Animal Kingdom Refurbishment 2025

[Moonspinner]

I have a feeling they’re going to knock this refurbishment out of the park. My guess is the early feedback from boardwalk’s refurb was heard loud and clear, and they won’t make that mistake again. I look at Saratoga, bay lake tower, even the new poly tower, big pine key, riviera, and Hilton head/vero - all of them look great and feel like the upgrades were really tasteful in their approach. Boardwalk was really the outlier where the color palette was so muted and seemed like they just tried to slap a few Mickey pictures on the wall to get by. All the other resorts have pops of color here and there, even subtle at times, to brighten up the tone of the room.

Fingers crossed AKL crushes it and they keep the original feel while somehow brightening it up and modernizing it with Murphy beds, USBs, outlets, etc.

HHI refurb is awful

 

[muppets3d]

HHI refurb is awful

Explain?

 

[Moonspinner]

Explain?

They took away the theming. It used to be a hunting/fishing camp theme and now it is general “beach.” They didn’t replace any cabinets in the kitchen but took out the awesome tile they had previously. And the decor doesn’t match. I like some of the new artwork and the bathrooms are nice just because they are new.

 

[keahgirl8]

Do we think it would be a safe bet to stay at Jambo in early March? It sounds like they aren't starting Jambo until Kidani is finished, right?

 

[MamaKate]

Do we think it would be a safe bet to stay at Jambo in early March? It sounds like they aren't starting Jambo until Kidani is finished, right?

That's what has been reported. The date Kidani is completed and when Jambo will start is unknown. The only timeframe given to when Jambo will start is 2026. Since Kidani has so many rooms, I'm thinking early March is safe..

 

[Disney got all my$$$]

I’m planning a stay at Jambo House in June 2026 in a grand villa. Are the rooms really run-down? Should I look to book at Kidani instead? I wanted some first time Disney people coming with us to experience Jambo’s grand entrance but I want the room to be nice too.

 

[RickNJane]

I’m planning a stay at Jambo House in June 2026 in a grand villa. Are the rooms really run-down? Should I look to book at Kidani instead? I wanted some first time Disney people coming with us to experience Jambo’s grand entrance but I want the room to be nice too.

We are staying in a Jambo GV in November. We are looking forward to the Balconies most of all I think. I think DW will be living out there! I have heard that some of the pool tables may be a bit worn and the units show some age. Yes I said Pool Table! Really looking forward to it. In our recent experience, some of the recent refurbs such as BWV really skimped on the quality. Cabinets did not close, Shower controls loose, towel rack issues, and the W/D not working properly. And the dishwasher not being secure and beat to hell and back. So no guarantees even in a newly refurbished unit.

The Jambo lobby is amazing. There are tons of activities for the young ones to participate in. Not to mention the CM's are arguably the friendliest and best on property! The whole place is very impressive.

 

[Disney got all my$$$]

We are staying in a Jambo GV in November. We are looking forward to the Balconies most of all I think. I think DW will be living out there! I have heard that some of the pool tables may be a bit worn and the units show some age. Yes I said Pool Table! Really looking forward to it. In our recent experience, some of the recent refurbs such as BWV really skimped on the quality. Cabinets did not close, Shower controls loose, towel rack issues, and the W/D not working properly. And the dishwasher not being secure and beat to hell and back. So no guarantees even in a newly refurbished unit.

The Jambo lobby is amazing. There are tons of activities for the young ones to participate in. Not to mention the CM's are arguably the friendliest and best on property! The whole place is very impressive.

Thank you! I hope you have an amazing trip! I would love to hear about the appearance of the GV after your trip!

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I’m planning a stay at Jambo House in June 2026 in a grand villa. Are the rooms really run-down? Should I look to book at Kidani instead? I wanted some first time Disney people coming with us to experience Jambo’s grand entrance but I want the room to be nice too.

I think I'd be less concerned with the overall appearance of the Jambo GVs than I would about the reasonable chance there will be refurb construction still going on at Jambo in June. The Kidani GVs should be completely refurbed by then, and you could still walk over and enjoy the beautiful Jambo lobby and restaurants! I assume you know the layouts of the Jambo GVs and Kidani GVs are completely different, however - if that matters. Our group enjoyed Jambo a couple years ago because of the additional stairs that some couldn't handle in the 2-level Kidani rooms - but Kidani rooms are gorgeous with lots of real beds!

 

[takemetomickey]

So if you had to guess, what’s your best guess of when the Jambo refurb will begin?

 

[thanxfornoticin]

So if you had to guess, what’s your best guess of when the Jambo refurb will begin?

When the Kidani refurb ends.....!!

Actually, until the Kidani refurb even begins, we'll have no idea of the timeline for either of the 2 sections of AKL. Maybe Kidani starts in October and Jambo in Mar/Apr?? Maybe....!

 

[TDK44]

What do we all think the odds of AKV studios getting the small pull down bed to increase capacity from 4 to 5? Seems like they've done this with other recent studio refurbs but haven't confirmed one way or another yet for the upcoming AKV refurbs.

 

[hockeydad21]

They took away the theming. It used to be a hunting/fishing camp theme and now it is general “beach.” They didn’t replace any cabinets in the kitchen but took out the awesome tile they had previously. And the decor doesn’t match. I like some of the new artwork and the bathrooms are nice just because they are new.

Sure, they took away some of the cooler decorations they had in the rooms like the glass cabinet in the kitchen and a few of the unique nature-themed light fixtures, but they also improved a ton - the lighting throughout the rooms, the ugly tile in the bathrooms, the ugly backsplash in the kitchen, the closed off shower, the complete lack of sink space in the bathrooms, etc. Overall, I still think it was a pretty significant improvement even if it's not the theming you were hoping for.

 

[DeeCee735]

"In our recent experience, some of the recent refurbs such as BWV really skimped on the quality."

And we LOVE the refurb at the BW. Love the color palette and the new furniture....all of it. To each his own....
I am looking forward to what they do at Kidani. We have a reservation this December, so I am hoping they have completed the refurb by then....

Dee

 

[muppets3d]

What do we all think the odds of AKV studios getting the small pull down bed to increase capacity from 4 to 5? Seems like they've done this with other recent studio refurbs but haven't confirmed one way or another yet for the upcoming AKV refurbs.

I personally hope they don't because that would mean losing the dresser. But then, I don't need the 5th sleeper. If I did need that 5th bed, I'd probably be willing to live out of a suitcase so I can bring that fifth guest.

They didn't do the under TV bed at Boulder Ridge for example so it's not a guarantee by any means.

 

[TDK44]

I personally hope they don't because that would mean losing the dresser. But then, I don't need the 5th sleeper. If I did need that 5th bed, I'd probably be willing to live out of a suitcase so I can bring that fifth guest.

They didn't do the under TV bed at Boulder Ridge for example so it's not a guarantee by any means.

Are you sure? The floorplan looks like it is there for BRV and the room description too:

Deluxe Studio - Resort View

• Views of Pool, Woodlands, Courtyard, or Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort Hotel
• 1 queen bed, 1 queen-size pull-down bed, 1 single pull down bed
• Sleeps up to 5 Guests and 1 Infant (under 3 years of age)

 

[MamaKate]

Are you sure? The floorplan looks like it is there for BRV and the room description too:

Deluxe Studio - Resort View

• Views of Pool, Woodlands, Courtyard, or Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort Hotel
• 1 queen bed, 1 queen-size pull-down bed, 1 single pull down bed
• Sleeps up to 5 Guests and 1 Infant (under 3 years of age)

Boulder Ridge studios definitely have the pull down TV bed. They did not put them in the 1-bedrooms though.

Currently AKV 1-bedrooms have a chair that pulls out to a twin so I'm thinking in the 1-bedrooms they will do the TV bed or at least some sort of single sleeping area to keep the occupancy at 5.

I'm hoping for the TV bed because that sleeping chair takes up a lot of room when opened.

 

[muppets3d]

Are you sure? The floorplan looks like it is there for BRV and the room description too:

Deluxe Studio - Resort View

• Views of Pool, Woodlands, Courtyard, or Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort Hotel
• 1 queen bed, 1 queen-size pull-down bed, 1 single pull down bed
• Sleeps up to 5 Guests and 1 Infant (under 3 years of age)

I must have been thinking of Bay Lake Tower.

 

[sndral]

The single sleeper chair folds out to a mattress that is around 75” (6’3”) long, the under TV pull down short single bed has a mattress around 65” (5’5”) long. Thus, most adult men, many adult women, and many teenagers who can currently sleep on the sleeper chair are too tall to fit on the under TV pull down bed.
A second issue at Jambo is that the studio & the living room in the 1 br.s are about a foot narrower than many other resort’s villas - so I suspect that the space between the Murphy sofa & the under TV bed when both are in use would be very tight.
Finally, the actual wall space available is limited.
In the studios, maybe the chest could be removed to fit a longer unit under the TV, or I guess they could take away the table & chairs - which I’d miss. Not sure we need 5 person studios at AKV, though, anyone who owns there bought knowing the 4 person max & for others - there are other resorts that allow 5 in a studio .
In the 1 br.s you’d need to make the table/banquette smaller and/or not have an upholstered chair (currently the sleeper chair) which would leave you w/ only the sofa for cushy seating in the living room.

 

[tjkraz]

The single sleeper chair folds out to a mattress that is around 75” (6’3”) long, the under TV pull down short single bed has a mattress around 65” (5’5”) long.

I don't know if they vary by resort but a few years ago I measured the Murphy Bed at Boardwalk and the mattress was 73".