Advice Requested - First Stay in AKV - Jambo

[DisneyLeah]

Hi all,
My husband and I are Disney "experts" (as branded by our friends and family ) but we brand new to DVC and deluxe resort life. For the first time in many years, I feel overwhelmed with all the information available!

We just decided to book a last minute trip to celebrate our 1st anniversary this weekend at AKV - Jambo house. (I know booking 2 days before your trip is not the best way to plan your points, but we had a Disney wedding and just couldn't bear the thought of not going back to WDW on our 1st anniversary!)

We booked:
-- 4 nights AKV - Jambo house,
--Deluxe Studio - Standard View
About us:
--We are in our early 30s and are very active people
--We will have our own car and prefer to drive ourselves most of the time
--We are ok with walking a bit to get to our car or elevators, unless you say its really, really far...?

Anyway, now that we have already committed to the reservation, my questions are as follows:
1 - Online checkin gives me 3 choices for requests. Can you tell me why I might chose one or more of these?
*request Kudu trail
*request 5th floor
*near transportation
2 - Does anyone know where the standard view rooms usually are?

3 - Does stardard view include the lobby rooms?

4 - Do you have any recommendations on a particular area or room to request? Or can you direct me to which of the many AKV threads might contain suggestions?

5 - Do DVC guests have access to concierge / club level amenities?

6 - I know there is a coffee maker in the room, but do they provide the coffee? How many packages?

7 - Are there any other tips you might have for a DVC first time stay?

I appreciate any help you can offer since we leave in less than 2 days!!
THANK YOU!
Leah

 

[thepops]

Hi all,
My husband and I are Disney "experts" (as branded by our friends and family ) but we brand new to DVC and deluxe resort life. For the first time in many years, I feel overwhelmed with all the information available!

We just decided to book a last minute trip to celebrate our 1st anniversary this weekend at AKV - Jambo house. (I know booking 2 days before your trip is not the best way to plan your points, but we had a Disney wedding and just couldn't bear the thought of not going back to WDW on our 1st anniversary!)

We booked:
-- 4 nights AKV - Jambo house,
--Deluxe Studio - Standard View
About us:
--We are in our early 30s and are very active people
--We will have our own car and prefer to drive ourselves most of the time
--We are ok with walking a bit to get to our car or elevators, unless you say its really, really far...?

Anyway, now that we have already committed to the reservation, my questions are as follows:
1 - Online checkin gives me 3 choices for requests. Can you tell me why I might chose one or more of these?
*request Kudu trail
*request 5th floor
*near transportation
2 - Does anyone know where the standard view rooms usually are?

3 - Does stardard view include the lobby rooms?

4 - Do you have any recommendations on a particular area or room to request? Or can you direct me to which of the many AKV threads might contain suggestions?

5 - Do DVC guests have access to concierge / club level amenities?

6 - I know there is a coffee maker in the room, but do they provide the coffee? How many packages?

7 - Are there any other tips you might have for a DVC first time stay?

I appreciate any help you can offer since we leave in less than 2 days!!
THANK YOU!
Leah

Well first, Congratulations! and Welcome Home!
1) Near transportation would put you near the lobby, so your walk would be shorter. As for the other options, I'm not sure.
2)They are scattered, but you'll have a pool or other non-savanah view.
3)They might, I'm not sure.
5) No Concierge is it's own level with it's own point cost (but in my opinion worth it if you can get it)
6)Yes they provide coffee, usually 2 or 3 packages.
7)Take time to explore the resort! There are lots of wonderful things to see right there. .... Don't try to cram everything into one trip. This is a new home of yours and you'll be back. Slow down and enjoy it. .... There are some mighty good restaurants right at your disposal at the resort. Be sure to try one or more of them.

Have a great Trip and a very Happy Anniversary!

 

[DisneyLeah]

Well first, Congratulations! and Welcome Home!
1) Near transportation would put you near the lobby, so your walk would be shorter. As for the other options, I'm not sure.
2)They are scattered, but you'll have a pool or other non-savanah view.
3)They might, I'm not sure.
5) No Concierge is it's own level with it's own point cost (but in my opinion worth it if you can get it)
6)Yes they provide coffee, usually 2 or 3 packages.
7)Take time to explore the resort! There are lots of wonderful things to see right there. .... Don't try to cram everything into one trip. This is a new home of yours and you'll be back. Slow down and enjoy it. .... There are some mighty good restaurants right at your disposal at the resort. Be sure to try one or more of them.

Have a great Trip and a very Happy Anniversary!

Hi - Thank you very much for the kind wishes and the answers to some of my questions! I really appreciate it!!

Does anyone else have any other answers or suggestions? We can check-in in T - 48 hours!

TIA!

 

[TPBChick]

If you drink a lot of coffee, you might want to take some of your own. They do not replenish the coffee each day. I believe the coffee makers use the basket filters.
One thing I didn't realize at first is that the washers & dryers in the laundry rooms at DVC resorts are free. (make sure you use the laundry the in DVC section)
I hope you enjoy your trip. I stayed at Jambo in November and loved it.

 

[DisneyLeah]

If you drink a lot of coffee, you might want to take some of your own. They do not replenish the coffee each day. I believe the coffee makers use the basket filters.
One thing I didn't realize at first is that the washers & dryers in the laundry rooms at DVC resorts are free. (make sure you use the laundry the in DVC section)
I hope you enjoy your trip. I stayed at Jambo in November and loved it.

Thank you so much for your advice and good wishes! Much appreciated!

----
Anyone else know anything about the locations on the standard view rooms? Is there a good thread for AKV? I found several, but they were so long I was quickly lost.

TIA!

 

[ScottOKW2K]

This map gives a good idea of room number and location for the DVC villas at Jambo House. Purple = dedicated studios; orange = lock off studios ; green = one bedroom; and bright violet = grand villa.

Stolen from a post by LisaS:

In this drawing of Jambo House the Standard View rooms are in the area marked in yellow. As disneynutz said, all of those rooms face the pool area.

The Value rooms are in the area marked in lime green and have a view of the pool, the Sunset Savanna or the parking lot. The handful of Concierge rooms are marked in bright pink, the six Grand Villas are marked in orange and everything else not marked with "spray paint" are Savanna View rooms.

 

[DisneyLeah]

This map gives a good idea of room number and location for the DVC villas at Jambo House. Purple = dedicated studios; orange = lock off studios ; green = one bedroom; and bright violet = grand villa.

wow!!! thank you so much! that is very helpful! thank you!!!

 

[Cee]

If you love your morning coffee, you will NOT love the coffee that is provided. Bring your own and the basket filters for the coffeemaker. Jambo is AWESOME and you will have a terrific time. Congratulations on your 1st anniversary and WELCOME HOME.

OH. And if you have a hard time finding the blow dryer, it's in a drawstring bag hanging in the armoire!

 

[DisneyLeah]

If you love your morning coffee, you will NOT love the coffee that is provided. Bring your own and the basket filters for the coffeemaker. Jambo is AWESOME and you will have a terrific time. Congratulations on your 1st anniversary and WELCOME HOME.

OH. And if you have a hard time finding the blow dryer, it's in a drawstring bag hanging in the armoire!

Thank you! thank you! That is great advice! I'm so excited to go! thanks again!

 

[cvjw]

I think I remember reading some posts lately about some of the savannah view villas at Jambo that have been reclassified to standard view because of guest complaints. I guess the savannah views were partially blocked, and are now standard views. I don't think they are shown on the great colored map of Jambo House in this thread.

 

[DisneyLeah]

I think I remember reading some posts lately about some of the savannah view villas at Jambo that have been reclassified to standard view because of guest complaints. I guess the savannah views were partially blocked, and are now standard views. I don't think they are shown on the great colored map of Jambo House in this thread.

thank you very much for your reply. I guess I will leave the requests out and see what happens at check in.

Has anyone had any success requesting a change at check in if we dont like the assignment? We were able to request a change at BLT once when we rented points, but its our first stay on our own DVC and at AKV.

 

[dgaston]

Don't know if you'll see this before or during your trip, but...

Standard view at Jambo is pool, or reclassified obstructed savanna view.

Love the fire pit stories, and night vision goggles. We enjoyed ceramics. There is a steam room in the workout area.

Go over to Kidani for the pool. I really like that one better.

If you don't eat at Boma, try some soups from Mara -- they are great! Zebra Domes can be found at Mara too.

Maybe you could get into the Wednesday wine tasting at Jiko. I've never snagged that one yet.

HTH