AK Animal Inventory

[bwbuddy5]

I've decided to take my extended family to AKV because my grandkids love animals. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they see the animals from the room, but don't want to break their hearts either after I build it up but then don't see many animals. Please take the poll and leave your thoughts to help me decide.

 

[disneynutz]

Depends on your room location and the location of the feeding stations.

Bill

 

[Tiggerette]

I'm qualifying my answer to the poll. I saw lots of animals at Kidani because I was close to the lobby, and more centered to the savannah. Additionally, we had a Giraffe feeding station right in front of our room, and we were not too high up. We were in close line of sight to a big dirt mound, and watched wildebeasts (gnu?) play "king of the top of the dirt mound" for awhile. So I feel that we saw lots of animals, because of our location on the savannah.

As a helpful note, we also noticed that the animals "migrate" to the different food stations throughout the day. They are fed at different stations within the savannah, which of course encourages roaming. We also went in Feb, and we found they were actively moving most times of the day. We went over to Jambo house for the night vision and watched the animals move at night as well. There used to be some cranes that hung out in front of Sanaa; I don't know if they're still there.

Lastly, not to be overlooked- Chatting with Cast Members from Africa was just delightful. Next time we will leave more time to listen and learn from them. I found simply listening to what they wanted to share about their home was immensely rewarding and profound. Have a wonderful trip and happy planning!

 

[Anal Annie]

I agree with Bill - it depends on which savanna you end up on. We prefer Jambo House to Kidani so would book there over Kidani (unless Jambo is not available). We usually just book standard views as we've not had good luck with seeing animals from our rooms and it's a lot more points to book savanna views. BUT we also don't spend a lot of time in the room. We're there mostly to sleep and are in the parks most of the day except for maybe a short nap or pool break in the afternoons. I think that also affects how many animals are out. If we're up & out at rope drop and only breeze thru the room for a couple of hours in the afternoon then we head back out until park closing we're not as likely to see many animals. I voted Option #2.

 

[DenLo]

Keep in mind that the animals go into the barns each morning between 6:00 and 11:00 am for a physical so the animals move themselves into position near the barns way earlier than they need too. So it appears that for hours each morning there are not any animals on the savannas. Then in the afternoons the animals seek out shade especially when it is hot and if you have a room that looks down on the tree tops you won't see the animals.

It has been our experience to see lots of animals at both resorts, but then we are often at the parks for rope drop and the animals are out of the barns when we return to the resort for lunch or in the evenings. Our last trip to Kidani last November we saw a baby Zebra that would coax several adults into chasing him/her around the entire savanna a couple of times each day. I never could get photos though.

 

[disneynutz]

Keep in mind that the animals go into the barns each morning between 6:00 and 11:00 am for a physical so the animals move themselves into position near the barns way earlier than they need too. So it appears that for hours each morning there are not any animals on the savannas. Then in the afternoons the animals seek out shade especially when it is hot and if you have a room that looks down on the tree tops you won't see the animals.

It has been our experience to see lots of animals at both resorts, but then we are often at the parks for rope drop and the animals are out of the barns when we return to the resort for lunch or in the evenings. Our last trip to Kidani last November we saw a baby Zebra that would coax several adults into chasing him/her around the entire savanna a couple of times each day. I never could get photos though.

What's rope drop, never been to one cuz I'm sleeping in.

Bill

 

[Simba's Mom]

I've stayed at Jambo and saw lots of animals, often multiple giraffes at the same time. However, when I've stayed at Kidani, on the shared savannah (Sunset Savannah) I not only saw few animals, I never saw a giraffe. Yet I know they're on that savannah, as I've seen many from Jambo. I know-just one person's experience. But you won't see any in the AM-that's when they go to their barns-late afternoons are best.

 

[Anthony1971]

Animals will not be on every Savannah all the time. It is simple when you check in find what Savannah you are on take a walk to the main Savannah viewing area and ask one of the guides... There are different animals on Different Savannahs but in recent years I have seen a good number of Giraffe on all or should say visiting which was not the case years ago.
Here is what it comes down to...your Savannah may be most active at an odd time like 4.. so if you have no intentions of spending any time in the room you may be disappointed.. the main viewing area is always very active right around 5 on and always the best place to view the animals as this is the time people visit and have diner or is it something else... I prefer Jambo but have seen Giraffe running at Kidani which you will never see at Jambo as the Savannah is closed in by the main viewing area... Both sides are nice key is if you ask you will see.....

 

[disneynutz]

And some savanna's have giraffe and others have hogs.

Bill

 

[hakepb]

I can say I've seen lots of animals from both resorts, because I love spending lots of time on the balcony. It's rare that I see more than 1 or 2 species at any given time.

We really, really lucked out on our 1st ever morning at Jambo. (Sunset savannah) We arrived late at night with nothing to see. 1st thing in the AM, I hear DS rustling the curtains, then excitedly say, "look!!! A giraffe, and an osterich and a zebra!"

And then we basically caught an empty savanna every morning after that.
We did have great viewing after our late afternoon nap, because Sunset savannah is most active near ...sunset

As long as you can spend some balcony time during feeding time for your savanna, it's a lot of fun. But it's not always 24x7 giraffes.

 

[Mommymalinoski]

I've decided to take my extended family to AKV because my grandkids love animals. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they see the animals from the room, but don't want to break their hearts either after I build it up but then don't see many animals. Please take the poll and leave your thoughts to help me decide.

We stayed in Kindani from June 11-18 this summer .OH BOY DID WE SEE ANIMALS. I used touring plans to scope out our room- 7738. It's directly in front of a feeding station and on the second floor- below tree line. My son went crazy every morning seeing the zebra run, the ostrich play and the giraffes feed. It is true that they don't come out right away in the am. So some mornings when we did rope drop we would miss them, but sure enough when we got home for nap and pool in the mid afternoon, they were all back. Each night hubby and I would have a cocktail and watch them play again.

 

[Mommymalinoski]

I'm not sure if you know but you can fax a request in for the room you want up to 30 in advance. It doesn't always work. But it has gotten me a few choice rooms. There is no hurt in asking. The worst that can happen is they say it's not available.

 

[Firepath]

I chose not many at Jambo, but only because we had a parking lot view value room. I think we saw a few local birds.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

It helps if you know the schedules and mid to late morning the animals are brought in to be checked out, given any medications etc. This also means that earlier they often start heading over to the barns so are not seen on much of the savannah. Afternoon and early evening we've always seen animals at both resorts. They are free to wander so you may need to sit and enjoy the ambiance for a bit if they are not there right when you go to view them.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Our last trip to Kidani had quite a few animals on the savanna. It was the same group over and over though. I agree that feeding time is the best to see the largest group. We heard noise outside around midnight one night and it was 2 animals ramming horns/antlers into each other.


We are returning to Kidani next month and hope to get the same again.

 

[xlsm]

Enjoying this thread...I'm taking my MIL in May, and am leaning toward AKL. I was set on a savanna view, but I've come to learn that many standard view rooms have partial savanna views, and since there'd be fewer animals out in the morning, I think we'll be ok booking standard instead. I would probably request a zebra trail room.

It makes me laugh that the animals line up early to go to the barn for their treatments...it's their own version of rope drop, LOL!

 

[bwbuddy5]

Are all animals free to roam all savannas?

 

[DenLo]

Are all animals free to roam all savannas?

No, they are not allowed to roam throughout all four savannas. They are allowed to roam their own savanna. The one of the many reasons for that is that some of the species do not play well with others and the safety of the animals is Disney's priority.

 

[bwbuddy5]

No, they are not allowed to roam throughout all four savannas. They are allowed to roam their own savanna. The one of the many reasons for that is that some of the species do not play well with others and the safety of the animals is Disney's priority.

Thanks. I didn't ask my question very well. I understand that they would never combine animals that don't get along, but do they ever switch animals between savannas? If not, are there certain species that are predominantly at either Kidani or Jambo?

 

[jo-jo]

I would said sort of. We have looked out and see nothing, nothing , nothing. And then several animals will come by. It's mostly being at the right widow at the right time. But we have had rooms at least halfway down the curve. As another poster has said, it seems the closer you are to the lobby, the greater number of animals.