JAMBO! The UN-official AKL Thread ~ UPDATED(short film/pg 8 & slideshow/pg 12) Part 3

[lillykat]

Hi everyone!

We are taking DD (who will be 15 months at that time) for her first trip to WDW next Sept/Oct. We are booking the trip this weekend. This will be DH and my third trip to AKL. We are bringing my parents with us - this is their first trip since they took me in 1993.

I see the cribs at AKL are pack n plays? Does anyone have any photos? How are they?

How bad will the construction really be? I talked them all into staying here rather than saving money and going for POFQ - I hope it won't be too bad - what should I expect?

 

[Princess Amy]

Does anyone know how the construction progress will be the first week of December? Maybe it will be in the standard view section, so I can be upgraded to a pool or savanna view.... Okay, it was just a thought.

 

[Disney8704]

OK. For me to upgrade to CL from Savannah it will be $473 more (AAA - Aug 4-15th). Now, what I wanna know is it worth to upgrade to CL just to do the sunrise safari? Also how is the view of the animals from the CL? I dont wanna be up so high to where I cant see them or they seem really small. Cuz from Ive heard anything around the 3rd level are the best view of the animals cuz it feels like they are right there. If possible can someone post a pic of a animal they saw during the CL stay or a link to a post. Either way will be fine. Also we will be going in Aug 2008. Do you think the construction will still be very noticable from a CL room?

 

[pilferk]

That's great news! I think it was discussed just after the new non-smoking policy came out that there now would be pool view CL rooms. I never understood why they would let people pay for CL and then not give them the best view available!

I'm not sure, but you may have gotten that info from one of my posts. It was the info I was given by the IPO staff right around the time of the switchover of the smoking policy. I'm not sure how long it lasted (or if it was even ever implemented) but it HAS since changed. The "smoking" pool view rooms are no longer club rooms.....and they've been "replaced" in club inventory with a half dozen or so savannah view rooms.

So, yes...all the AKL club rooms are savannah view.

 

[pilferk]

OK, here's some construction updates.

Sept/Oct of '07...construction will be continuing in earnest, mostly on the 6th floor, and in rooms around the lobby. "Bad" is relative. Ask to be located on Zebra trail somewhere (where all the construction is complete) and any effects on you will be minimal, I'd guess. You'll hear it in the lobby or at the pool..but not, likely, in your rooms.

If you mean Sept/Oct of '08 (and I almost think you must if you're booking this weekend).....well, you'll probably not be effected much at all. The Jambo conversion will LONG since be completed....so the only construction should be the new building (Kidani Village). How much effect that will really have we don't know, but given it's distance from the lodge, etc, I'd expect it to be minimal.

By December: It should be winding down. The new ETA on completion of the ENTIRE project at Jambo (according to the DVC member site) is the end of January '08 (moved up from May of '08). By december, I'd think they'd be working on Kudo trail, pretty much exclusively...so MOST of the rooms in the lodge will be pretty far away from the main construction.

On CL: The AKL club rooms are all on the 4th floor. I think it's VERY worth it, just for the sunrise safari. As for view, it's all a matter of preference. I like both. The lower floors offer more intimate and up close views, the upper floors more expansive and panoramic ones. Neither, IMHO, is "bad".

The only people that will get "construction views" in addition to their savannah views are the ones on the Sunset Savannah side of the building.

 

[kimmar067]

pilferk ~
Thank for the update, sweetie!

 

[lillykat]

OK, here's some construction updates.

Sept/Oct of '07...construction will be continuing in earnest, mostly on the 6th floor, and in rooms around the lobby. "Bad" is relative. As to be located on Zebra trail somewhere (where all the construction is complete) and any effects on you will be minimal, I'd guess. You'll hear it in the lobby or at the pool..but not, likely, in your rooms.

If you mean Sept/Oct of '08 (and I almost think you must if you're booking this weekend).....well, you'll probably not be effected much at all. The Jambo conversion will LONG since be completed....so the only construction should be the new building (Kidani Village). How much effect that will really have we don't know, but given it's distance from the lodge, etc, I'd expect it to be minimal.

Yes thank you I meant 2008. That sounds like we shouldn't be too affected.

 

[lumpyscall]

I just have to say I'm new to the boards. I'm spending my honeymoon in April at AKL.

You guys have so much information in here! I'm sure if I have any questions you'll be able to help!

 

[kimmar067]

I just have to say I'm new to the boards. I'm spending my honeymoon in April at AKL.

You guys have so much information in here! I'm sure if I have any questions you'll be able to help!

.... and "JAMBO!"........feel free to ask away....

 

[Flossbolna]

OK, here's some construction updates.

Sept/Oct of '07...construction will be continuing in earnest, mostly on the 6th floor, and in rooms around the lobby. "Bad" is relative. Ask to be located on Zebra trail somewhere (where all the construction is complete) and any effects on you will be minimal, I'd guess. You'll hear it in the lobby or at the pool..but not, likely, in your rooms.

If you mean Sept/Oct of '08 (and I almost think you must if you're booking this weekend).....well, you'll probably not be effected much at all. The Jambo conversion will LONG since be completed....so the only construction should be the new building (Kidani Village). How much effect that will really have we don't know, but given it's distance from the lodge, etc, I'd expect it to be minimal.

By December: It should be winding down. The new ETA on completion of the ENTIRE project at Jambo (according to the DVC member site) is the end of January '08 (moved up from May of '08). By december, I'd think they'd be working on Kudo trail, pretty much exclusively...so MOST of the rooms in the lodge will be pretty far away from the main construction.

On CL: The AKL club rooms are all on the 4th floor. I think it's VERY worth it, just for the sunrise safari. As for view, it's all a matter of preference. I like both. The lower floors offer more intimate and up close views, the upper floors more expansive and panoramic ones. Neither, IMHO, is "bad".

The only people that will get "construction views" in addition to their savannah views are the ones on the Sunset Savannah side of the building.

Thanks for the update! Sounds great that construction is moving along faster than pojected! I am still thinking about February....

 

[John's Mom]

I just wanted to tell you that I am listening to the music from the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I'm a computer dummy, so my daughter burned two CDs for me with the 21 songs that were posted on Mousesavers. When I close my eyes, I almost feel like I'm right there in the Lobby.

Now all I need is for someone to bottle the scent of the Lodge.

Kathy

 

[amycishere]

OK, here's some construction updates.

Sept/Oct of '07...construction will be continuing in earnest, mostly on the 6th floor, and in rooms around the lobby. "Bad" is relative. Ask to be located on Zebra trail somewhere (where all the construction is complete) and any effects on you will be minimal, I'd guess. You'll hear it in the lobby or at the pool..but not, likely, in your rooms.

If you mean Sept/Oct of '08 (and I almost think you must if you're booking this weekend).....well, you'll probably not be effected much at all. The Jambo conversion will LONG since be completed....so the only construction should be the new building (Kidani Village). How much effect that will really have we don't know, but given it's distance from the lodge, etc, I'd expect it to be minimal.

By December: It should be winding down. The new ETA on completion of the ENTIRE project at Jambo (according to the DVC member site) is the end of January '08 (moved up from May of '08). By december, I'd think they'd be working on Kudo trail, pretty much exclusively...so MOST of the rooms in the lodge will be pretty far away from the main construction.

On CL: The AKL club rooms are all on the 4th floor. I think it's VERY worth it, just for the sunrise safari. As for view, it's all a matter of preference. I like both. The lower floors offer more intimate and up close views, the upper floors more expansive and panoramic ones. Neither, IMHO, is "bad".

The only people that will get "construction views" in addition to their savannah views are the ones on the Sunset Savannah side of the building.

I heard that all inside construction is supposed to be completed this month. Directly from guest services when I asked about my Oct. reservation.

 

[Flossbolna]

Now all I need is for someone to bottle the scent of the Lodge.

I actually have this suspicion that it is a bottled scent.... I was in London in July and one evening we had a great dinner at a local chain restaurant called "Giraffe". It was supposed to be "World Cuisine" and the piped in "World Music". When I went to the bathroom I passed just under the ventilation where the air was blown into the room and it smelled exactly like the AKL!! I checked this again on the way back from the bathroom and a third time when we left the restaurant. So... I am afraid the lovely smell is not just Boma cooking, but a room perfum designed to smell African

 

[Tig-girl]

 

[Alicnwondrln]

hi everyone
I am looking for info about the AKL resort and concerge level and onsite staff. I am booked for a week at the beginning of Dec.

 

[kgc07]

hi everyone
I am looking for info about the AKL resort and concerge level and onsite staff. I am booked for a week at the beginning of Dec.

I would also like information as I have a reservation in May. I can tell you I e-mailed IPO and received an answer less than 12 hours later, which I must say was better than the service I received from the GF. It was also nice to have a "themed" response with the african terms used.

 

[Mommaof3]

It has been almost 3 years since we have stayed at the AKL. When we were there, we had a savanna room on the 5th floor (I think). It had a queen, set of bunks and a daybed. We were staying concierge. The room was on Zebra trail overlooking the Arusha savanna. This year I booked a savanna/bunkbed room, but no concierge. I requested Zebra/Arusha again. Will it be this same type room or will it be the Standard queen/bunkbed room without the daybed? Hope I am making myself clear. Thanks for any help.

 

[Mr Man]

Hello all.

I recently read about 200+ pages of this thread to to get up to speed before my 1st post. Unfortunately, it took 3 months to do it. I thought I better start posting now instead of waiting until I finish reading (by then I will already be back from AK)......

My family and I (DW, DS 6, DS 1) will be staying at AKL 9/9 - 9/15 Savannah view. I plan to ask for Zebra Trail but nothing much beyond that. Just happy to be going. I will try to courtesy post my observations from AKL, as I will inevitably have to do some work even on vacation

I have perused these boards obsessively lately in making our plans.

Thanks for all the great info. This message board (and this thread in particular) is a fantastic resource for all things Disney. I can't imagine what it was like trying to plan Disney trips without the internet. Some sort of primitive caveman hieroglyphic type arrangement perhaps..... or heaven forfend, people just showed up!!

We have also made arrangements to look at DVC while we are in town. We are very interested in AKV but want to stay in AKL once before we make the leap. Exciting stuff though.

Just out of curiosity. Was there ever an Official AKL thread? I seem to have missed that part in my 200 pg adventure.

thanks in advance and have a great day.

 

[RachelTori]

Hello all.

I recently read about 200+ pages of this thread to to get up to speed before my 1st post. Unfortunately, it took 3 months to do it. I thought I better start posting now instead of waiting until I finish reading (by then I will already be back from AK)......

My family and I (DW, DS 6, DS 1) will be staying at AKL 9/9 - 9/15 Savannah view. I plan to ask for Zebra Trail but nothing much beyond that. Just happy to be going. I will try to courtesy post my observations from AKL, as I will inevitably have to do some work even on vacation

I have perused these boards obsessively lately in making our plans.

Thanks for all the great info. This message board (and this thread in particular) is a fantastic resource for all things Disney. I can't imagine what it was like trying to plan Disney trips without the internet. Some sort of primitive caveman hieroglyphic type arrangement perhaps..... or heaven forfend, people just showed up!!

We have also made arrangements to look at DVC while we are in town. We are very interested in AKV but want to stay in AKL once before we make the leap. Exciting stuff though.

Just out of curiosity. Was there ever an Official AKL thread? I seem to have missed that part in my 200 pg adventure.

thanks in advance and have a great day.

Many of us are jealous of your upcoming stay! We LOVE LOVE LOVE AKL and will be anxious to hear your impressions!

There is an AKL FAQ: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=68312

If you have any questions, ask away - everyone here are happy to help!

 

[pilferk]

I heard that all inside construction is supposed to be completed this month. Directly from guest services when I asked about my Oct. reservation.

I hate to say this but.....that's just not true. I hate to bag on Guest Services, but they get things wrong way too often.

They haven't even BEGUN to convert Kudo trail yet (reports from people on the ground, at DVC MS, and from people working at AKL). The timetables being given by DVC are: early December for the concierge and value units to be complete (ie: Giraffe and Ostrich trail, and rooms around the lobby), late January for the rest (basically Kudo trail). You might figure those things will be "ready" 2 to 4 weeks before they're allowing booking...but not much less than that. There's just no physical way they could be done by the end of August....Kudo trail is just too big.

Now, they could be done with some of the things requiring rooms to be closed down (hvac, electrical and plumbing, etc)....so they're not relocating guests past a certain date, but there WILL be construction going on well past the end of this month.