Jambo! The newest AKL Information thread

[dansdad]

I have read about half of these posts and haven't found the answer so I'll ask. Can you buy cases of water in the gift shop

Yup.

and have it sent to your room?

Yes, you can have Bell Services bring it up to your room. However, you have to actually be IN the room for them to do this.

If not can I send something through amazon prime?

You can. Amazon Prime will be delivered to Bell Services, but again you will have to be IN the room for them to deliver it.

 

[csw531]

We are booked for a savanna room at the end of the summer. Just noticed that they now have a standard available and we would save some $ by switching. It's me DH & DS (9) & DS (6). First time at AKL.

Will we regret not having that view? How bad is the Standard view? I'm torn. DH has been dreaming on having his morning coffe while watching the animals.

Note we spend plenty of time in the parks and at the pool.

 

[earfulofmagic]

We are booked for a savanna room at the end of the summer. Just noticed that they now have a standard available and we would save some $ by switching. It's me DH & DS (9) & DS (6). First time at AKL.

Will we regret not having that view? How bad is the Standard view? I'm torn. DH has been dreaming on having his morning coffe while watching the animals.

Note we spend plenty of time in the parks and at the pool.

Eh, I hear people say that the animals are not out from 7-10 AM, but I also hear loads of people specifically mention "it's so nice to see giraffes while I drink coffee in the morning!"

if I were you, I'd just stay with your current reservation if you plan to enjoy the room balcony a lot. there are public viewing areas to see animals too, if you go standard but can't see animals from your room

 

[csw531]

Eh, I hear people say that the animals are not out from 7-10 AM, but I also hear loads of people specifically mention "it's so nice to see giraffes while I drink coffee in the morning!"

if I were you, I'd just stay with your current reservation if you plan to enjoy the room balcony a lot. there are public viewing areas to see animals too, if you go standard but can't see animals from your room

Made the leap, switched and saved a ton. We will enjoy the animals elsewhere and are still happy we will be staying at AKL!!

 

[earfulofmagic]

Made the leap, switched and saved a ton. We will enjoy the animals elsewhere and are still happy we will be staying at AKL!!

good on you! we are renting dvc points in a standard view studio; the savings are significant!

you can also make a request (disclaimer, not guaranteed) prior to checkin for a partial savanna view with a standard room.

 

[csw531]

good on you! we are renting dvc points in a standard view studio; the savings are significant!

you can also make a request (disclaimer, not guaranteed) prior to checkin for a partial savanna view with a standard room.

Thanks for the tip!!!

 

[Shellyb84]

2 weeks from today and we'll be checking in for our first stay at AKL! Sooooo excited! We have a standard view booked but I'm hoping for at least a decent partial view of the animals. Fingers crossed! We have 4 nights there (then moving to BC for 8 nights). We plan to spend 2 full days at the resort. Has anyone got the recreation calendar for June yet?

 

[Tallent]

Anyone know when the resort activities calendar/schedule will be released? I can still only find May for AKL....

 

[Shellyb84]

Anyone know when the resort activities calendar/schedule will be released? I can still only find May for AKL....

I've been not-so-patiently waiting for my email from Disney! Also stalking the board and Kenny's site. Nothing yet...

 

[Aquagirl]

56 days!

I was able to check-in last week, but I was surprised there weren't more options (upper floor, lower, near lobby, near elevators). Didn't there used to be a few trail-specific ones?

These are the only options that I am receiving for online check-in. I was hoping to request a specific trail.

 

[Momtwofour]

We arrive for our first stay at AKL in 6 days!!! I am so excited!!! Celebrating my granddaughters 5 birthday and she has no idea we are staying there!

 

[Minnesota!]

These are the only options that I am receiving for online check-in. I was hoping to request a specific trail.

Me, too.

I emailed my TA and gave her an obnoxious list of room numbers. She is such a good sport - she said she would handle it

 

[MermaidMommy]

Anyone know when the resort activities calendar/schedule will be released? I can still only find May for AKL....

I've been not-so-patiently waiting for my email from Disney! Also stalking the board and Kenny's site. Nothing yet...

http://image.emails.disneydestinations.com/lib/fe9d15737d66047d71/m/8/PWR1FAKQ.pdf

Here's the link to the June calendar. I got it in my "About Your Resort Arrival" email from Disney.

 

[Tallent]

http://image.emails.disneydestinations.com/lib/fe9d15737d66047d71/m/8/PWR1FAKQ.pdf

Thank you so,so much!!

 

[vikster1]

I have searched this and found two different answers. We are arriving later than we ever have and this will be our first stay at Kidani Village (or AKL for that matter). How late are the stores open at each resort? Since we are arriving late after a long flight (with too short a layover to plan a meal), I just wanted to know my options. Pack food and eat or grab stuff when I get there. Thanks in advance

The Mara goes to a limited menu around 12;00. A few flatbreads were available and few other items. The fryers get shut down. They had a bunch of items in the fridges. Yogurts/salads/desserts. The bakery bar also had some cookies/pastries.

I think many of the bus issues especially to MK are due to the road work. We were just there about four weeks ago (AOA not AKL) and not only were busses taking longer to get to their destinations, but buses were delayed. Watching the bus time board was just brutal as they would keep changing the arrival times later and later. We could see the roads torn up and multiple lanes merging into one lane. CM's were telling us that the delays were due to the road work. So those of you arriving soon may experience the same disruptions.

The arrival boards drive me crazy watching the times go up. I would rather no sign. Going to the parks the bus waits weren't bad. 10-15 minutes. However, leaving the parks they were brutal. 20-45 minute waits. Every time. The line cues were filled up most of the time. You know people have been waiting a while when they are sitting or even laying down. I keep seeing bus wait time being an issue, not just at AKL. Maybe they have less buses running for cost cutting??

 

[bwbuddy5]

The Mara goes to a limited menu around 12;00. A few flatbreads were available and few other items. The fryers get shut down. They had a bunch of items in the fridges. Yogurts/salads/desserts. The bakery bar also had some cookies/pastries.

We too will be arriving noonish, staying at Kidani. With Boma closed and Mara limited, guess we'll go with Sanaa.

 

[Arden01]

Made the leap, switched and saved a ton. We will enjoy the animals elsewhere and are still happy we will be staying at AKL!!

We are staying in a Standard and perfectly happy with our choice too!

 

[csw531]

We are staying in a Standard and perfectly happy with our choice too!

So happy to hear this!!

 

[disnmooner2013]

We did the cake decorating last time, it's a small sponge cake. Everyone can participate and it's yours to enjoy. No cost. If your over at Kidani check out the turtles outside the Sanaa restaurant lobby windows where they do the decorating. We spent an afternoon dodging the rain with a glass of wine there and had no idea there were turtles until then.

This is great to know.

 

[Shanti]

We are booked for a savanna room at the end of the summer. Just noticed that they now have a standard available and we would save some $ by switching. It's me DH & DS (9) & DS (6). First time at AKL.

Will we regret not having that view? How bad is the Standard view? I'm torn. DH has been dreaming on having his morning coffe while watching the animals.

Note we spend plenty of time in the parks and at the pool.

We had a 3rd floor standard view room on the Kudu trail in April, and had animal views 24/7 because there was a watering hole outside our balcony. Giraffe, zebra, ostriches, cranes & more would be there to have a drink and relax under the shade of the trees. The room didn't have a sweeping view of the whole savanna (hence the standard view designation), but we had a great view of the animals.