eeyore1226
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2001
- Messages
- 112
After months of waiting and planning we took off from NH a week ago today very early in the morning; me, my husband, 12 year old daughter and her best friend (also 12). We arrived 25 minutes early to MCO and found our towncar driver when we were waiting for our luggage. Off to AKL we go; I had book a standard view room with the AP rate of $124 a night but hoped for a complimentary up-grade. I even faxed the resort four days out requesting bunk beds, and a savannah view room even though I knew this view was not likely with my reservation - never hurts to ask though!! We arrived around 11:00 am and check-in was a breeze - no waiting in line at all. The cast member was so friendly and welcoming, I think his name is Brian. anyhow the girls kept asking me if we could see the giraffes from our room the whole time and I didn't know yet until he said "yes, you have an awesome view" - yippie!! We got room #3507; which is actually on the same floor as the lobby even though it's the third floor; we looked out over Arusha Rock on the Zebra Trail - totally awesome view, I couldn't believe how beautiful this place was. At any given time we saw two female giraffes, zebras, wildabeasts, ankole cattle, and a variety of birds. there were other critters out there too but I can't remember their names. We would literally run back to the room after a long day in the parks to see who was out there. The girls named each animal and felt sure that they looked over at them when they were called - it was great. The hotel is just breathtaking; we spoke to several guides during our stay and spent every evening in the pool and jacuzzies. We only ate at the Mara although Jiko and Boma smelled wonderful - we just didn't think the girls would eat much of the cuisine offered and they are both pretty pricey. Mara was o.k. - standard fast food stuff. We hit all of the theme parks and enjoyed everything we saw although it got unbearably hot and sticky at times; we dealt with it knowing full well that Florida would be HOT in the summer. Bus service to and from AKL is THE BEST!!! We NEVER waited more than 5 minutes (and that was rare) for a bus anywhere - even after Illuminations. I hesitated to rely on busses instead of renting a car but it was the best choice I could have made. AKL has a great gift shop too with some cold foods, milk, juice, and other items. We bought a half gallon milk each evening to store in our cooler with ice for morning. We ate cereal and choc chip pancakes in our room for breakfast to save $$. The only negative I have about our week was one lunch we chose at the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater; it was awful...just awful. We had a table way in the back near the kitchen even though we had asked for a "car", our server was a grouch. The girls asked him about these glow in the dark ice cubes they kept seeing and he said "I already told you about them" which he hadn't. He told the folks at the next table not us. Anyhow he took our order and then disappeared for about 15 minutes then brought out the kids' meals but not the adults for another 10 or so minutes - bad idea. The girls did not like their food at all, overcooked chicken nuggets and a cold hot dog. My husband got a burger which was fine; I had the hickory smoked ham sandwich which was totally gross. It had about an inch of flavored mayo on it which I hate and the ham tasted sour; I took one bite and sent it back. I didn't order anything else either. THe waiter didn't apologize or offer to bring anything else out either. We had to ask several times for the check and the girls and I headed outside to wait for my husband to pay which took a LONG time. Anyhow, we will NEVER go back this place. Honestly though, this was our only dissapointment for the entire week. We got home late last night and today I feel tired and depressed - I wanna go back.
