Just back from AKL-Good and Bad

[nwdisgal]

Plus I DO enjoy pool view it sure beats the hell out of dirt road and tree... with the occassional ostrich or giraffe that you have to get up at 6 am to see!

I can relate. The first time I was in that section, I just remember the birds flapping and not much else. Second time, there were a lot more animals and maybe our timing was right or their timing was right or we didn't care because we were trying to have a second honeymoon and the glass was looking full the whole trip.

 

[pw2pp]

:I heard they will start to use it again once they have the mug barcode system in place!!

Are they going to start the mug barcode system at the resorts?
I noticed they had that at Blizzard Beach.

 

[pw2pp]

And we wonder where the word "mug shot" came from?

 

[Schmeck]

We had pool view on our last trip at AKL, and I'll never get that again. It was so loud that I felt like I was in a city, the chlorine smell was so strong that we had to keep our sliding door shut all the time, and the 'view' was 80% blocked by posts and vegetation.

We had a room overlooking the Uzima savannah a few years ago - giraffe (4-5 of them) outside our room at 3 PM every day, they were there in the morning as well. Lots of other mammals, and quite a few gorgeous birds as well.

The Sunset Savannah has the least amount of mammals. I believe the resort map lists which animals are in each area. We'd like to try Arusha one day, as we love zebra second only to giraffe.

It's too bad the OP didn't try Boma with kids. It's one of the few places that has so much food that my kids are willing to try. My picky eater finds at least one new thing to try there each time.

Also wondering how 3 year old got hurt? You can request bedrails at all WDW Resorts to keep little ones from falling off the bed.

 

[Luv2trav]

We had pool view on our last trip at AKL, and I'll never get that again. It was so loud that I felt like I was in a city, the chlorine smell was so strong that we had to keep our sliding door shut all the time, and the 'view' was 80% blocked by posts and vegetation.

We had a room overlooking the Uzima savannah a few years ago - giraffe (4-5 of them) outside our room at 3 PM every day, they were there in the morning as well. Lots of other mammals, and quite a few gorgeous birds as well.

The Sunset Savannah has the least amount of mammals. I believe the resort map lists which animals are in each area. We'd like to try Arusha one day, as we love zebra second only to giraffe.

It's too bad the OP didn't try Boma with kids. It's one of the few places that has so much food that my kids are willing to try. My picky eater finds at least one new thing to try there each time.

Also wondering how 3 year old got hurt? You can request bedrails at all WDW Resorts to keep little ones from falling off the bed.

We were orginally going to try Boma but we had so many character meals (My 3 year old loves them) and sit downs meals at the parks that we just never made it to Boma. It did smell wonderful though.

As for the beds it was my son's fault he got hurt. He fell out of bed trying to get out to see the animals at 6 am. When he slipped he hit his mouth on the end of the bed and split his mouth open. I don't blame this on AKL. Just be careful if you have little ones... I heard WL has the same type of beds.

Again, I am not bashing AKL it's a beautiful and relaxing resort. I just don't think the savannah rooms are worth what they charge for rack rate. I do feel the discount we received was adequate.

 

[Spoisal]

Was your 3 year old in a top bunk? Might seem drastic, but I think you are supposed to be 5 or 6 before you are allowed to sleep in the top bunk.

 

[racheltyler]

I definitely agree with some on the savannah view. We've stayed in both and I prefer the pool view. It was more of an adventure to get out of the room and look for animals. Our pool view there was gorgeous, so peaceful looking at water. And then we like to get out of the room and go to all the many lookout areas. It was so much more fun that way for us. Basically, it gave us something more to do vs. sitting in the room looking at the animals. And at night from our balcony, we listened to the pool music while watching the lights on the water with palm trees swaying in front of us sipping drinks - oh it was heavenly!!!! Oh, one more thing, the pool view rooms are so convenient to everything. We had steps right outside of the room to the pool. Not far is the food, lobby, animals....

 

[buckeye]

Racheltyler,
Thanks for posting this! We have poolview for Spring Break and I was getting depressed... You've brought me to my senses!!

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I have tried pool view and it was great! I think the pool area is really beautiful. We were on the second floor over Jiko. No obstruction from where we were...and there was a little stream running under us one floor down. Very nice. The pool area looks great in the middle of all the desert like landscaping. I never noticed it being loud...in fact, we liked keeping the door open to hear the sounds outside...just sounded like people having fun on vacation, at the most.

I also loved our savannah views. The best by far was the deluxe savannah view we had in concierge. Gorgeous panoramic view from the fifth floor. Lower floors were fine, too. We've only been on the Arusha savannah and plan to ask for the Uzimi? at some point to see what that one is like.

 

[poohluv]

The people pen is where they stick guests who use refillable mugs from previous trips! As you could see-- it was empty!

Originally from Omaha? Isn't that where they're famous for potatoes? Yeh, I think so!

Oh gosh, Idaho's where they're famous for their potatoes. What's Omaho famous for turkeys?

 

[Luv2trav]

I agree that Poolview is MUCH closer to everything than we were. We couldn't get any further away unless we had the room next to us. We were 2nd furtherest room away on the 2nd floor...

 

[Luv2trav]

Was your 3 year old in a top bunk? Might seem drastic, but I think you are supposed to be 5 or 6 before you are allowed to sleep in the top bunk.

No he was sleeping in one of the queen beds with us... Our other room (mother's room) had bunk beds but I wouldn't let him sleep in those beds. He's too small.