Number 9 is really FINE! Welcome to AKL LITE - the 'unofficial' FAQ Thread

[iheartjuppy]

Are the CL suites at the very end of the "horseshoe" at Jambo? Or are there some closer to the middle? The description on the Disney site says "a view of one of the Savannahs" but doesn't specify Arusha so I wasn't sure. I will cross it off the list if they are all at the very ends, as I don't see the little ones hoofing it many times per day. And if it's not Arusha that probably would cross it off for us too.

ETA: I'm primarily interested in the 1BRs but good to know on any/all! (not DVC)

 

[RapunzelsGoodMom]

We're doing a one night stay-cation at AKL next month (April 11th-12th) and I had read that there's a kids water play area but I can't really find any clear pictures of it. What exactly is it? Is it like a water play ground for kids? We're planning on spending the entire day at the hotel so I'm looking into what the kids can do and I know they will love the zero entry pool (esp my disabled daughter) but I don't see them spending all day there.

We are staying there in a couple of weeks for a MOSTLY stay-cation as well. I really got the best view of the pools at both Jambo and Kidani by going to YouTube and searching for Animal Kingdom Pool.... there are a couple of people who posted wonderful views! You will really know what to expect from each which is great!

 

[RapunzelsGoodMom]

So this may sound silly but I found a DVC member to rent to me for our trip coming up shortly. We've had a run of bad luck/sadness in the family and I really wanted to take the kids away for a break. They're very little and finding this all very confusing (when not wheezing from their permanent colds...just another thing....).

I would really like to thank the DVC member for renting to me. Any suggestions from the DVC group out there? A simple thank you card? A note and some zebra domes? Anything else you can think of? Just so, so genuinely grateful for this trip and want to be sure she knows.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[RachelTori]

So this may sound silly but I found a DVC member to rent to me for our trip coming up shortly. We've had a run of bad luck/sadness in the family and I really wanted to take the kids away for a break. They're very little and finding this all very confusing (when not wheezing from their permanent colds...just another thing....).

I would really like to thank the DVC member for renting to me. Any suggestions from the DVC group out there? A simple thank you card? A note and some zebra domes? Anything else you can think of? Just so, so genuinely grateful for this trip and want to be sure she knows.

Thanks for any ideas!

My thought: If I had rented to a family, especially one that had had traumatic/sad events recently in their lives, I would love a little photo collage with some of their trip memories. To see some of the happy moments from the trip would mean a lot to me.

Honestly - when we rent out our points, you've paid an agreed upon price and we don't expect anything else from you. Something - whether it be photos or notes from the kids sharing some of their best memories - would be more meaningful than anything else I can think of!

 

[livibug]

Google "Samawati Springs" and hit images. You will see a ton of pics for the kidani pool area and spray ground. Then Google "Uzima pool" for a ton of jambo pool pics . Lots of good stuff!

We're doing a one night stay-cation at AKL next month (April 11th-12th) and I had read that there's a kids water play area but I can't really find any clear pictures of it. What exactly is it? Is it like a water play ground for kids? We're planning on spending the entire day at the hotel so I'm looking into what the kids can do and I know they will love the zero entry pool (esp my disabled daughter) but I don't see them spending all day there.

 

[kimmar067]

My thought: If I had rented to a family, especially one that had had traumatic/sad events recently in their lives, I would love a little photo collage with some of their trip memories. To see some of the happy moments from the trip would mean a lot to me.

Honestly - when we rent out our points, you've paid an agreed upon price and we don't expect anything else from you. Something - whether it be photos or notes from the kids sharing some of their best memories - would be more meaningful than anything else I can think of!

....how touching - and lovely.

 

[disneyfamfromnh]

Hello. After stalking this thread for a while I'm coming out of hiding. We are headed to AKL 4/20- 4/27. We can't wait!

 

[Crown_princess]

AKL is my favorite resort!

 

[lovin'fl]

Just bought AKV DVC points and after the 2 month resale process, we finally booked a stay at AKV (our 1st stay at AKL ever). We have a 2BR-standard view at Kadani booked from December 20-25, 2013. It will be a big family Xmas trip (15 of us in total)...both SILs are also booked at Kadani and MIL/FIL are booked at OKW, but hope to move over to AKV at the 7 month window (May 20). Eldest SIL has stayed at AKV twice before and they LOVE it there...it will be a 1st for the rest of us. We can't wait!!!!

 

[kimmar067]

Hello. After stalking this thread for a while I'm coming out of hiding. We are headed to AKL 4/20- 4/27. We can't wait!

....YAY! Nice first post! .....oh.....and....

 

[DizDaD7]

Two weeks from today, I'll be sitting on my porch while the wild animals sleep....in my room. And I watch the real animals out on the Savannah. I'm SOOOOOO excited!

Congrats to Kimmar and DizDad - you guys have a GREAT trip!

Thank you ...Will do...

 

[gabeoak]

Hello. I started at the beginning of this thread and am about 20 pages in. Slowwwwly working my way through. Just wanted to say a big ***thanks*** to all the regulars for their contributions.

We are taking Grandma and Grandpa for their first ever visit to Disney World at the end of April. Our family's first and only visit four years we stayed at Polynesian. This time, as a party of 6, we had to do 2 rooms. So that ruled out Polynesian unfortunately.
We decided to try AKL and our travel agent said the pool view was nice for only a few dollars more than a standard. Again, had to tradeoff cost-value. Savannah was just not in our budget for close to 3.5k more for the trip.

The best news I have seen is that there are observation areas areas of the hotel and hallways! Hopefully there will be one not far from our rooms. Also saw some helpful info on the room types as we do NOT wish to have bunk beds. Did not book that category, anyway.

We just booked our trip so our dining is a bit lacking. But thanks to the generosity of a member in the canceled ADR thread I was able to get a seating at CRT for Grandma. She was one of those little girls who watched tv and would see the castle in black and white and dream of someday going to it. So I am excited to make that happen for her. I know. I know. I read the food is so-so. But it will be worth it to take that "little girl" from Wyoming into the castle. Everything else is icing on the cake.

Again. Thanks-- everyone-- for all the super helpful info. I still have a lot to read and will save any questions until I make sure they haven't been covered already.

 

[iheartjuppy]

Has anyone staying at AKL ever asked if the could SEE another room/room type just out of curiously or future planning? We are visiting at an off-peak time and I wondered if it would be weird to ask the CL concierge or check in CM if I could see a CL suite. I never quite know how far they are from places and can't quite get a feel for layout and space even after seeing some pics, but I am not sure if CMs are allowed to show them if you haven't booked them? We are staying CL so it's not like I'm asking for access to an otherwise restricted area.

 

[RapunzelsGoodMom]

My thought: If I had rented to a family, especially one that had had traumatic/sad events recently in their lives, I would love a little photo collage with some of their trip memories. To see some of the happy moments from the trip would mean a lot to me.

Honestly - when we rent out our points, you've paid an agreed upon price and we don't expect anything else from you. Something - whether it be photos or notes from the kids sharing some of their best memories - would be more meaningful than anything else I can think of!

That's so great and such a wonderful idea....thank you so much! I'll get some photos of the kids having a great time and send them her way. Given how amazing the resort is, that should be pretty darn easy to do! Thank you so much for the idea....really appreciate the perspective!

 

[RapunzelsGoodMom]

Hello. I started at the beginning of this thread and am about 20 pages in. Slowwwwly working my way through. Just wanted to say a big ***thanks*** to all the regulars for their contributions.

We are taking Grandma and Grandpa for their first ever visit to Disney World at the end of April. Our family's first and only visit four years we stayed at Polynesian. This time, as a party of 6, we had to do 2 rooms. So that ruled out Polynesian unfortunately.
We decided to try AKL and our travel agent said the pool view was nice for only a few dollars more than a standard. Again, had to tradeoff cost-value. Savannah was just not in our budget for close to 3.5k more for the trip.

The best news I have seen is that there are observation areas areas of the hotel and hallways! Hopefully there will be one not far from our rooms. Also saw some helpful info on the room types as we do NOT wish to have bunk beds. Did not book that category, anyway.

We just booked our trip so our dining is a bit lacking. But thanks to the generosity of a member in the canceled ADR thread I was able to get a seating at CRT for Grandma. She was one of those little girls who watched tv and would see the castle in black and white and dream of someday going to it. So I am excited to make that happen for her. I know. I know. I read the food is so-so. But it will be worth it to take that "little girl" from Wyoming into the castle. Everything else is icing on the cake.

Again. Thanks-- everyone-- for all the super helpful info. I still have a lot to read and will save any questions until I make sure they haven't been covered already.

Don't assume that it will be terrible - I'd heard the same things and have been twice recently. For breakfast we had a good experience and for lunch we had a FANTASTIC meal. Seriously, one of my pickier friends commented that it was one of the best meals he'd ever had in a theme park (he had the salmon at lunch).... I had the pasta and it was also fantastic. Now I will admit that it was the day of the 5k we had just run and we were HUNGRY, but we were all so pleased. They did a great job. So don't expect the best and hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised! And what a great thing for Grandma - she will LOVE it. The restaurant itself is just so beautiful, she'll be so happy.

 

[RachelTori]

That's so great and such a wonderful idea....thank you so much! I'll get some photos of the kids having a great time and send them her way. Given how amazing the resort is, that should be pretty darn easy to do! Thank you so much for the idea....really appreciate the perspective!

You're welcome! Glad you like my idea. You will have lots of happy photos of your kids - and many precious memories - from our beloved AKL!

And you must come back here and tell us how magical your trip was!

Don't assume that it will be terrible - I'd heard the same things and have been twice recently. For breakfast we had a good experience and for lunch we had a FANTASTIC meal. Seriously, one of my pickier friends commented that it was one of the best meals he'd ever had in a theme park (he had the salmon at lunch).... I had the pasta and it was also fantastic. Now I will admit that it was the day of the 5k we had just run and we were HUNGRY, but we were all so pleased. They did a great job. So don't expect the best and hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised! And what a great thing for Grandma - she will LOVE it. The restaurant itself is just so beautiful, she'll be so happy.

The atmosphere is so magical, the food itself is almost irrelevant!

We've had breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at CRT and I can honestly say they were all wonderful!

gabeoak: CMs always ask "Are you celebrating anything?" I suggest you tell them "yes!" When you check-in at the podium, out of grandma's earshot, tell them something about it being grandma's childhood dream come true! A little extra might come her way!

 

[Flossbolna]

Has anyone staying at AKL ever asked if the could SEE another room/room type just out of curiously or future planning? We are visiting at an off-peak time and I wondered if it would be weird to ask the CL concierge or check in CM if I could see a CL suite. I never quite know how far they are from places and can't quite get a feel for layout and space even after seeing some pics, but I am not sure if CMs are allowed to show them if you haven't booked them? We are staying CL so it's not like I'm asking for access to an otherwise restricted area.

It can't hurt to ask. I will be staying at AKV Jambo in a one bedroom soon together with a friend. Before booking I had read all about the different layout the one-bedrooms have at Jambo and was afraid that I might not like that layout. So when my friend was at WDW last October, he just went to the front desk at AKL and asked whether they could show him a one-bedroom as we were considering staying in one. They had no problem doing so and also explained all the drawbacks of the Jambo one-bedroom as compared to the Kidani one.

 

[kimmar067]

It can't hurt to ask. I will be staying at AKV Jambo in a one bedroom soon together with a friend. Before booking I had read all about the different layout the one-bedrooms have at Jambo and was afraid that I might not like that layout. So when my friend was at WDW last October, he just went to the front desk at AKL and asked whether they could show him a one-bedroom as we were considering staying in one. They had no problem doing so and also explained all the drawbacks of the Jambo one-bedroom as compared to the Kidani one.

...wow, how accommodating!

 

[lucyem]

Has anyone seen the April movies by the pool list yet by any chance? Trying to find out the Friday movie at Jambo. Thanks!

 

[dgbg100106]

Wow, this is an awesome thread at 106 pages since January!

Please add me to the visiting list for

Aug 21-24 Kidani
(going on to BCV Aug 24-31)

We've stayed all over WDW but this will be our first time at AKL or AKV. Hoping the animals are restless and we get good viewing from our window!

P.S. Haha make that 107 pages!

You have been added to the list....

August
Z28KatCar, July 18th - 1st, AKL CL
Anjalee6, July 29th – 3rd, AKL
The Marsons, July 31st – 4th, AKL Jambo
333disneymom, 9th-13th, AKV Kidani
Pink Flamingo, 9th – 11th, AKV Jambo
MICKEY'S DREAMERS, 10th - 22nd, AKL
Pink Flamingo, 11th – 19th, BWI
DonnaDuck333, 11th – 23rd, Jambo House
333disneymom, 13th – 19th, BCV
Ginamarie, 18th – 25th, Kidani
Disneyfool_1202, 21st, Kidani
Gillenkl, 21st – 24th, AKL
ParrotBill, 21st – 24th, Kidani
ParrotBill, 24th – 31st, BCV
rquebral, 21st – 28th, Kidani
WeCantWait, 22nd – 30th, AKL
Render, 25th – Sept 5th, AKL Disneymoon
RachelTori, 27th – Sept 3rd, AKV-CL & CSR