AKL Jambo Grand Villa

[Alice Sr.]

Couple of questions. Do all Jambo GV's still have the pool table? When is Jambo scheduled to open? Is it anticipated that they will open all the bars/restaurants at that time? I know there are no crystal balls but it seems like there are some that have good insight to WDW's plans . Are all the GV fairly equal as to view (location, layout, balcony sizes). I know some resorts have rooms that don't fit the exact layout as the majority, either for the good or bad.

We will be 1 couple 60 something, 2 couples 30 something and an 8, 5, 3, 1 year old. I feel like the lobby is more entertaining and the 30 somethings would appreciate the pool table and sneaking down to is it Victoria Falls? after the kids go to bed if it's open next spring.
Thanks!

 

[drusba]

All six Jambo GVs still have the pool table, and are of comparable design (except one has the usual, expected differences as a handicap accessible room) , with very large covered balconies. As to views, it varies. Two, along the Kudo Trail side of the building, are directly over the main parts of the Sunset Savanna and have the best views. Then there are two right at the end of Kudo Trail and the end of Zebra Trail, and then two along Zebra Trail over Uzima Savanna (one of which is the accessible room), all of which still have decent views but not as good as the first two. Location is a non-guaranteed request.

Be aware that the Jambo GVs are usually difficult to get at 7 months out if you are limited to using that window, while the Kidani savanna view GVs have usually been open at 7 months out other than times during the high demand fall to early-Jan season, and even the two standard view GVs at Kidani have been open a substantial portion of the time between mid-Jan and late Sep. The Kidani GVs are two-story but are excellently designed two-stories, with laundry room and a downstairs bathroom near the front door, a two-story living room with floor to near ceiling windows for excellent views, the two bedrooms on the second floor at opposite ends of the hallway, each with a close-by bathroom, and an alcove at the top of the stairs with a sleeping area with a queen, pull out couch, and a TV. I consider both the single story and two-story GVs at AKV to be among the best (e.g., BWV also has both single and two-story GVs; its two-story GVs are OK but not anything near as good as the single -story).

Jambo has that better bar area, as well-as more restaurants than Kidani and the much larger store and lobby, and larger pool. Kidani advantages include under-building parking that allows you to park a car near your room regardless of its location, a much longer slide for the pool, an excellent kids waterpark area, and the bar/food building near the pool has a number of tables with chairs under a protective roof.

 

[Alice Sr.]

All six Jambo GVs still have the pool table, and are of comparable design (except one has the usual, expected differences as a handicap accessible room) , with very large covered balconies. As to views, it varies. Two, along the Kudo Trail side of the building, are directly over the main parts of the Sunset Savanna and have the best views. Then there are two right at the end of Kudo Trail and the end of Zebra Trail, and then two along Zebra Trail over Uzima Savanna (one of which is the accessible room), all of which still have decent views but not as good as the first two. Location is a non-guaranteed request.

Be aware that the Jambo GVs are usually difficult to get at 7 months out if you are limited to using that window, while the Kidani savanna view GVs have usually been open at 7 months out other than times during the high demand fall to early-Jan season, and even the two standard view GVs at Kidani have been open a substantial portion of the time between mid-Jan and late Sep. The Kidani GVs are two-story but are excellently designed two-stories, with laundry room and a downstairs bathroom near the front door, a two-story living room with floor to near ceiling windows for excellent views, the two bedrooms on the second floor at opposite ends of the hallway, each with a close-by bathroom, and an alcove at the top of the stairs with a sleeping area with a queen, pull out and a TV. I consider both the single story and two-story GVs at AKV to be among the best (e.g., BWV also has both single and two-story GVs but its two-story GVs are OK but not anything near as good as the single -story).

Jambo has that better bar area, as well-as more restaurants than Kidani and the much larger store and lobby, and larger pool. Kidani advantages include under-building parking that allows you to park a car near your room regardless of its location, a much longer slide for the pool, an excellent kids waterpark area, and the bar/food building near the pool has a number of tables with chairs under a protective roof.

Awesome thank you for the detail!

 

[eMoneyBug]

AKL Jambo Grand Villa sounds pretty awesome!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

AKV DVC at Jambo is open, but none of the hotel is open, including any of the restaurants or gift shops. AKL has no reopen date and I would not expect to see it reopen in 2020.

 

[Alice Sr.]

AKV DVC at Jambo is open, but none of the hotel is open, including any of the restaurants or gift shops. AKL has no reopen date and I would not expect to see it reopen in 2020.

Ok thanks, for me that works out I am looking at next year.

 

[BillPA]

 

[Alice Sr.]

Thanks Bill, much appreciated!

 

[TinkB278]

AKV DVC at Jambo is open, but none of the hotel is open, including any of the restaurants or gift shops. AKL has no reopen date and I would not expect to see it reopen in 2020.

Why is it that AKL is not open at this time?

 

[Marionnette]

Why is it that AKL is not open at this time?

For the same reason that Poly, WL, BWI and BC are not open. There’s no demand for hotel rooms.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

For the same reason that Poly, WL, BWI and BC are not open. There’s no demand for hotel rooms.

And they just announced Poly won't be open until next summer.

 

[TinkB278]

Where are AKL hotel guests being moved to right now? I originally was booked to stay at AKL Jambo house starting Saturday but canceled my trip. Now I’m curious where I would’ve ended up...

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Where are AKL hotel guests being moved to right now? I originally was booked to stay at AKL Jambo house starting Saturday but canceled my trip. Now I’m curious where I would’ve ended up...

Open Kidani units, or other resorts entirely. I have heard some were moved to Contemporary.

 

[The Jackal]

Where are AKL hotel guests being moved to right now? I originally was booked to stay at AKL Jambo house starting Saturday but canceled my trip. Now I’m curious where I would’ve ended up...

The DVC portion of AKL is open, the cash resort is closed. If it was a cash stay, they probably would move you over to Kidani.

 

[Somnia]

The DVC portion of AKL is open, the cash resort is closed. If it was a cash stay, they probably would move you over to Kidani.

I have a DVC AKL Jambo room booked for February. If they aren't open will we still be staying there or will they be moving us over to Kidani?

 

[Best Aunt]

I have a DVC AKL Jambo room booked for February. If they aren't open will we still be staying there or will they be moving us over to Kidani?

The DVC rooms at Jambo are open. It is the regular hotel rooms (non-DVC) which are closed.

 

[Somnia]

The DVC rooms at Jambo are open. It is the regular hotel rooms (non-DVC) which are closed.

Gotcha! So we'd just have to leave to go get food. Makes sense.... could be a quiet vacation! lol