Just back from second stay at AKL

[Redmic]

First let me say that we truly enjoy the AKL and that is why we returned there this year. Unfortunately, the CBR move had a significant impact on the quality of our stay this year.

The resort was overflowing with young children, some of whom ran up and down the halls yelling until midnight. I am an early riser, and last year enjoyed sitting on my balcony and quietly viewing animals in the morning. Young children are also early risers, and this trip I heard them yelling at the animals and playing loudly on the balconies every a.m. We also had the pooping-in-the-pool problem. This occured at a prior stay at Coronado Springs, but at least they have quiet pools there. At the AKL there is only one pool. We were taking a park break and had just arrived at the pool (it was 88 degrees) when we were told it was shut down. With no pool hopping privileges and no quiet pool at the resort, there was no swimming for us. My youngest daughter was in tears. I realize Disney cannot control every selfish and ignorant clod who would allow this to happen, so why don't they restrict babies to the baby pool? It is outrageous that an entire 1200 room resort has to suffer as a result of such foolishness.

We had a savannah view on Kudu trail, and saw very few animals as the result of partial tree obstruction and the lack of feeding boxes within our viewing area. Last year we saw tons of animals on Zebra trail, so we had been a little spoiled. This was a mild disappointment to us, but we took advantage of the public viewing areas and saw plenty of animals there.

We ate at Boma and it was great as always. We did not make it to Jiko.

The kids stayed at Simba's one night and there were very few children there. They enjoyed it, although they liked last year's staff better (they were more interactive with the kids, did puppet shoes, etc.)

We really like the AKL and will probably stay there again sometime, but only during the off season when there is no resort relocation, because this is a resort that really suffers when it is crowded.

I'd be happy to answer any questions.

 

[Gillian]

I'm sorry this stay wasn't as magical as your last one. We were there in September when the Arusha savanah was closed. We were disappointed, but DH still thinks it is his favorite resort! I think you're right about the feeding boxes. We had 1 right outside our room, and there were always animals around.

They've also been running tons of specials deals at the AKL, which may have increased crowds. standard rooms for $129 or $139?

Also, I don't know what days you visited, but the CMs there told me that weekends all year round are very crowded. Thursday is their busiest check in day.

How long was the pool closed for? I'm surprised they wouldn't let you go somewhere else. We were at the Poly when a pipe burst & they said we could go to the GF to use their pool/slide if we wanted, even though they have a quiet pool at the poly.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

I can understand your frustration. When we were staying at the Portofino Bay Hotel we sat aside one day of our trip as "pool day". Unfortunately they had a "poopy in the pool" that day and it was closed. Luckily they did have another quiet pool, but it wasn't as nice and we still had to walk over to the other pool for food and drinks. Funny how one bathroom accident can ruin a whole day.

As far as kids running in the halls and playing on the balconies, we've had that experience at every Disney resort we've stayed at. Except for our stay at the GF on the private honeymoon level.

 

[cinder1]

Instead of relegating the babies to the baby pool, they need to enforce a swim diaper rule. There are great swim diapers on the market and the resorts could sell them for those who forget. As someone with a child still in diapers, it would be very hard to watch the older kids while the youngest was relegated to the baby pool. Also not every resort has a baby pool. I understand your anger. My kids would have been very upset, especially since they know their baby brother has to wear swim diapers for this very reason.

 

[jiminyfan]

This posts is a great when it comes to humor and the attitudes of some. All of the negatives are being blamed on the CBR guests who took advantage of an upgrade opportunity. I guess that people who have more money (or spend it more openly) have perfect manners, have infants and toddlers with perfect bathroom techniques (never have accidents) and are perfect angels. I never say anyone from a MONEY family with bad behaviors or being rude, selfish, etc. They are always the perfect people to be around.

I cannot imagine YOUNG CHILDREN at a Disney Resort. HOW dare they allow this to happen!!! Just think a resort that markets itself as a family vacation would allow YOUNG CHILDREN to stay at a most prize hotel like the AKL. Geez, next thing you know they will be at the GF as well.

And I cannot believe that small children would get excited at the opportunity to see a "wild" animal at close range.


Attitudes like this makes me really upset that people think that money or the willingness to spend it makes one better than others.

My family has stayed at all levels of resorts from the Deluxe to the value. We, god-forbid, actually took advantage of an UPGRADE offered by DISNEY to stay at a deluxe hotel froma moderate once as well. I hope we didn't offend anyone by doing this.

People are people, all classes (money-wise), races and any other identifier you want to use to group individuals have their good and their bad. Make a statement of the conditions with FACTS not your opinion of who the children belonged to and why they were there.

If you want a vacation with outr children, just a hint, do NOT go to WDW or Disneyland - I have a funny feeling that you may runinto them there. Look for an adult only cruise or resort possibly with an income limit, this would help keep out the "rif-raf" you seem to fear as well.

Good luck in your future trips, I hope that you find them a lot more enjoyable than this one.

 

[Rneighh]

Dave -- Jimmyfan

I could not have said it better myself.



Renee

 

[gepetto]

I wish AKL would do something about the pool-pooping issue. We were there for a week the first year it opened and the pool was closed for a couple of hours almost every day we were there.

 

[Redmic]

Gee Jiminyfan, I have stayed at POR and CSR myself and had a great time. When I said the AKL was rowdier because of the transfer I meant because it was way more crowded than last year, not that the people from CBR are low class or bad!

The fact is I love kids, and brought my own. However, I do not let them scream in the halls or off the balcony.

And sorry but there is NO EXCUSE for parents who refuse to use swim diapers (provided in the bathrooms by the way) and let there kids poop in a public pool!!!!!

 

[jiminyfan]

whole-heartly with the parents being to blame, but you stated that the CBR moved was to blame. Unless, you have facts to back this statement I do not feel it should have been made.

If you remove that one statement:

"Unfortunately, the CBR move had a significant impact on the quality of our stay this year."

Would have made a world of difference in how I looked at the post. I really have a hard time with people judging others based off of assumptions and prejudices.

I have stayed at al levels of resorts at WDW and have saw plenty of good and bad behavior from all walks of life.


As for AKL, we love it. We stayed there twice so far and never had a problem. The first was off-season (October) the second was during the week of July 4th (high season). Even though it was crowded the people staying there fr the most part were respectful. You always have the inconsiderate few, but I could not throw them into any one classifaction.

For the majority of your post, I had to agree that people just do not repsect otrhers wekll enough. Children are not taught proper
manners nor are a lot of them shown by examples. They learn from their parents andif their parents do not know how to act, how should they? Of course, this too is no excuse for older children as they can learn from observing others.



Enough said on the matter.

Hope you enjoy your next WDW trip better.

 

[gepetto]

Originally posted by jiminyfan


"Unfortunately, the CBR move had a significant impact on the quality of our stay this year."

It didn't sound like the OP was blaming the problems on the people from CBR but on the crowds.

 

[DizzyQueen]

I do agree that parents need to teach kids manners. We were having breakfast at the Poly Lounge, a table next to the window, when three kids - about 5 yrs. - came bounding across the lounge and squeezed themsevles past my DD's chair. They continued to marvel at the view - very loudly for 15 - 20 minutes. I know they were young, but surely their parents were nearby? If they were my kids I would have apologized and veered them toward the other side of the window where the tables were empty.