Need AKL input

[MagikMom]

My DH, DD (12), and DS (9) and I are starting to plan an extended trip in June/July. The last 5 nights of our stay we would like to stay at AKL. I love the idea of the bunkbeds. I can only book 7 months out. Some questions for those of you that have stayed there.
1)do you think I will have trouble booking a savannah view 7 mo. out?
2)What are the best views/rooms to request?
3)What are your overall thoughts on this resort?
Any info greatly appreciated.

Oct 2004 SSR (soon!)
Aug 2003 BWV
Oct 2002 All Star Sports/BCV
March 2001 All Star Sports

 

[sheryl0521]

Do you plan on staying at AKL on points? Does the 7 month rule even apply to this resort since it isn't DVC?

I would think you could book this resort as soon as 2005 bookings are alowed through CRO.

 

[MagikMom]

Good question about the 7 mo. rule. Yes, I will be using points to stay there. Way too expensive without using points. Not using any weekend points though.

 

[monarchsfan16]

You can book the non DVC resorts on points at 11 months out. I was reading through all our books yesterday and saw that.

 

[wintergreen]

We stayed at AKL in May on points in a Savannah view room. We really enjoyed it, but a few things to keep in mind:

1) The place is HUGE. It took forever for us to get anywhere (front desk, pool, restaurants, bus shelters) from our room. I felt it the day I forgot our park passes in the room and realized it right before getting on the bus. Wasted 30 minutes of our morning.

2) The bunk beds are great. Kids loved them. However, in order to get the bunk beds (we checked in kind of late), we had to take a "smoking optional" room. The room itself did not smell of smoke, but the hallways really did.

3) "savannah view" could be great. Or not. Our room was situated such that we saw more maintenance equipment than animals. We saw more animals from the public viewing areas.

4) the kids really liked the pool. But the water was a bit too warm for my taste.

5) The restaurants are great! Period.

6) Bus service was fine. However, I did feel like we were a bit isolated.

Did I feel like it was a good use of points? Absolutely!

Would we do it again? Not sure. We may just go back for dinner at Jiko and a look at the animals.

Have fun!

 

[Tooneric]

We stayed at AKL last summer using the AP rates. When we arrived, we were given an upgrade to Savannah View which really made the trip. My 10 yo DD and 12 yo DS spent more time on the balcony with binoculars and the animal checklist than watching TV. That in itself was pretty cool. The resort is huge, but beautiful. They loved the story teller in the eveing by the fire pit, the night viewing of the animals with the CM with night vision goggles, the pool, the lobby, the Hidden Mickey Scavenger Hunt (just a list of Hidden Mickey's throughout the resort, but fun!)...

We will hopefully go back there again in the next year or so. I don't have a lot of points, so I'll be watching the AP rates. They usually have a good discount for AKL. Also, I recently saw a Travel Channel program of the top 10 family resorts in North America, and guess which Disney resort was the only one to make the list, but made it as No. 1? Yep, AKL!

 

[kimpossible]

I stayed there in June (not on points)

We were offered to upgrade to a Savannah view rm, but it would not have the bunk beds. DS (age 3) started to cry right there at the reception desk when I even entertained the idea. So, we took the pool view that we booked. Still very nice.

Rooms are small, but resort was fabulous. Saw plenty of animals even w/out the Savannah view.

Service was great, too.