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

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Thanks for the quick replys I do appreciate them. I am going to take the little one on the safari. DH called from work last night and said that he really wants him to go since he loves the animals so much. The baby stood at Arusha rock for over 2 hours admiring the zebra and giraffe and we literally had to pry him away last week. He never made a peep all 16 hours of our drive down in the car so I think he will be ok. He is usually good for at least 2-3 hours no matter what we are doing.

I am gonna stick with my 6th floor room because there are so many viewing areas I agree that closeness to the lounge is probably better for us. Does the smoke smell linger over from the pool side rooms or are we OK?

Thanks again you all are the best!!!!!!

Oh one more quick question about the balcony on the 6th floor/sunset savannah if anyone knows. Does it have bars or is it enclosed? I am hopeing it still has bars for DS to look through. My nephew had a balcony at GF that was enclosed and we didnt care for it very much. TIA.

 

[John's Mom]

Bumping!

 

[Oh_the_anticipation!]

Question #1 -
#1HockeyMom, Saw your previous post....what's IPO??? Just curious. I'm trying to learn all the abbreviations on here, but that one isn't on the list.

Question #2 -
Has anyone ever done a "Pixie Surprise" at check-in at AKL? I saw it on that Presentations of a Lifetime site, but it's pretty expensive and I'm just curious as to what it all entails. Also, approximately how long does it take to do it? The Pixie surprise would happen right at check-in, but I know the kids will want to run right to the Magic Kingdom. I'm more worried about how much time it would take as opposed to how much money it would cost. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[mickeygrl]

Cass & #1 hockeymom -- thanks for the info on the storytelling times.

*waving to Waterford* grew up west of there in Milford, dh works there now and we live north of there currently!

Waving back at you fellow Michiganian & Red Wing Fan! Milford is a great area. How far north are you now -- lower pennisula north or UP north? Although I consider anything north of Flint -- up north.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hi everyone-I just came back from Maine to find you all on the second page? ... Oh I don't think so..... Bumping...

I have to catch up but wow Kimmar under a week-aren't you bouncing all over... ?

Angel-so glad about your son in law...

Wendy-I beginning to think the tag fair needs a little strong arming as all of our kind pleading and bagging isn't going anywhere...if I remember correctly Tink was a naughty little fairy...I'm going to have to sleep on this...

I have to go through and read everyone's stuff-quickly saw some great photos-can't wait to catch up...

 

[#1hockeymom]

We're in Holly. I work in Flint and DH works in Waterford. Being near 75 is crucial! He cuts through Clarkston to get through to work. We do have a cabin in Paradise, for that way up north experience!

The colonel at the Adventurer's Club has done an act at the comedy club at the Holly Hotel. He and I had a great time "talking" during his floor show! Who would have thought.. go to Disney and run into a "neighbor" in my little 5k town.

You won't smell smoke in the lounge or the savannah side; don't worry! As far as the balconies, I think they are enclosed? Someone here will know for sure. I've always been on the fourth and fifth floors.

 

[Oh_the_anticipation!]

#1HockeyMom,
You mentioned Clarkston, MI. I live in Ohio (Cedar Point is practically my back yard) and the neighbor kid who is visiting his dad for the summer is from Clarkston. Small world

 

[#1hockeymom]

Yes, it is! My DS would give his right arm to live to live near you! He's a Cedar Point coaster junkie!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Thanks for the reply #1hockeymom I appreciate that. So my only question left thanks to you kind people is are the balconies on the 6th floor enclosed? Even if they are I am guessing it will probably be better to be close to the lounge with the little one. I just dont want to be shocked when I get there KWIM. Also I am a dummy too. What does IPO stand for? I have been talking with Juanita in concierge but I dont know what that stands for?

 

[kaysmommie]

I tried the vanilla almond today and it was so good. Although I think I'm going blind I read the diet wrong. I have been eating 2/3 cup of Special K instead of the serving size on the box (which for regular is 1 cup and 3/4 cup for the Almond one). Keep up the good work

here. I was wondering how that special K is working for you all? I have 26 days left until Disney. Want to lose a size before all that food I'll be eating. to all of you leaving in a few days, Have a great vacation!

 

[shyjade]

Yes they do have the retractable clothes line in the bathtub at AKL.

Thanks Lisa!!!


Well, I blew it yesterday. After months of planning, changing resies and biting my tongue, I caved in and told my DD8 about the surprise...where we are really staying (AKL, not ASMo). The more I thought about it the more I realized she is too smart to hide it from her...little miss nosy is all eyes and ears and it's nearly impossible to discuss around her for fear she'd figure it out. Plus, after playing off that trip my finances are VERY tight from now until the time we go (even had to borrow some of DD's spending money until next payday ) I knew she deserved an answer as to why we'll be living off mac & cheese for the next month!

So I sat her down yesterday afternoon and asked if she wanted to know what the surprise was I have planned for Disney, or if she wanted to wait until we got there to find out. Now normally, she's the kind of kid who WANTS to be surprised, won't sneak around at Christmas, etc. But she wanted to know, so I told her. She was THRILLED!!!! More excited than when I told her we are going to Disney! Now she's all giddy about the trip and keeps talking about it, where before she really didn't seem to care (although I know that would've changed when we got there).

So yesterday we sorted through our pennies & quarters we've been collecting for months for the pressed penny machines and I put her to work sorting pre-1982 pennies. Then we washed them in salt & vinegar, rinsed and dried, and she started filling the M&M Mini tubes we've been saving for the occasion. It was a nice way to spend the rainy afternoon preparing for the trip.

I tried changing some resies around so we could eat at Boma our first night but of course it's booked solid (and we're only a party of 2!). I nearly fell out of my chair when she said "Mom, I want to try some African food when we're there." This coming from my vegetarian daughter (her choice from the time she was born, never could get her to eat real meat), who hates just about everything except buttered noodles!!

51 days and counting...now we're BOTH counting!!

 

[Oh_the_anticipation!]

If I remember correctly about the pressed penny machine....you put your shiny new penny in, but is it still 50 cents or has the cost increased?

I haven't done that in a long time and I thought that might be a unique thing to do for my friends children from Brazil when we're at WDW. Woo Hoo - a souvenier not from China. LOL!

Anyone know how much those penny books cost and how many pressed pennies they hold?

Thanks!

 

[John's Mom]

Liz,

IPO stands for Itinerary Planning Office. That's were Don and Juanita work. They do not work in the Lounge.

Kathy

 

[disneytraveler]

Yay 33 days left until i go !
i should contact Disney reservation center because i have not received my package yet.

 

[tinknme]

The pressed penny machines are 50 cents, they have pressed quarters as well for $1.

Unless the price has gone up the books are $7.50. Using the mini m&m tubes is great for holding the loose change. We did this last year also!

The book holds 36 pennies & 6 quarters.

If I remember correctly about the pressed penny machine....you put your shiny new penny in, but is it still 50 cents or has the cost increased?

I haven't done that in a long time and I thought that might be a unique thing to do for my friends children from Brazil when we're at WDW. Woo Hoo - a souvenier not from China. LOL!

Anyone know how much those penny books cost and how many pressed pennies they hold?

Thanks!

 

[tinknme]

That's ok, I couldn't hold out any longer either

Well, I blew it yesterday. After months of planning, changing resies and biting my tongue, I caved in and told my DD8 about the surprise...where we are really staying (AKL, not ASMo). The more I thought about it the more I realized she is too smart to hide it from her...little miss nosy is all eyes and ears and it's nearly impossible to discuss around her for fear she'd figure it out. Plus, after playing off that trip my finances are VERY tight from now until the time we go (even had to borrow some of DD's spending money until next payday ) I knew she deserved an answer as to why we'll be living off mac & cheese for the next month!

 

[tinknme]

Yay 33 days left until i go !
i should contact Disney reservation center because i have not received my package yet.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I don't blame you for telling! Even if all the pictures in the world are viewed they won't do the AKL justice. Plus... the smell as you enter is just heavenly!

 

[SuAnne]

Thought I'd just jump on the bandwagon here since we only have 18 more days to go until our stay at AKL.

It should be some trip... two single moms with four teenage girls (13,14,15,16)...and a beauty of a trip report !

I think I'll do some packing to get myself over the sticker shock of my final payment landing on my VISA bill that I got in the mail today

But first I'll post a couple of photos from our last trip for your viewing pleasure!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

Just got a call from Don and Sue in the IPO office and they confirmed a ressie for me on the sunrise safari. She said alot of little ones go on that safari and Ethan wont be the only kiddo on it that day. I was a little worried because of his age but he is usually very well behaved (Ok let me knock on some wood so I dont jinx myself).

SueAnn those shots are really pretty. Thanks for sharing.

I am soooo excited now I just have to wait 3 months.