Our Rockin' Trip to the World~February TR! UPDATE 5/15 ~ LINK TO PTR!!!!!!

[tinacaplan]

AKL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How wonderful. And while it may be "far far away" it really does have so much right there, between the amazing dining and pool that especially for a family who really wants to enjoy the resort, it seems perfect.

I know they have some cool kids craft stuff and activities as well, I've seen some neat TR's where the kids participated in them.

FUN!

And a fun update, perfect timing in your TR.

I pointed the distance out to my husband and he said he didn't care. He's not a big fan of MK anyway. Personally, we've never minded the busses. Plus, Max's favorite place (really and truly) on the last trip was the room, so why not have a REALLLY nice room to stay in while we're there?
Also, thanks to some fuzzy Disney math even I fail to understand, AKL turned out to be cheaper than CSR this time, because they're only discounting the deluxes right now. So that really opened up an opportunity for us.

How exciting!!!!!!! Congrats on the trip!!!

Thanks! We are so excited!!!

Congrats on the big news. AKL is a fantastic choice, I'm sure Max will love it.

We haven't stayed there yet, but we have visited the resort. I love the lobby and the rooms look beautiful. I think the rooms have to be my favorite out of all the deluxes.



You just couldn't squeeze the Jiko meal in your update, could you? You had to drag it out a bit longer.
Waiting.......not so patiently.

Thank you! We love AKL! I made the ADR at Jiko really just so I could be sure we could visit the resort. My husband said, "yeah, its like you look outside and the Lion King is right outside your window." Which is sort of true, I guess. I had to really plead with him to sit down with me and look at our options, as his whole attittude was, "I don't care...do what you want." Then we started looking at the AKl pictures and he made his mind up really quickly!

And no...the Jiko update is taking me FOREVER. Can't believe I'm not even up to dinner on our second day yet! This takes FOREVER. But I'm hoping that the dinner part of that update will be up later today.

First....so happy that you're going again!!!

Second...you are going to love AKL! It is so beautiful and the CM there are wonderful too! It's my daughter's favorite resort...she loves the pool and when she wasn't in the pool she was on our balcony which overlooked the pool....and she's 18

Thank you... I think we will! OK, I know we will. We love CSR, too, but...ever since I walked into that lobby last year, I've wanted to stay at AKL.

 

[glennbo123]

Wow, I got 2 ninja posts in on you. Hiiiyaaaaaa!!!!

 

[tinacaplan]

I'm so happy for you that you'll get to visit AKL!!! I'm jealous!

Oh, and "Don't Stop Believin'" is by Journey.

Going back to read the TR chapter you posted.

The Journey song was definitely a give away! But I sometimes feel like that's my theme song! Or that it was featured prominently in the last episode of a very popular cable tv show?

Wow, you announcement about a July trip is even more special after reading the last chapter!

Hey, I had a bit of deja vu while reading....you might want to look at your post. Some of the pictures and text repeat.

I didn't know the song from this chapter's title. I researched it, but will let someone who really knows it give the answer.

Thanks...yeah, and I didn't even plan it that way! Everything just came together yesterday so that I could actually sit down and book the trip. Its so great when that happens.

And looking back, I realize that you're correct... oops. I'll be more careful and go back and fix that!

 

[tinacaplan]

Wow, I got 2 ninja posts in on you. Hiiiyaaaaaa!!!!

Yep...you sure did!

 

[dizneeat]

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I am so happy for all of you to go back in July!!!!!!!!!! And to AKL!!! You are going to love it!
We have been a few times and it is a wonderful resort!
I noticed that they didn't discount the other resorts, guess these get full by themselves!
Did you book a standard Savannah View or the Arusha Savannah view?

And there is something else I need to comment on ........ since I only read and never answered, but it has been a bit of a stressful week!

I am truely, from the bottom of my heart happy that my little friend Max got through his surgery well and that he is up and about again!

Love your new update, btw!
Can't wait for the next ones!

 

[tinacaplan]

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I am so happy for all of you to go back in July!!!!!!!!!! And to AKL!!! You are going to love it!
We have been a few times and it is a wonderful resort!
I noticed that they didn't discount the other resorts, guess these get full by themselves!
Did you book a standard Savannah View or the Arusha Savannah view?

And there is something else I need to comment on ........ since I only read and never answered, but it has been a bit of a stressful week!

I am truely, from the bottom of my heart happy that my little friend Max got through his surgery well and that he is up and about again!

Love your new update, btw!
Can't wait for the next ones!

Thank you! I think we are going to have a wonderful time. I absolutely love everything about this resort (except perhaps for the distance, but that's OK...we're in Disney..and that's all I care about in the end, plus Max still thinks the bus ride is an attraction unto itself!) The CMs have always been so warm and welcoming.

And thanks for the warm wishes about Max...he's doing just fine.

Believe me, I totally understand how hard it can be to even summon up the energy to post on here at times. Hope all is well on your side of the pond.

It is interesting that they only discounted the deluxe resorts, but hey...I figure its a great excuse to try one! I would have probably gone with CR or BLT, but CR , even with the discounts, is just astronomical and I won't pay that. No way. Besides, they don't even have WILD ANIMALS!

So, I need to get going with this TR so I can at least post some of my trip plans for July!

 

[annmarieda]

First, congrats on booking for July! and at AKL??? How very cool. I kinda debated there for our trip...but thought that WL might be more "Christmasy"

You mentioned how it was scary to see Max go under anesthesia...and that no parent should have to see their kid go under like that.. I TOTALLY know what you are talking about. I have been there several times while Zoe was put under. That level of sudden floppiness is scary.

I love the pictures of CSR. Honestly, I think it is at the top of my wish lists for resorts. If it was a deluxe.. I think we would have booked there for our December trip. (dh wants interior corridors)

The picture of your dh and Max walking into AKL... WOW!! That window front is amazing!!!

 

[PirateKate]

Oh, wow...Max had an MRI w/ anesthesia, too. What was Landon's for? Max had his because he has Marcus Gunn Jawwinks Syndrome, which causes a droopy eye lid. That was even scarier, because I was allowed to be with him when they sedated him and let me tell you...no one should have to ever witness a small child pass out like that. Very scary.

Landon has Horner's Syndrome, which also affects his eye. The MRI was pretty miserable, but it's good to know the underlying cause is not life threatening. I wasn't allowed to watch while he was sedated, which would have been scary. I was plenty nervous out in the waiting room, though.

Congratulations on booking AKL!! We stayed there once and it seemed very exotic and cool. I'm sure you all are going to have a great time.

Love Bear getting his own seat on the bus! That's so cute.

Can't wait to hear how you liked Jiko!

 

[tinacaplan]

First, congrats on booking for July! and at AKL??? How very cool. I kinda debated there for our trip...but thought that WL might be more "Christmasy"

You mentioned how it was scary to see Max go under anesthesia...and that no parent should have to see their kid go under like that.. I TOTALLY know what you are talking about. I have been there several times while Zoe was put under. That level of sudden floppiness is scary.

I love the pictures of CSR. Honestly, I think it is at the top of my wish lists for resorts. If it was a deluxe.. I think we would have booked there for our December trip. (dh wants interior corridors)

The picture of your dh and Max walking into AKL... WOW!! That window front is amazing!!!

I think AKL would be great at Christmas. It would be nice to be at a resort that is such a destination in and of itself at such a busy time of the year. And CSR is really beautiful. I love it. And trust me, if CSR was discounted and it was significantly cheaper than AKL or the other deluxes, there's no doubt where we'd be staying again this July.

"Suddent floppiness" is a good way of putting it...scary!

 

[tinacaplan]

Landon has Horner's Syndrome, which also affects his eye. The MRI was pretty miserable, but it's good to know the underlying cause is not life threatening. I wasn't allowed to watch while he was sedated, which would have been scary. I was plenty nervous out in the waiting room, though.

Congratulations on booking AKL!! We stayed there once and it seemed very exotic and cool. I'm sure you all are going to have a great time.

Love Bear getting his own seat on the bus! That's so cute.

Can't wait to hear how you liked Jiko!

Thank you...we are so excited! I can't believe this is is really happening!

And you're in luck....

 

[tinacaplan]

We headed to Jiko for Max’s first signature dining experience. I am not going to lie... my son does not have the world’s greatest table manners. I know my mother is appalled on a regular basis. He isn’t a barbarian, mind you, but he’s three and a half and let’s just say that I’m happy he no longer flings plates on the floor. In all fairness, though, he stopped doing that at least a year ago. He can be pretty good in restaraunts and loves going to P.F. Chang’s and a few other places around our house, but he had never gone anywhere as fancy as Jiko. Probably because I wouldn’t dare take him anywhere as fancy as Jiko anywhere but Disneyworld!


We were seated very quickly and had a wonderful server who was very good with Max. Bonus points there...if you’re a good server and there are children at the table, you will score serious points with me if you make my kid happy. Because, let’s face it, happy kid means happy parents.

Mark and I both got mojito’s, as he had learned earlier in the day that they are, indisputably, delicious! I have to say that the cocktails at Jiko were quite a bit stronger than what we had been served pool-side at CSR (again...bottle of rum and a refillable mug next time!!), but quite delicious. Max was happy with his apple juice.

Now, interestingly enough, I had been super excited about Jiko last year, when it was just Mark and I on our annivesary trip. I need not go into the details again, but we were often pretty miserable during that trip and were perhaps never more miserable than we were the evening we went to Jiko. And I was underwhelmed. AKL, overall, left a huge impression on me, but Jiko...not so much. I had the much-lauded filet and mac and cheese and it was o’kay. Nothing great.

So, why you might be wondering, why did I make an ADR at a restaraunt I was less than thrilled with last trip? I knew I wanted to dine at AKL one night. At first, I made an ADR at Boma, thinking that would be more suitable for Max. But... then I made the decision to go with deluxe dining plan (I plan on doing a whole separate post on my feelings about that decision later on in this TR) and figured we might as well add in another signature. I really wanted an excuse, any excuse, to make the trek out to AKL...so Jiko it was!

Just as they had been a year earlier, every CM we encountered during out time at Jiko was super friendly and helpful. I aso never felt bad about having brought Max. He did very well though what was a pretty long meal. And, just as Mark had fondly recalled from our last visit, they came out and wiped our hands with warm towels. A lovely touch!

Bread and that delicious curry butter were brought out first:

Don’t ask me why I only took a picture of the butter. The butter was particularly delicious when spread on the bread.

Mark ordered the cheese plate for his appetizer. It was very good; a nice selection of cheeses, from dry and sort of nutty to softer and more tangy. The presentation was lovely, as you can see:

The cheese was delicious, but fancy cheese plates are pretty standard at lots of places these days and I didn’t think this was anything super special.

I ordereds a dish I’d been eyeing on-line for some time, the
Tibs Watt in Pannekoeke - Braised Beef rolled in "Crepes" with Peppadew-Olive Tapenade.

They were delicious. The crepes were similar to injera, which is an Ethipoian sponge bread. I love Ethiopian food and while these weren’t exactly the same, I thought they were delicious; very well spiced.

Max had celery sticks and carrots, which he ate only a few of. Unfortunately, they brought out his dinner pretty quickly thereafter which I realized does us no favors. What’s the point in Max getting his dinner so much earlier than ours? Now, I totally appreciate it when a server brings crackers for him early, or bread. I hid Max’s dinner for awhile.

Max enjoying his appetizer:

Mark had the raised Beef Short Rib - Truffled Potato Puree, Pearl Onions, Baby Carrots, and Cabernet-Tamarind Sauce. This was delicious. The meat was tender and and the sauce, which I might not have thought would have worked together, was full-bodied, rich and delicious.

I had the seared barbarie duck breast with potato and spinach masala, C=chanterelles, brûléed fig, and port emulsion. This also really just worked together. The duck was delicious and I was quite happy with what I had ordered.

After dinner I went to the restroom, which I mention only because it is perhaps the most beautiful restroom I have ever seen. I will have to take some pictures of it when I’m there in July, but for now, you can all just take my word for it.

And, of course, because we had the deluxe dining plan, dessert was necessarry. I was a bit dissapointed as they took off the donut/Kenyan coffee ice cream dessert off the menu and I had really enjoyed that last year. Oh well. It was Mark’s birthday and they brought him out a mini creme brulee with a candle in it. Yum.

I am certainly not about to complain for receiving free food, however... it would have been nice to know that they were going to bring this out, as I would have ordered something else for dessert. That’s a lot of creme brulee!

Max had the kid’s chocolate fondue. He really liked all the dippers that came with it; the blondie, strawberries, and cake but he completely skipped the chocolate sauce for reasons that escape me.

Mark had the special cheesecake, the details of which I no longer remember. I heard no complaints from Mark, though, and I’m pretty sure he finished it. Please note the giant cup of delicious coffee.

Overall, our meal at Jiko was excellent. I have no complaints and cannot figure out why we did not like it last year. We’ll be going again this July and I’ll gladly pay cash for it, even if that means we order a bit differently. The bottom line with the deluxe plan is that three full courses per person at every table service meal is that its just too much food!

We walked out through the gift shop and I said goodbye to the Animal Kingdom Lodge, unsure of when we might meet again.

Our cab driver was playing Sinatra on the drive back, which Max asked lots of questions about. As we were exiting the cab back at CSR, our bellies and souls full, the cab driver stopped to ask Mark about Max, as he had been impressed with the questions Max had been asked about Ol’ Blue Eyes.

It was a wonderful evening and I had more to look forward to as I’d be off for EMHs at MK with Karin and Tom soon!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

Jiko looks wonderful! It's on my list of must-trys for the day I do the DxDP.

 

[tinkmom2]

Jiko's is one of my favorite places at AK! We also tried Sanaa at Kidani Village on our last trip and loved the food there too. I have some pics of that in my trip report in my signature. We were able to see the animals on the savanna right from our table.

I think we are going to go with the free dining if it's available for our October trip and just add a TS meal to it like we did on our last trip. We too had the Deluxe on one of our trips and found it to be too much for us. My Mom infact would bring food back to the room and never finish it. She felt so bad about wasting food!

For our October trip, (I get to book ADR's on the 15th) I think we are going to try Tusker house at AK for a character breakfast and probaby QS Flame Tree which is our favorite but now you have my mouth watering thinking of Jiko I might have to reconsider my plans.

 

[pinkxray]

Jiko looks fantastic! I dream of the day we finally get to eat there. I have no idea when that will be, but one day.

I really want to try Sanaa too, but it looks a bit out there for DH. Boma looks better for DH and DD but then I realized I'd be paying way to much for them to eat off the kids section when I could spend 1/3 of the price of Mara for the same food.

I agree about the AKL bathrooms. I stopped in there last year before our breakfast at Boma and they are amazing. I've made it my mission to check out the bathrooms at all the deluxes we visit this year. Strange, I know. I saw the GF one last year and it is very nicely themed, but I don't really love GF's theme so it wasn't as impressive for me as AKL.

Max did such a good job at Jiko

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ooooh! Looks good! I can't decide between Jiko and Sanaa for our trip in Feb, just Rey & I. I'm a vegetarian (Rey is not), and I know Sanaa has a special menu for that, but Jiko looks so nice! I have until August (ADRs) to decide!!

 

[tinacaplan]

Jiko looks wonderful! It's on my list of must-trys for the day I do the DxDP.

Its great...and I was pricing everything out for our summer trip and realized we can actually do Jiko pretty cheaply, as I know we won't do two of every course and will probably skip dessert entirely!

Jiko's is one of my favorite places at AK! We also tried Sanaa at Kidani Village on our last trip and loved the food there too. I have some pics of that in my trip report in my signature. We were able to see the animals on the savanna right from our table.

I think we are going to go with the free dining if it's available for our October trip and just add a TS meal to it like we did on our last trip. We too had the Deluxe on one of our trips and found it to be too much for us. My Mom infact would bring food back to the room and never finish it. She felt so bad about wasting food!

For our October trip, (I get to book ADR's on the 15th) I think we are going to try Tusker house at AK for a character breakfast and probaby QS Flame Tree which is our favorite but now you have my mouth watering thinking of Jiko I might have to reconsider my plans.

We have an ADR at Sanaa, as well, for our upcoming trip. I Indian food and my son loves rice, so...there you go. I figure if our resort has so many great places to eat AND my son loves spending time at the resort, we might as well take advantage of that.

Its coming up soon... but we did Tusker House for breakfast and loved it. In fact, its the one character breakfast/meal we did were I thought immediately, yes, I would LOVE to come back here! For the food, of all things! And I'd love to try Flametree eventually...I think this might be the trip for that, too!

Jiko looks fantastic! I dream of the day we finally get to eat there. I have no idea when that will be, but one day.

I really want to try Sanaa too, but it looks a bit out there for DH. Boma looks better for DH and DD but then I realized I'd be paying way to much for them to eat off the kids section when I could spend 1/3 of the price of Mara for the same food.

I agree about the AKL bathrooms. I stopped in there last year before our breakfast at Boma and they are amazing. I've made it my mission to check out the bathrooms at all the deluxes we visit this year. Strange, I know. I saw the GF one last year and it is very nicely themed, but I don't really love GF's theme so it wasn't as impressive for me as AKL.

Max did such a good job at Jiko

Jiko was great! We are definitely going back this summer. The service is top-notch, as is the food. And you're right.... Boma is pricey! Especially if your DH would mainly eat off the kid's section!

Checking the bathrooms out isn't strange. Its that level of theming that makes Disney so amazing. I'm sure the GF bathrooms are incredible, too. And I'm with you...GF's overally theming doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. Don't know why, even though I was quite taken with the lobby when I saw it.

Ooooh! Looks good! I can't decide between Jiko and Sanaa for our trip in Feb, just Rey & I. I'm a vegetarian (Rey is not), and I know Sanaa has a special menu for that, but Jiko looks so nice! I have until August (ADRs) to decide!!

I think both places have some good veg. options, but Sanaa probably has a few more and it is less pricey. We're going to try Sanaa this summer, I think! Have fun deciding!

 

[dizneeat]

Great Jiko review! I knew you would like it - the atmosphere is so nice there and we had such nice servers too. I actually DID put it on my ADR list for summer again!

Now the question remains ........... will you have fun with us during EMH????????

Hm, somehow I have a feeling I already know!

 

[annmarieda]

Jiko sounds amazing! Sounds like Max did just fine.

I have never even been to AKL... I can only imagine all the theming is beautiful!

 

[PirateKate]

The song is Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran. Very appropriate for a post about Jiko which looks fabulous. I was wondering if Jiko would be a toddler friendly place, and it sounds like it is. I agree- crackers and bread are much appreciated, but not the boys' actual meal. Then, they're just ready to go by the time we get our food.

 

[glennbo123]

That dinner looked really good Tina! Big cup of coffee with cheesecake. Mmmmm.

When my kids were little I always hated it when servers would bring the kids' food before ours too. They needed something right away, crackers or some salad, but not the whole meal. Then, what on earth are we going to do with them when our food comes?

So what questions was Max asking about the Chairman of the Board?