Tell me about the daybed at AKL (m)

[Cuddlemama]

We have a deluxe room (queen, bunks, daybed) scheduled for our upcoming stay.

We'll definately need all the bedspaces. I'm curious about the daybed. Is this a fold-out like a futon, so the back lays down? Or is it just a couch that is padded so you can sleep on it while it remains in the upright position?


Also, does anyone know if there is a configuration of deluxe room at AKL with 2 queens and a daybed instead of the queen bunks daybed thing?

I've seen several sites that say there IS, and several sites that say NO....

Because of the ages and configuration of our party (two babies, two frazzled parents, two senior citizens) we're really not looking forward to the bunk bed room AT ALL!!!!!

When we booked, this was the only concierge option open to us. There were no suites available (save the Presidental....yeah, sure, we can afford that one! ) and my inlaws didn't want to be separated from the babies.

There are STILL no suites available (I've checked with my Travel Agent as well as on the disney website, CONSTANTLY).....grrrrr

Ok, enough blabbering, I'm totally off topic. Since Grandma refuses to sleep with Grandpa, and I'm pretty sure she can't handle the bunks, is she going to be able to sleep on the daybed?

~Leigh (2 weeks from today I'll be in AKL!)

 

[Lyncruiser1]

I can probably help a little here. We had a deluxe room with bunk beds and the day bed. We've not been in the deluxe room with two queens and the day bed. The day bed we had folded out rather like a futon, but much more comfortable. It was big enough for an adult. My brother, who is over 6 feet, slept on it very comfortably. Hope this helps.

 

[Sammie]

As far as I know all deluxe rooms are one queen bed, one set of bunks and the day bed. The day bed as stated folds down. The back actually folds down to make the bed.

 

[Janet2k]

We did not use the daybed but I thought I'd post a photo of it: click here for photo. I must say that the daybed is very large (larger than anything I have found in a deluxe resort so far).

 

[Janet2k]

Cuddlemama, since you were thinking of a suite, why not consider getting two rooms that connect together? It would solve a lot of your issues and give you all much needed privacy. Just a thought.

 

[Shells9]

Janet, I was going to post a pic, too, and yours looks EXACTLY like mine, lol!

 

[Aprille]

I slept on the daybed in our deluxe room at AKL. I was surprised to find it quite comfortable. Much more so than the sleeper sofas at BWV.

I like Janet's idea of 2 connecting rooms. It's going to be very crowded with 4 adults and 2 little ones, IMO.

 

[>>^..^<<]

It is a couch when you arrive but after the first night when someone uses it the maid will make it up as a bed everyday - she will not put it back as a couch anymore.

It will just look like a twin size bed in your room.

>>^..^<<

 

[Cuddlemama]

Thanks for the answers, everyone!

This entire vacation experience, thus far, has been a BIG headache for me.

And WE HAVEN'T EVEN GONE TO WDW YET!

What started out as a quick, relaxing trip for our immediate family has turned into a "Take Grandma and Grandpa on their first ever vacation" marathon.

I would have LOVED to have 2 rooms, adjoining. Financially, when we booked the original package, it just wasn't an option for us. And, when the extra cash was available, they informed us there wasn't any room in the Inn, so to speak!

Now we have everything paid for, have resigned ourselves to the small quarters, and I'm just praying nobody snaps and goes nuts during the trip.


Is it really, really bad to wish vacation was over before it starts?

I've already pretty much written this one off and am starting the planning and anticipation for a "make-up" trip for just myself, hubby and the kids in Spring.

~Leigh

 

[Janet2k]

Cuddlemama, welcome to the world of Group Vacations! I can assure you, however, that all your pain will be worth it. You should have a wonderful vacation. The AKL is my favorite resort and its staff is my favorite (especially its concierge staff). This, however, is all my humble opinion, and others’ opinions may vary, as it should be.

Many of my vacations have started out as "immediate family only" vacations. Then a parent or sibling or friend asks whether or not they can tag along. Since I truly believe in “the more, the merrier” theory of thinking, I always adjust my vacations to accommodate them. And sometimes “them” has turned out to be eight more people (besides the four in my immediate family). I have an old thread here on the Dis to which I’ll give you the link: click here for my old "My CBR, CR, AKL, OKW, BWV, and CBR (again) Resort Hopping Vacation" thread. That vacation began as a simple "immediate family only" vacation for two weeks. It quickly turned into a group orgy for nine that spanned three and a half weeks. My initial reservation was for ONE resort, but it eventually became reservations for FIVE resorts (make sure to look halfway down the first page of that thread in order to find my resort hopping itinerary). My family lives on the West Coast. The other two families who joined us live a couple thousand miles away (in different states, too). It was a pain trying to coordinate everything but yet I did it. And the vacation was ~magical,~ just like they always seem to be at Walt Disney World. If you need to vent, feel free to PM me. Been there, done that. And doing it again within the next two months (joining us will be my parents plus one of my dearest friends, and we'll be hooking up with a few of my favorite Dis’ers – it should be another ~magical~ Walt Disney World vacation).

 

[Janet2k]

In case you don't take the time to read that thread (and you really should because you'll see that you are not alone in your feelings regarding planning Group Vacations), I'm going to give you a quote:

My vacation planning was a whirlwind and it eventually became very difficult for me to make any final decisions on anything. If you all remember my old thread, I actually left for Florida with no (zero, zilch, nada) New Year’s Eve reservations made (no breakfast, no lunch, and no dinner PS plans). Heck, I couldn’t even decide if we’d spend that day in Epcot or Disney Studios. Sheesh. I was a basket case, I tell ya. Group vacation planning is an awful lot of work, especially when everyone tells you, “You just make whatever plans you want; anything you pick will be fine with us.” I hated those words. Come on, folks, give me some kind of clue as to what you’d like to do. Families. Sheesh!

 

[kadaten]

Janet,
I envy your 3 1/2 week vacation! How lucky you are! And your daughter, too! Great pictures and stories, at least what I've had time to read! I've been to Disney lots (former FL resident) but never on quite a scale as you....but I can dream!!

Anyway, just had to share....you say you love group vacations...we're taking one in December and since I was the one who pushed the idea I've been put in charge of planning for the whole clan.....all 20 of us!!!

Not near as complicated an intenerary as yours...we have 9 rooms for 5 nights at AKL, a first for me since we usually stay at moderates or Shades of Green. But since Shades is delaying their opening, we coughed up some extra $$ and went for AKL! So happy to hear you like it so much....I can only hope the rest of the family is as taken with it!

So, any tips for large groups? We'll be doing lots of smaller group things, but want to do a couple meals together. Was thinking buffets or other one-price meals just because they're easier (no orders to deal with and easy split checks). Got any favorites? We'll have ages 9 months to 63 traveling together so it has to suit lots of tastes!

 

[Shells9]

Kadaten

I'd recommend Biergarten in Germany for dinner for your large group one night. The banquet style seating would mean two tables for all of you, but the food selection is pretty vast and there is a little show that takes place during dinner. We had a group of 10 family members there, including some small children and everyone found several things they liked. At one point in the show all of the kids (and adults, lol) are invited down to the floor to dance, and they really enjoyed that.

We had a 7:15 PS and walked out just in time to catch Illuminations, so we were all very pleased with how it worked out.

Just something for you to consider!

 

[Aprille]

Cuddlemama – I didn’t mean to distress you further with my previous comment that you’ll be too crowded. I didn't notice on your OP that your trip is only 2 weeks away. So, you’re “stuck” with what you got. Hey, there are worse things than being “stuck” in an AKL deluxe room.

You'll be fine in one room. Yes, it will be a little cramped but it will be worth it because AKL is truly a magical resort! We had 3 adults and a couple of nights my 2 younger cousins (11 & 6) stayed with us. They loved the bunk beds and, as I stated earlier, the daybed is very comfortable.

Enjoy your trip and here's a little tip - the balcony is a great place to get some fresh air when needed.

If Janet2k survived her trip-planning adventure (bless you, J2k, you are a better woman than me! LOL!) then you can too!

And remember - you have that make-up trip to look forward to!

 

[Janet2k]

Kadaten, welcome to the Dis!

I don’t envy your having to plan a group vacation for 20. Ouch! But you have selected a fine resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and I hope a few of your guests actually decide to spend at least several hours of their vacation just soaking up that resort’s ambience, *sigh.* If you could point them at Dream Unlimited Travel’s (the owners of the Dis website) webpage that is devoted to the AKL and ask them to look through what’s stated there, and also point them at the streaming video link, they could at least catch a small glimpse of what awaits them (believe me, the resort is even better looking in person):

Dreams Unlimited’s Main AKL Webpage
Dreams Unlimited’s AKL Webpage w/ Streaming Video Link

As far as group dining activities go, I have used WDW’s Group Dining in order to set up the Luau and Hoop-Dee-Doo dinner shows for my guests (those are everyone’s favorite activities). As a matter of fact, a few Dis’ers will be joining my party at the new Luau in November (it should be a wonderful evening). My groups have also eaten together at any number of resorts/theme parks: 1900 Park Fare (GF), Tubbi’s Buffeteria (Dolphin), Victoria & Albert's (GF), Cinderella’s Breakfast (Magic Kingdom), Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant (Disney Studios), 50’s Prime Time Café (Disney Studios), Yacht Club Galley (YC), etc. For group reservations, it is always best to set them up in advance (sometimes, way in advance). Some restaurants do not have tables that seat the entire group, but Disney always does its best in trying to seat everyone in the same area (they will let you know the seating arrangements for any of the restaurants that you are interested in).

Have fun planning. In the "old" days (aka, before I found the Dis), I did everything via WDW travel books and good old-fashioned trial and error. I am pleased to report that just about everyone loved at least one of the group activities that I had planned. How do I know this? Because they keep asking to join my family's vacations.