Just back from AKL Jambo House

[Christopher Robin 26]

We just returned from AKL Jambo house today. This was our first stay at AKL as we usually stay at POFQ or CSR. Of course all resorts have positives and negatives and here are a few of mine.

Positives

AKL is a beautiful resort. The lobby is large and welcoming, although a little bit dark compared to other resorts we have stayed in. Lots of places to sit and relax inside and out. Plenty of overlooks to view the animals. The resort is in excellent condition very well maintained.

We loved our room. It was a little bit larger than the moderate resort rooms. The bathroom was did not have a bathtub but the large tiled shower was great. The bathroom was larger than the moderate resorts but there is no separate area for someone to get ready while another showers. We did have a pool view balcony. The balcony was a good size with 2 chairs and a little table. We did have a little glimpse of the pool but our view was mainly of foliage and the chairs around the pool area but it was pleasant enough.

The pool is beautiful, one of the larger pools on Disney property I believe. The grounds around the pool are very scenic and the Uzima overlook near the pool was a good spot for seeing the giraffes. If you like flamingos they are right near the pool as well.

We ate breakfast at Boma twice. We went the 1st morning we were there and enjoyed it so much we went again the 2nd morning. They had a large selection and everything was fresh and tasty. A bit expensive for breakfast but worth it. We didn't try Boma for dinner. Maybe another time.

The buses weren't bad. Never had any long waits getting to the parks and only had one bad experience coming back from Magic Kingdom one evening. I do think the first stop returning from the parks should be Jambo House and not Kidani Village.


Negatives (only a couple)

Mara. Very limited selection and long wait times to get your food. The food court at POFQ has a much larger menu with a different lunch and dinner menu.

Our biggest complaint was the housekeeping. Although our room was very clean when we got there, our room did not get cleaned nor did we get towels replaced until we returned from the parks the 2nd evening we were there. The 3rd day we were there our room did not get cleaned at all. That's the first time at any resort we have not had our room cleaned.

All in all our stay at AKL was very pleasant and enjoyable and I would stay there again. For those of you who are wondering, I would not pay extra for a Savannah room. There was plenty of places to go and view the animals without the extra cost.

 

[nurse.darcy]

The Outcropping is Arusha Rock. Its gorgeous and fun to watch the animals. Love it. Mousekeeping: Hmmmmm, this actually surprises me as they would knock on the door before 9 am each day. We were exploring the resort and rarely left before 10 a.m. You can always call housekeeping and request they come clean. Tell them it hasn't happened yet and you need it now. Usually it will be done within 30 minutes of your phone call. The Mara can get busy at "standard" meal times. It has some great choices (love the African stew) but its not on the level of some other quick services as far as space and "quick" ness. . .

 

[Christopher Robin 26]

The Outcropping is Arusha Rock. Its gorgeous and fun to watch the animals. Love it. Mousekeeping: Hmmmmm, this actually surprises me as they would knock on the door before 9 am each day. We were exploring the resort and rarely left before 10 a.m. You can always call housekeeping and request they come clean. Tell them it hasn't happened yet and you need it now. Usually it will be done within 30 minutes of your phone call. The Mara can get busy at "standard" meal times. It has some great choices (love the African stew) but its not on the level of some other quick services as far as space and "quick" ness. . .

I did go to the desk to tell them our room had not been cleaned when we got back from the parks that evening. They offered to send housekeeping up but it was 9:30 so we declined the offer.

 

[sjs314]

Very nice review, I had wondered whether the Mara was much busier now that Kidani is open, since my last stay at AKL was in 2005 before Kidani. At the time I did think for a CS it fared better than the other deluxes I had stayed at previously WL and YC. Not sure if it is fair to compare the Mara to the CS at POFQ, I have stayed there also and since between Jambo and Kidani you have the option also of 3 TS, Boma, Jiko, Sanaa something POFQ does not have.

I am with you 100% about Boma's for breakfast one of the reasons I wanted to stay AKL again.

I wonder if Mousekeeping was short handed during your stay since it always seems they are knocking on our door before we are ready for them at all the resorts we have stayed at

Thanks again for the review

 

[rance]

Did they have movie nights around the pool?

Thanks

 

[Christopher Robin 26]

Did they have movie nights around the pool?

Thanks

Didn't see any movies playing around the pool at night. I think they were showing movies for the kids in the lobby.

 

[Burnt Toast]

Didn't see any movies playing around the pool at night. I think they were showing movies for the kids in the lobby.

Movie Night is at Kidani Village, which you are allowed to go to as a Jambo House guest.

 

[floridascgirl]

You must have been in a handicapped room. That would be the reason for not having a bathtub or separate dressing area. Sorry to hear that you had less than stellar Mousekeepers. We have always found them to be very efficient and punctual.

 

[Christopher Robin 26]

You must have been in a handicapped room. That would be the reason for not having a bathtub or separate dressing area. Sorry to hear that you had less than stellar Mousekeepers. We have always found them to be very efficient and punctual.

Oh that explains why we didn't have a tub. I must say I did like the large shower.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

hey I was there this week! I had a standard view with a savanna room upgrade, I then changed over after day 4 due to the fact it seemed to have so many kids!! So we headed over to the WL which was SO much quieter!!!

I hated the long walk from the SV rooms to the lobby, I also will NEVER go do Boma's again!!! We paid 30 bucks (with a 20% discount) for kids mac & cheese. We all thought it was just awful!!

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

Did they have movie nights around the pool?

Thanks

it was pouring most of the nights this past week!! lol this past Thursday and friday was lighting and downpours. But four days prior it was also raining nights it seemed!! lol

 

[rance]

Are there any area to bbq?thanks

 

[goofyfordisney]

We loved our room. It was a little bit larger than the moderate resort rooms. The bathroom was did not have a bathtub but the large tiled shower was great. The bathroom was larger than the moderate resorts but there is no separate area for someone to get ready while another showers. We did have a pool view balcony. The balcony was a good size with 2 chairs and a little table. We did have a little glimpse of the pool but our view was mainly of foliage and the chairs around the pool area but it was pleasant enough.

The pool is beautiful, one of the larger pools on Disney property I believe. The grounds around the pool are very scenic and the Uzima overlook near the pool was a good spot for seeing the giraffes. If you like flamingos they are right near the pool as well.
.

What type of room did you have? A Studio or 1 bedroom? I'm interested in the location of your room. We probably will request a pool view if we book Jambo House or book 2 rooms at AKL...I also think that the savanna rooms are sometimes over rated!

As far as the pool...were there plenty of chairs/lounges around the pool area? We really like to lounge and relax by the pool.

TIA!

 

[hannaconda]

We stayed their in June in a Studio. We are DVC members so we had a view of the pool from the 5th floor but there is a LOT of foilage. I liked Boma for Dinner. We always bring breakfast and lunch meat for the late night snacks so I didn't get to try it for breakfast. It was nice but time to move on to the next villas that we draw from the hat.

 

[sndral]

..., I also will NEVER go do Boma's again!!! We paid 30 bucks (with a 20% discount) for kids mac & cheese. We all thought it was just awful!!

I'm not a fan of Mac and Cheese myself, but I've always found lots to like among the 60 food offerings Boma has for the dinner buffet.

 

[dclfun]

I agree about the bus situation. Jambo House is second to be picked up after Kidani on the way to the parks and last to be dropped off, with the bus PASSING Jambo on the way back. I realize that time-wise it doesn't really make much difference but it would be nice to not always be last both to and from.---Kathy

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I'm not a fan of Mac and Cheese myself, but I've always found lots to like among the 60 food offerings Boma has for the dinner buffet.

yep...nothing!!! at ALL, for two of use!!! It was gross..
now as for the buses, we were picked up and the buses were all empty and never went to Kidani!!! the only time they did is sometimes on the way home from the parks!! So I have to say that statememnt is somewhat false

 

[PrincessBelle39]

We stayed last at Jambo House last September. We had a CL room but did have a bathtub and also a separate bathroom area from the shower/bath/toilet. ie: separate sink/mirror.
We also found with the buses that they dropped off at Kidani before Jambo House but never had a full bus in the morning. Some days there were a few people on it, other days - empty. We found the transport great and experienced no problems at all.
Haven't done Boma for breakfast but have had dinner their twice. We love their choices and find that even our fussy kids have several different options. Their pasta salad is one of my favourites and we make it at home all the time now. I've passed the recipe onto all my friends and its popular at all the BBQ's we go to now.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

We stayed last at Jambo House last September. We had a CL room but did have a bathtub and also a separate bathroom area from the shower/bath/toilet. ie: separate sink/mirror.
We also found with the buses that they dropped off at Kidani before Jambo House but never had a full bus in the morning. Some days there were a few people on it, other days - empty. We found the transport great and experienced no problems at all.
Haven't done Boma for breakfast but have had dinner their twice. We love their choices and find that even our fussy kids have several different options. Their pasta salad is one of my favourites and we make it at home all the time now. I've passed the recipe onto all my friends and its popular at all the BBQ's we go to now.

I would have eaten pasta salad!! they did not have any!!!

 

[Burnt Toast]

Oh that explains why we didn't have a tub. I must say I did like the large shower.

FYI, most all of the 20 or so King bed rooms at AKL are wheelchair accessible in some way, whether it's a tub with extra handrails or the roll-in shower.