Just returned from AKL - didn't care for it

[Tiger926]

Cindybella - I'm not sure about the trash & littering that we saw either - have never seen this at any other Disney resort. One of 2 problems here: 1) Guests are ignorant (which we have already determined is usually the case) and 2) Housekeeping/maintenance is slipping at this resort since we found the parking lot, lobby and pool area to have trash around it - most especially the parking lot! This in our opinion, is a huge problem.

antss2001 - I guess this is what he meant, but I'm not sure if it was a direct comparison to All-Stars. Technically our DVC resorts (which are deluxe) would then fall into this category according to this CM, yet his deluxe resort was very substandard IMHO. We never saw people littering or acting ignorately at All-Stars when we were there - makes you think, doesn't it? This CM obviously doesn't enjoy his job any longer, and really needs to watch how he speaks to people as he is representing one of the best (if not the best) customer service company in the world, but with comments like that, yikes!!

It's been interesting to read everyone's reviews and responses. My DH and I just read through them together. Like I said, we are glad that we stayed here, but most likely will never again due to rude guests, lack of service & welcoming atmosphere. We found our room to be very spacious and very pretty (would make a lovely honeymooon room) as is the rest of the resort - the dark atmosphere only adds to the fact that it makes you feel as if you are in Africa as some already mentioned. As well, you can't control animals (which were more well-behaved then some of the guests we saw!) and so we also knew that we may see some and we may not. For us, the atmosphere that the designers worked so hard to create was ruined because of human beings and this is what caused us to feel unwelcome or unwowed - we are big customer service people (teacher & banker) and very altruistic & kind, and we were hard pressed to find either of the two at this resort.

Tiger

 

[Viki]

Hey Tiger, have you seen the new Penquin movie, "March of the Penquins" yet? It looks awesome!

 

[disgal1]

Viki
hope you all have a great anniversary trip. be sure to order the dessert sampler platter from boma's from room service for a late night snack. it was great!

the main reason we stayed at akl was for my birthday. I am also passionate about animals, and couldn't wait to go.
the balcony got so hot, you just couldn't sit out there until the sun moved over and it was shaded. I saw many more animals, and got tons of pix( most of which I threw out.... got to get a digital camera) going out to the viewing areas, and the outdoor stairwells. Which I found on my own. No one at the desk showed us or told us about how good the viewing was from the stairwells at the ends of the halls.

It was just so hot, sitting on the balcony watching the zebras eat grass, and the giraffes eat tree tops, didn't thrill me like I thought it would.
I spent a lot of time out there, and there were many times, no animals at all...on the arusha savanna there is so much room for them to move to.. plus being up on the 4th floor wasn't good. really need to be lower if on the arusha.

If I had known all of this before I went, I would have tried to get a 2nd floor room, or if I had to be above 3rd, a different savanna.
I think I was so excited about this place, it was a bit of a letdown.

 

[Tiger926]

Viki - No, I haven't seen the movie yet and I can't wait to go, but with a very energetic & feisty 2 yr. old (who is named Victoria or Toria for short) we don't get time for basic things, let alone movies! My DH and I have only had 1 date in 2 yrs. since our DD was born, so we really need to go out! I've heard that it is an awesome movie - regular folks like it, so us penguin freaks are going to crazy.

Tiger

 

[mr.mike]

I'm glad I tried it also but it just wasn't for me. I prefer the bright rooms of the Beach or GF rather than the dark decor.
It was fun seeing the animals each evening and morning.

 

[Harambe]

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.

We'll be there with you, Beachangel!

To the OP, sorry you had a less than perfect stay, and shame on those folks that didn't help you with your baby.

But as far as the CMs being unfriendly, you must understand that different cultrues act differently, and the unfriendlyness you feel you're seeing may not be unfriendlyness at all. Talk to the CMs and you will see that they are lovely people.

Not sure about the CM at check-in, but you'll find all kinds of strange CMs around Disney. When I see them, I always picture them getting fired soon, and then I won't ever see them again! LOL!

 

[Storygirl]

Ti ger I do have a question for you...

First of all, I am so glad you loved SSR!!! That's our home resort too, and although we haven't been there yet (sampling the rest of them first!) we think it looks just beautiful and I love to hear of other DVC'ers who enjoy it!

My question: could you tell me more about the pool view room? Was it close to the pool/easy to get out to swim? Did you really not miss seeing the animals? We are WListed for one night at VWL and have another available and the only place we can stay that are available via points (that we have left) is AKL pool. We may opt to rent the 2 extra points we need, but if not, AKL may be it. So I am really curious about the room...

TIA!!

 

[Tiger926]

Harambe - Why the reference to different cultures acting differently? We've been to WDW many times, so we have spoken to hundreds of CMs who are mostly the friendliest & helpful people we have met anywhere in our travels. In fact, many of the "other cultures" as you mentioned were way more friendlier than the American CMs were, as were most other guests! But you are right, there are some "unique" CMs in Disney, but that's what makes it so much fun!

Storygirl - Our pool view room was just that - we were on the 5th floor, and the pool is way down below on the 3rd floor (which is actually the main floor). Nothing about AKL is easy to get around - we had a major trek to elevators and our room as the resort is very big. We really didn't miss seeing animals from our room as the viewing stations (as most people are reporting here) seem to be better than savannah view rooms. Now, maybe we would have felt differently had we been in a savannah view room, but honestly, my DH & DD are people watchers, so they had lots of fun watching kids on the slide from our balcony! The room is very large by the way - it actually seemed like the same size as our Studio at VWL.

Good luck and I hope you have an awesome trip, Tiger

 

[Harambe]

Point well made, Tiger! Bad assumption made on my part!

 

[Viki]

Disgal - thank you for the room tips. I'm working with a TA now on booking the rooms - we're going to do standard for 4 nights and then switch to concierge for 4 nights, so we shall see.

Tiger - I remember those days well! I now have a 16 year old (boy) and 17 year old (girl) who used to be 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4, well... you get the idea!

To tell you the truth the most distressing thing I've heard is that the pool is warm! We'll be going at the very end of August (2006), and having lived in Fla for four years I remember how hot it can get (we're generally used to visiting in Sept). Frankly, I was looking forward to a REFRESHING dip in the pool! :thewave: :thewave: :thewave:

 

[slk537]

We noticed the warm pool last December - it was nice then but in the summer?

Ew.

 

[Minnie]

We didn't understand why the pool at AKL was so warm. The one at WL is much smaller and the water was refreshingly cool and this was the same week

 

[rjn1976]

It's interesting different peoples takes on the same thing. We`ve just returned from our first trip to WDW, and had 3 nights in a standard room and 2 in a savannah room (2nd floor zebra trail) and had a wonderful stay. I wasn`t sure what type of view of the animals we would get, hence the the standard room initially. In retrospect, I would now book the whole stay in a savannah as the view was great - try to have a look outside after it has rained - the animals really come to life. I had no problems with noise at any time of day/night and I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly/courteous other guests were - giving up seats on buses etc.
I would agree that the slide seemed much shorter than described. We would definately return to stay there.
After our stay at AKL we went on to the Portofino B Hotel which we found to be very noisy - the room doors seem to shut too quickly and the "type" of guest seemed completely different. Maybe your fellow guests hotel hopped?!

 

[Viki]

rjn- how did the pool water feel? refreshing, warm, hot???

 

[rjn1976]

It was quite warm when we went in - warmer than I'd expected -more like an indoor pool perhaps?? But I`d probably prefer it warmer than cooler(we only used it late afternoon so i can't say for other times). I wouldn`t describe it as cool or refreshing.

 

[Viki]

It was quite warm when we went in - warmer than I'd expected -more like an indoor pool perhaps?? But I`d probably prefer it warmer than cooler(we only used it late afternoon so i can't say for other times). I wouldn`t describe it as cool or refreshing.

booger! That seems to be the consensus.

 

[Phrank40]

I can't vouch for AKL cast members at this time but when we stayed there couple of years ago a front desk cast member went beyond the call of duty to help us find car keys lost at Animal Kingdom. Guess we just lucked out.

Phrank