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

[kimmar067]

This will be out first trip to AKL and our first trip to Disney at Christmas, any suggestions from the veterans on spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day At the Lodge?


My family: Me the planner 37, DH, 40 DS 13 and DS 17.

....Jiko, Jiko, JIKO!! And don't forget to take pix of the XMas display next to Boma, made out of marzipan; it's an African village!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Just needed to say.......

8 DAYS UNTIL AKL CHECK-IN!!!!!!!

 

[Starrin]

I am with you on that .... 8 MORE DAYS TILL CHECKIN.

Maybe I will see you in line -- I will have my lime green mickey

First time stay at AKL -- Looking forward to it. I think DD will really get into the animals.

Also - I just called and put a room request in for the following:

1) That our room be connected to the other party we are traveling with
2) Non-smoking
3) Not to put us all the way at the end of the horse shoe
(I figure the 3rd item is something we can address when we arrive at check-in - we will be checking-in around 9 AM - early)

I am nervous we widdled down our options - but it is a large resort.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I will be there with my 3 sons, 8, 6, and 3. My DH can't make it this trip. Our first stay at AKL as well!! Maybe we will see you there. Hope to check in around 2:00 pm.

 

[Nancyg56]

I am with you on that .... 8 MORE DAYS TILL CHECKIN.

Maybe I will see you in line -- I will have my lime green mickey

First time stay at AKL -- Looking forward to it. I think DD will really get into the animals.

Also - I just called and put a room request in for the following:

1) That our room be connected to the other party we are traveling with
2) Non-smoking
3) Not to put us all the way at the end of the horse shoe
(I figure the 3rd item is something we can address when we arrive at check-in - we will be checking-in around 9 AM - early)

I am nervous we widdled down our options - but it is a large resort.

Don't be nervous! This is a beautiful lodge. We really did not know what to request, and I think we would have been happy if they installed us in the lobby. Seriously, we requested savannah view, non smoking and connecting rooms if possible. The room was not connecting, but we noticed that one could be. We asked and we were accomodated. Have a great trip!

 

[kimmar067]

bumping!

 

[padisneylover]

And another bump

 

[poohraedopey]

Got my confirmation letter today for AKL YAY! I also got my guidebooks today hubby will be so happy. Anyone have an email for them for those not going concierge?

 

[FanofG00fy]

Howdy,

I know my trip is not until December of next year . But, certain plans have already been decided. Okay, real quick here is the plan so far:

1) Family Trip (3 couples) Mom & Dad, Bro & Sis-n-law, Boyfriend & Myself
2) M&D - Contemporary CL B&SIL - Beach Club CL BF&Me - Beach Club CL

Weeellllll, I started reading this thread....and well...uummm....I got all pumped up about AKL go AKL go I advised all about AKL...D loves coffee, M likes they way it looks, BF absolutely has always wanted to stay here, and well, I've always wanted to too. Major discussion about AKL...we would all be in same place (if two couples are staying here, then the third couple is about 98% sure they will too.)

Here are some questions though:

1) Can someone give me a sample menu of the dinner offerings they serve during a course of the week (oh we will be staying 7 nights for sure). My father is allergic to Shrimp, and well, the rest of us love Boma's food. So just a sample of what they might serve would be great.

2) At Breakfast...do they offer hot oatmeal?

3) 3 of us are smokers . We only need 1 smoking room as my Dad would come to my BF and my room to smoke. Do they have smoking rooms that look at the savannahs? We are very considerate smokers My mother has asthma and I see what second hand smoke does to her, so we do not like second hand smoke bothering anyone!! and do not smoke on the balconies (and we figured we couldn't since the animals would be near). So are there smoking rooms facing the savannah?

4) How is the staff when we tell them we have some special celebrations happening while we are there? 1. 40th birthday 2) 9th anniversary 3)48th anniversary.

Okay, I was trying to make this a short post And it grew.

Thanks for this great thread, I cannot wait to read more. BF & I are staying here for sure. These other questions will help the others decide.

Besides, we'll be able to make ressies at the end of the summer

Thanks Everyone!!!!!!!!!

 

[disneytraveler]

Hi Fanofgoofy!
Welcome to the Akl forum!

Heres a menu from allearsnet.com on Boma
Breakfast features over 45 different items!

Your Choice of Orange Juice or West African Frunch (a combination of lemonade, pineapple juice, guava juice, orange juice, and papaya juice).

Pastries - muffins, breads, almond bear claw, scones, assortment of cream cheeses including sundried tomato, bagels, Danish, and zebra bread

Seasonal Fresh Fruits - cantaloupe, honeydew, mango, papaya, grapes, strawberries, and pineapple.

Dried Fruits including mango, papaya, coconut

Cereals - granola, rice crispies, fruit loops, and raisin bran


Pancakes and Waffles

Omelets made to order with a selection of ingredients.

Bacon and Sausage and Ham

Potatoes with red and green pepper and paprika

Scrambled Eggs

Brioche (like French toast, yummmy! with raisins)

Pap (white corn meal), oatmeal, quinoa porridge; toppings included fruits, brown sugar and cinnamon

Bobotie - corn beef, eggs, cream, potato and onion

Vegetable and Meat Lovers Breakfast Pizza

Cured pork loin

Carved Breakfast Ham


Pressed Pot of Kenyan Coffee - Extra

Oh that Frunch is so good!

 

[kimmar067]

You can always get a quick bite to eat at the Mara, too....BTW, I LOVE the pressed pot of Kenya coffee! (shoulda bought a press-pot while I was there! )
Oh I TOTALLY agree about the Frunch...had it while we stayed concierge!!

 

[kimmar067]

Courtesy of FirstTimer (and I must say, what a lovely shot!):

The concierge lounge is located up top, where that sunshine is coming through the window....

 

[padisneylover]

Fanofgoofy,
Yes they have oatmeal at BOMA on the buffett as well at Mara daily. Also, there is smoking savanaha rooms since we used to get them. They are located at near the ends of the horseshoes so the CM's told us. Both times we needed a smoking room we were right down from the elevaton on the 4th floor that goes down to the pool and restruant. If you find a map and look at Zebra trail they were the rooms right past the second elevator. As I understand it most of them are in that area. There is also non-smoking room in the same vanicity.

We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary there 2 yrs ago and didn't receive anything at all and we had it noted on our reservations and all our PS's. We were not disappointed since we really didn't expect anything but I have read of others who have had nice cards and things left for them. We were there though just after Thanksgiving and it was completely full and that could be one reason there was no time for anything special.

 

[poohraedopey]

Ah a new picture hehehe it's been a while since there some new pics posted.... HINT HINT! I can't get enough! Something has to carry me through 8 long months! Oh our guidebooks came yesterday and hubby musta read something in there he liked because now he's all I'm so glad you upgraded the whole stay He doesn't get my DIS addiction but he can read guide books for hours on end.....

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Bump! oh, yeah, I almost forgot..

6 DAYS TILL AKL!!!!!

 

[andromedaslove]

Ok, we have a one night trip planned for April 28th, my son's 5th birthday. We are planning a special surprise trip just him, me, and DH. We are leaving his 18 month old brother at home. My 5 year old has been through alot the last year and a half and this will be the first time we have gotten to take him and do something with just HIM. I am so excited.

Anyway, I have one question that I haven't been able to find the answer to. I am training to run the WDW Marathon in 2007, and will need to run the Saturday morning while we are there. I am figuring I am gonna need to put in probably 8-9 miles. I can't seem to find out wether or not AKL has a running trail or anything like that. If not do they have a gym? Although I would definately hate to run in the gym while I am at Disney, nothing more fun than running through the Animal Kingdom Lodge. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I would love to hear them.

Take Care,
Dana

 

[SeaSpray]

DH and I are staying at the AKL in May, just the two of us However, now I'm trying to decide on which resort to stay at following our Disney cruise, in August. Our DSs will be 18 and 15 at that time, so we need 3 beds. When we stay at the Polynesian or the Grand Floridian it works out well because ALL of their rooms have 3 beds. Last summer we stayed at the WL in a regular concierge room, with a queen bed and bunk beds, and the bunk beds were a tad small in height for the boys, although once they were in bed and laying down, they were fine. lol

So my question is: Is there such a thing as a concierge savannah-view DELUXE room, with 3 beds, that can be booked as a guarantee?? Actually, our order of preference would be: deluxe room so we'd have the third bed, then concierge, then view last (although I don't want a "bad" view).

If so, then I think this would be my first choice of resort for that trip, but from what I've read, you can't BOOK a deluxe concierge room. This doesn't make sense.

Can anyone give me info on this? Thanks!

P.S. I also thought it was odd that when we stayed at the WL concierge, we could've ended up with ANY kind of view. I like being able to book EXACTLY what I want, which is why the Polynesian, lagoon view, concierge rooms will ALWAYS be my favorite, because you also know exactly what building you'll be in

(Well....that's my favorite so far... we still have many resorts to try out, but the Polynesian LVC will be almost impossible to beat, in my opinion )

 

[kimmar067]

Terry ~

The reason the Poly can "guarantee" you a particular room/view/room arrangment, is that the buildings are 'set-up' in particular ways (ie: one building would have EXTRA room for that 5th person, etc. - do you know what I mean??) The AKL (and WL, for that matter) has rooms that are randomly situated with qu/qu set-up, qu/bunk, k, and so on. The building is not set up with ONE section being all qu/qu, one section being ALL k, one section set up with ALL qu/bunk, and so on....

Hope this helps....

(I would request a room with your MOST important priority, followed by your 2nd, and so on...)

 

[ohsodisney]

Our Docs came today . I'm so excited !!!

They are not making much sense to me. do they give you the park tickets at check in ? Also does anyone know if we are all on 1 transfer? I noticed a free Planet Hollywood voucher and merchandise voucher , it says non-transferable but we are not going to get over thou so can I give it to someone?

 

[poohraedopey]

FINALLY under the 8 month mark WOOHOOOO!!!!!!

I'm also curious how room keys tickets etc go..... Amd I going to be totally screwed if I lose a room key LOL? I'm not sure we've ever gone any where and not lost at least 1 key.