the.leonhardts
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 7, 2007
- Messages
- 121
We just returned from AKL (Sept. 12-16). Didn't really notice the construction -- just black curtains at the balconies for floors 5 and 6. Stayed in a pool view room, 3014. Absolutely loved it! Right off the lobby, and just a skip down the stairs to the closest exit to the bus stops. The bus stop door is in the vicinity of room 2030. Very convenient, pops you out right by where the buses pull up.
Room location -- a couple of years ago, we had a great savannah view room all the way at the end of the far hall. It was a corner room with a long hall way -- you walked forever to the very end of the cooridor, then turned the corner and walked some more until there was no place else to go. However, it was a bit larger than the standard rooms and had a great view of the animals. This year, we enjoyed the convenience of our location and visited the animals in the public viewing areas.
The "book while you're here" offer was for free dining for a stay anytime in September 2008. We booked the very last week at the Wilderness Lodge. It has the same basic footprint as AKL; is in the MK area, and we're looking to try something new. Taking advantage of the schools being out for Jewish holidays and trying to get to the coolest part of the month. Hoping it will also be the week when they start running MNSSHP more than once a week. It was hot this last week -- 91 to 94 each day with the afternoon/evening thundershowers.
Housekeeping did a good job -- particularly since we're travelling with a teenager and tended to hang around the room during prime housekeeping hours (sleeping in, pool time, etc. . .). No towel animals, but good service.
Lots of activities for the little ones going on at what seemed to be all times. Great place to have elemetary school age and preschool kids at.
The restaurants seemed to be less busy at AKL than anywhere else -- we were late getting in the first night due to flight problems, and Boma still managed to squeeze us in when we went downstairs. Amazing, considering it was during free dining and right about restaurant closing time. Mara just showed a bit of a rush at breakfast, but still had tables available. A couple of lunches at Mara we pretty much had the place to ourselves.
Free dining -- first experience with the dining plan. Loved it -- Disney seems to have it down to a science now. I remember watching the folks struggling in line with it a couple of years ago and thinking, "No way!" Zipped in and out at the cash register, and the staff helped us with our options. At the Mara, they counted the fresh fruit bowls and small salads as snacks (thought they might be too large to count as snacks).
Buses -- timely and not too crowded. We seemed to have just missed a bus several times, but always got one within 10-15 minutes of arriving at the bus stop.
Hope that helps some folks who are lurking and planning!
Judy
Room location -- a couple of years ago, we had a great savannah view room all the way at the end of the far hall. It was a corner room with a long hall way -- you walked forever to the very end of the cooridor, then turned the corner and walked some more until there was no place else to go. However, it was a bit larger than the standard rooms and had a great view of the animals. This year, we enjoyed the convenience of our location and visited the animals in the public viewing areas.
The "book while you're here" offer was for free dining for a stay anytime in September 2008. We booked the very last week at the Wilderness Lodge. It has the same basic footprint as AKL; is in the MK area, and we're looking to try something new. Taking advantage of the schools being out for Jewish holidays and trying to get to the coolest part of the month. Hoping it will also be the week when they start running MNSSHP more than once a week. It was hot this last week -- 91 to 94 each day with the afternoon/evening thundershowers.
Housekeeping did a good job -- particularly since we're travelling with a teenager and tended to hang around the room during prime housekeeping hours (sleeping in, pool time, etc. . .). No towel animals, but good service.
Lots of activities for the little ones going on at what seemed to be all times. Great place to have elemetary school age and preschool kids at.
The restaurants seemed to be less busy at AKL than anywhere else -- we were late getting in the first night due to flight problems, and Boma still managed to squeeze us in when we went downstairs. Amazing, considering it was during free dining and right about restaurant closing time. Mara just showed a bit of a rush at breakfast, but still had tables available. A couple of lunches at Mara we pretty much had the place to ourselves.
Free dining -- first experience with the dining plan. Loved it -- Disney seems to have it down to a science now. I remember watching the folks struggling in line with it a couple of years ago and thinking, "No way!" Zipped in and out at the cash register, and the staff helped us with our options. At the Mara, they counted the fresh fruit bowls and small salads as snacks (thought they might be too large to count as snacks).
Buses -- timely and not too crowded. We seemed to have just missed a bus several times, but always got one within 10-15 minutes of arriving at the bus stop.
Hope that helps some folks who are lurking and planning!
Judy
