A question I know has been asked 1000 times about AKL
About This Page:

Tinkerbell22 · 08-20-2003, 10:02 AM

Okay - I am a little nervous about my AKL decision and am considering calling to find out rates for the Poly. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] I really want to stay at AKL but I am nervous about the transportation. We like to take mid-day breaks but I'll be afraid it would take to long to get back to the resort and then back to the parks after our breaks. Can someone set my mind at ease.

Also the story telling - are they African stories or are they the traditional fairy tales - I'm hoping it is the first one.

Thanks!

Dad2jbj - does your license plate really say AKL RULZ?

~Amanda

AKLRULZ · 08-20-2003, 10:14 AM

Post deleted by Dad2jbj

**HiddenMickey** · 08-20-2003, 10:16 AM

Oh my goodness [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] .....the AKL transportation is the BEST on property! It was one of the main reasons that I stayed there a second time. It was SO nice not sharing buses with other resorts and the longest ride time is just around 15 minutes from the Magic Kingdom. Don't worrry, you made a great decision in choosing AKL.
-HiddenMickey

Tinkerbell22 · 08-20-2003, 10:24 AM

Thank you for setting my mind at ease! I appreciate it! I know it gets a bum rap - I just wanted to check with some people that I know have stayed at the lodge alot.

I [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] the Poly except for the fact that I find it hard to relax there. I know - I'm weird but it is true! I feel like I should always be heading to a park or doing something since I'm right in the middle of everything. I am looking for some nice R and R at the AKL.

~Amanda

AKLRULZ · 08-20-2003, 10:36 AM

Post deleted by Dad2jbj

Tinkerbell22 · 08-20-2003, 10:39 AM

I am debating doing a PS at Boma or Jiko - I can't really decide. I'm leaning more towards Boma since my DH is a picky eater and he might like a large selection.

We choose a standard view only because I can't swing a savannah. I have my fingers crossed for an upgrade - I wouldn't even mind looking at the pool. But I am not holding my breath. Last year due to refurb I got the Poly at the price of a moderate so I figure I underpaid last year already for a great resort. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

~Amanda [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img]

AKLRULZ · 08-20-2003, 10:49 AM

Post deleted by Dad2jbj

**HiddenMickey** · 08-20-2003, 10:57 AM

We've eaten at both restaurants and I really prefer Jiko. Boma is just too 'busy' and noisy for me...and ruins the meal for me even thought the food was great. We took our kids (then 6 and 8) to Jiko with us and we had a really good, relaxing meal. The service was wonderful and the food was excellent. The waitress was very accomodating to our family.
-HiddenMickey

goofy4goofy · 08-20-2003, 10:59 AM

When we stayed at AKL in May, we had a savannah view, which we absolutely loved. But there were so many viewing places all around the resort, that really wouldn't have mattered. This time, last week, we paid for a standard view at AKL knowing that it really didn't matter where you were staying, the magic was incredible no matter what. So, we got there and the CM upgraded us to pool view. We were so pleasantly surprised!

Also, the transportation at this resort is phenomenal. I can tell you that I had a 2 year old in May, so we took a break midday almost every day..and we never found the waits to be bad at all. In fact, one time we took a bus from the Poly to DTD once, and that was awful! The bus didn't come forever, we made several stops, the bus was packed to the brim and it took forever to get to DTD. With AKL, you don't share your bus with any other resort so the buses are really only packed early morning and after closing (although not like that Poly bus that day). It's a five minute bus ride to MGM and 2 to AK! It was great! The buses always came in a timely manner (both trips). So, I think you made wise decision.

This is a great resort for relaxing..you'll love it! This is one of the reasons we chose this resort the second time around! In fact, we didn't choose it for the animals, which most people do..we chose it for the ambiance and magic.

Have a blast!
Kelly

Tinkerbell22 · 08-20-2003, 11:36 AM

I am going to try and fit both Boma and Jiko in. Problem is that DH really wants to go back to CA Grill and Ohana's for dinner as well. And there are a couple of other resturants we want to try. There is nothing like Disney food!

~Amanda

dsny4me · 08-21-2003, 12:53 AM

I'm another one who praises the transportation at the AKL. In fact, AKL is the only resort where we consistently use WDW transportation when we stay there!

The AK is a short 3 minute ride away. The longest ride is to the MK but it is only 23 minutes away. I have spent more than that on other resort's buses that circle resorts or stop at othjer resorts before heading to the MK.

**chezp** · 08-24-2003, 02:13 AM

Great to hear such positive things about the transportation at AKL, as I will admit that was one of the things worrying me.

suziem · 08-24-2003, 11:21 PM

We weren't impressed with Jiko's when we stayed there in 2001. Thought the food wasn't up to Disney standard. We had terrible wait service and they even spilled drinks all over my husband and me - on our anniversary, mind you! Wasn't a pleasant way to end the meal that wasn't really good to begin with. The spicing of the food is VERY strong so caution if you or your family likes bland/mild flavorings.

mattjs · 08-25-2003, 01:22 PM

That's too bad you had such a bad experience at Jiko. Especially on your anniversary. That's so disapointing. I know an evening like that doesn't make you wanna give a place another try, but I really think you had a very unfortunate, isolated bad waiter. And maybe a tough evening for the kitchen in it's earlier days of being open. It actually won a few awards this year including (at laughingplace) a prestigious Four Diamonds from AAA:

Quote:

Jiko-The Cooking Place at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge received the AAA Four Diamond Award for 2003, one of only 10 Central Florida restaurants ever to achieve the status.

Only 4 percent of the 41,000 AAA-rated lodgings and restaurants have attained this level of excellence.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">If it weren't for your mention of the seasonings, I'd say you should deffinitely give it another shot. But you're absolutely right about that. It's got a real african flair. And some of the tastes are unique and deffinitely not for every palete. Especially if you lean towards unseasoned foods.

You should give Narcoosees a try sometime. Seafood and beef in more of a straight up style of cooking. We love both Narcoosees and Jiko but, for Jiko, our tastes deffinitely range into the adventurous side.

Marv · 08-25-2003, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tinkerbell22:

Also the story telling - are they African stories or are they the traditional fairy tales - I'm hoping it is the first one.

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">The night we went to the storytelling it was a traditional type fable you would hear here, but told with African animals as the characters vs. animals that you'd find in America. So perhaps it would be more like it would be told in Africa. I would call it more of a fable than fairytale because there was "a moral to the story". Hope that makes sense. I can't remember the story line to tell you. I thought it was fun to hear. It was raining the night we listened so it was indoors. It would have been even more enjoyable out by the fire pit.