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

[RachelTori]

Sure are! We'll be there for 11 days--12/19 - 12/29. The wait is killing me!

WOW - REALLY lucky you!! We spent last Christmas Eve & Day there and it was AWESOME! The program they have on Christmas Eve is so beautiful - the CM's singing holiday songs from their countries - and a couple of American favorites! - and sharing some of their customs (plus Santa and the Characters ). You will have a blessed holiday indeed!

 

[vmickey]

Sure are! We'll be there for 11 days--12/19 - 12/29. The wait is killing me!

We will be there 12/22 - 12/27! Can't wait either!

 

[onehotdisneymama]

I am just loving the information that I am getting from everyone here. Please keep it up. We are leaving for AKL in Dec. 13-16, this will be our first visit to this resort. Have stayed at several of the other resorts, but we are really looking forward to AKL.

 

[lilyv]

I think I've caught AKL fever! Started with, I think we'll book pool view...then I
ran the #'s and realized I could budget 1/2 our stay concierge. So we're booked 1/2 and 1/2. Know DH will really love the Savanna view!!! Love this thread-I learn so much from it.

 

[ugadog99]

Sure are! We'll be there for 11 days--12/19 - 12/29. The wait is killing me!

You will love AKL at Christmas. We were there last Christmas and will be back this year. Our dates are December 19-28. We can't wait!!

 

[kimmar067]

Subscribing. I'm headed to the AKL for Christmas this year!

... hey, mebbe I'll see you....

 

[kimmar067]

I think I've caught AKL fever!....I Love this thread-I learn so much from it.

...we aim to please.....

 

[ADP]

I'll be there for 10 days starting 10/19. We are very excited. We just love the resort. I take plenty of pictures and post them when we get back.

 

[kimmar067]

Katie (or should I say disneydance? ) posted this:

..thanks Katie!

 

[kimmar067]

I'll be there for 10 days starting 10/19. We are very excited. We just love the resort. I take plenty of pictures and post them when we get back.

...thanks - have fun!

 

[glennsgirl762]

They MIGHT be able to squeeze into the bunkbeds, but they're not going to be, IMHO, very comfortable.

I'm 6ft 3-ish. While I could lay on the bunkbed, I had to curl up my legs a bit because the footboard on the bunks were just a bit too "short". I'd suspect they're going to run into the same problem. And you can't (especially on the top bunk) really do "kitty corner" to stretch your legs out.

I was just "experimenting" when I tried them out...but my "take" was that I wouldn't have wanted to sleep in them long term.

Thanks for the info. We'll take the room with the 2 queen beds.

 

[jaycns]

Some pictures from the concierge lounge:

The boys enjoying some of the games that the concierge members would have set out (or would happily bring out upon request).

And (not great photos sorry) the stunning view looking down into the lobby below.

In the Sunset Lounge at a bead activity:

The indoor firepit:

I REALLY miss AKL! I wish I was back there right now. More photos to follow in the next day or so.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Great pics, Jacyns! Thanks for sharing!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Just got back from the Poly and eventhough we liked the Poly we'd like to try AKL next time. We would have 5 in our party (Me, DH, DD4,DD7 & DD10 - ages upon travel) and I've tried to get a quote for 5 of us on Disney website and it keeps saying party size too large. Can 5 stay at AKL? I thought there were Deluxe rooms for larger parties? We wouldn't go until 2 years from now so I know I can't book I'm just doing a little dreaming ! Anybody know 2008 rates for the Deluxe rooms?

Also - how easy or difficult is it to get to ADRs from AKL? I know some people complain about the distance to the other parks, etc. Do you rent a car or just schedule bussing into the schedule? Even at the Poly we'd schedule ADRs especially those restaurants in the parks while we were visiting that particular park. Probably do the same strategy. Thanks for any info.

 

[PolyAddict]

Just got back from the Poly and eventhough we liked the Poly we'd like to try AKL next time. We would have 5 in our party (Me, DH, DD4,DD7 & DD10 - ages upon travel) and I've tried to get a quote for 5 of us on Disney website and it keeps saying party size too large. Can 5 stay at AKL? I thought there were Deluxe rooms for larger parties? We wouldn't go until 2 years from now so I know I can't book I'm just doing a little dreaming ! Anybody know 2008 rates for the Deluxe rooms?

Also - how easy or difficult is it to get to ADRs from AKL? I know some people complain about the distance to the other parks, etc. Do you rent a car or just schedule bussing into the schedule? Even at the Poly we'd schedule ADRs especially those restaurants in the parks while we were visiting that particular park. Probably do the same strategy. Thanks for any info.

Unfortunately, there are no more deluxe rooms at AKL. I tried this resort June 2007 with only 4 of us and fell madly in love and we are huge monorail resort fans. The busses were fantastic and empty on most rides. I am very dissapointed that on a full family vacation we cannot stay without 2 rooms, which is more than our fave the Poly. I think it's $265 for a standard during reg. season 2008 and Poly is $399. Also, I believe a 1 bedroom villa is $480 which will accomodate 5. That is a little less than 2 rooms but much more than one at the Poly. I have contacted WDW several times with my complaint about not being able to enjoy such great resort without the huge expense.

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Unfortunately, there are no more deluxe rooms at AKL. I tried this resort June 2007 with only 4 of us and fell madly in love and we are huge monorail resort fans. The busses were fantastic and empty on most rides. I am very dissapointed that on a full family vacation we cannot stay without 2 rooms, which is more than our fave the Poly. I think it's $265 for a standard during reg. season 2008 and Poly is $399. Also, I believe a 1 bedroom villa is $480 which will accomodate 5. That is a little less than 2 rooms but much more than one at the Poly. I have contacted WDW several times with my complaint about not being able to enjoy such great resort without the huge expense.

I did not know this - wow thats really too bad! That rules out a lot of families of 5 staying at the AKL unless they want to spend $480 a night. Thats ridiculous. We really wanted to try AKL. Oh well - I'll start researching somewhere else to stay. I'm thinking of scheduling a split stay so we can still enjoy the Poly but also try a new resort. Thanks for the info I do appreciate it.

 

[PolyAddict]

I did not know this - wow thats really too bad! That rules out a lot of families of 5 staying at the AKL unless they want to spend $480 a night. Thats ridiculous. We really wanted to try AKL. Oh well - I'll start researching somewhere else to stay. I'm thinking of scheduling a split stay so we can still enjoy the Poly but also try a new resort. Thanks for the info I do appreciate it.

No problem, I just wish it were better news.

 

[Flossbolna]

I did not know this - wow thats really too bad! That rules out a lot of families of 5 staying at the AKL unless they want to spend $480 a night. Thats ridiculous. We really wanted to try AKL. Oh well - I'll start researching somewhere else to stay. I'm thinking of scheduling a split stay so we can still enjoy the Poly but also try a new resort. Thanks for the info I do appreciate it.

I think a split stay might be a good idea! The one-bedroom villas are really beutiful, so they might be really worth a try. So in case you and up at AKL anyway, I wanted to answer your question about ADRs. As someone else mentioned, AKL really has very good bus service, so having to take the bus is not as bad as it sounds. First of all I would recommend if you stay at AKL to try Boma and possibly Jiko, which is a signature restaurant. So you would already be covered for two nights With regards to meals elsewhere, our strategy was to combine meals with the park we wanted to visit. This works not only for the restaurants in the parks, but those close by. For example on the day we would spend the evening at the MK you could plan an early dinner at one of the resorts close by. Or if you would visit during a time of the year when parks close early, go to directly from the park to where you want to eat. Another tip: for the way back, plan your meals so that you can transfer at a park. Having to go through Downtown Disney is a hassle. Or take a taxi, we took one from the Contemporary to AKL and it was 20 $. Not cheap, but fast!!

 

[PolyAddict]

I think a split stay might be a good idea! The one-bedroom villas are really beutiful, so they might be really worth a try. So in case you and up at AKL anyway, I wanted to answer your question about ADRs. As someone else mentioned, AKL really has very good bus service, so having to take the bus is not as bad as it sounds. First of all I would recommend if you stay at AKL to try Boma and possibly Jiko, which is a signature restaurant. So you would already be covered for two nights With regards to meals elsewhere, our strategy was to combine meals with the park we wanted to visit. This works not only for the restaurants in the parks, but those close by. For example on the day we would spend the evening at the MK you could plan an early dinner at one of the resorts close by. Or if you would visit during a time of the year when parks close early, go to directly from the park to where you want to eat. Another tip: for the way back, plan your meals so that you can transfer at a park. Having to go through Downtown Disney is a hassle. Or take a taxi, we took one from the Contemporary to AKL and it was 20 $. Not cheap, but fast!!

Excellent advice about the adr's, that's pretty much what we did. A split stay is an excellent idea and I have considered that option. My plan is to wait and see if any codes come out for our time frame and go from there. I booked 2 rooms at POP with AAA rate some time ago and am paying it off over time so that I can hopefully upgrade at some point without having to break the bank. I am not thrilled with the idea of a split stay with 5 people but it could happen.

 

[tinkermamaof2]

We've just booked a savannah view room, Feb4-12. Is there a specific savannah view area that I should request to be placed in? Maybe one area has more animals in it than another. If so, when should I call with the request. Any info. would be greatly appreciated as the savannah view is a surprise for our daughters and I'm hoping to not be dissapointed by the view, I have read about some dissapointing views and I'm hoping not to experience that.
Thanks for any info
Patti