AKL Club Level Jumbo House

[stink]

To those who have stayed at Club level, at AKL, what makes it "more" special than staying in a non club level Villas?

I have read that at club level you are not guaranteed a Savanna View & the Savanna views are not that great from the Club level rooms. I have also read about a special safari that is only available to club level rooms.

 

[erionm]

Staying Concierge Level at AKL Jambo House will get you:
daily housekeeping
access to the concierge lounge with snacks and refreshments available during the day
access to the itinerary planning office that will make your reservations for you
Sunrise Safari at the Animal Kingdom Park

There are 5 2-bedroom lock-offs that make up the Concierge Level at AKV Jambo House. Three face the Sunset Savanna, the remaining 2 face the Uzima Pool.

 

[stink]

Thanks, Michael for your response.

Not sure what to plan for my September Vacation.

I have a AKL Club Studio for Sept 14-22. I know these are really hard to get, but I got lucky one morning. However I was under the impression at the time of booking that they were all Savanna views. Now I know that is not accurate.

One of the reasons we go to AKV is for the Savanna View.

Now am considering split stay portion in Jumbo ALK Club and a portion in Savanna View guaranteed, probably in a Kidani studio.

I thought of just cancelling the club stay, but I always wanted to experience the club level and take the Safari. But I am really not a fan of a split stays & want a Savannah view.

 

[disneynutz]

Thanks, Michael for your response.

Not sure what to plan for my September Vacation.

I have a AKL Club Studio for Sept 14-22. I know these are really hard to get, but I got lucky one morning. However I was under the impression at the time of booking that they were all Savanna views. Now I know that is not accurate.

One of the reasons we go to AKV is for the Savanna View.

Now am considering split stay portion in Jumbo ALK Club and a portion in Savanna View guaranteed, probably in a Kidani studio.

I thought of just cancelling the club stay, but I always wanted to experience the club level and take the Safari. But I am really not a fan of a split stays & want a Savannah view.

The safari wasn't offered daily so make sure that it's on the days that you might be there.

The itinerary planning CM's have told me a couple of times that they do not have better access to reservations. I have had less of a wait by making my own reservations, the line at their desk can be long.

I would do a split stay just to give it a try.

Bill

 

[Disney Dreams]

Thanks, Michael for your response.

Not sure what to plan for my September Vacation.

I have a AKL Club Studio for Sept 14-22. I know these are really hard to get, but I got lucky one morning. However I was under the impression at the time of booking that they were all Savanna views. Now I know that is not accurate.

One of the reasons we go to AKV is for the Savanna View.

Now am considering split stay portion in Jumbo ALK Club and a portion in Savanna View guaranteed, probably in a Kidani studio.

I thought of just cancelling the club stay, but I always wanted to experience the club level and take the Safari. But I am really not a fan of a split stays & want a Savannah view.

I'm honestly not sure if this is going to help you or complicate your decision even more, and for that I apologize. hehe

We stayed CL AKL twice before, paying cash. It's wonderful, fantastic, special, terrific, and incredible. We loved it!

Since we have become DVC, we have never once even tried to book AKL CL for the exact reason you are in a quandary. The entire joy of AKL for us is to open those drapes and --- LOOK! A GIRAFFE!!! ---

I can't even wrap my head around WHY they would have CL rooms without a savannah view. To me, CL should have to best of the best and that would seem to be a room with a view of animals (to me, anyhoo).

So, as much as we LOVED CL, we have never booked it since joining DVC. I just can't imagine staying at AKL and not have animals outside of my room.

Hope this helps (somehow),
Dreams

 

[Kidanifan08]

Thanks, Michael for your response.

Not sure what to plan for my September Vacation.

I have a AKL Club Studio for Sept 14-22. I know these are really hard to get, but I got lucky one morning. However I was under the impression at the time of booking that they were all Savanna views. Now I know that is not accurate.

One of the reasons we go to AKV is for the Savanna View.

Now am considering split stay portion in Jumbo ALK Club and a portion in Savanna View guaranteed, probably in a Kidani studio.

I thought of just cancelling the club stay, but I always wanted to experience the club level and take the Safari. But I am really not a fan of a split stays & want a Savannah view.

Congrats on getting CL! That's not an easy thing to do. We have done a 2BR there once for 4 days. The Sunrise Safari is probably the main reason to do it -- it's a great experience and the breakfast buffet at Pizzafari is wonderful! I believe the Safari is offered on Sunday and Thursday, and I think it does sell out, so you should book it early. We did a split stay and checked out on the day after the Safari. We had a savanna view, but it was terrible. I think the only animal we saw was something in the cow family. Our savanna view stays at Kidani have been much better from a view standpoint.

The snacks, free wine, and beer are nice. We have a studio for 3 nights before our cruise in April, and we plan to hit the parks early and spend the afternoon and evening at the resort, so hopefully we will be able to take advantage of the CL food/beverage offerings.

If I were you, I would do a split stay. Given your dates, I would probably start at another resort and move over to Jambo on Thurs or Friday of your week to do the Safari on your last Sunday.

Enjoy!

 

[disneynutz]

I'm honestly not sure if this is going to help you or complicate your decision even more, and for that I apologize. hehe

We stayed CL AKL twice before, paying cash. It's wonderful, fantastic, special, terrific, and incredible. We loved it!

Since we have become DVC, we have never once even tried to book AKL CL for the exact reason you are in a quandary. The entire joy of AKL for us is to open those drapes and --- LOOK! A GIRAFFE!!! ---

I can't even wrap my head around WHY they would have CL rooms without a savannah view. To me, CL should have to best of the best and that would seem to be a room with a view of animals (to me, anyhoo).

So, as much as we LOVED CL, we have never booked it since joining DVC. I just can't imagine staying at AKL and not have animals outside of my room.

Hope this helps (somehow),
Dreams

My thought is that the AKL didn't want the rooms due to the poor views and since the 5th floor was converted to DVC rooms, giving DVC the 6th floor rooms made sense. Putting a cash paying guest in the 6th floor CL rooms would probably get them regular complaints.

Bill

 

[stink]

I'm honestly not sure if this is going to help you or complicate your decision even more, and for that I apologize. hehe

We stayed CL AKL twice before, paying cash. It's wonderful, fantastic, special, terrific, and incredible. We loved it!

Since we have become DVC, we have never once even tried to book AKL CL for the exact reason you are in a quandary. The entire joy of AKL for us is to open those drapes and --- LOOK! A GIRAFFE!!! ---

Completely agree, that is the exact reason I own at AKL, for that Savannah View !

I can't even wrap my head around WHY they would have CL rooms without a savannah view. To me, CL should have to best of the best and that would seem to be a room with a view of animals (to me, anyhoo).

^This 1000 times !

So, as much as we LOVED CL, we have never booked it since joining DVC. I just can't imagine staying at AKL and not have animals outside of my room.

Hope this helps (somehow),

Dreams

Thanks for your response !

 

[stink]

Congrats on getting CL! That's not an easy thing to do. We have done a 2BR there once for 4 days. The Sunrise Safari is probably the main reason to do it -- it's a great experience and the breakfast buffet at Pizzafari is wonderful! I believe the Safari is offered on Sunday and Thursday, and I think it does sell out, so you should book it early. We did a split stay and checked out on the day after the Safari. We had a savanna view, but it was terrible. I think the only animal we saw was something in the cow family. Our savanna view stays at Kidani have been much better from a view standpoint.

Took me a week of being online each morning to get this reservation. We will do the Sunrise Sarfari. Just need to pick our day.

The snacks, free wine, and beer are nice. We have a studio for 3 nights before our cruise in April, and we plan to hit the parks early and spend the afternoon and evening at the resort, so hopefully we will be able to take advantage of the CL food/beverage offerings.

Free Wine ! Now Disney is talking my language. Although I do subscribe to the economic theory that "there is no such thing as a free lunch, especially at Disney" But I can drink an awful lot of wine !

If I were you, I would do a split stay. Given your dates, I would probably start at another resort and move over to Jambo on Thurs or Friday of your week to do the Safari on your last Sunday.

Probably will end up doing split stay, with the split being a Savanna Kidani Studio. Love the Kidani Pool and have always had great experiences with the Savanna views !
Enjoy!

Thanks for responding !

 

[stink]

My thought is that the AKL didn't want the rooms due to the poor views and since the 5th floor was converted to DVC rooms, giving DVC the 6th floor rooms made sense. Putting a cash paying guest in the 6th floor CL rooms would probably get them regular complaints.

Bill

Bill,

I think you are absolutely correct in why AKL didn't want these rooms.

That being said not sure why DVC accepted them, kinda like DVC got dumped on when it came to the development of these villas. IMHO, probably was some trade off for something else within the lodge.

I also do not understand the limited quantity of Club Level Rooms, also seems like it would be worth DVC to create more club level villas out of existing villas if the demand is so high

Thanks for replying and a split stay between Club Level & Kidani is what we will probably do.

 

[disneynutz]

Bill,

I think you are absolutely correct in why AKL didn't want these rooms.

That being said not sure why DVC accepted them, kinda like DVC got dumped on when it came to the development of these villas. IMHO, probably was some trade off for something else within the lodge.

I also do not understand the limited quantity of Club Level Rooms, also seems like it would be worth DVC to create more club level villas out of existing villas if the demand is so high

Thanks for replying and a split stay between Club Level & Kidani is what we will probably do.

DVC CL is paid for by AKV owners through our dues, the points don't really pay for anything. Increasing the number of CL rooms doesn't benefit Disney so I doubt that it will never happen.

I think that your split stay is a great idea.

Bill

 

[Deb & Bill]

My thought is that the AKL didn't want the rooms due to the poor views and since the 5th floor was converted to DVC rooms, giving DVC the 6th floor rooms made sense. Putting a cash paying guest in the 6th floor CL rooms would probably get them regular complaints.

Bill

I thought those were the smoking rooms at Jambo House when it opened. The only ones. Back when smoking was allowed in the hotel rooms.

 

[the who #3]

you have the best of the best. keep it. you don't know how hard it is to get those rooms.

club level gives you room service every day, breakfast so you do not have to go to the restaurant before beginning your day, and the breakfast is so good! someone to help with reservations. the safari is fantastic. wine in the evening to make you sleep well. you can walk to the food area to get great coffee before anyone is up, and it is only a few steps from your room.

if you look at the design of the building you will understand why all rooms can not be savannah view. but that is not a good reason to change rooms. most savannah rooms only give you a view of a couple of animals and not all times of the day. you can go to the viewing areas at the pool or back of jambo house and see more. if you were going to spend all day in your room that might be different. the time i have to sit and watch the animals from my room is usually in the middle of the night when i can not sleep or early in the morning when everyone else is sleeping. and then most of them are also sleeping.

the food and level of service are the most important things on club level. also access to the safari. i would not miss the safari!