Disney's ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE Information & Questions

[Hibiscus]

Hi! We will be at Kidani next year, 5/8-5/12. I love AKL, but have only stayed in Jambo so far.

I understand that Kidani has no QS, but there is a small "grab & go" store. What types of things are offered there - sandwiches, microwavable things, etc? Thanks!

 

[sndral]

...

We did this 4 years ago (4 years to the date this Wednesday actually, I only remember because we got engaged about 20 minutes before we had to check-in for it). I don't know if it has changed at all. The price then was I think $199 per person, tax and gratuities included, but between the guided tour and the feast at Jiko, it was almost a bargain at that price.

We've done Wanyama twice, most recently last Dec. they now offer snacks before you start the Safari in the small wine room near Jiko. Then you walk out to your open sided truck for your 1&1/2 hr. drive through the savannahs. The group size is limited to about 12 people minimum age is 8. You drive by Pembe and then through Sunset, Arusha and Uzima Savannas. You learn a lot about the animals.
After your safari you have a multi course dinner w/ wine pairings at Jiko.

 

[LJSquishy]

Just 2 days from now we'll be at AKV-Jambo!!!

I know I could post on the appropriate board, but I'd rather ask here...with getting photos taken by Photopass photographers, we can just walk up to them anytime and they'll scan our Magic Band and then take a photo of us, right? I don't want Memory Maker or anything...I just want some photos taken of us and then I might order 1-3 photos...certainly not enough to justify Memory Maker. Do I need to do anything special ahead of time to be able to do that? We're already all linked & set up in MDE of course. I always thought the Photopass photographers would only take your photo if you bought the photo package but it sounds like it's "free" to take the photos and you view them at home and order if you want any?

 

[LJSquishy]

Hi! We will be at Kidani next year, 5/8-5/12. I love AKL, but have only stayed in Jambo so far.

I understand that Kidani has no QS, but there is a small "grab & go" store. What types of things are offered there - sandwiches, microwavable things, etc? Thanks!

Take this with a grain of salt because I haven't been there yet but will be in a few days (maybe I can confirm for you while I'm there), but I believe Kidani has a pretty nice gift/grab & go shop. I actually think it might even have a bigger selection of items you can microwave, etc since it's on the actual DVC side.

 

[CJK]

Take this with a grain of salt because I haven't been there yet but will be in a few days (maybe I can confirm for you while I'm there), but I believe Kidani has a pretty nice gift/grab & go shop. I actually think it might even have a bigger selection of items you can microwave, etc since it's on the actual DVC side.

I can confirm that this is true! I was just there last week and took a quick look around the grab & go store, located just off the lobby!

 

[adudeinblue]

Just 2 days from now we'll be at AKV-Jambo!!!

I know I could post on the appropriate board, but I'd rather ask here...with getting photos taken by Photopass photographers, we can just walk up to them anytime and they'll scan our Magic Band and then take a photo of us, right? I don't want Memory Maker or anything...I just want some photos taken of us and then I might order 1-3 photos...certainly not enough to justify Memory Maker. Do I need to do anything special ahead of time to be able to do that? We're already all linked & set up in MDE of course. I always thought the Photopass photographers would only take your photo if you bought the photo package but it sounds like it's "free" to take the photos and you view them at home and order if you want any?

They also take pictures for you to look at later to purchase without setting anything up. Even if you don't have a magic band, I believe they give you a temporarily card to use it with. My GF and I did it last time at DL and we selected the pictures we wanted. I also handed them my personal camera and they would also take it for you as well. No obligation to purchase anything in the end

 

[Hibiscus]

Take this with a grain of salt because I haven't been there yet but will be in a few days (maybe I can confirm for you while I'm there), but I believe Kidani has a pretty nice gift/grab & go shop. I actually think it might even have a bigger selection of items you can microwave, etc since it's on the actual DVC side.

I can confirm that this is true! I was just there last week and took a quick look around the grab & go store, located just off the lobby!

That's great to know! Thanks!

 

[OhThePain]

We've done Wanyama twice, most recently last Dec.

Did you feel it was worth doing a second time or was it a little bit repetitive? Since this is the first thing we did after becoming engaged and my wife insisting on dinner at Jiko on our anniversary night, I was thinking about maybe surprising her with this instead.

 

[sndral]

Did you feel it was worth doing a second time or was it a little bit repetitive? Since this is the first thing we did after becoming engaged and my wife insisting on dinner at Jiko on our anniversary night, I was thinking about maybe surprising her with this instead.

Well, we're doing it a third time this December. The keepers each have a very different perspective and work with different animals so for me it's just adding to my knowledge about the animals @ AKL - but I'm a bit of a natural history/nature channel nerd, so I may be a bit biased

 

[cmacdisneyqueen]

Thank you so much for the great guide! I see that you listed a refrigerator as an amenity, but it isn't listed in the amenities on the WDW website. Can you (or anyone else who has been there recently) please confirm if there are refrigerators in all the rooms? We will be staying in a standard Savanna View Room. (I trust you more than I do the website, but I just want to confirm this is the case, to ease my mother's mind )

 

[OhThePain]

Well, we're doing it a third time this December. The keepers each have a very different perspective and work with different animals so for me it's just adding to my knowledge about the animals @ AKL - but I'm a bit of a natural history/nature channel nerd, so I may be a bit biased

Good point about different keepers and different perspectives. I think that since we aren't doing a tour this trip (which we usually try to plan 1) and there is no more breakfast safari (not that it was really super special, but we did it once since we were staying CL) and since we plan on eating at Jiko anyway, I might just have to book it.

 

[2013Frozen]

Wow that sounds amazing! Thank you for the detailed description!

 

[GeorgieGrrl]

We are trying something new this trip, and switching from WL to AKL from 12/5 - 12/9. I booked a pool view room, then splurged and booked a room for my sister too. Is there a wine tour or something similar? We are foodies and love wine so we are definitely looking forward to this trip!

 

[pepperandchips]

Thank you so much for the great guide! I see that you listed a refrigerator as an amenity, but it isn't listed in the amenities on the WDW website. Can you (or anyone else who has been there recently) please confirm if there are refrigerators in all the rooms? We will be staying in a standard Savanna View Room. (I trust you more than I do the website, but I just want to confirm this is the case, to ease my mother's mind )

There was a mini fridge in our standard room earlier this month.

We are trying something new this trip, and switching from WL to AKL from 12/5 - 12/9. I booked a pool view room, then splurged and booked a room for my sister too. Is there a wine tour or something similar? We are foodies and love wine so we are definitely looking forward to this trip!

There are wine tastings weekly (Wednesday I think) in Jiko. You can make reservations on the Disney website. There are also culinary tours of both Jiko/Boma and Sanaa, which aren't wine centered but would be fun for foodies. Look through this thread for the activity page link and you'll find tour times - the page is updated each month so you can check in December for the actual offerings. Boma, Jiko, and Sanaa all offer wine flights as well that would likely be offered in the lounge also - I enjoyed trying a red flight at Boma this month. Really good wine selections at this resort!

 

[Hibiscus]

Thank you so much for the great guide! I see that you listed a refrigerator as an amenity, but it isn't listed in the amenities on the WDW website. Can you (or anyone else who has been there recently) please confirm if there are refrigerators in all the rooms? We will be staying in a standard Savanna View Room. (I trust you more than I do the website, but I just want to confirm this is the case, to ease my mother's mind )

Yes, all the rooms have refrigerators.

 

[LJSquishy]

We leave bright and early tomorrow morning for AKV - Jambo House! ...Unfortunately we have a long flight across the US so won't arrive until 5pm. Boo.

If anyone has any questions they'd like answered about specific food items available in the gift shop, bounceback offers, or other things throughout the resort or parks, just send me a PM and I'll do my best to find out for you. No promises, but I'll try!

We will be eating gluten-free as well so if anyone wants specific info about choices for GF eating I'd be happy to share anything I can about that.

 

[RobynPrincess]

1 month today we will be checking in!! Woohoo!

 

[GeorgieGrrl]

There was a mini fridge in our standard room earlier this month.



There are wine tastings weekly (Wednesday I think) in Jiko. You can make reservations on the Disney website. There are also culinary tours of both Jiko/Boma and Sanaa, which aren't wine centered but would be fun for foodies. Look through this thread for the activity page link and you'll find tour times - the page is updated each month so you can check in December for the actual offerings. Boma, Jiko, and Sanaa all offer wine flights as well that would likely be offered in the lounge also - I enjoyed trying a red flight at Boma this month. Really good wine selections at this resort!

Thanks for the info...Just booked the wine and cheese tasting at Jiko for the last night our our stay, which happened to be a Wednesday. I also booked dinner there for later that evening. Perfect timing!

 

[StaciaRae]

Hi! What would you do - we'll be arriving at AKL on 1/5 around 12:30pm (after a 6am flight) with dd5 and ds3. This will be our very first Disney trip and we'll be staying for 7 night. On arrival day Would you stay at AKL and explore until our room is ready then have dinner at Boma, or check in at AKL and take a bus to AK and maybe Tusker House for dinner? I have been weighing these two options but figured I'd ask the AKL pros for some advice. TIA!

 

[wellesleyprincess]

One week until I'm at AKV-Jambo!!!