Dsnygirl
11-02-2009, 10:15 AM
I don't usually do reviews on here, as I don't consider myself an expert on the dining or the resorts at Disney... we don't do many fancy meals, and we usually stay at CBR for most trips, as we love it there and consider it to be our "home" resort.
But - this last trip (which we got home from yesterday.... :() we decided to splurge and stay at my dream resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We got a pool view room at a fantastic AP rate, and absolutely couldn't wait to get there.
We'd been to the resort once before, for dinner at Boma in December... so only saw it at night... we were really looking forward to seeing the savannahs and everything the resort has to offer during the daytime, and being able to relax there for 5 days.
Well, let me tell you -- if you have EVER thought of trying AKL -- you just have to!! It is amazing... granted, we were given a surprise upgrade to a savannah view room, which I'm sure is part of the reason we found it so awesome and exciting... but I honestly believe that even if we'd had our pool view room, or even a standard view room, we would have loved it. The "wow!!" factor might have been a bit less w/o the animals outside our room, but nevertheless, the beauty of the resort as a whole... the friendliness of the staff... the activities they have going on all the time for kids and adults alike... and just the "plushness" of a deluxe compared to a moderate is amazing.
The lobby when you walk in takes your breath away, and there is this bridge up on the 5th floor that gives you the most amazing views, both outside and of the lobby. The smells from Boma and Jiko fill the whole area, as well as the firepit that is going 24/7, and it is just so homey.
Our room was amazing... we found that the pictures we've seen online just don't do the rooms justice. The drapes up over the beds, the added height of the beds and heavy draperies on the windows to keep out the night lighting... everything about the room felt luxurious. The towels were fluffier, the soaps and lotions nicer and the bathroom area was SO nice... the toilet/shower area is SO much bigger than at the mods, and you wouldn't think that would matter 'til you experience it -- it's very nice!! (They could use a bit more for storage, though... we missed the shelves below the sinks that the moderates have, as well as the pegs on the wall shelves... you do have to be a bit creative here to store your stuff, esp. if you like to bring a lot. :blush:)
We were on the Zebra Trail, close to Arusha Rock and looking out over the Arusha Savannah. When we got into our room (which was ready when we got there at 10:30 - amazing!!) there were zebras and a bongo (named Clifford, we found out... ;)) pelicans & cranes outside our room... and soon they were joined by one of the giraffes, and we must have sat there watching and taking pictures for quite awhile. Throughout our stay, we had zebras and kudus and ankole cattle, a variety of different deer... the giraffes were only around once in awhile, although on our last night, one decided to take a siesta right down from our room, only 30 or 40 feet out from the rooms. Amazing. None of the animals seem phased by the people watching them... one night, we came home to find 4 zebras right outside our balcony, munching away, not minding at all all the flashes going on from people's cameras. It was terrific.
So - to say we were happily impressed is an understatement... when we climbed into bed our first night (which was ultra comfortable, the pillows and sheets, etc., are fantastic...) I told my DH I was never leaving, and he said he could see why the floors of the main lobby are so well polished... it's from people having to be dragged out at the end of their stay, and the floors needing to constantly be re-done. :D
But - this last trip (which we got home from yesterday.... :() we decided to splurge and stay at my dream resort, the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We got a pool view room at a fantastic AP rate, and absolutely couldn't wait to get there.
We'd been to the resort once before, for dinner at Boma in December... so only saw it at night... we were really looking forward to seeing the savannahs and everything the resort has to offer during the daytime, and being able to relax there for 5 days.
Well, let me tell you -- if you have EVER thought of trying AKL -- you just have to!! It is amazing... granted, we were given a surprise upgrade to a savannah view room, which I'm sure is part of the reason we found it so awesome and exciting... but I honestly believe that even if we'd had our pool view room, or even a standard view room, we would have loved it. The "wow!!" factor might have been a bit less w/o the animals outside our room, but nevertheless, the beauty of the resort as a whole... the friendliness of the staff... the activities they have going on all the time for kids and adults alike... and just the "plushness" of a deluxe compared to a moderate is amazing.
The lobby when you walk in takes your breath away, and there is this bridge up on the 5th floor that gives you the most amazing views, both outside and of the lobby. The smells from Boma and Jiko fill the whole area, as well as the firepit that is going 24/7, and it is just so homey.
Our room was amazing... we found that the pictures we've seen online just don't do the rooms justice. The drapes up over the beds, the added height of the beds and heavy draperies on the windows to keep out the night lighting... everything about the room felt luxurious. The towels were fluffier, the soaps and lotions nicer and the bathroom area was SO nice... the toilet/shower area is SO much bigger than at the mods, and you wouldn't think that would matter 'til you experience it -- it's very nice!! (They could use a bit more for storage, though... we missed the shelves below the sinks that the moderates have, as well as the pegs on the wall shelves... you do have to be a bit creative here to store your stuff, esp. if you like to bring a lot. :blush:)
We were on the Zebra Trail, close to Arusha Rock and looking out over the Arusha Savannah. When we got into our room (which was ready when we got there at 10:30 - amazing!!) there were zebras and a bongo (named Clifford, we found out... ;)) pelicans & cranes outside our room... and soon they were joined by one of the giraffes, and we must have sat there watching and taking pictures for quite awhile. Throughout our stay, we had zebras and kudus and ankole cattle, a variety of different deer... the giraffes were only around once in awhile, although on our last night, one decided to take a siesta right down from our room, only 30 or 40 feet out from the rooms. Amazing. None of the animals seem phased by the people watching them... one night, we came home to find 4 zebras right outside our balcony, munching away, not minding at all all the flashes going on from people's cameras. It was terrific.
So - to say we were happily impressed is an understatement... when we climbed into bed our first night (which was ultra comfortable, the pillows and sheets, etc., are fantastic...) I told my DH I was never leaving, and he said he could see why the floors of the main lobby are so well polished... it's from people having to be dragged out at the end of their stay, and the floors needing to constantly be re-done. :D