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

[Iott Family]

What is Mara like? I have seen pictures and read the menu off of allears but im guessing we are going to be making good use out of our quick service in the A.M. and for afternoon snacking while kids are napping. Can I find a good selection of fresh fuits and veggies? Do they offer prepackaged foods to take back to the room? A mini mart of sorts to buy milk, etc. for in room breakfast to go with the poptarts and granola I am bringing in our luggage?

What drinks are offered to refill our mugs with? Can we get juice, tea, etc or is it all just soda pop?

Lastly, are there microwaves or toasters available for use to pop popcorn or toast our poptarts? I know at CBR when we stayed there back in 2004 that they had a counter with a couple toasters and microwaves for guests to use.

Im hoping that all my questions will help answer any questions another AKL guest might have and I wont seem so annoying!!! We are just so excited. We are down to like 21 days!

 

[Flossbolna]

Iott Family, I will try to give you an answer:

There is fruit available at Mara, I think apples, oranges and bananas as well as fruit cups, apple slices and grapes. I think that's it. The whole fruit is in baskets, the fruit cups etc. in the fridges. I think I have also seen carrot sticks and celery, but no other vegetables (but then I did not look for them...). Of course they sell salads.

Prepacked food is more likely to be found at the AKL shop. Since they added the DVC they started selling stuff for people to use in their kitchens.

You could always consider to get groceries delivered from a service like garden grocer.

Drinks for the mugs are: sodas (I remember sprite, coke, diet coke, lemonade, but there were additionals), coffee, tea and hot chocolate. For the tea you got a tea bag at the cash registers (no need for queing).

There are several toasters and at least one microwave available.

If you are interested, I just wrote a review of Mara here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2052723

 

[Iott Family]

Iott Family, I will try to give you an answer:

There is fruit available at Mara, I think apples, oranges and bananas as well as fruit cups, apple slices and grapes. I think that's it. The whole fruit is in baskets, the fruit cups etc. in the fridges. I think I have also seen carrot sticks and celery, but no other vegetables (but then I did not look for them...). Of course they sell salads.

Prepacked food is more likely to be found at the AKL shop. Since they added the DVC they started selling stuff for people to use in their kitchens.

You could always consider to get groceries delivered from a service like garden grocer.

Drinks for the mugs are: sodas (I remember sprite, coke, diet coke, lemonade, but there were additionals), coffee, tea and hot chocolate. For the tea you got a tea bag at the cash registers (no need for queing).

There are several toasters and at least one microwave available.

If you are interested, I just wrote a review of Mara here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2052723

Thank you! I am of to read your link!

 

[lissiesmum]

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.

thank you...when I made my ressie I requested upper floor, but I will call back and add unobstructed view on zebra trail. I am so excited!

 

[Iggipolka]

I'm here at AKL/AKV right now and loving it! See my Live Thread at http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2052052

 

[Mommy_Jen]

Will be be staying on the CL in 2 weeks and I was wondering if there are Binoculars in the rooms so that we can view the animals or if I need to pack some.

 

[karentan]

when we stayed club level in november, there weren't binoculars, you might want to pack your own

 

[west&east]

good idea about thee binoculars. My MIL got my DH some nice ones a few years ago and we always forget to bring them to things. I am going to set them aside right away!

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

I have two questions about AKL.

1) Are the rooms in the 'deluxe' part of the hotel receiving flatscreen TV's? I know the villas have them, but I'm wondering about rooms in the main hotel.
2) Does anyone know what's in the African smoothie from the concierge lounge?

 

[Spokavegas]

We will be at AKL in three weeks! YEEEEEEEEE-HOO! We are DVC members and have stayed at AKL previously in a SV room, but the inlaws (there are 8 of them) have not ever been to AKL, and we'd love for them to have the best view there is....but I'm worried about the walk ALL the way down the hall at the same time....? We were the FIRST GV booked for that week....which should give us some priority over not getting a Sunset Savannah room.......but what is the best location out of the others?!? I'd love to put in a request!

 

[lissiesmum]

On our last day at WDW, we'll be flying out late am and spending the morning around the AKL. Because we won't have access to our room, I'm hoping there is a place by the pool to get changed on our last day? I'd hate to not be able to swim...

 

[Flossbolna]

On our last day at WDW, we'll be flying out late am and spending the morning around the AKL. Because we won't have access to our room, I'm hoping there is a place by the pool to get changed on our last day? I'd hate to not be able to swim...

Yes there is and I have pictures of it (I knew people would ask about this now and then...):

The changing rooms are close to Mara.

Hope this helps!

 

[lissiesmum]

Yes there is and I have pictures of it (I knew people would ask about this now and then...):

The changing rooms are close to Mara.

Hope this helps!

Thank you, now at least I know we can have a nice breakfast buffet at Boma then swim for a few hours before we leave. Looks like there's a room key slot though???

 

[Flossbolna]

Thank you, now at least I know we can have a nice breakfast buffet at Boma then swim for a few hours before we leave. Looks like there's a room key slot though???

You're welcome! There is a room key slot, but the door was open. I think this was dicussed here before that nobody ever experienced the door to be closed. I think that maybe your key would still work there on the day of your check out anyway. At least you could ask and I am sure if there was an issue the front desk would be able to give you a key for this door for your check out day. Disney expects you to be still at WDW on that day I think.

 

[ang38]

We were told for our last day since we weren't getting picked up till 3pm that we could use the facilities at the health club. That included the showers, lockers and changing rooms. We even went so far as meeting with the person running the place the day before to make sure it was true. It was and it was really nice inside.

On our last day at WDW, we'll be flying out late am and spending the morning around the AKL. Because we won't have access to our room, I'm hoping there is a place by the pool to get changed on our last day? I'd hate to not be able to swim...

 

[momtotwoteens]

Yes there is and I have pictures of it (I knew people would ask about this now and then...):

The changing rooms are close to Mara.

Hope this helps!

I love that you thought to take pictures of that. That never would have crossed my mind!

 

[hematite153]

On our last day at WDW, we'll be flying out late am and spending the morning around the AKL. Because we won't have access to our room, I'm hoping there is a place by the pool to get changed on our last day? I'd hate to not be able to swim...

There's also a spa (workout space) which has showers, towels, etc. which you should be able to use until the end of your checkout day.

 

[hematite153]

We were told for our last day since we weren't getting picked up till 3pm that we could use the facilities at the health club. That included the showers, lockers and changing rooms. We even went so far as meeting with the person running the place the day before to make sure it was true. It was and it was really nice inside.

Oops...I missed this post before I said the same thing.

 

[pilferk]

I have two questions about AKL.

1) Are the rooms in the 'deluxe' part of the hotel receiving flatscreen TV's? I know the villas have them, but I'm wondering about rooms in the main hotel.
2) Does anyone know what's in the African smoothie from the concierge lounge?

1) I'm not sure what you mean. The "deluxe" rooms (the ones that were bigger than the standard rooms) in the hotel don't exist anymore. Those were the 5th and 6th floor rooms that were converted into DVC villas. If you mean the concierge rooms (on the 4th floor)....not yet. At least they weren't back in January. We met a couple there, from NC, who were staying in the concierge rooms. The TV's were "regular" tube TV's..at least in their room. I haven't heard anything about a swap out, at this point, either....maybe someone else has?

2) I THINK it was Mango juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and orange juice...but I'm not 100% sure on that. I'll check to see if we have the recipe at home...I 1/2 remember that DW has it in her recipe box, but I'm not positive. Coulda been the Frunch at Boma's...

 

[pooh2001]

IF we do decide on AKL for our next stay - how bad are the views and rooms which are Standard view - on floors 4,3 2, & 1 (I assume).
The standard rooms are on floors 1-4 and are 344 square feet


Can we get a queen bed and a bunkbed in a standard room ?

Floors 5 & 6 are CL and floor 7 is DVC.

So is AKL now not worth it, if you can only afford a Standard room ?

Also with the DVC now open - are the buses packed ?
Does the bus first pick up at the AKL then on to the AKL DVC ?

Thanks !