Mike sez: We got an early start - 6 am. After going exactly 1/2 mile, we had to turn around...I forgot my suit bag! Donna thought that was funny as I'm the one that packed the van.
I now know we are 4 hours and 50 minutes (304 miles) from WDW. I checked. Nice drive, except for the terrible rain storm we ran thru at the GA/FLA state lines.
Arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge about 11 am. Our room was not ready so we had a chance to explore. Last time I was here (1998), there was no AKL...this was all new to me.
First impression - What a beautiful hotel. From the inlaid floors, the art work and handcrafts, even the ceiling, the whole place is truely remarkable.
Check in was a breeze. Even tho the desk clerk was confused about us having to check in, check out, then check back in, we quickly got it done. We even got "Just Married" buttons!
First stop - Zawadi Marketplace. The first thing you see is beautiful African art work and handcrafts. As none of these were on our shopping list of things we 'had to have', all we did was look. While quite pricey, they were fun to look at. The marketplace also has a selection of the usual Disney 'stuff'. There is also a small selection of of African wines, a couple of which we did get to sample during our stay.
We did not eat in any of the restaurants. I can tell you they were packed every morning and every evening. And there were some amazing smells coming from all of them.
Second stop - a walk around the grounds. Actually, we were looking for the smoking area (our bad habit). The savanna overlook areas are all around. You get an upclose look at some exotic African wild life (except the hawk that hung out in the tree outside our room!). The entire area around the hotel is beautiful and very well maintained. One morning, we watched a groundskeeper spreading new ground cover around the plants. He had finished by the next morning. I told him how beautiful I thought it looked (and it did). For the next three mornings, on his way to his rounds, he honked and waved at me, which I did not see him do to anyone else. I thought of Heidi's proclivity to thank the 'behind the scenes' CM's. (Pay attention Heidi - your name comes up again later in this TR - LOL)
Our room - Room 3513 was available around 2 pm. All I can say is - WOW! It was a savanna view room three fourths of the way down the Zebra Trail. A king bed and a balcony and more room than I have seen in a hotel in a long time. The decor was all African motif. I dont know how long AKL has been there, but it all looked fresh and well kept. ADVICE: when you arrive, let the bell hops take your bags. You dont know if your room is ready or how far down the trails you will be. They are quite long. It is worth the tip you will give them and your arms will thank you later.
The first night we returned to our room, we got to watch the animals being given their 'bedtime' snack. The area is bathed in soft light so it is possible to see the grounds. The one thing that really struck us is how spoiled the animals are, expecially the giraffes! But it was fun to watch the animals and their keepers interact.
Two things that puzzled me a little about AKL. The first is to get from the savanna overlooks to the pool and smoking area, you have to go back in the hotel, up two flights of stairs, cross over the lobby, back down two flights of stairs and out to the pool area. The second is the location of Victoria Falls Lounge. It is on a landing between the lobby and Boma restaurant. Traffic, including children, is constant. Seems they could have found a better location for a lounge.
Donna sez.. It was difficlut not to sound like my kids on the way . The phrase "Are we there yet?" was on the tip of my tongue the whole trip and as my habit is to hum while we ride, all the songs I hummed were those wonderful Disney tunes I grew up with. When I finally saw the front gate, I was in awe. I think I could have gotten out of the van and just stood on the side of the road and stared at it for a while.
Entering the Lodge was an experience in itself. The beautiful art work and the African music in the background made me feel like I was actually a half a world away. I walked the expanse of the lobby looking at the jewelry and artifacts in the glass cases in total awe of this beautiful culture.
While we explored the various areas outside we saw a great many animals, my favorite at the time was the African longhorn. We had one at the ranch I worked for in Texas and I actually knew what it was...lol. The birds are a fastination for me. I love animals of all kinds, but birds are one of my main favorites. There were several varieties there and I could have stayed a while, but the nicotine deprivation was pressing.
The smoking area was right past the pool and next to the hot tub. It was very well kept and a good place to get started on what ended up to be what seemed like thousands of congratulations on being "just married". I was already impressed that all the cast members were so aware and took the time to acknowledge us on our honeymoon.
Now to the room... we had a wonderful view and I quickly looked in every nook and cranny. That's a habit I picked up when I was a hotel housekeeper and as Mike has learned, I know what to look for and I'm not afraid to say something about anything I find amiss.
What I found was perfection and cleanliness. I was very impressed and could see that the housekeeping staff take great pride in what they do. I know from exoerience that no matter how strict the management is, the housekeepers do know shortcuts and how to hide them from the boss. I found no such thing in this room. Everything was done according to the way it is supposed to be done.
I'm posting a couple or three pictures of our room and our view. I have to say I could have stared out at the savanna for hours. There were always at least a few animals out there every time I looked out.
This is our room.
This is the hawk that took up residence outside our room. He was there every day.
The most graceful animal I know.
Ok...4 pictures. lol. This is one of four longhorns we had in the savanna.
I now know we are 4 hours and 50 minutes (304 miles) from WDW. I checked. Nice drive, except for the terrible rain storm we ran thru at the GA/FLA state lines.
Arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge about 11 am. Our room was not ready so we had a chance to explore. Last time I was here (1998), there was no AKL...this was all new to me.
First impression - What a beautiful hotel. From the inlaid floors, the art work and handcrafts, even the ceiling, the whole place is truely remarkable.
Check in was a breeze. Even tho the desk clerk was confused about us having to check in, check out, then check back in, we quickly got it done. We even got "Just Married" buttons!
First stop - Zawadi Marketplace. The first thing you see is beautiful African art work and handcrafts. As none of these were on our shopping list of things we 'had to have', all we did was look. While quite pricey, they were fun to look at. The marketplace also has a selection of the usual Disney 'stuff'. There is also a small selection of of African wines, a couple of which we did get to sample during our stay.
We did not eat in any of the restaurants. I can tell you they were packed every morning and every evening. And there were some amazing smells coming from all of them.
Second stop - a walk around the grounds. Actually, we were looking for the smoking area (our bad habit). The savanna overlook areas are all around. You get an upclose look at some exotic African wild life (except the hawk that hung out in the tree outside our room!). The entire area around the hotel is beautiful and very well maintained. One morning, we watched a groundskeeper spreading new ground cover around the plants. He had finished by the next morning. I told him how beautiful I thought it looked (and it did). For the next three mornings, on his way to his rounds, he honked and waved at me, which I did not see him do to anyone else. I thought of Heidi's proclivity to thank the 'behind the scenes' CM's. (Pay attention Heidi - your name comes up again later in this TR - LOL)
Our room - Room 3513 was available around 2 pm. All I can say is - WOW! It was a savanna view room three fourths of the way down the Zebra Trail. A king bed and a balcony and more room than I have seen in a hotel in a long time. The decor was all African motif. I dont know how long AKL has been there, but it all looked fresh and well kept. ADVICE: when you arrive, let the bell hops take your bags. You dont know if your room is ready or how far down the trails you will be. They are quite long. It is worth the tip you will give them and your arms will thank you later.
The first night we returned to our room, we got to watch the animals being given their 'bedtime' snack. The area is bathed in soft light so it is possible to see the grounds. The one thing that really struck us is how spoiled the animals are, expecially the giraffes! But it was fun to watch the animals and their keepers interact.
Two things that puzzled me a little about AKL. The first is to get from the savanna overlooks to the pool and smoking area, you have to go back in the hotel, up two flights of stairs, cross over the lobby, back down two flights of stairs and out to the pool area. The second is the location of Victoria Falls Lounge. It is on a landing between the lobby and Boma restaurant. Traffic, including children, is constant. Seems they could have found a better location for a lounge.
Donna sez.. It was difficlut not to sound like my kids on the way . The phrase "Are we there yet?" was on the tip of my tongue the whole trip and as my habit is to hum while we ride, all the songs I hummed were those wonderful Disney tunes I grew up with. When I finally saw the front gate, I was in awe. I think I could have gotten out of the van and just stood on the side of the road and stared at it for a while.
Entering the Lodge was an experience in itself. The beautiful art work and the African music in the background made me feel like I was actually a half a world away. I walked the expanse of the lobby looking at the jewelry and artifacts in the glass cases in total awe of this beautiful culture.
While we explored the various areas outside we saw a great many animals, my favorite at the time was the African longhorn. We had one at the ranch I worked for in Texas and I actually knew what it was...lol. The birds are a fastination for me. I love animals of all kinds, but birds are one of my main favorites. There were several varieties there and I could have stayed a while, but the nicotine deprivation was pressing.
The smoking area was right past the pool and next to the hot tub. It was very well kept and a good place to get started on what ended up to be what seemed like thousands of congratulations on being "just married". I was already impressed that all the cast members were so aware and took the time to acknowledge us on our honeymoon.
Now to the room... we had a wonderful view and I quickly looked in every nook and cranny. That's a habit I picked up when I was a hotel housekeeper and as Mike has learned, I know what to look for and I'm not afraid to say something about anything I find amiss.
What I found was perfection and cleanliness. I was very impressed and could see that the housekeeping staff take great pride in what they do. I know from exoerience that no matter how strict the management is, the housekeepers do know shortcuts and how to hide them from the boss. I found no such thing in this room. Everything was done according to the way it is supposed to be done.
I'm posting a couple or three pictures of our room and our view. I have to say I could have stared out at the savanna for hours. There were always at least a few animals out there every time I looked out.
This is our room.
This is the hawk that took up residence outside our room. He was there every day.
The most graceful animal I know.
Ok...4 pictures. lol. This is one of four longhorns we had in the savanna.
