Sake's Alive! AKL Lite V!!

[ocalla]

Thank you so much for posting the Christmas pics!!!

I'm so tempted to change our reservations from CSR to AKL, it's such a beautiful place.

 

[John's Mom]

Good morning Jamborinis!

I have a pic from Mara. Will post later.

 

[basketlacey]

Hi everyone! I just booked my first stay at AKL! We have a grand gathering - 11 people; 3 rooms.

We booked standard view rooms because quite frankly, booking deluxe was already a stretch from what we originally planned. The agent tried to convince me to upgrade at least one of the rooms to savannah view. I said no as it was over $500 but I keep thinking how nice it will be to have my coffee and look over the savannah.

So talk to me about rooms. Are their standard view rooms that have a decent view? It looks like they just look over the parking lot and even a pool view is an upgrade?

Please share with me your experiences and if there is a certain place I should request. I am still on the fence about the upgrade. I need to call back because I did the math and with my PIN, I only calculated about a $300 difference for the savannah view.

 

[PNO4TE]

I took a break from packing boxes and I finally got caught up here.

Construction of our home should start in about two weeks and it will be ready by the middle of September. We will be renting nearby until then. We're leaving Delaware (where I was born and raised) on July 29.

It took us about 70 minutes to get to the AKL. I see many WDW day trips in my future. My DH and I had a great lunch at Sanaa. We started off with the bread service. I had Chicken with Red Curry Sauce and Shrimp with Green Curry Sauce. My DH had Beef Short Ribs with Red Curry Sauce and Spicy Durban Shrimp. Too full for dessert, but the Nahtazus were very tasty.

That is such great news, Kathy. I know it is what you have wanted for a very long time!

 

[John's Mom]

Thanks Elin! I'm glad to hear that Bob's health is improving.

 

[dgbg100106]

Good morning Jamborinis!

I have a pic from Mara. Will post later.

 

[dgbg100106]

Hi everyone! I just booked my first stay at AKL! We have a grand gathering - 11 people; 3 rooms.

We booked standard view rooms because quite frankly, booking deluxe was already a stretch from what we originally planned. The agent tried to convince me to upgrade at least one of the rooms to savannah view. I said no as it was over $500 but I keep thinking how nice it will be to have my coffee and look over the savannah.

So talk to me about rooms. Are their standard view rooms that have a decent view? It looks like they just look over the parking lot and even a pool view is an upgrade?

Please share with me your experiences and if there is a certain place I should request. I am still on the fence about the upgrade. I need to call back because I did the math and with my PIN, I only calculated about a $300 difference for the savannah view.

Congratulations on booking AKL.... If you waould like to be included on the LIST just give me your dates and I will add them...

There are a number of wonderful places to view the animals all around the resort. So don't feel pressured to upgrade if you are already pushing it.... How much time are you planning on being in the room?

If you decide to upgrade look at which animals can been seen on which savannahs and pick a trail from there.

I know I am being vague about the views but we are DVC and stay in the same view all the time. Which we love....

Good luck and others will post about their experiences

 

[franandaj]

Hi everyone! I just booked my first stay at AKL! We have a grand gathering - 11 people; 3 rooms.

We booked standard view rooms because quite frankly, booking deluxe was already a stretch from what we originally planned. The agent tried to convince me to upgrade at least one of the rooms to savannah view. I said no as it was over $500 but I keep thinking how nice it will be to have my coffee and look over the savannah.

So talk to me about rooms. Are their standard view rooms that have a decent view? It looks like they just look over the parking lot and even a pool view is an upgrade?

Please share with me your experiences and if there is a certain place I should request. I am still on the fence about the upgrade. I need to call back because I did the math and with my PIN, I only calculated about a $300 difference for the savannah view.

I've never had an AKL room without a Savannah view, to me that is the reason for staying at that resort. When I stay there I actually plan to spend late mornings and afternoons in the room with the beverage of my choice sitting on the balcony.

However, only you know your budget. It's not worth going into debt for a vacation.

 

[wendypooh]

Morning Jamborini's!!!! Hope Everyone is well - here, HOT HOT HOT!!!!! Wishing I was at the lodge right now, sitting by the pool..................

Good morning, Jamborinis!

Thanks, everyone, for asking about Bob (and me!). His progress continues. We know this will be a very long recovery period because of the severity of his stroke. But he plugs away every day at rehab and here at home and has made some amazing strides in so many areas. There are some things that are improving and others that may never return to where they were before January 17. All that being said... I am so very fortunate to have my best friend back with me that there can be very few complaints from our little spot in the world!

Aww Elin, I'm so happy for you both - you are fantastic and I pray for continued good progress for Bob and You!!!

I took a break from packing boxes and I finally got caught up here.

Construction of our home should start in about two weeks and it will be ready by the middle of September. We will be renting nearby until then. We're leaving Delaware (where I was born and raised) on July 29.

It took us about 70 minutes to get to the AKL. I see many WDW day trips in my future. My DH and I had a great lunch at Sanaa. We started off with the bread service. I had Chicken with Red Curry Sauce and Shrimp with Green Curry Sauce. My DH had Beef Short Ribs with Red Curry Sauce and Spicy Durban Shrimp. Too full for dessert, but the Nahtazus were very tasty.

YAY Kathy - I know you must be so excited!!! I'm also LOVING your lunch at Sanaa

Thank you so much for posting the Christmas pics!!!

I'm so tempted to change our reservations from CSR to AKL, it's such a beautiful place.

Hey - just a little HI from Baton Rouge - are you right near Rayne?? My BIL lives in Rayne............ anywhoooo - IF you decide to switch you won't regret it, the lodge is amazing - I also have some Christmas pics of our Dec. trip - let me find them and I'll post!!!

 

[bricorssk]

Hi all! I am taking DH in Nov. to AKL to celebrate his 40th (kids are staying home LOL) We stayed there in June 2010 and had a pool view room. Since we only need 1 room this time we booked the arushka savannah view. I have been reading mixed reviews on the arushka. Will it be Ok? Should I of booked just a savannah with a request for a certain one?

basketlacey if you can see how much to upgrade to the pool view, we liked it our last trip and its better than a parking lot view (ours was only like $10 more a night)

 

[chris31997]

I took a break from packing boxes and I finally got caught up here.

Construction of our home should start in about two weeks and it will be ready by the middle of September. We will be renting nearby until then. We're leaving Delaware (where I was born and raised) on July 29.

It took us about 70 minutes to get to the AKL. I see many WDW day trips in my future. My DH and I had a great lunch at Sanaa. We started off with the bread service. I had Chicken with Red Curry Sauce and Shrimp with Green Curry Sauce. My DH had Beef Short Ribs with Red Curry Sauce and Spicy Durban Shrimp. Too full for dessert, but the Nahtazus were very tasty.

But you will be closer to AKL and it will be easier to go Hopefully, it will be cooler in Sept for you move than Hope it all goes smoth for you.


Thanks for the Christmas pictures. I wonder if they have any ornaments now, as a confirmed ornament addict I will buy them DH just accepts it now.

Thanks for the advice on ADRs.

 

[John's Mom]

But you will be closer to AKL and it will be easier to go Hopefully, it will be cooler in Sept for you move than Hope it all goes smoth for you.


Thanks for the Christmas pictures. I wonder if they have any ornaments now, as a confirmed ornament addict I will buy them DH just accepts it now.

Thanks for the advice on ADRs.

Chris,

Thanks. I was in Zawadi Marketplace on Monday. They had zebra-striped mickey head ornaments. The price was either $14.95 or $18.95. I looked at so many things, but didn't buy anything.

Kathy

 

[dolphingirl47]

I took a break from packing boxes and I finally got caught up here.

Construction of our home should start in about two weeks and it will be ready by the middle of September. We will be renting nearby until then. We're leaving Delaware (where I was born and raised) on July 29.

It took us about 70 minutes to get to the AKL. I see many WDW day trips in my future. My DH and I had a great lunch at Sanaa. We started off with the bread service. I had Chicken with Red Curry Sauce and Shrimp with Green Curry Sauce. My DH had Beef Short Ribs with Red Curry Sauce and Spicy Durban Shrimp. Too full for dessert, but the Nahtazus were very tasty.

Goodness, that is quick. I am glad that everything is working out for you.

Corinna

 

[basketlacey]

Congratulations on booking AKL.... If you waould like to be included on the LIST just give me your dates and I will add them...

There are a number of wonderful places to view the animals all around the resort. So don't feel pressured to upgrade if you are already pushing it.... How much time are you planning on being in the room?

If you decide to upgrade look at which animals can been seen on which savannahs and pick a trail from there.

I know I am being vague about the views but we are DVC and stay in the same view all the time. Which we love....

Good luck and others will post about their experiences

Thanks for the info! I am so excited about the resort. You can add us 11/12 - 11/19!

We don't spend a ton of time in the room but we are morning coffee people!

 

[basketlacey]

I've never had an AKL room without a Savannah view, to me that is the reason for staying at that resort. When I stay there I actually plan to spend late mornings and afternoons in the room with the beverage of my choice sitting on the balcony.

However, only you know your budget. It's not worth going into debt for a vacation.

Thanks for the info! We won't go into debt for vacation. It is more of a debate on how much we are willing to spend. We don't tend to spend much time in the room however my kids (and my niece and nephew) are animal fanatics. I'll continue to noodle on it. I don't think we will have a hard time upgrading if we want to change it.

 

[ocalla]

Hi Wendypooh!!! Yes we are real close to Rayne - about 10 miles away. Scott is almost considered Lafayette!!!

My daughter is attending LSU, so we visit Baton Rouge quite often. She love's it there.

We visited AKL this past May, and had luch at Sanaa - the place is just beautiful!!! The pics and shows (Samantha Brown) just don't quite do it justice. I think all of our jaws dropped when we walked into the Main Lobby. And Sanaa is the one place that all 4 of us have on our must do list for this December.

I am hoping to switch resorts from CSR to AKL, just havn't made the final decision. Glad to see that they do decorate for X-mas, since it will be our first X-mas away from home.

 

[tiggrbaby]

I took a break from packing boxes and I finally got caught up here.

Construction of our home should start in about two weeks and it will be ready by the middle of September. We will be renting nearby until then. We're leaving Delaware (where I was born and raised) on July 29.

It took us about 70 minutes to get to the AKL. I see many WDW day trips in my future. My DH and I had a great lunch at Sanaa. We started off with the bread service. I had Chicken with Red Curry Sauce and Shrimp with Green Curry Sauce. My DH had Beef Short Ribs with Red Curry Sauce and Spicy Durban Shrimp. Too full for dessert, but the Nahtazus were very tasty.

Wow! Everything is happening so quickly for you! Pixie dust for happily ever after in your new home!

 

[franandaj]

Thanks for the info! I am so excited about the resort. You can add us 11/12 - 11/19!

We don't spend a ton of time in the room but we are morning coffee people!

One thing to keep in mind if you are considering upgrading to a Savannah View and morning coffee is you main time for viewing the animals. Each day the animals are taken into the "barn" to get their main feeding, any medications and a "check up". I don't remember when the first shift starts, but somewhere around 6 or 7AM. Each of the four savannahs goes hourly and the animals are released back onto the savannah after they complete their feeding and check up. Each of the four savannahs goes in hourly, but the thing is that the animals are so trained to get fed that they start lining up before their time. The thing is that if you get up early, the animals are in "the barn" for the morning hours. They don't start showing back up on the Savannah until around 9-10AM, so if you're an early to the parks family you won't see the animals during morning coffee.

However, if you often wake up late like we do the animals are usually out for morning coffee.

 

[PNO4TE]

Good morning, Jamborinis!

 

[dgbg100106]

Good morning, Jamborinis!

good morning......