Nala and pride "Here we go again!" Final thoughts and COMPLETE! Updated 7/30 About This Page:

[lauren-roxy]

Great update Nala!!! Sorry you have to leave AKL. Your meal at Jiko sounded so wonderful!!! Can't wait to read more!!

[poohsgirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Angie, all I can say is, you should have been a fly on the wall that night. Then you would know where he got his nickname. Or more appropriately, the one I said I should have called him, but couldn’t because this is a family board!


[/ QUOTE ]
<font color="purple"> [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] I guess I spoke too soon!

Tara &amp; I shared that same flatbread and we thought it was to die for![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

As far as AKL vs. WL, Tara will be happy to hear this, but I am now leaning more towards AKL![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]
I loved WL and for the holidays, the atmosphere can't be beat, but I found that there is so much more to do and experience at AKL. I am seriously contemplating a short trip next year just to take full advantage of the special things the resort has to offer (ie:storytelling, culinary tour,cultural tour). Not to mention that it houses 2 of my favorite restaurants in all of WDW![img]/ubb/images/graemlins/hungry.gif[/img]
Oh and the animals are okay too. </font>

[Mickeysgal]

Another great update, Nala! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

[DVC_Increda_Man]

More please

[Jillybean]

Somehow I didn't think you would be too awfully sad to leave AKL. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I do want to try AKL one of these days though.

Your meal at Jiko sounds delicious!

Jill

[MAria R]

Great update!!!!

[iamgrumpy]

I just Caught up! Your having such a great time! Love your reports! More Please [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/thanx.gif[/img]

[BabieeMelly]

Great updates, Nala! You're descriptions are just awesome, as always. I love how you really make the most of every minute you have at Disney, it's so cool to hear about. I cant wait to hear all about your stay at the Wilderness Lodge!

[disneysucks]

(comment deleted by Administrator)

[lkmom]

Can't wait to hear more!

[Annabel]

Awesome updates, I'm so enjoying your report and seeing your photos. That filet mignon with mac and cheese sounds awesome! Looking forward to hearing all about the WL, more please!

[Nala]

Kiara was the first to arise the next morning (now there’s a shock!) and she was able to coax Grumpy out of bed with the plea of “See the animals”. Hmmm, no “Hey, Dad, go swim?” I guess for that day the animals were more of a priority than swimming. At least at that moment. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] Grumpy didn’t put up much of a fight and the two of them went to the balcony to watch the early morning activities. I on the other hand, pulled the covers over my head and hoped both of them would forget about me for a while. And they did. But soon their conversation and Grumpy’s laughter and Kiara’s giggles gained my attention. Or maybe it was Grumpy shaking my shoulder and asking where the camera was. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

It seems that the giraffes were out in full force and had turned into ravenous pigs and where chasing the chow truck and eating right out of the back of it. And Grumpy and Kiara were having a ball watching the antics of man vs beast. I decided to take a look myself, but by the time I made it to the balcony, the fun was over. The feed had been placed in the feeders and the giraffes had stopped their quest for “fast food” and were no longer chasing the truck. They were happily munching from the regular stations in the trees. Still, it was an awesome sight. It’s not everyday you wake up and get to watch such a thing.

I turned my focus back to packing, a task I had neglected the night before and the three of us got ready for our move. It was time to call bell service and have our luggage transferred. Our stay at the AKL was truly coming to an end. Our bell hop arrived, collected our bags, tagged each one and wished us a good day. As she pushed the full cart down the hall in the opposite direction of the way we were going, Kiara cried out a pitiful farewell to her beloved Spiderman that was zipped up in one of the bags. “Bye Spidey, I’ll miss you”. She attempted to bolt down the hall and find him, but we stopped her and assured her he would return to her and be with us at the WL. It took a moment to convince her he would be alright, but we were finally able to move on. But, I wasn’t ready to walk out the front door, touch it for good luck and bid goodbye to this magical place just yet.

We took a final walk around Arusha Rock and looked at the animals. It was rather quiet on the savanna, but that gave us the opportunity to talk with a lovely CM from South Africa. This was something we hadn’t had time to do, and I am sorry we didn’t spend more time doing it. She was a delight to talk with and very knowledgeable about not only the animals but all the plants on the rock too. Since we were one of a few people there, she walked around with us and was able to tell me all about the beautiful plants in the area that I had been curious about. I was sad to have to bid her goodbye. I could have spent all day talking to her about her home land and her time at Disney, but the WL was calling us.

We took a slow walk through the lobby, I snapped a few more pictures and it was time for us to leave. Grumpy and Kiara walked ahead of me, but I lingered behind to enjoy my final moment at the AKL. I made it to the front door, turned and took one last look at the lobby and that beautiful window with the sunlight streaming through it and then forced myself to turn and walk out the front door. And as I did, I lingered for a moment and ran my fingers across the carved wood one last time for good luck.

Alrighty then, weepy moment over, I stepped out into the bright sunshine and found my pride waiting for me. Bell Service hailed a cab for us and we were off to check into the WL. A very magical part of our trip had come to a close, but a new chapter was just beginning. And as we drove away from the AKL, and I watched it fade away, this was a place I hoped we would be blessed enough to visit again.

As we left the AKL we started talking with the cab driver. He asked why we were going to the WL and we informed him we were moving there for the rest of our stay. He chuckled a bit and quietly stated “Nothing compares to the AKL. The one you just left is the best”. Well thanks for stating that fact! Grumpy was having a hard enough time with the move and Mr. Cab Driver was not helping. That started Grumpy on a roll about all the things he loved about the AKL. And our driver kept nodding his head in agreement and saying “Ya……Ya……Ya.” Great, I was being tag teamed. But facts were facts. There was no room at the inn (AKL). At least not at a great AP discount, so if for fiscal reasons only, we were moving. Grumpy was just going to have to live with it. I only hoped something magical would happen to ease his pain.

We soon found ourselves passing under the MK gate and made our way to the WL. While I may have been the only one in the back seat feeling the excitement, I still felt it. Passing by the familiar sites of the road to the WL felt wonderful. The guard shack, the northern landscape, and finally that beautiful lodge rising above the majestic pines. Oh yes, I was home. And unlike my pride, who was quick to run out the doors at AKL, I was leading the pack into the WL. I couldn’t wait to have those doors open and welcome me home. And even though I have seen it many times before, my first look into that lobby was a welcome sight to my eyes. And I had to stop for just a moment to drink it all in again. The sights……. the smells………. the sounds………….. Ahhhhhh,….. Home.

OK, right, yeah……. where was I? Oh, check in. Proceed to front desk to check in.

I ushered my pride to the check in desk and waited only a moment for a CM to become available. We began the check in process and were greeted by a very nice CM. She took all the necessary information (as in credit card for charging purposes and confirmed home address and phone, but never asked for our valid AP’s for our AP rate). She stated that our room was not ready yet (major stab to my heart) and told us that her daughter was also checking out of the lodge at that very moment. She asked if we would mind if she turned us over to another CM standing by so she could tell her daughter good bye. Like I would say No? I assured her we were not offended and insisted she leave us to spend a few last moments with her daughter. I thought it was very sweet she was so concerned about handing us to another CM. The other CM quickly stepped in and worked some magic and found us a room that was ready. And as she handed us our keys she informed us we had received a complementary upgrade to a courtyard view! WooooHooooo! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/woot.gif[/img] That made us three for three in upgrades at the WL. Is it any wonder I love this place. And I hadn’t even mentioned it was Grumpy’s birthday that day! For a brief moment, I considered asking if we could upgrade to concierge (and I would have been willing to pay additional for it) but I chickened out and decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

The CM started to give us directions to our room and I was nodding my head furiously as she spoke and she said “Looks like I don’t need to tell you how to get there”. Nope, been down this hall many times and know exactly where we are going! I thanked her once again and off we went to find our room.

We found our room, opened the door and I ran to the sliding glass door to check out that view that I dearly love.



And there it was. Perfect in every way. As I looked around I noticed to our right we were two doors down (and one floor) from the big suite that faces Bay Lake. I pointed it out to Grumpy and we laughed about getting to peek in the windows. Kiara wasted no time pointing out the pool and began to beg to go swimming. We had a hard time making her understand that we didn’t have our swim suits yet, but they would come later in the afternoon. We pacified her crushing disappointment by telling her we were going to the MK and that seemed to be an acceptable alterative to a swim.

So we packed up, headed out and were MK bound for the afternoon.

[simbarel]

Nice job on the CY upgrade! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Good report, I feel like I'm right there with you. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/082502yes_prv.gif[/img]

[lauren-roxy]

Great update Nala!! Can't wait to hear all about Magic Kingdom!!!

[Colexis Mom]

What a great view from your room Nala [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/waytogo.gif[/img] Congrats on the upgrade [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]