The All-New "unofficial" AKL/AKV's Jambo & Kidani FAQ thread.....

[Iott Family]

I know this might seem like a really odd question. Does anyone know what options are in the detergent dispenser? I ask because our DD2 is sensitive and has eczema and will have a flare up if we use the wrong detergent. If we werent flying I would just pack a bottle of the woolite free that we use here at home. But I have only ever seen it in liquid form and dont want to pack a bottle in our luggage for obvious reasons. I can easily bring the fabric sheets we use but Im stumped on this detergent thing! maybe I will just pack double what I would normally pack so I am not doing her laundry, just the rest of ours! This packing thing is a whole other issue. There are 6 of us and we are going to be there week1 of February and the weather can be so unpredictable that I am packing jeans, capris and shorts. Tshirts,sweatshirts and jackets plus hats/gloves. 2-3 pairs of shoes each. We each are checking a bag of luggage and I am using one carry on to put our immediate needs into and then each kid has a back pack for the plane and mom(ME) has her carry on bag for the plane.
Can you tell Im in the last sprint of vacation planning? Not to mention I have added extra anti-bac wipes/gel and clorox wipes to our list after reading multiple threads on three different disney chat boards about this Noro thing! Blech! If I can keep us healthy at home until we arrive, Id like to keep us healthy while there. With three of our four in preschool, 6th and 7th grades its no small feat! All those runny nose, lack of hand washing rugrats milling about in small spaces with little fresh air ventillation. LOL!

 

[Flossbolna]

Yep, this world is made for families of 4. Thanks for the tip about calling down. I think thats the way we'd do it as I like knowing everything is in order and my day will run smooth! This day at disney is extra special as our oldest DD will be 13 on this day. She is my first born. Very bitter sweet knowing she has entered the teen years. She was just 5 and in pigtails....time flies!!

I hope you all have a fantastic day celebrating her birthday!! Make sure to get a birthday button for her!

 

[TheWog]

I know this might seem like a really odd question. Does anyone know what options are in the detergent dispenser? I ask because our DD2 is sensitive and has eczema and will have a flare up if we use the wrong detergent. If we werent flying I would just pack a bottle of the woolite free that we use here at home. But I have only ever seen it in liquid form and dont want to pack a bottle in our luggage for obvious reasons. I can easily bring the fabric sheets we use but Im stumped on this detergent thing! maybe I will just pack double what I would normally pack so I am not doing her laundry, just the rest of ours! This packing thing is a whole other issue. There are 6 of us and we are going to be there week1 of February and the weather can be so unpredictable that I am packing jeans, capris and shorts. Tshirts,sweatshirts and jackets plus hats/gloves. 2-3 pairs of shoes each. We each are checking a bag of luggage and I am using one carry on to put our immediate needs into and then each kid has a back pack for the plane and mom(ME) has her carry on bag for the plane.
Can you tell Im in the last sprint of vacation planning? Not to mention I have added extra anti-bac wipes/gel and clorox wipes to our list after reading multiple threads on three different disney chat boards about this Noro thing! Blech! If I can keep us healthy at home until we arrive, Id like to keep us healthy while there. With three of our four in preschool, 6th and 7th grades its no small feat! All those runny nose, lack of hand washing rugrats milling about in small spaces with little fresh air ventillation. LOL!

I would say put our own in a ziploc bag and put it in your check bags. That way you know you have what you need.

 

[FSUSammy]

Hi everyone! I have a few questions.

1) We have an ADR at Crystal Palace at 9:20 am, so 20 minutes after rope drop at MK. We are going the first weekend in March which is supposed to be peak season. Would it be easier to just get to the bus stop by 7:30 or to just take our car to get to the park for rope drop? If we take our car what time should we leave AKL?

2) We changed our reservation last night from a standard view to a pool view. From what I've read its recommended to request a higher floor. Do I just tell them I want a higher floor or do I need to tell them a specific floor range that I'd like?

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi everyone! I have a few questions.

1) We have an ADR at Crystal Palace at 9:20 am, so 20 minutes after rope drop at MK. We are going the first weekend in March which is supposed to be peak season. Would it be easier to just get to the bus stop by 7:30 or to just take our car to get to the park for rope drop? If we take our car what time should we leave AKL?

2) We changed our reservation last night from a standard view to a pool view. From what I've read its recommended to request a higher floor. Do I just tell them I want a higher floor or do I need to tell them a specific floor range that I'd like?

I would suggest to take the bus to MK, taking the car means that you would have to transfer from car to parking lot tram at TTC to ferry or monorail to MK. I think being at the bus stop at 8 am would give you plenty of time!! It is a 20 min drive to the entrance of the MK. So even if you wait 30 min (very unlikely) for a bus, you would be at the MK at 8:50 am. I would also suggest to get a good spot at the MK entrance from where you can see the train station and have fun watching the opening ceremony before heading into the park.

I think I would request 4th floor specifically, this is the highest you can get with a normal room (5th floor is DVC). This is actually only one level up from the lobby. If you have a stroller 3rd floor would be good, too as you don't have to bother about elevators.

 

[Marc A.]

Hi everyone! I have a few questions.

1) We have an ADR at Crystal Palace at 9:20 am, so 20 minutes after rope drop at MK. We are going the first weekend in March which is supposed to be peak season. Would it be easier to just get to the bus stop by 7:30 or to just take our car to get to the park for rope drop? If we take our car what time should we leave AKL?

2) We changed our reservation last night from a standard view to a pool view. From what I've read its recommended to request a higher floor. Do I just tell them I want a higher floor or do I need to tell them a specific floor range that I'd like?

1) I don't think the first week/weekend in March will really be that busy at all. We'll be down there too.

 

[karentan]

I know this might seem like a really odd question. Does anyone know what options are in the detergent dispenser?

for some strange reason i took a photo of the soap dispenser in the laundry room, i've just had a look and zoomed in, as of November, the choices are: Bounce, Clorox, Cheer and Tide
hope that helps

 

[BabyFu18]

I hope it's okay to post this here, I did a search but didn't seem to find anything.

I put two rooms at AKL on "courtesy hold" and I have to call back soon to put the deposits down and I wanted to find out when all of the construction at AKL is expected to be finished?

We are traveling July 09 and were hoping all construction would be done, we have booked (holding) a savannah view hoping we'd be able to see some animals.

If there is still construction going on in July we might think of moving our reservations to another resort (if possible). Sorry again if the expected construction timeline was already posted, I just didn't see it.

 

[hematite153]

our DD2 is sensitive and has eczema and will have a flare up if we use the wrong detergent. If we werent flying I would just pack a bottle of the woolite free that we use here at home. But I have only ever seen it in liquid form and dont want to pack a bottle in our luggage for obvious reasons.

I get bad reactions from most detergents too. You can order a delivery from GardenGrocer that includes woolite free (just add it to the notes section) which might be worthwhile if you also order some snacks and such to eat some meals in the room and carry with you to the parks.

However, on our last trip I wanted to find a way to bring my liquid detergent with me instead and I don't trust ziplocs to be secure enough. So, in the end, I poured some detergent into a leak-proof water bottle (i.e. Nalgene, etc.). It traveled in my packed baggage without a problem and was easy to use. (Just make sure the bottle is labeled so that you don't drink out of it until it can be properly cleaned.)

FYI: I also react to the shampoo and soap at wdw (I didn't react to the old stuff, but, the new ones are heavily perfumed), so, you may want to make sure you bring enough of such products for your DD to use during your trip. (You can get very small leak-proof Nalgene bottles which I use to carry shampoo.)

 

[Iott Family]

for some strange reason i took a photo of the soap dispenser in the laundry room, i've just had a look and zoomed in, as of November, the choices are: Bounce, Clorox, Cheer and Tide
hope that helps

I am so glad you did take that pic! Do you know if any of those options were the free and clear versions as in no dye or perfumes?

 

[Iott Family]

I get bad reactions from most detergents too. You can order a delivery from GardenGrocer that includes woolite free (just add it to the notes section) which might be worthwhile if you also order some snacks and such to eat some meals in the room and carry with you to the parks.

However, on our last trip I wanted to find a way to bring my liquid detergent with me instead and I don't trust ziplocs to be secure enough. So, in the end, I poured some detergent into a leak-proof water bottle (i.e. Nalgene, etc.). It traveled in my packed baggage without a problem and was easy to use. (Just make sure the bottle is labeled so that you don't drink out of it until it can be properly cleaned.)

FYI: I also react to the shampoo and soap at wdw (I didn't react to the old stuff, but, the new ones are heavily perfumed), so, you may want to make sure you bring enough of such products for your DD to use during your trip. (You can get very small leak-proof Nalgene bottles which I use to carry shampoo.)

Thank you! And thanks for the heads up on the shampoos. I was already planning on bringing her cetyphyl anti bac soap bar, we have to use this as she is prone is MRSA staph infections, which she actually picked up back in 2007 on our last disney vacation. She has done two rounds of antiobiotics and we havent had a flare up in 4-6 months so Im hoping this last round cleared her system but we have to wait a year to 18 months from the last flare up/infection before they will consider it in remission. Keeping our fingers crossed!!! Her eczema is actually a by-product of sorts of the MRSA infection. This is probably more info than you wanted, huh! It feels silly asking about soaps and detergents but I guess if it was any other allergy such as food it'd be handled with the same diligence.

 

[Iott Family]

I hope you all have a fantastic day celebrating her birthday!! Make sure to get a birthday button for her!

Ohhh, it is definitely on my list of first things when we get into the park and she is already making her wish list for her gift card from Disney.
Its a day at Disney, how could it not be fantastic. As long as that darned noro virus stays away!!!

 

[Iott Family]

Thank you all who have taken the time to answer my last minute Q's and all the advice and such! People just dont get nicer than you all her on Disboards!
Kindness is something that doesnt get doled out often so I am so grateful for my fellow WDW pals!

 

[karentan]

i'm not sure, they just said the brand names on the front, so i presume they're probably not. to be on the safe side i'd take your own if you can, its not worth ruining your holiday over!

 

[hematite153]

I am so glad you did take that pic! Do you know if any of those options were the free and clear versions as in no dye or perfumes?

I've never found a "free and clear" version at wdw except when I ordered through GardenGrocer.

...she is prone is MRSA staph infections, which she actually picked up back in 2007 on our last disney vacation....

You may want to call special needs and arrange for a VIP cleaning of your room. I've heard that others with immuno-suppression concerns find this VERY helpful. I think you can find information on how to do this in the disABILITIES forum.

 

[BridetobeDisney]

Hi, has anyone had a zebra cake recently at AKL either in room dining or at one of the restaurants? I was thinking about getting this for my anniversary to surprise DH. If you have, what is the updated price for it?

I've posted on the cake thread but no one has responded and its been a few days so I guess no one knows over there. I wanted to see if ya'll may know if it's still available. Thanks!

 

[lissiesmum]

I am thinking of booking a pool view room. What should I request for a room with a good view of the pool? are there some rooms closer to the mara/busses?

 

[joelp]

Ia

I would suggest to take the bus to MK, taking the car means that you would have to transfer from car to parking lot tram at TTC to ferry or monorail to MK. I think being at the bus stop at 8 am would give you plenty of time!! It is a 20 min drive to the entrance of the MK. So even if you wait 30 min (very unlikely) for a bus, you would be at the MK at 8:50 am. I would also suggest to get a good spot at the MK entrance from where you can see the train station and have fun watching the opening ceremony before heading into the park.

I agree - especially about catching the opeming ceremony!!

But - when we stayed at AKL in Dec, the bus service to MK was blech!! - plus the ride was about 25 minutes (have no fear - it was very good/excellent to the other parks!) - so I would plan on heading down to the bus stop by 7:30 ...

 

[joelp]

I am thinking of booking a pool view room. What should I request for a room with a good view of the pool? are there some rooms closer to the mara/busses?

A room on Zebra Trail would be closer to Mara ... all of the Pool View Rooms will be fairly close to the restaurants, lobby, bus stop ... (compared to most of the other rooms ...) If you look at a map of the lodge, the pool and everything else is on the "right" side of the resort ...

 

[Flossbolna]

I am thinking of booking a pool view room. What should I request for a room with a good view of the pool? are there some rooms closer to the mara/busses?

If you want a good view of the pool, request 4th floor - or perhaps "unobstructed pool view". As joelp said, Zebra trail will get you closer to Mara, there is an elevator on Zebra trail that is great for access to Mara and the pool.