Our First (& Definitely Not Last!) Stay at AKL Aug 31-Sept 7, 2003 - COMPLETED!! About This Page:

[Luv2plan]

Leah's Dad: Let me know if you have any toddler touring questions. I remember when we were planning our trip I had kind of a hard time finding info on good things to do with a daughter that young. I think 3 will be a great age because I can see the difference just the 4 or 5 months since our trip have made in Tessa, and how she might have handled some rides or things differently.

You'll have a great time!

[poohsgirl]

<font color="purple">You sound like me when I first took my son to WDW! I wanted to buy him everything in sight! He didn't object to this either ! Your report is very fun! </font>

[goofy4goofy]

This is bringing back such wonderful memories! I too stayed at AKL with my parents and two year old son last May! Love the pictures and can't wait to read some more!

Kelly

[eliza]

Your report is wonderful! It's really bringing back the magic of AKL to me (we were there in October)! Thank you! And as the mother of an "only" I have to tell you that, unexpectedly, I burst into tears when I read what you wrote about your two-family home!! I would be so thrilled if we could do this with our daughter. It would be wonderful!
I can't wait to read more!

[Leah's Dad]

Just loving this TR!!!! Looking forward to more. Keep it up!!!

[BritDisFan]

Nicole

I'm really enjoying your report, tessa is a beautiful little girl.

Karen

[luvnwdwgal]

Great update!! Little Tessa is such a cutie! Looking forward to more!!

[tikibird]

Great update of your day at MK and continue to love the pictures - Tessa is such a sweetie!

Looking forward to more...

[Colexis Mom]

Another great installment and pictures Looking forward to more

[Main Street Magic]

Thanks for posting. Looking forward to more of your trip report.

I should mention that we were staying at the AKL at the same time as you were. We got there on August 29th and left the 5th.

Thanks for bringing back some great memories!

[Luv2plan]

So funny! There seems to be have been a lot of us there at AKL in the first week of September!

Day Two, Part Two Exploring AKL, Japanese Drummers at Epcot, and that beautiful Uzima pool

Unfortunately Tessa popped awake as soon as we got to AKL – perked right up with “Lion King Store??!!” and ran for the lobby. So much for a nap, but at least we could all relax and unwind a little, and explore AKL!

I really loved our balcony and being able to look out at the animals whenever I wanted, but the public savanna overlooks were all really fantastic. I would definitely recommend staying at AKL even if you are not able to have a savanna view room. Every overlook, whether it was outside, like Arusha Rock, the one near the pool, or from different areas inside the hotel (there are so many big windows that just walking down the different hallways gives you great views of the animals) gave you such a unique view of the animals that we would often scout around the resort checking things out instead of sitting on our own balcony.

We went all over the resort, and found something new around every corner. Even the lights &amp; carpets here are fun to look at. There are some great views of the lobby from up on the higher floors – I think it is the 5th or 6th floor that has the suspension bridge?

my mom on the suspension bridge over the lobby

the lobby viewed from the bridge

Near those rocks in the bottom left corner of the photo of the lobby is a little stream with a bridge over it, and you can walk through here to reach Victoria Falls Lounge and Boma. They are each down a level, via stairs or nearby elevators, but it is an open design so you can see (and smell!! Yum!!) right down to both areas.

There are cases of African artwork and other objects in the lobby, many framed textiles and photographs around the hotel, most with a description or explanation of African customs, costumes and more. And the Sunset Overlook room as photographs and objects collected on safari – I believe many of them are attributed to one couple, whose photograph is in the room.



All of these sights and sounds to take in – that’s why I said at the beginning of the report that I felt like I Must See, Must Do every minute. I can’t stand to miss anything! I can’t leave out the cast members here, they were all really fantastic and had so many great stories to tell. My parents were just looking around the Sunset Overlook room one afternoon when a cast member came by and spent an hour telling them all about the objects and photos. And outside at the savanna overlooks everyone was equally as friendly, but never bothered you if you just wanted to stand and stare for awhile. Everyone seemed happy to talk about your specific question or just about their own life &amp; home in Africa.

Here’s a view of the pool, the pointed thatched roof in the far center is Uzima Springs Pool Bar. That’s where Matt and my dad were while my mom and I were taking turns exploring. We had gone out to look at some of the animals, and then were taking turns exploring while Tessa unwound in the room. Actually, my dad managed to convince my mom that Uzima Springs was some sort of store when she saw all the charges there on the room bill! He and Matt got a kick out of that for a while before they finally told her the truth.

Uzima Springs Pool bar

Tessa relaxes in our room, watching tv

We finally head back out to Epcot and I’m looking forward to catching a special show at the Japan pavilion as it’s the last day it’s showing. I was really eager to see it as it was supposed to have “samurai on horseback” demonstrations among other things. I was all prepared with my sweet pretzel from Kringla Bakery in Norway (another first for me – so yummy! Just enough sweetness!) and we’d gotten some good seats in the Japan Pavilion for the show – when it started to rain. Not hard, but apparently hard enough to cancel the show. I think I mentioned before that we did not have good luck this trip with catching shows – I should have known our luck would be like that when I found out before we left that Festival of the Lion King in AK would be closed while we were there!

I was disappointed of course, but the Taiko drummers came on then to do their show and it was fantastic. Even Tessa was mesmerized and you could see her moving her little hands like she wanted to play the drums too. There were two women and a man performing, I was really amazed at how powerful the girls were to be playing those huge drums. So our bad luck turned good, because I would probably not have sought out the drum show if we had not already been waiting.

Taiko Drummers in Japan Pavilion

We explored a little in the Japanese department store, not long enough for my taste of course! By now Matt’s hungry and is eyeing the Turkey Leg cart over by the American Pavilion. His exact review of it was “whoever thought of it should get a promotion!” From there we wandered on to the UK Pavilion and played in the toy store, met Pooh who got a big high five from Tessa, and then Tessa discovered the mini hedge maze at the back of the pavilion. What a hit! We raced up and down those little alleys a million times. World Showcase was a big hit with Tessa on both this trip and our last one for just this kind of reason. The “attractions” here are not flashy or over-stimulating and she can just walk around checking out every little thing.

Mini Hedge Maze at UK Pavilion

Mom and dad, who had not been snacking like the rest of us, were now hungry for some dinner and since we were so close to Rose &amp; Crown Pub… We all really like this pub, maybe it’s the whole living in Boston thing where pubs are so popular. We got seats right out on the patio, where the breeze is just to die for – I was going to say these are the best seats, but I’ve never actually eaten inside so can’t really compare! – and since Matt and I weren’t too hungry we split some appetizers. I believe one was a mushroom dish, which was really good, and the other was the cheese plate, which was kind of disappointing this time around. I know my mom loves the fish &amp; chips here, but I don’t remember what dad got. Actually, one of the tastiest things we had – and this is not a put-down to the rest of the meal, they were just really good! – were Tessa’s kid pizzas! She wasn’t eating much, so we traded some cheese for her pizza and it was really good, more like a little open-faced English-muffin-type-pizza than a regular pizza, it made for a good little appetizer!

I think World Showcase is a lot more walking than you realize at the time! Between the walking, the Guiness’ and the food, we were all pretty much done for the day. We couldn’t pass up a little nightcap ride on Spaceship Earth though! For those of you with little ones, I always forget how loud the opening music is on this ride, and it always seems to startle Tessa. But as soon as the ride gets going she’s fine, and really loves looking around.

Back at AKL, we put Tessa to bed and mom said she was happy to stay with her while the three of us went down to the pool. So nice to have the connecting rooms, because mom could sit in her room doing whatever she wanted (I think that night she had some nice wine &amp; snacks from their gift basket!) without it waking up Tessa in the next room. She wouldn’t go out on her balcony though, for fear she wouldn’t be able to hear Tessa. I promise it’s the last time I’ll say it – but grandmas are the best!

The pool was just absolutely beautiful at night. It’s really big, and the majority of it is not very deep, so it is perfect for just splashing &amp; lazing around. It was actually really romantic because on at least one side there was a little ledge that you could sit on and Matt and I just hung out there together for the longest time. We also tried one of the whirlpools (spas, Disney calls them?), which is off to the side and not really in sight of the pool, even though it’s close by. Neither the pool nor the whirlpool, were very crowded. And while Matt can actually sit in a whirlpool in the sun and not be bothered by the heat, I would just die, and I thought this whirlpool was just the right temperature, not too hot.

This is obviously not a picture of the pool at nighttime, but I wanted to show how lush it is around the pool area. You’re only glimpsing a little bit of the pool through each walkway.

Matt, my dad, and I just about had to drag ourselves back to the room at that point so it was off to bed since we had big plans for AK in the morning. AK wasn’t open the last time my parents were at WDW so they were really eager to see it.

Next: Day 3 – We’re going on safari! A fantastic culinary tour, and our first dinner at Boma

[MrsM]

Another great update, I've got to stop reading these while I'm supposed to be working! I always think I'll just read one paragraph and then work some more, but I always get so interested I can't stop reading!

[poohsgirl]

<font color="purple">Great pics of the AKL! Tessa is a cutie! Can't wait to hear about your day @AK! </font>

[luvnwdwgal]

Wonderful update and pictures! Looking forward to your next installment about AK!

[tikibird]

Great pictures - the AKL is indeed, gorgeous!

Loved hearing about your day, and looking forward to the next one!