Please don't flame me but...

[Mai Ku Tiki]

Aloha!

I AM TRULY very happy for all the AKL fans, but am very concerned about the impact of more guests and new construction upon the ANIMALS and their well-being.

When AKL was first proposed, DISNEY had reassured a lot of very concerned animal-rights groups that the reason the LODGE would be kept small and was so removed from much of the WDW hub-bub was to ensure the best possible environment for all of the animals.

I hope they have NOT forgotten their promises in their quest for the almighty $$$!

 

[CarolA]

Aloha!

I AM TRULY very happy for all the AKL fans, but am very concerned about the impact of more guests and new construction upon the ANIMALS and their well-being.

When AKL was first proposed, DISNEY had reassured a lot of very concerned animal-rights groups that the reason the LODGE would be kept small and was so removed from much of the WDW hub-bub was to ensure the best possible environment for all of the animals.

I hope they have NOT forgotten their promises in their quest for the almighty $$$!

Talk about borrowing trouble....

 

[Chuck S]

I'm sure that Disney has taken the animal welfare into consideration. There were concerns when AKL first opened...but now, the animals seem to have gotten used to their limited contact with humans so it will not be as much of an impact as it would have had if DVC AKL been a part of the original construction.

 

[Sammie]

The work to exisiting floors should have no impact on the animals. The building of the new lodge, I have been told will lie to the left of the exisiting property which is not near the Savannahs. I am sure this will have less affect on them than the building of Expedition which seemed to have no affect at all.

A legitimate concern but one I don't think you will have to worry about.

 

[cdmickey]

The Animal Kingdom land mass is huge, comparatively speaking. The animals will have no less land to roam and the facilities will rename top notch. The humans are the ones caged at the Kingdom. Not to worry.

 

[Sammie]

The Animal Kingdom land mass is huge, comparatively speaking. The animals will have no less land to roam and the facilities will rename top notch. The humans are the ones caged at the Kingdom. Not to worry.

You know you finally put a name to what it is about the AKL I do not like, I feel caged. I like to be the one that can roam the grounds.

 

[DiznEeyore]

You know you finally put a name to what it is about the AKL I do not like, I feel caged. I like to be the one that can roam the grounds.

I agree. I'm hoping that with the new design and what they've got planned as far as "recreational" areas, there will be space to wander. I love AKL, but I don't like just being "stuck" inside the hotel.

 

[Slakk]

If I come back to this world as an animal I sure hope it is at AKV

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Aloha!

I AM TRULY very happy for all the AKL fans, but am very concerned about the impact of more guests and new construction upon the ANIMALS and their well-being.

When AKL was first proposed, DISNEY had reassured a lot of very concerned animal-rights groups that the reason the LODGE would be kept small and was so removed from much of the WDW hub-bub was to ensure the best possible environment for all of the animals.

I hope they have NOT forgotten their promises in their quest for the almighty $$$!

On I think our first trip to Disney we were driving within the world and came accross a happening that at first surprised me. We saw a truck pulled off the side of the road and then happened to witness a Disney worker reaching pole at to an Armidillo and shocked it. At first I WAS SHOCKED. The Armidillo jumped and ran back into the woods. I realized ultimately that Disney was paying people to patrol the roads and condition the animals to stay away from the roads. I am sure Disney is animal friendly and concerned with the welfare of THEIR animals. I am an animal lover. I truly believe Disney does right for animals. Don't worry about the animals... Disney will take care of them properly.

 

[LisaS]

You know you finally put a name to what it is about the AKL I do not like, I feel caged. I like to be the one that can roam the grounds.

I love AKL except for this aspect. We enjoy going for walks, particularly after dinner, and at AKL there just isn't any place to do that. I am hoping that they fix this one shortcoming when they add on the DVC resort there.

As for the OP's concern, I trust Disney to take proper care of the animals during the construction. I just can't believe that Disney would risk causing any stress or harm to the animals.

 

[Mai Ku Tiki]

I am reassured and will rest easier...I'm feeling more TIGGERific already!

 

[Olaf]

Aloha!

I AM TRULY very happy for all the AKL fans, but am very concerned about the impact of more guests and new construction upon the ANIMALS and their well-being.

When AKL was first proposed, DISNEY had reassured a lot of very concerned animal-rights groups that the reason the LODGE would be kept small and was so removed from much of the WDW hub-bub was to ensure the best possible environment for all of the animals.

I hope they have NOT forgotten their promises in their quest for the almighty $$$!

I don't think the Animal Kingdom Lodge qualifies as a "small" resort. Take a look at a map of it:

 

[Entropy]

Some construction noise is a far cry better than being eaten by predators in the wild... unless you're one of the predators.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

When we did the Sunset Safari at AKL, our guide talked about how the Lodge was built from the outside in. They did all the outside work first .. then did the inside. She said this made it quieter for the animals and less disruptive.

I thought about the impact on the animals, too .. esp. when I read a savanna will be expanded. But, I believe Disney will do their best.

 

[ford family]

I was surprised when I realised that there is no connection between the KS animal area and the AKL animal area (thanks to Windows Live). In my mind I had assumed that the Lodge was at the edge of one large enclosure but they are, in fact, quite a long way apart from each other.
They must move animals back and forth between the various areas so, presumably, they can reduce the animal population at AKL whilst any invasive construction is going on.

ford family

 

[mochabean]

Here is a link to Google Maps' aerial view of AKL.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=32830&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=28.352941,-81.603613&spn=0.003966,0.013347&t=k&om=1

You can see there is lots of space to the left of the Lodge, and the Sunset Savannah (the leftmost one) is the only one that would even be impacted by construction of the AKV. They might just close that one temporarily while the structure facing that savannah is built, so as to not impact the animals.

 

[3DisneyKids]

This is just my guess...certainly not based on anything official...but we know that Disney will be expanding the Savannah for the new DVC. My guess is that they will build the DVC first and then populate the savannah with animals, so as not to have those precious animals living in a construction zone. Of course, Phase I (the 5th and 6th floors) already have savannah views, so there will already be savannah views for the early bookings.

 

[CarolAnnC]

3 square meals a day, great medical and health care, and livin at Disney World!! Sounds like a dream to me. Not to mention no natural predators...

 

[Mtnman44]

I was about to mention the same thing. Glad the point has already been made. Yes, guaranteed food, no predators, top health care, no daily struggle for survival. I wouldn't worry about a little construction noise or anything else. Those animals have hit life's jackpot.

3 square meals a day, great medical and health care, and livin at Disney World!! Sounds like a dream to me. Not to mention no natural predators...