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

[mickeymyfavorite]

THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

[honeybee30]

We just got back from our best trip ever ~ 10/19-10/28. This was our first stay at AKL, and we loved every moment of it! We enjoyed it so much that we often left the parks just to hang out at the resort. It really made for a relaxing vacation, something I didn't think possible at WDW!

The room was very nice. A real step up from the Moderates, IMHO. We may have been spoiled forever! The bed was super comfortable, with nice, soft linens. We were on the Uzima Savannah, and it was so much fun to watch the giraffes. I miss them already!

All of the Cast Members we encountered were exceedingly friendly and accomodating. Boma & Jiko were both wonderful as always. Try the breakfast buffet at Boma - it's great! We never stepped foot in Mara (fine by me - I'm not a fan of the food court...) and we didn't use the pool either, but they both looked fine.

The buses were the best we've ever experienced at any resort. I didn't find the travel times to be any longer than anywhere else we've stayed on property.

As for the dreaded construction....we never saw or heard a thing that even suggested construction aside from the black drapes on the top 2 floors, but the lobby is so gorgeous I never paid them any attention.

I'll post some pictures as soon as I add them to Photobucket. I'm sad that our October trip is over , but I'm excited to begin planning our next trip for March of '08!

 

[Flossbolna]

Honeybee30, I totally agree, that's just like we felt after our trip in February! Looking forward to these pictures

 

[John's Mom]

Flossbolna - Did you do a report on your Paris trip? If so, I would love to read it.

Kathy

 

[Flossbolna]

Flossbolna - Did you do a report on your Paris trip? If so, I would love to read it.

Kathy

No, not yet, but by the number of requests I am getting for it, I might still do one I will let you know once I started it!

 

[kimmar067]

We just got back from our best trip ever ~ 10/19-10/28. This was our first stay at AKL, and we loved every moment of it! We enjoyed it so much that we often left the parks just to hang out at the resort. It really made for a relaxing vacation, something I didn't think possible at WDW!

The room was very nice. A real step up from the Moderates, IMHO. We may have been spoiled forever! The bed was super comfortable, with nice, soft linens. We were on the Uzima Savannah, and it was so much fun to watch the giraffes. I miss them already!

All of the Cast Members we encountered were exceedingly friendly and accomodating. Boma & Jiko were both wonderful as always. Try the breakfast buffet at Boma - it's great! We never stepped foot in Mara (fine by me - I'm not a fan of the food court...) and we didn't use the pool either, but they both looked fine.

The buses were the best we've ever experienced at any resort. I didn't find the travel times to be any longer than anywhere else we've stayed on property.

As for the dreaded construction....we never saw or heard a thing that even suggested construction aside from the black drapes on the top 2 floors, but the lobby is so gorgeous I never paid them any attention.

I'll post some pictures as soon as I add them to Photobucket. I'm sad that our October trip is over , but I'm excited to begin planning our next trip for March of '08!

...I certainly know the feeling of 'being spoiled'.....waiting for those pix....

 

[TKDisneylover]

We just got back from our best trip ever ~ 10/19-10/28. This was our first stay at AKL, and we loved every moment of it! We enjoyed it so much that we often left the parks just to hang out at the resort. It really made for a relaxing vacation, something I didn't think possible at WDW!

The room was very nice. A real step up from the Moderates, IMHO. We may have been spoiled forever! The bed was super comfortable, with nice, soft linens. We were on the Uzima Savannah, and it was so much fun to watch the giraffes. I miss them already!

All of the Cast Members we encountered were exceedingly friendly and accomodating. Boma & Jiko were both wonderful as always. Try the breakfast buffet at Boma - it's great! We never stepped foot in Mara (fine by me - I'm not a fan of the food court...) and we didn't use the pool either, but they both looked fine.

The buses were the best we've ever experienced at any resort. I didn't find the travel times to be any longer than anywhere else we've stayed on property.

As for the dreaded construction....we never saw or heard a thing that even suggested construction aside from the black drapes on the top 2 floors, but the lobby is so gorgeous I never paid them any attention.

I'll post some pictures as soon as I add them to Photobucket. I'm sad that our October trip is over , but I'm excited to begin planning our next trip for March of '08!

Thanks for the mini trip report. We're getting very excited about going, 30 more days to go! Whoo Hoo!

 

[kimmar067]

...off-topic, but:

 

[DisneyBride'03]

but......???????



Hey, thanks for posting a pic of the activity board! We had to cancel AKV COncierge....well, dont feel badly for me, we are going on a cruise now with our extra pts...lol...BUT we are going to stay at AKV/AKL the day we get back...we are staying at the resort the entire time, we will stretch it out to almost (2) days..lol...we got a 1 bdr, SV...with the sleeper chair! Yeah..works out with DS14 and DD11!!

 

[ugadog99]

WOO HOO....final payment made just 15 minutes ago!!! I was one of those very lucky enough to grab that 40% off code. We are staying savannah view this time! It's a first in a savannah view and the first time ever for my mom at AKL. We can't wait!!!!!

 

[pilferk]

So, the luggage comes up this Saturday (exactly 2 month from our departure day) for the packing to being.

We've got a bunch of "stuff" that's trip specific that's in a pile in the corner of our bed room (a NEAT pile, but a pile all the same). We also figure better to pack the short sleeves, shorts, etc than to stow them away for 6 weeks and then have to break them out AGAIN to pack some of them.



Don't you love the way those of us that are "planning obsessed" justify things like this?

 

[kimmar067]

but......???????

...it was a Halloween clip-art.... oh well....

...Hey, thanks for posting a pic of the activity board! We had to cancel AKV COncierge....well, dont feel badly for me, we are going on a cruise now with our extra pts...lol...BUT we are going to stay at AKV/AKL the day we get back...we are staying at the resort the entire time, we will stretch it out to almost (2) days..lol...we got a 1 bdr, SV...with the sleeper chair! Yeah..works out with DS14 and DD11!!

.....great! If you look really close, you can see some of the beads that you can earn when you join in on some of the specific activities....

 

[kimmar067]

WOO HOO....final payment made just 15 minutes ago!!! I was one of those very lucky enough to grab that 40% off code. We are staying savannah view this time! It's a first in a savannah view and the first time ever for my mom at AKL. We can't wait!!!!!

....awesome! YIKES, a "40% off" code??!?!?

 

[RachelTori]

...off-topic, but:

kimmar - you're toying with us!

I know you posted an image -- I wonder where it went?!

WOO HOO....final payment made just 15 minutes ago!!! I was one of those very lucky enough to grab that 40% off code. We are staying savannah view this time! It's a first in a savannah view and the first time ever for my mom at AKL. We can't wait!!!!!

I just wanted to say I'm very excited for you and your family! I just got back from WDW last night and although we didn't stay at AKL this trip, we did stop by! It's as beautiful and tranquil as ever. AKL is where my family spent last Christmas and we couldn't have had a more beautiful holiday. The black drapes are still up on the 5th & 6th floor lobby rooms, but it's all coming down by December 2nd!

 

[kimmar067]

kimmar - you're toying with us!

I know you posted an image -- I wonder where it went?!

.....copy and paste the X in your address bar...press "Enter" and it should appear....

 

[ugadog99]

It was that "infamous code" that some received pins for and others could book without the pin. I was just really fortunate that it worked out for us. While we love AKL, I have never been able to swing the savannah view. With this code, I was able to do it easily. We spent last Christmas at AKL and will be there again this year.

 

[DisneyBaby2004]

Hello all,

Does anyone have an actual list they can share (with times) of the activities offered at the lodge?

Thanks!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hello all,

Does anyone have an actual list they can share (with times) of the activities offered at the lodge?

Thanks!!!

Hi, I was actually wondering the same and did a search here on the boards. The newest list I came up with is the following:

Updated AKL Activities as of Septmeber 9, 2006

-Horticulture Activity 9:00am Every Wednesday Arusha Rock
-Flamingo Activity Everyday 9:30am Flamingo Pond *Bead Activity
-Animal Tracking 11:00-1:30pm Everyday Arusha Rock * Bead Activity
-Arts and Crafts with Lifeguards 12:00pm Every Day Uzima Pool Deck
-Medallion Rubbing 12:30pm Everyday Lobby
-Cooking Decorating 1:00pm Everyday BOMA
-Garden Safari 2:00pm-4:30pm Everyday Flamingo Pond *Bead Activity
-Spirit of Africa Art Tour 2:30pm Everyday Ogun's Firepit
-African Games or Crafts 3:00pm Everyday Uzima Pool Deck
-Culinary Tour of Africa 4:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. 3:45pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Jiko Podium.
-Family Fun and Games 4:00pm and 6:00pm Everyday Contact Lifeguard for location
-Music of the Savannah 5:00pm Everyday Sunset Lounge *Bead Activity
-Wildlife Games 6:30pm Everydat Sunset Lounge *Bead Activity
-African Folktales 7:30pm Everyday Arusha Rock Firepit
-Primal Parade 7:50pm Everyday Zawadi Marketplace
-Cultural Safari 8:30pm Everyday Sunset Lounge
-Animal Viewing with Nightvision 9:00pm-11:00pm Uzima Savannah Overlook


However, if I remember correctly, the start times of some activities vary with sunset (especially the story telling).

I did only the culinary tour last time and liked it, even though it was not the normal tour, and I am planning on going on the Cultural Safari and perhaps the Spirit of Africa Art Tour.

ETA: And with this post I finally became a DIS Veteran!! I wonder whether I will ever manage to become a member of the Jambo Wildbunch Gang...

 

[DisneyBride'03]

WOW! I am so excited about our upcoming time at AKL/AKV..especially seeing all those activities!! We will really be able to enjoy the resort!!!

flossbolna! Congrats Dis Vet!!!

 

[kimmar067]

It was that "infamous code" that some received pins for and others could book without the pin. I was just really fortunate that it worked out for us. While we love AKL, I have never been able to swing the savannah view. With this code, I was able to do it easily. We spent last Christmas at AKL and will be there again this year.

...well, mad props to you.....