Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[2girlsR2good]

Just booked! Short but sweet trip with my sister. We'll be taking our 3 12-year old girls with us. We plan on spending 2nights/3 days there, focused entirely on the resort and AK (1 day only in the park). Our goal is to have a relaxing time before Thanksgiving and the holiday season descend. Would love suggestions about what to do. We will have a car, I booked a 1-bedroom villa, arrive early in the day Sunday, depart late afternoon Tuesday. I'm planning on booking dinners at AKL--which means 2 of the three--Jiko, Boma, or Sanaa. How to choose??

 

[kimmar067]

Have only eaten at Boma and the Mara several times. Need to try Sanaa and Jiko in November!

...both were incredible, but Jiko was truly a unique and outstanding experience!

 

[kimmar067]

Nah, we are thinking of doing AKL at the end of the trip, not the start. We figured we'd be more tired at the end of the trip and therefore more likely to want to hang around the resort, which we usually don't do.

....I realized it later on and that's why I edited my other post.... [ ]

 

[perchy]

What else can who do here if you are only a restaurant customer, staying at another Disney resort? I'd love to tour it if there is any way for me to do that. Thoughts?

 

[Regan117]

On our way home now after staying in room 4591, a two-bedroom club level suite. We didn't see or hear any construction. I also have to say this room was awesome! It's a hike from the lobby, but it looks out on a corner of the Savannah where the animals ALL gather each morning, so we had two giraffes, two zebras, wildebeasts and all kind of antelopes/deer and birds every day. It was amazing.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

What else can who do here if you are only a restaurant customer, staying at another Disney resort? I'd love to tour it if there is any way for me to do that. Thoughts?

there is lots to do. You can take part in any of the resort activities going on. Check the activities board when you get to the resort to see what your options are. If you are there for dinner, there will be night vision goggles available on the overlook to view animals, and that is a fun and unique experience.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

We leave TOMORROW!! I will report back when we are home about our experience as far as construction ect.

Anyone know if the rumors about a bus board finally going up at Jambo are true??

 

[cjhudson]

We leave TOMORROW!! I will report back when we are home about our experience as far as construction ect.

Anyone know if the rumors about a bus board finally going up at Jambo are true??

Excited for you! We still have almost 4 months until we go. I am also very interested in the bus board at Jambo.

 

[Dariansue]

What else can who do here if you are only a restaurant customer, staying at another Disney resort? I'd love to tour it if there is any way for me to do that. Thoughts?

You can always request a tour. We did it one time and they even showed us a room and club level! It worked because we stayed there on our next trip! You don't really know how spectacular the savanna views are till you actually see them in person! They were very nice about it. Just tell them you're thinking about staying at the resort on your next trip.

 

[OhThePain]

Just booked! Short but sweet trip with my sister. We'll be taking our 3 12-year old girls with us. We plan on spending 2nights/3 days there, focused entirely on the resort and AK (1 day only in the park). Our goal is to have a relaxing time before Thanksgiving and the holiday season descend. Would love suggestions about what to do. We will have a car, I booked a 1-bedroom villa, arrive early in the day Sunday, depart late afternoon Tuesday. I'm planning on booking dinners at AKL--which means 2 of the three--Jiko, Boma, or Sanaa. How to choose??

Why not all 3? Jiko and Boma for dinner and Sanaa for lunch on a resort day? You could also do the Dine with an Animal Specialist at Sanaa for lunch.

 

[SingingMom]

DD just booked us with her CM discount in a Savanna room - one Queen and bunk beds. She will stay with us and hopefully have a few days off from work. Really looking forward to staying here - we've only been to AKL for dinner at Sanaa! So many posts here to read before April! lol - if there is anything really important I need to know about staying at AKL, please let me know!

 

[perchy]

OK.... updating my previous question a bit. If I do the Culinary Tour at 3:45 at Boma/Jiko, will I have time to walk to these savanna overlooks before my 6:50 dinner reservation back at Jiko?

Sunset and Pembe
Arusha and Uzima

Or, should I try to make my dinner reservation later?

 

[jim o'reilly]

just got back from AKL jambo house and didn't hear any construction. only the noises of the african drums in the lobby area! We saw 4 giraffes, 3 zebras, many different birds, wildebeests and antelope.

My wife and I weren't fans of Jiko but we absolutely LOVED Boma. We ate there 3 times! If you see Chef Ben, he's the greatest!

 

[OhThePain]

OK.... updating my previous question a bit. If I do the Culinary Tour at 3:45 at Boma/Jiko, will I have time to walk to these savanna overlooks before my 6:50 dinner reservation back at Jiko?

Sunset and Pembe
Arusha and Uzima

Or, should I try to make my dinner reservation later?

You'll have plenty of time to explore the Savannahs between the Culinary Tour and your ADR. When we did the tour a couple of years ago, all we really did was walk through the buffet at Boma (got a sample of one of the soups that day and a Zebra Dome) and then at Jiko we sat at the counter, talked to the chefs a bit, got a taste of the bread service and that was it. I don't think the whole thing took more than 25 minutes.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

OK.... updating my previous question a bit. If I do the Culinary Tour at 3:45 at Boma/Jiko, will I have time to walk to these savanna overlooks before my 6:50 dinner reservation back at Jiko?

Sunset and Pembe
Arusha and Uzima

Or, should I try to make my dinner reservation later?

As long as you don't try to go over to Kidani before your reservation I think you should be fine.

 

[dizneyluv]

We just booked for May 22-27th. To say that we are excited would be a total understatement. We were originally thinking CSR May 21-27 but by shortening the trip by a day we are close to the same budget. Our DS, he is 12, is going to be NUTS as he is a complete and total animal lover. I don't mind the shorter trip, we did it when we went to the Contemporary and it was great. We plan to relax more and not march around like we used to do! I read through the entire AKL thread, the entire CSR thread, watched videos then showed DH and DS the highlights and it was unanimous. AKL here we come!

 

[chelsearenee]

We will be there May 22-30th. We originally made reservations at Caribbean Beach for our honeymoon (while wishing we could stay at AKL), but we were able to make the switch once the spring discounts were released. We are counting down the days!

 

[tcherjen]

We are getting closer to our stay. Looking forward to it.

 

[orna14]

Staying April 9th to the 15th!! So excited.

 

[Belle5]

For those who have stayed at both...what is going to be the main difference between a standard AKL room (no view) and a Jambo AKV value (no view)? I am booked at the latter but am wondering if it's a lesser room, in some aspect, than just a standard AKL room. Thanks!