Just Back from AKL Pool View-Any Questions

[mom23guys2]

We just spent a week at AKL. We had 3 pool view rooms on the fifth floor on the Giraffe Trail. Since we were booking 3 rooms the added expense for Savannah view was just prohitive so we opted for pool view. We requested a high floor. We were given great rooms. We could even see the Uzima Savannah from our rooms although it was not as close as Savannah view. We saw plenty of animals from our balconey. I did some exploring to see which rooms had better views so if anyone has questions, ask away.

 

[pixie08]

OH YES,YES,YES I would love some tips about rooms..we are going in aug, savannah view...we requested zebra trail arusha savannah!!! Does this sound good?? I wasn't really sure!! I hope you had a great time

Did you do any thing "different" at Akl that you would recommened?

 

[Janet2k]

We just spent a week at AKL...if anyone has questions, ask away.

Mom23guys2, do you have any photos to share? I would love to see your rooms and their views.

 

[MICKEEP]

Did you take any of the tours that they give at the AKL. Such as the culinary tour, etc.

 

[Tiggerrox]

We will be staying pool view at AKL in just a few weeks. Did you like your room on the 5th floor? Would you pick one that high up again? We did not state how far up we wanted to be... I have heard that it is better than the lower rooms. Wondering what you thought.

 

[mom23guys2]

Tiggerrox
I loved the 5th floor with the pool view room. It is the top floor on the Giraffe Trail, so there is no one over you. Although the rooms are really well insulated for noise, In the past I've had a few jumpers over our room if you know what I mean. Anyway, We had rooms 5018, 5020, and 5022. You could see the Uzima savannah from our room, although it was on the other side of the pool. We saw giraffe, Kudu, cattle, and even bongo from our room. We've always tried for the savannah in the past but if you have to have pool view these room, and the ones furth down,ie. 5024,5026, 5028 and a few more further down seem to have the best views. If you like to be right by the pool of ourse you might want lower rooms but you can't walk right out from your balcony to the pool deck anyway, you have to use the interior corridor. There was an elevator near 5018(an end room) that took you right down to the pool so you didn't need to go to the lobby.
The pool view rooms on the zebra trail didn't have a view of the savannh, just the pool. You want to stay away from the second floor pool view rooms on the zebra trail, the one over Mara and the Arcade, their balconies have a half wall rather than an open fence so you can't see out.
Pixie08
Yes the Zebra Trail is great, Try to get rooms further out from the lobby. Either savannah from the zebra trail has great animal views. There were Tommys on the Uzima savannah that people on the zebra trail could see. The walk from the lobby is a bit much but the views are worth it. On the savannahs I'd try for a lower floor, since the trees are blocking some of the views from the higher floors.
The Kudu Trail on the Arusha savannah has great views but is further away from Mara. I wasn't fond of the Sunset savannah, although there were animals-great to see from the overlook- the actual savannah area wasn't pretty.
By the way there are giraffe on all the savannahs now(did't used to be) and the animals weren't in in the afternoons like they were a few years ago. Maybe it's because we weren't there in the summer.

 

[Disney01]

I've heard the Zebra trail isn't the best to request (although that's what I requested) because Zebra's are difficult animals who don't get along well with others, so even though you have zebras, you have less overall animal viewing. Did you see this to be true? Also, what was the latest you saw people swimming? We will be there in two weeks are hoping we don't get kicked out at 8 p.m. Also, is the pool bar open late?

 

[Stitch Inside]

Glad to hear you had great rooms. Did you notice where the Pool View smoking rooms were? And did you have bunk beds in any of your rooms?

 

[mom23guys2]

Sorry had to stepaway from the computer LOTS of wash.LOL. By the way there is a guest laundry that is very nice if you must do wash there. The best I've seen at any of the resorts. It has a sofa and comfortable chairs with a TV area if you need to wait.

Janet 2K, I remember we had a few posts going when the resort first opened. We stayed the second day it opened.Although it was more crowded now, that wonderful peaceful feeling is still there. I don't know how to get pictures on the boards, so sorry but everything pretty much looks the same.

MICKEEP

We didn't take the culinary tours I really wanted to but just didn't seem to have the time. It might be a good thing though. If you get to know the chef giving it, it could be incredible. I don't know how this happened but we had Easter dinner there with the 3 generation family. For some reason, the head came over to our table, we were taking a break before dessert. He asked us why we had no food in front of us. We said we loved everything but were just preparing for dessert. Five minuted later he came out with a special dessert just for us. It was incredible. Some type of chocolate cookie(oreo-like) in a fried puff pastry with chocolate sauce. Unbeleiveable. We went again a few nights later with someone we know who eats there often, they live nearby. Anyway she asked for her favorite waiter, Jamal. We asked for the cocnut tiramisu that had been on the menu for Easter. It wasn't on that night but he found some in the kitchen for us. The chef came out again, remembered us from Easter and asked it we like seafood. Later he came out with the best shrimp dish. There were a lot of big shrimp on skewers presnted to look like a volcano. People were looking at us as if we were VIP's. Later another platter of Tiramisu in individual bowls all decorated like Mickey was brought out, and finally later we had those fried choclate things again. I don't know how we were so lucky but I think if the chef remembers you ,You might luck out.

We did do the night vision viewing from Arusha rock, and some of the cultural Tours in the evening. The girl from Namibia and South Africa was adorable. There are tons of things for kids to do there everyday. We didn't have any young children but I saw kids with bead projects, cookie decorating and a lot more.

It was a fantastic vacation, even though the parks were really crowded. We did the EMH night hours at MGM. That was great. We also did some EMH mornings. We wanted to try the night hours at Magic Kingdom but the parks were already open until midnight so I just couldn't handle the though of Splash mountain at 2 AM

 

[cocowum]

Sounds like you had a fabulous time I cannot wait to get there! Thanks so much for posting.

 

[mom23guys2]

The zebras were on the Arusha savannah. They tended to be in the middle or on the Kudu side.There were also giraffe, kudu, ankoli cattle,wildebeest, and a few others there. Plenty to see, especially by the water hole about 2/3 of the way out on Zebra trail. The Uzima savannah which can be seen from the rooms on the other side of the Zeba trail had gazelles and impala, cattle, bongo, kudu, giraffe, and a few others. The Sunset savannah had giraffe, ostrich, cattle, gazelles, and a few other animals that stayed pretty far away from the overlook. Another hint. walk to the exits at the ends of the trails and go outside,you can get back in, Lots of animals congregate where the savannahs meet, like neighbors talking over the fence

Stitch Inside
There were pool view smoking rooms on the zebra trail. I thinh there may have been some on the fourth floor of the Giraffe trail. I didn't check but there were some people with pool view rooms smoking on the balconies.

 

[Secondgradememories]

OH YES,YES,YES I would love some tips about rooms..we are going in aug, savannah view...we requested zebra trail arusha savannah!!! Does this sound good?? I wasn't really sure!! I hope you had a great time

Did you do any thing "different" at Akl that you would recommened?

We, too, just got back from a week at AKL. We were on the Uzima side, and had lots to look at: kudu, cranes, giraffe.... We actually had a pool view reservation (made our plans 3 weeks in advance) but asked for an upgrade and got the savannah room. I strongly recommend the African Folktales at the Arusha Firepit. Go a bit early and relax in the rocking chairs as you listen to some great stories. My kids loved it and it was the perfect way to wind down after a long day.

 

[lisareniff]

Thanks for the wonderful details! We really enjoyed our stay at AKL. Your report really makes me want to go back!

Q: Was your 5th floor room on the Giraffe Trail a Deluxe Pool View?

 

[mom23guys2]

No, it was standard pool view. I don't think the giraffe trail has deluxe pool view. I'm not sure but I noticed on the zebra trail the rooms seem to extend out about 2 feet on the fifth floor. I think they might be the deluxe. We had 2 queen beds in each of the rooms, so I'm no help on the bunk beds.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

We didn't take the culinary tours I really wanted to but just didn't seem to have the time. It might be a good thing though. If you get to know the chef giving it, it could be incredible. I don't know how this happened but we had Easter dinner there with the 3 generation family. For some reason, the head came over to our table, we were taking a break before dessert. He asked us why we had no food in front of us. We said we loved everything but were just preparing for dessert. Five minuted later he came out with a special dessert just for us. It was incredible. Some type of chocolate cookie(oreo-like) in a fried puff pastry with chocolate sauce. Unbeleiveable. We went again a few nights later with someone we know who eats there often, they live nearby. Anyway she asked for her favorite waiter, Jamal. We asked for the cocnut tiramisu that had been on the menu for Easter. It wasn't on that night but he found some in the kitchen for us. The chef came out again, remembered us from Easter and asked it we like seafood. Later he came out with the best shrimp dish. There were a lot of big shrimp on skewers presnted to look like a volcano. People were looking at us as if we were VIP's. Later another platter of Tiramisu in individual bowls all decorated like Mickey was brought out, and finally later we had those fried choclate things again. I don't know how we were so lucky but I think if the chef remembers you ,You might luck out.

Which restaurant was this ? Boma or Jiko ? Thanks!

 

[disneyfan67]

I'll be checking in on April 27th about 830 pm and I was wondering how late the pool is open to. I know my kids would love to get into the pool before we call it quits for the night and go to bed. Also how easy was check in and does the bellman show you to your room like they do at the Poly. I know that might sound stupid but I'm not sure how laid out this resort is and I don't want to be wandering around late at night with two cranky kids. One last question, is there a place for late night snacks for the kids when we arrive at night and how late is it open to? Thanks for your help in advance!

 

[mom23guys2]

The pool is open 24 hours but the lifeguards go off duty at 10 PM. We checked in at about 10 PM ( our flight was diverted, we were supposed to be there by 4 PM.) The line was only about 2 or 3 ahead of us so it wasn't very long. When we pilled up the bell service took our luggage, my husband parked the car in the self-park and I went to check-in. The front desk man call over to bell services and the bellman was right there with our luggage to escort us to our room. He did the usual explaination of where everything was located on the way. The resort is not as large as some of the others so its pretty easy to navigate but there are looks of nooks and overlooks to check out the next day.

Have fun.

 

[mom23guys2]

Disney Freak
Although we ate at Jiko- the food was great, we were given the royal treatment at Boma. We went twice and both times were amazing.