystal! Thanks for sharing.

 

[disneymomof1]

We just returned from a short trip 2/5-2/8. We booked AKL because WL did not have anything available and to tell you the truth I wasn't that excited. Boy was I wrong!! We loved this resort. We had a pool view, close to elevator and down to the pool and food court. The room was spacious and very clean. Mousekeeping did a great job the whole stay. We did not feel removed from the other parks, the bus rides were not as long as I had expected. The parks were great, not crowded, virtually no waits. We did use the pool one day and it did not feel heated, in fact the water was a little chilly. The weather was very warm our last two days. The lobby was beautiful and the animals were incredible. We were not in the room much, so I am glad I did not pay for savannah view. If we stay there again I would do the same, we saw plenty of animals from the viewing stations and we are not in the room much. It was very quiet, which I love. We stayed at WL for 9 days in november and I fell in love with WL. Loved the boat to MK, but I think if I had a choice again i would stay at AKL.

 

[JulianneCP]

Hi everyone I just got back from a 4 day stay at AKL Amazing just does not cut it!!! (Gdad I looked for you, been lurking at your pics on the "picture of the day" thread) Anyhow thanks for all the info! we went with my DH who was there for a conference (no not the home buliders) I talked him in to staying one more night so he could play with us Since we did that I did not upgrade our standard to a savanna view (our house is on the market and I want furniture) I was bumming and worried we would not get the full affect of the resort without seeing animals first thing in the a.m. Well as luck would have it I the CM said All of the confrence guest have Deluxe Savanna views I almost fainted right there! We where on the Kuda trail wow it was just breathing taking This was a surprise trip for the kids and I don't know what they liked best the surprise pandp party or the resort!

Be sure to take one day and just enjoy the resort we did this on Friday when my DH only worked half day and the kids where tired from the pandp party We had a great CM who taught all the activites and the hidden Mickey tour was hard but we had a great CM that helped us out!!!

 

[decerbod]

Hi everyone. DW and I are visiting the AKL for one night only in September. I have a few questions. Thank you for your help ahead of time.

Are their public animal viewing areas where you can see ostrich even if you do not have a savannah view onto the ostrich savannah. The reason I am asking is my DW just told me she loves ostriches (who knew). It looks to me that the public viewing areas all look onto the main savannah. Is this right?

We would like to try the night vision one night. On this board it has been listed that that activity starts at 9pm and also 8pm. Does this vary by season because of sunset?

Can you borrow binoculars from the resort?

We plan to do Jiko for dinner and Boma for breakfast. Does this sound good? Are we really missing out by not doing Boma for dinner?

Is the coffee at Boma Nescafe or higher quality?

I have also read that there is direct bus transportation from AKL to DTD. Is this current information?

Whew thats enough questioning for one post I think.

 

[plutospup]

If you walk down each of the long hallways you will find viewing areas for each savannah. Since there are different animals on each savannah I highly encourage everyone to check out the public viewing areas for each savannah.

Boma breakfast, and Jiko dinner...Enjoy! Boma is nice for dinner as well, but a Jiko dinner is extra special.

Night vision goggles...A must do! The area is located past the flamingo area. Go to the pool and look for the signs. At that location CM's will be there with night vision goggles to borrow. The savannah looks dark and quiet, until you use the night vision goggles and see the wildlife walking about the savannah!

 

[Tinkaroo]

Hi everyone. DW and I are visiting the AKL for one night only in September. I have a few questions. Thank you for your help ahead of time.

Are their public animal viewing areas where you can see ostrich even if you do not have a savannah view onto the ostrich savannah. The reason I am asking is my DW just told me she loves ostriches (who knew). It looks to me that the public viewing areas all look onto the main savannah. Is this right?

We would like to try the night vision one night. On this board it has been listed that that activity starts at 9pm and also 8pm. Does this vary by season because of sunset?

Can you borrow binoculars from the resort?

We plan to do Jiko for dinner and Boma for breakfast. Does this sound good? Are we really missing out by not doing Boma for dinner?

Is the coffee at Boma Nescafe or higher quality?

I have also read that there is direct bus transportation from AKL to DTD. Is this current information?

Whew thats enough questioning for one post I think.

There are tons of public viewing areas! It looks like ostriches are on the Sunset Savannah, which is the furthest savannah to the west.

Since you're only staying one night, Jiko for dinner and Boma for breakfast sounds like you're getting the best of both worlds. You'll just have to try Boma for dinner on your next trip!

I'm not sure if the regular coffee Boma serves is Nescafe, but I know you can get a pressed pot of Kenyan coffee for an extra charge. I'm not a coffee drinker, but DH always does this at AKL (and does the same at Kona Cafe at the Poly, where it's Kona coffee).

And yes, there will be a bus to DTD from AKL. Sometimes during the day it might also pick up passengers from Typhoon Lagoon (at least this has been my experience), but it's usually direct at night.

Sorry, I can't answer your night vision or binoculars question.

 

[Gdad]

I also posted this in the food porn thread but here it is again for the AKL Fans...A few pictures from Jiko

Filet with Mac n' Cheese

Coffee/Liqueur Desert

Crem Brulee'

Smores

Smores Under Construction

Too full to eat the last Smore - My daughter says she must "Kiss it Goodbye"

[/QUOTE]

 

[disneytraveler]

The filet w/mac and cheese and creme brulee are very good at Jiko. The chocolate cake stack is also nice.

 

[SharonLowe]

Hi everyone. DW and I are visiting the AKL for one night only in September. I have a few questions. Thank you for your help ahead of time.

Are their public animal viewing areas where you can see ostrich even if you do not have a savannah view onto the ostrich savannah. The reason I am asking is my DW just told me she loves ostriches (who knew). It looks to me that the public viewing areas all look onto the main savannah. Is this right?

Since your other questions have been answered in depth, I'll add a bit more to this one. The ostriches are the least visible animals at the lodge - they tend to stay far out by the fences. (And, they aren't just on the ostrich trail) You will be best to bring your own binoculars as I don't think there are any to borrow.

There are 3 savannahs - Sunset Savannah, which is the place for ostriches; Arusha Savannah, the main one; and Uzima Savannah. The flamingoes live near the pool. There are indoor viewing places all over for all 3 savannahs. There are outdoor viewing places for Arusha and Uzima and the flamingoes.