Recent Stay at AKL

[nwdisgal]

Hi! DH and I just returned from AKL. It was our second visit there. We were there July 27 -31. DH and I took our first trip to WDW without the kids. When I made the room reservation, I requested a non-smoking room with a King bed, if available. We had a Basic view Mickey Monitor rate - $124 a night.

We live on the West Coast, so with flight delays, etc., didn't arrive at the lodge until almost 9:00 pm. When the CM checked us in, he told us that there weren't any King rooms left. They assigned us to a Savannah view room with a Queen and a bunk, would that be okay? We gladly took the room, as I was happy to have a complimentary upgrade to a Savannah room. Our room was on Kudu trail, number 2259. The infamous people holding pen has been mentioned on these boards, and I will warn you, that yes, this room has a view of the pen. However, they also feed the animals in this location and we saw plenty of birds and giraffes. If I had been paying for a Savannah view, I think I would have requested a room in a different location - only because the pen is a visual distraction. However, since we'd started out with a Basic view, I was very content with our room location. The room was clean and maid service for the most part attentive. The only nitpick I had was some mildew on the corner of the shower curtain in the bathroom.

I love the theming of the resort and the architecture. It was a very relaxing stay. The resort didn't seem that crowded.

 

[Disneylvr]

Thanks for the report!! DH and I will be staying at the AKL next month and we also have a standard view room. But I am hoping for an upgrade (but not expecting one) even if it means looking at the people pin. Did you use the Disney transportation at the AKL?

 

[jennymouse]

Welcome home! We can't wait to stay at AKL for the first time in October....glad to hear all is well with the resort and your stay. Post a trip report if you can.

 

[Rneighh]

Since we have a Feb. trip planned to AKL I am always glad to hear good things about the resort.

Renee

 

[nwdisgal]

Disneylvr - we did use Disney transportation at AKL and it was very reliable. I timed the busses and they came about every ten minutes. I never had a long wait for a bus - even when I'd just missed the bus. I took the bus to all the parks, as well as Downtown Disney.

Also, we didn't get a chance to use the pool, but it never seemed too crowded. There were plenty of lounge chairs around the pool to relax and enjoy. I did spend some time at the overlook next to the lobby. That is a neat area and in the heat of the day, it is a nice spot to relax.

 

[Janet2k]

Welcome home, Nwdisgal. It sounds like you had a lovely vacation, and without your children, no less (hee hee!). I agree with you regarding the AKL being a relaxing resort, *sigh*. By the way, do you have any photos posted from your stay?

 

[materialgirl8558]

what is the people pen?

 

[Bob NC]

The people pen is a fenced off area to hold people. The fence is maybe 8 - 10 feet high and in a circular shape and they are at various areas around the hotel.

If there is a fire or some other emergency situation at AKL, people can't just exit onto the Savannah with the wild animals. So they have these holding pens on the Savannah that people can exit the building into until they can be 'rescued'.

These pens can obstruct the view if you are in certain rooms, or, the space thay take up can keep the animals a further distance away from rooms that overlook a pen.

By the way, the name for these pens is "boma".

 

[pooh.kim]

Has anyone stayed in a king room standard view?? How was the room and what was the view? Are there more standard king rooms or savannah - anyone know?

 

[nwdisgal]

Janet2K - I don't have any pictures developed yet : (

I am also curious if there are any Standard Kings available. By the way, the Savannah View with the people pen in view is not a bad option if you have a standard room reserved and they upgrade you. It sure beats looking at the bus stop. We did get to see a nice variety of animals.

 

[zurgswife]

I paid for a Savannah view last Sept when resort was at 40% capacity and the CM at the front desk tried to put us in one of these rooms....we changed immediately....If the resort was full OK maybe....but it really isn't a view....our room was in the corner so you had to lean out over the balcony to even see the holding people pen area.....LOL