Just Back - AKL!!!!

[racheltyler]

Loved, Loved the AKL!!!! Went for 6 nights with hubby and 2 kids (22 mos and 4 yrs). Stayed in Std PV in Zebra Trail, room # 3462. Nice view of pool, close to Mara, pool and same floor as lobby. Perfect!!! It was also a very quiet room. We were not upgraded but that was ok, going to look for animals was an adventure for us so it got us out of the room more. This place was the greatest, especially if you like to stay at the resort alot like we do. Mara was great for us, good selection and nice seating with booths and the tv was great entertain. for the kids. I ate the African House Salad every day and loved Mickey Waffles. Can't say enough about the pool - gorgeous and loved the zero entry area!! Oh and Boma was great - ate there 2 nights and my hubby is picky and loved it!! They had this grilled top sirloin the one night that was awesome. The best part of this place was seeing the animals - my 4 year old loved searching the many lookouts with her binoculars and checking them off on the sheet. Lots of activities for kids going on also. Our favs were always YC/BC, Boardwalk, Swan/Dolphin and we weren't sure if we'd like AKL - this is now our favorite (and as a bonus, it cost so much less!!). Did not miss the recreation options, this had so much to do here that we enjoyed. We also did not feel the AKL was remote at all. We did have a car though. Not long drives at all. We got to the MK in 10 minutes. Also, rooms and lodge not dark at all, IMO. Also, fridges are now free in the rooms!!




Sharon

 

[DisneyFreaks]

Sounds like you fell in love with AKL like we did. We cannot wait to go back. Our rooms were standard view {not bad really} and we want to book pool view rooms next trip. By your description your room sounded perfect. I hope we do as well. Welcome back.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Glad you had a GREAT time!

 

[mrsmom]

That's for your review, I kinda had my doubts about staying there. But now i feel alot better with my decision on AKL. Thanks again
Kim

 

[dizdadof2]

Just booked the PV today with the AP rate, wanted SV but none available with the AP rate. Was a little worried about the noise and lights from the Pool but sounds good. Good to know about fridges!

Mike

 

[racheltyler]

I was pleasantly surprised that the PV was as quiet as it was. And I was in the room frequently for my 22 month old who naps during the day. When the balcony door was closed and curtains shut, you would of never guessed we were in a pool view. And the nice thing was our balcony had a large palm tree in front so you could see the pool through this and clearly from the ends of the balcony but this did offer some extra privacy. Very, very nice!!! And at night when the kids went to bed, we would have drinks from Victoria Falls Lounge on our balcony and there was always nice music playing from the pool area. Also, steps from our room was a staircase leading right to the pool area and animal lookout area. We were back and forth to the room very quickly. Many people say to request a PV room in Zebra or Giraffe Trail and I would stronly agree. You can't go wrong! Also, another suggestion is if you request a non-connecting room, there is an extra dresser in the area where the door would of been to the connecting room.

 

[dizdadof2]

Was your room non-smoking? The non-connecting rooms, are they on the ends of the units? The room sounds great, we might try and get the same room.

Mike

 

[Dizzy4Dizney]

So glad to hear you loved it. We are staying 3 nights in Dec, a Savana View, and are REALLY looking forward to it now! I just hope its warm enough to go in the pool then!

 

[racheltyler]

Our room #3462 was non-smoking but it was a connecting room so it didn't have the additional dresser. We didn't want the dresser since we used this area to put our double stroller. And there was ample drawer and hanging space for 4 otherwise. This room was in pristine condition also, it looked brand new! They told me the connecting rooms are done randomly, not in any specific section. I don't think we've ever had a nicer hotel room than this one, and then considering this was less expensive than most we've stayed in before.

 

[BALAMAV]

Do all the rooms have a balcony? Or just the savannah rooms. We have never stayed here. I am a Poly girl. But the more I read these reviews the more I like. I am the resident "Disney expert" at work . Little do they know I have gotten most of my info from here. But I have already helped book and plan or am in the process of planning 6 trips for clients. (Iam a hairdresser) and I have to say that I have sorta steered people away from this place because of the small rooms and the distance away from things and also the darkness of the place. But I think I am going to do alot more researching on this place and start recommending it to people that like the theming. I have come across that the animals really draw people to stay here. But I think that from what I read there is more here than just animals.Thanks Brenda

 

[littlebigdog]

We stayed at AKL for our first onsite stay a few years ago. It was absolutely awesome! We had a standard view room, however it actually had a view of part of the pool. We have since then stayed ar CBR and are leaving for POP in 7 days!! The only reason we are not staying in AKL this time is that we are taking some friends with us and we have a really good rate on the rooms at POP. We are planning on going back next year and will hopefully be able to stay AKL again!

 

[Disney Girl #1]

Dear BALAMAV:

I can understand you loving the Poly. It's truly beautiful there and it's my 2nd choice for a place to stay but the AKL is my 1st choice. As to you balcony question, I asked once when I was booking the AKL if there were balconies on all the rooms and they said yes, even the standard view rooms. I can tell you from first hand experience that no, it may not be extremely bright in the rooms, but they are definately not dark. It adds to the beauty of the place to have soft subtle lighting. I know the rooms may not be as big as the Poly but they are not small. There's plenty of room to move about. Also, everyone seems to think that the AKL is teribbly far away from the parks and everything else. This is not true. It doesn't seem like it's ever taken us more than 20 minutes to get to a destination. In most cases much shorter. The AKL busses are dedicated the only the AKL, they don't stop at any other resorts. I recommend the AKL to everyone. No other Disney Resort can compare to having a live African Animal Safari right outside your window. It's like having a park and resort all in one. I'm going back to the AKL in November and can't wait!

 

[BALAMAV]

Disney girl#1, Thanks for the info. Do you have any links to websites on the AKL that people have put their trip pictures on or they have a website like Tikiman or I found a website devoted to the Coranado Springs. This website on Coranado was great. That place looks neat for a moderate. Even though there is a Convention Center. I sent it to my co-worker and they loved the picture so much that, this is where they are staying next fall. I was hoping to find something on the AKL. I have a client from work going on the Land/Sea in Feb. We did the trip this past May. We had a great time. We decided to do the BC since we have done the Poly. Big mistake. We didn't care for that place at all. It is nice we didn't like the set up and the rooms they put you in on the package. So I have them talked into the Poly. They have been to Tikimans site. But they mentioned the AKL. They have 2 girls 5 and 8. So if I could find some good pictures then they could decide alittle better which will do for their family. If anyone else has some info. That would be great. Thanks Brenda

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Glad you had a wonderful time!!!

Allison

 

[Disney Girl #1]

Dear BALAMAV:

I've got some great places to visit for AKL information:

At http://www.wdwinfo.com/aklodge/index.htm you can learn just about everything you need to know. Also, there are pictures and a video tour you can take!

At http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/faq_akl.htm you can view an AKL Fact Sheet.

Both wdwinfo and allearsnet have lots of information on all the Walt Disney Resorts, just look under the resort/hotel section of the websites.

 

[Leota]

I'd love to see a fansite devoted to AKL - I devour these reviews & have also read the Allears & wdwinfo info.
I am planning a few nights of our upcoming family trip at AKL based on all the great reviews I hear from people. Also, we went to eat at Boma in Jan & fell in love with the Lodge - what a Grand space! It was late & we didn't really get to look around too much, but we loved what we saw enough to want to stay there.

 

[dizdadof2]

Thanks for the info on the room.

We have stayed their several times and love it. BOMA is amazing and their are plenty of things for kids to do at the resort. Try the night vision search for animals. Fireside stories on cold evenings etc.

The rooms did not seem dark, and the whole place carries the theme. We stay at the Poly as well and I do like staying at AKL better in the FALL/Winter where you do not have to go outside to get anywhere, refill the drinks, and the balconies are great to sit on when the kids have gone to sleep!

Just counting the days.

Mike

 

[lvp49]

We just upgraded from POR to AKL for seven nights 9/30. SO excited!! I know that the safes at POP are big enough for a laptop now. Are they at AKL too? I would like to be able to download my digital pictures to it to keep my memory card clear.

I wish there was somewhere you could go in WDW to burn a CD of your digital pics without sending the card out overnight!!

Thanks

 

[storybookmum]

Originally posted by BALAMAV
Disney girl#1, Thanks for the info. Do you have any links to websites on the AKL that people have put their trip pictures on or they have a website like Tikiman or I found a website devoted to the Coranado Springs. This website on Coranado was great. That place looks neat for a moderate. Even though there is a Convention Center. I sent it to my co-worker and they loved the picture so much that, this is where they are staying next fall. I was hoping to find something on the AKL. I have a client from work going on the Land/Sea in Feb. We did the trip this past May. We had a great time. We decided to do the BC since we have done the Poly. Big mistake. We didn't care for that place at all. It is nice we didn't like the set up and the rooms they put you in on the package. So I have them talked into the Poly. They have been to Tikimans site. But they mentioned the AKL. They have 2 girls 5 and 8. So if I could find some good pictures then they could decide alittle better which will do for their family. If anyone else has some info. That would be great. Thanks Brenda

This site is excellent for photos of all the resorts:

http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/akl.html

HTH,

Kris

 

[kathymc]

so glad you had a good time - we leave next saturday for our first time at AKL!
thanks for posting