Animal Kingdom Lodge

[StirlingSilver83]

Well it looks like right now Animal Kingdom Lodge is a front runner for us in deciding which hotel to stay in for our 2017 trip. We were previously planning on the Polynesian but prices there are ridiculous. Anyways I can't believe AKL is a front runner for my hubby bc it is super far away from all the parks and he HATES buses, lol. But I told him that AKL has their own bus system and doesn't share with any of the other resorts and he seemed like he might try the bus out on the first day to see how it is. At least he is being open minded about the whole thing, LOL. Anyways my question is I know the rooms are not that big but if you get a room with the bunk beds in it does it make the room look bigger since the bunks aren't as wide as a queen bed? Also I see in the pics of the standard rooms that they have a couch...does that fold down to a day bed like at the poly and the CR? Also even if we don't get a savanna view is there some place to go in the lodge that we could see the animals from besides Sanaa? Thanks for your help!

 

[OhThePain]

First, I'd like to address your terrible misconception of AKL being "super far away from all the parks...". Compared to Poly, with the exception of MK, it will take you less time to get to all other parks and DS from AKL. I understand that you have not stayed there before and are only going based on what you read, but most of the people who talk about how far AKL is from everything are either only using MK to compare or have probably never actually stayed at AKL.

There are a lot of places in and around AKL to sit and relax and view the savannahs. Sanaa (which is at Kidani, which is all DVC, compared to Jambo House which is the main building) is the only restaurant that has a view of the savannahs.

As far as your room questions go, we never had a bunk bed room or noticed if the couch folded out, but I am sure someone else will be along to answer those questions.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

First, I'd like to address your terrible misconception of AKL being "super far away from all the parks...". Compared to Poly, with the exception of MK, it will take you less time to get to all other parks and DS from AKL. I understand that you have not stayed there before and are only going based on what you read, but most of the people who talk about how far AKL is from everything are either only using MK to compare or have probably never actually stayed at AKL.

There are a lot of places in and around AKL to sit and relax and view the savannahs. Sanaa (which is at Kidani, which is all DVC, compared to Jambo House which is the main building) is the only restaurant that has a view of the savannahs.

As far as your room questions go, we never had a bunk bed room or noticed if the couch folded out, but I am sure someone else will be along to answer those questions.

Thanks for the reply...yeah we have only ever stayed at Contemporary and Grand Floridian. I don't mind taking the bus system, but my husband can get a little claustrophobic on buses if there isn't enough air flow. We will have our own car so even if the bus doesn't go over well for my hubby he will still be able to drive. We don't park hop, so all I see us using a bus for will be for going to and from the resort to whatever park we are in that day. If we are eating outside the park I have arranged the place to be in close proximity so we can either get there by boat or monorail. Also on our down day I have us planning on going over to Fort Wilderness to see Hoop-Dee-Doo. What would be the best way to get there? I was thinking bus from AKL to MK and then take the boat from MK to FW.

 

[POTCfan]

I agree that AKL buss systems are not bad, and you won't find a closer lodge to one of the 4 park. If you husband has an aversion to busses, then rent a car. That way he won't have to ride a bus (like going from Poly to Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom or Disney Springs). By staying onsite, parking is free at all the parks. Again, I don't think the busses are bad (it's true that the AKL has their own busses and does not share) but I've also rented a car and liked that as well.
As far as room size, I can't help you. We are DVC and usually stay in a one bedroom savanna view. Not sure how renting points for this size room would compare to the rate Disney charges for a room, but if they were comparable, I would recommend the one bedroom - you won't be disappointed in the size.
I like Savanna view if we are staying for about a week. The animals are not always active in front of the rooms, so if you only stay a day or two, there is the risk that those are the days you might not see much (being that your timing and the animals timing might not align). But you can see animals from different locations throughout the Jambo and Kidani portions, and each has a main observation area that the animals hang out at a little more (more consistent feeding I guess).
I like most all of Disney's deluxe resorts, but AKL is my favorite. Hope you have a great time!

 

[Anthony1971]

I have stayed at AKL Jambo house 7 times and Kidani 2 times. Far away form the parks is a huge misconception. MK on the bus time is around 20 minutes. AK is about 5. Epcot and DS around 10. I have stayed at the poly 3 times I can tell you with the exception of MK which is still a 10 minutes monorail ride on average the rest of the parks take far longer than form AKL. Bottom line is you will save no time overall from any resort as far as actual bus/monorail/boat/walking time, waiting is hit or miss at any resort. The rooms are not small?? Poly has a much larger bathroom than what you will get at AKL and that accounts for the large majority of the SQ footage difference. I feel however that AKL either side the rooms feel larger than that of all the deluxe resorts with the exception the monorail resorts excluding Bay lake tower. There are plenty of places to see the animals on both sides of AKL from the halls to the lobbies. The best views of the animals will not be form your room what ever you choose. Should you choose a standard view room and make the right requests you will have a good chance of getting a partial Savannah view--you will be above a fenced area or rooms that are set back from the savannah which by far does not obstruct the view. DO not request near lobby request a room on the far end of the halls either side in Jambo or the far end of the side the pool is on in Kidani--look at the map of the resort for names of trails in Jambo sections in Kidani (Pumba is one) if it is granted you will a nice view.

 

[OhThePain]

Thanks for the reply...yeah we have only ever stayed at Contemporary and Grand Floridian. I don't mind taking the bus system, but my husband can get a little claustrophobic on buses if there isn't enough air flow. We will have our own car so even if the bus doesn't go over well for my hubby he will still be able to drive. We don't park hop, so all I see us using a bus for will be for going to and from the resort to whatever park we are in that day. If we are eating outside the park I have arranged the place to be in close proximity so we can either get there by boat or monorail. Also on our down day I have us planning on going over to Fort Wilderness to see Hoop-Dee-Doo. What would be the best way to get there? I was thinking bus from AKL to MK and then take the boat from MK to FW.

I don't like being in crowds so I totally understand where your husband is coming from. The morning ride over to whatever park usually isn't too overly crowded. If we leave the park with the masses (i.e. after Wishes, IllumiNations, F!...), I usually stand. I find that if I can stand in the area of the rear door of the bus, I don't get that anxiousness I would get if I was standing in the middle of the bus or sitting with people standing all around me. The rides are not that long and after being on your feet all day, what's another 10-20 minutes? As far as getting to HDDR, you have the right idea. Bus from AKL to MK and then boat from MK to FW. The boat lets you off right near the HDDR. Easy-peasy.

 

[FindMeAFishingSpot]

On the bunk bed question - we thought the room felt bigger. And we had 3 people in the room with 2 queens and 4 in the room with bunk beds. Still felt bigger, even with the extra person.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Wow! Thanks for all this useful information! I know I would really want a savanna view with the bunk beds bc I think my kids would absolutely love that but my hubby only sees dollar signs and basically he said for the amount you pay for that you might as well stay at Poly, LOL...I dunno I still have a couple months to work on him with what room we decide to go on, lol. I was really excited when he said we could stay at Poly, but when I saw the prices there I became real unexcited real fast, LOL. Now that I am thinking AKL might be a fun new adventure I am getting excited all over again, lol. I also read that AKL has a playground for kids...where exactly is the playground located...going to need to know this for our down day at the resort

 

[Dreamin192]

The sofa does fold down but my understanding is that those are only in rooms with a king bed, rooms with two queens or a bunk bed and a queen have a table and two chairs instead.

 

[jvattes]

if you get a room with the bunk beds in it does it make the room look bigger since the bunks aren't as wide as a queen bed?

We have stayed in both a bunk bed and a 2-queen room and we didn't really notice a difference in how the room felt.

Also I see in the pics of the standard rooms that they have a couch.

I'm not sure what standard room would have this. Maybe a king?

 

[StirlingSilver83]

The sofa does fold down but my understanding is that those are only in rooms with a king bed, rooms with two queens or a bunk bed and a queen have a table and two chairs instead.

Thanks for that! I have a toddler that is currently sleeping in a toddler bed so he would need his own space to sleep. My older DS is a really rough sleeper so I can't have the 2 kids sleeping together. I just told my hubby that its bunk beds or nothing, LOL...my hubby is convinced he is not paying $1200 extra to have bunk bed, LOL...oh well like I said I still have a few months to work on him...I will get the rest of the fam to gang up on him too LOL

 

[jvattes]

Thanks for that! I have a toddler that is currently sleeping in a toddler bed so he would need his own space to sleep. My older DS is a really rough sleeper so I can't have the 2 kids sleeping together. I just told my hubby that its bunk beds or nothing, LOL...my hubby is convinced he is not paying $1200 extra to have bunk bed, LOL...oh well like I said I still have a few months to work on him...I will get the rest of the fam to gang up on him too LOL

It sounds like it's a real priority, but you could roll the dice and see if you get upgraded to bunks on check-in. That is the only way we got bunks the one time we had them. We won't pay extra for them, either It's a steep price!

 

[StirlingSilver83]

It sounds like it's a real priority, but you could roll the dice and see if you get upgraded to bunks on check-in. That is the only way we got bunks the one time we had them. We won't pay extra for them, either It's a steep price!

WOW! Seriously? How did you manage that? Did you request an upgrade or did they just give it to you?

 

[jvattes]

WOW! Seriously? How did you manage that? Did you request an upgrade or did they just give it to you?

Pixie dust.

I would not go expecting it, and I would not ask for it. Like any other Pixie Dust it's only magical if it happens on its own.

And it only happened once.

Ie if it's a priority, don't bet on it happening and pay for the upgrade

 

[Anthony1971]

Play ground at Jambo is behind the pool near the hot tub. I do not think Kidani has one or I never saw one BUT they have a great water play ground.

 

[Dreamin192]

We ended up going with a 1 bedroom villa at AKL. My oldest, 5, really wants to stay there but we're a family of 5. My twins are 2 so we could technically book a regular room but I know there wouldn't be enough room for pack n plays. I'm hesitant because I have read bad things about the buses as well but we booked it the last part of our trip and are planning on taking it easy so to speak so hopefully it's going to be awesome.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

Pixie dust.

I would not go expecting it, and I would not ask for it. Like any other Pixie Dust it's only magical if it happens on its own.

And it only happened once.

Ie if it's a priority, don't bet on it happening and pay for the upgrade

Yeah thats what I told my hubby...We really need the bunk bed rooms. We still have probably a month and a half to 2 months before they release the 2017 package prices so, we will see...when I told my hubby the queen room doesn't come with a day bed he said we will more than likely get the bunk beds, so who knows, lol...I wish June would get here already so I can put stuff down in concrete on where we will be staying and in what type of room it will be LOL

 

[StirlingSilver83]

We ended up going with a 1 bedroom villa at AKL. My oldest, 5, really wants to stay there but we're a family of 5. My twins are 2 so we could technically book a regular room but I know there wouldn't be enough room for pack n plays. I'm hesitant because I have read bad things about the buses as well but we booked it the last part of our trip and are planning on taking it easy so to speak so hopefully it's going to be awesome.

I actually haven't heard anything bad about their buses if anything at all people like their buses more because AKL gets their own bus and doesn't have to share with other resorts. For me that is probably 1 of the reasons y AKL is in the front runner for us. We have only ever stayed monorail before so staying off the monorail can be frightening but knowing that AKL doesn't share makes me happy cause sharing is no fun, LOL

 

[Shellyred8]

Well it looks like right now Animal Kingdom Lodge is a front runner for us in deciding which hotel to stay in for our 2017 trip. We were previously planning on the Polynesian but prices there are ridiculous. Anyways I can't believe AKL is a front runner for my hubby bc it is super far away from all the parks and he HATES buses, lol. But I told him that AKL has their own bus system and doesn't share with any of the other resorts and he seemed like he might try the bus out on the first day to see how it is. At least he is being open minded about the whole thing, LOL. Anyways my question is I know the rooms are not that big but if you get a room with the bunk beds in it does it make the room look bigger since the bunks aren't as wide as a queen bed? Also I see in the pics of the standard rooms that they have a couch...does that fold down to a day bed like at the poly and the CR? Also even if we don't get a savanna view is there some place to go in the lodge that we could see the animals from besides Sanaa? Thanks for your help!

If you don't have a savanna view, don't worry! There are a few places in the lobby and around the grounds where you can hang out and watch the animals. The last time we stayed there they had an evening activity where they let you put on night-vision goggles and you could see some of the nocturnal animals. It was pretty awesome! I'm not sure if they still do that, but it would be worth looking into.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

If you don't have a savanna view, don't worry! There are a few places in the lobby and around the grounds where you can hang out and watch the animals. The last time we stayed there they had an evening activity where they let you put on night-vision goggles and you could see some of the nocturnal animals. It was pretty awesome! I'm not sure if they still do that, but it would be worth looking into.

I heard about this and it sounds pretty awesome and I know my DS9 (will be 10 when we go) will LOVE that! Ok so maybe I have just never looked into resorts before but besides being on the monorail what do the monorail resorts have to offer guests that they don't charge an arm and a leg for? This question has truthfully been baffling me all day. The more I look into other non monorail resorts the more I am like wow maybe I just missed this stuff when staying at monorail resorts, LOL. I know AKL has the animals (major draw, lol), but I have also heard that they offer a community hall with arts and crafts and board games and such, they have a playground, they offer the night time thing with night vision goggles, they have that gold circle in their lobby where kids can trace stuff onto paper from it I have seen, they have a cookie decorating thing, their arcade is huge (and yes I know CR has 1 too). Then at Wilderness Lodge they offer bike rentals, playgrounds, a tour of the agriculture of the lodge, they also offer cooking decorating. I just want to know what if anything did I miss while staying at a monorail resort? Do the monorail resorts offer any cool activities like some of the activities offered at non monorail resorts?