animal kingdom lodge tips and reviews please :)

[popkid]

i just booked my next WDW trip and ended up choosing the animal kingdom lodge resort (beach club and wilderness lodge were sold out)

i'm curious to hear any tips or reviews anyone might have for this resort. i'm a little unenthused (spelling?) about the location of the resort, so i'd also like to hear opinions on the transporation to the theme parks and what not.

also, is the concierge level worth the extra $$$? i've been debating about upgrading my reservation. what time does the sunrise safari breakfast bus depart from the hotel, is there an additional charge for it?

thanks in advance for your help

ps - just to give you a little idea about me, i visit WDW at least once a year, and out of all the resorts i've stayed at, the wilderness lodge has been my favorite

 

[cherrynegra]

My tip would be to take the time to explore the architecture of the place. It's an incredible resort and one you shouldn't rush through.

 

[popkid]

defiantely! i'll get your # when the trip comes closer, because there's no way i can go go 240+ days without losing it

uh... everytime i type that it hurts.... 241 days... 241days... seems soooooooo far away...

240 Days 22 Hrs 47 Mins 51 Secs to be exact....

 

[popkid]

Originally posted by cherrynegra
My tip would be to take the time to explore the architecture of the place. It's an incredible resort and one you shouldn't rush through.

i definately plan on taking in a lot of the resort. i go to disney often enough that i dont feel the need to rush around at a hectic pace. i like to sleep a little late, grab a bite, take a dip in the pool and then shower off and head out to play

 

[madalex]

Originally posted by imagineer99
I'm suprised that no one has mentioned Jiko. It is probably one of the best restaurants in all of WDW. IT's a must !

One more plug for Jiko. We've tried all the high end restaurants at WDW multiple times (except V&A) and Jiko is without a doubt our favorite. On our recent trip, Jiko was once again the best meal of the trip.

Great wine list (all South African wines) and just a beautiful restaurant.

 

[swordsman_24]

You are going to love it.

My wife and I went in October and loved the resort, the staff, and the transportation.

We stayed in concierege, and did Sunrise Safari. You meet in the lounge around 6:30 - 6:45 and your morning starts from there. It is about $40(can't remember the exact cost) per person, but it is worth it. It is the only time I have seen the lion up and walking around and roaring. Just thinking about it makes my hair stand up on my neck.

They have also started a new tour where you can see the Savannah areas around the hotel. They put you in a smaller vehicle and take you inside the resort areas right up close to the animals. I think it is called Sunset Safari and it is more expensive, but it includes dinner at Jiko. Can't recommend that restaurant highly enough. Jiko is one of the best on property.

You will be spoiled. My wife liked Disney, but was not a true fan until our last trip. Our experience was one that we will never forget.

 

[popkid]

hey swordsman_24, thanks for your post...

can you tell me a little bit more about the sunrise safari? how long was the safari, is a park pass necessary for it, what time do you eat, where do you end up afterwards, how far in advance can it be booked, etc...

i'm not at all a morning person, but i think i can manage at least one early rising during the week...

i just called to upgrade my reservation to the conciege level, but they said they couldn't garuantee a savannah view so i'm not sure what to do now...

though i do know now NOT to miss jiko

 

[popkid]

ok, found out why they can't guarantee a savannah view concierge room (or at least this is what they told me):

unlike some of the other resorts, the animal kingdom lodge has only 1 category for concierge. which means you can request the view you'd like, but you're only going to get what's available when you check in...

this is a bit scary, so i suppose i might leave it all to fate. i'll keep my savannah view room, and have reservations add a note to my record that says 'will upgrade to concierge if savannah view room is available'. then, we'll see if there is disney magic in the air for me when i check in...

i know it's a gamble, but i would just hate to end up with a pool view while at the resort. anywhere else is fine, but not at the animal kingdom lodge...

with that said, have a peak at what we received in the office today courtesy of the walt disney travel company - fl

the middle cookie reads "thank you from WDTC-FL"

 

[popkid]

thank YOU wdtc

ps - this is my little office at work... not much, but at least i can hang up some disney posters

oops, didn't mean to be rude... would anyone like a cookie?

 

[swordsman_24]

Safari

The Safari runs about 30 minutes or more inside the actual attraction. (About 10 - 15 minutes of travel time to get there). When I went in October we ended up with two ride vehicles. The 2nd vehicle broke down and they got an extra 20 minutes or so of Giraffe time. Then you get a breakfast buffet after the safari. Really good eats at the Tusker House (right across from the entrance to the Safari). You do have to have park passes in addition to paying for the tour.

I would not wait on booking the room in concierge. You run the risk of not being able to book the Safari, plus you get none of the planning benefits that the staff can provide. I know there is some information out there on how many rooms that are concierge don't actually look out over the Savannah, I don’t think they have many non-Savannah rooms (anyone able to help here?) I also remember reading somewhere that most of the non-Savannah rooms are smoking rooms, so if you request a non-smoking room you may better your chances of getting a Savannah room. (Someone needs to double check my facts here. I'm not sure of where I read this or if it is in fact true.)

 

[popkid]

going to research this a little more to figure out what my odds are before i change my reservation... here's some info i've come accross so far:

Standard View (facing the parking lot) 135 rooms
Pool View 136 rooms
Savanna View 724 rooms
Deluxe Pool View 33 rooms
Deluxe Savanna View 191 rooms
55 Concierge rooms

going to call later and see if they say how many of the concierge rooms have the pool view...

i know it probably seems like i'm making such a big deal over this, but the whole point for me to stay at the lodge is for the view i've heard so much about - and at the concierge rate i'd hate to end up with a view of bathing guests

are the concierge rooms located above the lobby? i'm looking at a map now and it's a bit confusing...

 

[kennedy]

popkid,

You are right to be making a big deal out of it. You absolutely must have a savannah view room, whether that means with concierge or not.

By the way, do you know what the difference is between savannah view and deluxe savannah view?

 

[popkid]

well, if i'm understanding this correctly (feel free to correct me if not) - the deluxe rooms are the same as the concierge rooms, MINUS the concierge. they are 381 square feet (compared to the standard rooms at 344 square feet).

floors 5 and 6 of the lodge are all deluxe rooms - with some rooms on floor 5 and all of floor 6 reserved for concierge

here's some more info i've found out, tho not 100% sure if it's accurate:

only 18 of the Concierge rooms are on the key-protected sixth floor and i'm hearing they have sub-par views of either the pool or sunset savannah.

(swordsman_24, where you on the 5th or 6th floor?)

the remaining concierge rooms are deluxe savannah-view rooms on the fifth floor - THOUGH these rooms offer premium views of the arusha savannah .

not sure if this means ALL the concierge rooms on the fifth floor have savannah views or not...

i have to just call and get all the facts

 

[swordsman_24]

Room Locations

Some of the sixth floor rooms are directly above the lobby. I believe some of these are the one's with a pool view. You may also find yourself on the fifth floor. We were right beside one of the big presidential suites on the fifth floor when we stayed in October. It was a little walk (1 - 2 minutes) to get to the lounge on the sixth floor, but we got our Savannah view room.

I believe the concierge rooms are all deluxe rooms so they may put you on another floor, but you are still a concierge guest.

 

[CrackerJack]

We were there last October and it was the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at. The lobby is just incredible.

Boma is great for breakfast (mmm ... more frunch please). We had a wonderful dinner at Jiko (even though we were both too tired to truly enjoy it). The design of Jiko is amazing -- especially the "bird" lights. They also had really good sugary french toast at the Mara.

They also have a deal at night where you can get night vision goggles to check out the savannah.

I felt the waits for buses were more than reasonable. Longer rides to MK and Downtown Disney, but nothing horrible. By the time you found your car in the parking lot, drove to MK, and hiked to the same point as where the buses drop you off .. you can't tell me you would save a significant amount of time.

I love the music they play there also. There is a XM station called Ngoma that plays similar music. I listen to it when I want to reminicse.

I want to be there .... NOW !!!

 

[HumanOddity]

Please do yourself a favor and upgrade to concierge. You'll not regret it.

 

[popkid]

alright, looks like i'm gonna go for it

upgraded my reservation!

concierge here we come!!!!!!

 

[AkiraRaptor]

Popkid, I think I can help out here. We've done concierge a few times now at AKL. Here is the skinny...

Out of the 55 rooms available, 6 are smoking rooms. And all 6 of those rooms are the pool view. So to ensure you will get a savanna view, the best way (although still not 100%) is to tell them you want a non-smoking room.

Now out of the 49 remaining rooms, most are Arush Rock views, with only a few on the other two savannas. So odds are unless they are really full the time you visit, you will get a savanna view on Arusha.

The best rooms are Arusha on the 5th floor away from the main lobby area. It ends up being a heck of a hike to get to the rooms, but the view is much better.

6th floors view can be obscured by the low roof, so that's why 5th is better. Plus if you only need one bed, ask for a room with the single bed instead of the two beds. Much more room. You'll get a couch and a chair. And the room just seems bigger. AKL has the smallest rooms of the deluxe resorts.

I'd also highly recommend Boma for breakfast, and if you don't mind an expensive meal, Jiko for dinner at least once.

The resort has one of the best gift shops at any of the resorts.

And because you'll be on concierge , you have access to two special tours only available to AKL concierge guests. Sunrise Safari and Sunset Safari.

And you'll just love the food they serve at the concierge lounge. Mmmm...zebra domes and cinomon crisps...mmmmm. Can't wait to go back myself.... :slurp:

Hope that helps...Have fun! :sohappy:

 

[popkid]

AkiraRaptor,

thanks so much for your post - those were the facts i was looking for, and you're definately starting to make me feel a bit more at ease with the whole 'view' issue...

now it's just a matter of waiting 235 days!?!