AKL LITE unofficial FAQ thread#10 - I believe that's known as a 'Jambo Dozen'

[RachelTori]

As a roundabout way of answering your question, I was trying to find the list of what people keep in their Owner's Lockers. I'm pretty sure I've seen people post that they keep George Forman Grills and crock pots, which they use for cooking in their DVC villas. If I can find anything similar to a hot plate, I'll post it.

Edited to add: somebody posted this month that they keep a griddle in their Owner's Locker. Somebody else mentioned an electric waffle maker.

And I found a thread on the DVC Mouscellaneous Board where people discussed using electric skillets:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3249318&page=2

(For those who don't know, Owners Locker is a service which provides large plastic storage bins to people who travel to the Orlando area frequently. You sign up, they deliver an empty bin to your hotel. You fill up the bin. They pick it up at your hotel after you check out, store it, and deliver it to your hotel the next time you're in the Orlando area.)

The only caution I would give here is to remember that the 1- and 2-bedroom units do have full kitchens and therefore are better equipped for things like electric skillets, crock pots, waffle irons, etc.

I don't know that I'd trust a Studio unit to be correctly wired for extra kitchen appliances -- especially Jambo House.

AliceandAriel: Have you tried posting your question on the DVC-Mousecellaneous board? I would give that a try.

If nothing else, bring it, then ask the Manager on Duty (there is always one available). Good luck and please let us know when you get a definitive answer.

 

[jeffbear]

Got our Magic Bands over the weekend and are set to leave for AKL and WDW in three working weeks.

Yeah!


And Yikes! I've got a lot of work to do between now and then.

 

[EveClark]

Hi Everyone!
We currently have reservations at the Contemporary but are contemplating switching to AKL. I'm doing a little research to figure out what we'd like to do and I was hoping you could help...
We are looking at booking a Savanna View room (NOT CL and not DVC suites) but I'm not sure exactly where those are located in the resort and what the difference is between the different Savannas.

Can anyone help shed some light on where those rooms are located? Buildings or areas on maps? Or even if someone could point me to a map that has the different room types color coded or something?

Also, are there different animals in the different savannas? I know it can't be "guaranteed" that we will see animals each time we look out our window, but are they out early in the morning? Late at night? All day...? Good chances we will see enough animals (and often enough) that it's worth paying the difference from a standard view room? We will not be upgrading the Arusha View.

I'm new to this thread so if this has been asked before, my apologies. I tried reading as much as I could, but my tired eyes may have missed something.

Any other tips or suggestions on those room would be GREATLY appreciated! We've never been to AKL before so I'm completely unfamiliar with everything there.
Thanks!

 

[momofmaz]

Does Disney publish a monthly calendar for Animal Kingdom Lodge activities? I have seen these for other resorts (they say what times/movies are playing etc). We are going in May.

 

[kimmar067]

Does Disney publish a monthly calendar for Animal Kingdom Lodge activities? I have seen these for other resorts (they say what times/movies are playing etc). We are going in May.

....usually the weekly activities are posted in a few spots throughout the resort...

 

[kimmar067]

Hi Everyone!
We currently have reservations at the Contemporary but are contemplating switching to AKL. I'm doing a little research to figure out what we'd like to do and I was hoping you could help...
We are looking at booking a Savanna View room (NOT CL and not DVC suites) but I'm not sure exactly where those are located in the resort and what the difference is between the different Savannas.

Can anyone help shed some light on where those rooms are located? Buildings or areas on maps? Or even if someone could point me to a map that has the different room types color coded or something?

Also, are there different animals in the different savannas? I know it can't be "guaranteed" that we will see animals each time we look out our window, but are they out early in the morning? Late at night? All day...? Good chances we will see enough animals (and often enough) that it's worth paying the difference from a standard view room? We will not be upgrading the Arusha View.

I'm new to this thread so if this has been asked before, my apologies. I tried reading as much as I could, but my tired eyes may have missed something.

Any other tips or suggestions on those room would be GREATLY appreciated! We've never been to AKL before so I'm completely unfamiliar with everything there.
Thanks!

...first of all JAMBO! and !!! You are going to love AKL! different savannahs DO have different animals. I'd recommend the Ostrich Trail as you have a standard room - this way, you could possibly ask for a savannah-view room, which is across the hallway. Each trail has 'sections' - each section is divided by an 'alcove' area with large viewing windows on each side. As you are walking down that hallway, if you look to the right, you can view the Sunset savannah...

 

[la la limon]

Touring Plans has a nice room finder feature, if this helps...

http://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge

Amy

 

[hemmie]

Does Disney publish a monthly calendar for Animal Kingdom Lodge activities? I have seen these for other resorts (they say what times/movies are playing etc). We are going in May.

Here's the link, but May's calendar may not be posted until May 1. I too am curious, as we will be there mid-May
http://www.themouseforless.com/tripplanning/resorts/wdw/pdf/AKLCalendar.pdf

 

[AliceandAriel]

The only caution I would give here is to remember that the 1- and 2-bedroom units do have full kitchens and therefore are better equipped for things like electric skillets, crock pots, waffle irons, etc.

I don't know that I'd trust a Studio unit to be correctly wired for extra kitchen appliances -- especially Jambo House.

AliceandAriel: Have you tried posting your question on the DVC-Mousecellaneous board? I would give that a try.

If nothing else, bring it, then ask the Manager on Duty (there is always one available). Good luck and please let us know when you get a definitive answer.

I did ask in the DVC section, and no one seems to have a solid yes or no answer there, either. It's really confusing. Two people said they don't think so, but I've read elsewhere (like here) that DVC members have waffle irons and hot plates in their totes or bring them all the time and use them no problem. I really don't want to pack valuable luggage space only to be told I can't use the items in question, so it's going to drive me absolutely nuts until I get a concrete yes or no.

As to if I called the resort or not, I'm not sure. The number I called was (407) 938-3000, which I think is a call center, isn't it? Sad face.

 

[EveClark]

...first of all JAMBO! and !!! You are going to love AKL! different savannahs DO have different animals. I'd recommend the Ostrich Trail is you have a standard room - this way, you could possibly ask for a savannah-view room, which is across the hallway. Each trail has 'sections' - each section is divided by an 'alcove' area with large viewing windows on each side. As you are walking down that hallway, if you look to the right, you can view the Sunset savannah...

Thank you for the warm welcome!
Isn't there a way to book a Savanna View room separate than the Arusha Savanna? I only ask because when I look online to price out rooms, they have "savanna view" listed at one rate, and "arusha view" listed at another... We were hoping to guarantee that we could get a savanna view without paying the extra to "upgrade" to the better Arusha View...
Trying to sort all of this new info out

Touring Plans has a nice room finder feature, if this helps...

http://touringplans.com/hotel_maps/disneys-animal-kingdom-lodge

Amy

Thanks!!! I think I may be doing something wrong, because when I put in my info on the side where the drop down choices are and I select "Savanna View/Queen Beds" it's not showing anything... maybe I'm confused as to what room I'm really looking for!

Thank you both for the quick replies!

 

[AngiTN]

I did ask in the DVC section, and no one seems to have a solid yes or no answer there, either. It's really confusing. Two people said they don't think so, but I've read elsewhere (like here) that DVC members have waffle irons and hot plates in their totes or bring them all the time and use them no problem. I really don't want to pack valuable luggage space only to be told I can't use the items in question, so it's going to drive me absolutely nuts until I get a concrete yes or no.

As to if I called the resort or not, I'm not sure. The number I called was (407) 938-3000, which I think is a call center, isn't it? Sad face.

Honestly, those that have those totes could be talking about taking them to the suites with full kitchens. They could be using them against the rules and just not been caught. No telling.

If you have a regular type of room, like those at Jambo house that are just converted to DVC, not built as DVC, I would not plan to cook in them. Just my opinion.

 

[AngiTN]

Thank you for the warm welcome!
Isn't there a way to book a Savanna View room separate than the Arusha Savanna? I only ask because when I look online to price out rooms, they have "savanna view" listed at one rate, and "arusha view" listed at another... We were hoping to guarantee that we could get a savanna view without paying the extra to "upgrade" to the better Arusha View...
Trying to sort all of this new info out

Yes. A Savannah view that is not called Arusha View a view of a savannah other than Arusha. Only the Arusha view rooms are guaranteed to be Arusha view.

 

[AliceandAriel]

Honestly, those that have those totes could be talking about taking them to the suites with full kitchens. They could be using them against the rules and just not been caught. No telling.

If you have a regular type of room, like those at Jambo house that are just converted to DVC, not built as DVC, I would not plan to cook in them. Just my opinion.

That's what I'm thinking. It probably best to just assume I can't, and prep ahead with snacks to either pick up from the Mara every night (did it at AoA, had no problems) and pack some of my own from home like protein bars and cookies and oatmeal. As long as it's microwave friendly, I'll pack it.

 

[AngiTN]

That's what I'm thinking. It probably best to just assume I can't, and prep ahead with snacks to either pick up from the Mara every night (did it at AoA, had no problems) and pack some of my own from home like protein bars and cookies and oatmeal. As long as it's microwave friendly, I'll pack it.

If you must have eggs and you consider them "eggs" then you could always have egg beaters delivered from Garden Grocer type place and cook them in the microwave.

Heck when DD was a baby I cooked her real eggs in a microwave all the time.

 

[gwynne]

That's what I'm thinking. It probably best to just assume I can't, and prep ahead with snacks to either pick up from the Mara every night (did it at AoA, had no problems) and pack some of my own from home like protein bars and cookies and oatmeal. As long as it's microwave friendly, I'll pack it.

That sounds like a terrific solution.

 

[AliceandAriel]

If you must have eggs and you consider them "eggs" then you could always have egg beaters delivered from Garden Grocer type place and cook them in the microwave.

Heck when DD was a baby I cooked her real eggs in a microwave all the time.

I actually WAS thinking that! I planned on having some groceries delivered anyway (mainly because I need to get some Lysol, it's a germaphobe thing of mine to not touch or use anything in the room until I've thoroughly cleaned) so that'll be great. The freezer space in those mini-fridges isn't much, though, so anything freezer-wise I buy I'd have to cook in the microwave first thing, fridge 'em, and then re-heat as needed. Hrm. Might stick to the non-freezer things, just fridge things.

That sounds like a terrific solution.

When in doubt, improvise! There's never a challenge that can't be defeated with a little creative thinking!

 

[kimmar067]

Thank you for the warm welcome!
Isn't there a way to book a Savanna View room separate than the Arusha Savanna? I only ask because when I look online to price out rooms, they have "savanna view" listed at one rate, and "arusha view" listed at another... We were hoping to guarantee that we could get a savanna view without paying the extra to "upgrade" to the better Arusha View...
Trying to sort all of this new info out

...I'd call directly and request Savannah View - Ostrich Trail....definitely.

 

[hill6]

Two weeks from now we will be at Disney and having dinner at CRT. I can't wait. Got hubby to pick out his lunch choices for BOG tonight.

 

[kimmar067]

....very nice...

 

[MidnightParade]

Can anyone help shed some light on where those rooms are located? Buildings or areas on maps? Or even if someone could point me to a map that has the different room types color coded or something?

I've booked marked a few maps that people have shared on this thread. I think these were the best(since I didn't keep the others).

http://planningforwdw.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/akl-map.jpg

http://www.parkinfo2go.com/dvc-akv/floor5.php (Bah! Never mind this is for DVC only! Sorry)

I've tried using the touring plans one as well. Takes some fiddling. Though I'm sure I'm still doing it wrong. Nice to actually see the view from the room though if they have it.

Hope it helps and welcome to the thread, its awesome here!