May 12, 2006 - LIVE from the Animal Kingdom Lodge!!

[Msslaydbug]

Hi Terry -
We are also at AKL right now. We will be here until the 18th. we have a standard view room and even though we don't have a "view" we are lovong this resort. I am falling in love with it. Have a good time. Maybe I will pass you !!

 

[kimmar067]

We had an early night last night, and are "sleeping in" this morning. DH is still in bed, but I've been awake for about a half hour now. The beds and pillows are very comfortable

Oh.. When we first arrived in our room on Thursday, I called Housekeeping and requested a sharps container, extra pillows, and turndown service. The sharps container and pillows were brought by the time we returned from a quick walk around the resort, and housekeeping has been doing the turndown each night, leaving chocolate and cards with African proverbs, on the beds. What can I say, I love turndown service

It's supposed to be warmer today... hot even! lol The weather channel says in the 90s and high humidity. But it's better than the rain I see forecast for Boston. We left Boston in the rain and fog last week and it looks like we'll be returning the same thing next week.

We have an ADR for lunch at Marrakesh today, then dinner at 'Ohana with some friends tonight. We'll stay at the Magic Kingdom until midnight tonight, for the Extra Magic Hours.

Kimmar: I'd still go to 50's Prime Time. The pot roast was still good, just different and not as good than what I remember it to be. And everything else that people at our table ordered (we were with a party of 10), was very good. DH had the fried chicken for dinner, and shrimp cocktail appetizer. He had a hot fudge sundae for dessert.

7susan7: Yes, there was already a fridge and coffee maker in the room when we checked in. There's also an iron and ironing board in the closet, as well as a Pack-N-Play, and a LAN cable if you want to connect to the internet. DH brought his own cables in case the room didn't have one, but we saw it hanging in a plastic case in the back of the closet when we arrived to our room.

The fridge is in a small wooden cabinet, it's better than it just sitting out and clashing with the wonderful theming here. I think all of the resorts now have the fridges in small cabinets that are themed to each resort.



Regarding the drinks at the pool bar: "Nahtazu" is not on their regular drink menu anymore, but when I asked about it they pulled out a notebook that had several drink recipes in it and showed it to me and said they could make any of the drinks in there, including that one. I ended up choosing something called a "Pretoria Punch" or something like that, that is usually served at Boma. It was really good They had the recipes to many drinks that are on the menus at other places, including Jiko, Boma, and a bar at the Animal Kingdom park.

I had a glass of African wine with dinner at Jiko the other night, I can't remember which one it was though (if I saw the drink menu, I'd be able to pick it out, it was on the righthand side of the menu, in the middle of the page. lol), but I know it cost $12.50 a glass. lol The server recommended it, and it was very good.




Are there any pictures of the resort that anyone would like taken? My RA (rheumatoid arthritis) has been horrible since the first night we were here, so I'm moving very slowly, but I want to see the entire resort while I'm here, so I'd be happy to try and get any pictures that I can I've already gotten many pictures of the lobby, pool area, room, and Arusha rock area.

...first of all, Happy Mother's Day, Terry! Okay, Prime Time it is.... . Also, this sounds like a strange request, but could you take a pic of the laundromat?? Alot of folks ask about that, so I thought it would be a good pic to have on the "JAMBO! The UNofficial..." thread Hey, did you haave the pressed pot of coffee yet?? I LOVE it....!

 

[tinknme]

Nope not strange, cuz I would like to see it myself Doesn't the laundromat also have a TV for you to watch while doing laundry?

. Also, this sounds like a strange request, but could you take a pic of the laundromat?? Alot of folks ask about that, so I thought it would be a good pic to have on the "JAMBO! The UNofficial..." thread

 

[scoutsmom99]

We are having a great time. Weather is perfect today. Warm but no humidity at all. Spent the morning at Animal Kingdom park. Had breakfast at Boma, the made-to-order omelette was wonderful. Oh, had dinner at Boma last night, LOVED the desserts!! Especially something called "Mount Everest", a small, rather dense, mountain shaped piece of pastry, reminiscent in appearance of a dense spice cake, but had a different flavor. LOVED THE ZEBRA DOMES!! LOL I took pictures of all of the food that I ate, but the pictures of the food at the pods themselves did not turn out very well because I couldn't get the lighting right with my camera.

Terry-glad you are having a fabulous stay. Looks as though we have gained another member of ZDA. I'm looking forward to your restaurnt reveiws as yours were some of the best ones I read last year on the Dining board.

I'm very happy with our pool view room. I've been in a savannah view room (another friend of ours arrived last night and got upgraded from a standard room to a savannah view, but it's got a very poor view of the savannah, I'll explain more when I get home). ANyway, I feel that the pool view room was the right choice for DH and I, and I don't regret not having a savannah view room

I really like the pool view rooms as they have a great location and some of the savannah rooms IMHO are slightly more undesireable.

Enjoy the rest of your stay

 

[SeaSpray]

Good morning everyone

We ended up staying out at the parks ALL day yesterday, including EMH at the MK until midnight. EMH was great, everything was a walk-on.

We had lunch at Marrakesh, LOVED IT! DH and I had the shish kebob and the beef was cooked just right and was tender and flavorful. Our friend who was dining with us had the chicken kebob and she said it was very good, too. Had dinner at 'Ohana with a small group, everything was great there, too. I had wanted to get a Lapu Lapu while at 'Ohana, but I chicked out and ended up getting a drink called... umm...something Sunrise or Sunset....? LOL I'll look up the correct name when I get home and post the picture of it. lol

However, this means that I spent virtually no time at all at the resort yesterday. We are going to take a break today, between MGM and Epcot, to come back to the resort and swim, and so I can take more pictures.


ADisneyGirl: I didn't have the pepper pot soup, I ended up having the chicken corn porridge soup. I'll have to try that pepper pot soup on our next trip.

Jasminetigger: We did not have to arrange for the sharps container in advance, all of the Disney resorts have them. We called for it once we checked into our room. Housekeeping brought the container at the same time as the extra pillows we requested.

Mssslaydbug: I have some lime green ribbon tied around my waistpack, but so far I haven't seen any DISers. Well, I've seen MANY Disers, but that's because we had specific plans to meet up for dinner and such. (I'll be posting DIS meet pictures on my web page when I get home). If you see me, please be sure to say Hello!

kimmar: Where is the laundromat? LOL When we go to the pool later I'll find out where it is and take some pictures.

I have to remember to go to the gift shop today to pick up the things we bought on Saturday; I forgot that if you're not staying concierge they won't bring the packages directly to your room, guess I got spoiled on previous trips. LOL

Today we're going to be having lunch at the Brown Derby in MGM, and try to do a few things there including the Backlot Tour, since DH has never done that. I don't think we'll be at MGM very long because we've already done most of the things there that we wanted to, and also because I'll be eager to get back to the resort and hit the pool. I want to enjoy this great weather, tomorrow we'll be going back to a flooded Boston/New England

Tonight we're having dinner at Le Cellier at Epcot. DH has never dined there before. Cheese soup, here we come!!

I don't think it'll be a late night for us tonight so I'll probably post again before we go to bed.

 

[kimmar067]

Nope not strange, cuz I would like to see it myself Doesn't the laundromat also have a TV for you to watch while doing laundry?

...yes it does!

There are 2 laundromats...the one I used was in Kudu Trail on the 3rd floor - third building out on the 'arm'....

 

[SeaSpray]

Well tonight is our last night at AKL But we've had a wonderful stay and really love this resort.

Today we started out at MGM, had lunch at the Brown Derby (it was OK, I'm not sure I'd return, there wasn't much on the lunch menu that appealed to me), then came back to AKL to swim this afternoon, then went to Epcot this evening and had dinner at Le Cellier. We had excellent service at Le Cellier, our server's name was Erryn. I LOVED the pretzel bread... the cheese soup was "good" but not as good as what I had last fall during the Food & Wine Festival. It didn't even taste like the same soup to me I ordered the 7oz filet mignon and it was good, but I was too full from the bread and soup to really enjoy it. lol I had the maple creme brulee for desset, it was good but I could only finish half of it.

I'll be sorry to leave AKL tomorrow. And I'll post the pictures as soon as I'm able to. See you all on the other side of Disney World!

 

[scoutsmom99]

kimmar: Where is the laundromat? LOL When we go to the pool later I'll find out where it is and take some pictures.

There is also one on the Zebra Trail right next to simaba's clubhouse. If you go by the mara and keep walking past the aracade there will be a door straight ahead go in there and you should see it.

 

[doombuggy3]

These updates have been WONDERFUL! I leave in six days and you've managed to make me keep my mind off of looking at the clock waiting til it's time to go! Thanks for such a great report!

 

[tinknme]

Cool, thanks for the pic!

...yes it does!

There are 2 laundromats...the one I used was in Kudu Trail on the 3rd floor - third building out on the 'arm'....

 

[tinknme]

Great reports, sounds like you had a wonderful time. Look forward to seeing your pictures!

 

[kimmar067]

There is also one on the Zebra Trail right next to simaba's clubhouse. If you go by the mara and keep walking past the aracade there will be a door straight ahead go in there and you should see it.

...yup, that's right...I was on the Kudu Trail part of AKL [5th floor], so it was easier for me to use THAT one....

Terry ~
Can't wait to see all your 'food pix'.....

 

[Simba's Mom]

Hi Seaspray! I just found this post. Please tell me more about your pool view room at AKL-I just booked one for September, for the first time. I had a Savannah view room before. Could you hear the resort backround music from your balcony? I love to sit on my balcony and just listen to the music. Where did you go to see the animals from? And tell me more about the "adult beverages" you had. I love to try drinks that are kind of unique to the resort at WDW. What's a "Natahzu"?

 

[SeaSpray]

Hi Seaspray! I just found this post. Please tell me more about your pool view room at AKL-I just booked one for September, for the first time. I had a Savannah view room before. Could you hear the resort backround music from your balcony? I love to sit on my balcony and just listen to the music. Where did you go to see the animals from? And tell me more about the "adult beverages" you had. I love to try drinks that are kind of unique to the resort at WDW. What's a "Natahzu"?

Hi! I've added pictures of our room and the view we had, to my web site. Here's a link directly to my AKL pages, the links to photos are at the bottom of this page: http://www.brownfamilyvacations.com/html/AKL comments.htm

We could hear the music from the balcony... Sometimes it was "energetic" kind of music, other times it was more mellow.

We walked out to Arusha Rock, off the lobby, to view animals, and I also saw some from some of the large windows down the Zebra Trail section of the resort.

I don't remember the exact recipe for the "Natahzu" drink, but I do remember it had Midori melon liqueur in it, and that's why I didn't get it, I don't care for the taste of that. They did have several other choices, AND they will make up any drink that you want, as long as they have the ingredients and the recipe for it. I HIGHLY recommend the "Nyami Nyami"; it's a frozen drink made with Amarula, banana liqueur, and vanilla ice cream! It tasted like a pureed banana split! LOL

 

[eliza61]

Hi Seaspray,
Just checked out your pictures. They are absolutely gorgeous![/COLOR]. Mind if I ask you, what kind of camera do you have? I'm in the market for a new one and your pictures were awesome.
Eliza

 

[hanadg]

im doing a L&S vacation and want to get the most time out of my vaca as possible. i can still switch to poly although i have never stayed at either! is it so far away that it would save me a fair amount of time to move to poly? anyone have any advice

 

[Mouse-Me]

Take a look at the disney maps. Poly is near the Magic Kindom on the Mono-rail. AKL is on the bus routes...

 

[kimmar067]

im doing a L&S vacation and want to get the most time out of my vaca as possible. i can still switch to poly although i have never stayed at either! is it so far away that it would save me a fair amount of time to move to poly? anyone have any advice

...there are several things to consider:
1) how long is your stay?
2) which park do you primarily visit?
3) what are the ages of the persons going?
4) how important is 'theming'?

If you have very young children, the Poly is the place for you, because of its access to the monorail and its proximity to MK. However, you cannot beat the theming of AKL, with its serenity and top-notch service, not to mention that it does NOT share buses with any other resort...AND the animals are a big favorite of the little ones.....

 

[hanadg]

Take a look at the disney maps. Poly is near the Magic Kindom on the Mono-rail. AKL is on the bus routes...

i did this. but it wasnt that helpfull considering that they didn't really put the time it would take to get from one to the other. Sure i can see where its placed but i dont know the scale.


Also. I wanted to get it from the point of view of someone who actually has been on the bus route. Googlemaps would have just told me the time approx. A DIS'r has a little more experince.

 

[hanadg]

...there are several things to consider:
1) how long is your stay?
2) which park do you primarily visit?
3) what are the ages of the persons going?
4) how important is 'theming'?

If you have very young children, the Poly is the place for you, because of its access to the monorail and its proximity to MK. However, you cannot beat the theming of AKL, with its serenity and top-notch service, not to mention that it does NOT share buses with any other resort...AND the animals are a big favorite of the little ones.....

Thank You!
1) i have been saving since i was 8 to ride on this cruise. So i only have enough for the 3 day land and 4 day sea. Which I know is too short, but im hoping my mother will fall in love with DCL and want to go back for a longer cruise.
2) Im not sure what parks!!!! i havent been to WDW since 2000. I know when we go to disneyland ( i have been there this year and last year) i spend an equal amount of time in adventures and MK) But it will be just me and my mom, and this trip is for my eightenth bday so im guess we will be going to all parks to explore.
3) 18 & 39 ( but that dosnt say much about us. im a major disney fan and my mom acts like shes 12 hahahaha)
4) i cant lie..i love a good theme!