Just back from PC & AKL!

[katrina1122]

Hard to believe its over, but we had a great time! We spent 6 nights at the Pop and 2 at the AKL and both were great. Checkin went smoothly at the Pop and our room was on the 3rd floor of and 80's building overlooking the computer pool. We never went swimming (too chilly), but others were in it. Bus service was amazing! We never waited more than 10 mins for anything and that was a long wait. We then transferred over to AKL, all went well except they lost our cooler with milk and juice with no explanation as to why or how, no biggie though. That room was also on the 3rd floor on the zebra trail and we had some amazing views of the animals, especially at night and feeding times. Bus service here wasn't as fast as PC, but was still very good and we really didn't have any complaints. We loved both hotels.
Lines in the parks didn't exsist until MKL weekend, and even then they were practically nothing (20 mins at worst). I think we used fast pass maybe 5 times in 8 days, and that's on a high estimate. Most of the lines weren't even open. Wishes is amazing, don't miss it, dh and I both had a few tears in our eyes by the end. Also, we indicated it was our 1 yr anniv on all reservations and priority seatings, and almost everyone acknowledged it in some way....from towel heart and birds with a congrats note in our room at the PC, to front row center at Hoop de doo. So noting those special occasions does work, even if its just a candle in your dessert. All of it was a surprise to dh of course, as he's never been before, so all the extra's just make things even more magical for him. I could go on and on about our trip, but we all know about wdw...if you have any questions though let me know

 

[Trish Bessette]

katrina1122~

Was this your first trip to AKL? I am thinking of picking that as my resort when we return next April. It will only be our second trip. My family is hooked from our Dec. 2002 trip, we stayed at the Polynesian.

Tell me anything you want about AKL. I'd love to know more about where your room was in location to the pool and snack area which is where we will visit with our two daughters.

Also, if any, what are the cons of AKL? I've read numerous posts about the time it takes with the buses but was wondering if there was anything else.

Thank you for your advise! I can't WAIT to go

 

[bunnyfoo]

Thanks for the review! Sounds like you had a wonderful stay. We're thinking about PC next trip ... I'm glad to hear that the bus service is pretty reliable. Were the PC buses ever crowded?

 

[k&a&c'smom]

katrina1122 -

Glad you had a good trip!! I love AKL, we are going back in April! Even tho it is farther away, the buses do not stop anywhere else, so for us the trip seems shorter than many closer resorts!!

I had to reply to your Wishes experience - I thought I was just being overly sentimental. We were at WDW in Dec. and at the close of Wishes I had tears in my eyes!! This is an incredibly poignant display - thought maybe I was the only one!!

 

[katrina1122]

Hope this answers some questions, if not keep asking and I'll try my best...

Trish Bessette- Yep, this was our 1st trip to AKL as well. Our room was on the zebra trail but on the pool side, the pool is downstairs by the market. I don't have the room # with me but I think it was 3012. It worked out nicely as we were right near an elevator that went to floor 1 and outside to the pool and market, as well as Boma and Jiko. We never actually made it into the pool, but it looked wonderful and there are lots of fun viewing spots there too. The biggest con of the AKL was the LONG walk from your room through the lobby out the front door and down the length of the hotel to the bus stops. It got old, very quickly, other than that we loved it. There's an amazing sweet smell throughout and they have great activities going on all the time, including night vision goggles for viewing the animals at night.

bunnyfoo- Only to the MK on early magic hour day was a pc ever really over crowded, but just as they were packing someone on 2 more buses pulled up to the MK so that solved the problem for those of us waiting to load. Otherwise rarely did anyone have to stand unless it was first thing in the morning, and even then it was only a few people.

k&a&c'smom - I'm glad we weren't the only one's that got into Wishes, I thought we were nuts