Just back from the AKL - our experince (including Charley)!! (long)

[classicpooh]

Just back from our first stay @ the AKL... We loved it! We can also not say enought about the staff here or how Disney handled Charley...

We had a standard view room booked with a bunk bed request. We did not get the bunk beds (kids were disappointed) and when I asked if an upgrade was available I was told what the price difference was. We decided to stay put.

We were on lobby level of the Giraffe Trail and we really liked the location. We had a short walk to the pool, and best of all, a very short walk to the bus stop. From our balcony, all we could see was trees (facing the front of the resort). For a standard view room, it was a pleasant suprise!! We were not looking @ a parking lot, Citgo sign, dumpster etc...

We hit the parks for our "free day" the morning of Charley, and got to do almost everything in the MK that the kids wanted to. Back to the AKL to wait out the storm...

From the information that the staff gave out over the telephone message system, to the scavenger hunts and having characters in the lobby for the kids, AKL could not have handled the resort guests any better. We were so impressed. We did eat the boxed dinner that they provided for the guests (and had the unheard of experience of free food @ Disney).

I wish that we would have had more time to spend @ the resort, the kids loved the pool and the water slide, but were not as interested in the animals as I thought they would be. All in all, I would not hesitate to stay there (even in a standard room) again.

 

[keith-atl]

Originally posted by classicpooh
Just back from our first stay @ the AKL... We loved it! We can also not say enought about the staff here or how Disney handled Charley...

We had a standard view room booked with a bunk bed request. We did not get the bunk beds (kids were disappointed) and when I asked if an upgrade was available I was told what the price difference was. We decided to stay put.

We were on lobby level of the Giraffe Trail and we really liked the location. We had a short walk to the pool, and best of all, a very short walk to the bus stop. From our balcony, all we could see was trees (facing the front of the resort). For a standard view room, it was a pleasant suprise!! We were not looking @ a parking lot, Citgo sign, dumpster etc...

We hit the parks for our "free day" the morning of Charley, and got to do almost everything in the MK that the kids wanted to. Back to the AKL to wait out the storm...

From the information that the staff gave out over the telephone message system, to the scavenger hunts and having characters in the lobby for the kids, AKL could not have handled the resort guests any better. We were so impressed. We did eat the boxed dinner that they provided for the guests (and had the unheard of experience of free food @ Disney).

I wish that we would have had more time to spend @ the resort, the kids loved the pool and the water slide, but were not as interested in the animals as I thought they would be. All in all, I would not hesitate to stay there (even in a standard room) again.

Glad to hear you had a safe and a nice trip. I can not wait to try this resort out. How were the buses from the resort? Did you wait long and were they ever overcrowded?

 

[classicpooh]

The buses were great - we never waited more then 10 minutes, most of the time it was about 5 minutes. They were not overcrowded... the only time people were having to stand was after Wishes, and after they closed the parks early the afternoon before Charley hit.

Have fun! We really had a great time despite the hurricaine. We loved the resort and would stay there again.

 

[bugbugmom]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm so glad you guys had a great time despite...Charley. We'll be leaving soon for our 1st visit to AKL.

 

[princess pooh]

I'm glad you had a great time despite the hurricane . AKL is one of my favourite hotels too

 

[Shellh]

What room did you stay in? It sounds like a great location. We are going in September and are staying in a standard room at AKL.

Shell

 

[GeekChic]

once again it sounds like props are due to the CM's and WDW in general for having their stuff together to handle this situation!

GREAT JOB! and so glad your family still had a great stay at AKL despite the storm.

thanks for telling us about your trip!
geek

 

[DisneyFreaks]

More reasons my family will want to return to AKL! So glad you had a positive experience throughout the storm.

 

[classicpooh]

Shellh -

We were in rooms 3023 and 3025 - they are connecting rooms and face the front of the hotel. I was a little worried that we would hear the people walking back and forth from the bus stop (they would have been walking right below our room) but we never heard a sound. We never heard our neighbors either. Hope you have fun on your trip!

 

[#1hockeymom]

Sounds like a wonderful trip despite a hurricane! When I was watching Charley about to hit Orlando my thoughts were "if I had to be there, I'd want to be at AKL where I knew they'd do the right things!" Thanks for sharing!

Debbie

 

[Connor&Cody'sMom]

We also requested bunk beds and did not get them. I wonder how many bunk bed rooms they have? We still loved AKL. How I miss sitting on the balcony after a day in the parks, watching the animals in the moonlight!!

 

[Planogirl]

We did get bunkbeds and DS was so thrilled!

The AKL staff is really wonderful. We were out during a big storm (not from the Charley, the week prior) and came back to the resort during a break in the rain. There was a CM standing at the hotel entrance offering towels to people before they went into the AC. Little things like this really do mean a lot IMO.

 

[classicpooh]

The CM @ the front desk told me that they only had 100 rooms out of 1200 with bunk beds. Accurate? I don't know, but that is what we were told.
We knew that we were not guarenteed the bunk beds and took it in stride. The CM also told me we could check out the next day and try for a bunk bed room again... but we were so happy with the location of the room and didn't want the hassel of packing and unpacking. It did not detract from our trip @ all!

 

[sjh801]

Hi Classic Pooh!
So glad that you had a safe and great stay. AKL is my favorite after a stay this summer. And the treatment you received during Charley is true Disney. That's why we all love it!

Sandy

 

[tinkgrl]

Hi,

Glad you had a good time & enjoyed AKL!!! I am also glad you weathered the storm!

Allison

 

[mrsmom]

I am glad you had a good time at AKL and was safe from the storm. I will be staying at AKL next month for the first time and i can't wait!
Kim

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Glad you had such a great time!!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

It is under a month now and we will be headed for the ALK for our first stay. We are so excited. We also have a standard room. I am so glad to hear it was a nice stay for you (even with Charley). I am doing the "under a month" dance today!