Yes, I AM the Upgrade Queen! 8/1 MK Parade

[Nicole786]

Jumping on board! Hope you update before I leave tonight! I am heading to the AKL and want to hear about the upgrade!

 

[karajeboo]

popping over from your last TR.

Yea! Welcome back!

I'm especially interested in your TR because you stayed at AKL- I feel like NO ONE writes trip reports who stays there, and I'm staying there in July for 8 nights!!! Can't wait to hear more!

We loved it! Our first time here and we spent a lot of time at the resort so I've got tons of pics!!!

bump

Enjoyed Upgrades, underwear...... Just figured this adventure would be interesting to read as well.

I hope you enjoy this one too!

 

[karajeboo]

Jumping on board! Hope you update before I leave tonight! I am heading to the AKL and want to hear about the upgrade!

I will try to get an update in today just for you!!!!

 

[mkluvsmickey]

Hi there! Just found your report and it sounds like a great one! We have a few things in common. We live 2 1/2 hours south of WDW and are there often for weekends also we like to try a different resort as often as possible and our goal is to try each one at least once. My husband is not much of a Disney fan so it is often just my daughter (turning nine this month) and I which is always alot of fun! Anyway, looking forward to your report!

 

[karajeboo]

Hi there! Just found your report and it sounds like a great one! We have a few things in common. We live 2 1/2 hours south of WDW and are there often for weekends also we like to try a different resort as often as possible and our goal is to try each one at least once. My husband is not much of a Disney fan so it is often just my daughter (turning nine this month) and I which is always alot of fun! Anyway, looking forward to your report!

We DO have a lot in common! Ally just turned 8 and we have been a couple of times by ourself too! I also have a dream to stay in each resort at least once! Working on it!!!

 

[karajeboo]

Nicole this is for you!!!!

So as I've said before, and I might be bragging, but if it's true, it's not really bragging, right? But I tend to be mighty lucky in the upgrade department. I like to think it's my charming personality and winning smile, but Jeff is convinced that it's because we only stay 2 or 3 nights most times, and they'd rather upgrade my cheap butt for a short time, and save the upgrade rooms for someone who actually wants to pay for them!

Apparently he's not impressed by my charming personality and winning smile.

I always, read ALWAYS, book standard view at any resort. We are usually just not in our room enough to pay for a view that we might enjoy for 10 minutes out of our entire stay.

So as we began our trip to Disney, we were joking about what kind of upgrade we might get this trip.

We dropped Bucky off at the kennel on our way out of town - otherwise we would have driven down Thursday night and used Jeff's Hilton points to stay the night before our trip began. Darn dog. I swear, his kennel visits are getting more and more expensive too! And I only request standard view for him too!

But I heard he got upgraded to poodle view this trip, so apparently he inherited my upgrade gene. But he gets his nose from Jeff's side.....

Anywho..... Jeff jokes that my car only knows how to exit I-95 at I-4 West. He might be right. I've never traveled I-95 south of I-4. Even my car knows what's what.

And this trip is 2 1/2 hrs anyway you slice it. With traffic, without traffic - 2 1/2 hrs door to door.

At about the 2 hr 15 minute mark, we saw it....

And the obligatory pic - I was actually snapping this left handed with my camera, and right handed with my cell phone to send to all my friends up north..... Meanwhile, Jeff was taking a picture of ME, and laughing at my double pic snapping...

A couple more minutes pass....

We're here!!!

As we pulled up to the door, I hopped out to run in and check in, while Ally and Jeff parked the car. I always check in alone. Jeff doesn't like to see the room charge, and I don't like to be hindered in my eyelash batting, cheesy small talk making with the CM that checks me in.

Besides, who would take the initial impression shots if we both checked in?

This resort is beautiful, inside and out. I don't consider it quite as impressive upon entry as Wilderness Lodge, but it is quite awesome!

Apparently there is a mold problem, as shown by this giant mushroom!

Some nifty African art around the lobby.

This is apparently a mime who was pretending to be behind glass, until he realized he couldn't get out. Poor guy...

These quilts behind the lovely CM who checked me in....

Why was the CM so lovely, you ask? Well, since you asked....

It was 10:45am, and she said, "our check in time is 3:00 but I have good news for you. Your room is ready now."
Kara: Great!
CM : And I have more good news for you.
Kara: I love good news, what is it?
CM: We have given you one of our best rooms.
Kara: Ah, that IS good news!

Thinking, silly CM, I knew you couldn't resist my charming personality and winning smile!

Now, I don't know about "best" room, but it was definitely a savannah view room, on the main level (sweet! no elevators!).

So off we went to grab out luggage from the car and check out our new digs.

We were down the Kudu Trail room 3251, also part of the sunset savannah. Which means the sun sets here. Duh!

We were not overlooking the huge savannah at the back of the lodge, but every morning we saw the coolest two legged creatures out first thing on poop patrol! Leave it to Disney to take the best of the African landscape and literally leave out the crappy parts!

My only complaint is that these rooms are really SMALL!!! I don't know the actual square footage, but it was very cramped. If I had been here for a longer stay, and had a small child or pack n play in the room, I don't think I would have been as enthralled. But it worked out fine for us.

Our view. No zoom.

Zoomed in on the welcome wagon. No seriously, don't get up. We'll be fine.

We saw a lot more animals, some were actually MOVING! I'll post more pics of the animals, and more of the resort later.

Next up.... 20th Anniversary of Hollywood Studios!

 

[ljcrochet]

Can't wait to see more pictures!

 

[tink1957]

You ARE the upgrade queen & I salute you!
Seriously, how do you do it? do you have some magic we don't know about?

 

[karajeboo]

Can't wait to see more pictures!

Patience young Jedi, they are coming!

You ARE the upgrade queen & I salute you!
Seriously, how do you do it? do you have some magic we don't know about?

Helloooooooo! Weren't you paying attention? Charming personality and winning smile?????

 

[Nicole786]

Yay thanks for posting!! We're leaving in a bit and I have my attitude and small talk down pat!! I've only stayed a standard room once before at AKL and was upgraded! We had a premiere room too! We were ground level, the first room off the lobby next to the public overlook! The AKV construction was going on so that could be it, but Im hoping for something good at WL and AKL this trip!! I just want to act really excited and if i get an upgrade great if not, who cares? You're right, we never pay for a view because we don't use it (although the animals was really really cool)

 

[karajeboo]

Have a great trip Nicole! I'm sending some upgrade mojo your way!

 

[JaxJags08]

Yea to Floridians!!! Although we might be moving back to SC after less than 2 years here in sunny FL.

WHAT?! No!!!!

Seriously?! Your new TR is already on page 3?! I need to log on more often. Great start, you always make me laugh. Maybe one day you'll make it further south on I-95, maybe for a trip with DCL?

 

[onelilspark]

Aren't they all?

Oh yeah, good point!

I never get upgraded

 

[mkluvsmickey]

You had me cracking up reading your update - I love your sense of humor!

I need to learn some of your tricks, we usually go for 2-3 days also and have NEVER been upgraded! I'll work on my smile.

And so true about the dogs. We have three and I often joke that their pet sitting fees are more than my resort charges!

Can't wait for more!

 

[TigerKat]

WOW- You are the queen!

 

[soontobewed07]

You are a lucky duck so when I go next time I am going to have you check me in. It's that southern charm you know us New Englander's are lacking in that dept.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I'm here! I'm so behind - already on page 3! That is so cool you got the upgrade - best place to get one! I always book Standard view, too - but at AKL I booked Savannah view and then asked for my friends the giraffes at check-in - I love giraffes! That was the whole reason I wanted to stay there.

You are starting out so funny - "poodle view" Can't wait for more!

 

[karajeboo]

WHAT?! No!!!!

Seriously?! Your new TR is already on page 3?! I need to log on more often. Great start, you always make me laugh. Maybe one day you'll make it further south on I-95, maybe for a trip with DCL?

Still up in the air on the move...... After a nice relaxing evening by the pool last night, I'm against the move.

Oh, dont' get me started on DCL - I caught Jeff studying up on it - bathroom reading material ya know......

Oh yeah, good point!

I never get upgraded

Cleavage, lots of ..... I mean charming personality and winning smile!

You had me cracking up reading your update - I love your sense of humor!

I need to learn some of your tricks, we usually go for 2-3 days also and have NEVER been upgraded! I'll work on my smile.

And so true about the dogs. We have three and I often joke that their pet sitting fees are more than my resort charges!

Can't wait for more!

Bucky does so well at the kennel/vet AND I always have his shots and exams done while he's there. That way I'm not the bad guy holding him while he gets his shots! See? Always thinkin here!

WOW- You are the queen!

Charming personality and winning smile!

You are a lucky duck so when I go next time I am going to have you check me in. It's that southern charm you know us New Englander's are lacking in that dept.

Just don't threaten to have the CM's "whacked" and you'll be okay! OH, wait, you're not from NJ!

I'm here! I'm so behind - already on page 3! That is so cool you got the upgrade - best place to get one! I always book Standard view, too - but at AKL I booked Savannah view and then asked for my friends the giraffes at check-in - I love giraffes! That was the whole reason I wanted to stay there.

You are starting out so funny - "poodle view" Can't wait for more!

We had a giraffe right outside our room at one time! We kept joking about it, and then while Jeff ws in the shower we looked out and it was RIGHT THERE!!! He didn't believe us and almost missed it!

 

[afeld111781]

OMG...I am new to the dis but have been reading for the last couple months because my husband and i (31 and 27) are planning our first trip ever with our almost 5yr DD and 2yr DS this sept-oct, when I found your upgrades and underwear TR...i about split my gut reading it and just got done reading the beginning of this one. You are such a funny writer and I am thoroughly enjoying reading this one already...I especially loved the comment about your husband and the dino phobia...LOL...that pic was really funny! Just wanted to let you know you have another follower for this TR..I love getting all you vet. disers points of view on the place I have been dreaming of for my whole life.

(My family thinks I may be a little too old to be so in love with all things Disney so its nice to find people out there that know Disney is the only way to go!!)

 

[pixidustmom]

Glad to have found your TR. I have been lucky too. My first trip I got upgraded to a water view corner unit. The second trip was a land and sea one. Well just days before the cruise I got a call if I was ok being upgraded to a suit, um let me think HECK YA! So we had this great suit and concierge service. When we arrived at POR we didn't get a special upgrade at first. We actually had one of the farthest rooms but I had some real trouble with swelling this trip, thank goodness for flip flops. When we finally made it down to our room I called to see if by chance they had a closer room due to my swelling. They said yes we do it's in the Mansions if that is ok? Sure not a problem with me. We got bumped to a beautiful room with a water view again. Oh and we had gotten the dinning plan with circ tickets, but we really didn't care to see it as we have several here in Vegas. So we got lucky with Disney Credit for the tickets as they were on a break. Score extra spending money!!