MinnieGi
DVC/BWV
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2001
Hi everyone!
We just came back from 7 night at the AKL, Feb 1st - 8th. We really loved the AKL!!!!! It is a beautiful hotel with a very nice staff and very yummy eating options.
We had reserved a standard view room with an AP rate of $109.00 and we were upgraded to a pool view room. We did have a problem with our first room. It backed up to the elevators and unfortunely my DH did not sleep well that first night b/c he kept hearing all the movement from the shaft. He went down to the desk first thing the next morning and they transferred our room to the fourth floor not anywhere near the elevator. And boy our new room had the most awesome view of the pool! I love to sit out on the balcony in the morning and after DD goes to sleep so I really enjoyed our new view. We were also surprised to see our new room had an extra dresser in the front of the room that our old room did not. It seems like most rooms had the extra dresser, not sure why our first room did not have the space for it. Our new room on the fourth floor was also next to a set of windows that let you see out on one side to the savannah and the other to the pool area. It was very ideal to view both sides.
I spent quite a bit of time exploring the hotel and all the viewing areas. DH usually took a nap with DD and at this time I would go and explore. I was able to view and take lots of great pictures of all the animals on the different savannahs. The lobby of the hotel is just gorgeous and filled with interesting African artifacts as are the atrium areas of the wings. Of course throughout the resort in inside and out light African music is playing that was very soothing.
The weather was very ideal during our week and we were able to use the pool quite a bit. We loved the zero-depth entry especially for 2yo DD. The pool area is gorgeous. They had a nice supply of swim vests on hand for all the children. Every afternoon the pool staff would lead the children in water activities and games.
This hotel seemed to have quite a few resort activities going on at all different times of the day. I don't remember as many activities at the other WDW resorts we have stayed in.
The cm animal guides were very sweet and always helpful with any questions about the animals you had.
The bus transportation was also very good. Our longest wait was 10 minutes for a bus. Most of the time it was much shorter. In the morning we often found a bus waiting to take us to AK or MK or just a few minutes wait for a bus to MGM or Epcot. We couldn't believe our luck on Sat. night after watching the MK 9:00 Spectro parade, there was a bus waiting for us and still plenty of seats available.
We enjoyed the Boma buffet dinner very much and got in without a ps and only a few minutes wait. The Mara counter service and "grab and go" area is set up well and has lots of seating. We didn't try Jiko, but the food choices looked very yummy there as well.
If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them. I highly recommend the AKL for a stay!!
Gi
We just came back from 7 night at the AKL, Feb 1st - 8th. We really loved the AKL!!!!! It is a beautiful hotel with a very nice staff and very yummy eating options.
We had reserved a standard view room with an AP rate of $109.00 and we were upgraded to a pool view room. We did have a problem with our first room. It backed up to the elevators and unfortunely my DH did not sleep well that first night b/c he kept hearing all the movement from the shaft. He went down to the desk first thing the next morning and they transferred our room to the fourth floor not anywhere near the elevator. And boy our new room had the most awesome view of the pool! I love to sit out on the balcony in the morning and after DD goes to sleep so I really enjoyed our new view. We were also surprised to see our new room had an extra dresser in the front of the room that our old room did not. It seems like most rooms had the extra dresser, not sure why our first room did not have the space for it. Our new room on the fourth floor was also next to a set of windows that let you see out on one side to the savannah and the other to the pool area. It was very ideal to view both sides.
I spent quite a bit of time exploring the hotel and all the viewing areas. DH usually took a nap with DD and at this time I would go and explore. I was able to view and take lots of great pictures of all the animals on the different savannahs. The lobby of the hotel is just gorgeous and filled with interesting African artifacts as are the atrium areas of the wings. Of course throughout the resort in inside and out light African music is playing that was very soothing.
The weather was very ideal during our week and we were able to use the pool quite a bit. We loved the zero-depth entry especially for 2yo DD. The pool area is gorgeous. They had a nice supply of swim vests on hand for all the children. Every afternoon the pool staff would lead the children in water activities and games.
This hotel seemed to have quite a few resort activities going on at all different times of the day. I don't remember as many activities at the other WDW resorts we have stayed in.
The cm animal guides were very sweet and always helpful with any questions about the animals you had.
The bus transportation was also very good. Our longest wait was 10 minutes for a bus. Most of the time it was much shorter. In the morning we often found a bus waiting to take us to AK or MK or just a few minutes wait for a bus to MGM or Epcot. We couldn't believe our luck on Sat. night after watching the MK 9:00 Spectro parade, there was a bus waiting for us and still plenty of seats available.
We enjoyed the Boma buffet dinner very much and got in without a ps and only a few minutes wait. The Mara counter service and "grab and go" area is set up well and has lots of seating. We didn't try Jiko, but the food choices looked very yummy there as well.
If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them. I highly recommend the AKL for a stay!!
Gi
