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

[PracPerfPatricia]

Dear Scoutsmom and Kimmar,

Thanks for your above responses.

I'm sure this have has been covered and probably beaten to death but do you think a car is necessary when staying at AKL?

We aren't planning on leaving the Disney property-but I do want to come back from the parks to the Lodge to take a relaxation break-is t his doable?

We only plan on really going out on 2 nights, once to the Boardwalk and once to dinner to the Wilderness Lodge.

DH looks at this as an opportunity not to have to drive and even though he denies it my driving makes him nervous...

but if it would make life easier we could rent a car for a week.

Has there every been a consensus reached on this issue?

Thanks,

Patricia

 

[scoutsmom99]

Patricia,

I would not think a car is nescessary. I always let Disney do the driving while I'm there. The busses run very freqently every 15-20 minutes and more often at park opening and closing time. At the theme parks they have bus dispatchers as well so if the AKL bus line is getting long they are great about getting a bus there to get people back to the resort. I always try to take a mid afternoon swim/relaxation break and I think staying on property with the busses is such an added bonus for this.

As far as travling to other areas depending what time you go at you can use AK (not sure about December hours, but Ak seems to close around 5-6pm)for a hub. Just take the AKL bus to AK get off the bus and get in line for the resort you want. Also as Kimmar suggested take a bus to MK and then use the boat launch to reach the WL. Remember you can always take a cab if you need to, but I would plan on leaving about an houto forty five minutes before your reservation at WL to ensure you get there on time.

Plus if for some reason you decide you need to rent a car once you are there it can be easily arranged. The Swan and Dolphin hotels have car rentals available and also you can rent cars nearby the Ticket and Tranporation Center (by the MK)...they will even pick you up at your resort with a small bus and bring you there to get your car.

 

[scoutsmom99]

Ok for all you AKL experts here, I have one question: We will be driving 550 miles to get to WDW, so we will have our truck. When we stayed at POR, we had about 130 miles of just park-to-park miles on the truck. We have a gas guzzler (Nissan Titan, Largest truck on the market), so will we be better off to take busses to and from AKL when we don't have ADR's, or just take the truck everywhere the whole time?

I agree with Plutospup and Wendypooh AKL has fabulous transportation! The best I have ever experienced!!

 

[wendypooh]

I just had to pop in to say - 3 more days to AKL! We leave at 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning!

3 more days ~~ you lucky thing!!! Have FUN!!!!!!!!!

 

[wendypooh]

Dear Scoutsmom and Kimmar,

Thanks for your above responses.

I'm sure this have has been covered and probably beaten to death but do you think a car is necessary when staying at AKL?

We aren't planning on leaving the Disney property-but I do want to come back from the parks to the Lodge to take a relaxation break-is t his doable?

We only plan on really going out on 2 nights, once to the Boardwalk and once to dinner to the Wilderness Lodge.

DH looks at this as an opportunity not to have to drive and even though he denies it my driving makes him nervous...

but if it would make life easier we could rent a car for a week.

Has there every been a consensus reached on this issue?

Thanks,

Patricia

Hi Patricia ~

I know this wasn't directed at me, but If I may............ like I posted earlier, once we arrive at our resort we never use our car again till we leave. We like using Disney transportation, it's really actually convenient and we've never had a problem with wait times, room, etc. AKL also does not share buses with other resorts, which makes it really nice and faster. I'd say, no need at all to rent a car!!! Plus, with the cost of gas........
Enjoy someone else having to deal with the traffic!!! Have a great time!!!

OH, I do agree with the other post about leaving about an hour early for any ADR's, you want to make sure you get there in ample time....... and if you are early, you can always explore a little bit!!!

 

[wendypooh]

Hi~

Booked a standard room for 5/31-6/7 for my buddy and I.

How are the standard rooms, the views, and how is the resort with complimentary upgrades. We don't expect anything more than what we booked and are confident we will have a blast. Having said that, we prefer to be in a room near the lobby and close to the bus area since we tend to partake in "spirits" at night at Pleasure Island and when doing the walk of shame, we would like it to be short hehe. Any sugestions for room location requests for a room located off the lobby area?

We were originally booked at our fav resort GF but we despise the long bus shared bus rides to any area not linked by the monorail. Can't stand the fact the we stood on the bus most everywhere we went from GF due to it being the last stop to/from everywhere.

We are excited to try a new resort and a new experience.

Thanks for any info on the standard rooms.

MILEMRKR63 ~ HI!! I have NO doubt you will love your new experience at AKL. It is a gorgeous resort, we fell in love with it!!! I suggest that if you haven't already done so...... Call and have them note on your reservation your request....... that you want to be near the lobby and bus stop. (I'd try for the 3rd floor which is lobby level, it's a pretty straight shot from the bus stop into the lobby, if your room is on this floor that might be good for you).

As for being upgraded, usually, from what I've read/ heard and happily experienced, AKL, does try to do this. However, with that said, your dates are for what I assume is a busier time frame, so, I wouldn't count on it....... again, it still does NOT hurt to ask if there are any complimentary upgrades when you check in. We went to AKL in Feb. and I had booked a standard view room, however, I also noted on my resv. that I MUST have a non-smoking room (for med. reasons) and I requested bunk beds...... (DS6) Anyway, at check in we were complimentary upgraded to a deluxe bunkbed savannah view room, NO I did not ask for it, but I was indeed prepared too!!! I have NO problem asking, what's the worst that can happen??? I only wanted to make sure, even if we did get the standard room, that it was not facing the parking lot! KWIM ~~ Anyway, IT was fantastic!!!

So, it does happen, just not sure how much it happens during a busier time. Good Luck!!! Have a Victoria Falls Mist for me!!!!
Here's some Pixie Dust for ya...........

 

[padisneylover]

I just had to pop in to say - 3 more days to AKL! We leave at 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning!

Have a great trip and save some food for me

 

[padisneylover]

Hi Patricia,
This wasn't directed to me either but since we are all friends here I will chime in anyhow.
After 4 stays and 5 coming up real shortly I can say we have never used a car and haven't ever felt the need to. We have been there both busy and slow times and found the bus transportation to be great. This time will be different for us since DH will be using an ECV but hopefully that won't change things. We did diner at the Boardwalk area once and also the Wildnerness Lodge. What I did was make sure when I made my PS for each I looked at the park hours for the closest and planned them around that. For instance I planned our night at WL for a night that MK was EH and that way I could take the bus to the MK and hop on the boat to WL and enjoy a nice relaxing diner, take the boat back and hop on the bus back to AKL. I did the same with our reservation at the Beach Club. I took the boat from MGM to the Beach Club and back then hoped the bus from MGM back to AKL. I did allow an hour and half from AK to the diner and had more than ample time in fact we were very early for both diners and were luck to get in. Also, we found taking the boats a nice change and also allowed us to see some different sights.
Kathe

 

[kimmar067]

Okay guys, don't get your panties in a dither...just trying the ticker out for size.....[sooo, whatdja think??!?!? ]

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[kimmar067]

Hi Patricia,
This wasn't directed to me either but since we are all friends here I will chime in anyhow.
After 4 stays and 5 coming up real shortly I can say we have never used a car and haven't ever felt the need to. We have been there both busy and slow times and found the bus transportation to be great. This time will be different for us since DH will be using an ECV but hopefully that won't change things. We did diner at the Boardwalk area once and also the Wildnerness Lodge. What I did was make sure when I made my PS for each I looked at the park hours for the closest and planned them around that. For instance I planned our night at WL for a night that MK was EH and that way I could take the bus to the MK and hop on the boat to WL and enjoy a nice relaxing diner, take the boat back and hop on the bus back to AKL. I did the same with our reservation at the Beach Club. I took the boat from MGM to the Beach Club and back then hoped the bus from MGM back to AKL. I did allow an hour and half from AK to the diner and had more than ample time in fact we were very early for both diners and were luck to get in. Also, we found taking the boats a nice change and also allowed us to see some different sights.
Kathe

....yeah , what SHE said !

 

[Viki]

Okay guys, don't get your panties in a dither...just trying the ticker out for size.....[sooo, whatdja think??!?!? ]

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Very, Very handsome!!!

 

[kimmar067]

Very, Very handsome!!!

.... ....kinda hoping it'll bring me good luck.....

 

[scoutsmom99]

Okay guys, don't get your panties in a dither...just trying the ticker out for size.....[sooo, whatdja think??!?!? ]

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It is gorgeous Kimmar!!! Here is some additional PD for you

 

[tinknme]

I want one!

Okay guys, don't get your panties in a dither...just trying the ticker out for size.....[sooo, whatdja think??!?!? ]

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[Nancyg56]

Okay guys, don't get your panties in a dither...just trying the ticker out for size.....[sooo, whatdja think??!?!? ]

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I like it a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

I just had to pop in to say - 3 more days to AKL! We leave at 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning!

I am sooooooo jealous! I loved AKL. Have a magical trip and take lots of pics!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my transportation question-the more the merrier-I always appreciate all the info/help I can get!

I keep checking this AKL lodge thread and I've gone back and read up to about page 50-there is an amazing amount of great info-you know stuff you can't get from guidebooks-no matter how well done they are.

This thread is responsible for us choosing the AKL (I had to convince my husband and daughter to try something different-they love the WL, as do I.

The photos and great info on this thread made it possible for me to do it!
And now everyone is Psyched! (even my 3 1/2 year old who will be 4 by the time we go in December-but I don't dare tell him we're definately going (although he gets sometime is up!) or he'll be packing!

Oh dear, December does seem such a long time away.....

A big thanks for everyone's help

Patricia

 

[kimmar067]

I want one!

...go to Tickertag.com.....

 

[kimmar067]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my transportation question-the more the merrier-I always appreciate all the info/help I can get!

...you are quite welcome!:thumbsup:

...I keep checking this AKL lodge thread and I've gone back and read up to about page 50-there is an amazing amount of great info-you know stuff you can't get from guidebooks-no matter how well done they are.

....that's because you are getting the info 'straight from the horse's mouth', so to speak....

...This thread is responsible for us choosing the AKL (I had to convince my husband and daughter to try something different-they love the WL, as do I.

The photos and great info on this thread made it possible for me to do it!
And now everyone is Psyched! (even my 3 1/2 year old who will be 4 by the time we go in December-but I don't dare tell him we're definately going (although he gets sometime is up!) or he'll be packing!

Oh dear, December does seem such a long time away.....

A big thanks for everyone's help

Patricia

...now you need to get a countdown thingie.....

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I just made a ticker tag (it was very exciting) but when I tried to post it to a message I got a message saying I haven't posted enough messages to upload URLs?


I want one......................

Has anyone seen a message like this before?

Patricia