We just returned last night from 8 nights at AKL. This was our first trip driving. Also our first June trip. We've been previously in Feb, Aug, and Sept. Crowds were quite large. More so than I've seen before! We had booked a standard room (at the 124.00 AP rate) and I had faxed 4 days prior to arrival asking if at all possible for a bunk bed room. At check in we were told no bunk rooms but they did upgrade us to a Savannah room. I did think that this was very nice of them to offer the upgrade. The only warning I would give regarding this resort is some of the rooms can be a LONG walk!!!! We've previously stayed at POR, YC and OKW. This was the longest walk to get back to the room from the bus stop! This really suprised me because it didn't even cross my mind before I left. Had I paid for a Sav. room or had I paid full rates I would have requested another room but at this rate it truly didn't bother me. Just wanted to give a word or warning on this so if anyone else is going soon they can keep this in mind. Housekeeping was so-so also. I had called after we checked in and requested early housekeeping. We were cleaned early one day and then not until about 3:00 the next. So, I called again. Same thing happened. It took 3 calls to finally get it right. (By the way, I just wanted the room cleaned before 1:00 or so). On our last day it wasn't even cleaned by 4:00!! I also had to empty my own garbage cans twice during my stay because housekeeping didn't do it. It wasn't a big deal to me....once again because of the rate, but had I paid closer to 200.00 for this room I probably would not have been very happy! I didn't mean to dwell on the negatives....there really were only the 2 but I wanted to mention them. The resort is truly beautiful and we had a wonderful trip!! I would be happy to answer any questions anyone would have!
Just back last night from AKL. Any ??
- Thread starter mickeyx2
- Start date
eeyore1226
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2001
- Messages
- 112
Hi Mickeyx2,
We have a very similar situation; we have ressies at AKL starting July 27 at the annual pass rate of $124 a night (standard view) and have request bunk beds too. I am planning to ask for an up-grade when we get there and will be thrilled if we get it but we're not really counting on it. We are taking my 12 year old's best friend with us so regardless of where the room is we prefer the bunks since my daughter is an octopus to sleep with. I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay at the AKL despite the long walk to your room. How was the bus transportation to the other parks? We are relying on bus transportation for our entire trip this time - no rental car. Also, how was the Mara?
We have a very similar situation; we have ressies at AKL starting July 27 at the annual pass rate of $124 a night (standard view) and have request bunk beds too. I am planning to ask for an up-grade when we get there and will be thrilled if we get it but we're not really counting on it. We are taking my 12 year old's best friend with us so regardless of where the room is we prefer the bunks since my daughter is an octopus to sleep with. I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay at the AKL despite the long walk to your room. How was the bus transportation to the other parks? We are relying on bus transportation for our entire trip this time - no rental car. Also, how was the Mara?
We spent 6 days at the Animal Kingdom Lodge last August. You're right about the long walk to the buses. Sometimes the hike back to our room from the busstop after a long day in the parks seemed daunting! The AKL complex is immense!
We didn't have any trouble with housekeeping as some of you have expressed. Our room was brand-new because the wing we stayed in had just opened in July, and everything was clean and well appointed.
The Mara snackbar is disappointing and overpriced. The only thing that did turn out to be a good deal at the Mara is the purchase of refillable coffee mugs (I think they currently run $8.95) that we were able to use throughout our stay. Hot chocolate and tea are also refillable in these mugs.
The Boma restaurant is pleasant, and the large selection available buffet style is almost certain to provide items to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Some of the dishes are rather unusual and said to be African-inspired. Not knowing much about African cuisine, I can't vouch for this, but many of them were quite interesting. Service was always prompt and friendly.
The atmosphere of the lodge is very impressive, and standing in the middle of the huge lobby or looking down on the lobby from one of the fourth-floor walkways is amazing.
Our initial Savannah-view room was off in a corner in an area where no animals ever wandered. When we complained about this, the staff changed our room. Thereafter we could regularly view wildlife from our balcony.
I highly recommend AKL to both novice and veterans Disneyites!
We didn't have any trouble with housekeeping as some of you have expressed. Our room was brand-new because the wing we stayed in had just opened in July, and everything was clean and well appointed.
The Mara snackbar is disappointing and overpriced. The only thing that did turn out to be a good deal at the Mara is the purchase of refillable coffee mugs (I think they currently run $8.95) that we were able to use throughout our stay. Hot chocolate and tea are also refillable in these mugs.
The Boma restaurant is pleasant, and the large selection available buffet style is almost certain to provide items to satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Some of the dishes are rather unusual and said to be African-inspired. Not knowing much about African cuisine, I can't vouch for this, but many of them were quite interesting. Service was always prompt and friendly.
The atmosphere of the lodge is very impressive, and standing in the middle of the huge lobby or looking down on the lobby from one of the fourth-floor walkways is amazing.
Our initial Savannah-view room was off in a corner in an area where no animals ever wandered. When we complained about this, the staff changed our room. Thereafter we could regularly view wildlife from our balcony.
I highly recommend AKL to both novice and veterans Disneyites!
Hi Eeyore1226,
That's funny that someone else didn't care about the view!! I TRULY wanted bunkbeds rather than the view!!! Everyone has their own likes and dislikes and the Savannah view was just not very important to me!! I would have paid for it if it was. There are a million places to see the animals around the resort and the views can be VERY close. I was actually standing not 5 ft away from a giraffe from Arusha rock. He was eating from a tree that was directly in front of me. When we were at the YC I was on my balcony daily sometimes for very long periods of time. Here at this resort I didn't once sit on the balcony! Funny isn't it?? You may want to STRESS your need for bunks. I have an 8 and a 3 yr old that had to sleep in a queen bed together so bedtime was not a very fun thing in our room.
Since we were SO far from everything we didn't really eat at Mara too often although I had planned to. I think in 9 days we only ate there maybe 4 times. The food was good....on the expensive side but nothing that was a MUST. Boma is truly something you should try just once at least. Dinner was very good. I'm not an exotic eater by any means so I didn't want to know what I was eating but I tried everything and it really was great.
We did buy the refillable mugs but really rarely used them either.
Oh, you HAVE to try a "Red Savannah Colada" at the poolside bar. I was addicted to them!!! The best in the world!
Transportation was fine. It truly doesn't take any longer to get from one place to another because your not sharing a bus with anybody else. When we were at POR I think the bus rides were longer because the bus had to make rounds thruout the entire resort and then go to FQ. Same with the YC....just seemed to take forever. The only time my husband had to stand was after Illuminations. He will ALWAYS give his seat up!!!! That is the one thing I did notice this trip......the guests were not very polite. The CM's were all fine but boy, the guests could really put a damper on things. My son, 8, would ask me quite a few times why people were so pushy and not waiting their turn. That's a very hard question to answer. I just told him that he always had to use manners even if other people weren't.
Oh, before this gets WAY too long....we were in room 4553.
Any other questions?????
That's funny that someone else didn't care about the view!! I TRULY wanted bunkbeds rather than the view!!! Everyone has their own likes and dislikes and the Savannah view was just not very important to me!! I would have paid for it if it was. There are a million places to see the animals around the resort and the views can be VERY close. I was actually standing not 5 ft away from a giraffe from Arusha rock. He was eating from a tree that was directly in front of me. When we were at the YC I was on my balcony daily sometimes for very long periods of time. Here at this resort I didn't once sit on the balcony! Funny isn't it?? You may want to STRESS your need for bunks. I have an 8 and a 3 yr old that had to sleep in a queen bed together so bedtime was not a very fun thing in our room.
Since we were SO far from everything we didn't really eat at Mara too often although I had planned to. I think in 9 days we only ate there maybe 4 times. The food was good....on the expensive side but nothing that was a MUST. Boma is truly something you should try just once at least. Dinner was very good. I'm not an exotic eater by any means so I didn't want to know what I was eating but I tried everything and it really was great.
We did buy the refillable mugs but really rarely used them either.
Oh, you HAVE to try a "Red Savannah Colada" at the poolside bar. I was addicted to them!!! The best in the world!
Transportation was fine. It truly doesn't take any longer to get from one place to another because your not sharing a bus with anybody else. When we were at POR I think the bus rides were longer because the bus had to make rounds thruout the entire resort and then go to FQ. Same with the YC....just seemed to take forever. The only time my husband had to stand was after Illuminations. He will ALWAYS give his seat up!!!! That is the one thing I did notice this trip......the guests were not very polite. The CM's were all fine but boy, the guests could really put a damper on things. My son, 8, would ask me quite a few times why people were so pushy and not waiting their turn. That's a very hard question to answer. I just told him that he always had to use manners even if other people weren't.
Oh, before this gets WAY too long....we were in room 4553.
Any other questions?????
eeyore1226
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2001
- Messages
- 112
Hi again Mickeyx2 
We sound a lot alike!! My husband always gives up his seat to women on busses. One time we were on a packed bus coming back from Illuminations to Dixie Landings and a very pregnant women got on and had to stand up. NOBODY would give up their seat!!! My husband who was like 12 rows away from her got up and pushed his way to the front and then escorted her back to his seat so she could sit down; I really hoped he made the other men who were sitting feel guilty
As for AKL; this trip started out with us staying at CBR but when the Mickey Monitor arrived with the deal of $124 a night I couldn't pass it up! We really aren't too concerned with the view so I was glad to hear that you didn't have any trouble finding viewing spots around the resort. I don't think we'll do the mugs either. I'll take your advice though and try the drink you suggested Thanks for the room # too; was there another room above you - concierge maybe? Can't wait to get there!!
We sound a lot alike!! My husband always gives up his seat to women on busses. One time we were on a packed bus coming back from Illuminations to Dixie Landings and a very pregnant women got on and had to stand up. NOBODY would give up their seat!!! My husband who was like 12 rows away from her got up and pushed his way to the front and then escorted her back to his seat so she could sit down; I really hoped he made the other men who were sitting feel guilty
As for AKL; this trip started out with us staying at CBR but when the Mickey Monitor arrived with the deal of $124 a night I couldn't pass it up! We really aren't too concerned with the view so I was glad to hear that you didn't have any trouble finding viewing spots around the resort. I don't think we'll do the mugs either. I'll take your advice though and try the drink you suggested Thanks for the room # too; was there another room above you - concierge maybe? Can't wait to get there!!Hi Again,
This is getting pretty strange! We were orginally at CBR too until the AKL rate came out. Sounds like our families would vacation well together!! Yes, I believe there was a room above ours. We did hear slight noise from above just one night and it wasn't very much at all. Also, the pool gets VERY crowded. I have the 3 year old so I have to be very near the pool. If it was just my son than it wouldn't have been that important to be so close. Most of the time when I couldn't find a chair nearby I just had to sit on the end of the pool to watch her.
People on the buses never cease to amaze me. Men just won't give up their seats and I find that truly appauling. I saw this more times this trip than ever before. You would think that people, especially now, would go out of their way to be polite. Just a strange crowd that particular week maybe.
This is getting pretty strange! We were orginally at CBR too until the AKL rate came out. Sounds like our families would vacation well together!! Yes, I believe there was a room above ours. We did hear slight noise from above just one night and it wasn't very much at all. Also, the pool gets VERY crowded. I have the 3 year old so I have to be very near the pool. If it was just my son than it wouldn't have been that important to be so close. Most of the time when I couldn't find a chair nearby I just had to sit on the end of the pool to watch her.
People on the buses never cease to amaze me. Men just won't give up their seats and I find that truly appauling. I saw this more times this trip than ever before. You would think that people, especially now, would go out of their way to be polite. Just a strange crowd that particular week maybe.
There are definitely some nice people still out there. We were at AKL in May. My Mom is in a wheelchair, and it is just her and I. I am female , about 5ft 3 in, and 115 lbs.
Normally, we take our car, but went to EPCOT with someone for dinner. We stayed for Tapestry of Dreams and took the bus back. When the bus came, the driver said his bus didn't have a lift and we could wait for the next bus if we wanted. I really didn't want to wait another 15/20 minutes, so we folded the wheelchair and got my Mom on. I helped her on, but is sometimes a struggle. Someone got up and moved to give her the seat near the front. When we got to AKL, I waited for everyone to exit, and then was going to get her off. A man and wife waited and he helped....actually, he lifted my Mom off and in the wheelchair. He then said he would push her to the lobby! We had a wonderful chat and ran into the folks a few times on the trip. There are some truly great, thoughtful folks out there.
I have also noticed that it is often the person that you would not expect to be kind/considerate that is. I always like to see when a child actually goes out of there way to hold the door for you. I always say thank you and also compliment the parent if they are around.
Normally, we take our car, but went to EPCOT with someone for dinner. We stayed for Tapestry of Dreams and took the bus back. When the bus came, the driver said his bus didn't have a lift and we could wait for the next bus if we wanted. I really didn't want to wait another 15/20 minutes, so we folded the wheelchair and got my Mom on. I helped her on, but is sometimes a struggle. Someone got up and moved to give her the seat near the front. When we got to AKL, I waited for everyone to exit, and then was going to get her off. A man and wife waited and he helped....actually, he lifted my Mom off and in the wheelchair. He then said he would push her to the lobby! We had a wonderful chat and ran into the folks a few times on the trip. There are some truly great, thoughtful folks out there.
I have also noticed that it is often the person that you would not expect to be kind/considerate that is. I always like to see when a child actually goes out of there way to hold the door for you. I always say thank you and also compliment the parent if they are around.
Hi Sharon,
That's a great story! How nice of those people to help out. I really didn't mean to imply that there was noone nice there. We met quite a few very nice people. It was just really different this time with many more rude people than we've ever encountered before. It was just something that I wasn't used to there.
That's a great story! How nice of those people to help out. I really didn't mean to imply that there was noone nice there. We met quite a few very nice people. It was just really different this time with many more rude people than we've ever encountered before. It was just something that I wasn't used to there.
Mattjs,
Depends on where your room is and if you have tired kids with you. Our room with 2 tired ones was probably about 8-10 minutes. The bus stop is at the far end of the hotel so when you get off you have to walk up 1/2 the length of the resort to get to the lobby. You then go thru the lobby to either elevators or corridors. We then took another set of elevators up to the 4th floor and walked down 2 more corridors until we were in our room. If they had another way down from our room to the bus stop we would have been right there but we had to backtrack the entire length and then back again. Some rooms are right off the lobby and they looked very convienent!!
Depends on where your room is and if you have tired kids with you. Our room with 2 tired ones was probably about 8-10 minutes. The bus stop is at the far end of the hotel so when you get off you have to walk up 1/2 the length of the resort to get to the lobby. You then go thru the lobby to either elevators or corridors. We then took another set of elevators up to the 4th floor and walked down 2 more corridors until we were in our room. If they had another way down from our room to the bus stop we would have been right there but we had to backtrack the entire length and then back again. Some rooms are right off the lobby and they looked very convienent!!
Mickeyx2, I didn't think you meant that. Trust me, I have encountered my share of rude people also. Having the wheelchair and the struggles we go through just to be at the parks makes me much more aware of both good and bad.
There are plenty of people that walk right in front of you or let their children walk over the person in the wheelchair. that happens often at AK when looking at the gorillas.
So, I am definitely more prone to observe and really appreciate the nice folks!
We truly love AKL. My Mom just loves it and everyone there treats her wonderfully. We have always had a room down near the end of zebra trail, and even though it is a walk, we have enjoyed the view. But, I have to admit, there are nights when I thought I'd never get to the room!
There are plenty of people that walk right in front of you or let their children walk over the person in the wheelchair. that happens often at AK when looking at the gorillas.
So, I am definitely more prone to observe and really appreciate the nice folks!
We truly love AKL. My Mom just loves it and everyone there treats her wonderfully. We have always had a room down near the end of zebra trail, and even though it is a walk, we have enjoyed the view. But, I have to admit, there are nights when I thought I'd never get to the room!
allicat
<font color=green>DIS Veteran<br><font color=navy>
- Joined
- May 30, 2000
- Messages
- 1,037
We were lucky in terms of room location and closeness to the bus stop. We had a room that overlooked the lobby. The elevator was right there. All we had to do was walk just steps to the elevator, go down to the lobby and out the door. We didnt have a savannah view but it didnt bother me in the least.
I got lost one night while looking for the laundry room- believe me I know how large AKL is!
I got lost one night while looking for the laundry room- believe me I know how large AKL is!
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