Just Back From AKL - It Was Just "Alright"

[randyl]

It was me, my DW, and my DS (6) in one room and my DB in another room below us. I know that there are many lovers of the AKL out there. I think it was just "alright". First let me explain that I am not a huge fan of African-themed "things" and I'm not crazy about animals. However, with that in mind, I do agree that the theming of this hotel is tremendous. They did a great job. And for those who like this type of decor, I can fully understand why you love this place so much. And the presence of the animals was amazing. My favorites are the WL, GF and YC. It just wasn't my type - but I did want to try it since I've read so many wonderful things about it.

I was very appreciative that we were upgraded from standard view to savannah. Mousekeeping was very good and timely. Our room was "way out there" on the Zudu Trail (Room 3384). Didn't mind the walk (we were far from everything) - just happy and appreciative to be upgraded.

Some of the CM's there didn't seem to like their jobs. There was a rude CM (older lady) running the cash register in Mara. The 3 of us put 3 beers down to buy and a juice and snack for my DS. She says loudly "I need another adult!". We all 3 look at eachother puzzled by her her remark and ask why. She says "I need another adult! You have three beers here. I need three adults!". We tell her that we are three adults and she tells my wife that she is not old enough (even though she is turning 38 next month). Couldn't she have simply asked for an ID? Or been a little more professional about it rather than be so loud and presumptuous and make us look like we are trying to pull a fast one?

Anither time we we were going to sit at a table near the pool bar. There were 2 bartenders working. It wasn't busy, but there was only one table empty near the bar. It was dirty. Had stuff spilled on it, cigarette butts, etc. I went over to the bartender and asked for a wet rag and said I wanted to clean off the table so we could sit at it. I was somewhat surprised when he gave me a rag proceeded to watch me clean off and wipe down a table. I was actually laughing in disbelief and commented to my wife that maybe I'll get a job bussing tables at Jiko.

I know - just little things but the little things used to be what separated Disney from the pack.

 

[SonyaD]

I so agree with you about AKL. My son is a HUGE HUGE animal fan so when we went to disney to celebrate his 4th b-day. We paid for the upgraded room and when we got their they stick us in this awful corner room that we could not see anything but dirt! My dh went to complain and the manager said oh yeah that is a really bad room (ughh so why did they put us there??) So she moved us to anouther room all the way on the other side of the hotel. No one offered to come and help us transfer our luggage so we moved it all ourselves while tugging a 4yr old in tow who just wants to look at the animals. We get to the next room and it is the exact same view on the other side of the hotel!!! My husband is so mad and goes down to complain again she finally moves us to a great room on the fifth floor back on the other side of the hotel. We then again move all of our luggage! So after 3 hours of transfering rooms we finally got settled the 1st night was pretty much ruined.

What really gets me is that she should have put us in a good room when she moved us the 1st time and she should have sent someone to help with the luggage.

I also didn't like that the pool closed during peak season at 6pm or 8pm some nights. I like to swim when we get back from the parks late at night. When we stayed at the music resort we swam until midnight most nights.

We are going back in Sept. staying at the Carribean Beach resort. I hope we have a better hotel experience.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Hmmm...Can't say I ever experienced any of the things you did at AKL. Sorry your stay was less than magical. Our last visit was May 21 - 30. We found the CM's to be very friendly and helpful. Every day, at least one would engage our children in a conversation about the resort or Africa. 3 out of our 8 days we got towel animals in our room. Our room, and the entire resort, were very, very clean. Another wonderful visit.

 

[randyl]

I agree - the resort was very clean with the excetion of that one time at the pool bar. We never got towel animals, never had any individual attention, etc. We did experience each of those at WL, GF, YC, etc. AKL is not a bad hotel - it just seemed to lack that Disney magic this time.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

while i never stayed at akl i went there on my last ttip
looked around ate
i thought it was very dark and like WL alot more
sorry about your stay and for that person had to move for 3 hours
thats soo ridiculous

 

[jcsbama]

Not trying to defend the rude CM and I was not there, so I don't know, but I wonder if the CM was actually trying to pay your wife a compliment by insinuating she didn't look her age. Her personality may not have been the type to actually pull that joke off.

I understand about a resort being nice, but not your type. I've heard great things about CSR, but I'm still not looking forward to my stay there (absolutely nothing else available that night) because the theming does not appeal to DH and myself.

Still can't believe the bartender let you wipe the table.

 

[golfgal]

Not trying to defend the rude CM and I was not there, so I don't know, but I wonder if the CM was actually trying to pay your wife a compliment by insinuating she didn't look her age. Her personality may not have been the type to actually pull that joke off.

I understand about a resort being nice, but not your type. I've heard great things about CSR, but I'm still not looking forward to my stay there (absolutely nothing else available that night) because the theming does not appeal to DH and myself.

Still can't believe the bartender let you wipe the table.

I know which CM they are talking about and she was crabby every time we saw her. The rest of them were fine.

 

[Schmeck]

I wanna go to AKL, just to be carded by the cashier!

(I'm 41, by the way, and once a grocery store cashier mistook my husband for my son )

 

[Suzanne74]

Sorry your stay wasn't as magical as you wanted. I haven't stayed at AKL yet but we plan on doing Boma or Jiko for the free dining plan and I want to check it out. I am not into the dark theming as well but I LOVE animals. I am anxious to see how I feel about it when we go.

I am more like you - I love BW and YC. Loved the Poly grounds but wasn't a huge fan of the rooms for the price. We will be trying Coronado Springs, our first moderate.

 

[elf]

We just got back on Monday from AKL. Spent five nights there and loved it more than I thought I would. I was so scepticle that I split our stay between POR and AKL.
I only found the long slow moving lines and the dark rooms (the lighting) annoying. Everytime I went onto the Conceirge or registration line it was never less than 30 minutes sometimes up to an hour. That's when there were only a couple of people ahead of us.
But we found the workers helpful and friendly. I had a problem with tickets for a nondisney show, they fixed it with a smile. They printed out SW boarding tickets for me.
We all experience different things at different hotels. I wasn't thrilled with POR my DH didn't like it at all. Very high crowds, very long walks, noisy air conditioners, small beds, not friendly CM's.
I remember a crabby cashier at Mara's and she didn't card me, I think I'm insulted

 

[kellypooh]

My husband and I just stayed at AKL May 15-21 and I'm glad to say we had none of the problems I've seen posted. After a day in the glaring sun , the dark theme was a welcome relief. We loved it....
And as far as the pool being "closed" is concerned, we swam late at night almost every night we were there. The lifeguards go off duty earlier in the evening but the pool is open all night...you just swim "at your own risk".

 

[jmcross]

I went through the exact same situation as SonyaD. We were so excited to be staying at AKL for the first time a couple of years ago.

We were also put in that corner room facing the dirt and then moved to the opposite side of the lodge into that exact same type of room. After going down to the front desk they moved us to yet another room 2 doors down that reeked of cigarette smoke with the same view as rooms 1 and 2. We did all of this moving with 2 kids and all of the luggage by ourselves. I literally went down to the front desk in tears and my DH was just furious and wanted to switch resorts at this point. Finally we were moved to the 5th floor in the center savannah.

Although we enjoyed AKL and thought it was beautiful, the initial 3 hours wasted to get into an acceptable room kind of tainted the whole experience.

So to SonyaD, I understand completely!

Joanne

 

[dawgfan]

I agree with the theme probelms here. I have been to both WL and AKL and really do not like the theme at either one. Just my taste I guess. If I could afford the YC at every trip that is where I would be. That theme seems to be more my style (not my budget sad to say).