Animal kingdom lodge

[mickey50]

Hello,

Has anyone ever stayed at a value studio AKL? I've stayed at a Saratoga stuido. Will I be disappointed in the value studio?

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

Hello,

Has anyone ever stayed at a value studio AKL? I've stayed at a Saratoga stuido. Will I be disappointed in the value studio?

Yes, I have stayed value studio 2 or 3 times. Just my daughter and I, so plenty of room for the 2 of us. Another nice thing, they are all close to the lobby, and therefore the restaurants and bus stops, or as close as any can get. The savannah views I had were like MILES from the front. Lovely, but very long walk.

 

[dianeschlicht]

What about the travel time to the other parks. Is it quite a long time or comparable to the other resorts?

While it will take you a bit longer to get to MK and DTD, we haven't felt the bus transportation was a big issue. I think the distance might be one of the reasons there always seems to be a bus when you need it at AKL.

Just like SSR and OKW take a bit longer to get to AK, AKL will take a bit longer to get to DTD and MK.

 

[chalee94]

IMO, the trip to the MK definitely feels long. other than that, not a big deal.

Has anyone ever stayed at a value studio AKL? I've stayed at a Saratoga stuido. Will I be disappointed in the value studio?

value studios can be a little cramped - they are smaller. for a couple, they are great. for 2 adults and a small child, they are workable. for a group of 4, i wouldn't do it. YMMV.

but value studios are cheaper point-wise...and you still have a shot at a savanna view or pool view.

i loved my savanna view value studio. i was ok when they stuck me in a parking lot view the next trip - i just left the drapes closed...still loved being at jambo house...

 

[sissy_ib]

What about the travel time to the other parks. Is it quite a long time or comparable to the other resorts?

That sounds great. By looking at the map, it looks like the Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney are the only places that may take some time to get there. There are so many bus stops at OKW and Saratoga Springs.........

It's really not that far. Going to DTD was the longest ride at maybe 15 minutes. But also both times we went to DTD we had to stand as the bus was already full when it got to Kidani, so it made the ride seem longer. I really felt we had the advantage staying at Kidani as the bus was always empty when we were going to a park.
Just request to be close to the lobby. We were only a few room from the end of the hall and that added at least a 15 minute walk to/from the bus stop. That was with two adults, I'm sure it could take longer with a group with small children.
And there are more bus stops at OKW and SS because they are much larger resorts. AKV only needs one for each building. Only a few times leaving the parks at night did we need to wait for a second bus to get get back to the resort.

 

[dgaston]

If you do decide on Kidani, I recommend requesting lower floor, close to the lobby. In Jambo, DVC rooms are up on the 5th and 6th floors, and at Kidani you can be much closer to the animals. Close to the lobby helps eliminate some of the looooong walks, but again, it's only a request.

As for getting to Jambo for CS at Mara, you can take any park bus, and often there is a van or golf cart running between the two AKV houses.

 

[fast43]

If you do decide on Kidani, I recommend requesting lower floor, close to the lobby. In Jambo, DVC rooms are up on the 5th and 6th floors, and at Kidani you can be much closer to the animals. Close to the lobby helps eliminate some of the looooong walks, but again, it's only a request.

As for getting to Jambo for CS at Mara, you can take any park bus, and often there is a van or golf cart running between the two AKV houses.

Kidani sounds wonderful, however, everyone is saying that the lack of restaurants was somewhat depressing. I don't know what to do??

 

[dgaston]

You can bring some stuff for breakfast, or just grab a bus or van to Jambo to eat at Mara. I don't think it's that big a deal.

 

[fast43]

Thanks for the information. It sounds as if we can not go wrong with either..

 

[disneyobessed]

thanks so much for all this info! Ive been trying to figure stuff out about Kidani and Jambo!!!