I'm back and let me tell you it was the best vacation I've ever been on. The DW and I stayed at the AKL for 6 days and it blew our mind. Our expectations were high. We have stayed at the Beach Club in the past and it has always been our favorite but the AKL is our new hotel of choice. It really grows on you. At first after we checked it, we didn't know where anything was and wished we were at another resort but after a couple days we were accustomed to the layout which couldn't have been set up any better and we fell in love with the place.
We checked in at 12noon and believe it or not our room was ready and waiting for us. So we went right up to get settled. We didn't have a room inside the horseshoe but we could still see some animals. We later decided that day that we would ask if anything was available in the horseshoe cause it did look like that was the best spot. Sure enough, our request was granted and 3 hours later were were in Zebra trail looking out over a watering hole and Arusha Rock was to our left. Every morning we awoke to Zebra, Giraffes, Cattle, you name it. It was incredible. I have about 2 hours of movies to prove it. The DW and I just might pop those movies in tonight and relive the magic but somehow it just won't be the same..
FOOD:We went to eat at Boma the first night. We were starved and Boma helped us with that. The buffet was awesome. We would have gone there again for dinner but we wanted to do some many others things we never got back. I had the prime rib which was the best I've ever had. The DW loved the mac and cheese at the kiddie buffet and said it was the best she's had in her 26 years. The selection was great and it had african food and american too. The marinated chicked was good and so were the deserts everyone has been raving about. The Zebra desert was mouth watering and the my surprising favorite was a Tiramisu like desert. I forgot the name but it was the best thing I ever tasted. All those who like Tiramisu will love this.
Never tried Jiko's the menu was a little to wild for us and we also wanted to hit restaurants like Fultons, California Grille, Portabella Yacht Club, Cape May Cafe. Check out the restaurant board for reviews on those places.
The fast food "The Mara" place was pretty good for fast food. It got a littel crowded in the mornings but other than that the service was good and food was tasty. The burgers, chicken fingers and my favorite the ceasar salad were al very good. The refillable mug was the best investment we had made since we filled it up at least 5-6 time a day.
THE POOL: Never was overcrowed except for one day. We heard that already there has been problems with people from other resorts and non disney guest coming in through disney transportation to use the pool. The AKL is only half open and it was way too crowed for a resort not fully open. But it was too bad when we were there. One thing that surprised us was how many kids were around. Before we went we heard about how the AKL was going to be directed at couples only but I thought I was at the All star Movies a couple times. Not that that bothers us has a couple with no kids yet but don't got there thinking our staying at a secluded resort in the Carribean. The pool was open 24 hours but the guards were only there till 10. The waterslide didn't look like but much but I tried it and it's a nice little ride for the kids and and big kids like me.
CONCLUSION: All in all the resort over exceed expectations. We rented a car and saved so much time. We didn't use any disney transportation while were there and only used half tank of gas the whole trip and we went everywhere on Disney soil. There has been speculation about parking in Disney resorts to go to the theme parks and it's true. 5-8 our six visits to resorts were were given parking passes but they were never enforced. Especially if you put the pass under your seat for the day. To finally wrap up, the vacation couldn't have been any better. To those who have been to disney before know how hard that last day at disney is before you fly back home. I still have pains in my stomach knowing that is this part of the world where you don't have to think about anything but having fun. I'm 26 years old and been over 10 times and it was harder to leave yesterday than it was when I was 12. It truly amazes my how the disney experience never seems to grow old and each time there is like my first. I wouldn't trade anything in the world for that first walk down Main Street USA at the begining of each trip it's a feeling that you can describe.
QUESTIONS: Let me know if you have any. It's the least I can do for you since you've read this far.. thanks for your time.
We checked in at 12noon and believe it or not our room was ready and waiting for us. So we went right up to get settled. We didn't have a room inside the horseshoe but we could still see some animals. We later decided that day that we would ask if anything was available in the horseshoe cause it did look like that was the best spot. Sure enough, our request was granted and 3 hours later were were in Zebra trail looking out over a watering hole and Arusha Rock was to our left. Every morning we awoke to Zebra, Giraffes, Cattle, you name it. It was incredible. I have about 2 hours of movies to prove it. The DW and I just might pop those movies in tonight and relive the magic but somehow it just won't be the same..
FOOD:We went to eat at Boma the first night. We were starved and Boma helped us with that. The buffet was awesome. We would have gone there again for dinner but we wanted to do some many others things we never got back. I had the prime rib which was the best I've ever had. The DW loved the mac and cheese at the kiddie buffet and said it was the best she's had in her 26 years. The selection was great and it had african food and american too. The marinated chicked was good and so were the deserts everyone has been raving about. The Zebra desert was mouth watering and the my surprising favorite was a Tiramisu like desert. I forgot the name but it was the best thing I ever tasted. All those who like Tiramisu will love this.
Never tried Jiko's the menu was a little to wild for us and we also wanted to hit restaurants like Fultons, California Grille, Portabella Yacht Club, Cape May Cafe. Check out the restaurant board for reviews on those places.
The fast food "The Mara" place was pretty good for fast food. It got a littel crowded in the mornings but other than that the service was good and food was tasty. The burgers, chicken fingers and my favorite the ceasar salad were al very good. The refillable mug was the best investment we had made since we filled it up at least 5-6 time a day.
THE POOL: Never was overcrowed except for one day. We heard that already there has been problems with people from other resorts and non disney guest coming in through disney transportation to use the pool. The AKL is only half open and it was way too crowed for a resort not fully open. But it was too bad when we were there. One thing that surprised us was how many kids were around. Before we went we heard about how the AKL was going to be directed at couples only but I thought I was at the All star Movies a couple times. Not that that bothers us has a couple with no kids yet but don't got there thinking our staying at a secluded resort in the Carribean. The pool was open 24 hours but the guards were only there till 10. The waterslide didn't look like but much but I tried it and it's a nice little ride for the kids and and big kids like me.
CONCLUSION: All in all the resort over exceed expectations. We rented a car and saved so much time. We didn't use any disney transportation while were there and only used half tank of gas the whole trip and we went everywhere on Disney soil. There has been speculation about parking in Disney resorts to go to the theme parks and it's true. 5-8 our six visits to resorts were were given parking passes but they were never enforced. Especially if you put the pass under your seat for the day. To finally wrap up, the vacation couldn't have been any better. To those who have been to disney before know how hard that last day at disney is before you fly back home. I still have pains in my stomach knowing that is this part of the world where you don't have to think about anything but having fun. I'm 26 years old and been over 10 times and it was harder to leave yesterday than it was when I was 12. It truly amazes my how the disney experience never seems to grow old and each time there is like my first. I wouldn't trade anything in the world for that first walk down Main Street USA at the begining of each trip it's a feeling that you can describe.
QUESTIONS: Let me know if you have any. It's the least I can do for you since you've read this far.. thanks for your time.
