Weekend Getaway at Animal Kingdom Lodge
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Two4Disney · 02-01-2006, 04:11 PM

Who: Rich and Kathy and Friends
When: January 28, 2006
Where: Animal Kingdom Lodge

Colorado friends Jeff and Jan were heading for Walt Disney World to celebrate the 6th birthday of son Daniel and were staying at the Poly. Then we got word that Passporters Bob and Larry were heading for WDW for the Sneak Preview of Animal Kingdom's latest ride, Expedition Everest and were staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Since we were looking for any excuse to stay over at Animal Kingdom Lodge, we booked an overnight and, after much discussion, ended up making plans to have lunch with Bob & Larry and dinner with Jeff, Jan, and Daniel.

The weather can vary wildly this year of year from hour to hour and day to day (as opposed to summer when you know it'll just be HOT), so we packed 2 suitcases the night before and got very excited because it reminded us of out-of-state trips in the past. The cats were getting a little anxious, though. They seamed to remember those trips, too. We got up at our usual time and were on the road by 8:30. About an hour later, listening to Mo'Rockin (from the Morocco pavilion in World Showcase), we were checking into the Lodge. We noticed we really didn't mind the 70-mile trip knowing we wouldn't have to drive back until the next day. Plus the lively Moroccan music helped. It's not that the trip is all that long, but the quality of the drive isn't the best and after wearing ourselves out in the parks, we're usually so tired on the drive back on the same day. So, this was a real treat.

After enjoying a wonderful meal at Jiko on a previous trip, we were really looking forward to being able to stay at AKL. We checked into our savanna view room which we had booked so we could enjoy animal viewing which is the big deal here at the Lodge. After being asked if we wanted 2 queens or 1 queen with bunk bed, we answered the 2 queens but when we entered our room it had the bunk beds. Because it was available so early, we didn't want to let the room go but I noticed how claustrophobic the bunk beds made the room feel and we went back down to the lobby and, happily, were assigned a room with 2 queens that was also available that early.

The Lodge is really quite beautiful and we love the atmosphere - dark, mysterious and adventurous. We felt like we were on Safari. It was especially fun watching 2 giraffes share a bite of palm frond.

We then hopped on a bus headed for Epcot for our lunch at Rose&Crown with Bob & Larry. First, though, we wandered through the shops while Kathy shopped for a new top. She had meant to change her clothes in the Lodge but was too distracted by the animals. She had no intention of wearing all black in a fun, WDW theme park.

It was a beautiful day, though, and we enjoyed wandering around World Showcase.

Eventually, we found a colorful top in France with an appropriate wine theme. Rich waited for Kathy to change in the restroom.

Finally, Kathy was having a lot more fun now that she had changed her top - just in time to meet B&L at R&C.

Next: Lunch at Rose & Crown

**Colexis Mom** · 02-02-2006, 05:56 AM

Great start [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] More please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Minnie Lor · 02-02-2006, 01:33 PM

Cool! Living so close, wow!

statelady01 · 02-02-2006, 02:09 PM

Enjoyed your start- cant wait to hear more!

karmic · 02-02-2006, 02:56 PM

Great Start!

angiek1024 · 02-02-2006, 06:47 PM

Wonderful start! Can't wait for more!

Two4Disney · 02-03-2006, 10:18 AM

It was great to see Bob & Larry again and we had a wonderful time at lunch together. We enjoyed chatting and dining alfresco at the Rose & Crown. We enjoyed hearing of their Expedition Everest experiences. We had planned on riding it, also, but earlier in the week Rich's back went out and, while it had improved tremendously, we weren't sure about riding EE this weekend.

We had a fantastic server whose name has slipped my mind. Maybe B&L will remember - although they are still enjoying the parks.

We started off by ordering drinks:

Rich: Flight of Single-Malt Scotch

Kathy: Ketel One Vodka Martini—shaken, not stirred

Bob: Harp Lager

Larry: Harp Lager

For our entree selections, we had:

Rich: Beef Stew—flavored with Guinness stout served with mashed potatoes, and a cheddar cheese cracker

Kathy: Chicken Pasty—chicken and fresh garden vegetables wrapped in pastry, topped with a cream sauce and served with English peas

Bob: Harry Ramsden's Fish and Chips—batter-fried cod served with English chips and garden peas

Larry: Chicken Pasty—chicken and fresh garden vegetables wrapped in pastry, topped with a cream sauce and served with English peas

Remembering the Cornish Pasties Kathy used to enjoy in San Francisco, she was craving one and knew she could get one here. Unfortunately, it was not quite as good here as Kathy had remembered but maybe she was remembering the ones in San Francisco. But Rich didn't think the Beef Stew was quite as good as before either. Bob & Larry hadn't eaten here before so they had nothing to compare it to. Usually, we split a dessert but today it was every man/woman for him/herself.

Rich: Sticky Toffee Pudding—steamed pudding cake with warm vanilla custard and hot butter rum sauce

Kathy: Sticky Toffee Pudding—steamed pudding cake with warm vanilla custard and hot butter rum sauce

Bob: Chocolate Guinness Cake—chocolate cake infused with Guinness beer, layered with a chocolate mousse, finished with cream anglaise, and a shot of Guinness

Larry: Chocolate Guinness Cake—chocolate cake infused with Guinness beer, layered with a chocolate mousse, finished with cream anglaise, and a shot of Guinness

Rich truly enjoys a fine Scotch and it was the perfect time to try a flight since we didn't have to drive home but were staying onsite and using Disney transportation.

After lunch, the 4 of us we stopped in at Pin Station and we purchased the '06 AP pin - which looks way cool - and tried out the newly-remodeled "Club Cool" and decided it should be labeled "Club Lukewarm." We liked it better the old way and the Coca Cola samples were not all that refreshing.

We said our good-byes to B&L as they headed for Soarin' and we headed for the Resort bus stop. We were happy to see an AKL bus arrive already immediately. The bus service to AKL has been quite good.

Once we returned to our room at the AKL, we watched more animals out on the savanna and took a short nap until time to get ready to meet Jeff and Jan at O'Hana in the Poly.

Next: Magical Wishes at the Poly

**Colexis Mom** · 02-03-2006, 12:11 PM

What a great lunch [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

lauren-roxy · 02-03-2006, 12:24 PM

Just got caught up!!! Lunch sounds very good, especially the desserts!! Can't wait for more!!

Jillybean · 02-03-2006, 03:50 PM

You two certainly know how to [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img] and [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/dine.gif[/img]!

Jill

**DrDolphin** · 02-03-2006, 05:07 PM

Great start!!!

Two4Disney · 02-04-2006, 09:14 AM

Arriving at the Poly was a magical experience at night. With the tiki torches lit and the Hawaiian music piped in throughout we actually felt like we were back in Hawaii. We knew that the Poly has a lot of fans but we were skeptical, having been to the "real" Hawaii. But at nighttime, it is quite magical. We walked around the resort, including the shops and the beach/pool area and out to the boat dock. The views of the Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian and the Contemporary were simply awesome. This is definitely on our short list of "must stay."

We met Jeff, Jan and Daniel in waiting area for O'Hana and then the 5 of us were seated at our table.

We had never tried O'Hana before and it was a lot of fun, with an emcee hosting several group activities, mainly for kids, but it was quite jovial. Hawaiian music, Hawaiian hosts, family-style dining and an open display kitchen.

You can see the menu posted on Deb's web site.

It was all incredibly tasty—we even liked the Bread Pudding, which we usually don't care for. But the Bananas Foster Sauce made all the difference. Daniel got a special treat—a birthday cupcake with candle and his favorite slurpee in a sandpail.

After dinner, Jan took the birthday boy, a very tired 6-year-old who had traveled by plane all the way from Colorado that day, back to the room while the 3 of us headed to their Concierge Lounge, talked, and watched Wishes—with an incredible view of Bay Lake, the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes over the MK Castle. We definitely need to book concierge, too.

We eventually said good-night and drove back to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and sat out talking on the balcony watching a few animals in the dark - or rather, the lit-up sky. It was a magical evening. But because we had stayed up so late we had decided against going to the EE preview the next morning (I know, we're probably the only AP holders on-site who didn't go to the event). But we wanted to sleep in late and order in room service. Our visit was about enjoying the lodge, dining and visiting with friends — rides were secondary. Besides, as locals, we can ride EE once it's open to the public.

The next morning we made a small pot of coffee, provided in the room, and sat out on the balcony watching the animals eating. By the time we ordered room service, they said the wait would be an hour. Okay, we thought. We'll just keep watching the animals, enjoying the Lodge. An hour later, they called and said it would be another hour and asked if we wanted to cancel? Disappointed but no longer willing to wait, we canceled and headed to Boma to look into the breakfast buffet. As you can imagine, it was packed. We then went over to the quick service restaurant, Mara, and it was also packed. But we eventually got a couple of danishes and coffee and enjoyed them out by the pool. It was a beautiful day and we decided it worked out just fine. But we have noticed that any time we've been at the AKL, the service in all of their restaurants suffers compared to other deluxe properties. The man in line in front of us was also frustrated and commented that he had better service in the moderates and value resorts.

Disney people love to share their experiences — both the good and the bad — and we all learn from each other. Plus it's a great bonding experience. Before checking out, though, we stopped into Zawadi — one of our favorite onsite resort gift shops, and purchased a bottle of South African Red wine to take home and 2 Animal Kingdom Lodge coffee cups to add to the AKL t-shirt and magnet we had purchased the day before.

Before we knew it, it was time to check out and head home. The new onramp by the AKL put us on I-4 even closer to home and we were home in no time. We really do love splitting up the drive by having an overnight. But it's tough to re-enter the real world after enjoying such a surreal experience at Disney — whether your stay is 1 night, 1 week or 1 month.

Next: Final Thoughts

**Colexis Mom** · 02-04-2006, 09:17 AM

What a great dinner at 'Ohana [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/zwavin.gif[/img] Sorry your service was lacking at AKL [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]