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

[Tig-girl]

I just ordered penguin flannel sheets, and I've got 20 years on your son! My family still owns a farm in Fogelsville that I78 runs thru (used to be route 22 and old 22 runs in front of the house). My grandmother (nana) still has a house in Allentown. My grandfather (pappy) retired from Mack Truck, and I have family in Northampton and Reading. How small is that world!

Wow! Well, then there is a chance that you've heard of a small town up north, near Jim Thorpe, called Summit Hill? I drive into Bethlehem to work.
So you'll be arriving two days after us with two girls.....don't know that would be too easy to spot as Dizdrms and her little red haired angel, but if you see a party of 8 lollygagging around, that's me and my family!

 

[Tig-girl]

I hope you are right. All I want is to sit on my balcony and have room service breakfast while I watch the giraffes. I LOVE giraffes so they were the prime reason we booked AKL. I suspect Disney has ways of getting the construction done without disturbing the magic their guests expect. Cheers to almost 22 days!!

I'm sure you will see plenty of giraffes from your balcony. We were on the Kudu trail and really loved seeing the animals, got some great pics. It was very cool to get up in the middle of the night, and see them too because we thought they went in at night. My DS is very disappointed that we don't have a savannah view this time, but hey, I did the best I could do! Anyway, you will love it....it's the best.

 

[amcjeep4life]

Oh, I've heard of Jim Thorpe!, Summit Hill rings a bell too. I want to join your party! I know I get there a few days leter, but save me some Zebra Domes and a chair by the pool! I'll be the pooh-sized red head with glasses and a ponytail, my DH is pooh-sized, with black hair in a ponytail and a goatee. I'll be burning to a crisp the minute I land in FLA. My nieces are 10 and 12, and will be driving me crazy. First trip for all of us, and the are going bonky now. I'm skeered about what they'll be like the night before! Can't wait to see you all there! You will have your LGMHs, right? I even made a little banner that says "The DIS Rocks!" out of the little buggers that we are going to put on the door. My nieces are also coloring some fuzzy posters for the door. We'll be on the 4th floor (concierge) so come visit!

 

[DznyDreamz]

I'm sure you will see plenty of giraffes from your balcony. We were on the Kudu trail and really loved seeing the animals, got some great pics. It was very cool to get up in the middle of the night, and see them too because we thought they went in at night. My DS is very disappointed that we don't have a savannah view this time, but hey, I did the best I could do! Anyway, you will love it....it's the best.

This is my first stay there so I am really looking forward to it!! I hope to see lots of different wildlife. What a great opportunity for us to experience. Perhaps with so many people jumping ship and moving to other resorts, they will have more savannah rooms available to upgrade you into?

 

[kimmar067]

.... UGH! Tig-girl, DznyDreamz, and amcjeep4life ~
Cut it out...I'm startin' to get CAVITIES!!!!




















[ JK - see??!?!? ]

 

[kimmar067]

...but seriously, I truly hope that the three of you are able to get together at some point of your vaca and snap some pix WITH ZEBRA DOMES!!!!

 

[DznyDreamz]

We are not planning to eat at the resort at all. I had both Boma and Jiko ADR's, but ended up canceling them. Just a little too much for our tastes. If it was a 1TS meal I would give it a shot, but....

 

[amcjeep4life]

We have Boma ADRs for breakfast on the 19th and dinner on the 20th. I'll eat all the zebra domes for you kimmar! And you're just jealous! Only 24 days here, and 22 for the other girls!

 

[Flossbolna]

We are not planning to eat at the resort at all. I had both Boma and Jiko ADR's, but ended up canceling them. Just a little too much for our tastes. If it was a 1TS meal I would give it a shot, but....

I am not sure whether I understand you correctly, but it seems that you think that using two TS credits on the DDP for a meal is to much for you. Actually Boma is not a signature restaurant, you could eat there for one TS credit per person.

 

[pilferk]

Now I'm wondering where the information is coming from when I called! I spoke with a lovely CM who told me that there was NO construction on Giraffe or Ostrich trails. She also told me that Zebra had been completely finished already, hence the opening of the DVC rooms there, and they were working on the Kudu Trail now, and that would be ongoing for months. It's getting so that I don't know what to believe!

What you outline, above, was the ORIGINAL plan: First Zebra (which IS pretty much done...I think they're just tweaking and stuff at this point..but the official date for about 3/4 of those rooms is Sept 1) trail, then Kudo, then the lobby and Giraffe/Ostrich trails (which contain the concierge and value inventory).

At some point, DVC decided to change that timetable, and do the lobby rooms and Giraffe and Ostrich trail FIRST, then do Kudo trail. We (DVC owners) found out about that in June....as it changed the date the value and concierge rooms would be "bookable" from May of '08 to Dec of '07.

The timetable we're getting now is STILL that Concierge and value will be ready in early december, but Kudo will be complete by the end of January (not May). I'd think that means they're ahead on the concierge/value conversions, too....but that's just my assumption. Maybe they're just bringing in more crews to work concurrently. I do know that, as of 8 days ago (when someone I know was actually THERE) they hadn't touched Kudo trail yet.

 

[pilferk]

That really is funny! I am coming from CT. Do you arrive on the 14th?? I've lost track of the actual # of days until we arrive, but it sure still feels like too long to wait!!! Who will you be traveling with? I've got my DH and DD6 who I will be taking out of her third week of 1st grade. Depending on who you ask, I'm either the most irresponsible mother or "the best mommy in the whole wide world"!!!

I'm from CT too!

Hey, when you get back, can you let me know if the construction at Bradley is still making the place a mess?

 

[amcjeep4life]

Hey pilferk, we are heading home on the 22nd of September. We are flying out of Bradley, so I will definitely let you know how things are going up there. Where in CT are you from? We are actually staying overnight at a Comfort inn (I think). They then hold our vehicle for the week we are gone, and shuttle us back and forth to the airport. And it's less than $100, which saves me the almost 2 hour drive before we leave! And it's like $70 to park for the week, so it makes it worth it to me!

 

[DznyDreamz]

I am not sure whether I understand you correctly, but it seems that you think that using two TS credits on the DDP for a meal is to much for you. Actually Boma is not a signature restaurant, you could eat there for one TS credit per person.

Sorry for the confusion, I was referring to Jiko. We may try to hit Boma, but that would be a last minute type deal if it works out.

 

[DznyDreamz]

We are doing the same type thing, but staying at the Sheraton at the airport. It makes it easier not to have to get up at 4am!!!

 

[wvdislover]

Add me to the "bad" mommy club...I'm surprising my DD's 10 and 6 and taking them out of school for 6 days (we'll be there 9/6-16). Teachers seem fine with it, so far.

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

DW and I are spending the night before our cruise at AKL. We opted for the Savannah view this time. I read that the construction was bothering the animals, so they weren't out as much. Have they returned? We're so looking forward to just spending the day at AKL enjoying it.

Thanks,
Sean

 

[kimmar067]

We are not planning to eat at the resort at all. I had both Boma and Jiko ADR's, but ended up canceling them. Just a little too much for our tastes. If it was a 1TS meal I would give it a shot, but....

....Boma IS a 1TS meal......

EDIT:
[Oooops, sorry, didn't read the other posts....]

 

[pilferk]

Hey pilferk, we are heading home on the 22nd of September. We are flying out of Bradley, so I will definitely let you know how things are going up there. Where in CT are you from? We are actually staying overnight at a Comfort inn (I think). They then hold our vehicle for the week we are gone, and shuttle us back and forth to the airport. And it's less than $100, which saves me the almost 2 hour drive before we leave! And it's like $70 to park for the week, so it makes it worth it to me!

Live in the NW corner (about 40 min from Bradley, in the middle of nowhere), work in the SW corner (New Haven).

When we fly, we either stay at the Sheraton (they'll hold your car, too...free) or use Ron Cari (I'm sure I'm butchering the spelling) long term parking.

Next trip, in January, we're taking our daughter out of kindergarten and driving down. I do have to fly to Chicago, though, in early October, for business. That's why I'm wondering what state Bradley is in. Last time it was a mess...

Hope you all have great trips....I EXPECT pics! Need something to hold me over til January.

 

[pilferk]

....Boma IS a 1TS meal......

EDIT:
[Oooops, sorry, didn't read the other posts....]

Just to chime in...

I love me some Boma's, too. Best buffet, EVER, IMHO.

Jiko's is the 2nd best restaurant on property, IMHO....2nd only to Victoria and Alberts. If ANY meal is worth 2TS, it's Jikos.

 

[kimmar067]

Just to chime in...

I love me some Boma's, too. Best buffet, EVER, IMHO.

Jiko's is the 2nd best restaurant on property, IMHO....2nd only to Victoria and Alberts. If ANY meal is worth 2TS, it's Jikos.

....not to mention the terrific African wines they serve.....