Just back from AKL-Upgraded!

[PatriciaH]

Hi everyone. We just got back from AKL concierge. We stayed March 21st-25th. I booked the hotel months ago with an AP discount ($377.99/night.) I booked non-smoking and requested king bed, Arusha savanna because we wanted to see Zebras. The concierge desk put in our requests.

We checked in late on Friday because we got a flight after work. The flight was full and there were a LOT of kids on it. Americans are a brave bunch

When we got to the front desk the CM gave us a room on the Sunset savanna. I asked if there was anything on Arusha since we wanted to see the Zebras from our room and had put in a request months ago. She got her manager and for the next 1/2 an hour he searched for a room. He informed us that Sunset savanna was being worked on and had NO animals on it!!! They were booking these rooms as standard rooms. Nice of the first CM to tell us this They really were working all over the Sunset savanna the whole time we were there-trucks, cement, landscaping, etc.. There were no animals on it. Well, they tried a lot of rooms in the computer. They asked if we wanted to switch rooms the next day to Uzima (queen beds) from Sunset and I said well, since we are not using concierge tonight (it was 12am) and we paid for it tonight so we did not have to switch rooms, charge us standard tonight. Or just find us a standard or regular savanna view room somewhere! Finally this nice CM came over and said what about this room? The manager said oh I though that was blocked. He said no it is not give it to them. So guess what- we got a 2 bedroom suite! It was room 4395 all the way at the end of the U but with an awsome view of the Arusha savanna!!! The best part was it had 2 balconies with different views. It was HUGE. 2 and 1/2 bathrooms, 3 televisions and walk in shower 6 feet by 6 feet. What a nice surprise.

Concierge was great. The food and drink offerings were very nice. At breakfast they had 3 juices, coffee, tea, milk, chocolate milk, oatmeal, granola, boxed cereals, pastries, bagels, cream cheese, crossints, fresh fruit, etc.. snacks and drinks throughout the day. At dinner-chicken nuggets and pb and J, chicken/ pork and salmon skewers, 3 dips and pita chips, 3 wines, gummy bears, etc.. for dessert-cookies, brownies, chocolate balls, drinks, etc.. In all great! They clean all the time too-hard workers! The people in the lounge were all polite and quiet. The children were very well behaved. It was crowded some days but often not. No one really took anything back to their room. Maybe a drink some days.

The Sunrise Safari was wonderful! We were on it Tuesday. Lots of children all well behaved. Even a baby about 1. We were not sure he would be quiet for an hour ride but he was wonderful. The animals were all SO close! The female hippo wasa fighting with the male because he was coming too close to her baby. That was exciting! Giraffes and Rihnos right NEXT to the trucks! The breakfast was awsome. Our guide sat with us and we talked to her.

In all the parks were not crowded for March. Epcot was EMPTY Saturday the 22nd. We walked on everything and fast passed Test Track. MK Saturday night we walked on everything. They extended hours to 9pm at MK on Saturday the 22nd and Monday the 24th! Many people did not know so we walked on all rides the last 2 hours! MGM Sunday was dead. It was pouring though. AK Tuesday very light crowds. 5 minute wait for Kali all day.

BEAUTIFUL weather except the rain Sunday. 80 with a breeze and sun. The pool was great. Hot tubs not crowded. I LOVED AKL it is my new favorite. I would go back tomorrow if I could Even my husband who thought it would be too dark loved it. The bus service is awsome! No waits!!! Direct busses. Shared with Coronado one night back form MK.

WONDERFUL hotel and my new FAVORITE Disney hotel!!! The staff really came through for us the suite was georgous.


Any questions?

Patricia

 

[chrissy72]

sounds absolutely fantastic!!! congrats!!!! my mom and i are going in may. our first stay at akl. how did you like the pool??? do they rent out floaties for the pool? what did you think of mara and boma???

 

[PatriciaH]

The pool was really nice. Very large but not unique like Stormalong Bay. The slide was little. Water comfortable. The hot tubs were great- because there were two they were never crowded. Very strong jets! I did not see any floats-I would have liked one. They had life jackets for the kiddies.

We ate at Boma before but not his time. We had reservations for Jiko but wound up Downtown that night. Mara was good. We split a soup and sandwich one night. We took it up to the concierge lounge to eat though. The outside tables at Mara are in a beautiful setting but the inside reminds me of a zoo cafateria

 

[QJ411]

Cool upgrade!!!! Welcome back!

We're heading there in May, can't wait now!!!!

 

[kimmar067]

...some more specifics re: Sunrise Safari??

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Way to go on the upgrade!! We have a 1 b/r suite booked for Dec. I think I read that the 1 b/r is a lock off of the 2 bedroom, did it appear that way to you? If so how was the size of 1 b/r? also is there a soaking tub? Thanks.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi there..

Thanx for the great trip report - you must have been so tired when you arrived late at AKL and they were trying to sort out your room assignment... I think I would have lost my cool if they were trying to put me on a savanna with no animals when I was a concierge guest! Great that they looked after you to your satisfaction.

I am staying again there in August and your report gave me pangs of home sickness for AKL.

I was interested to hear about the bus sharing with the CSR guests - that is the 1st time I heard anything like that.

Also good to hear the bargain hunting hoarders (who I have never seen) were absent from the lounge and that the children from hell were not on your sunrise safari.... of course Lizzie's family is arriving soon to change all that!!! LOL LOL (I luv u Liz)


Thanx again and welcome home

>>^..^<<

 

[Beachangel]

Posted by>>^..^<<:

Also good to hear the bargain hunting hoarders (who I have never seen) were absent from the lounge....

You're lucky! I've seem 'em one too many times and its sickening.

First, I was surprised to see guests ask for styrofoam boxes to take their snacks in.....too many to count.....they were stockpiling for a day in the park. Oh and of course a bag of sodas!

The worst: guests appearing in the lounge in the complimentary robes! Yup, I've seen it all......concierge is getting tackier and tackier!

 

[PatriciaH]

If you have the one bedroom lock out of the 2 bedroom it is georgous! There is a tv in the king bedroom and one in the living room. There are a set of sliders in the living room and a set of sliders in the bedroom opening to one huge, long balcony. There is a desk/chair near the window, a pull out couch, a kitchen with sink, micro, fridge and table and chairs. There is a 1/2 bathroom as you come in the door with a sink and toilet. The master bath had a huge walk in shower and a big tub but it was not jaccuzzi. The sink area was huge with 2 sinks. BEAUTIFUL!

The Sunrise Safari was great. We drove in busses the 5 minutes from AKL. Our guide Jennifer told us how she started working at AKL and all about the areas we were driving through. We drove through the back of AK through the animals and staff buildings to get to the safari area. We had 2 trucks and started off. The animals were very close and active. The hippos were all out, the male lion was walking around. They stopped many times near each area to talk and take pictures. We got a ton of wonderful shots. I will post some of the suite and safari soon!

Every time we were waiting at the parks to go back to the Lodge, there were only 2-10 people waiting for a bus. This may be why we shared with Coronado that one night. Crowds seemend really light. The lines for busses for Port Orleans were HUGE though!

 

[Patio]

Patricia, I'm so happy that you enjoyed your stay so much. Isn't AKL just gorgeous? That is a wonderful upgrade, can't wait to see your pictures!

 

[ga9497]

Originally posted by MOMTOMOOTOO
Way to go on the upgrade!! We have a 1 b/r suite booked for Dec. I think I read that the 1 b/r is a lock off of the 2 bedroom, did it appear that way to you? If so how was the size of 1 b/r? also is there a soaking tub? Thanks.

The one bedroom suite is gorgeous.
AKL one bedroom suite

 

[csmommy]

Originally posted by PatriciaH
He informed us that Sunset savanna was being worked on and had NO animals on it!!! They were booking these rooms as standard rooms. Nice of the first CM to tell us this They really were working all over the Sunset savanna the whole time we were there-trucks, cement, landscaping, etc.. There were no animals on it.

Congrats on a wonderful upgrade & a magical stay. Do you know when this work will be done, & did it affect your sleep? I have heard they start working early at Disney, & I do not want my rest to be interupted, I'm on vacation after all! We will be there in May.

Thanks!

 

[PatriciaH]

I am not sure when the Sunrise savanna will be finished I did not ask. We could hear some trucks backing up (beep, beep, beep) one day. Probably because we were all the way at the end of the U on the Kudu trail near the Sunset savanna. We could see the fence seperating the Arusha and Sunset savanna's from the long balcony. One day we could see men working on that end.

 

[dansyr]

Thanks for your report !!
We will be staying concierge in Sept....so excited !!!!!!!!!!
You gave great info.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by >>^..^<<
I was interested to hear about the bus sharing with the CSR guests - that is the 1st time I heard anything like that.

Late at night, when the park is almost clear, and the stragglers are coming out, they might combine an area if staffing is light. It wouldn't happen with a full bus or anything... usually just a few stragglers. MK & Studios dont really do it often, but Epcot does this at like 10:15 every night...