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

[luvfigment]

Hey all!!! As Webbie stated we had a great time on our trip and the weather was great! Only 1 T-storm on Sunday night other than that is was high 80's to low 90's and the humidity was lower than normal.

Dinner at Boma was very yummy...loved the hummus and all those Zebra Domes! I strongly suggest doing the culinary tour before eating at Boma's it made it so easy to know what you were going to eat. So if you are a first timer and are reading this the tour was at 4 pm during the week and 3:45 on weekends you can check the activities boards. Got some pictures:

Our "pool view" room on the first floor on the corner.

Animals on the savanna near the pool.

 

[HarborWhaler]

Ahoy... I am doing some planning and was wondering how long would be the drive to MK from the AKL using my rental car? I heard its a quite a distance. Thanks for the help. -HarborWhaler

 

[tinknme]

Thanks Dh went to Europe last year & loved it. This will be my 1st time & I am a little nervous, but it will be a wonderful experience.

Congrats Janet! My mom LOVES Paris. I'm sure ya'll will have a wonderful time.

 

[tinknme]

Glad to hear you had a great time! AKL is so wonderful, I just can't imagine anyone not falling in love with the place Look forward to seeing pictures!

I would definately stay at AKL again.

Luvfigment is going to post more and some pictures. In all our trip was fantastic.

 

[tinknme]

Prayers &

Quick update on Mom, she is making slow progress the concern today is her breathing.

 

[tinknme]

Hello & welcome What a great way to celebrate a birthday You are going to love the dining plan!

I am jumping in on this thread because we are going to the AKL in three months and I am so excited!

First, to LAWalz23, I am so glad your mom is on her way to recovery!

We are going to the AKL for my husband's birthday on 9/16 for three nights. We booked a concierge room w/free dining.

 

[tinknme]

Thanks for the pictures

Our "pool view" room on the first floor on the corner.



Animals on the savanna near the pool.

 

[stephwynn]

Hi Stephwynn, I would call the dinning phone number and ask if you can make arrangements for the gold Mickey Mouse ears to be in your room when you arrive. You may have to talk to the resort itself in the guest services area or the counter concierge each resort has now. If you are not able to set it up that way, I would contact Feralpeg, she is a fellow DISer and does wonderful baskets. I am sure she would be able to purchase the ears and have your names put on them. She then delivers to your resort and the resort delivers to your room. Here is here site: http://www.peggyssweetsandmore.com/.

I have used Peg twice and have been very, very impressed. The presentation is beautiful. I did a basket for my DH last year and he was very pleased. Then at Christmas Peggy helped me surprise my husband at home.
When you pull up her site go to the bottom right corner, it is printed in pink "new wedsite" click that. It will take you to the site she is currently working on with pictures of all the items available. Peggy will also shop for any item you may want at is sold at DTD. She is a wonderful person and does great work.

Let us know what you decide.
Angel16

Wow...thanks Angel! Her site has exactly what I am looking for. I think I will go that route, two reasons, one, she is a fellow DISer, and also due to the timing, (we are leaving soon), it will be one less thing to worry about! Thanks so much for the site...only downside, I have seen more on there that I might want to have waiting.......ug...I spoil my bunch a little too much...I surely hope that they appreciate it!!!

So, I emailed her and PM'd her...can you tell I am excited! Thanks again Angel

 

[disneytraveler]

Hi and good morning Akl fans! Wont be to long for my stay there
in September.

 

[plutospup]

Ahoy... I am doing some planning and was wondering how long would be the drive to MK from the AKL using my rental car? I heard its a quite a distance. Thanks for the help. -HarborWhaler

It's only a 15 min ride to the MK parking lot. However, then you need to take the tram from the parking lot to the TTC, followed by boat or monorail to MK.(total ~45min) It's MUCH faster to take the AKL bus to the MK. It drops you off right at the MK.(total ~15 min) We normally drive to the other parks, and DTD, however, when it comes to the MK we usually take the bus.

 

[johnsonet]

Just had to share that I just booked an entire week at the Lodge I've stayed there at least 7 times now but my stays have been for 2-5 nites max. I'm soooo excited! It doesn't get any better Well, maybe if I stayed for 2 weeks...

 

[Nancyg56]

Dinner at Boma was very yummy...loved the hummus and all those Zebra Domes! I strongly suggest doing the culinary tour before eating at Boma's it made it so easy to know what you were going to eat. So if you are a first timer and are reading this the tour was at 4 pm during the week and 3:45 on weekends you can check the activities boards.

I'm glad that you both enjoyed your trip! Great suggestion to take the tour prior to eating at Boma. I took it after, and while I enjoyed it very much, it would have been nice to have a little "insider info" before hand.

Your pics are beautiful. We are staying at the Poly in January, but every time I visit this thread I am homesick for AKL.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

luvfigment-great tip about the Culinary tour before Boma-I'm going to try to do that when we go in December (it seems so long...)
We want to do Boma our first night and we'll be getting there early to mid afternoon-so I think the tour is one of the first orders of business!

Patricia

Oh by the way in addition to the yummy zebra domes-did you notice any zimba paw prints-dying to know what they are?

 

[purpliequeen]

Thank you for all the great pics! I am so excited... 2 more months!

Now, I know this question has been asked numerous times before, but seeing as I just experienced a billion finals, please refresh my memory. Is it necessary to indicate a non-smoking room on room requests if it is somewhat important to my family? I know that people are not supposed to smoke on the balconies overlooking the savannah, so what rooms allow smoking?

I have a long request list already and am not sure if I should bump up the non-smoking room request on the top of the list.

Thanks to all who are so great posting on this thread!
Raina

 

[John's Mom]

Bumping to page 1.

 

[ktink]

Webbie & Luvfigment so glad you all had a great trip.

 

[Angel16]

Now, I know this question has been asked numerous times before, but seeing as I just experienced a billion finals, please refresh my memory. Is it necessary to indicate a non-smoking room on room requests if it is somewhat important to my family? I know that people are not supposed to smoke on the balconies overlooking the savannah, so what rooms allow smoking?

I have a long request list already and am not sure if I should bump up the non-smoking room request on the top of the list.

Thanks to all who are so great posting on this thread!
Raina

Hi Raina Wow a billion finals, you have my sympathy. To answer your question, if non-smoking is important to you then YES let them know you are requesting non-smoking. I learned the hard-way on one of our visits. I did not request non-smoking. We were placed in a nice room, however the people next to us smoked and their smoke came through the bathroom air vent. YUCK Made my allergies very bad and there was nothing we could do about it.

I have been told by IPO that smoking is pool view rooms. If you have requested a savannah room you should not have a problem (at least with honest people who will not smoke in a non-smoking room) On another note, I have read here on the DIS that people have been told they can smoke in savannah rooms as long as it is not on the balcony because of the animals. (I am sending you a PM )

I'm glad that you both enjoyed your trip! Great suggestion to take the tour prior to eating at Boma. I took it after, and while I enjoyed it very much, it would have been nice to have a little "insider info" before hand.

Your pics are beautiful. We are staying at the Poly in January, but every time I visit this thread I am homesick for AKL.

Nancy, Am I hearing a AKL trip in the making? Or are you maybe changing those Poly ressies for AKL We are doing a split stay this holiday season. We are staying at the Poly concierge for 7 nights, then changing over to ALK for 7 nights. Now I am just praying nothing will stop this trip from happening.

Just had to share that I just booked an entire week at the Lodge I've stayed there at least 7 times now but my stays have been for 2-5 nites max. I'm soooo excited! It doesn't get any better Well, maybe if I stayed for 2 weeks...

Johnsonet, I am so happy for you. I totally agree, if you can stay for a week. We are planning one full resort day for our upcoming trip. And you can be sure we will NOT be sitting in the room watching TV.

Webbie and Lovefigment, I am so glad you had a great trip. Thank you for posting the pictures. There must be more pictures and a trip report coming.....right?

Hey, Wendypooh, isn't your trip coming up really quickly? Are you all ready to go?

VAGAL - Bonnie, you must be jazzed beyond belief. Two concierge stays at WDW with a Disney cruise between. I so wish I was going with you. Have a super wonderful time with your DH and family.

Sending out a big Happy Monday greeting to all.

Angel16

 

[gems_smiling]

I know the Culinary tour has been described before but I'm having trouble looking through the thread because of "server busy" message. Can you tell me all about the Culinary tour? What happens and how long is it? Also what is the cultural safari?

 

[Nancyg56]

Gem_smiling: The culinary tour is a guided tour thru the cooking place in Jiko as well as a chef guided tour of the food selections in Boma. You meet in front of Jiko at 3:30 or 3:45, and a CM explains the restaurant, the food and how it is prepared, and offers a sample. There is plenty of opportunity for questions. Then to Boma. Two chefs took me thru the line and ex[plained tht cuisine, and how it is prepared. I had samples of the soups prepared for the day.

I can't help with the cultural safari. I'm sorry.

Angel: No, I'm afraid that I can't switch from the Poly. My girls would never forgive me, and my DD quakes at the thought of a split stay. Kady did tell me the other day that she loved the AKL and "never wanted to leave". Now that I have finally gotten my DH to have a DIsney bug, I know that we will get the chance to go back because a farmboy wants to be near animals, doesn't matter what kind as long as the are animals. Zebras aren't cows, but they qualify. You know that I'm pulling for you for this trip too.

 

[Jenn0)))]

Hi, little question!
Our flight arrives at around 9pm in Orlando, so I figure we'll check-in at around 11pm. Is there anything open at that hour? Because I know we'll probably be dying for food by then.
And I've heard some pretty bad things about ME with regards to luggage. If we get there before our luggage, will they wake us up at some ungodly hour to deliver it?

Help!
haha.