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

[Cindie-rella]

I am getting just way too excited now! All these great pics, that little video about AKL I just can't wait!

I really want to request a room with a great view of alot of animals.(Like everyone doesn't want one of those rooms ). But really, I want this trip to be really special for my DH and I read some other posts that said they had tree's in there way, or all they seen were some birds or hardly any animals at all. I've read that they put giraffe feeding stations in some trees right off some of the balconies (which I would really like), but would that mean that if these trees are that close to your balcony will they be blocking your view of the other animals? I had thought I made my mind up to request Uzima on the Zebra Trail...I imagine that is a big area, is there a certain section of this trail that is better than the rest? I think I would rather be on a lower floor b/c you'd be closer to the animals. Have any of you ever stayed on the 2nd level? I'm thinking the 3rd fl. might be best but I'd just like some of your opinions.I know I'm probably being a pain with these questions, but I need to have some sort of idea I'm just getting so excited it's getting hard for me to sleep at nights! This is like a vacation before the vacation, it takes me away from all the daily problems b/c all I think about is AKL & WDW !
Thanks in advance

 

[kimmar067]

AKL lovers:

 

[disneytraveler]

Ohh i will be there this summer!

 

[kimmar067]

Here are a few animal pics from my trips

Flamingo:

Uzima:

Uzima (this guy was always roaming near my balcony):

Thanaks again for sharing!

 

[purpliequeen]

Hi all!

My name is Raina and I am seventeen years old. I am new to this thread and just wanted to thank everyone for the pictures and information on AKL. My family recently became DVC members this past year and we went to WDW in Dec 05 for the first time staying in Saratoga Springs Resort. We have been to WDW previously before- when I was 3 and 9, so it was nice to be back and see all the changes.

I just wanted to share my excitment~ we just booked an August trip at the AKL's Kilamanjaro Club!!!! It's a "family bonding" vacation since I go to a ballet boarding school in Philadelphia and my family doesn't get to spend a lot of time together. We are planning to stay and enjoy the resort quite a bit instead of going to the parks- take in the last of summer before school starts.

In December we ate at Boma- which we LOVED Seeing the lobby during Christmas time and being able to see the animals at night made us fall in love with this resort. I am counting down the days and hoping that we won't be disappointed. Thanks again for such a helpful thread!

Raina

 

[kimmar067]

Hi all!

My name is Raina and I am seventeen years old. I am new to this thread and just wanted to thank everyone for the pictures and information on AKL. My family recently became DVC members this past year and we went to WDW in Dec 05 for the first time staying in Saratoga Springs Resort. We have been to WDW previously before- when I was 3 and 9, so it was nice to be back and see all the changes.

I just wanted to share my excitment~ we just booked an August trip at the AKL's Kilamanjaro Club!!!! It's a "family bonding" vacation since I go to a ballet boarding school in Philadelphia and my family doesn't get to spend a lot of time together. We are planning to stay and enjoy the resort quite a bit instead of going to the parks- take in the last of summer before school starts.

In December we ate at Boma- which we LOVED Seeing the lobby during Christmas time and being able to see the animals at night made us fall in love with this resort. I am counting down the days and hoping that we won't be disappointed. Thanks again for such a helpful thread!

Raina

Well, Raina (I MUST say, that is such a LOVELY name! ) welcome to our thread; I hope you to find it informative and entertaining ~ wow, you sure are lucky going to AKL with your family!

 

[kimmar067]

...before I go "nite-nite"....

 

[scoutsmom99]

AKL lovers:

Thanks for the Valentine...I hope you had a great day How is your son's friend doing?

Cindie-rella- I had a 3rd floor room on the Zebra Trail Uzima Savannah and I felt I had a great view of the animals on the Savannah. I had no trees clocking my view from my balcony. Here is a map in red is where my room was (3514) the last room on the right (next to one of the big window sections). It was a perfect location becuase I could view the Savannah from the side of my balcony as well as straight on. In green is where I remember seeing the Giraffes hanging out on my trip. They were amazing animals to watch. I have video of them running around and also sitting down (which, I thought I was cool!). The blue is the watering hole on the savannah.

Raina you will love your stay at AKL

 

[Cindie-rella]

Thanks Scoutsmom. When I looked at that map before I didn't realize the savanah was along the outside of the buildings...I thought the savannah's were all on the inside where it shows the zebra and kudu. I would imagine being near a watering hole would also bring more animals to that area. Thanks again. This helped me have a little better understanding of the resort.

 

[kimmar067]

Thanks Scoutsmom. When I looked at that map before I didn't realize the savanah was along the outside of the buildings...I thought the savannah's were all on the inside where it shows the zebra and kudu. I would imagine being near a watering hole would also bring more animals to that area. Thanks again. This helped me have a little better understanding of the resort.

I don't know which animals that you would prefer to see, but, if you look at scoutsmom's map, we had a room in the first building off of Zebra Trail, which looks directly at Arusha Rock. We also had a room at the end of Kudu Trail. It was facing the spiral in the horn of that kudu's head(right where it says "5371-5395"). We saw zebras, peacocks, guinea fowl, kudu, and bongos every day, as well as 3 giraffes.

 

[scoutsmom99]

Thanks Scoutsmom. When I looked at that map before I didn't realize the savanah was along the outside of the buildings...I thought the savannah's were all on the inside where it shows the zebra and kudu. I would imagine being near a watering hole would also bring more animals to that area. Thanks again. This helped me have a little better understanding of the resort.

Your Welcome. The Giraffe's did come for water often. It was just so much fun to sit and watch all of the animals. I wish I was able to get better shots at night becuase the Tommies were ususally sleeping in the grassy area right outside my balcony!!

 

[Cindie-rella]

I don't know which animals that you would prefer to see, but, if you look at scoutsmom's map, we had a room in the first building off of Zebra Trail, which looks directly at Arusha Rock. We also had a room at the end of Kudu Trail. It was facing the spiral in the horn of that kudu's head(right where it says "5371-5395"). We saw zebras, peacocks, guinea fowl, kudu, and bongos every day, as well as 3 giraffes.

Kimmer, I wanna see them all !
But unfortunately I hear only certain animals are on certain savannah's. I know my DH would like the horned animals the most. Such as the ankole cattle, the kudu (especially), and bongos but lets not forget the giraffe's. I would love to have a feeding station next to my balcony and open my curtains to a giraffe face feeding right in front of me. (in my imaginary world I think the giraffe might be only 5 or 10 feet from my balcony)I'm not sure what a tommie is Scoutsmom? Geez, I guess I'll just leave it to chance and not request anything other than non-smoking and possibly 3rd floor. I just don't want to be right off the lobby b/c I hear it can be noisy. I'm so excited about this AKL thing that I feel like a kid! Thanks again for all your help, I just love this thread

 

[padisneylover]

The first time we were at AKL we stayed in the the second room on Zebra trail past the part on the map that is marked elevator about half way up the trail. It was a great location and we look out on the Uzima savanaha and always seemed to have animals out there. We were on the 4th floor and the view was great. Of course any savanaha view to me at AKL is great as long as I am there and not here

 

[BraveMom3]

My three children and I are coming to WDW the end of May - 5 nights at WL and 9 nights at BWV. We come every year, so we are very Disney-fied, however friends are joining us for the first part of our trip at WL - this is their second trip to the world, last year being the first. Now we are thinking of adding a night on to the beginning of our trip which would put us arriving on Friday, May 26. I'm thinking of a night at AKL. I know my children and I would love it, but I'm concerned that the newbies might not "get it". This first day and night we would be just be hanging out at the resort, pool, hot tubs, exploring...then on Saturday around mid-day, we would move over to WL. I'm thinking of requesting rooms on the Zebra Trail, upper floor, between elevator and lobby. Can anyone give me any advice on how to entertain my guests - I'm sort of the designated "tour guide" for these trips! Thanks!

p.s. I've read this entire thread and cannot get too much information!!!

 

[kimmar067]

Kimmer, I wanna see them all !
But unfortunately I hear only certain animals are on certain savannah's. I know my DH would like the horned animals the most. Such as the ankole cattle, the kudu (especially), and bongos but lets not forget the giraffe's. I would love to have a feeding station next to my balcony and open my curtains to a giraffe face feeding right in front of me. (in my imaginary world I think the giraffe might be only 5 or 10 feet from my balcony)I'm not sure what a tommie is Scoutsmom? Geez, I guess I'll just leave it to chance and not request anything other than non-smoking and possibly 3rd floor. I just don't want to be right off the lobby b/c I hear it can be noisy. I'm so excited about this AKL thing that I feel like a kid! Thanks again for all your help, I just love this thread

.....shucks gawrsh! Tommies are the Thompson's Gazelles...they are absolutely beautiful, and oh-so-graceful! I saw the Ankole cattle at the end of the Zebra Trail in the public viewing area. If you look at the pic I posted on the 2nd to last page it is located behind the flamingo pond [behind those bushes]in the right background...

 

[kimmar067]

My three children and I are coming to WDW the end of May - 5 nights at WL and 9 nights at BWV. We come every year, so we are very Disney-fied, however friends are joining us for the first part of our trip at WL - this is their second trip to the world, last year being the first. Now we are thinking of adding a night on to the beginning of our trip which would put us arriving on Friday, May 26. I'm thinking of a night at AKL. I know my children and I would love it, but I'm concerned that the newbies might not "get it". This first day and night we would be just be hanging out at the resort, pool, hot tubs, exploring...then on Saturday around mid-day, we would move over to WL. I'm thinking of requesting rooms on the Zebra Trail, upper floor, between elevator and lobby. Can anyone give me any advice on how to entertain my guests - I'm sort of the designated "tour guide" for these trips! ...

I know the feeling!

p.s. I've read this entire thread and cannot get too much information!!!

JMHO ~ I would plan on spending AT LEAST 1-1/2 to 2 days at AKL - there is so much to see! You would definitely want to spend some time lounging at the pool. There are just too many activities to cram into just one afternoon/evening, not to mention a meal at Jiko and Boma! And the ANIMALS - I just couldn't get enough of them. I love listening to the CM's [straight outta Africa] talking about them....

 

[kimmar067]

Richie passed at 4AM this morning due to complications and cardiac arrest ~ please continue to pray for his friends and family. Also, as I am posting this, Joe is in the operating room having surgery on his broken leg....

 

[Nancyg56]

How sad. Add my prayers for Richie's family and friends. Very hard to accept under any circumstances. My thoughts are also with you and your son, Jesse. Losing a friend cannot be easy.

 

[YCFAN]

About two years ago my teenage son had two friends that committed suicide at different times as well as a friend who died in a school bus accident and two others friends (brothers) that were involved in a car accident. One brother lived, the other did not. This all happened within a four month period. While this is a devastating time for the families of the victims here please do not forget their friends that remain. This is a time when those children need to be comforted as well. The teenage years are so wonderful and fragile at the same time. I pray that the community holds their friends, including your son, close to their hearts.

 

[kimmar067]

About two years ago my teenage son had two friends that committed suicide at different times as well as a friend who died in a school bus accident and two others friends (brothers) that were involved in a car accident. One brother lived, the other did not. This all happened within a four month period. While this is a devastating time for the families of the victims here please do not forget their friends that remain. This is a time when those children need to be comforted as well. The teenage years are so wonderful and fragile at the same time. I pray that the community holds their friends, including your son, close to their hearts.

Our guidance couselors are spending the day at Lodi High School to help with the bereaved. He was a Senior there, and many of the kids went to school with him since kindergarten....just too tragic... YCFan, my heart goes out to yur son, as well....