Just returned from AKL - didn't care for it

[Tiger926]

Totally agree! Tiger

 

[stellaxluna]

I didn't care for AKL either. The CM's were not friendly....the place is too dark, especially the rooms. Also the rooms are very small. There are no grounds to roam around on. The bus service was SLOW. It is nice to see the animals from your balcony, but that's about it.

 

[Beachangel]

AKL is by far my favorite resort! Sorry you didn't enjoy your trip, but I've never had a complaint staying there. I also find the CMs to be some of the most friendly on property. I'm heading down in three weeks - AKL CL and I cannot wait to soak up the relaxing atmosphere.

 

[Avalanche]

One of the reasons we usually stay at a moderate is because we prefer the outside hallway. At the deluxes, depending where your room is, most people have to walk (or run) past your room to get to theres, but at the moderates there are 5 or 6 rooms on a side and those are the only people who are over there.

 

[Figment56]

Sorry you didn't like your stay at AKL! We are SSR owners too and love both SSR and AKL. I would wait a few more years when DD is a little older and give it a try again! My DD 16 absolutely loves it there.Try a Savannah View next time, it does make a difference, as you feel a little more "isolated" like you were right on the savannah. As DD has grown (she was 5 the first time she went), we tend to try other resorts and so far these are our two favs! BTW-Boma is one of our most favorite restaurants!

 

[nukeantz]

I too found the CMs to be rude. We had a horrible experience going down witnessed a fatal car accident less than a year after my near fatal car accident and it took twice as long as usual we did not arrive until 1 am. I went thru an ordeal to call and let them know we would be late and was told doesnt matter what time you get here the room is paid for, when I got there CM's were rude saying we didn't know if you were coming or not and let us feel as though we inconvienced them. And they did us a favor by holding our paid for room. I was shaken and upset anyway but sure didnt need check in boy's 'tude.

The next day Turned out my son's dorm keys were left in my car and I needed to him asked for help as to how to do this from Disney Property. Did not want to get back in the car and drive. Well asking for a kidney would have been easier. They were no help at all and had no suggestions. I went to Contemporary and they helped

Also found the rooms dark and closed in feeling. Very depressing

Bomba was a hectic mess. People every where food dishes empty.

Over all I thought the Hotel was very attractive and liked the feel other than the rooms.

I know there are rude Cm's at all Disney hotels so dont hold it against one property

 

[littlestar]

Our youngest daughter was at AKL for her honeymoon over the 4th of July. They ran into a lot of rude cast members. They also said the guests were the worst they had ever seen on "bad behavior." I think there may have been some large Brazilian tour groups there from what they described to us. Our daughter said NEVER again. She said she should have booked the WL for her honeymoon. Never had a bad experience there. She even said she would have taken a moderate over AKL. Yes, it was that bad.

She did have a nice check-in CM and they got upgraded to Savannah view. So one nice thing happened.

 

[kutchyone]

Didn't stay at AK but spent some time touring the place and had a great dinner at Jiko. Boma looked pretty cool too! Loved the lobby bit I also found the resort to be very dark. The pictures of the pool are very deceiving, I was very surprised at how unimpressive the pool really was. Very glad I turned downt he opportunity to stay there when we had a chance at the AP discount but I would good back to try Boma's or Jiko's once again.

 

[Tiger926]

I hate to post this as we don't stereotype at all in our household, but the Brazilian tour groups were not causing any problems whatsoever, but good old fashioned American citizens! Have to agree with littlestar and your daughter, that people at AKL were absolutely ignorant - there was a general air of pretentiousness that we have never seen at any other resorts. I hope no one takes my comments wrong and assumes that I am trying to turn this discussion into a cultural thing (as we are Canadian) nor a class/finance thing being that this is a deluxe resort, but it was really embarassing to watch how some people were behaving while we there (which was a few days after your daughter). My incident in the lobby with my DD really hit home for us that many people just aren't as altruistic or considerate as we are - but we have never seen it this bad and we've been to every resort on property in some way shape or form.

Tiger

 

[Viki]

We're headed there next year for our 20th anniversary and we can't wait. We adore animals. Let's hope the CM and guests behave as well!

 

[Tiger926]

Here's hoping that you have a wonderful anniversary trip Viki!

Tiger

 

[Minnie]

This resort really seems to get the wow unbelievable stay or not my thing comments more than many others.

Since my DS wanted to stay at AKL we gave it a try on a split stay with the WL this July and I all I can say is that AKL didn't "wow" me the way that WL does. Yes we enjoyed our stay because after all we were in WDW but I'm not sure that I'd return there again. The pool water was on the uncomfortably warm side, the lack of transportation alternatives and water activities was missed, and while many rave about the food we didn't care for it.

All in all though I am glad we gave it a try and with a great rate at a different time of the year we might give it another go but will likely go with trying a different resort instead.

 

[Stitches]

I hope everyone heading to AKL in the future has a wonderful time! It is heartbreaking to hear about these awful experiences at "my" AKL. I think I will try to forward this thread to AKL management and pray they are willing to do something about it!

On a positive note, I've stayed at a number of Disney resorts, but my experiences at AKL have been the best of all. It is the only resort where I've been upgraded. The mousekeeping staff did a great job including setting up scenes with my daughter's stuffed animals - it was fun to come back to the room each day and see what had been done. Jiko was the best! As we walked into Jiko, they handed my daughter a kids menu and one black and one red crayon. My daughter, age 9 at the time, remarked that she wished they had more colors, as you can't do much with just black and red. The hostess said they probably picked those because they were Mickey's colors. But a few minutes later she came back with a brand new set of crayons in 8 or 9 different colors. I'm not sure where she went to get them, maybe the gift shop. I really appreciated the effort! Later in the meal the server came over, asked for my daughter by name, and said she had a phone call. He then brought a phone over to the table and Goofy was on the other end! It was so sweet!

 

[chobie]

I didn't think it was worth the money either. We stayed there in June and paid for the Savannah room, but the view wasn't very much. They put us in a corner room where most of our view was blocked by other people's balconies. We asked to change rooms, and so they sent us to three different rooms all in a corner with very limited views. The rooms were small and though I had dreams of hanging out on my balcony watching animals, the balcony was so small and most of the day there were no animals in front it. The kids loved the pool, though and we love Boma.

We also did not meet any friendly people like we had earlier in the week staying first at POP and then at POR.

For the money spent at AKL, I would rather stay at the Dolphin again with the teacher rate. JMO.

 

[geoffw35]

Hi Stiches,

It is the extra care and little touches, like stuffed animals arranged in interesting ways, that I love so much about staying at a Disney resort. Thanks for sharing your experience. We also received an upgrade, as I mentioned above, without asking for it. It was just offered to us, if we wanted it. And like you, it is the only resort that offered this to us so far. I can understand sometimes not being able to get the view you want when those rooms are already are booked. I guess that's what Chobie experienced. It's a shame, but they certainly tried, having offered 3 more rooms.

The big plus for me is the hotel restaurants. I too think Jiko is wonderful. And the breakfast we had at Boma was great too. I like being able to walk downstairs to eat a breakfast of that quality before park hopping. AKL is my choice among those I've stayed in so far. My family seems to prefer Wilderness Lodge, though--that was our first WDW experience and nostalgia is an important part of the experience. I love WL too for the same reasons, but the AKL restaurants are much better, IMO.

 

[chobie]

Hi Stiches,

It is the extra care and little touches, like stuffed animals arranged in interesting ways, that I love so much about staying at a Disney resort. Thanks for sharing your experience. We also received an upgrade, as I mentioned above, without asking for it. It was just offered to us, if we wanted it. And like you, it is the only resort that offered this to us so far. I can understand sometimes not being able to get the view you want when those rooms are already are booked. I guess that's what Chobie experienced. It's a shame, but they certainly tried, having offered 3 more rooms.

The big plus for me is the hotel restaurants. I too think Jiko is wonderful. And the breakfast we had at Boma was great too. I like being able to walk downstairs to eat a breakfast of that quality before park hopping. AKL is my choice among those I've stayed in so far. My family seems to prefer Wilderness Lodge, though--that was our first WDW experience and nostalgia is an important part of the experience. I love WL too for the same reasons, but the AKL restaurants are much better, IMO.

I don't blame the CMs at all. They did the best they could. We checked in on a Thursday during June and all the rooms had been taken for the week. In retrospect, a Sunday check in would have probably given us a better room But for the money, I just don't think its worth the risk of having a lousy view.

 

[Viki]

Here's hoping that you have a wonderful anniversary trip Viki!

Tiger

Thank you, Tiger! We really are looking forward to it and I think that in our case our passion for animals will far outstrip some of the problems you're noting. We'll also be staying concierge for part of our trip so that might help too. Personally, I'm ready to all in love with the place, but it's good to hear the other side.

 

[CindyBella]

Here are my thoughts:

First of all we LOVE AKL . We have been to Disney many, many times and are best stays have always been at AKL.

We tried BWI last June.....not my thing. We are lucky enough to travel lots and stay at nice hotels and to me, BWI was just as nice as any hotel we have stayed in any city around the country. When I am at Disney, I want more. For me AKL provides the "more" by making me feel like I am in ......Africa. I love the smells and the dark colors. As far as the lighting in the rooms, I love it.


I have to admit it ...... service is slipping at AKL! We were there just months after it grand opened and I have to say, the CM's seemed to love working there! We could not go by a CM without seeing them smile and greet us. -Not the case anymore. CM's at check-in aren't as engaging. Housekeeping is slipping too. We had cobwebs on the light fixtures AND a light bulb was out!! It pains me to have to admit it but... . Also, the pool area was filthy. pizza boxes, plates ,cups were just littered everywhere . I have no idea why guests could not dispose of there litter properly but I also can't understand why a CM couldn't check the area once in a while?

Regardless of service, I am hooked! Disney better get on top of it soon because I used to expect only the best from Disney....now I seem to expect less.

 

[ANTSS2001]

"This isn't a motel, you park your car in the lot, and trek to the elevators & take those to your room." I wasn't sure what to make of this statement, so I just walked away feeling embarassed!

hmmm does he mean the all star resorts are considered motels ??? since you can park next to the bldg near your room

 

[montblanc]

We are going back in August after just being there in July. The rooms are $199 which is far less than most deluxe resorts. I just love the decor and the fact that it is somewhat dark, it adds to the atmosphere of the place. 26 days to go, woohoo.....