The EPIC AKV Photo Report!

[starbox]

The grounds were really expansive and lushly detailed. There are so many different savanna-viewing areas scattered thrroughout the resort.

The pool itself was not overly exciting or themed - the slide was very small, but it did have the "natural lake" look to the water that SSR has, as well as zero-entry. We were told that Kidani's pool is going to be HUGE and themed - in the words of the CM @ AKL it is going to be "larger than SAB".

At first, I could not figure out why Uzima is off-limits to pool-hoppers - then, night came and I realized the pool (and pool bar) is open and fully staffed by five lifeguards until 10pm!!!!!!!!!! I am guessing that they do this since AK closes early. Anyway, I have kids that are huge fans of night swimming - so we were very happy. I was also worried about being bored at night at AKV since it is removed and AK closes early - we like to stay up until about midnight and "do stuff" and I liked BWV and SSR because they have easy access to nightlife. I was very pleasantly surprised by how active and alive AKV stays at night. The resort does not quiet down at all until 11-12am and there is a ton to do and see at night.

Glass windows of Jiko and path to pool:

Pool Bridge:

Spa area:

Pool:

Hakuna Matata Playground:

Sunset Safari Overlook Area (night vision viewing takes place here):

Flamingo Area (behind the pool and next to the playground)

Birds on the main savanna overlook area:

Educational Markers:

Firepit:

 

[starbox]

We had no problems with bus transportation - not a single wait over 10 minutes and most were less than 5 minutes.

Travel times:

To MK - 20 minutes
To MGM - 20 minutes (stop at Blizzard Beach first)
To Epcot - 13 minutes
To Blizzard Beach - 11 minutes
To AK - less than 5 minutes - as or more efficient as getting to the MK via. boat from VWL or EPCOT via boat from BWV/BCV.

Did not even try to go to DTD and I would not attempt it from any resort because the DTD busses tend to stink.

 

[starbox]

Thanks for taking the time to do a trip report and for posting so many photos. I've stayed at AKL a few times and never noticed that the big rock at the foot of the stairs (by the doors leading out to Arusha Rock) looked like a lion's head!

We had such a great time. I'm still going to do a report of the super-cool activities and dining, and I can't wait to tell about the awesome CM magic we had (I'm saving the best for last) - but there's a week's worth of laundry calling my name

 

[dlcharbonneau]

Thanks so much for the trip report we went to AKL for the first time in Feb and we found our home as well

How was the room size? did you find it cramped at all?

 

[ShuisFan584]

I love AKL and always wanted for it to become a DVC resort after we joined in March 2005. I've been there a couple times just to eat and see the savanna and I think it's a beautiful resort!

Thank you for the great report and pictures. This makes me even more excited to stay there sometime in the future!!

 

[hbg4]

Oh Boy am I so glad that I didn't change my DVC reservations.

We're booked for a 1 BR standard view at AKV in Sept and Oct, and now I definately can't wait to go.

We had a savanna room once a couple years ago and always wanted to return to AKL, but without the kitchen facilities it was a no no!

Thanks for the info on the night time pool it will sure be popular with the girls (my DD10 and her friend) I'm taking with me in October.

 

[justjudy]

Love the pictures. Oh, I am SO glad we decided to add on here!! Only 37 more days to go!

 

[starbox]

Mara (lunch and breakfast) - the facilities at Mara are beautiful, CM's were really friendly and happy, and there's plenty of indoor and shaded outdoor seating (plus a tv with cartoons in the corner to occupy little ones). Sadly, I was unimpressed by the food choices and quality. There was the standard Disney burger and fries that you can get everywhere, pizza (boring again), rotissere chicken (another CS staple), fried shrimp, an African stew - plus a chicken pita (not very good), house salad that was more greek than African, and chicken ceaser salad (not very good).
Dessert offerings were better - the famed zebra domes. Mmmmmmm.

Breakfast was your typical CS breakfast. The coffee was neither African nor shade-grown, which was a little dissapoimtimg. I don't think we'll go out of the way to eat at Mara again- and hopefully Kidani will have a better CS option.

Boma (dinner) - Some of you may know that I suffer from serious buffet-o-phobia, but I wanted to try all the AKL restaurants, so I tried Boma. I thought that the food choices were really interesting and everything was very good - including the best falafel I've ever tasted. The meats were delicious and I loved the fact that there were African desserts. Our waiter was efficient, but not very friendly (he was from Boston thought, and not a cultural respresentative which may be why he was not that into the Boma vibe). For a buffet, it seemed very clean and high quality. Overall, I don't regret eating at Boma, but I probably won't do it again just because it's still a buffet and buffets really do give me the heebie-jeebies.

Jiko (dinner) - Jiko was fabulous and will be a must-return for us. I had the maize-seared halibut, DH had the tamarind short rib, and DS had the filet mignon. The food was really unique and delicious, the atmosphere was elegant and lovely, and the service was suberb. They even noticed that DS was wearing a birthday button and gave him a birthday card signed by all the CMs in their languages - very cool.

 

[starbox]

Since Kidani is not built and there is no community hall at AKL, I was not expecting anything in terms of activities. Instead, we found AKV to have the best kid/family programing of anywhere we've stayed (a disclaimer that my kids are 8 and 10 - smaller kids would probably not be as interested in everything).

Every day, there are five educational activities that kids can participate in to earn glass African beads. If they complete all the activities, they get a special totem bead. All the activities are run by cultural representatives from different areas of Africa, and they were all so friendly and eager to share the culture with guests. Our kids did the morning activities one day and afternoon activities on a second day. Each activity took between 30-45 minutes and older kids did not need parental supervision.

Additionally, there were numerous other opportunities to meet and interact with cultural representatives and attend learning activities. There's even a food tasting opportunity in the afternoon at the Jiko podium. We did African storytelling at the firepit one night, and the kids also participated in an African music parade through the lobby one evening. The kids also made beaded keychains at the pool one day. From 9:30-11:30, there is a station where you can view the animals on the svanna with night vision goggles, and that was awesome.

Activities:

Completed Bead Necklace (we took a cue from the safari guides and attached ours to a conservation button like a lanyard)

Animal Tracking Activity (this was the kids' favorite)

Cultural Representative

African Folktales:

Primal Parade and Dance Circle:

 

[dwelty]

I think my sleeping around days are over because I have found my dream resort

Great Trip report Starbox, but I'm not going to even touch this remark!

 

[starbox]

The CMs at AKV are really, really, really awesome. Most of them are cultural representatives and they just have a whole different attitude - very outgoing, friendly, and welcoming. You get the feeling that they truly love the lodge and being there - and it's small things that make a huge difference, like the fact that every single CM at the marketplace thanked us by name when they returned the room keys.

There were four CMs that really stood out. One was the cashier at Mara. When she saw DS had a birthday button, she asked him to wait while she went to the back. About five minutes later, she emerged with a beautiful birthday treat that she had decorated for him.

The second great CM was Willi. He was awesome - as friendly as he could be. He took lots of time to talk with the kids whenever he saw them and, in the words of DS, he was "the best pin trader ever". I have not met Art the Greeter - but I have a feeling that he and Willi are cut from the same mold.

The third amazing CM was our mousekeeper Barbara. We were thrilled with the fact that we had a towel animal Mickey when we arrived, but were not expecting the special touches she added to our trash and towel day. We arrived to a little menagere, and the kids almost would not let us shower because of what they found waiting in the tub!
Phone bunny rabbit:

Elephant:

Toothbrushes tucked away:

Stitch evidently had a rough day:

The last SUPER special CM was Animal Keeper Mel! We met Mel at MGM while we were waiting outside the Rock N Roller Coaster. She was just visiting MGM with friends, but she saw DS's AKL t-shirt and asked if we were staying at the lodge. We started talking and she told us that she was an animal keeper at the lodge, and she showed us pictures of the animals on her cell-phone and talked with DD8 about her favorite animals at the lodge and how to become an animal keeper (it's a biology degree and being in the right place at the right time). Then, she gave us some fastpasses for the roller coaster!

The next day, when we returned to our room we found a letter from Mel along with two goregous 5x7 photographs of the giraffes!!!!


We animal keeper Mel!

Okay, so that was the AKV review. For those of you who added-on or became new owners and are awaiting your first trip - you are going to LOVE YOUR NEW HOME!!!!!!!! It is magical.

 

[LisaS]

The photos from Animal Keeper Mel are outstanding! What a wonderful souvenir of your first visit home. And I love what mousekeeper Barbara did with Stitch. You really did have a magical stay at AKV!

 

[DisneyDVCdad]

Thanks for sharing the great pics!

 

[mlill]

Excellent report & pictures!!! Thank you! I can't wait to try AKV next year!

 

[disney1474]

Awesome review!!!! Makes me even more excited that AKV is our home!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

What wonderful pictures...even including the hidden Mickeys!! Thank you!

Bobbi

 

[Flyerfan]

Ooooooh....now I want to add-on AKV. It looks amazing and what a great review. Thanks starbox.

 

[RLRDA]

We'll be at WDW 3 weeks from today!! Originally we were doing the entire stay at SSR but decided to split it up and we're spending the last 5 nights at AKV (our kids have no idea). We were just looking at your great photos and looking at all the activities around the lodge and they were awe-struck. I think I'm most excited because the last day of our trip is a total "wind down day" and by the sound of it we'll have plenty to do and see. Thanks for a fantastic trip report!

 

[mprewitt]

Wow, what a great trip report! We can't wait until our first visit to AKV this December.

 

[lsutigger2]

Okay, you must be getting a bonus for all the add-ons that will be the direct result of your great trip report !!!

I am planning on taking DH to the Summer on the Savannah event and a trip to see the models at SSR during our trip that begins 8-22. Would like some points here but we hardly use the points we have! But, ........

Now I want to stay at AKV's

I had thought I would wait until the Kidani villas are ready in 2009, but I don't think I'll be able too.

Maybe next year we'll make a trip there !

Thanks for the great report! Hope it doesn't cost me $$$!