Disney Newbie Needs Help: Arusha vs Savanna View?

jaykorf001

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 30, 2013
Messages
530
We are planning a short stay with our 4 year old. I'm having difficulty understanding the options at The Animal Kingdom Lodge. I want to get it right. We would like to be able to see animals from our balcony but I understand there are other variables at the lodge as well?? Help!

Thanks,

Jennifer
 
The Arusha Savannah is the largest savannah at AKL. You will see animals from your balcony there. To get a view of this savannah you have to reserve an "Arusha Savannah View" room. If you're interested in club level, the non-DVC club level rooms also look out on this savannah even though they're called "standard view" club level rooms.

If you reserve a "Savannah View" room, you will get a view of one of the two smaller savannahs - Sunset Savannah is one, and I think the other is called the Pembe Savannah though I can't remember for sure. You will also see animals from your balcony if you're in these rooms, too.

There are different animals in each savannah (though I think at this point there are giraffes and zebras in each - someone will correct me if I'm wrong, as it's been a while since I stayed at AKL). We've had rooms with views of the Sunset Savannah and the Arusha Savannah, and seen lots of animals from each room.

There are also pool view rooms (with views of the pool or foliage around the pool) and standard view rooms (usually views of the parking lot, but sometimes you can luck out and get a room with an obstructed view of the savannah). If you reserve these rooms, there are lots of public lounges and outdoor areas to view the animals.

There is a thread on this board all about AKL, with a summary about the resort at the beginning. I have no idea how to link to it, but it's usually in the first couple pages of the resort board, and is entitled something like "Number 9 is really fine."

I hope this helps! :)
 
Thanks! What does club level get me?

I think I got further confused reading posts about the different lodges but that must be in the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villa area? Yeesh. So confusing and it's a lot of money so I want to get it right.

My son loves dinosaurs and animals so we want to do a quick stop before heading to other parts of Florida.

I told my husband if he thinks the AKL is bad wait till he sees the price tag on the Grand Floridian or Poly when we do a more lengthy MK visit. :)

Jen
 
Savannah views are amazing at Animal Kingdom Lodge. But, you will also love the gift shop, the pool area, the lobby, and the grounds. Wonderful place. While your there wander over to Kidani to check it out too.
 

Is the Sunrise Safari Breakfast worth the upgrade to club level? Would upgrade from Arusha view.
 
The Arusha Savannah is the largest savannah at AKL. You will see animals from your balcony there. To get a view of this savannah you have to reserve an "Arusha Savannah View" room. If you're interested in club level, the non-DVC club level rooms also look out on this savannah even though they're called "standard view" club level rooms.

If you reserve a "Savannah View" room, you will get a view of one of the two smaller savannahs - Sunset Savannah is one, and I think the other is called the Pembe Savannah though I can't remember for sure. You will also see animals from your balcony if you're in these rooms, too.

There are different animals in each savannah (though I think at this point there are giraffes and zebras in each - someone will correct me if I'm wrong, as it's been a while since I stayed at AKL). We've had rooms with views of the Sunset Savannah and the Arusha Savannah, and seen lots of animals from each room.

There are also pool view rooms (with views of the pool or foliage around the pool) and standard view rooms (usually views of the parking lot, but sometimes you can luck out and get a room with an obstructed view of the savannah). If you reserve these rooms, there are lots of public lounges and outdoor areas to view the animals.

There is a thread on this board all about AKL, with a summary about the resort at the beginning. I have no idea how to link to it, but it's usually in the first couple pages of the resort board, and is entitled something like "Number 9 is really fine."

I hope this helps! :)

The Pembe savanna has okapis! No zebras or giraffes. It is my favorite.
 
Is the Sunrise Safari Breakfast worth the upgrade to club level? Would upgrade from Arusha view.

I only stay in the villas, so I don't know anything about the breakfast. I would look to see if the club level costs a lot more than eating at the counter service restaurant - Mara. I have no idea what the club level upgrade costs.
 
Thanks! What does club level get me?

I think I got further confused reading posts about the different lodges but that must be in the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villa area? Yeesh. So confusing and it's a lot of money so I want to get it right.

Jen

DH and I are doing our first club level stay at AKL in a couple of weeks. So, I haven't stayed there yet, but I've been doing my research. ;)

Club level gets you access to the concierge lounge at the AKL, which has food and drinks from about 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. You can also have the Itinerary Planning Office (IPO) make your reservations for dinner, shows, tours, etc. And you get access to the Sunrise Safari, which is only for club level guests.

We're signed up for the Sunrise Safari on our upcoming trip. I wasn't going to do it because we're also doing the Wanyama (Sunset) Safari and the Night Vision Safari, and because the thought of getting up before 6 a.m. makes me want to cry. :crazy2: But after reading on here about how great the Sunrise Safari is, we decided to go for it. From what other posters and reviewers have said, it's an extended version of Kilimanjaro Safaris at the AK park - you're in a different ride vehicle and you get to stop and spend a lot more time looking at the animals, and you have a guide with you who talks about the animals. Breakfast after the tour is supposed to be really good, too. Since it sounds like you won't be staying very long, keep in mind it's only offered two mornings a week - Thursday, and one other day (sorry, I can't remember which - we're going on a Thursday).

AKL has two buildings - Jambo House (which was the original AKL before Kidani Village was built) and Kidani Village. Jambo has regular rooms, club level rooms, and some suites. Kidani is the DVC (timeshare) rooms and suites. If you just booked a regular non-DVC room or if you book club level, you'll be in Jambo House. Jambo and Kidani are in the same resort area - you can drive or take a shuttle between them, or it's about a 10-15 minute walk from one to the other.

I know what you mean about the other deluxes. We stayed at Poly once because we paid with frequent flyer miles, and almost fainted when we saw the dollar amount we would have paid! :faint:
 
The Pembe savanna has okapis! No zebras or giraffes. It is my favorite.

Got it. Thanks!

I love okapis! We're staying club level in April so we'll be on the Arusha Savannah, but I'll have to find a Pembe lookout to watch the okapis.
 
We will be there on a Thursday. Seems its all coming together and I'm excited. Just had foot surgery so I need to make sure ill be healthy enough at my Tuesday morning drs appt then we're going to book club level. Have now figured out, thanks to posters, that means we'll be in Jambo with a view of Arusha. Want that safari for my son! For $550 a night I have to have it now that I know about it and read the reviews!!

Really hoping a travel agent can get better deals for longer stays. I could do the Four Seasons in Jackson for what this is costing, almost.
 
Got it. Thanks!

I love okapis! We're staying club level in April so we'll be on the Arusha Savannah, but I'll have to find a Pembe lookout to watch the okapis.

You will have fun exploring Kidani.
 
The Arusha Savannah is the largest savannah at AKL. You will see animals from your balcony there. To get a view of this savannah you have to reserve an "Arusha Savannah View" room.

If you reserve a "Savannah View" room, you will get a view of one of the two smaller savannahs - Sunset Savannah is one, and I think the other is called the Pembe Savannah though I can't remember for sure. You will also see animals from your balcony if you're in these rooms, too.

There are different animals in each savannah (though I think at this point there are giraffes and zebras in each - someone will correct me if I'm wrong, as it's been a while since I stayed at AKL).

I hope this helps! :)

Not sure where this info comes from, but my understanding from our Wanyama guides was that when AKL opened there were 3 Savannahs, each 11 acres in size A few years later they built the timeshare/DVC building and called it Kidani. When they built Kidani they enlarged Sunset Savannah, which lies between it and the original lodge now called Jambo, to 16 acres. They also added a 4 acre savannah on the far side of kidani called Pembe savannah. The existing savannahs at Jambo remained at 11 acres each Arusha is the savanna in the middle and Uzima is the savannah on the side of Jambo furthest from Kidani.
Pembe savannah does not have giraffes because the barn for Pembe isn't tall enough for them.
 
Not sure where this info comes from, but my understanding from our Wanyama guides was that when AKL opened there were 3 Savannahs, each 11 acres in size A few years later they built the timeshare/DVC building and called it Kidani. When they built Kidani they enlarged Sunset Savannah, which lies between it and the original lodge now called Jambo, to 16 acres. They also added a 4 acre savannah on the far side of kidani called Pembe savannah. The existing savannahs at Jambo remained at 11 acres each Arusha is the savanna in the middle and Uzima is the savannah on the side of Jambo furthest from Kidani.
Pembe savannah does not have giraffes because the barn for Pembe isn't tall enough for them.

Uzima! That's the one I always forget! :) I knew there were 4, and I know where Arusha and Sunset are, but I can never remember the other two. I will definitely have to do some more exploring when we're there in April - last time we stayed at AKL it was before Kidani was even built, and we had no idea the Uzima Safari even existed. A CM at the viewing area in Jambo House told us Arusha was the biggest, but maybe he was mistaken.

OP, glad you figured it out. Club level sounds like just what you were looking for. :)
 


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