AKL JAMBO HOUSE - Proximity to the Lobby

[karpy111]

I booked a room in September through a DVC member for a deluxe studio savanna view room. The DVC member said he would put in a request for me to be near the lobby. I was wondering what savanna I might have and am I losing out on a better savanna view by being closer to the lobby. I remember reading on the boards that the views were better farther from the lobby.
THanks

 

[prune1977]

I don't know about Jambo House villas, but I know Kidani we were fairly close to lobby and still had really good views of the savannah.

 

[Splashboat]

You could get Sunset, Arusha or Uzima views. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the views at Jambo. Uzima didn't have giraffe in the past but we were there a few months ago and saw them. The CM said they were recently put on Uzima. This is from Allears, which must have been updated recently because it includes updated giraffe info.;
The Animal Kingdom Lodge has three separate savannas (approximately 10 acres each) that are open 24 hours a day. From left to right the savannas are named: Sunset, Arusha, and Uzima.

Each savanna has its own unique look and feel. Not all savannas have all the animals. For instance, ostriches can only be found on the Sunset savanna, zebras are only located on theArusha savanna, kudu are only found on the Uzima savanna. Giraffes are the only animal found on all three savannas.

Each room has an animal viewing guide. You can also pick one up at the front desk.

At night, the savannas are illuminated by artificial moonlight as if a full moon were ever present.

"Safari Guides" are at the outside viewing areas and can answer your questions about the animals and birds.

Altogether, more than 200 mammals and birds of nearly three dozen species populate the 33-acre area. The savannas surround the lodge on three sides. You can view the birds and animals from resort balconies or from several viewing points -- including a landscaped rock outcropping called the Arusha Rock kopje -- 24 hours a day.

 

[karpy111]

So your suggestion would be to stay close to the lobby because all the views are great?

 

[Splashboat]

The animals are always on the move. We always spend a significant amount of time in the room throughout the day and never saw the same animals at same time each day from any room.

Also, there is no guarantee you will get close to the lobby even with the request. You will definitely be on the 5th floor staying on DVC points. We don't even bother making requests at AKV since we have never had a room we didn't like yet.

 

[Best Aunt]

Here's a map of the 5th floor of Jambo House:

http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-akv/floor5.php

We were on the Kudu Trail. On the lobby level, the elevator was near room 3241 (which would be under room 5241 on the map I've linked you to). So you had to walk almost half-way down the Kudu trail just to get to the elevator to take you up to the 5th floor. Our villa was on the Arusha side, but as you walked down the hall you could look out on the Sunset side as well.

 

[sndral]

I booked a room in September through a DVC member for a deluxe studio savanna view room. The DVC member said he would put in a request for me to be near the lobby. I was wondering what savanna I might have and am I losing out on a better savanna view by being closer to the lobby. I remember reading on the boards that the views were better farther from the lobby.
THanks

Are you staying in Jambo or Kidani? Which of the 2 resorts you are at makes a difference in terms of what to request

 

[drusba]

Call the member back and remove your request for close to lobby. There are a lot of good savanna view roioms but the rooms close to the Jambo lobby are not the best. A better request to make: view of Arusha savanna (that is one in the middle of the building) and room along Zebra Trail (the right side of the U-shaped building), Besides good views along that trail, it puts you fairly close to the pool and most of the rooms over Arusha face west so that you get to see nice sunsets rather than blinding sun into the room in the morning.

 

[karpy111]

Call the member back and remove your request for close to lobby. There are a lot of good savanna view roioms but the rooms close to the Jambo lobby are not the best. A better request to make: view of Arusha savanna (that is one in the middle of the building) and room along Zebra Trail (the right side of the U-shaped building), Besides good views along that trail, it puts you fairly close to the pool and most of the rooms over Arusha face west so that you get to see nice sunsets rather than blinding sun into the room in the morning.

Great info. Looking at the map that seems to be a great spot like you said because of the pool.
One more question. If you book a deluxe studio with savanna view at AK Villas are you guaranteed to get an Arusha view or is that part of the request. I see there are 2 other savannas but they seem alot smaller. Are those considered savanna views also?
It's confusing to me because if you book a room through the disney website I believe you can chose either a savanna view or and arusha view which is more expensive.

 

[drusba]

Other than savanna view which is guaranteed booking category, location requests through DVC are requests that they will attempt to meet but are not guaranteed.

 

[sndral]

Great info. Looking at the map that seems to be a great spot like you said because of the pool.
One more question. If you book a deluxe studio with savanna view at AK Villas are you guaranteed to get an Arusha view or is that part of the request. I see there are 2 other savannas but they seem alot smaller. Are those considered savanna views also?
It's confusing to me because if you book a room through the disney website I believe you can chose either a savanna view or and arusha view which is more expensive.

Assuming you are staying in Jambo w/ DVC points you could end up on any of the 3 savannas. Arusha savanna view is a request (it's a bookable category w/ the cash rooms.)
Zebra trail is a great location because the elevators on that trail (aka hallway) go down to the pool and to Mara the CS restaurant. I've had both Uzima and Arusha view on Zebra trail and liked both.
According to what the husbandry folks have told me Arusha and Uzima savannas are the same size - 11 acres whereas Sunset savanna (the savanna between Jambo and the all DVC building Kidani) used to also be 11 acres, but when they built Kidani they enlarged Sunset savanna and it is now actually the largest at something like 18 acres.
When you look at the map the deluxe savanna view DVC villas in Jambo will be on the 5th floor on either Kudu or Zebra trail.
The villas on Ostrich and Giraffe trails in the front of the building are value villas so you won't be in one of those.

 

[karpy111]

Assuming you are staying in Jambo w/ DVC points you could end up on any of the 3 savannas. Arusha savanna view is a request (it's a bookable category w/ the cash rooms.)
Zebra trail is a great location because the elevators on that trail (aka hallway) go down to the pool and to Mara the CS restaurant. I've had both Uzima and Arusha view on Zebra trail and liked both.
According to what the husbandry folks have told me Arusha and Uzima savannas are the same size - 11 acres whereas Sunset savanna (the savanna between Jambo and the all DVC building Kidani) used to also be 11 acres, but when they built Kidani they enlarged Sunset savanna and it is now actually the largest at something like 18 acres.
When you look at the map the deluxe savanna view DVC villas in Jambo will be on the 5th floor on either Kudu or Zebra trail.
The villas on Ostrich and Giraffe trails in the front of the building are value villas so you won't be in one of those.

I think from reading all the replies zebra trail on the Arusha side is where I'd like to be. Is it better to have the member call in advance or just ask when we check. We will be arriving on the day of check in very early because we will be coming from another Disney resort since we did a split stay.

 

[Best Aunt]

I think from reading all the replies zebra trail on the Arusha side is where I'd like to be. Is it better to have the member call in advance or just ask when we check. We will be arriving on the day of check in very early because we will be coming from another Disney resort since we did a split stay.

Have the member call in advance. When you get there, if all of the villas in your category are sold out, you will not be able to switch to a different villa. I have found that even if I arrive earlier in the day than other people, Disney won't change my room that day if they are sold out.

 

[robndani]

Is your recommendation the same for a 1 BR savanna view at Jambo? Zebra Trail room?