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visiting Disney resorts without going into Disney

Zac495

Zac495

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Okay - here's the question - coming from many of your wonderful ideas of things to do with the old folks.

If I want to take them on a day trip (NO DISNEY PARK! - that's for the kids) to see - for instance - the giraffes at Animal Kingdom via the hotel - how do I do this? I hear you say get a reservation and eat lunch - fine, fine - we're fine with that.

So if we would do this twice (that's the extent of getting them out) what would you suggest? My dad won't eat exotic African food - but are the restaurants in Animal Kingdom truly that exotic or are they just boasting an African theme? Can we get a burger and a great view?

Remember - he can't WALK AT ALL!!! He's impossible.

So is it worth it?
 
Visiting the Animal Kingdom Lodge is very easy to do, but you would probably need a wheel chair to see the animals. You can drive into the resort and get a pass from the guard with photo-ID, good 3 hours. Drop your party off at the front door and have them wait while you park the car or get valet service. Walk thru the lobby and take the elevator down to the ground floor. The restaurants are down there, by the back doors to the pool area. Check this out to read about the 3 restaurants, which range from burgers, to buffet, to fine dining:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...=true&restaurantName=&submit=submit&x=17&y=7:


Make your reservation for dinner, then go out to the far end of the pool area. Around 5:00 the animal trainers drive in to feed the animals. They all come running! They put food in the trees for the giraffes, put all kinds of stuff on the ground for the other beasts, then come by the pool to feed the flamingos and other birds. It's really fun to watch all the animals come for food!
 
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Actually, for restaurant menus I like http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm Note that wdwinfo.com is the same folks that bring you the DisBoards.

Sometimes their menus are very specific, sometimes not. The menu for Boma, for example, is more generic than most. It states:

"Evening Buffet Offering (Adult: ages 10 and up) - Join us between 5pm and 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 4:30pm to 10pm Friday-Sunday to enjoy the 60 different offerings available, which includes: Traditional Mealie Bread, Desserts, authentic African soups and stews, fresh salads, roasted salmon, and wood-roasted meats. Signature items may include: Market inspired fresh seafood, Durban-spiced roasted chicken, Spit-fired prime rib and a vast array of vegetarian offerings. - $25.99"
 
Use the link I provided above and search on Animal Kingdom Lodge. You can get a burger for $6 at Mara, which is a counter service restaurant by the pool. Or you can get a Filet Mignon (served with mac & cheese! :hysterical: ) for $34 at Jiko, a full-service restaurant.

Have fun!
 
Thanks. I think we'll go to Mara for lunch without my father. He won't like the food at the dinner place - he's just too picky. But seeing the animals sounds great. You say 5 pm is feeding? Any feeding earlier? If we showed up around noon, would we see anything by wandering around? THANKS!
 
Not to sound cynical....but why does dad even want to go to Orlando as he is "impossible"???
 
January 15 - April 15, 2009

Just a note:

As the development of Kidani Village continues at Disney's
Animal Kingdom Villas, crews are preparing to complete the
new savanna & acclimate the animals to their new habitat.

To accommodate this important process, " animals are not "
scheduled to be on Sunset Savanna from Jan. 15-Apr 15, 09.
 
You could have lunch or dinner at the Grand Floridian.

My elderly inlaws fell in love with the elegance of the hotel. To them it was like a place where the oldtime Hollywood stars would come. I was so surprised about how much they raved about this place. Ok, I like it and the food at 1900 Park Fare was good, but they were thrilled. After we ate, we sat in the lobby listening to the piano player. They said it made for a perfect day. (And this was their third trip to WDW with us and we hadn't even eaten at the fancy GF restaurants.)
 
Zac495 said:
Thanks. I think we'll go to Mara for lunch without my father. He won't like the food at the dinner place - he's just too picky. But seeing the animals sounds great. You say 5 pm is feeding? Any feeding earlier? If we showed up around noon, would we see anything by wandering around? THANKS!
Click to expand...

During the afternoon, the animals tend to lie around under the trees and are hard to see. If you stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, you can see the animals roam around in the AM, and around dinner time, but not so much during the afternoon. One thing you could do is walk out the wings of the hotel which overlook the savanah - there will usually be some animals to see from the window viewing areas they have along the way. We had giraffes almost right at our balcony in the AM, but you don't see much during the afternoon. The PM feeding time by the pool is really the best time to see what's going on. If you go, don't be afraid to wander the halls and look for the sights. There are some good viewing places if you get there at the right time. But be prepared to walk, because the place is HUGE. That's why I said Dad would need a wheel chair. When we stayed there, we had rooms way out on the end of the wings which had nice panoramic balconies, but after a few days we wished they had golf carts to get to our room!

Here's a view from our balcony:

aklodge.jpg
 
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I answered on your other thread but I just wanted to mention that I don't think your father (or you) would have much fun at AKL if he cannot walk through the large lobby, out past the swimming complex and/or down the sprawling corridors, and he won't use a resort wheelchair. IMO, the Grand Floridian would be a better choice, with benches and sofas everywhere so he can stop often and the focal points for this visit would be inside the air-conditioned lobby. Also, the monorail is accessible from the 2nd floor of the lobby, for after a meal break. Strolling at AKL and looking for animals is lovely but not nearly as accessible, IMO. You've said that your parents enjoy the "finer things" so Grand Floridian's elegance may appeal more to them than AKL's African-themed lodge.
 
I'd also include Wilderness Lodge, the Boardwalk resort area, and Grand Floridian. I had a lot of fun eating at the Wilderness Campgrounds (not Hoop de Doo, but the buffet). Neat place at night.
 
One thing you might consider, which is what we do around Chrstmas time to see the holiday decorations. Drive to one of the Magic Kingdom resorts, then ride the monorail to visit all the lobbies, gift shops, restaurants, etc at the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. I wouldn't recommend it with Dad because of his mobility, but it's a great way to spend the day for free, other than what you spend on things in the gift shops, drinks, meals, etc. Those resorts are beautiful. The lobbies at these resorts are really something to see. Free parking at the hotels, and the monorail is a free ride. As for the Boardwalk, in my opinion the place is dead except when EPCOT lets out, and isn't worth the walk.
 
Steamboat Bill said:
Not to sound cynical....but why does dad even want to go to Orlando as he is "impossible"???
Click to expand...

He just wants to play bridge. And Mom - and the rest of the family want to vacation. So he comes, sleeps most of the day, gets up at 3 to play bridge, and then goes out to dinner. SIGH. I know, I know. But he's my dad and I love him.
 
Sea Six said:
One thing you might consider, which is what we do around Chrstmas time to see the holiday decorations. Drive to one of the Magic Kingdom resorts, then ride the monorail to visit all the lobbies, gift shops, restaurants, etc at the Contemporary, the Polynesian, and the Grand Floridian. I wouldn't recommend it with Dad because of his mobility, but it's a great way to spend the day for free, other than what you spend on things in the gift shops, drinks, meals, etc. Those resorts are beautiful. The lobbies at these resorts are really something to see. Free parking at the hotels, and the monorail is a free ride. As for the Boardwalk, in my opinion the place is dead except when EPCOT lets out, and isn't worth the walk.
Click to expand...

THANK YOU for that information!
 
In my post I wasn't advocating the Boardwalk for Boardwalk's sake. It's an easy way to see Boardwalk Villas, Beachclub Villas, etc. without driving around a lot. I'd add that Flying Fish Cafe is very nice if you want to spend a little money. You can also see alot of the Epcot Fireworks for free from just outside the gates if you park at one of the Boardwalk resorts and walk there.

Sea Six said:
As for the Boardwalk, in my opinion the place is dead except when EPCOT lets out, and isn't worth the walk.
Click to expand...
 
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