Just back from AKL, any ???

[mep319]

Just got back from AKL...we had an amazing time. I'm not quite in the mood to type my complete review as of yet but does anyone have any questions???? I will make a few coments...

Loved conceirge but hated the view...we stayed on the second floor last time and I can definately say that the view from the lower floors is MUCH better... "oh there is an animal...oh now it is covered by the tree"....I saw more tree tops then animals. I can say without a doubt if you are not staying conceirge request a room on the 2nd or 3rd flr....But still thrilled with the view.

The sunrise safari was fabulous...so was concierge...but had to ask for the giraffe..

Mousekeeping was so so.....wasn't really up to snuff

Bring insect repellant if you plan to spend any time at Arusha Rock in the evening....mosquitos the size of small birds!

Boma was a huge disappointment. We had a 6:30 PS and wasn't called to 7:45...we told them to forget it.

 

[bryantslovedisney]

We're staying in AKL concierge right before Xmas
and I've read from several posts your dissappointment
with the views! Do you remember what room you were in?
Are there differnt views depending on which savannah
you overlook? Also I heard the closer to the elevators the
better??? I think this DISer said her room was a long way from the Lounge...How was the Lounge? Was the food good?
I'm sorry to hear about your experience at BOMA, we went
for breakfast there and it was fabulous! Are there any other
events beside sunrise Safari, that might be fun to do???
Thanks for all of your help!!

 

[mep319]

I doubt the room location matters as far as the view goes in concierge. Basically your too high up and you are looking down thru the trees! That is what made it a poor view...you had to look thru the trees!! We requested the best savannah view and apparently that is what we got. I spoke w/ several of the conceirge folks and they said the 6th flr views are actually worse b/c it is partially blocked by the roof. We in fact we had one of the best concierge views! At least that is what I was told. I was somewhat disappointted that the views were better in the non- concierge rooms. We were far from the elevators...5th flr Kudu trail, Arusha Savannah...but it was okay. I will say some of the folks allowed their children to go up alone...I wouldn't...many of those on the 6th floor allowed their children to go alone and sometimes I observed 5/6 yr olds sitting and watching TV w/out an adult in sight...they were well behaved but that really shocked me! I can't believe they allow this!

I loved concierge and the safari but actually think I may forgo it next time to be on a lower floor with a better view.

The lounge and food were excellant, not much during the day but morning and evening were great. We have eaten at Bomas before and while it was good I was very upset w/ having to wait so long.

As far as other things to do...starting 11/8 there is a Sunset Safari that is held in the lodge's savannahs and ends w/ dinner at Jiko...you might want to call concierge...it looks interesting.

 

[punkin]

I'm glad you had a good time. I'm really looking forward to concierge. The planners seem to be wonderful (I just got a call yesterday that they booked us a CRT ressie less than 2 weeks out) I'm really upset about the views-I want to see the animals more than anything else Oh well, we'll see what happens. I'm also getting ready for a bad room since we'll be checking in after midnight.

 

[AKL For Me]

Hi, and thanks for the review. Could you elaborate just a bit on the housekeeping not being up to par? That concerns me. Thanks.

 

[bryantslovedisney]

Thanks so much for all of your info...I'm real
excited, but don't know what to expect, so it's
nice to hear from someone that's been there!
I was concerned about Housekeeping being
SO-SO as well. I guess I'm expecting extra pampering
all around...Maybe I'm expecting too much. Do
you ever hear from concierge once you're there or
are you on your own once you check in??
I assume tipping Mousekeeping is in order...Not to get
Personal, But I never know what to tip them...especially
in Concierge? Any Ideas?? Do you think that makes
a difference in the service? It sure seemed to when we
stayed at The Cabins In Fort Wilderness...Of course
they had dishes to do!!
Thanks,
Jill

 

[mep319]

The room was made up...we had an towel animal the first nite, we forgot to tip the next morning b/c we were in a rush for a PS and next nite no animal. We tipped, then an animal....it annoyed me that we only got the animal when we remember to leave a tip out...My DD7 found candy and a Flintstone vitamin under the bed when we first arrived. No big deal threw it away but they obviously didn't clean too well. There was a dead spider on the edge of the tub after the first nite and I just left it there to see what would happen.....I finally threw it away 2 days later. She never took the empty dishes from the lounge I had to leave them outside the door to get them taken. Turn down service was fine....it was all okay but not excellant...I've had better mousekeeping.

The concierge would not accept tips...we tried a couple of times and saw folks try as well. We did give them flowers from the disney florist the day we left. Concierge did contact us a couple of times but I had made most of the PSs myself b/c we did not switch to concierge until a couple days out due to availablility.

Overall it was a great experience and we did really enojoy ourselves. The complaints are minimal...I'm just trying to point some things out to help those of you planning. Really don't worry it was great. Had I had younger children I may have complained about mousekeeping, DD may have bee disappointed about the animals but it really wasn't too big of a deal.

 

[MarkLem]

I'm looking into staying at AKL in a standard view room.

Aside from that, what things would be interesting to an 8, 6, 3 year old staying at AKL. How are the pools, for example?

Thanks

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

mep319,

Was the PS for Boma made by the concierge staff or by you? I have read that if the concierge makes your PS the restaurant will try to seat you quickly. I'm interested in your experiences with this.

Lori

 

[missypie]

My DD LOVES animals and would flip over AKL. But we are a family of 5, so I think we would have to book Deluxe Savanah View, which I am told is on the 7th floor ... even more tree tops than the OP had...I'm concerned...

 

[mep319]

There is no 7th floor. All deluxe rooms are on the 5th and 6th floor. 6th flr is concierge only. 5th floor has deluxes...some of which are allocated to concierge. We were on the 5th floor. Trees are trees no matter high up you are...I doubt it would make a difference anyway...

 

[bryantslovedisney]

MEPeg13,
Thanks for the info!
We kind of noticed when we were at Ft Wilderns cabins
this June, that the animals that were made totally depended
on the tip(if it was left or not)! I thought it would be different
in concierge...doesn't sound like it is!!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Mep319,

Was your PS for Boma made by you or the concierge staff?

Thanks,

Lori

 

[mep319]

The PS was made by concierge...

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

mep319,

I'm shocked that the wait was 1 1/4 hours for a concierge guest.

We're only staying 1 night but I requested 6th floor, non smoking.
I hope we get it. I would rather be near the lounge than have a good view. We're going on the sunrise safari so we won't be in our room too much. I want to use our 1 day exploring the hotel.

Lori

 

[Aunt Jo]

I feel the need to post and maybe alleviate some fears about the 5th floor views. We stayed Concierge last June and had room #5505 (Arusha Savannah, Zebra Trail). We did see some tree tops but also had animal sightings that were more than satisfactory. We had 3 children that enjoyed sitting on the balcony and viewing the animals for long periods of time. Our room was a long way from the lounge but we didn't even mind that. The walk to the main elevator was quite pleasant with large windows to look outside along the way. We were very close to the elevator that took us down to the laundry room, the pool and Mara. I will admit that the animal viewing from the second floor was better. We spent our first night on the second floor and that is considered to be eye level. I have read on other threads that you can request rooms on other floors while staying Concierge. But we were quite pleased with our room on the fifth floor, the animal viewing, the Concierge lounge, and housekeeping. We refused turndown service if we were in the room but always took those delicious chocolates they handed out.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Aunt Jo,

Thanks for your review. I'm just going with the attitude that I'm on vacation and I'll pretty much be happy with any view because I've never been to AKL. If I were staying longer than 1 day then my view would matter.

Lori

 

[mep319]

As I stated before...my overall experience at AKL was WONDERFUL. I will have an awlful difficult time convincing my DD and DH to stay else where....I was just pointing out things that concerned me to try to help those planning. We liked the view BUT can say that the view from the 2nd floor is so much more amazing....to the degree that I would forgo concierge in order to stay on a lower floor....if I couldn't have concierge on the lower flr. We enjoyed our 5th floor view but we LOVED our 2nd floor view. We definately saw more trees than animals but still enjoyed the view...it is an observation and learning experience. I will next time request a 2nd floor view. And mousekeeping wasn't up to par...if I had younger children...I would definately inspect the floor and under the bed prior to letting them loose in the room. Otherwise we had an amazing experience and it will be difficult to consider staying any where other than AKL. Don't worry...it is beautiful resort with a wonderful atmosphere. Enjoy!

 

[missypie]

Months ago I posted, asking if any rooms at AKL could handle 5 people. I was told about Deluxe Savanah view rooms and told they were all on the 7th floor...so I guess that was either a joke or a typo?

Are all Deluxe Savanah view rooms on the 5th floor?

 

[bryantslovedisney]

Deluxe Savannah and Concierge?
Can you request a queen,Bunkbeds and a daybed in concierge
or is that for Deluxe only??? It' so confusing???
I'm so glad to hear about the room numbers that might
have decent views..my sons were really looking forward to that!
Thanks for all of the help!

Jill