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

[mmmears]

I need to stop reading this thread! These types of posts are making the 11 or so month wait until our next trip, and our first stay at AKL, seem unbearable! (In a good way)!

So sorry! Will it help if I told you that we waited 3 years to go to AKL and it was worth the wait?

 

[rotlex]

So sorry! Will it help if I told you that we waited 3 years to go to AKL and it was worth the wait?

Absolutely helps! Kind of funny actually. While my wife and I have visited many times, many years ago, our first trip with our daughter, then 4 years old, was 3 years ago. That is also the first trip that we ever visited AKL. We had a dinner reservation at Boma, and absolutely fell in love with the place.

After our last trip just a few weeks ago, stayed at POP, we decided to take advantage of the bounce back\free dining offer in the room for next year, and booked a 9 night stay at AKL, pool view. I'm still considering splurging by upgrading to a Savannah view, but have to be honest and wonder how much time were really going to spend on the balcony, when we have the whole resort to explore, plus, we really spend a lot of time in the parks.

I can "upgrade" at any time, but am thinking we might just stay happy with the pool view. Decisions, decisions!

 

[pilferk]

Absolutely helps! Kind of funny actually. While my wife and I have visited many times, many years ago, our first trip with our daughter, then 4 years old, was 3 years ago. That is also the first trip that we ever visited AKL. We had a dinner reservation at Boma, and absolutely fell in love with the place.

After our last trip just a few weeks ago, stayed at POP, we decided to take advantage of the bounce back\free dining offer in the room for next year, and booked a 9 night stay at AKL, pool view. I'm still considering splurging by upgrading to a Savannah view, but have to be honest and wonder how much time were really going to spend on the balcony, when we have the whole resort to explore, plus, we really spend a lot of time in the parks.

I can "upgrade" at any time, but am thinking we might just stay happy with the pool view. Decisions, decisions!

We wondered the same thing our first stay there (8 years ago). Now...vacation isn't complete without that morning cup of coffee watching the zebra and giraffe grazing...or that night time "adult beverage", after the kids are in bed, out on the balcony watching the gazelle's hunker down for the night.

We spend (spent?) a LOT more time out there than I thought we would!

 

[mmmears]

rotlex -- going to dinner at Boma is how we found out that we HAD to stay at AKL -- no question about it! We actually enjoyed our savanna view rooms (stayed CL, so they came with an Arusha Savanna view), but I really think that if you're not spending lots of time in the room you don't need it. I prefer the view, but a pool view is really nice and if I couldn't get SV it wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me. I hope you really like it at AKL, no matter where your room is!

 

[miprender]

We just found out from a coworker of DH whose points we are renting, that we got the AKL Studio Value. It comes to almost the same price that we were paying to stay at the POP. So I am super excited.

So all of you here on this thread will become my new best friend as I read all the pages on this great resort. We ate breakfast at Boma's in April and just loved it there.

 

[BCV23]

Hi everyone! We're not staying at AKL this trip but had breakfast at Boma this morning. New to us were the scrambled eggs with goat cheese and chives. Very creamy and tasty. Can't wait to have them again in a few days and then try to replicate them when we go home.

Oh, and Laura was our server. She was a delight. We've had such great servers there.

 

[BCV23]

We just found out from a coworker of DH whose points we are renting, that we got the AKL Studio Value. It comes to almost the same price that we were paying to stay at the POP. So I am super excited.

So all of you here on this thread will become my new best friend as I read all the pages on this great resort. We ate breakfast at Boma's in April and just loved it there.

Congratulations and happy planning!

 

[jimmiej]

We just found out from a coworker of DH whose points we are renting, that we got the AKL Studio Value. It comes to almost the same price that we were paying to stay at the POP. So I am super excited.

So all of you here on this thread will become my new best friend as I read all the pages on this great resort. We ate breakfast at Boma's in April and just loved it there.

Same here. Renting points Sunday-Friday is a HUGE savings! DW & I stayed at AKL in '05 & loved it. This time, we're taking our nephew for his high school graduation, March 14-19. Can't wait for him to see the resort!

 

[Flossbolna]

We just found out from a coworker of DH whose points we are renting, that we got the AKL Studio Value. It comes to almost the same price that we were paying to stay at the POP. So I am super excited.

So all of you here on this thread will become my new best friend as I read all the pages on this great resort. We ate breakfast at Boma's in April and just loved it there.

That's wonderful!! It seems that Boma is a wonderful advertisement for AKL. So many people come for the first time because of Boma and then end up staying at AKL on the next trip. Happened to me as well!

Hi everyone! We're not staying at AKL this trip but had breakfast at Boma this morning. New to us were the scrambled eggs with goat cheese and chives. Very creamy and tasty. Can't wait to have them again in a few days and then try to replicate them when we go home.

Oh, and Laura was our server. She was a delight. We've had such great servers there.

Those eggs sound wonderful. Hope you have another fantastic meal there again soon!!

 

[rotlex]

We wondered the same thing our first stay there (8 years ago). Now...vacation isn't complete without that morning cup of coffee watching the zebra and giraffe grazing...or that night time "adult beverage", after the kids are in bed, out on the balcony watching the gazelle's hunker down for the night.

We spend (spent?) a LOT more time out there than I thought we would!

I can imagine...actually, I'm already imagining myself paying off the trip by this January, then, by early spring, saying, what the heck, I NEED that savanna view, and heck, it isn't THAT much more, LOL.

 

[rotlex]

rotlex -- going to dinner at Boma is how we found out that we HAD to stay at AKL -- no question about it! We actually enjoyed our savanna view rooms (stayed CL, so they came with an Arusha Savanna view), but I really think that if you're not spending lots of time in the room you don't need it. I prefer the view, but a pool view is really nice and if I couldn't get SV it wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me. I hope you really like it at AKL, no matter where your room is!

Thanks, I'm sure we'll enjoy it no matter where we stay!

Now, if I could just move time ahead to the end of August 2010, I'd be really happy! Ah heck, sometimes I think planning all this stuff, and anticipating it, is half the fun anyway....why rush it!

 

[mmmears]

We just found out from a coworker of DH whose points we are renting, that we got the AKL Studio Value. It comes to almost the same price that we were paying to stay at the POP. So I am super excited.

So all of you here on this thread will become my new best friend as I read all the pages on this great resort. We ate breakfast at Boma's in April and just loved it there.

Welcome! It sounds like you got a GREAT deal for AKV!!! AKL is just a wonderful resort -- to get it for the same price as POP is amazing!!!

Thanks, I'm sure we'll enjoy it no matter where we stay!

Now, if I could just move time ahead to the end of August 2010, I'd be really happy! Ah heck, sometimes I think planning all this stuff, and anticipating it, is half the fun anyway....why rush it!

I agree with you about the planning! It just adds to the fun (ok, everything but the part where I'm on hold forever...). Booking a trip and going next week would take all of the planning fun away from me and I actually think I'd be disappointed!

 

[KELLY]

I need some help! We are booked at the AKL for 8 nights. We didn't book savanah because we needed the bunk beds. So I opted to save 600.00 and go with a pool view. Can I request not to be on the 1st floor? I'm really excited for our first stay at the AKL!

 

[rotlex]

I need some help! We are booked at the AKL for 8 nights. We didn't book savanah because we needed the bunk beds. So I opted to save 600.00 and go with a pool view. Can I request not to be on the 1st floor? I'm really excited for our first stay at the AKL!

No answer to your question, but have one of my own now. What determines whether you will have bunk beds, or two queens? Asking, as we are booked for a pool view room for next August.

Also interested in the "no first floor" option. Would really, really rather have a balcony than be on the ground floor, so I am interested in seeing the response you receive.

 

[candeeapril]

We just got our Magical Express tickets in the mail today. Can't wait to be there.

 

[Flossbolna]

I need some help! We are booked at the AKL for 8 nights. We didn't book savanah because we needed the bunk beds. So I opted to save 600.00 and go with a pool view. Can I request not to be on the 1st floor? I'm really excited for our first stay at the AKL!

No answer to your question, but have one of my own now. What determines whether you will have bunk beds, or two queens? Asking, as we are booked for a pool view room for next August.

Also interested in the "no first floor" option. Would really, really rather have a balcony than be on the ground floor, so I am interested in seeing the response you receive.

From what I understand, you can call Disney and add any kind of request to your reservation, no ground floor sounds like it would be no problem! I had a request for 4th floor noted on my last AKL reservation...

However, as far as I know, even the first floor rooms at AKL (they are only available for pool view and maybe for standard, savanna view does not have a first floor) still have balcony-like patios. I took a picture in 2008 thinking that someone here on these boards might be interested:

 

[shasess]

rotlex -- going to dinner at Boma is how we found out that we HAD to stay at AKL -- no question about it!

Same here!!!! We just returned on Sunday from a stay at CSR and had breakfast at Boma on our last morning and fell in love with AKL. We decided to book a return trip for May and stay at AKL. We can't wait!!!!

 

[rotlex]

From what I understand, you can call Disney and add any kind of request to your reservation, no ground floor sounds like it would be no problem! I had a request for 4th floor noted on my last AKL reservation...

However, as far as I know, even the first floor rooms at AKL (they are only available for pool view and maybe for standard, savanna view does not have a first floor) still have balcony-like patios. I took a picture in 2008 thinking that someone here on these boards might be interested:

Thanks for that pic! I didn't realize the 1st floors still had patio\balconies. I'd still prefer to be up a few floors, and will phone in to have that request added however. Then again, I'm still contemplating the savanna view, but not really sure yet if we want to spend the extra bucks for that yet!

 

[rotlex]

Same here!!!! We just returned on Sunday from a stay at CSR and had breakfast at Boma on our last morning and fell in love with AKL. We decided to book a return trip for May and stay at AKL. We can't wait!!!!

Awesome!

We stayed at CSR back in June, and enjoyed it, but I'm thinking after we stay at AKL, we are going to be hooked on it, LOL.

 

[mmmears]

Same here!!!! We just returned on Sunday from a stay at CSR and had breakfast at Boma on our last morning and fell in love with AKL. We decided to book a return trip for May and stay at AKL. We can't wait!!!!

Awesome!

We stayed at CSR back in June, and enjoyed it, but I'm thinking after we stay at AKL, we are going to be hooked on it, LOL.

...And another one falls! I think that they must get so many of us to check AKL out because of Boma!!! Once we walked into that lobby and checked out the savanna we knew that AKL would be our next resort, no matter what! Until I walked in, I just didn't get it. The photos, although very good, never seem to capture the intangible things that make AKL such a special place!