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

[2pirates&2tinks]

Would someone please tell me what time they finished breakfast after the sunrise safari? Trying to make plans for when we are finished. MANY THANKS!

 

[amcjeep4life]

Would someone please tell me what time they finished breakfast after the sunrise safari? Trying to make plans for when we are finished. MANY THANKS!

It was actually kind of funny, since after breakfast we were heading out of the park, I think it was about 9:30. There was this wall of people heading into the park, and looking at us like we were crazy for going the other way. The woman at the exit gate asked if everything was OK, since we were officially the first people leaving. She just laughed when we said we had been on the Sunrise Safari, and were heading out to do other things. We had horseback riding reservations at Fort Wilderness for 11, and made it there with plenty of time to spare. And that was after waiting about 20 minutes for a bus going there. Good luck with your trip, I'm quite jealous!

 

[kimmar067]

Momto2boysSC ~

Sorry to hear that your AKL vaca was 'less-than-magical'.....personally, I would write a letter to WDW or email them directly - at the very least, it might make you feel better......

BTW ~ we sure would still like to see your pix if you have any.....

 

[vmickey]

Hi All!
We (me, DH, DS - 6 & DS - 3) are so excited to be going back to AKL over Christmas. We were there 3 years ago and loved every moment! I decided to finally stop lurking and post!

 

[John's Mom]

Hi All!
We (me, DH, DS - 6 & DS - 3) are so excited to be going back to AKL over Christmas. We were there 3 years ago and loved every moment! I decided to finally stop lurking and post!

So glad you joined us! Do you have any pictures of the AKL that you would like to share with us?

 

[vmickey]

So glad you joined us! Do you have any pictures of the AKL that you would like to share with us?

Thanks for the warm welcome! I will have to go through my pictures and see what I have to share.

 

[Disneenut]

Thanks for the warm welcome! I will have to go through my pictures and see what I have to share.

to the DIS

I hope you share lots of pics

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Posting this to help all my Pals over at our sister resort:

The Uzima Pool Slide at Animal Kingdom Lodge will be closed October 8-19, 2007. Note that only the slide will be closed -- the pool itself will stay open.

 

[kimmar067]

Posting this to help all my Pals over at our sister resort:

The Uzima Pool Slide at Animal Kingdom Lodge will be closed October 8-19, 2007. Note that only the slide will be closed -- the pool itself will stay open.

Beck ~
Thanks fer the update....

 

[kimmar067]

Hi All!
We (me, DH, DS - 6 & DS - 3) are so excited to be going back to AKL over Christmas. We were there 3 years ago and loved every moment! I decided to finally stop lurking and post!

....

 

[Grumpy's_Gal]

...they are two completely different safaris.....the Sunrise Safari takes place at AK and a buffet breakfast is included in the safari. The second one is the Sunset Safari, which takes place direclty on AKL grounds, and is followed up with dinenr at Jiko....the 2nd one is more expensive.

We'll be checking in about this time exactly 2 weeks from today!! I'm soooo excited!!

I realize that the safaris may all be booked already, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask...Just wondering, do we wait until we check in to see if they have room, or should we call ahead? And if so, who do we call - the resort directly? Thanks for your help!

Lori

 

[mdrob214]

Well, we have returned to the real world. Thanks everyone for all your help planning this trip. I was a major lurker and learned soooo much! Our stay at AKL was wonderful! We had Savannah View w/ bunkbeds Zebra Trail, Uzima (?) Savannah--NOT the one I wanted but it turned out not to be a disappointment at ALL! We were in rm. 3551, which is almost all the way to the end and then out on one of those wings that juts out from the horseshoe. we had a great view of the people pen and I was majorly disappointed when I saw that. I told the kids not to touch a thing and called the front desk but it was too late in the day (4:00pm) to get moved as all the Sav View bunks were taken. I was told to check back the next morning, which I did. I was told that we could be moved the following day, but I just decided that it wasn't worth it. I was always treated politely and never really pushed the issue, so don't know if that would've made a difference. Trying to keep everything in the suitcases for 2 nights just wasn't happening! Well, I am soooooo glad we stayed! We had excellent views of all the animals. I took many many photos, but haven't gone thru them all yet (700+ for the whole trip!). I will get them uploaded to photobucket so I can show you soon. The best time to view the animals was late afternoon and early evening. We saw some in the mornings as they were waiting for their breakfasts! BTW, everyday from about 9:30 til 11:30 they go to the animal enclosures for nutritional supplements, etc. and check-ups by the staff. So, if you are going to Boma for breakfast, make sure to arrive early to see the animals beforehand or you might be disappointed afterward and they are all gone for 2 hours.

We did eat at Boma for both dinner and breakfast. I LOVED the dinner! My kids(DD13, DS10), who are only mildly picky, enjoyed it as well. All I asked them was to try some new things and if they didn't like them, then they could revert to the old standby foods like mac 'n cheese. They liked many of the new dishes they tried--so did DH & I! Breakfast at Boma was a really good buffet, but nothing compared to dinner. If you have to choose only one, my recommendation would be dinner. It's crazy-busy, even at 5:00, but worth it!

DH & I ate at Jiko one night. THe kids opted to go to Mara and were very happy as our meal took over 2 hours! It was SUPER! I would go again in a heartbeat. We had our server bring us a glass of wine with every course and he was spot-on! They were delish! I should have written them down as I cannot even come close to remembering the names.

The only real disappointment was the pool. It was just ok. The slide was pretty lame, when it was open (and it often wasn't). The slide was supposed to close nightly at 8 but 2 times we were down there well before that and there were no lifeguards and, of course, no slide running--we weren't missing much, though. One afternoon we happened to be at the pool for game time and we had a blast. The lifeguard really made sure everyone had fun! One of the spas was great, the other I didn't like as much. Go to the one on the bar side of the pool instead of the one on the slide side.

My only regret was that we didn't spend as much time as planned just hanging out at the resort. When we were there, we pretty much went to the pool or lounged in the room watching animals. Never really made it to Arush Rock for all the goings-on there. We did stumble on the night-vision goggles, though and that was cool.

Whew--anybody bored with that report? If you have questions that I can answer, I'd be happy to do so. I will post photos as soon as I get thru them all!

Denise

 

[mom2aredhead]

Our last trip was in May, so sorry these took so long. I was just going thru pics to make a countdown calendar for our December trip when I found these pictures to share with you guys....I know how we all love pictures. Can;t wait to go back!!

Our giraffe friends that were there all week

The "people pen"

Looking out from the bridge

The lodge from the pool

Pool and slide

Flamingos

 

[mfamma]

Does anyone know if there is a website that posts the activities and their times for the kids during the day? I keep hearing about all the different activities they have going on during the day but never what the times of the activities are. They probably change too but just wondering for our trip
feb 29 thru Mar. 5. It will be our first time staying their and I would like to stay at the resort on Sat. if there are enough activities. Thanks

 

[WoodysRoundup]

mom2aredhead........GREAT pics. Thanks for posting them! Where is that "people pen"?

Also, does someone know.........Are there zebras and giraffe in the Arusha AND Uzima savannas????? I'd read somewhere that not all animals are in every savanna?

 

[kimmar067]

We'll be checking in about this time exactly 2 weeks from today!! I'm soooo excited!!

I realize that the safaris may all be booked already, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask...Just wondering, do we wait until we check in to see if they have room, or should we call ahead? And if so, who do we call - the resort directly? Thanks for your help!

Lori ~
I'd call ahead...if there aren't any availabilities, you can always try again once you arrive at AKL......

 

[DznyDreamz]

I have only been back for about 10 days and I am already longing to return!! These pictures are great to see on one hand, but make me homesick on the other!!

It seems we left a few items of clothing in our room so the Lost & Found Dept @ AKL called and told me they would send them to me no charge. I think thats really nice of them since its my own dumb fault for not clearing out the drawers ALL the way!! Just another example of the extra efforts they go to to make it the best possible resort in the whole wide world!! I am totally hooked.

 

[kimmar067]

mom2aredhead........GREAT pics. Thanks for posting them! Where is that "people pen"?

Also, does someone know.........Are there zebras and giraffe in the Arusha AND Uzima savannas????? I'd read somewhere that not all animals are in every savanna?

...that is correct - not all animals are on all savannahs....you cannot see giraffe if you are in the Giraffe Trail......

 

[kimmar067]

I have only been back for about 10 days and I am already longing to return!! These pictures are great to see on one hand, but make me homesick on the other!!

....hope that you'll share some of those pix with us.....

...It seems we left a few items of clothing in our room so the Lost & Found Dept @ AKL called and told me they would send them to me no charge. I think thats really nice of them since its my own dumb fault for not clearing out the drawers ALL the way!! Just another example of the extra efforts they go to to make it the best possible resort in the whole wide world!! I am totally hooked.

...the first time we stayed at AKL, my youngest DS left his Gameboy Advance in the closet confused3 why it was in THERE, I'll never know...)...mousekeeping found it and AKL shipped it to me free of charge also.....

 

[wendypooh]

Hey Everyone!!!!! Just dropping in to say "HI"!!! 3 months and 4 weeks till I go back "home"!!!!

Hey Kim - how are ya??