Just back from POR and AKL - any questions?

[sci-fi-dreamer!]

Just returned from a great trip to POR and AKL! Parks were not crowded at all except for Magic Kingdom on Tuesday when Spectromagic was that evening! Epcot was great! - walked on to everything - even Test Track!! MGM during Star Wars Week-end was only crowded in the Star Wars events! Animal Kingdom - we rode The Kali River Rapids 3x in a row! no wait at all! We fast-passed the Safari and walked right on when it was our time!

POR - beautiful as usual - we stayed here about 6 years ago - my DH's favorite resort! We requested a 2nd floor room in bldg. 14 or 15 and were given a corner room on the 2nd floor in bldg 14!! Perfect! Very quiet resort, we were close to the quiet pool which was open 24 hrs and a very short walk to the food court and Ol Man Island! There was only 1 main bus stop open while we were there - right by the parking lot - in the front of the resort. Busses were always full, but we only had to stand 2 times. I do think they need additional busses as we had to wait at least 20 minutes or more for Epcot and MK busses. We rented a surry bike and biked around the resort and it appeared a few of the mansion buildings were open and I think only the "teen" buildings were occupied - bldg. 14, 15, 18 - etc... The food court was crowded at night after the parks let out, and sometimes they only had 1 register open and there was a long line, but if it became too long, they opened up another register!
We would definately return to this resort! Lots of ducks and bunnies everywhere! Friendly staff! beautiful grounds!

AKL - checked in on Friday for 3 nights, had a standard room booked. The man at check in did not offer any upgrades, so I asked if we could upgrade to a Savannah view and I was told they were "sold out" even pool view was not available - I was told I could upgrade to a "deluxe savannah view" but it would cost me $151 additional PER NIGHT!! I said "no thanks", and we stayed with our standard view - room 4011 on Giraffe trail - 2 queen beds view of the parking lot and front valet area. My DH did not like this resort - it was loud, kids running up and down the halls being loud at all hours, toilets flushing, very cold, dark, the pool was always crowded and the staff was not very friendly with the exception of the African guides on arusha rock and around the animal areas - they answered many questions and were pleasant. Front desk staff had an attitude and Mara workers were just polite. Nice resort - bus service was prompt, but I don't think we would stay here again for the $$.

Weather was VERY HOT!! Had a great time! Any questions, please feel free to ask!

 

[Selket]

Sounds like you had a great trip! It just amazes me that on the one hand some folks talk about AKL being the resort with the friendliest staff and on the other hand there are reports like yours. Perhaps you were there on the days with the alternate universe evil staff!

Thanks for the reports!

CarolG

 

[dizkidz2]

Sounds like our trip in 16 days, we have 4 nights @ POR and 6 @ AKL. Our 1st time for both resorts. Our request @ POR is for a corner room and @ AKL we have a standard view with a request for bunk beds. We'd like to try all the resorts.
My DH co-worker just returned Sun. and stayed @ the AKL they had booked a standard view and were upgraded to a savannah view without asking or additional costs. Once they got to their room with the savannah view, they decided it was too far out of the way ( )& requested to be moved. They were then moved to a pool view again no additional cost. I guess some people just get lucky. Of all the times we have been to DW we have never been given an upgrade (nor have we ever thought to ask). He also said that it was very HOT and not very crowded. They had a great 1st trip.

 

[sci-fi-dreamer!]

hmmm - very interesting about your DH co-worker!!?? When did they stay at AKL last week? We were there Friday - Monday for 3 nights, 5/16 - 5/19 and we checked in around 6:30 Friday night. Maybe we waited too long to check-in? We were at Star Wars events at MGM. We were told at AKL they were very busy last week-end and there were no other rooms available until Sat. night when we could have upgrade to Savannah view for additional $66 per night or deluxe savannah for $151 additional?! He said if they had not been so busy he could have dome something "better" for us? Guess we just hit it at a bad time? maybe they had given all the "free" upgrades they could by the time we checked in?

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Well, hate to make you jealous .......

I just got back from a six night stay at AKL. I checked in on Monday morning May 12th, and paid for a standard view room. To my happiness, I was upgraded to a 5th floor pool view with a partial savannah view! I could see giraffes, bongos, and ankole cattle in that savannah by the pool every afternoon from my balcony. I thought the CM's were frien dly, and overall I had the best time at the resort! I was going to stay at CBR but then decided to go to AKL instead, and was so glad I did!

This was my second stay at AKL, and I will not hesitate to stay there again!

<img src="http://home.att.net/~disneysue/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[Goofyish]

We are doing a similar trip in August - 11 nights at POR then 3 nights at AKL savannah view

 

[disneyfanatic60]

We just got back from AKL yesterday afternoon. We stayed there last May and loved it (std. pool view). We found the cast mates to be unfriendly but really liked the resort.

This trip--a much different story. We booked a savannah view because we thought we saw a considerable amount of animals on the pool view side and we felt we'd see even more of a variety on the savannah view overlooking Arusha rock! Wrong--we saw less. I realize it was hot but during the day, we rarely saw any animals. Early morning (7-8:00) we'd see a small handful at best. The best time was around 6:00 at night but then it rained and they all scattered and did not return.

We found the cast mates more friendly except front desk and bell service. The cast mate that checked us in was actually rude. He barely said two words and never really looked at us. He just mumbled his questions. I told him we were a transfer from Poly/Concierge and was there any availability in Concierge and how much would it be. He was standoffish and I swear he made up a number so we would not make the change. The price he quoted me was ridiculous. I had a basic idea of what the rooms were and he was way out of the ball park.

Our luggage never was brought up to our rooms until after a second call after 4:30. Thank goodness we took our bathing suits, etc. to the parks that day with us. When I did call to check on the luggage they were "short" and just said "NO."

Our rooms were not made up until 4:00 in the afternoon. We were in the room and the housekeeper said she does it now or if we prefer it doesn't get done at all.

Bus service was not great. Last year we never, ever waited more than 5 minutes for a bus. This time, it was a 15-20 minute wait most trips. Several times we ended up standing because the buses were packed.

I was really not impressed at all this trip. Honestly, I really did enjoy my trip last year and could not wait to go back. No one in my family liked it this time and we will not return there. We've been at many resorts several times and never had problems like we experienced here.

 

[Gillian]

The AKL front desk always seems to run hot & cold!

I was told that weekends are their busiest times, so that may have been why you had a limited choice of rooms. They said that a lot of people come just for the weekend, especially locals, because the resort is still new. It might also be popular with DVC members trying to save points. If I did a short stay there again, I would make it closer to the beginning of the week.