AKL-Jambo opening?

[Simba's Mom]

Does anyone have any guesses, or inside info, on when Jambo might reopen? Right now, I hear that it's pretty much a ghost town, and as such, it really doesn't appeal to me. But I'm making reservations for January, and I just don't know what to do. If I make reservations there, and it doesn't reopen, I'll regret it, and everywhere else will be full. But what if I make reservations elsewhere, and at the last minute it reopens? Any thoughts?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They have been announcing Club Level reopens and such, but Jambo and the Port Orleans resorts are still without dates.

It does not look good for 2021, to be honest. Some of their reopen dates are near Christmas that are announced, and nothing for Jambo.

 

[Heather07438]

Just don’t know. At the end of 2020 WDW announced June openings for Beach Club and Ft Wilderness but… only gave a little more than a months notice for Boardwalk opening.
So while there is no official date for AKL, it is possible to happen on somewhat short notice.

 

[RanDIZ]

Honestly, aside from the restaurants being closed, our stay at Kidani in Dec was the best ever. We stopped over to Jambo a couple of times and it was like we had the resort to ourselves. Pools were not overcrowded. I’d make them if I were you. I like being a bit secluded from everything else.

 

[sndral]

I’m a bit ambivalent, we own there & are staying in Jambo in Dec.. While I love Jambo’s gift shop and eating at Boma, staying during the closure would be a unique/once in a lifetime experience, so I guess I’m ok w/ open/not open.

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

I’m a bit ambivalent, we own there & are staying in Jambo in Dec.. While I love Jambo’s gift shop and eating at Boma, staying during the closure would be a unique/once in a lifetime experience, so I guess I’m ok w/ open/not open.

I feel the same way. We are staying there for 7 nights in November, and it doesn't bother me at all if Jambo is still closed. Others may differ, and it seems that Simba's Mom is one of them; therefore, I would book somewhere else if the hustle and bustle is appealing. I wouldn't want to chance it. Maybe try a new resort?

 

[RanDIZ]

Jambo in Dec 2020. 12:30pm

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

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Jambo in Dec 2020. 12:30pm

This would be a dream come true for me! It looks like you have the whole place to yourself.

 

[holyrita]

We are staying there this December and I too have been worried. With all the hotel and club level reopening announcements not including Jambo I've been nervous they wouldn't put the Christmas tree and decorations up. I know that there's no guarantee, but it gives me hope for this year seeing they put up the tree last year!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Now I'm rethinking staying at Jambo. It might be an opportunity to experience a part of history, when Covid shut down Jambo house and it hadn't reopened. Sort of like why DH and I took pictures of us getting our vaccines-part of a historical event. Plus, I read a lot, and the thought of sitting in the lobby , being able to read without distractions does appeal to me.

 

[CarolynFH]

Does anyone have any guesses, or inside info, on when Jambo might reopen? Right now, I hear that it's pretty much a ghost town, and as such, it really doesn't appeal to me. But I'm making reservations for January, and I just don't know what to do. If I make reservations there, and it doesn't reopen, I'll regret it, and everywhere else will be full. But what if I make reservations elsewhere, and at the last minute it reopens? Any thoughts?

If you make reservations elsewhere and then an opening date for Jambo is announced, and it fits your dates, you probably wouldn’t have trouble changing your reservation.

 

[TheBigErn]

I have a reservation for November 5 and haven't heard a thing from Disney. So I assume it's a go.

 

[RoseGold]

It does not look good for 2021, to be honest. Some of their reopen dates are near Christmas that are announced, and nothing for Jambo.

I agree. I think they would have announced Christmas. If it isn’t open for Christmas, I can’t see mid January making sense.

Then again, they just might be waiting to crank up theme park capacity, and who knows when that will happen.

 

[Debbie Jean]

We just checked out of Jambo and it was awesome. You would pass a few people in the hall so it wasn't quite like the Shining or a ghost town. It was so peaceful. The Mara had usually only one or two other families. The pool had 10 to 15 people. The walk to Kidani is super easy for a better slide but it was much more crowded. Our stay in Jambo was one of our best DVC stays ever.

Totally agree with this! I’ve stayed at Jambo twice since Covid and will be returning next month. Definitely a very different experience but I think among my most memorable.

At some point the shops, the restaurants, everything will reopen and the hustle and bustle that is Jambo will return. I’ll always remember this time though… the magical tranquility and peacefulness. Not for everyone, I realize, but I’m so looking forward to being back!

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

I am worried too, I really thought they would announce the opening with this latest round of opening for the 50th or Xmas..... I have Club level in late Feb, this will be my welcome home stay so I really, really want it to all be open.

 

[kboo]

I’m a bit ambivalent, we own there & are staying in Jambo in Dec.. While I love Jambo’s gift shop and eating at Boma, staying during the closure would be a unique/once in a lifetime experience, so I guess I’m ok w/ open/not open.

This would be a dream come true for me! It looks like you have the whole place to yourself.

We were there for 3 nights over spring break (March). We had the same thought as @sndral, that it would be quite deserted, and would be a unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience - which it was. It was also sad, and we had some issues related to the low numbers there - lost/delayed luggage, infrequent buses/shuttles, delays ... And I wanted to cry when walking past Boma and Jiko to the pool. The pools were lovely, though, both at Jambo and Kidani, and I had a great conversation with one of the animal handlers on the savannah behind the Jambo lobby.

 

[EatMoreVeg]

I'm really holding my breathe for the resort to open before December, including club level. I actually managed to piece together a few nights in a CL studio that I'm not sure will ever happen again!

 

[brewhome]

We stayed in two Jambo DVC suites on rented points in November 2020 and it was magical, even with the restaurants closed. You just have to know what you’ll get before you go and plan around it. We still loved our balcony/animal viewing time every morning and the overall vibe of the resort, and we had great service and transportation. We intended on going back again this year but couldn’t get two suites at Jambo so we will be trying Kidani this time, but we will definitely head to Jambo to see the beautiful decorations and go to The Mara now that it’s open! If Jiko or Boma are open by then we will consider it a bonus. Here are some pics… having no one there gave us plenty of time to enjoy the tree and the holiday music at our own leisurely pace (sorry for the sideways ornament pics!).

 

[mrjbuxton]

We stayed in two Jambo DVC suites on rented points in November 2020 and it was magical, even with the restaurants closed. You just have to know what you’ll get before you go and plan around it. We still loved our balcony/animal viewing time every morning and the overall vibe of the resort, and we had great service and transportation. We intended on going back again this year but couldn’t get two suites at Jambo so we will be trying Kidani this time, but we will definitely head to Jambo to see the beautiful decorations and go to The Mara now that it’s open! If Jiko or Boma are open by then we will consider it a bonus. Here are some pics… having no one there gave us plenty of time to enjoy the tree and the holiday music at our own leisurely pace (sorry for the sideways ornament pics!).

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Wow, that looks like an amazing time to be there! I can't wait until this Dec.!

 

[RoseGold]

I'm really holding my breathe for the resort to open before December, including club level. I actually managed to piece together a few nights in a CL studio that I'm not sure will ever happen again!

I thought they already announced no club level until 2022?