trip report from akl

[chicago641]

We used points to stay at the lodge and for all of you who were wondering -they give you a deluxe savanna view if available.We up graded to concierge service(the room is the same).The rooms are small!!!very small and very dark.But the lobby and the public areas are great.The food choices are very limmited and the pool is boring.So boring that the life guards told us management has asked them to play games with the kids a few times a day.The bus service from the hotel was not too bad, but back to the hotel on several trips we waited 45 minutes.All in alll I can't say I would recomend the hotel.Oh the animals were nice to look at.

 

[wdwendyd]

I am sorry that you had a frustrating experience with buses from AKL and appreciate you letting us in on the small, dark rooms. We went over one evening to look it over and were blown away by the lobby. It is spectacular! It is sort of like Wilderness Lodge (probably same architect). We saw that the pool slide seemed similar to WL also. I didn't see the rooms but probably people who have not stayed in Home Away From Home resorts would be satisfied

 

[craig]

We stayed at the AKL on 11/5 and was given a non-concierge room on the 5th floor (savannah view) When we returned from a short trip to the Poly we mentioned to the valet that we were hungry and were going to have a snack in the cafeteria before our dinner ressie at Boma's. He remembered us from check in and told us that our rooms were concierge and that we could get a snack upstairs. We said that nobody told us we were in concierge and he was positive we were in a concierge room. He told us to follow him and he would check for us. When he came back he said that he was sorry but we wern't in a concierge room. He felt so bad he talked to management and they upgraded us to concierge.

We ate so much that when our ressie time had come, we called down to cancel it.

 

[Granny]

Originally posted by chicago641
The food choices are very limmited and the pool is boring.So boring that the life guards told us management has asked them to play games with the kids a few times a day.

I'm guessing that the AKL pool must be a pretty highly attended pool at most times, since us DVCer's are banned from pool hopping there.

 

[TheWho]

Just to mention something positive about the pool, it has the zero depth area where you walk into the pool at the "shore line". Since I have a two year old, she loved playing in the shallow water and I enjoyed not sitting in a 100 degree kiddie pool. I know everyone doesn't have little ones, but it's less stressful if you do. The area around the pool is of course themed like no other with a complete bar. I loved the place, but I do save my points for the 1 bedroom at BW and spend cash there.

 

[PKS44]

Prediction-
The AKL pool will be added to the list of available pools to "replace" SAB when BCV opens and SAB pool hopping is taken away.

Just a guess...

Paul

 

[sixcats]

I actually love the pool there. It large, has zero entry and a slide. Our kids ages 2,6,10 had a blast on the slide for several hours each day(so did I!) Concierge there is very nice, I miss that cappachino machine!

 

[Granny]

PKS44.....I love the way you think! Probably not what most would consider an even trade, but a welcome sign of providing a no cost benefit to DVCers.

Keep those positive vibes coming!

 

[Wislodgers]

We stayed one night at AKL in July and had a blast. Everything was beautiful and we truly enjoyed it. Our kids thought the pool was the best. My DH and I were so impressed because the lifeguards played with the kids for well over an hour! I never thought of them doing it because the pool was boring.....It sure made an impression on our kids(10,8&2).

 

[chicago641]

All valid comments.I was just trying to update information for those considering using their points in this way.

 

[SharonS]

I am a DVC member and own at Boardwalk. I have stayed at AKL 3 times since it's opening. I have opted to pay cash each time for the room, as I was able to obtain an AP rate of $187/night tax included for a standard Savannah View room.

My Mom loves this resort....it is now her favorite. This is why I am paying cash to stay instead of using points as my home resort.

The rooms are about the same size at WL. The deluxe rooms are slightly larger than the standard size. Sure, the rooms are furnished with dark woods....but the theming here is Africa, so I would not expect bright colors. The furniture in the rooms is very large. It is all hand carved and really beautiful. The deluxe rooms on the 5th floor have a nice size balcony.

As far as the pool....again, it truly fits with the theme of the resort. The pool is supposed to be a 'watering' hole. Also, around 4-5 pm, the giraffes often come right down by the pool area to feed. It is pretty cool to be able to sit in the pool and have giraffes so close. Since the animals are the main attraction of this resort, I wouldn't expect them to put in some type of pool that would create a lot of noise and possibly keep the animals from coming close to the people.

We have eatten in Boma and Mara ( the quick service restaurant). I personally did not care for the food at Boma. The selection was large, but I didn't like the spices. We really enjoy Mara, and usually eat there a few times. We love their individual cheese pizzas. Their hamburgers were also very good. Everything that I have had there has been served hot and fresh.

I wouldn't use my points at AKL since I wanted to be sure to get a savannah view room. We are returning to WDW in March, and hopefully, if I can get a decent rate will be staying at AKL again for my birthday!

I think that the cast as AKL is the best anywhere! All of the valets are really wonderful and have treated us great. They have remembered us from trip to trip and always go out of their way to talk or help. I borrow a wheelchair from the hotel. Their valets have always gone out of their way to help me load/unload the chair into the trunk. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the valets at Boardwalk. Many times they have watched my struggle trying to get it in or out of the car.

Everyone has different experiences, but I wanted to share our positive experiences at AKL.

 

[zurgswife]

We stayed at AKL Sept 7,8 and loved it from top to bottom. we had a savannah view room that was awesome. The CM's went above and beyond the call of duty everyday.

The room size is similar to the CBR which is the only hotel we have stayed besides BWV. So, it was not to bad in my estimation. The food was absolutely incrediable. Boma was great - loved all the little pods, Jiko was absolutely fantastic. We ate at Jiko three evenings including the evening of Sept 11. We chose to eat there is evening because we had made friends with the staff (cooking place chefs, waiter and manager) and felt we needed to be some where comfortable on this difficult evening. It was a great choice for us.

I loved the pool. while I'm sure the BW slide would still be a favorite of my kids I don't think they wouldn't enjoy the zero entry pool at AKL.

Can't wait to pay to go back again. I surely wouldn't use any points.

 

[Beachangel]

I stayed at AKL for a week this past August on cash and it is my favorite resort! The theming is outstanding and the pool fits right in....my guess is the pool was designed to resembles an oasis. I rode the slide many times and it was a blast. We never experienced a problem with bus service.

I did not eat at Boma since I prefer a sit down dinner but the place is always packed. The other restaurant, Jiko's, is a fantastic restaurant and I've eaten there numerous times including Thanksgiving Day.

Yes, the rooms are a bit small but it didn't bother me when I was watching the giraffes from my balcony every night.

Everyone has a preference and I love AKL.

 

[ckr]

We stayed at VWL over Labor Day weekend and switched for one night at AKL to see what it was like. WE LOVED IT!! The valets/bell hops were the best at any other resort we've been. Actually took us on a tour and gave us lessons as we went to our room.

We ate at Bomas and really liked it. I am not a spicy food eater, but was pleased with the variety and the ability to try just a tad of many new things that I would never actually order as a meal.

We loved the resort and would love to go again, but we did comment that if we were to stay there, we would want to do it for only a portion of the trip as going to the parks from there and back would really be difficult since it's so nice to be out in the Savannah. Concrete/Reality for several hours would really dampen that mood, I think. But to just go to relax -- THE BEST! Nothing like reading the paper on the balcony in the morning, then look up to see giraffes had gracefully found their way to the tree near your balcony. Or to watch the ostrich chase the antelopes! Really a great experience, for us.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We just got back from 2 nights at the AKL and loved it. We would do it again in a heartbeat. We had the AP rate for the savannah room and didn't use points to stay. We loved Boma (had dinner and breakfast there). We loved sitting out on the balcony watching the animals early in the AM or late in the afternoon. The beds were super comfortable. We enjoyed the pool and hot tub. We didn't use the park transportation and used our car whenever we went anywhere. We felt very relaxed there.