Yes, I may be committing heresy
but I wouldnt ever go back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge
. I was a bit disappointed to say the least.
Starting with check-in on Sunday (9/16). We got caught in a rainstorm in Orlando which made the last 4 miles to the hotel take 40 minutes and we did not check in until 7:00 p.m. So I was ready for a warm greeting not to mention food! I got a lukewarm hi from the girl at the front desk. No African Ambassadors in the lobby. (Not even a valet to help unpack the car!) We had requested a bunk bed pool view. We got it, on the first floor. Okay I can deal with that, but I did ask if they had anything on a higher floor. After a HUGE sigh, she disappeared behind closed doors (without a word as to where she was going/what she was doing). She did come back out and was consulting with someone. She indicated that they had something on higher floors, but no bunk beds. Okay I can live with the first floor, but PLEASE drop the attitude!
So Im starting to think, Disney magic? Heck, Id just deal with some Disney niceness at this point.
So, no valet with an offer to help. I go over to the valet desk (room) and ask if I can have a rolling cart. No, we dont give those out. Thats it. Not We dont give those out but Id be happy to help. So we lug all of our stuff out the car and off we go to the room. I can deal with the lobby being dark. The animal sightings on the way to the elevator were enough to make my children jump up and down. I can deal with the room being dark. LOVED the idea of bunk beds in the room and it worked out great. We called mousekeeping and asked for more pillows. Off to dinner for a quick bite at the Mara.
Disappointment number two. I thought the food there was awful. A dried out hamburger and a chicken wrap. I dont even remember what the boys had they didnt seem to mind. And we paid cash for this meal, as we didnt want to start the
DDP until the next day in a park. Which, oddly, seemed to perturb the cashier. (Really who gets upset with cash?) Again, no Disney magic to be found at this place.
Got back to the room. No pillows to be had, but oddly enough, they had come in and left bed rails. Called again and asked for pillows. Waited, went swimming. Nice pool, but by then the water slide was closed. I think I was more disappointed about that than the boys were! Back to the room, still no pillows. I called the front desk and asked if they would come soon, as it was now time for the boys to get in bed and I didnt want knocking on the door after they fell asleep. Their answer come to the front desk to get them. OK. (But Im thinking I am paying this much a night for a room and they cant bring me pillows?) Off DH goes to get pillows, only to be told at the front desk that You cant get those here. Thats it. No, So sorry you misunderstood or So sorry we gave you the wrong information. Just You cant get those here. Back he comes to the room for a third call for pillows, which then came within 15 minutes
. Disney magic? HA!
The Mara redeemed itself somewhat the next day breakfast was GOOD. Ah, the bacon. Someone got it right crisp and yummy! The boys loved the mini Mickey waffles and I had a croissant sandwich with bacon and eggs. And off to the parks we went. Lots of fun there more on that later. We went to a FABULOUS dinner at Coral Reef great staff there lots of Disney magic (so it DOES exist!).
We were in the hotel minimally. In the mornings for breakfast (except for the character breakfast at the Polynesian FABULOUS!!!!!) and at night to go swimming. The one night we made it back to the hotel to get to the water slide, the lifeguard was positively menacing. Like WE were disturbing HIM by being in the pool. And mind you, there werent that many of us. Maybe 8 children playing on the waterslide all of them were being pretty well behaved. He stared at one child so vehemently that if it were me I would have cried. Yes, it really was that bad. If he had looked at one of my children that way, I would have had a manager by my side in a skinny minute. At 7:20 p.m. he stood up and said in a voice that only the tired and fed-up could muster, Last call for the slide. Now, in 20 minutes, my kids could probably make another 17 runs down the slide
.last call? To his credit, he did not shut it down until 8:00 p.m., though. He was NOT a happy camper. Again, no Disney magic from that employee. Notice a trend yet?
Ive read on other postings everyones wonderful and fabulous experience. Towel animals? No (even with tips left each day). Friendly staff? Are you sure you were at the AKL?
Good things I can say
Hmmm, I have to reach for that. The bus service was nice although the wait times to get on the busses were sometimes long. Guess that is what we get in our instant gratification world. It was nice that we didnt share the busses with another resort and had direct hotel to park service. The bus drivers themselves were pleasant. The people riding the busses with us were delightful. And it was SO nice to see men and boys get up and offer their seats to women and older folks. (And I must admit, my DH was one of those that did that!) There was NO construction noise or inconvience. Yes, there were black tarps up on the 5th and 6th floors. But we never heard one out of place noise.
And I have to say thank you to the unknown family who gave us their DDP card the first morning we were there. It gave us two breakfasts and two snacks for the day. THAT was our Disney magic. (They were on their way out to the airport and had leftovers saw us with our two boys and just handed it over. Dont know their names their card said Unknown Unknown believe it or not! But, if you read this, you guys ROCK!)
We moved on Thursday to the Sea World Residence Inn. For $150 less a night (maybe more
) we got MUCH better service, bigger rooms and a hot breakfast included. I wasnt expecting much not nearly as much as I was anticipating the Disney experience at AKL. After the dismal service we received at AKL, anything would have been an improvement! Seriously, though, we loved the Residence Inn and would tell anyone that wants to go to Orlando and stay off site to book this hotel. It was clean and the front desk staff and the concierge were very nice (but please, someone, do away with the dual concierge responsibilities. I DO NOT WANT A TIME SHARE.)
Yes, the parks were fun - we did NOT have enough time to do everything. Now I completely understand whey folks spend two weeks there at a time or go back once (or more) a year. We loved, loved, loved Seaworld and the Magic Kingdom - our two favorites.
This trip was unusual for us - a big expense. Was it worth it in the long run? Yes, my boys had an absolute blast - and they don't know enough to be bothered by something not living up to its hype. They also didn't pay for it, so it makes it easier on them! HAHA! Would we rush back to Orlando next year? Not likely. (We just couldn't save that much $$ again to do something we've already done. Next trip will be for a new experience!) If I won the lottery and money was no object would I go back to Orlando? Absolutely. I just wouldn't stay at AKL.....
hmph!!!
more for ME....
!!
that was the coconut tiramisu - which is soooo AWESOME!!
Hope you have fun planning your AKL CL stay! They have all been so wonderful in helping me plan for my DH's BDay! I can't wait to see what they have come up with!
