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

[pixiesnake]

Wildebeest

Kudu

Gazelle

Eland

Ankole

 

[DVCindy]

Thank you Angel16 !

I am sooo tempted to change to a savannah view ... I love all the photos !

I'll be tuned in to this thread until we leave reading up on everyone's trip !

Thank you all for puting this together

 

[Angel16]

Glad we could help DV Cindy. You'll really like the savannah view.

Ok, I am going to try posting a picture. If it turns out this is my little one all dressed up to go to a Princess Party.

DSCF0016.jpg (960x1280 - 294 K) Exif Data

 

[Angel16]

Ewwww. Back to the drawing board. Didn't work, nag-nab-it.!

I will return

 

[pixiesnake]

I fell in love with these little guys - Red River Hogs - the babies were so cute!

THE END!

 

[charlie11364]

...snip... The kids (ages 8 and 4) would enjoy the animals, but I don't think it would excite them for too long. ...snip...

Jumping in WAY late - first, I've never stayed at WL, so I can't compare - Four years ago, My wife and I went down witha out son and daughter - Son was 18 months, daughter 4 1/2 - just about the ONLY parts of the trip she really talks about are the animals - they both got such a kick waking up and seeing them.

We are supposed to go down last week if August, but my wife is currently unemployed, and finances MIGHT force a cancelation - and we are supposed to stay on the Concierge level too....

 

[Michelle2]

Angel - That is sooooo awesome! So you need to add one more family member to your reservation. Oh, what's that puzzled look for? Don't you know you just adopted me?

12 more days and I'll be feeling myself unwind as I walk through the doors at AKL. Do you get that melting away the stress feeling when you arrive there too or am I the weirdo in the group?

That's an awfully cute pic of the giraffe.

No riding the zebras, no riding the zebras. Don't scratch any ears or bellies.

PracPerfPatricia - The toiletries are red and black with a mickey emblem on it. It's not exactly disney character in what you may be thinking. I didn't know if that was important or not. Can you let me know? I'm going in less than two weeks. I'll scoop some up for you if you want me to. If so, where should it be sent?

VAgal76, after seeing some of the rooms you have stayed in on the ROOM picture thread, I want to be adopted into YOUR family! LOL

I haven't stayed at the AKL before, but I am sure that I will have that feeling of excitement when I arrive too! I hope you have a wonderful trip in a few days!

 

[pixiesnake]

Hey, I just noticed that I made Mouseketeer. When did that happen?

I just wanted to make a comment on the animal pictures I have posted, for the benefit of those who have never been to AKL.

I made my first trip there last month and was a little worried because I could not afford a savanna view. I booked standard and hoped for an upgrade. I did get an upgrade, but only to a pool view (I'm not complaining, it was much better than looking at the parking lot). I just want to let you know that you can see plenty of animals and really enjoy the lodge even if you do not have a savanna view. If you can afford savanna, then go for it; if you cannot, it is still worth a trip to this resort even if you have to stay standard view. I hope to stay in a savanna view one day (in fact hoping for an AP rate for my anniversary in Sept), and I am sure there is nothing like being able to stand on your own balcony and watch the animals anytime of day or night, but I will return even if all I can afford is standard. All of my pictures of the animals were taken from public viewing areas. Just wanted all to know.

Here's a tip. If you want to see and photograph the animals, don't just go to the public viewing areas. Walk down to the end of each of the hallways and go out the exit door to the outside staircase. This is where the majority of my pictures were taken. It was great because I could go up and down the staircase to get the best view. In fact, I think the only way to see the Red River Hogs is out one of those doors. Hope this helps someone.

 

[LAWalz23]

Thanks for the great pics, pixiesnake! I can't wait to show them to my niece and nephew, the only reason I booked us at AKL was because they love the animals. Of course now I think I am as excited as them! And thanks for explaining how you got them! I originally booked a savannah view but then upgraded to cl because niece and nephew want to do the sunrise safari (thank you travel channel) and am now hoping for a savannah view. Don't want to tell the kids that we possibly traded out of the savannah view for the sunrise safari yet, but will probably tell them them right before we leave so they aren't disappointed if we don't get one. They are 8 and knowing them they will be fine with it especially since my niece told me she wants to spend some more time at the resort and in the pool this visit since we have been to the parks before, after all they have been there six times already! These are the same kids that after 3 stays at the Poly walked into the room at POFQ and said it was much smaller than the rooms we usually stay in. I told my sister that her kids are hotel snobs because all we ever stayed in when we were on vacation with my parents were motels like Howard Johnsons. But then again I guess we were lucky that our parents took us on vacation just about every year.

 

[scoutsmom99]

Jambo Everyone-
I haven't been on in a few days darn server is busy message always kept popping up for me Ok I quickly scrolled through the thread. Pixiesnake those are great pics and Angel congratulations on getting the Chef's Table...I would love t o dine there someday. Ok i'm off to finish reading up.

 

[tiggrbaby]

PPP and VAgal:

The info is indeed on the allears site. Go to accomodations and there is a link for soaps for special children. However, in going to the link right now, it says that they are overstocked with the soap, but in need of small items like bubbles, crayons, and play-doh.

 

[Nancyg56]

Here's hoping that everyone heading out to AKL has a wonderful relaxing vacation on the Savanna! I am going thru vacation envy right now, and will accept adoption into anyones family right now....Any takers??????

Angel: Excellent news! V&A chefs table! I wish DH would appreciate this experience, but alas.. that does not look like it would happen in my lifetime.

Pixiesnake: Great pic's! I am so going to get a better camera.

 

[AKLGoofy]

Alrighty then, finally got moved (Susan and I just pulled up stakes andmoved to South Dakota) and got internet again. Catching up a bit here...

Great pics everyone! I'll be taking my digital still and video camera's as well as providing several "disposable" cameras to cast members for use at appropriate times throughout or week, so hopefully I'll able to add to the great collection here a little. I'm hoping to be able to set up a website with video and stills for everyone who has asked to be able to see a lot more than I can reasonable post here and will definately post the address for anyone interested.

AKL Goofy Your plans look amazing! I see you have Magical Express listed as your return way to the airport...not sure if you are taking it in or not, but you seem to be going all out on everything else so why not book a towncar or limo for your airport transfers? The only other thing I can think of is have you looked at joining Tour Guide Mike (sponsor here on the dis) at all? Your days are really set in stone, but I have used him in the past for park touring advice and it works really well. It does require some work on your part (ie he doesn't spit out an itinerary for you...you make your own), but if you had the time it might be worthwhile with the short amount of time you are there to maxamize touring capability. He also offers a VIP service through Michael's VIP which is a lot more money and they do all of the planning for you and take you around the parks.

I did the ME thing on return based on trying to make things as simple and easy as possible. From what Don told me, the bellman will pick up our bags at the room and that's the last we'll need to see of them until we de-plane back in SD. As well, we'll be able to get our boarding passes downstairs before we leave. I'd gladly spring for the limo ride b ack to the airport if I didn't have to fight what I know will be horrendous crowds in Orlando to get checked in and such.

Thanks for the tip on the VIP thingy at Tour Guide Mike's. I really wish I had known about that from the start. I think I would have gathered fewer grey haris and we probably would end up with a smoother trip than what is likley to be the case with me at the helm. Still, at least I know it's available now and will definately avail myself next time.

Thank you again, everyone for your great information and help in all this. Now if I can only find all the "stuff" I've been accumlating related to this in all these boxes....

Bob

 

[dm220]

now that i found out what mnsshp is, i am happy to say we purchased the tickets today for sept 15, gonna try to keep this as a surprise for the kids and make it a day all about the kids since we already have a day as an adults day (massages and dinner,etc),so now i got to get costumes and figuire out what kind of adr we want to make for an early dinner before the mk opens up for mnsshp and work in a nap before the adr, thinking maybe skip the parks in the morning and go shopping at downtown disney as we originally planned to make the later part of the day a shopping day, how does this sound?

 

[wendypooh]

Hey All,

First ~~ Thank You for all the well wishes!!! We are all feeling much better I've been trying to catch up....... sounds like a lot of you are leaving really soon......... have a good time!!!

Today I added 2 more nights onto our trip!!!! I'm sooooo happy about that!!! I'd just live there if they'd let me...........

Oh, the pics a page or two back are great ~~ Thanks!! I can hardly wait to get back........ then I'll be on


Well, I'm glad to be back and feeling good!!!!!!!! Oh, to those who said sinus infection, you were right!!! I see a lot of new smilies...... cute!! We need one for AKL though!!!!

 

[LAWalz23]

Picked this thread for post 2,000 because of the great info and great people! Don't know what happened but when I posted it said 2,001!

Angel16, Congrats on getting the chefs table at V & A!

Wendypooh, glad you are feeling better!

Pixiesnake, what kind of camera did you take the pics with?

AKLGoofy, hope you find everything.

dm220, shopping at DTD in the am and mnsshp in the pm sounds good to me. I have a 5:30p ADR at LTT for the night we do the MVMCP so we are in the MK when it starts. My other option would have been a restaurant at one of the monorail resorts around that time. Have fun!

 

[pixiesnake]

Pixiesnake, what kind of camera did you take the pics with?

I actually have 2 different cameras. Most of the pictures were taken with a Panasonic DMC-FZ5. A few were taken with a Casio Exilim S500. (BTW, the pictures are actually much better than they appear on here - I had to shrink the file size, which makes them lose some of the clarity.) I like both cameras and would recommend them. They are both easy enough for a novice like me, but have enough options for my DH who is a much better photographer than I am. (I wish he had been on the trip with me, the pictures would have been much better.) We like the Panasonic for the 12X zoom, but it can be a bit bulky to carry around. The Casio is pocket size, but only has 3X zoom.

I have more pictures to post - of the pool, lobby and my room. I will get to them soon.

 

[calgarygary]

Thanks for the tip on the VIP thingy at Tour Guide Mike's. I really wish I had known about that from the start. I think I would have gathered fewer grey haris and we probably would end up with a smoother trip than what is likley to be the case with me at the helm. Still, at least I know it's available now and will definately avail myself next time.

Bob, TGM might have saved some grey hairs but there is no way he would have as much romance as you have put into your plans. Your itinerary has raised the bar so high the rest of us would need to be pole vaulters.

 

[AKLGoofy]

True enough I suppose. Kind of like the ashtray's you made for Mom on Mother's Day... not as nice as Waterford, but certainly more meaningful...

Bob, TGM might have saved some grey hairs but there is no way he would have as much romance as you have put into your plans. Your itinerary has raised the bar so high the rest of us would need to be pole vaulters.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We are just back from AKL! Have only stayed in Savanna view before, but booked Pool view this trip. We were upgraded to Deluxe Pool view and it was nice to have the extra space (DD preferred the daybed and DS took the top bunk!). The view of the pool was fantastic. I still prefer the Savanna view though, but did not mind the pool view, fun to sit out and people watch! We had a great time, still my favorite resort. DD did the cookie decorating at 1pm, and then the crayon rubbing. She does this each visit. Actually DS (15!) also joined in on the cookie decorating for the first time!
This was the view from our 5th floor room