A few dumb questions about AKL

[Mom2Four]

Hi all! We are dvc members , however we are staying at AKL (Jambo) for five nights in February on our AP discount. We usually stay at BCV, OKW or BWV. The kids begged to stay at AKL so we gave in! We were there once about six years ago, so I really don't remember much. My question is, will we also have access to Kidani pool even though we aren't staying on points? Will I be able to use the dvc laundry room? Also, what are some fun things to do for kids around the resort? We are staying at the Poly in March and are doing a ton of park time on that trip. This trip however we want to do more resort time before we head over to Madeira Beach. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Lastly, how is Sanaa ? Thanks!!!!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

My question is, will we also have access to Kidani pool even though we aren't staying on points?

Yes. Everyone does, including Jambo guests not staying in DVC at all.

Also, check the daily activities calendar. They do a ton of stuff for kids at AKL.

 

[Mom2Four]

Thank you!

 

[ToddyLu]

There are usually evening discussions hosted by the CMs from Africa in the library at Kidani ( and I am sure at Jambo), the drum cafe at Kidani in the evenings and also night vision googles for viewing animals at the resort and evening stories around the fire pit at the viewing area in back of the lobby. Both pools are lovely and heated. Sanaa gets great reviews. DH and I own DVC at AKV (since 2009) and have only ordered room service from there once. The food was good but we ordered the bread service with entrees and it had too many different spicey flavors. We decided that one or two would have been nice but the variety was just too much...and honestly that was all I remember about it. A little went a long way and I guess we are not that adventurous. However we do enjoy Jiko which seems more mainstream and is a signature that we now enjoy every trip. And of course there is the breakfast buffet at Boma...my favorite place for breakfast on property. Lots to choose from and very pleasant staff. I like the bustle of the place in morning and the quiet of Jiko in evening. I have two ADRs for Boma on our upcoming trip in May, one at Jiko.

 

[Mom2Four]

There are usually evening discussions hosted by the CMs from Africa in the library at Kidani ( and I am sure at Jambo), the drum cafe at Kidani in the evenings and also night vision googles for viewing animals at the resort and evening stories around the fire pit at the viewing area in back of the lobby. Both pools are lovely and heated. Sanaa gets great reviews. DH and I own DVC at AKV (since 2009) and have only ordered room service from there once. The food was good but we ordered the bread service with entrees and it had too many different spicey flavors. We decided that one or two would have been nice but the variety was just too much...and honestly that was all I remember about it. A little went a long way and I guess we are not that adventurous. However we do enjoy Jiko which seems more mainstream and is a signature that we now enjoy every trip. And of course there is the breakfast buffet at Boma...my favorite place for breakfast on property. Lots to choose from and very pleasant staff. I like the bustle of the place in morning and the quiet of Jiko in evening. I have two ADRs for Boma on our upcoming trip in May, one at Jiko.

Thanks for all the info!!

 

[LisaS]

Will I be able to use the dvc laundry room?

You stated you were staying at AKL (the hotel) and not AKV (the DVC resort). If so, then your magic band will probably not work to unlock the door to the DVC laundry room.

If you are staying in an AKV room then I don't know if your magic band will work to open the laundry room door. I would expect not since the reservation was not made through DVC.

 

[Mom2Four]

That's kind of what I thought. I was just hoping that being a dvc member I would be able to use the laundry room. I'll inquire at check in.

 

[LisaS]

That's kind of what I thought. I was just hoping that being a dvc member I would be able to use the laundry room. I'll inquire at check in.

It doesn't usually work that way. With some exceptions, you have to be staying on points to use your DVC benefits. I guess it's because our dues pay for these amenities so only a dues-based stay (in other words, using points) qualifies us to use those benefits. When you book a stay through Disney reservations, no part of the cash you paid is going towards paying for perks such as the free laundry room so DVC members paying cash don't get certain DVC perks.

 

[Mom2Four]

It doesn't usually work that way. With some exceptions, you have to be staying on points to use your DVC benefits. I guess it's because our dues pay for these amenities so only a dues-based stay (in other words, using points) qualifies us to use those benefits. When you book a stay through Disney reservations, no part of the cash you paid is going towards paying for perks such as the free laundry room so DVC members paying cash don't get certain DVC perks.

We pay enough in dues I'd think a couple of loads of laundry would be ok, lol!!! I wonder if I were booking using the dvc cash discount if the same would apply ?

 

[kreckl]

We love the campfire stories and the evening talks. Truly memorable and gives you a real sense of the culture. The resort is relaxing, but there are also pool games and night movies in the pool- super fun. Also, there's a laundry area down by the pool. The Kidani pool area is great for kids BUT they will be out of your sight going to the top of the slide- we had a big scare when ds was little and he didn't come down after a reasonable time. Plus- maybe just me- but the bathrooms/changing rooms are up near the to of the slide so we kept an eye on little ones up there..

 

[Mom2Four]

We love the campfire stories and the evening talks. Truly memorable and gives you a real sense of the culture. The resort is relaxing, but there are also pool games and night movies in the pool- super fun. Also, there's a laundry area down by the pool. The Kidani pool area is great for kids BUT they will be out of your sight going to the top of the slide- we had a big scare when ds was little and he didn't come down after a reasonable time. Plus- maybe just me- but the bathrooms/changing rooms are up near the to of the slide so we kept an eye on little ones up there..

Aww sounds super fun!!! We had a scare with our four year old last summer at the top of the Boardwalk slide. Turns out she just wanted to let everyone go ahead of her, lol!

 

[delilah]

I suspect that if you are not staying in a villa on points that your room key won't open the laundry room. On our visit in June, another guest was making me suspicious for two reasons. One was that he had taken the laundry cart to his room. The second was that his key wouldn't open the laundry room door. He asked me if I knew why his key wouldn't open the door. I told him to go to the front desk and ask. I'm not sure what he wanted me to do. He complained that his room was way over on the other side of the building. I guess he didn't want to bring the laundry cart to the front desk with him to ask why his key wouldn't work in the DVC laundry room. In fact, I think my answer was totally reasonable. If he wasn't a member of DVC, he was in the wrong laundry room. If he was a member of DVC, the people at the front desk could fix his magic band. The laundry room isn't far from the elevator and the front desk, so maybe he didn't want the people at the front desk to know he had taken the laundry cart to his room.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We pay enough in dues I'd think a couple of loads of laundry would be ok, lol!!! I wonder if I were booking using the dvc cash discount if the same would apply ?

If you booked a DVC cash discount, you'd be booking a DVC villa, not a hotel room. Then you would have access to the DVC laundry room. It's like pool hopping. When you are not staying on points, you cannot pool hop.

 

[Mom2Four]

If you booked a DVC cash discount, you'd be booking a DVC villa, not a hotel room. Then you would have access to the DVC laundry room. It's like pool hopping. When you are not staying on points, you cannot pool hop.

I see. We rarely book on our AP discount so I was a bit confused I suppose. It's really no big deal as we are only there for five nights. This was a last minute add on to our beach vacation. I guess I am just so spoiled by always having a washer and dryer in our villa!

 

[LisaS]

We pay enough in dues I'd think a couple of loads of laundry would be ok, lol!!! I wonder if I were booking using the dvc cash discount if the same would apply ?

Another reason is capacity. There aren't that many washers and dryers, barely enough for the members who are staying on points or member cash, not really enough capacity for those staying in the hotel to use them as well.