Just back from AKL

[Hollymom1229]

Wow, is the only word I can think of still. The only problem with our entire trip was that our Savannah view was messed up by the huge people pen right outside our balcony. Our room # was 2236, not a good view. We did see animals though all the time. We just couldn't get any great photographs because of distance. The staff was stellar, the resort was beautiful, the buses were smooth (our longest wait 10 minutes). We didn't request a new room because we weren't in our room much and we really didn't care. The pool at this resort is huge. All three restaurants are good (Jikois actually amazing, but we'll save that for a dining report), though I wouldn't get the pizza at Mara again. Yes, the resort is dark, but for our romantic trip we liked it that way. Please let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Eeyore's Buddy Bear]

Welcome back,

I'm glad you had a great time at AKL. It was great to meet someone from the boards on the trip. We were right down the hall from you in #2272. Was your lost package found at the resort?

Once again, it was nice meeting you.
Brenda
Eeyore's Buddy Bear

 

[corvair]

Were you on the Kudu Trail? HOw close to the pool were you? thanks amy

 

[kdibattista]

Did you pay for savannah view or did they upgrade you from standard?

 

[Hollymom1229]

Brenda, I really enjoyed meeting you too. Yes, they found our package right after I went back to the room.

I don't know which trail we were on. It was on the opposite side of the horseshoe if that makes any sense.

We had paid for a Savannah view, but it was part of the CBR upgrade, so we didn't feel ripped off. If we'd paid $160+ for the room we would have requested to be moved.

 

[Pigsty333]

We will be going from 2/13-20th. I will be traveling with two children ages 12 and 10. Which rooms should we request. We have a Savannah view.

Help. I definitely don't want a pen view

 

[Beanie]

Welcome back, glad you had a great time!

 

[Jen D]

Since we seem to have a lot of people just back from AKL, who stayed for a while-- did you feel ever feel isolated at the resort? Did you have a car? I am thinking about a 7-8 day stay there, with no car, but I have heard some people say that AKL is better for shorter stays. Did you find this to be true?

It looks like such a beautiful place!

 

[Hollymom1229]

Pigsty333, request a room overlooking Arusha Rock. That's your best bet. I saw no people pens on that side of the resort.

JenD, we were there for 9 days without a car. We felt like we were away from everything and it was nice. Very relaxing to be somewhere completely else in the evenings. We did not have a car and relied completely on Disney Transportation. Some people might feel isolated here, but we loved it.

 

[Pigsty333]

Thank you. We want something out of the way and not in the middle of everything. That's the only way we relax. We have hectic jobs and spent most of our time driving, so I like to leave it to Mickey and Company.

We have met some real nice people and met some friends in those quee lines for the monorail, buses, etc.

We have taken our car a couple of times, and it never really left the parking lot.

Thanks again.

 

[Jen D]

Sounds great Hollymom! I thought I'd feel that way, but I'm looking for more opinions.

Our last vacation was at BWV, which I loved to death; but I liked the idea of being in a completely enclosed resort-- the Epcot resorts seem part of sort of a resort complex. We really enjoyed it, and will probably do it again, but thought next time we'd try a resort that was a little more of an enclosed world. AKL sounds perfect!

 

[Jen D]

Another question-- sorry, i'm trying to cover all my bases because I'm really interested in it but want some opinions on the knocks against it. Did you find it was "too dark to read?" It's dark, I know, I get it, that's fine with me, but I read a quote "you can't read in those rooms." This seemed unlikely to me but I do need to read at night so thought I'd ask.

Also, what did you think of the room size?

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

AKL is not a good place to read, the lighting is dark...what I ahted about it if I was staying more then one night I would of never been able to pluck my eyebrows...YC still rules to me

 

[Emcg]

We are going to AKL on October14th. We will get there around 10 AM. We booked a Savanah View room. When we check in should we request a certain room so we don't get stuck with a view we won't like?
I realize the resort is huge so what are the best blocks of room numbers to ask about?
Thanks for your help,
Ed

 

[queenofhearts]

Hi Hollymom1229!

Thanks for sharing your review! Did you participate in the resort tour, the night-vision animal viewing, the stories by the firepit, or any of the other activities that the AKL offers? If so, I would love to hear your review. Thanks again, and welcome home!

 

[kdibattista]

We are also checking into the AKL on the 14th!!!! Although we have visited the resort, we have not stayed but thanks to all of the fine people on these boards, I am requesting the following (it seems to be the overwhelming majority) - 3rd Floor, Zebra Trail overlooking the Arusha savannah. I do know it can be a far walk from your room to the lobby so if you have children, request "close to the lobby". Thanks and maybe we will see you there!!!!

 

[Emcg]

Thank you for the info.!! I will request that when we check in or should I send a fax a few days before we leave?
If you are leaving from Philly we might run into you at the airport. Thanks again!!!

 

[Hollymom1229]

The rooms are a little smaller than I expected. They were actually smaller than the one I had at the LBV Best Western in DD last year. The safe was a travesty of size, nothing could have fit in there. As far as the reading thing goes. It really depends on what you find a comfortable light to read. I read a little in the room, but not too much because of the low lighting. I was able to do my make-up just fine in the bathroom area though.

I did not participate in any of the activities at the resort. Though we saw many of them going on and they looked like fun.

 

[kdibattista]

Yep (well... the Philly suburbs). We were originally scheduled on the 6:10 USAir flight but they changed it to 7:00 am.

You should fax the request 4 days in advance - this gives you more detail -http://wdwig.com/cro1.htm

 

[Emcg]

Thanks again.
We are also from the suburbs. Upper Darby/Drexel Hill area
Area.