Day parking at Jambo/Kidani?

[jenhelgren]

Is day parking at Kidani/Jambo allowed for DVC members? We want to plan a day to walk around and see the holiday decor and animals and get some zebra domes. Can we just tell the gate we are coming to see the resort without an ADR? I was thinking we could always park at AK and bus over but it would be easier just to resort park if its allowed.

 

[CarolynFH]

Unfortunately, I think that parking at AKL is under the same restrictions as at the other near-park resorts - you’ll need a reservation of some kind to park there. Too many folks in the past caught the “park free at AKL and ride the bus to AK” bug. Sorry.

 

[EYL]

I'm not sure about the Holiday Season, but we have visited AKL without an ADR during the summer months for the last 2 years, and gate security was absolutely okay with it. I just let them know that I'm staying at another Disney resort and would like to go in to spend some time with the animals. They ask to see my ID and they wave me through. It's a great resort-day activity for the kiddo, especially when he can learn about the African culture and about the animals.

 

[jenhelgren]

Thanks for the responses. The resort is so close to the park, I guess we could always try and just turn around and park at the park if it is not allowed. I am an AP so park parking is free, its just easier not to bus over.

 

[sndral]

Thanks for the responses. The resort is so close to the park, I guess we could always try and just turn around and park at the park if it is not allowed. I am an AP so park parking is free, its just easier not to bus over.

We’ve had family staying offsite visit us when we have stayed at Jambo during Dec. w/out a problem. I realize that is a slightly different scenario, but my sense is the parking is more relaxed at bus to park resorts v. park adjacent resorts.
Jambo has a large outdoor lot, assuming the attendant at the entry kiosk is ok w/ you parking for a look around, I’d park in that lot. Jambo’s lobby has an impressive Christmas tree & they have a large zebra & giraffe chocolate (or gingerbread?) display. I’d also head up to the 5th floor to walk across the sky bridge to look at the Christmas tree from that perspective as well.
In terms of animal viewing from Jambo, there’s the Arusha savanna outlook directly behind the lobby. The Uzima savanna outlook is by the pool - you can walk along the path on the left side of the pool to reach it. You can also see Sunset savanna from the small room to the right of the check in desk in the lobby.
There’s a small shuttle bus that runs between Jambo & Kidani - it picks up in front of the lobby rather than down by the bus stops. Kidani has a Christmas tree. Behind the Kidani lobby is the Sunset savanna outlook. The Pembe savanna outlook is over by the Kidani pool - I don’t recall whether you can get to that one outside of the pool fence.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

You certainly can try. There seem to be mixed results depending on the crowds. We're usually there in Dec and Jan, and there's definitely been a big sign at the security shed the past 2-3 years saying entry only allow for guests with room or dining reservations. But it can't hurt to ask, especially if you're DVC - just don't be upset if they turn you around. I expect the closer you're visiting to Christmas, the more they might restrict parking spots for resort guests. But it absolutely is a beautiful place to visit to see the decorations!

 

[D-Trick]

You shouldn't have a problem as long as you have a current reservation at another DVC resort since that means you already have theme park parking. AKL isn't heavily restricted like the monorail or Crescent Lake resorts.

I always make that clear ("hi, I'm staying at ____ but just want to see the lobby decorations/animals") when I talk to the gate guard. I'd also already have my ID and MB out, even though they can now read your magic band data with a proximity reader in the booth instead of the handheld-- which is why they typically just ask to see your ID now.

 

[FSU Girl]

It’ll up to the guard. I just went for dinner and the car in front of us was turned around for not having a reservation and they didn’t have any decorations up yet. Also went to Poly for a meal and they didn’t check anything when we told them which I thought was odd thought they’d want to confirm it

 

[MICKIMINI]

This question just struck me - no offense to the person inquiring and I am not judging them in any way...

This is the same resort that knocked on our door two weeks ago for a "security check" while DH was napping and I was in the bathroom. We are 30 year DVC members. WDW and DVC has a very odd way of vetting visitors/reservation holders if they continue to question us when we are in our villa and let non reservation holders or non ADR holders in with just an ID.

 

[Miffy]

We stayed at AKL in September and we uber'd back one afternoon. The guard at the front gate demanded our particulars and he kept misspelling my sister's name so he absolutely would NOT let us in. Even though we were staying there. Also, he was incredibly rude, insinuating that we were trying to sneak in somehow when the problem was that he wasn't listening to my sister and kept typing in her name incorrectly.

Finally he typed it in correctly and begrudgingly let us enter. I was pretty furious about the entire thing and thought of telling the front desk, but I didn't want to waste any more time on it.

So, OP, try this at your own peril. If you get that guard, you are doomed.

 

[sndral]

This question just struck me - no offense to the person inquiring and I am not judging them in any way...

This is the same resort that knocked on our door two weeks ago for a "security check" while DH was napping and I was in the bathroom. We are 30 year DVC members. WDW and DVC has a very odd way of vetting visitors/reservation holders if they continue to question us when we are in our villa and let non reservation holders or non ADR holders in with just an ID.

Ah, the WDW wide room checks that started circa 2017 shortly after the Las Vegas shooting. Irrespective of which resort we stay in, we almost always are in the villa during the day at least once or twice when there’s a room check, maybe because we’re there several days & are in the villa during the day sometimes . They don’t bother me, they’re in & out quickly - usually taking the garbage w/ them. & when I travel I’m used to housekeeping being in my room every day & on cruises the steward being in my cabin multiple times a day.

 

[Skywalker3]

We love visiting other resorts, but never try to park or drive there, unless we had a dining reservation. Just take other Disney transportation to the resort. We hop all the time either from a park, or from Disney Springs, and except for a little bit of waiting sometimes, there are no issues.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Ah, the WDW wide room checks that started circa 2017 shortly after the Las Vegas shooting. Irrespective of which resort we stay in, we almost always are in the villa during the day at least once or twice when there’s a room check, maybe because we’re there several days & are in the villa during the day sometimes . They don’t bother me, they’re in & out quickly - usually taking the garbage w/ them. & when I travel I’m used to housekeeping being in my room every day & on cruises the steward being in my cabin multiple times a day.

I guess it depends on if one is dressed or not? It bugs the heck out of us! It could have been much worse...