[iluvwdw2]

I have now begun to prepare my Room Request Letter to be faxed to the room assigner, at AKL. I will be faxing this in about 3 weeks and I want to make this good. I have never done anything like this - request room upgrades- before. But, since I have been a member of Disney Central, I hear it's normal to request something like this and actually, get it:D ! I am posting a rough draft, and I would really appreciate any input, from my fellow DCer's, especially, those with experience with successfully get your room requests honored. I am trying to get upgraded to the Arusha Savannah View and in my research, I have noticed that it's more of a "Kenya" thing. So, my request is written in English, along with a few words here and there, from the official language of Kenya, Swahili. Tell me what you think:hmmm


Salamu Kwa B. Family:

Angu jina Jacqueline B. and I'ld like to express what an honor it is for my family to spend our vacation as mgeni's of Disney's "Mnyama Ufalme" Lodge. I have heard many ghalie things of the "Mnyama Ufalme" Lodge and decided it to be the perfect resort for my family's vacation.

This vacation is special to me in so many ways. A kwanza, angu mume, Naris, is proudly serving in the United Sates Navy and has been away from me and our son, for 7 months now. He will, finally, return home on August 24. This willl be kubwa time to bring back the uchawi to our marriage, especially, since Disney has sikuzote been a special place for us. Secondly, both angu mume and mwana, Matthew are mnyama lovers, this is actually a time for them to bond, tena. The twiga, paa, nyuni, nyumbu, tembo, and punda milla are amongst their favorite mnyamas.

I have one small request. I would deeply, appreciate a chumba on one of the higher floors, with an Arusha view. This way angu mume and mwana can pokea zuri views of Mnyama Ufalme. For them to experience uchawi of Disney from etu chumba would be a kubwa furaha. This is our a kwanza time pamoja, as a family, in months. Tafadhali msaada mimi to make our vacation zuri experience we will never forget!

Asante sana

Mrs. Jacqueline B
Proud mke of a U.S. Navy Sailor



IF YOU CAN SEE THE EDGE, YOU HAVEN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH!!

[MickeyMac]

The room assignor at the front desk of AKL is American...

I do think it's cute though! Let us know how it works! :D

[mickaholic4077]

It's a nice idea,but if I had to ask someone what some of those words meant,I don't know that I'd grant your request. Maybe just a greeting and ending in swahili would do it for me.

[alextina]

You could always just ask when you arrive. We booked a standard veiw (parking lot veiw) room last May and never even mentioned an upgrade to anyone. When we arrived we had been upgraded to a savannah veiw. At the AKL they only have approx. 70 standard veiw rooms so the odds of being upgraded are pretty good. Enjoy your trip.:D

[DisneyTeacher]

If getting an upgrade is important to you, you can try calling and upgrading now. Of course, you will have to pay for it but if it's important to you then it's worth the extra money.

Like alextina, I was upgraded at WL with out requesting it. I didn't ask for it it just happened very unexpectly.

I agree with Mickaholic and MickeyMac, if the room assignor is american the letter will be hard to read. Maybe just a word or two in your letter is enough if the room assignor doesn't speak the language.

[inluvwithdisney]

You have the right idea but I found it hard to follow because I did not know what the swahili words meant!!! I think you should start with the swalhili greeting and end with it and forgo the
word in the actual text!!!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

[ArielBelle]

My head hurts, iluvwdw2!:dazed
Looks like you went through a lot of work to write the letter, but I must agree that if the room assignor does not speak Swahili your out of luck.;)


My own question:
If you book through a TA, you should not send a request letter. Is this correct???

[iluvwdw2]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I think I will go with just the greeting and closing to the letter, in Swahili (especially, if the assigner is American). I appreciate and value your opinions. I knew I could count on DCer's for help:D ! I, actually, learned swahili in college and was surprised that I remembered it. I guess I got a little excited that after paying for the course, graduating college and being in the real world for 5 years, I'm, finally, able to use this language for SOMETHING!! So, I went overboard in this letter, and almost, gave the room assigner a headache, assuming she doesn't speak swahili. Oh, well, thanks again.


By the way, just in case anyone is interested, these words translate into: Salamu Kwa= Greetings From; Angu jina= My name is; Mnyama Ufalme= Animal Kingdom; ghali= lovely; A Kwanza= First; Angu Mume= My husband; Kubwa= great; uchawi= enchantment and can be magic, as well; sikuzote= always; angue mume and mwana= my husband and son; Mnyama= Animal; tena=again; twiga=giraffe; paa=antelope; nyuni=birds; nyumbu=wildebeest; tembo=elephant; punda milia=zebra;chumba=room; pokea zuri=take in the; zuri= beautiful; kubwa furaha= great joy; pamoja= together; tafadhali msaada mimi= please help me; zuri=beautiful; Asante sana= Thank you very much; and mke=wife.

DisneyTeacher: I would love to get a free upgrade, who wouldn't try this route first (you know, to save money). If getting free upgrades are common, then I want one, too, lol :laugh. If we get to the Lodge and we haven't been upgraded, then I will kindly ask. If I absolutely have to pay the difference, then I will, after striking out 3 times. It never hurts to ask. But, like alextina said, it's a good chance we'll be upgraded anyway. I, like many people, love "free stuff":love:, and I do appreciate your opinion. Thank you.



IF YOU CAN SEE THE EDGE, YOU HAVEN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH!!

[iluvwdw2]

I booked through Disney, not a TA.

[jmouse]

The CMs at the AKL say "Jambo" for hello!

[iluvwdw2]

Thank you. I suppose the CM's aren't speaking swahili. Although, Jambo is a swahili word, it means a business affair. Jambo is used when a business transaction has taken place or is going to take place, at least in swahili. Hello in swahili is 'Je' and Greetings means 'Salamu'. I assume they maybe speaking one of the 11+ languages of South Africa {Zulu, Africaan or one of the many others}. It's possible that Jambo means hello in one of these, in my opinion, because the Uzima Savannah is representative of South Africa and the Arusha is more of a Kenya thing. But, at least, I know to begin my letter with Jambo, since that is how they say hello {what da you know it rhymes}.



IF YOU CAN SEE THE EDGE, YOU HAVEN'T GONE FAR ENOUGH!!

[JOANN]

I faxed a request in to the CSR last May, and it did not work. Sometimes, it's better to do it in person. I remember last Nov. we stayed at the AKL, and asked for a up-grade, and they did give it to us, for a very small price. It turned out to be cheaper, than if I were have booked the Savannah view when orininally booking the reservation. I guess it's luck!!! So best of luck to you!! I'm sure whatever you get, you will love it there! Great Resort!!! JOANN :)