Just back from AKL....my report....bring on the flames!!

[Dee & Greg]

We have stayed at AKL two years in a row. First year we were upgraded to pool view, and it was lovely. Last year WOW.. upgraded to a savannah view (at $119/night!). We had a corner room, with two balconies and we were at the end of the hall. Never heard a peep from neighbors, including the toliets.
Every year I worry that I'll get the crappy noisy neighbors, etc.
So far, we've lucked out.

We love AKL. Hope we will love the BC this year.

Enjoyed your review, positive or not. It's the real world. I've just never had to live in it.. YET

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by totalia
harlock_jds

Thank you. Someone who understands.

-------------------------

Btw, housekeeping has keys to enter all the rooms. They have to in order to do their jobs.

The doors in hotel rooms are always locked and they lock automatically. That means that in order for housekeeping to get into a room, they ALL have a master key or they can't get in to clean it.

Whoever walked into the room was just an idiot and was asking to get into trouble but its not the worst thing in the world.

The clerks in a hotel are human too. That means they act like everyone else does. Everyone has a bad day, everyone gets stressed. You can't tell me that you have never snapped at a customer because we all have at some point.

Sometimes guests are severely unreasonable and when you have already had a stressful day, eventually everyone can wear thin. It's also a matter of perception. When a guest is angry sometimes a clerk can be seen to be mean and condescending when they are being nothing of the sort.

Ex. For three years there has been severe droubt in my area. very severe. Last year alot of homes were lost in the mountains due to forest fires. These fires were causing alot of the animals (and yes many bugs too) to run away and often into the cities and towns.

We had a SWARM of these little black bugs. They were everywhere. All over everything. It was disgusting. And short of having a housekeeper run around with nothing but a dustbuster and not do anything else all night and all day, we couldn't get rid of them. The whole city had this problem (the convenience store across the street had a front door that I was scared to touch because it was litterally crawling with the little black critters).

A guest found 6 of them in her room and exploded. She was yelling at me so hard I was almost crying. I had sent housekeeping to take care of it and maintenance was making sure the rubber stops on the bottom of the doors were intact BUT they were so small they were getting through even the tinest crack. There was nothing anyone could do about it and we tried.

There were so many the city was even scared to spray because of the amount of bug killer it would have taken. It would have proven a health risk to the citizens when the bugs, while disgusting, were absolutely harmless.

The guest reaction was FAR beyond what it should have been. I DO NOT care if her car had broken down earlier that day and she had trouble getting through the border in the middle of the summer. She was simply cruel.

If I had had my way, she'd have been booted out of the hotel in two seconds flat for the words she was using towards me. But management ruled to give her a free room instead.

You see, it goes both ways. Just as you don't want to see an irate clerk, we don't want to see an irate guest.

No one is perfect, not even the Disney employees especially during circumstances that are very much out of their control.

Housekeeping has keys, but when you put the door latch on it, they can't come in. Otherwise in my opinion you have left your door unlocked.

 

[mrsmom]

I was there for the hurricane and had an amazing time. I had a pool view which i loved!!! and the cms were great and i ate at boma which i most likley would have never tried if it was for the hurricane. I am one to not try new things but let me tell you this was a great place. they soups were outstanding!!!! the zebra domes were great .I will definately eat there again.
Housekeeping was great ,i have tons of disney soaps and shampoos to take to the childrens hospital. and i even had a cute towel animals, it was a boat with three ducks in it. The buses were great too never waited more than 5 minutes. I loved AKL and would not hestitate to stay there again.
Kim

 

[sissybells]

The only thing that got me confused about the OP's post was how Small the lobby was. I don't see that at all. even if it has a bunch of people in it. I am always overwhelmed no matter how many times I see it. I Love This Resort. It is the only one I ever want to stay at. I Love it so much I'm nervous to stay at any other resort. I am sorry you had a bad time.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Steppdaddy
The only thing that got me confused about the OP's post was how Small the lobby was. I don't see that at all. even if it has a bunch of people in it. I am always overwhelmed no matter how many times I see it. I Love This Resort. It is the only one I ever want to stay at. I Love it so much I'm nervous to stay at any other resort. I am sorry you had a bad time.

Under normal circumstances the lobby is not small. During a hurricane when literally every room in the resort is packed and everyone is confined to the resort, then yes it would seem small.

However hurricanes are not the everyday experience of this resort or any Disney resort. I would not judge any experience during a hurricane as normal operating procedure.

If these experiences had occured at any other time I would agree they warrant comment and venting and letting Disney know. During a major natural disaster it comes off to me as being petty, when literally others were dying and losing their entire homes at the same time that someone was having to deal with a dirty sheet and bad view.

Just my opinion.

 

[Topper]

Call me strange if you must, but if I or another person in my room spilled a soda on the bed (enough to leave a *massive* stain), I would have called housekeeping and told them what an idiot I was was and ask them to bring me new sheets so I could change the bed myself.

If the stain was *massive*, I'd be concerned about the mattress itself being damaged, and would have immediately stripped off the sheets, blanket and pad.

 

[jcemom]

Sorry to hear you had such a terrible experience at AKL!

We had not one of the problems you did when we were there in February! My DH (who didn't even want to go) said he'd stay at AKL again in a heartbeat.

I've read about the "pen view" rooms and don't think they should even be considered a Savannah View room! If they were giving it to someone as a free upgrade it would be different, but not when you've paid for Savannah View! Hurricane or no, I would have asked to be moved!

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Originally posted by Lisa loves Pooh


Second--They have a hurricane crew at all of the resorts--some have to work, some volunteer to work--they can bring their families--heck, they can bring their dog--so the argument that they are worried about loved ones--while true--they do have the choice to bring household members along for the ride.

Not 100% true. During Jeanne, I was not allowed to bring my daughter. For Charley, pets and family were not allowed. We didn't all have the choice to "bring them for the ride."

 

[totalia]

Originally posted by Sammie
Housekeeping has keys, but when you put the door latch on it, they can't come in. Otherwise in my opinion you have left your door unlocked.

Very true and excellant point.

 

[totalia]

Originally posted by Stepharoonie!
Not 100% true. During Jeanne, I was not allowed to bring my daughter. For Charley, pets and family were not allowed. We didn't all have the choice to "bring them for the ride."

And there ya go. The truth. Thanks Steph.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Originally posted by totalia
And there ya go. The truth. Thanks Steph.

Perhaps it is different hotel to hotel.

Or maybe Frances was a super special hurricane.

Saw families and dogs--and was told from CM's mouth--what they do for hurricanes--in general--at Wilderness Lodge.


So please do not insinuate that I was making this up in my post as I witnessed it and was told by a CM at one resort about it.

If it isn't the same across the resorts--then that bares another area that needs to be looked into by Mgmt--not only are guests treated differently at the resorts of the same level--but the cast is treated differently too.

 

[Peter Pirate]

The lobby is huge. A hurricane is an extraordinary event (which affects the CM's lives as well). Service is not what it used to be anywhere (although entitlement mentality seems at an all time high). To call the AKL a glorified moderate pretty much assumes you think the animals are just a perk, the decor is just generic, the architecture normal, and the landscaping typical...Things I don't understand.

For anyone going and worried by these comments, just take with a grain of salt and go. I have stayed at the AKL 9 times and have only very good to excellent stories to tell.

Note: I'm not saying these bad incidents didn't occur, I'm sure they did. But they do at EVERY Disney hotel and probably every hotel everywhere. They are just not an everyday occurance at the AKL.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by AllyandJack
It used to be chalked up to a new resort trying to figure things out.

But they're not new anymore. We've stayed there several times, but much as I love AKL, I don't think we will go back anytime soon. Our room never got below 74 degrees our last trip. No one on staff seemed to care.


We also had a problem with our rooms not being cleaned until after 3-4. When I leave the "please make up room" sign out at 7:30 AM I don't think it's unreasonable to expect our room to be made up before late afternoon. We had the same problem at Polynesian concierge.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Lisa loves Pooh
Perhaps it is different hotel to hotel.

Or maybe Frances was a super special hurricane.

Saw families and dogs--and was told from CM's mouth--what they do for hurricanes--in general--at Wilderness Lodge.


So please do not insinuate that I was making this up in my post as I witnessed it and was told by a CM at one resort about it.

If it isn't the same across the resorts--then that bares another area that needs to be looked into by Mgmt--not only are guests treated differently at the resorts of the same level--but the cast is treated differently too.

We were at the Grand Floridian for Charley. I have friends that are CMs and some of them stayed in the Convention center.

We met a very nice Golden Retriever on the porch outside of the Grand Floridian Cafe that belonged to a CM. She stated they could keep him in the Convention Center but could not take him in the main parts of the hotel or rooms. I specifically asked about this dog as I was very surprised to see him at the Grand.

 

[beebumble]

Sorry to hear that your trip was less than magical. Also this is just me but when we *DISNEY* we are never in our room (late nite to early am) So I book a value and use the extra money elsewhere!! Now I'm glad I do. It sounds like these mess ups could happen at any resort
Have a disney day

 

[johnsonet]

Originally posted by Peter Pirate
The lobby is huge. A hurricane is an extraordinary event (which affects the CM's lives as well). Service is not what it used to be anywhere (although entitlement mentality seems at an all time high). To call the AKL a glorified moderate pretty much assumes you think the animals are just a perk, the decor is just generic, the architecture normal, and the landscaping typical...Things I don't understand.

For anyone going and worried by these comments, just take with a grain of salt and go. I have stayed at the AKL 9 times and have only very good to excellent stories to tell.

Note: I'm not saying these bad incidents didn't occur, I'm sure they did. But they do at EVERY Disney hotel and probably every hotel everywhere. They are just not an everyday occurance at the AKL.

DITTO! (except that I've only stayed there twice - going for 3d in Dec.)
The "glorified moderate" comment always leaves me puzzled. I think AKL is the most amazingly themed resort on property. For anyone about to go there, please try not to worry. I believe you will have an excellent experience. I wish the OP had, too.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I was there the same time as you and couldn't disagree with you more!

I thought the staff at the AKL went above and beyond their call to duty. The lobby was amazing, I couldn't believe they actually brought in a band, characters and activities, I didn't expect any of it, it was a hurricane, I didn't expect to be entertained.

The lobby was so festive, sure it was crowded but it was fun, people dancing, meeting characters, coloring pages for the kids, exhibits set up, it was all so amazing and didn't expect any of it. I was so thankful that they went out of their way like that to provide such a great atmosphere, all this while worrying about their homes, family and friends safety. The staff was nothing short of top notch, I made sure to thank everyone for taking such wonderful care of us.

Housekeeping tried to make our room up the day after, I told her not to worry about it, I knew they'd be so busy and having my bed made or sheets changed was the last of our worries, I asked for new towels and helped bring the trash out. Our housekeeper kept saying she'd come back and make up the beds, I told her please don't worry about it, came back later that night and of course the beds were made.

Boma- was wonderful. they set up a lunch buffet something they don't normally do and did a great job, it had lots of choices, great food. No they're weren't PS but what they did was take peoples names as they came down and gave a pager when they table was ready, they did the best they could under extrodinary circumstances and their best was more then enough. The Mara only closed during the worst of the hurricane and I wouldn't have wanted to take a stroll outside when that was hitting! The Mara reopened by mid afternoon. They had pizza in room delivery available throught the storm which we took advantage of, it was very good.

My in-laws also stayed with us during the storm and my MIL(who usually compains about EVERYTHING!) kept saying, you wouldn't even know there was a hurricane if you didn't look out the window, the resort was so safe and sound.

I was so thankful we rode out the hurricane at the AKL, I can't imagine being taken better care of elsewhere.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Originally posted by Sammie
We were at the Grand Floridian for Charley. I have friends that are CMs and some of them stayed in the Convention center.

We met a very nice Golden Retriever on the porch outside of the Grand Floridian Cafe that belonged to a CM. She stated they could keep him in the Convention Center but could not take him in the main parts of the hotel or rooms. I specifically asked about this dog as I was very surprised to see him at the Grand.

The dog at WL was a small dog--can't tell you the breed--it was an adult--probably smaller than a golden retriever puppy. CM and her spouse hand carried the dog through the hotel--perhaps that was her condition on being able to bring the dog.

Didn't bother me--thought it was nice for mgmt to extend the courtesy for having employees work during a storm. Just glad I didn't see a hundred dogs roaming about the lodge--then I would have to say something

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Originally posted by Topper
Call me strange if you must, but if I or another person in my room spilled a soda on the bed (enough to leave a *massive* stain), I would have called housekeeping and told them what an idiot I was was and ask them to bring me new sheets so I could change the bed myself.

If the stain was *massive*, I'd be concerned about the mattress itself being damaged, and would have immediately stripped off the sheets, blanket and pad.

I've stayed at a hotel where the sheets were otherwise--not clean of my own doing.

It isn't unreasonable for a guest to assume housekeeping has common sense to remove something like that. If you spilled soda on the floor and mopped it up with a towel--no damage on the carpet--but a quite soiled towel--wouldn't you be miffed if housekeeping left it up to airdry? Essentially--he/she did that with the sheets.

Worked in housekeeping for Disney--so I'd have to disagree that it is on the burden of the guest to do that. How do you know that OP didn't clean up the mess and check the mattress just in case? Still doesn't excuse housekeepings oversight.

In my situation--I was afraid the housekeeper wouldn't catch my unusable sheets--so I did go ahead and strip the bed--didn't want there to be any mixed signals on whether or not the bed should be changed. I would recommend that next time--just to be sure the linens got exchanged.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Originally posted by jcemom
Sorry to hear you had such a terrible experience at AKL!

We had not one of the problems you did when we were there in February! My DH (who didn't even want to go) said he'd stay at AKL again in a heartbeat.

I've read about the "pen view" rooms and don't think they should even be considered a Savannah View room! If they were giving it to someone as a free upgrade it would be different, but not when you've paid for Savannah View! Hurricane or no, I would have asked to be moved!

Sorry for posting again...

Maybe they should change them to "Secret Savannah View Rooms"...just like they did on DCL with the Navigator's Verandah Rooms--they are now "secret porthole rooms" and you aren't charged the verandah rate to have the Verandah.