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

[LJSquishy]

We are checking into the Swan just for one night before checking into the AKL. Bell services at the Swan said they would take our luggage to the AKL for us, but I'm pretty sure we would need to get our luggage from the AKL bell services when we get back to our room from the park that night. The only thing is, that we'll be at the MK and it is open until midnight (thanks to PM EMH). Once we get back to the AKL, will bell services still be open to be able to bring our luggage to our room, or will we have to wait until the next morning to get it?

I believe bell services is staffed 24hours/day but you could certainly call to double check. When you check out of the Swan, you can check in at AKL early even though your room may not be ready and then ask them to take your bags to your room whenever it's ready. You'll be able to be out at MK all day and have your luggage waiting in your room for you when you return.

 

[letthewookiewin]

I believe bell services is staffed 24hours/day but you could certainly call to double check. When you check out of the Swan, you can check in at AKL early even though your room may not be ready and then ask them to take your bags to your room whenever it's ready. You'll be able to be out at MK all day and have your luggage waiting in your room for you when you return.

Sweet thanks!! Now I just have to get everything packed. Luckily after doing laundry all day, I'm almost done.

 

[Dannek]

The sunset savannah is on the right side of the hotel in between Ostrich and Kudu Trails.

Close, but no cigar..

Actually, the Sunset Savannah is on the left side of the resort if you are looking at the front entrance of the resort from the parking lot out front. It is between Jambo house and Kidani Village, and is between the Ostrich and Kudu Trails. The right side of the resort is the pool area, and then further out the Uzima Savannah. The Arusha Savannah compromises the inside of the "U" portion of the hotel past the back end of the lobby.

Sunset savannah is an option/request for anyone who has a savannah view room. You can check the request box if you have a standard or pool view room during online check in, but you won't get it unless you get a free upgrade/pixie dust. Since Arusha view rooms are priced higher, it give people who have booked a non-Arusha savannah room the option to "request" a specific savannah, with the other option being either Sunset or Uzima if you don't specify... It's not guaranteed, and some people prefer Sunset, some people prefer Uzima. Both are great, and both can be viewed from multiple locations in the hotel in public areas. There are balconies off of the hallways that have chairs, and in a few locations, floor mounted binoculars.

 

[FUNMAMADIS]

Can anyone tell me what times the nightly(?) storytelling, campfire and night vision viewing of the animals occur?

 

[CuteAndFluffy]

Can anyone tell me what times the nightly(?) storytelling, campfire and night vision viewing of the animals occur?

I was just going to ask if anyone who will be there in the next week or two could put up a pic of the activity sheet?

Less than 30 sleeps for me and I am getting into microplanning mode

 

[tessab]

Just returned from our 6 night stay. First time at AKL, first time in Deluxe. We loved every bit of it; will find it hard to stay anywhere else. We had booked a standard view, so we anticipated seeing the parking lot. We were placed in a room that overlooked the night vision viewing area, we could see the hot tub and flamingo area if we looked right off the balcony, and some of the savannah if we looked left. We weren't told we were getting an upgrade, and I guess I'm not sure if that's considered a savannah or pool view after all. (does anyone know if these rooms are standard?) We were pleasantly surprised to not be looking at pavement! We didn't use the balcony for much viewing, as we only had a small section of savannah in our sights. We preferred the 2nd floor viewing platform directly at the other end of our hallway. Rocking chairs, binoculars, and animals every time we went. (usually early morning 6:30-7:30am was the best views)

 

[maryandtyson]

I believe a pp said that all refrigerators at AKL had been replaced. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[leannak]

Just a quick question - which floors do you prefer at Kidani and AKL? (We're staying at both.) I'm thinking lower is better, because I want to feel like we're in with the animals, not looking down on them like they're in a zoo. But does it hinder your view? Also, am I correct that there are no "first" floor rooms at either resort?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I love Lobby Level ( Jambo) ..it is so easy to just walk to your room and be done ..and it is nicer for seeing the animals. We were on 5 in July and I couldn't see for the trees!


In other news...sadly, we aren't going to be in Jambo in November for Food & Wine..


Cause I got a great AP rate at WL Club Level!!! WOOHOO!!! I can't wait!

 

[tarak]

Just a quick question - which floors do you prefer at Kidani and AKL? (We're staying at both.) I'm thinking lower is better, because I want to feel like we're in with the animals, not looking down on them like they're in a zoo. But does it hinder your view? Also, am I correct that there are no "first" floor rooms at either resort?

I believe rooms start at the second floor. I've heard the third and fourth floors are the best views because you're close enough to see the animals, but not so close you can't see the savannah, as well. I think, but I'm not positive, we had a fifth floor room last trip and the animals were a bit further away than I remember from prior trips (we definitely had fourth floor rooms the two trips before and the views were perfect).

 

[leannak]

Ooops - I forgot we decided to go with standard view for Jambo House. So we only need to know which savannah view floor is best at kidani.

For Jambo House - are there rooms overlooking the lobby?? I'd love to request that area (close to lobby?) Maybe near pool or near transportation as other requests.

 

[kirs10paige]

Subbing

 

[tarak]

leannak - according to my husband, we were on the fourth floor. My memory is pretty bad, so I'll assume he's right and I was wrong when I said fifth. I'm wondering if my memory is off because the animals skew a bit smaller in size than those on the other savannahs - it just seemed like we were higher up. This is the view from our balcony. I posted these on the AKL photo thread. Thinking about it a bit more, it's not quite as barren as I remembered it being. The second one with the red river hogs shows the fence. This is the Pembe Savannah (and I'm a pretty lousy photographer). I think the second shot explains why many people don't like the Pembe Savannah as much as the other views. But I think I was the only one in my family annoyed by the fence and the road beyond.





I have no idea what that second photo is so oversized. I'll try to resize it a second time.

 

[Mayhem1976]

The kid falling off the balconythread, some people say there are locks high up on the balcony doors, others said no. We are staying at Kidani in a studio, are there locks high that little ones can't get too?

Thanks

 

[tarak]

The kid falling off the balconythread, some people say there are locks high up on the balcony doors, others said no. We are staying at Kidani in a studio, are there locks high that little ones can't get too?

Thanks

I'm fairly certain when we stayed at Kidani in January, there was a higher lock on the door to the balcony. I wonder if there's a difference between Kidani and Jambo with Kidani having the extra lock because it's a newer section of the resort? I think someone on that thread stated he/she didn't have an extra lock on the door?

ETA: that poster didn't mention the resort, so I don't know if it was at AKL or not.

 

[Mickdeb]

Ooops - I forgot we decided to go with standard view for Jambo House. So we only need to know which savannah view floor is best at kidani.

For Jambo House - are there rooms overlooking the lobby?? I'd love to request that area (close to lobby?) Maybe near pool or near transportation as other requests.

We just returned last week.
Yes, we had a 5th floor standard room over looking the lobby, as we came out our door, we faced straight out towards the huge windows that face the Savannah. Close to everything, pool, restaurants, lobby and transportation. Great location, very happy.

 

[LJSquishy]

Are the rooms that are close to the lobby noisy from guests?

I think we will be renting a DVC Value Studio which means 5th floor and near the lobby and I worry it will be noisy from people coming/going all the time in the lobby area...or is it not an issue since the lobby is on a different floor?

I'm also pretty worried about getting a pool view room (by chance). Noise during the day wouldn't bother me, but at 9pm or 10pm if there are still people screaming outside and I could hear from my room I'd be pretty upset. I'd almost rather have a parking lot view. I watched a DVC Value room tour on YouTube and when they went on the balcony there was loud music & tons of kids playing/screaming in the pool...it was very loud...just wondering if you can hear it in your room as well?

 

[psac]

I'm fairly certain when we stayed at Kidani in January, there was a higher lock on the door to the balcony. I wonder if there's a difference between Kidani and Jambo with Kidani having the extra lock because it's a newer section of the resort? I think someone on that thread stated he/she didn't have an extra lock on the door?

ETA: that poster didn't mention the resort, so I don't know if it was at AKL or not.

We had the high lock at Jambo as well, but it was really high, above adult eye level, and I didn't even notice it until half-way through the trip. It wasn't locked when we checked in. So people saying they didn't have it might have, but didn't even know.

 

[Rendar]

I'm also pretty worried about getting a pool view room (by chance). Noise during the day wouldn't bother me, but at 9pm or 10pm if there are still people screaming outside and I could hear from my room I'd be pretty upset. I'd almost rather have a parking lot view. I watched a DVC Value room tour on YouTube and when they went on the balcony there was loud music & tons of kids playing/screaming in the pool...it was very loud...just wondering if you can hear it in your room as well?

Just left today. We had a pool view room the last 12 days and the noise from the pool at night wasn't too bad. The problem was the music they played at the pool until 7 or 8 at night, it is really loud with a lot of bass. I like to take a nap in the middle of the day occasionally and I couldn't this trip because of the music. YMMV.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Are the rooms that are close to the lobby noisy from guests?

I think we will be renting a DVC Value Studio which means 5th floor and near the lobby and I worry it will be noisy from people coming/going all the time in the lobby area...or is it not an issue since the lobby is on a different floor?

I'm also pretty worried about getting a pool view room (by chance). Noise during the day wouldn't bother me, but at 9pm or 10pm if there are still people screaming outside and I could hear from my room I'd be pretty upset. I'd almost rather have a parking lot view. I watched a DVC Value room tour on YouTube and when they went on the balcony there was loud music & tons of kids playing/screaming in the pool...it was very loud...just wondering if you can hear it in your room as well?

I had Giraffe Trail Pool view..located 3rd floor (lobby level) right over Jiko..I didn't hear any noise during the day. Even with the sidewalk that comes out of Boma and loops around..it was so nice!