[BuzzLightyear]

Welcome to Disney Central's Animal Kingdom Lodge frequently asked questions thread!! Hope it helps you out.

Please PM me if you have any specific questions.
Thanks!!

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge
PO Box 10,000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000
AKL Phone Number: 1-407-938-3000

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is a "Deluxe" resort.
Opened on April 16, 2001

It contains 1,293 guest rooms - 980 regular, 294 deluxe, 17 one-bedroom suites, one Presidential suite and one Vice Presidential suite.
Amenities include in-room safe, voice mail, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and television.
Standard Guest Rooms have two queen-size beds, one king-size bed or one queen-size bed and bunk beds. Deluxe rooms have either one king-size bed and a day bed, one queen-size bed, bunk beds and a day bed, or two queen-sized beds and a day bed. All rooms also have table and chairs, ceiling fan, bathroom with private toilet, and data port.

Standard rooms are on floors 1-4, deluxe rooms are on floors 5 and 6.


There are several views available- Standard view (parking lot), pool view, Savannah view, deluxe pool view, deluxe savannah view.

The standard room size is 344 sq feet, deluxe rooms are 381 sq feet.


There are three savannahs - Arusha, Uzima & Sunset. The AKL building is divided into trails - Zebra Trail, Ostrich Trail, Kudu Trail & Giraffe Trail.

DINING

AKL has 2 restaurants and 1 food court, as well as a pool side bar and another one inside the lobby.

Jiko- The Cooking Place- This restaurant adds a very unique taste to line of Disney World Restaurants. Dishes include Banana Leaf Steamed Sea Bass and Oak Grilled Beef Tenderloin.

Boma-Flavors of Africa- This awesome buffet has many African foods as well as some of the American Favorites.

Mara- The food court at AKL, has breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Hours are 6am to Midnight. This is one of the better food courts that we have visited in Disney. It's a breeze to get your refillable mugs refilled here.

AKL also offers 24hr room service.

Does AKL have any character breakfasts?
No, unfortunately not. The managers at Boma have firmly decided that a character breakfast, with it’s huge crowds daily, would crowd the resort itself and disturb the animals.

The Pool

The largest pool in terms of square feet on Disney Property is located at AKL. The Uzima Pool, which is 11,000 sq. feet, is themed to be an Oasis. It’s features include a zero-depth entry, a wading pool for the kids, two hot tubs, a pool side bar, and a slide. The pool only goes to about 4ft 5in. The lifeguards are out at the pool until 10pm; after that no one is allowed to use the slide. Behind the pool is the Uzima pool outlook, which showcases some of the Lodge’s aquatic animals.

Recreation

Watching the animal is the main source of recreation here. During the day, many Animal guides from Africa are on Arusha Rock. There job is to talk to you about the many different kinds of animals. Also, because they are from Africa, it is very interesting to learn about their homeland.


Zahanati Fitness center is the place at AKL to workout, get a massage, of receive a facial. Exercise equipment includes a full line of Cybex Equipment, treadmills, stairmasters, and bicycles.

Child Care

Simba's Clubhouse - 4:30pm to 12 midnight. Takes kids aged 4-12. $10 per hour, per child.

Laundry

Washers and Dryers are conveniently located right next to Simba’s Clubhouse.To check on prices before your trip, call guest services.


Shopping

Zawadi Marketplace - At nearly 5,500 square feet, Zawadi Marketplace is among the largest retail shops at Walt Disney World Resort. Disney sent a team of researchers to Africa to locate one-of-a-kind treasures to showcase amid the natural finishes, patterns and textiles featured throughout the marketplace.

Reviews
http://www.disneycentral.com/cgi-bin...roduct-sku=akl

Pros

Breathtakingly themed resort.

View of savannah from most rooms.

Watch animals from your room.

Excellent dining at two full-service restaurants.

Good choice of quick-service food at Mara.

Onsite health club and spa.

Childcare onsite.



Cons

Small rooms compared to other deluxe resorts.

Rooms can seem quite dark.

No character meal onsite.

Rooms can be fairly expensive, although discounts are often available.

Out of the way, away from the parks apart from Animal Kingdom.

Transportation

Transportation to all of the Theme parks, Water parks and Downtown Disney is by bus only. Although you are not on the Monorail line, nor can you take a boat from here, the AKL's bus system is great. You do not "share" busses with other resorts, thus making your wait time miminal and your travels direct.
You can always take a taxi to and from the resort, but remember to have a CM point out a Disney approved taxi service for you to use. The rates are much more reasonable.

TIPS

Bring binoculars

Bring a tripod for your camera

There are cameras everywhere on the outside of the lodge. Be sure and close your room drapes for privacy.

There is no pathway to Animal Kingdom and there are no trams to Animal Kingdom either.

AKL does not allow balloons inside the resort. Any balloons brought to the resort (from the theme parks, for example) will have to be checked with bell services for the duration of the guest's stay. They will be returned upon departure. This information might be helpful to families with younger children, so there are no disappointments when returning to the resort.


AKL Resort Map

http://www.intercot.com/resorts/disn...ges/aklmap.jpg