Just back from our 1st and last trip to the AKL. We enjoyed our stay but the whole family agrees that AKL is just not for us. We are glad we tried it, but we are more of a Beach Club or Poly kinda family.
Things we enjoyed at AKL:
1. The AKL buses only make stops at the AKL, no sharing with other resorts
2. We never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a bus
3. The valets were wonderful and extremely fast when retrieving our car.
4. The animals were wonderful to look at and watch.
5. Really enjoyed the juice served with breakfast at Boma. Very good!
6. The resort was excellently themed!!!
Things we did not like at AKL:
1. We booked a standard savannah view room. I had specifically requested a NON-smoking room and if possible bunk beds. We checked in at 8pm. The front desk CM wasn't wearing her "Disney Smile" She quickly checked us in and gave us our keys. Before we were dismissed from the front desk I inquired about the room we were given. The CM said that our room is NON-smoking but no bunk beds are available. Slightly dissapointed about no bunk beds but that's the luck of the draw. We went to our room which was on the extreme far right side of the horseshoe. We were surprised to find a SMOKING room. Back down to the lobby to get our room changed to a Non-smoking room. Our new non smoking room was on the extreme far left side of the horseshoe.
2. My family is fairly physically fit, but the walk to the room is WAY too long. Because of the savannahs which is really cool to look at, there aren't any shortcuts anywhere like at the other disney resorts.
3. The food at Mara was not very good and their system for preparing food in a timely matter needs work. We spent way too much time in line there.
4. The pool was too cold for me to enjoy swimming in. A few of the other AKL guests whom I chatted with also felt the same. I also don't like swimming in green water. My kids still had great fun in the pool and I enjoyed watching them swim.
5. Did laundry one evening. The laundry room was the only place that wasn't too far from our room. The change machine was out of change in the laundry room. Had to walk all the way back to the lobby to get change.
(ShhhhT Don't tell my DH, tho'.... 
)
to all the new AKL fans. You will all love the resort it is the best.
I am soooooooo excited I can't wait! I did push our dates back 1 day which did save me $300 so that's something right YAY!
(actually, MY favorite dessert at Boma is Coconut Tiramisu.... 
!)
Just suprise him with the fact that he won't have to move and once he sees how peacful the AKL is and the beauty of it he won't mind a bit if he is like my DH 
awww, shucks! As far as the upgrade, well, the AKL speaks for itself!
