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

[RachelTori]

Hello everyone! Great advice on this thread has helped me make some AKL decisions...including flipping my split stay from AKL pool view 3 nites then BC CL 4 nites..to......BC GV first 3 nites then AKL SV CL last 4 nites! I did that reading all the great things you've all had to say about AKL! I am very excited! Curious about Bounce Back offers...anyone just come back from AKL with an offer? Thinking about another trip and I haven't even gone yet... Oh Disney what you do to me.....

When you check in at both resorts, in your Welcome Packet will be a booklet....... there should be a tear-out calendar in the middle with Bounce Back dates and information! They put one out for the entire calendar year this year -- which was great! Whether they will continue to do that or not is anyone's guess.

I have the calendar in front of me. The rest of June and all of July are blacked out, but then the rest of the 2013 BB dates are August 4-31, September 1-30, October 1-5, October 20-November 2, November 17-23, November 30-December 4, and December 15-19.

2013 discounts are 35% off Deluxe Villa Resorts and Deluxe Resorts and 30% off Moderate Resorts. I believe Values also are discounted, but they are not listed on the calendar.

 

[Willows909]

Wow RachelTori...Love that....and frightened at the same time.. Are they specific offers...room only? package only? You have my total attention now!!

 

[RachelTori]

Wow RachelTori...Love that....and frightened at the same time.. Are they specific offers...room only? package only? You have my total attention now!!

It's room only, but you can make it into a package -- same % room discount - just add tickets and dining!

This has been WAY easier than the previous couple years where there may or may not be an offer; you may or may not get the flyer in your room; it may be for room discount or it could be Free Dining.........

As a bonus, when you open the calendar, you will have a keepsake photo of the castle with Disney characters (added in as cartoon characters) "Thank You For Being Our Guest!"

 

[tarak]

johnsonet, I have to thank you for posting the activity sheets. I was thinking of leaving two days for resort only activities. Depending on how early everyone wants to leave the parks (we usually only spend half a day at HS), we might have a few afternoons there as well.

I asked my five-year-old son where he'd go if he could take a vacation anywhere. First was the beach. Second was the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I don't know if he assumes the parks are all part of the Animal Kingdom Lodge or if he just likes it that much.

 

[psac]

We arrived today and are overjoyed to be here

And here is an "unusual pic from the skybridge", psac. Lol. Someone needed a nap.

Oh, and our standard, pool view room has a DVD player. I was surprised.

That is awesome!!! Really funny pic, too. My wife makes fun of me for being able to fall asleep anywhere, but I would never lay out like that! Enjoy the rest of your trip!!!

 

[Willows909]

It's room only, but you can make it into a package -- same % room discount - just add tickets and dining!

This has been WAY easier than the previous couple years where there may or may not be an offer; you may or may not get the flyer in your room; it may be for room discount or it could be Free Dining.........

As a bonus, when you open the calendar, you will have a keepsake photo of the castle with Disney characters (added in as cartoon characters) "Thank You For Being Our Guest!"

Officially frightened! And I haven't even gone on this trip...and I still have to cancel September's...(long story) and now I wanna book another offer...oy vay!


Thanks!! I think......

 

[lfortin16]

We arrived today and are overjoyed to be here

Grandma Rainbow - Zawadi Marketplace DOES have tonic water (that contains quinine) but NOT diet tonic.

lfortin16 - I asked after not seeing any and they do NOT have logo beach towels. Boohoo (they did last year)

tarcc there are lots if items for gift baskets!

And here is an "unusual pic from the skybridge", psac. Lol. Someone needed a nap.

Oh, and our standard, pool view room has a DVD player. I was surprised.

Thanks for checking out the gift shop for me. I will look for something else from home before we go.

 

[livibug]

What a great week so far (aside from all the ticket issues) .. The resort is phenominal. we got a reclassified savanna view and its been outstanding. we have 3 more days left.. if anyone has any questions or wants pics.. let me know

 

[goofyredraider]

Hello everyone! Great advice on this thread has helped me make some AKL decisions...including flipping my split stay from AKL pool view 3 nites then BC CL 4 nites..to......BC GV first 3 nites then AKL SV CL last 4 nites! I did that reading all the great things you've all had to say about AKL! I am very excited! Curious about Bounce Back offers...anyone just come back from AKL with an offer? Thinking about another trip and I haven't even gone yet... Oh Disney what you do to me.....

There was one - we just checked out Monday - 35% for specific dates, if I remember correctly

 

[Haley]

I just switched my reservation for Dec from AoA to AKL... I hope I made the right choice. I've stayed at both but I just wasn't excited about AoA - I really wanted to stay deluxe and it was just about the same price. I booked pool view but crossing my fingers for a savannah view upgrade

 

[XMom]

Thank you, thank you so very much. Of course, there will be a delivery fee. I know that, but I checked and we can get two six packs of ten-ounce bottles which will be more than enough to drink there and take on the cruise. Perfect! We won't have a car and have limited mobility. Don't even know if we'll leave the resort, so having it delivered is such a great idea. I really try to keep the carb count in check.

Bless you.

So glad it will work out for you! We will be taking our first ever trip there in March and won't have a car, so we were panicking a bit about how to get food from a store without breaking the bank with a taxi ride. Then I read on the boards about garden grocer and another one that I can't remember the name of. I thought ahhhhh.....that solves the problem! We will pack one suitcase full of dry goods and have the refrigerated food & bottled water delivered to us. No more worrying

Enjoy your trip and your cruise. We hope to go back without the kids in Nov 2014 and do the wine & dine 1/2 (well hubby will...I just cheer for him), then hop on the Dream for a 4 night cruise. Fingers crossed that it all works out

 

[RachelTori]

So glad it will work out for you! We will be taking our first ever trip there in March and won't have a car, so we were panicking a bit about how to get food from a store without breaking the bank with a taxi ride. Then I read on the boards about garden grocer and another one that I can't remember the name of. I thought ahhhhh.....that solves the problem! We will pack one suitcase full of dry goods and have the refrigerated food & bottled water delivered to us. No more worrying

Enjoy your trip and your cruise. We hope to go back without the kids in Nov 2014 and do the wine & dine 1/2 (well hubby will...I just cheer for him), then hop on the Dream for a 4 night cruise. Fingers crossed that it all works out

gardengrocer.com and wegoshop.com are the 2 most often used for grocery deliveries.

 

[Bethpremier]

Cant wait until Dec!!

We are renting points and waitlisting for a studio at AKL Kidani in Dec. Hoping so much to get it. AKL is our favorite resort.

 

[kimmar067]

Thanks for checking out the gift shop for me. I will look for something else from home before we go.

FYI: For all you scrapbookers out there, they have some great stuff that you can buy and take home [to preserve your AKL memories]....well, they did last time I bought some scrapbooking stuff there...

 

[johnsonet]

I just switched my reservation for Dec from AoA to AKL... I hope I made the right choice. I've stayed at both but I just wasn't excited about AoA - I really wanted to stay deluxe and it was just about the same price. I booked pool view but crossing my fingers for a savannah view upgrade

Great choice and I know exactly what you mean about switching if you're just not excited. AKL is really beautiful, unique and FUN. enjoy.

 

[johnsonet]

Thanks for checking out the gift shop for me. I will look for something else from home before we go.

You're welcome and sorry they don't have them. There are various beach towels for sale. Just not AKL logo, FYI.

 

[johnsonet]

That is awesome!!! Really funny pic, too. My wife makes fun of me for being able to fall asleep anywhere, but I would never lay out like that! Enjoy the rest of your trip!!!

Hehe. I always see men sleeping in the lobby. Especially at AKL
Love that bridge. Here are a few other pics:

 

[johnsonet]

johnsonet, I have to thank you for posting the activity sheets. I was thinking of leaving two days for resort only activities. Depending on how early everyone wants to leave the parks (we usually only spend half a day at HS), we might have a few afternoons there as well.

I asked my five-year-old son where he'd go if he could take a vacation anywhere. First was the beach. Second was the Animal Kingdom Lodge. I don't know if he assumes the parks are all part of the Animal Kingdom Lodge or if he just likes it that much.

You're welcome, tarak and thank you.
How sweet that your little boy loves AKL so much. (Boy after my own heart!)
We do a park in the a.m. and then back to resort for afternoon. At AKL there is so much to keep you interested.
If you don't mind shuttling between Jambo and Kidan,i there is tons to do at the resort/s!
Simple pleasures like cookie decorating at 1pm and going out on Arusha Overlook in the late afternoon are low-key yet special.

 

[johnsonet]

Hello everyone! Great advice on this thread has helped me make some AKL decisions...including flipping my split stay from AKL pool view 3 nites then BC CL 4 nites..to......BC GV first 3 nites then AKL SV CL last 4 nites! I did that reading all the great things you've all had to say about AKL! I am very excited! Curious about Bounce Back offers...anyone just come back from AKL with an offer? Thinking about another trip and I haven't even gone yet... Oh Disney what you do to me.....

Hey. I know RachelTori has answered but just thought I'd share with you a pic of current offer:

 

[RachelTori]

Hehe. I always see men sleeping in the lobby. Especially at AKL
Love that bridge. Here are a few other pics:

There's my room on the left (#5406) from my first AKV stay in January 2008!! It's a Jambo "standard studio" (pool view)! I loved that room!


Glad you're having a great time, Liz!